End of Cold War

Two bearded super-powers have finally collided. Santa Claus and Maggie. Last week I took Maggie to get her picture taken with Santa. There was initial tension as both parties eyed each other with curiosity and contempt but in the end an amicable agreement was made. Much like the Gorbachev v. Reagan summits at the UN. The result follows.

Some people might think that it's a silly waste of time to pay $9 to have your dog take a picture with Santa Claus. Well I say screw you. Five those dollars went to charity and I got a cute frame.

 

Racism: The World's Oldest Companion

I heard that prostitution was the oldest career in the world once, so at least prostitutes have a claim to fame.

This past weekend was spent in LA, land of my youth. My dad's birthday was the 1st but we couldn't go so it was celebrated on the 8th. And for it, out came the "LA characters" as I like to call them. Ever since I could remember my parents have entertained fun and interesting people. Fine by me, being an only child amongst adults with no children made it so that I was given a very rounded and diversified view of the world. I've known these people since forever. They're family.

There's Rudolf, the racist Romanian.
"Thees Koreans, thees are veird guys. Everee time I drive through Koreatown, sometheeng happens. I tell you, thees are vierd guys. They always keelling each other, eating dogs... Veird guys..."
He's really a good guy, just particular about his views of Koreans. He's had an interesting life, having to escape Communist Romania, being forced to join the Israeli army at 29, migrating to Germany, 8 months in Greece, and finally New York. Eventually he made it to LA where he works designing my dad's new line of jewelry. He calls me "baby" (in a paternal sense).

Leah, his wife.
"I veel argue for hours, vhether or not extraterrestrials exist. Of course they do!"
And she will. Leah has two volumes, loud and louder. She makes my mom look tame. She works for Baby Phat, as a programmer. But she makes the best cookies ever. Period. She's gotten so famous that every year she has to make about 2,000 to fill the order of people begging her to send them some. After much begging this year, I get my own batch! She and Rudolf speak 4 languages fluently.

Bruno, the slick one.
"Let me tell you guy, these new Rolex, out of this world."
No one really knows much about Bruno except that he likes the finer foods in life like wine, cheese, balsamic and anything ethnic. Come to think of it, Bruno has a lot to do with the way I eat. Forever introducing me to new restaurants Downtown. He and my dad have been friends 35 years and I've known him my whole life, and no one has ever seen his supposed wife. He works with my dad as sort of editor for Rudolf's designs, and the diamond guy. But man, he's slick.

Zared, the transcendentalist (and the only white one).
Zareb is actually my mom's friend. He's the newest in the fold. Zareb is his chosen name, I don't know what the real one is. He's actually LDS, he just doesn't know it yet. He believes everything we do, just adds on reincarnation and some other beliefs. He's a really cool guy and my mom's guru. Easily the easiest to like.

I've learned a lot over the years from these people. When you get them together it makes for a really fun night. I really admire how after hardships like divorce, separations, death of children, and economic difficulty, they can still smile. We all get together and have a really good time. Like time has never passed, nothing bad has happened and we all saw each other yesterday.

Not my best idea.

So. I promised myself I wouldn't be one of those people that all only blog about their children, but this one is necessary.

Ok, so since we got Maggie we've been living at PetSmart. We always need something more, if it's not this it's that. So I decided to ask how much the Salon at PetSmart is. $37 for trim and $47 for a cut for a Wheaten. Not too bad for the sake of convenience. I'm already having to brush her all the time, I don't want to cut her hair. That is, until I saw the PetSmart Christmas flier. On one side it details information about when Santa is coming to PetSmart (and you better believe I'm taking Maggie) and the other side is a coupon for a bath, cut, little bow, and even a tooth cleaning. So that sounded like a good deal. Except took a closer look at the dog in the coupon picture and realized that that hideously cut, rather butchered, dog was a Wheaten. Then and there I resolved never to let PetSmart Salon get within 20 feet of my dog. We've been called elitist because we're so particular about Maggie's appearance. And yes, we may or may not ridicule the Wheaten down the street because it looks like a modified lemur but we are good dog parents and want Maggie to look her best. It's the same reason parents comb their child's hair before they go to school. Good grooming is important.

Except that's not the worst part. The worst part is I decided to cut her hair myself. I read the SCWT website about hair cuts. I even read the Wheaten owner's manual thingie about hair cuts. I was ready. Except I wasn't. And what has resulted (two hours later) is a slightly butchered dog. However, I'm proud to say that her face still looks like a Wheaten. And damn it! That's the most important part.

Maggie post trimming odyssey.

"I think I have something to say to you!"

