Monthly Archives: July 2009

# 10. Try three new vegetables (3/3) – Avocados

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# 10. Try three new vegetables (3/3)

Avocados
It seems that everywhere in California they have avocados and guacamole. I have always been the one to push avocados and guacamole on the side when they were with any given dish. There was something about the green substance that I just couldn’t imagine eating. So when K’s brother decided to make dinner one day he made guacamole. He said that I needed to try it. When I did I realized what I had been missing. It is delicious! He taught me everything he knew about the avocado and how to make the guacamole. I am looking forward to trying my own recipes and eating more of this great vegetable.

The two houses of San Diego! Check them out!

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The first night K and I were in San Diego we went to the The Yard House and The Shout House. These are two places you should go when you are in San Diego. We had a blast!

The Yard House is an upscale-casual eatery known for its extensive menu, classic rock music, and world’s largest selection of draft beer. From classic lagers to more obscure ales and stouts there’s a draft beer flavor for everyone. Each Yard House location features a transparent keg room containing more than 600 barrels, some 1,000 gallons of beer, and an endless fleet of tap handles – 100 to 250 – depending on the location. Each beer comes in a pint, goblet, six pack or even the huge half yard (not for the wary!). The menu of American cuisine includes an impressive selection of appetizers, salads, pastas, sandwiches, individual-size pizzas, seafood, steaks, ribs and chops.

The Shout House consists of dueling piano players. The two piano players/singers perform at two, face to face grand pianos in front of two large mirrors performing the classic rock ‘n roll hits from the 1950s to the present. It’s request driven by the audience and with the use of multiple teams, goes non-stop all night. It is hilarious. I couldn’t tell you how hard I was laughing. The two players change the words to the songs, sing and play songs you love to sing to at bars and just have an all around good time.

# 12. Read 30 new books I haven’t read before (5/30) – The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

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On my trips I always bring a book to read. There is always a quiet moment or a morning when I am up before everyone else. So I love to fill this time with reading. This trip I decided to bring The Time Traveler’s Wife. I read a bit of it at the store and fell completely in love with the idea of the book. The Time Traveler’s Wife is the debut novel of author Audrey Niffenegger. It is a love story about a man with a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel unpredictably, and about his wife, an artist who has to cope with his frequent absences and dangerous experiences.
I enjoyed this book immensely. It is quite unique and original love story. This novel shows you the journey of life – it is not a fairytale, it is full of obstacles. I was completely engrossed with the story of the main characters Henry and Clare. I was so involved that I actually thought about them when I was away from the book. The book documents specific instances when Henry and Clare meet throughout their lifetimes, as well as occasions upon which that Henry returns to his own childhood. Throughout time, Clare knows that she will encounter Henry and she constantly waits for him to return to her life. The general theme of this book is the power and endurance of love.
I have heard that some people have trouble following the story in the beginning due to the fact that it jumps from time to time. If you are one of those, stick with the book. I personally think it is worth it.

The MeMe Award!

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After returning from California I found that that the wonderful Bookish Penguin had awarded me with the MeMe Award.  What a surprise!

What is a MeMe Award you ask?   I have to share with my readers 7 things you don’t know about me and then pass the award on to 7 of my readers.

Interesting.  I had to figure out 7 things to write that I hadn’t written before.  I juggled around some ideas and here is what I came up with… 

1.  I am bit obsessive compulsive.  I don’t believe in only checking the door once.  For some reason I needed to check it at least twice.  Along with the stove and the lights.  I know this isn’t healthy, but I have done it all my life.

2.  The 101 in 1001 list that I have composed along with the List of things to do before I die has really helped me get out my shell.  It makes me want to go out and do more.  Some of the things on my list I have been afraid to do, but for some reason having them written down and for you all to see has made me a bit more adventurous and made me go out and do some of them.

3. I have been engaged for almost 10 months but have yet to make any plans for the wedding.  Seems that most girls who get engaged go into this tizzy about planning their wedding day.  I am not one of them.  The planning will start soon…I promise. 

