My Personal Chef: Trader Joe

An ode to Trader Joe's:

I never knew you, Trader Joe

Never suspected I'd join.

I never knew you tasted so good

Never spent there a dollar nor coin.

But Ellie introduced me

To the finer things in food

The quick fix for my dinner

My table's no longer nude.

My husband asked tonight

With what did you spice this fish?

"Made it myself," I told him.

"Did you enjoy the dish?"

Trader Joe you've turned me

To a world of mild lies

For my husband thinks I cooked it all,

But I only make the pies!

I actually can cook things, when necessary, but Trader Joe's offers whole meals just waiting for me in my freezer. It's so easy and cost effective! I know, I'm the last to know. I was intimidated and didn't know what was good there, but Ellie gave me a tour and now I am a converted believer.

What are your household secret tricks?

Mother of the Year

Came back from the dentist yesterday to a sick little baby. She was having an allergic reaction, I think to Camille.

Mimi looked almost as bad as this:

Here are her swollen little legs, hard to tell because they're so fat anyway. She was covered in hives.

Sad little swollen ear.
Thankfully, Ellie was there to give her the proper dosing of benedryl and tylenol. I was panicking. Mimi had a temperature of 99.5.

I called the doctor, just to tell them what was going on, they told me to get in my car right now and go to the hospital -- El says that they're required by law to tell me that.

But we went anyway because we have great health care, better safe than sorry and it only cost $5. Plus, her swelling had not gone down sufficiently with the benedryl.
Here's my good little patient. No crying! Notice the wrist band.

The doctor dosed her with medicine, some steroid and allergy meds.

Dx is a good daddy, he rushed right over to the hospital.

She woke up a happy baby!
Actually, the allergy might have been to apple juice or formula.

Filipino Inmates do Thriller

Inmates in Cebu, Philippines do Thriller.

I think it's part of their sentence.

Click here: Thiller

You aint seen nothing yet.

Hunka Hunka Burning Tahoe

We spent this last weekend at Fallen Leaf Lake where Dx's grandparents live. While we were there we checked out the 4 square miles burnt in the mid-June fire. Dx's family lives at the southernmost point of Fallen Leaf Lake. The area between the burn and the lake is a steep hill, maybe 600 ft.This picture is standing on the road looking down at the burned area, looking southwest.

This one is the same road, turned southeast toward South Lake Tahoe.This last one is facing the opposite direction, toward Fallen Leaf, the lake is the blue in the background. These trees are burnt about 100 feet down the FLL side. Their home is at the bottom of this hill.

That's how lucky they were.

Of course, Bill and Gram did not evacuate -- captain goes down with the ship and all. You can just imagine them, both about 80 with brandishing very large firehoses. If anyone could have fended off fire, it was them. Of course, they had their valuables waiting in a boat on the lake, just in case.

Here's what happened to the houses in the burn area. It looked like a war zone, garage doors melted, cars carcasses resting on burned rims, and lone chimneys. It was creepy.


On a lighter note, here's Mimi with Mandie.

Things I Like

Flight of the Conchords. HBO, Sundays 10:30

preview a fabulous seductive ballad. Part-time model
Arrested Development. Preview why Tobias Blues Himself

I also like these people.

A No Wynn Situation

A new casino recently opened in Las Vegas. As this city of sin is one of Dx's favorite, he wanted to visit the new Wynn casino. We don't gamble, but we like fine dining, fabulous hotels and swanky shopping -- all of which the Wynn reportedly has.

Unfortunately, when we were getting out of the car and pulling Mimi's stroller out of the trunk, the valet shrieked "Strollers not allowed!"

Mimi is little, but she is heavy. Either we carry her or baby was not allowed. No strollers allowed at the Wynn? Isn't that illegal in some way? All the other hotels allow them! Anyway, we decided to carry her. We were starving. This parasol decorated restaurant looked promising.
Here is Dx talking to the hostess. She said, "No children under 5." We were banished.
Now I ask you, how could you turn down this adorable baby?

Today we went to the zoo. We're welcome there, stroller or no.

Baby Harrison

Fabulous Alex had her adorable and tiny little boy on July 11. 7/11/7. We flew to Las Vegas to see him as soon as we could. Mother and baby (and dad) are doing great!
Dx and Harrison.
Harrison and special little baby pacifier.
Alex and giant baby Mimi.
More pictures to follow, we just got here.

The Swimsuit Issue

Mimi has a rough life. Five months old and she has to go to Hawaii twice.

We were fortunate enough to get to spend the last week in Hawaii, far away from blogging abilities.

We ate shave ice and wore bikinis.

Dx didn't get to come, we missed him a lot. He had to work, boo.
You're a grand ol flag.
Crack kills
It was as much fun as it looked, and delicious!

The Year of a Thousand Cars

Cravens like cars. More than liking cars, we like changing cars.

Dx talks about cars, he dreams about cars. I catch him researching cars on-line and if he's absent for a few hours, you can bet he's probably at the car lot test driving cars.

When I was 16 I started begging people who were 18 to take me to test drive cars. I had boyfriends with fun cars, I worked at Automart and I went to car shows. Before I met Dx I picked out and bought my first car "with my own money" (having sold the cars Dad gave me because I am spoiled.) It was a 1966 Mustang, pale green. I had the breaks updated and taught myself how to fix things like ignition starters, locks and windows. I don't know much about what happens under the hood, but I know how to check a car for previous accidents and what the pings in the engine mean (they're bad.)

The day I met Dx I lured him away from the other girls by inviting him to come check out my new car. He had also bought a new car that week -- his Honda S2000, which is kind of a car-guy's car.

Dx has had lots of cars. See if you can figure out the pattern: Honda DelSol, Mazda Miata, Honda S2000, Porsche 911. He says he likes fast cars, I say he likes cars that Minnie Mouse would be proud to drive.

Before we got married, Dx bought me a BMW 330i. When we got back from Europe, we had had it with mini cars, so we bought the FJ Cruiser "for Tahoe". Then I became too fat and pregnant to lift my bulk into the FJ, so I bought a Prius. I almost accidentally sold my Prius, but I got to keep it.

Dx bought the Porsche because it's a "family car" which means it has a back seat, for a parapalegic. When he sells this, who knows what he will buy?

I have found just the car for him.

It meets nearly all the qualifications:

1) It's a hot color.

2) It's unique

3) Minnie Mouse would love it.

Wait for it

wait for it

It's an Amigo, I think. Pretty, very masculine.

Eat it Or Wear It

Mimi is in a new phase. It's a hard when you're four months and you realize, hey! Everybody is eating fabulous things, but all I eat is boob!

We go to a lot of restaurants and we always bring Mimi. Recently, she wants to grab and taste everything. Not eat, that would involve swallowing. Taste. It makes dining out considerably more difficult.

Today I gave Mim a mesh bag rattle thing full of ice. She was in heaven and screamed when it melted. So I tried bread. No good. Then I put in blueberries. She liked those. Finally, I bust out the rice cereal and she thought she was in heaven. Ate 2 bowls, after spreading it all over herself.

Here is Mimi. She eats in the nude.