As a lot of you know, Maggielicious has arrived. She's a Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier and her official name is Ch. Andover Magic Maid. So far she's doing quite well, although she's still not eating as much as I would like her to. I can tell her Wheaten temperament is starting to poke through, this morning I was greeted with more kisses than I was prepared for. Also, she's bonding to me a lot more as opposed to Brandon since Brandon works, but I can see her make progress with him too.
I have to say she's the doggiest dog we know. She didn't know how to climb stairs, she didn't know how to climb on furniture, and she doesn't know what to do with toys, although I have an idea as to how to remedy that. She doesn't even know how to play with other dogs. Hopefully the Gunderson's dogs will teach her how to play, when she stops growling at them. I'm not happy about the growling thing at all, and we're teaching her that it's not ok to growl, I'm just hoping it passes when she becomes more secure. Right now she's lazily laying in bed staring at me. All in all, we're really happy we got her.

 
This is Maggie at the dog park by the Temple, which is by our house
 
On the way to the dog park, deciding what you do with grass
 
She's so cute!
 
I love this thing. "Bring it, dog"

Ode to Me

Well, it's not exactly an ode, but I do have to say that I'm fairly smart, witty, funny, and cute.

Ok, my latest accomplishment in the kitchen has been...drum roll... vegetarian tacos!!!
I know it doesn't sound all that appealing but they were really yummy. And I know they're nothing new but I was quite proud of myself for "inventing" them.

It all came about because of our vegetarian stint. Being a fake vegetarian is all fun and games until you have to start cooking like one and then you realize that having some sort of protein on the plate is just an excuse to not be creative. So I got my rusty creative juices going and vegetarian tacos came out. Instead of salsa I served them with chimichurri (the Argentine version of salsa) which by the way you can stick on anything. Make a big batch of chimichurri and you have marinade for everything. For the sides I made homemade chips and sauteed kale with cumin and garlic. Use any vegetable that roasts well, as always, these are just the ones that happened to be in my fridge/pantry.

Veggie Tacos serves 2

1/2 butternut squash, peeled and cut into big bite-size squares
1 red pepper
1/2 onion, pick a color, any color
some eggplant, cut as squash
olive oil
salt and pepper

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grab a baking pan (I used 9x13). Put all your vegetables in there. Add olive oil and salt and pepper. Toss the veggies with oil, salt, pepper.
3. Stick them in the oven for about 25 minutes, maybe more, until they are well roasted and everything looks nice and soft.
4. Serve with corn tortillas and yummy chimichurri. Hmm...

Newsflash

So I've been working on a post for a few days, but I haven't gotten it to flow properly, so it just sounds like a lot of babble. I don't know if I'm going to post it.

Ok quick overview of the top 10 things at the Jacobsen household:

1. Brandon still has a job.
2. I still have a job. And I get a discount.
3. I finally took Anne's surfboard out and I had lots of fun even though I only got up 1.5 times and it was freezing.
4. Maggie is coming on Sunday. We are STOKED.
5. We are so excited for Thanksgiving, I'm already planning what part of the turkey I want.
6. We may change Maggie's name but we haven't decided to what. Lupe is a strong contender.
7. The internet is my new TV. Thank you webisodes. Screw you writers.
8. 30 Rock is really good. Everyone should watch.
9. Brandon is looking pretty buff (thus hot) from all the surfing.
10.We're going vegetarian this week, at least until we leave Wednesday night for St. George (which is where we're spending Thanksgiving). I know, it's a stretch for us, but Brandon has always been an advocate for less meat in the house and I've started yoga again so I crave less meat. Maybe we'll pick it up as a way of life. Except for national holidays, religious holidays, weekends, and whenever we pass an In'n'Out.

Confession of a Mad(ly in love) Woman

Allow me to be cheesy. Strong feelings need outlets. The longer I'm married to Brandon the more I see that there is no one out there more well-suited for me than him. It's corny but it's true. And sometimes love needs to be recognized, good hell, the world would be a better place if we were all more sincerely cheesy. None of this "I'm dedicating a star to you before you die." Please, save it for the Nicholas Sparks novels. I mean letting him/her have the last piece of pie, letting someone be themselves, or just reminding your significant other that you're still glad they haven't willingly jumped overboard.

In any case, all I know is that I'm really blessed to have Brandon in my life. In marrying him I didn't have to make a single compromise. Sometimes I even wonder why he hasn't run to save himself, but everyday I'm grateful that he's still around. So there - report me to the cheesy police.

