Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Saturday night Tina Fey was the guest host on SNL... and while I don't agree with her (what I think is her real stance) obvious support of Hillary Clinton... I did love this line... (which I interpret to mean that being a strong woman who speaks her mind is classy and sexy)... "Bitch is the new Black"... Amen... or Awoman!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
It's Sunday and we are watching the Red Carpet for the Academy Awards. Have made some fun munchie food for the Oscars as we sipped a California Cabernet: homemade Hummus and pita bought from the Halal market down the street, wild rice and lentil salad, lobster ravioli in lemon garlic olive oil, homemade avocado mayonnaise on steamed asparagus, thinly sliced New York strip, Australian cheddar, and Raspberry Creme Brulee from Trader Joe's

Brad Brulee-ing the Creme on the patio with a welders torch (kids don't try this at home!!)



We got ambitious and rented Michael Clayton...since it has gotten several nods... but it's now 5:30... so probably won't get there tonight... but definitely a must see.

Last night was fun and busy. A belated Valentine's.

The afternoon started Trader Joe’s. For some of the Oscar night snacks. I also got some reusable grocery bags… goal is to remember to bring them whenever grocery shopping anywhere.

Then we headed to The Lantern (a local bar in Naperville) for a beer and popcorn... and a appetizer combo plate… good people watching... a cute waitress/bar tendress that is friendly and perky with everyone... and so sweet everytime we go there... the drinkin’ folks were out early! Latern is fun… a place I think we will enjoy a burger often…

After a while we went for dinner at Meson Sabika for tapas. I have wanting us to go there for some time... but "somebody" felt "tapas" was a little bit of food for lots of money that left you hungry when all was said and done... needless to say we practically rolled out and I think she were conservative... we started with really nice marinated olives, dates wrapped in bacon with red pepper sauce, and patatas con aioli (the most garlicky potato salad ever!!!)... nice small dishes to share... intimate... incredibly attentive staff... then we had an olive tapanade on grilled bread with jamon, manchego cheese and chorizo with a fruit kabob... a tuna cannaloni (which was just OK)... an OMG "Oh so good" beef empanada with a horseradish creme... and the straw that broke the camels back... a seafood cake over grilled eggplant... we waddled away.... sharing a comment with a couple of women walking in as we were walking out that "the last tapas is one too many" because they just taste so good... I think we will be going back some day!



Then we went to Bombay Market. Got some Indian incense and I fell in love with the Ganesha statues. I really want one. He is the elephant god of Success or The Remover of Obstacles. I think I would benefit from having him on my side.

I want to get one and I would rub his belly every day!


After that we and saw Vantage Point. Not the best movie every, but entertaining. He knew I wanted to really see a movie at the theater… not his favorite thing to do… but knows it is one of mine…


We finished the night up at Timpano Chophouse for dessert and coffee. The picture does not do it justice, but really fun. Little cheesecake lollypops on a tree of rose leaves. Cute mini servings of things like raspberry cheesecake and keylime pie. So yummy... and once again... despite little sizes, we were stuffed. I think our waiter was a little cranky we were only doing dessert there, but it was late and nobody else was in line for the table



Sweet and romantic... and a lovely evening spent together!

Sunday, February 17, 2008
We have watched some good movies in the last few weeks. The Kingdom and Eastern Promises.
I also recommend The Namesake.

For the first time in awhile I am enjoying reading again. Into The Wild was very upsetting. A young man so idealistic, yet so naive and foolish in his choices. I have not seen the movie yet. But it is supposed to be a very good adaptation. One Dead In Attic also affected me. It is a series of newpaper collumns from New Orleans the 16 months following Katrina. I have a few others on my bedside table, Gang Leader For A Day (which I am reading now) and When Character Was King. Oh yes, Marley And Me was a sweet book about a couple and their impish labrador.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Ok... so I walked into the house and Bella was at her kitchen gate with tail going full Mock One Hummingbird speed... this was not a good thing... typically she is asleep on her dog bed and all I get is "the nod" until the gate comes down.... then I get tail wagging... licking... hopping... excitement... but not while the gate is up.... uh oh...

As I got closer... I saw the absolute havoc she had wreaked... also not her usual modus operandi ... aside from the odd yummy used paper towel getting knawed on. She is a really good girl while she is home on her own... barracked in the kitchen.

The garbage can contents were strewn from one end of the kitchen to the other... AND... there were drops of blood everywhere... it looked like friggin' Helter Skelter...

As it turns out... I had thrown away a broken glass jar of peanut butter (her favorite) I dropped this morning... and she knows she gets empty plastic jars to clean out... must have smelled it... tried to get it... can't see another reason... and no, no, no... she did not get into the glass from the PB jar... but she did find a soup can from the kids thermos lunch today... and did a very nice job slicing her tongue on the attached lid! Twice!

Oh my, but was she not the proudest dog ever... "See what I did mommy?"

Talked to our vet... no chew toys or Nylas for a few days, wet her food down, and give her lots of love... watching for infection obviously...

Woulda, coulda, shoulda taken a video of the carnage!! Hopefully this will be a lesson learned... hmmmm....
Thursday, February 7, 2008






Last June/July I took some cuttings from my mother's spider plants (OK I admit it... her Xmas cactus too... but that one died).... and the 3 cuttings took off... I now have babies off the babies... and I also have this one plant that just seems to grow and grow... I attribute it to the various crystals I put in the pot... anyway... here they are... green thumb at last... at least on some level.... I think I have 10 house plants now that are thriving... for me that is most definitely a record... African Violets are next :)
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Bella gets snow up her nose

(Click here to see)

Bella plays in the snow, supposed to get an inch... turned into three... Emma's giggle is the best

Bella stars in our first YouTube (click here to see) attempt... with a cameo by Emma :)