Gotta Love Bono!

Yeah Michele! LOL
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4650024.stm

Q & A to pass the day!

Four jobs in your life: (best to worst)
1. Umm Best Job…..still looking
2. TFS Studio West Hollywood (floral design hysterics)
3. Hits Magazine/Global Satellite Network, Sherman Oaks (music mayhem)
4. Slots-o-Fun, Las Vegas Strip (passed out popcorn to gamblers and alcoholics)

Four movies you could watch over and over:
1. Willy Wonka (original)
2. Sound Of Music (are you seeing a pattern here, la la la)
3. HAIR (it’s groovy) Oh, and Harold and Maude (Cat Stevens before….well you know)
4. Moses and old epic classics usually with Mr. Heston as lead or Sinbad.
(how did they animate so great without computers! Hah)

Four TV Shows you love to watch:
1. Lost
2. Medium
3. 24
4. Grey’s Anatomy


Four places you have lived:
1. Las Vegas, NV
2. Tujunga, CA
3. Scottsdale, AZ
4. Los Angeles, CA

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. London (going back in May or June!!)
2. Paris
3. Belgium
4. Argentina

Four websites you visit daily:
1. BBC News
2 Craigslist.org
3. Trent.Blogspot.com (so funny)
4. The Animal Rescue Site (click on all 6 causes)

Four of your favorite foods:
1. Grandma’s specialties (see previous post)
2. Fish n Chips from Ye Ole Kings Head in Santa Monica
3. Pasta and Gelato from Al Gelato in Bev. Hills
4. Pesto Pizza from Oregano’s in AZ

Four places you'd rather be right now:
1. Anywhere on a vacation
2. London
3. At a day spa on the massage table
4. Skating at the beach


Four bloggers you are tagging:
1. Danielle
2. Deena
3. Ellen
4. Darrell

Now what do I do for the next 6 hours of work!!

GOOD EATS!

The long awaited feast commenced at my Uncle's up in Sunland / Tujunga and boy was it yummy! My Grandma was in town so what else could we do but put the woman to work in the kitchen, just to show our love for her. Hey, she lives to feed us and we wouldn't want to disappoint.
I went over early because we all love sopapillas and Gram doesn't roll anymore so as I hold the title of the best sopapilla/tortilla roller in the family, I was on it. The menu consisted of Pinto beans, red chili with pork, sopapillas and rice pudding for desert. New Mexican fare at it's finest. I also took my own container for some leftovers and that is exactly what I had for lunch today. I love my Gram!
We had a great time and my cousins, Jody and Steph came over and we all talked for hours and then and I cut J & S's hair. ( because I am also the favorite cousin! haha )
We did learn that the word sopapillas had been changed from something that sounded close to beignets (which are about the same fried doughnut-like bread) and there is also an American Indian word but we call their version Indian fry bread. All of which are tasty and in case you can't get Gram to make the real thing, I recommend the Gumbo Pot (also have a great Mardi Gras celebration) at Farmer's Market with some chicory coffee. Mmm Mmmm!

Good food or Science experiment?

Fig. 1) I start my day with the lovely green concoction that I mix into orange juice and it supplies me with all the nutrients of eating a bunch of veggies since I don't always get my daily quota. It looks like freshly cut lawn but tastes like spinach and has no taste if mixed in O.J. Good stuff.
Fig. 2) This is a nice try from a vegan restaurant that shall remain nameless. I should've known from the moment I stepped inside and it smelled like something that I hope was broccoli...that this burger looking thing would taste like crap. I have been to some great fake meat places but this one missed the mark. I will continue on my search. Have a great weekend!

Knittin' Kitten

This is pretty much where you can find my cats and myself for watching our favorite TV shows and while knitting the rest of baby blanket #2. (and hopefully the last PINK blanket for a while)

The second I sit down, Dexi gets comfortable on my lap and sometimes she helps hold the yarn. DC just flops next to my head like a fat furry pillow and falls asleep.

I will be heading out with Lori tonight to The Knitters Studio for a yarn sale so I will have groovy yarn for new projects.

Take Me Back to Last Weekend, Please!

I was enjoying the garden of Eden!
My friend asked me last Friday exactly what I did while house sitting. I kinda had to show her so we went to my "Job" and I proceeded to give her the low down. For this particular house with no pets, no indoor watering, no outdoor watering and no cleaning lady to let in (until I was gone) the answer would be, not a damn thing! Unless you count watching cable, eating all the great food and chocolate, enjoying the backyard that I love and sleeping in a super comfy bed. Yep, that's about it. I do have to get the mail and daily paper... to read while I sip coffee in the garden. Somebody's gotta do it!