Baby blues

I feel bad but I have a confession to make. I'm not all that crazy about babies. They don't really do anything. I like toddlers though. I like it when kids are older and they start doing funny things and you can actually start having conversations with them. Besides babies and I have very little in common. There are some babies I like. For example Lucy, our niece, she's cute and small and fluffy(plus we're related). I imagine I'll like my own babies better than everyone else's but then again, you always like your own things better.

"Grease is the time, is the place, is the motion..."

I thought the camera was charged since I had taken pictures of the hot-dog worm things we had made for the party but alas I was wrong. Now Brandon and I have no pictures to show of our Halloween costumes. But I have to say that they did turn out quite cool. We were Grease people, or rather, people from Grease. More like extras from Grease, we weren't any of the main characters, we were just dressed in the style of the 50s. But I did pop in Grease for inspiration, much to Brandon's misery.

I forgot to mention that Brandon plays on a basketball team with his work people. They play every Monday and so far they're 1-1, we'll see what happens at the game tonight. So everyone root for him.

Oh! Brandon and I took a day-trip up to Temecula. They have an Old Town, actually more of a street. The Old Town street wasn't terribly exciting except for two things: The Temecula Olive Oil Co. and the Cheese Factory. The olive oil store was sssooo cool!! They have an olive farm abut 20 miles from the store and all their products come from that farm. Including the plates they sell. So they've invented all sorts of yummy oils. There was an olive oil tasting bar so we got to taste a few oils, some blends, and the best balsamic I have ever (and probably will ever) had. If it weren't for that bar we probably would have perused and left. But after we tasted the oils and vinegars, we came away spending more than we should have. But can we really put too high of a price on that blissful "Hmm...." moment, when you find yourself only thinking about flavor? Only thinking about how good it tastes? About how happy you suddenly are? No. No, you can't. So I made a pasta last night with the oil we bought, which is called Citrus. They put blood oranges and olives in the same press and the result is heaven. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I've posted the recipe below.

Clean out the Fridge Pasta
Throw whatever sounds good in there (so it's not actually a recipe so much as an idea). This is just what I happened to have in the fridge last night. We usually have this once a week since once a week I'm at a loss for what to make for dinner. There's a lot of room to maneuver and it's a good last minute quick-to-make meal. Serve with bread or salad. This is good for only 2 people.

Butter
1 Red Bell Pepper
1 Zucchini
1 Leek
Oven-dried tomatoes
Left-over chicken breast (or whatever you want - you can just make it vegetarian)
Package of whatever pasta you have (I had fettuccine)
About a tablespoon of some fresh herb (I had thyme)
Olive oil (I used the Citrus oil)
Lemon (optional, I would have added this if I didn't have the Citrus Oil)
Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Cook pasta according to package. DON'T add oil to the boiling water, otherwise the pasta won't pick up on flavors of the other ingredients when tossed together.
2. In a non-stick big pan throw in little bit of the butter, all of the red pepper, zucchini, and leek. Sprinkle some salt in there and cook until the veggies are a little tender. Remember to stir frequently.
3. Add chicken breast (if using raw meat cook that first then add veggies) and oven dried tomatoes. Add Pepper. Keep warm until pasta is ready.
4. When pasta is ready, drain and pour into the pan with all the other ingredients. Turn off heat. At this point add olive oil (just enough so pasta and veggies are shiny, err on the side of too little then you can keep adding if needs be). Toss a few times.
5. Add juice of half a lemon, your fresh herb and more salt and pepper if it needs it. Toss a little to mix.
6. Serve hot with parmesan cheese on the side. Enjoy!

Newsflash

So... a I guess a lot can change in like 12 hours. I have a job. It's working at the Distribution Center. It's not the glamorous job I had machinated for myself when I chose an advertising degree but I have to say that this is a perfect example of God answering our prayers because He knows what's best, and not us. I would be very ungrateful if I complained about that the fact that I have a job that pays well enough, is around the corner (since I don't have a car, is on temple grounds, and is part time so it affords me the time to be domestic, which I really do enjoy (believe it or not). So it's worked out quite well. Now that I think about it, I didn't ask if I got a discount.

Family News

Nothing all that exciting has happened since I slapped Brandon on the neck. Brandon is still working hard at his job, I'm still working hard on the baking thing. I haven't found a job yet, but I feel I'm close. I feel so bad that I'm not working that I've devised new ways to save us money. Some of the ways I've come up with are making our own sandwich bread, making beans from scratch, and making my own oven-dried tomatoes, which by the way is the best idea I've ever had. We spend A LOT of money on convenience so cutting that out has made it so we spend less money and it gives me something to do.

ANYWAY, Maggie, our dog-to-be, won't be around until Thanksgiving weekend. We're sad but excited. All her things from Pet Edge came yesterday. I spent like an hour playing with an empty collar and with her bed. I figure I won't buy toys until I can take her to PetSmart to pick her own.

Other than that life is good. The beach still receives frequent visits from us. We're still going to church. We're still eating a lot. And we're still friends with the Gunderson's. So...stay tuned for more of the same.

Danny Boy

This video makes me want to pee my pants every time I see it. Animal is the funniest.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OCbuRA_D3KU

Just go there, I couldn't get the video to play on the blog but I promise you it's worth your two minutes.

Chez Jacobsen

Brandon and I are pretty proud of our place. It's not big or fancy but we like it, so I thought I would share what it looks like with you guys. Keep in mind, it looks a lot better in real life, which is an invitation to come hang out. Loved ones are always welcome (if you're not sure about your status call and find out).


"Velkommen å Våre Hjem" - This is the first thing you see when you come in. It was a birthday present from his parents to Brandon. Hmm...banana...


Living Room - This room has positively benefited from IKEA. I'm really proud of my orchid. Brandon and I spend a lot of time on that wicker chair.


Our little dining room - The cushions on the chairs were Brandon's idea - for when we have people over. Always the considerate gentleman, that's why I like him.


Command Center - This is where I spend about 80% of my time. Notice my laptop, I always listen to my podcasts while I'm working in the kitchen.


Bedroom - It's not that exciting. This room took a while to get together so that the energy was flowing well. But we can finally sleep.


Bed/Bath - We hate that the bathroom is in our bedroom, but I guess it could be worse. We could have an outhouse.

Deep Thoughts

My current thoughts:

1. I just realized Robert Redford kind of reminds me of Gordy (my oldest brother-in-law) which has ruined Robert Redford for me forever. C'mon!

2. I LOVE Thanksgiving. I think because it's the food holiday. It's just such a good idea, we get to be thankful AND eat tons!! I can't wait for the stuffing.

3. I can't help being skinny, I really can't and I'm sorry because apparently it pisses people off. But I like myself and I like fat people too, and people in the middle are cool as well. I think we should all dislike each other for our personality traits and not the way we look, cuz we can't help that as much. There's a new book called Skinny Bitch (author's words - not mine) which kind of makes me angry because why would anyone want to be perceived that way? I don't think we need any more divisions as people. It shouldn't be us vs them.It should just be us.

4.Rachel Ray is... let's just say not my kind of person.

5. Are we seriously on season 11 of The View? How? I suppose we all need outlets to air our grievances. Some of us turn to our blogs, husbands, friends, and those women just happen to do it on national TV.

6. Chevre is my new favorite thing. Brandon is my old favorite thing

7. I'm hungry.

8. Quiet people make me nervous. You just never know what they're thinking.

At the Movies: Part Trois

Here are a few more movies I have been watching while folding laundry, eating lunch, and looking at pet supplies.


All About Eve - This was so good!!! I loved it. It was a lot of fun because there are twists and deceptions... it's pretty juicy. Bette Davis, the one with the big eyes, is just phenomenal in it. Even though she's spoiled, you still want to be like her, so poised and confident and strong. The movie is about a theater diva that meets an overzealous fan (Eve) and ends up taking her under her wing, but she's getting a lot more than a fan in Eve. Again, so good.


A Letter to Three Wives - This was also quite good. Joseph Mankowitz, the guy who wrote and directed this (as well as All About Eve) really gets women. I don't know how he did it, but he did. It's about three women who are friends that get a letter, addressed to all three of them saying that one of their husbands ran off with another woman. They know the woman but not the husband. You're kept pretty interested. Like a lot of older movies, there isn't any action, but that doesn't mean you're not glued to the TV.


Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - This is a musical so you know it's going to be fun. And it is. It doesn't deliver the depth and intrigue that the other two do, but it was entertaining enough for laundry folding. Besides it's kind of a classic, which makes it a must. Watch out for the voices of the actors when they sing, they catch you off guard. It's pretty much about seven brothers who need brides, so they go get them by unconventional means.


Surf's Up - Sadly this movie came at a time when Hollywood decided to focus a lot on zoo animals, namely the penguin. So it got bumped to the back. But don't worry, this is not at all like the socialist Happy Feet, with weird imitations of Elvis and Marilyn Monroe. This one is actually entertaining and leaves you with a desire to go surf instead of suicide. Brandon and I really liked it. The recording sessions were done differently so it sounds like the actors are actually talking with each other. Everyone does a great job, especially John Heder (yay Napoleon!) as Chicken Joe. There are cameos by Kelly Slater and Rob Machado (whose penguin also has puffy hair). It's pretty much the story of North Shore only with penguins, better actors, and less cheesy lines. So... an improvement all around. And I know this sounds weird, but for a second you forget that you're watching penguins surf and it actually feels like a surf movie. I love the Australian penguin. I would highly recommend this.