Stop this crazy thing!

The home that my dear friends lived in and the view from a hilltop behind their condos. All units were condemned and they were forced to pay rent (while still paying a mortgage!) while the 2 years of repairs were made.


It has been 12 years and 1 day since we were so rudely awakened at 4:30am to what sounded like a train going through my apartment but felt more like being in a can that was being shaken and thrown on the ground repeatedly. The horror of hearing things breaking and people outside screaming is beyond explanation. Take my word for it, you never want to experience a magnitude 6.9 quake, though I (along with those who lived through the 1971 quake) am convinced it was bigger and reports were circulating that showed it was. Call it a crazy conspiracy theory if you will but the fact that FEMA would've had to dish out way more funds if it was 7.0 or higher and In the wake of the recent Katrina disaster, let's just say that nothing is shocking.
What was truly shocking was how everyone came together to help one another and Los Angeles was a kinder gentler place for months after the disaster. Of coarse the repairs were made and people returned to their bubbles, some lost everything and moved away and some came back after a couple years (like me) but I occasionally hear the conversations especially around the anniversary, "Where were you during the Northridge Quake?" and everyone takes a turn, some embellish and some just shake their heads and mumble "awful, just awful".

Day by Day

Another year, another set of ambitions and hopes of becomming a better human being
even if it is impossible to volunteer time to the needy. I kid you not, I have been trying
and aparently there is no need for volunteers in Los Angeles! "What we really need is
donations" and they don't accept clothing or shoes ect. only cash. Um, if I was Bill Gates
I wouldn't be going to VOLUNTEER websites now would I! I am shocked to find that there
are others who have run into the same response. I guess I will just do what I can and seek
out those that do accept "other" donations.
As far as that yearly resolution that millions of Americans make of getting in shape and
losing a few pounds, I don't make this one. I have already paid off 3 gym memberships that
I didn't use! I will stick to eating smaller portions and drinking tons of H2O and as Dr. Weil
recommended, learn how to breath, most people don't get enough air and it's FREE!!!
I came accross this little prayer on another blog:
Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray the Lord My shape to keep.
Please no wrinkles,Please no bags
And please lift my butt Before it sags.
Please no age spots Please no gray
And as for my belly,Please take it away.
Please keep me healthyPlease keep me young,
And thank you Dear Lord,For all that you've done.

And this would be my response:

And as I pour a glass of wine,
I've earned these wrinkles
and they are mine
and please don't speak of bags and sags
my jeans all stretch, of that I'm glad
A magic potion will hide my gray
as for my belly
sweaters and coats is what I say
If there is one thing that keeps me
young, it's laughing out loud
and having fun
I prescribe to this to this to keep my health
it's what counts and nothing else!

I hope this made you SMILE! Cheers.

Back in the UK

The weekend was glorious for being out and about so I took advantage of the lovely weather and hit the pavement as soon as I escaped the job on Friday. I had a hankerin for some Indian fare and just a few blocks from my flat is the India's Oven. They have great service, music and the food is great. Hey, Elmer Dill gave it a good review too. I loves me some naan but it is after all, bread. My favorite dish is the veg. korma, so creamy and perfect for dipping naan! I had some raita and biryani and aloo gobi along with a glass of red. I took half the meal home for lunch the next day. What I love the most is the fact that the kitchen is full of people that actually eat the food, yes Indians. I can't tell you how sad it is that many (most) restaurants are so cheap that they won't pay for authentic chefs when they can train any kid to make the food and still charge the patron for the "real thing" even though the dish is second rate at best. Great food is all about alchemy and a chef that never eats the stuff at home and certainly not when dining out can't possibly get it. But hey, I have also been to other countries and seen many an american hit the McDonalds when faced with having to try the native fare. I am guilty of ordering pizza and frites in Amsterdaam but that was beyond my control....heh, but I always try the regional cuisine too even if I can't pronounce it!
The weekend wouldn't be complete without one visit to Farmer's Market and a coffee and doughnut from BOB's. Forget Crispy Cream, Bob's rocks!
Sunday was the weekly meeting of the minds, Mark and Michele, George and Sarah and me. This week we were joined by M & M's neighbor, Cherry and we skipped our fave place with the cheap bloody mary's, mimosas and entertainment for uh, good food. We made the treck to Santa Monica for my favorite fish and chips (that's including all the places I have tried them in Great Britain!) at Ye Olde Kings Head on Santa Monica and 2nd Street. This place feels like a pub and has tons of pictures with the famous who dined and drank there to checkout. We even found one of Black Sabbath from 1974. Ozzy looks so young! I too have been eating my Queen size fish & chips there for around 16 years and take everyone who visits and gives me an excuse to go back for more! The employers and employees are mostly all expatriots from the UK as are many of the patrons. (Santa Monica has a large British community) I can't tell you enough how great the fish and chips are, you must just go, now!