I've got a few more waiting for me, so I'll keep you posted!

Jelly Roll Extraordinaire

So the Gunderson's are our next door neighbors/new bff. Their names are Ryan and Joselyn and their really cool. Thankfully we've hit it off and it's really nice to have friends who are in our ward and share a wall with us. They are proud owners of Maddie, the Boston Terrier. Also, Ryan likes to surf so Brandon now has a surfing buddy at about his level. Anyway, since we're all stuck at home because of the fires Joselyn came over and we made dessert. It was grand. We took a jelly roll recipe and added ice cream instead of jelly (thank you Benihana). We call in an ice cream roll.
Here is proof. We did half strawberry half vanilla and the recipe follows.


This is Joselyn spreading ice cream.


The finished product


Hmm... with berry sauce...

Ice Cream Roll
5 large eggs, separated
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup all purpose flour
confectioner's sugar
ice cream of choice (we used strawberry and vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Grease jelly roll pan (we used a cookie sheet - not the flat kind obviously). Line with waxed paper; grease paper.
2. in large bowl, with mixed at high speed, beat egg whites until soft peaks form when beaters are lifted. At high speed, gradually sprinkle in 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat until whites hold stiff peaks when beaters are lifted.
3. In small bowl, with mixed at high speed, beat egg yolks, remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar and vanilla until very think and lemon-colored, 5 to 10 minutes; sift in flour. with rubber spatula, gently fold egg-yolk mixture into beaten egg whites.
4. Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake 10 to 15 minuted until top of cake springs back when lightly touched with finger.
5. Meanwhile, sift confectioners' sugar onto clean kitchen towel. With small knife, loosed edges of cake from sides of pan; invert onto towel. Carefully peel off waxed paper. Trim 1/4 inch from edges of cake. Starting from one sort side, roll cake, jelly-roll fashion,in towel. Cool completely on wire rack.
6. Unrolled cooled cake. Spread with ice cream. Starting from same short side, roll cake without towel and transfer seam side down to cake platter. Stick it in the freezer until ready to serve.

If you have any questions as to how to roll the cake, call me.

Mexican Fairy Tales

We had dinner with friends tonight and I told a story I hadn't told in a long time. It goes something like this:

Once upon a time the Trejo's joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They were happy, it was a good change for them. Bright-eyed and bushy tailed, and in spite of their breeding the Trejo's decided to become a functional family. They went to church, made friends and in general were happy. Then one day a different couple moved in, fairly new members from a far away ward. This couple was in a tight spot financially. This couple knew they needed to swallow their pride and just ask their friends for help so they came to the Trejo's. The Trejos weren't exactly best friends with this couple but they considered themselves generous people, so when asked, they gladly gave. Next thing we know this new couple had left the ward and skipped town with the Trejo's money. This couple was going to die.

Pissed doesn't even begin to describe the rants that went on in our living room. It looked more like rabid. My parents found out that these people were con-artists and had done this before to other people and all hell broke loose. My mom found out where they lived, found out their kid's names and the fact they had a dog. She wasn't sure what she was going to do with the information but she was toying with the idea of kidnapping and killing the dog. Thankfully, my dad and I talked her out of it (I'm not sure she would have gone through with it, but I didn't want a dog on my conscience) and after a while the storm calmed and we moved on with our lives. Then one day my mom and I were grocery shopping when we spotted the con-lady in the check-out line. I knew what was coming so I ran to hide behind the salad dressing aisle. My mom took one look at her and asked, "Where's my money!? WHERE IS MY MONEY!? IF YOU DON'T ANSWER ME I'M GOING TO KICK YOUR ASS!!" May I add my mother is freakishly strong and knows tae-kwon-do. These were not empty promises. It would not be the first ass she kicked.

The lady answered, "I don't even know you..." Which of course was a lie and a weak desperate attempt to flee with her life. My mom kept screaming making a huge scene asking this lady how she could sleep at night, how she could walk out in society and not shrivel with shame. Just when things looked like my mom was going to draw from her tae-kwon-do knowledge a couple of clerks and I stepped in. I told my mom that it wasn't worth it, this con-lady was going to go straight to hell anyway, that my mom should salvage what little dignity she could for being the bigger person. Well, we paid for our groceries with my mom telling anyone that would listen what the big deal was about and we got into the car and drove off with my mom cussing. I think she's forgiven them and we laugh about it now, but it still makes a good dinner party story.

Joie de Vivre

Michael: "...ok but in turn I get to ask you for a favor some time."
Gob: "My gut is telling me no, but my gut is also very hungry..."

Further evidence that one must always be full to fully function and rejoice.

Which reminds me of Europe. When asked what we wanted to do while there, Brandon and I consistently answered, "Eat."
"We know that," my in-laws replied, "but any day-trips or special tours?"
"Hmm... you mean like to Belgium for the street fries?"


Nothing else interested us. Sure the Musee D'Orsay has become one of my favorite museums ever, the Eiffel Tower is a structural miracle, the bones at the catacombs are old. Yet nothing compared to a fresh crepe with nothing but whipped cream in Paris after a ride up the Tour Eiffel. Or to the third gelato of the day in Belagio. My only regret from Europe is not buying a whole rotisserie chicken off the street and eating it with my hands. Why, oh why had I not stopped in the marche to purchase the mini, tiny tomato/cherry looking things and had a bite!? Why did I not order pig's trotters!? What was I thinking when I refused the millefeuille!? Brandon is still sad about the lack of Belg frites and kabobs even though, let me tell you, the French love their fries. You can't escape them. Fine by me.


You know that feeling of hunger? It goes like this: You eat breakfast, then you go on about your day and then your stomach reminds you that nourishment is lacking. A gurgling in your tummy typically guides your eating patterns. In Europe this was not so. We let our taste buds and lusts do the guiding. We heeded our desires and did not hold back. This meant that for 10 straight days we had liberated ourselves from the feeling of hunger and just ate, whatever, whenever. When a fresh pain au chocolat (croissant w/chocolate) called, I answered. In fact, I started anticipating the pastry's call and took to keeping a few in my purse for metro rides or long lines. And it wasn't just pastry that called, it was caprese salad, baguettes with goat cheese and ham, and fresh pasta-oh, the pasta.

Europe did not inspire talk of butt sizes or scales; there was no need for it. We just talked about painters and the beauty of the architecture. In Europe we were happy. Just happy.

What in the...

This is what we get for bragging to everyone that we live in San Diego and the weather is perfect and why would anyone live anywhere else. San Diego is burning to the ground as I'm writing this. I'm not going to lie, it's a little unnerving. More than half a million people have been evacuated from their homes. Hundreds and hundreds of homes have burned to ashes. No one can breathe the air without coughing or getting a headache. Thankfully Brandon and I have been safe and the only thing we're dealing with is the awful air quality. If one of the fires keeps going the way it's going we may have to evacuate. We're blessed that we're in a position to see the fire coming and get to safety in plenty of time. Also, luckily only one person has been lost, so that's good news (well, not for that person).

The mayor is asking people to stay home, not to be on the road unless necessary and not be on the phone unless necessary. Brandon even came home early from work and we don't know if he'll be ok to go tomorrow. We're grateful for our safety and hope that we can remain in our apartment the whole time.



Please pray for those in the stadiums and other shelters, even though they are safe from fires, they'll still have to sleep outside and breathe the awful air, and for the firefighters that have been working something like 30 hours by now.

Dinner Party

I find myself pictureless after our first dinner gathering. I'm sad.

We had our neighbors over and a couple that moved in the same time we did. It was fun. Mostly we talked about various things such as dogs, mountain goats, Ph.D's. Brandon grilled up (he's become a prodigy with the grill, he really has) great teriyaki pork with grilled pineapple and I made roasted garlic mashed potatoes (my best batch yet!) and green beans with a vinaigrette. For dessert we had berry tartlets with ice cream. Oh, I made bread which almost burned, but it didn't. Phew!

Then we all moved to the living room to chat and Mattie (our neighbors' Boston Terrier) puked on the carpet. So we called it a night.

Libros

I took a day off from movies to read a book.


Ladies Auxiliary I really liked this book. It made me think about what I believe and why I believe in it. It reads like a juicy piece of gossip - a fun short read. If you have time during a rainy day I would totally recommend it. The story is about Batsheva, a convert to Orthodox Judaism, who with a murky past moves into a community of Orthodox Jews in Memphis with a lot of ideas of how life should be led.