This is only a test

I know what you are thinking, "finally a picture of something that you have knit" but that was almost not the case as history was almost repeted for the uh, 5th time and you would've had to creatively visualize the cute ensemble in your head.
Some folks have a hard time hanging onto or breaking sunglasses, some lose earrings...okay I do both but that is not what this story is about.
I have been dubbed the camera killer. No, I'm not proud of it and for the record, one camera was kidnapped at LAX. (I still hate you evil luggage screener! Those were good pics.)
For some reason, no matter how carefull I am, I tend to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when it comes to my little picture taking companions and last night was no exception. I won't go into every explanation but let me just give one example. Camera #2: Killed on a trip to Mexico. (I didn't know there was a blowhole right in front of me!)
So about last night, I had camera in purse, purse fell over and was open, I grabbed handle to upright purse, camera went flying, hit pavement, guts fell out. (just the batteries but that's like the guts) I gazed in horror and jumped to pick up parts before a car really killed the little guy. Whew! I put back guts and got nothing. My first reaction was Waaaaaaaa but I went upstairs and put in new batteries and pet the camera ever so gently whilst promising to never let anything bad happen ever again. Lo and behold, the digital gods smiled upon me and the life was breathed back into my soul stealing companion and now I will have many happy years of smiles to document with Mr. Kodak for all to see. Amen.

2006 and Work Still Sucks!

I’m back at work and the office is a ghost town and coming in is a complete waste of time so let me just utilize my time wasting with a holiday recap so grab the last of that ham some wine!

Happy Hamburger Mary's

Yesterday was brunch in WeHO at Hamburger Mary’s. This place is so entertaining and the drinks are cheap! Those party animals Sarah and George were still going strong on a couple hours sleep. Michele and Mark (barely) made it as well! Those kids! I was in bed by 12:30, it was like, “Happy New Year Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz”. I went to M&M's after eating and watched that Holiday Classic, Being Bobby Brown! We had more mimosas and then I left so they could nap!

Sin City X'Mas

I went to Vegas for Christmas to surprise my Mom. Mandy was also home from college so it was great. We had Christmas dinner at Danette’s and the rest of the time we spent doing what we do like eating, shopping, eating and my new favorite, playing slots of the video game type. Sure, I am still the biggest loser but it is sooo much fun! I decided to just cruise around the casino and try every machine to see what the animation does. It was actually working in my favor for a while. I would sit down and win and then get up, go to another and win and get up and so on. I got lazy so I would play too long at one and then lose all but we got a few laughs out of it….I will cry when I balance my checkbook later. I managed to escape Sin City without catching a cold from Jay. I had to medicate and hold my breath on the plane ride home since people still haven’t grasped the concept of COVERING THEIR MOUTHS WHEN COUGHING/SNEEZING!! I’m telling you, people are getting dumber.

Let the games begin

I began my holiday shenanigans with a luncheon with the folks in the office next door. A couple glasses of wine and some good eats and I was on the way. I happened to see Murphy walking to the Grove and after lunch called him to see if he was still around. He was so I joined him for a glass of wine and a bottle later we decided to try a new Spanish tapas and wine bar across the street on Fairfax but they were full of attitude so we skipped it and went to Cobras and Matadors for dinner and a bit more wine. Needless to say, I was not feeling well the next day at work but I made it through the day without incident., thanks to the saltine crackers!

NY Lisa and LA Rodney

Lisa came into town the week before Christmas for a couple days so I met up with her for dinner at Chao Krung. We love our Thai food! I was glad to get to see her as I had just canceled my trip to New York for the holidays. It was too cold for me! If I am going to freeze my ass off it will be on a pair of skis going down a mountain to the lodge for a hot toddy. I’ll have a hot apple pie please with whipped cream! It worked out well for her as I was going to spend some of my time at her place but her family decided to all meet for the holidays even though she was against it, as she said, “we have done this and we never enjoy it.” I hope this time she had more fun. We went over to Canters for a coffee and I got to snap a picture of the Mayor of The Sunset Strip himself, Rodney Bingenheimer! I can’t tell you how many times I have seen Rodney in all my years in this city and how much I loved the documentary of his life. He is such a fragile and quiet man but he will always be remembered as an important part of the music scene that he helped create. You can still hear Rodney on KROQ Sunday nights 12am till 3am.