Ye Olde Van-e

When my family and I first moved to the States I was about 7. It was by far the hardest thing we ever had to do, but at least we had each other, even if we weren't crazy about each other, we were going to have to make do. There was no room for tears or anxiety, what was done was done and we were going to have to live with our decision, whether it turned to be a good one or not. My mom and I came first, then about a year later my dad followed. While my dad was taking his sweet time my uncle's family was nice enough to put us up for the year. Hardest year of a lot of people's life. My mom and I slept in the living room while my uncle housed my wayward cousin in the garage (son of my uncle and my dad's sister). There were disputes, pneumonias and a myriad of assorted problems.

Much to everyone's relief my mom and I had found an apartment (for $400- in LA!)and my dad was going to join us soon. As an act of good faith my uncle let us borrow a van, a 1960's Chevy looking thing (much like the picture). Actually it was a 1961, the same year my mom was born. It was an awful, flat tan - the color of dead grass - with the motor in between the two front seats so that if you weren't careful you might burn yourself. The front seats were black pleather and behind that there was not much else, just an empty cavity of ugly tan metal. The back of the van had no windows, no carpeting, no flat floor and most importantly no seats. At least the seat-belt law hadn't been put into place yet.

I remember many a road trip riding in the back of the van. The back was my dominion - I laid blankets all around the floor and made a bed for myself, did cartwheels at stop lights, and bounced around when we hit a bump. Stopping suddenly was the best because whatever activity I was doing in the back of the van was stopped abruptly and I was thrown towards the engine. I had good times in that van. If we ever lost our apartment we could have all slept there comfortably. In fact, now that I think about it I don't know why we didn't take it on camping trips. I suppose because we are city people. Besides I doubt that van would have made it up any sort of anthill.

The best part about the van was when it would decide to take a break in the middle of an intersection. Once we were turning left, on our way to an adventure (you see, my parents' philosophy was that weekends were NEVER EVER for working, ever, at all)when the van decided to stop in the middle of the intersection. The nice thing about living where we lived was that this was not an uncommon sight. Quickly, a few other cars stopped and men got out to help us push. "A empujar! A empujar!" (to push, to push) My mom, dad and a few other dudes were pushing the van out of the intersection as I took the wheel and steered us to safety. My mom and dad squeezed between the seats and took a look at the engine, argued for a little bit and it was decided that the problem was fixed. My dad started the van and we rode into the sunset looking for tamales.

My soul delighted

Few temporal joys in life lift the soul like a good portion of whipped cream.

(note: Craig was nice enough to not post the picture where I'm literally shoving my face in the crepe. :) )

At the Movies: Part Deux

Ok, so I went out and got some more movies. Movies are my favorite way to spend my time cleaning, they just make the burden lighter. Also, like reading or TV (thanks Comms 100), movies help us come together as a society. If I like Ocean's 13 then I already have something in common with the person on the East Coast that also liked Ocean's 13. Ta-dah! Thus making connections with the people who read my blog and like movies I like. Again, Ta-dah!


Love Finds Andy Hardy: Super cute. This is a good-time, family-fun, parents-with-integrity movie. Andy Hardy is in a series of movies, so there are a lot of Andy Hardy movies out there. They're about Andy Hardy and his family and his escapades. This one is about how Andy got mixed up with two different girls on accident and now he's in a jam. It's fun and goofy, nothing controversial or deep about it; good for a rainy day.


His Girl Friday: Fast, fast, fast!!! How the actors ever memorized their dialogs is a mystery to me. It's about Hildy, a fantastic reporter, who throws in the typewriter for a wife's role. She wants to settle down and have a family but her ex-editor/husband won't let her and he's determined to win her back. It's supposed to be a comedy but we stopped laughing half-way. It's a great movie, it just loses it's humor. The ending is happy depending on whose side you're on. (Note: Rosalind Russel plays Hildy, she also plays Auntie Mame!)

At the Movies

Annie, sister-in-law extraordinaire, gave me a good idea. But instead of books I'll do movies. I like books, but currently my reading list isn't going to be interesting to anyone that doesn't feel like baking. So here we go:


The Philadelphia Story - always a good classic. It's about this bratty socialite that realizes that the world can't always go her way. It's a comedy. My favorite thing about old movies is that you have to pay attention to little nuances throughout the whole movie, otherwise you won't know what's going on.


Aunti Mame: Love it!!! Current old-movie favorite. I think it's hilarious, but it's fast paced, don't go to the bathroom. Rosalind Russel is perfect for this role. Secretly I wish I could be like Auntie Mame. It's about her orphan nephew (Patrick) who comes to live with her, but he doesn't know what he's in for. Patrick's fiance, towards the end is Brandon's favorite.


Lust for Life: This is about the troubled life of Vincent Van Gogh. The thing I like about most old movies is that even though a subject has the potential to be crude, it's handled very carefully. Such was the life of Vincent Van Gogh. Kirk Douglas is amazing as Van Gogh, he's so intense and yet so tender. Must watch.


Gosford Park: So good. New, though done in the style of old, you have to pay attention to know what's going. It's a who dunnit murder mystery, with a great list of characters all trying to not look guilty. Must warn, it's an R.

If Sin I Must

One of my favorite things about our relationship is that Brandon and I can always be honest with each other.

One day we were walking down the hall of our college library when I spotted 7 small, framed posters detailing the 7 deadly sins (leave it to BYU). After taking a good look at them I noticed that one of the deadly sins was gluttony.

Aghast I replied, "Gluttony was a sin?!"
"It still is," Brandon said.
"Oh yeah... well then I'm going straight to hell."
"Yup."

Tuna, how I love thee

I hate strictly following recipes. I really do. Recipes are more like guidelines than strict rules anyway. I refuse to believe that I have to follow a recipe for something to be edible. This is not new, resourceful moms have been changing recipes for ages. Don't get me wrong, I can recognize the merit in recipes, they're useful and helpful. Hence my recipe postings. It's just the measurements that make me nervous and suspicious. How do I know a little more of this or that won't make it better?

I don't know, maybe one day I'll learn to follow a recipe and I'll never make cooking mistakes again. Until that day, Viva la Resistance!

Here's a recipe for tuna cakes I "created". It was a crab cake recipe but I didn't have all the ingredients (including crab) so I moved some things around and made it my own. And it was really good if I do say so myself. Tuna is so versatile and so good for you. If you're scared of the taste, it's very subtle, not fishy at all in these cakes.

Tuna-Cakes
(remember, experiment!)
Makes 6 small cakes (good for two people)

2 cans drained tuna (in water)
1 egg
1 grated carrot
about 1/3 cup of red onion
a small squeeze of dijon mustard (or spicy brown)
two medium spoonfuls of mayo
a few shakes of garlic powder
a dash of salt
a dash of cayenne pepper
juice of half a lime
about 1/2 cup of crushed saltines
flour
canola oil (or any other light colored oil)

Place all ingredients, except for flour and oil, in a bowl and mix together. Then make little cakes, dredge in flour and place in pan with hot canola oil.

Cook on each side about 5 min, or until golden on each side. Serve with garlic aioli, hmm...

Cara de Perro Muerto...

Good news, we have a dog!!! Well, almost, we don't have her yet but we will within the month-ish. She needs to be spayed, cleaned, and generally beautified. But she'll be here soon, and we couldn't be more excited. Her name is Ch. Andover Magic Maid (so you know she's cool and official) but her regular person name is Maggie. Yay, Maggie!! She's a soft-coated wheaten terrier (refer to a pic of her ex-boyfriend of the same breed to the right). I know that breed wasn't originally in the running, but oh, well.

Brandon and I are SOOOOO excited! It feels like we're going to be parents but without the swollen feet and sympathy pains. Soon we'll post pictures.

El Perro, La Casa

So Brandon and I want a dog, really, really badly. And don't worry, we're getting one. However, we're conflicted as to which one. The thing is we have a weight restraint of 35 lbs. or less. We'd like a wheaten, but we feel it's a little too big for an apartment, at least until someone stays home with it to walk it often or whatnot. Our next-door neighbors have a cute Boston Terrier named Maddie that does really well in their apartment. So we've got it worked out that when we get a dog Maddie and our dog ( I want to name it Pancho) can hang out and be buddies. Another thing to consider is how it will get along with Sydney, Connor, Mia, and Blackie. Mostly, we want a a dog that fits the weight restraints but won't die when playing with its dog cousins.

Anyway here are the contenders, I included pictures for your viewing pleasure and so you can vote.

Italian Greyhound: attractive for it's speed, couch potato-ness, easy-to-train disposition, and the fact it looks like us. We'll call it sleekness.
Downside: Mia will kill it.


Sealyham Terrier (looks like mini wheaten): attractive for its sturdiness, couch potato of terriers, cuteness, terrier personality.
Downside: They're stubborn and hard to find.


Westie: Attractive for its cuteness, sturdiness, easy to train.
Downside: It's almost too cute and prone to skin irritations.


Cocker Spaniel: Attractive because their tried and true. Brandon and I both have had cockers. Friendly and eager to please, big enough to hold their own with their dog cousins.
Downside: Maybe a tad too energetic.

So far those the contenders, Boston Terriers might be another one, or French Bulldogs...I think right now the Sealyham is winning.
If you have any other suggestions let us know.