4.  I am not a coffee person.  A friend jokes that when she sees me drinking coffee she know that I am having a “polite” cup.  I only have coffee when I haven’t slept all night and need a bit of a pick me up.  And when that does happen it is more milk and sugar then coffee.

5.  I used to have an extensive amount of books.  When we moved into our apartment about half the boxes that came in were full of books.  After not having a place to put them I decided to donate almost all of them to the local library.  I would rather have someone reading them then have them sitting on a shelf collecting dust.  Books are meant to be read, not as decorations.  I did however keep a box full of my favorites that I couldn’t let go…

6.  I know a lot of random, useless crap.  My father calls me the human remote control because I can walk into a room and know exactly what is on the television and who is in the movie/show.  BUT if you ask me what we are doing next week or what I had for breakfast two days ago I couldn’t tell you.  Guess all that useless crap took over… 

7.  I am a night person.  If I could work at night and make a great living at it I would.  I would sleep all day and work at night.  For some reason the night calls to me more then the day does.
 

Now dear readers it is time for me to pass on the MeMe Award to you.  Seven blogger readers I’d love to hear more from and think you should check out: 

Andi and Saam @ Bon Joon – an adorable site about food, fashion and fun!

Irene @ Confessions of a Tart – I adore her recipes and she makes me strive to be a better cook.  I sometimes feel like eating my screen when I see her posts! 

Olivia @ Ohlivin!- She is always making me laugh with her dating woah’s! She is hysterical and witty! 

Lailia @ Laila Blog’s - I love her step by step recipes with photos!  The endings are always mouthwatering.

Peabody @ Culinary Concoctions by Peabody- Droolworthy!  I want to make everything she has ever posted.  Everything…

Kerstin @ Cake Batter and Bowl – she always has original recipes for quick, healthy, and inexpensive weeknight meals and fun weekend treats. 

Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction- I loooove her Friday Favorites.  She is always showing me new blogs/recipes that I have on my “must make” list.

California I miss you even though I think you gave me a cold on the way home.

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What a wonderful week I had in California! I have so many stories to tell of things that I tried that were new and exciting. Books I read. Food I ate. Places I went. Things I did. Unfortunately, I am still trying to get myself together. The flight on Wednesday brought us in pretty late and then I had to go to work the next day. Thursday night was a wash because I was exhausted (even though I couldn’t seem to get a wink of sleep in – too much tossing and turning). My suitcase hasn’t even been opened. I am happy that today we are only working for half the day and then I can come home to go food shopping. There isn’t a cucumber or piece of meat in the house. Hopefully by tomorrow I will have my head all straightened out and back home.
California I miss you even though I think you gave me a cold on the way home. Naughty California!

Cross my fingers and hope…

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Worst flight ever.  Really.  Worst.  Hours of waiting in the airport.  No food.  Or food for a thousand dollars.  Crew who was four hours late.  Really?  Really?

So glad to be in California and to start my vacation.  Hope that it is better then the flight in.  Hope that the flight back is better then the flight in.  Doing a lot of hoping….

Does California have chubby pale people?

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Oh. My. God.

What was I thinking? I am going to be in a bathing suit in less then 24 hours.

Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out.

I haven’t been in a bathing suit in I can’t tell you how long. I am not a bathing suit sort of girl. I am too pale. My Irish/Austrian ancestors were not the people who sorted with the sun. I should wear sun screen that has an SPF of 545945584958. I am so self conscious that I actually e-mailed the couple who we are going to be staying with and warned her of my paleness and not to laugh! She wrote back telling me “You are too cute and too funny. Of course I will not make fun of how pale you are… It really isn’t your fault silly — it has rained 17 days in June for you guys so it would be a miracle if you weren’t pale”. She is too funny.

Not only that…I don’t like the way my body looks in a bathing suit. Don’t get me wrong. I like my body. Just not when it is on display for everyone to see. I love my curves. I am proud of them. They are part of what makes me well me. But like every women I don’t like certain things. I can lose a bit of weight. I can shape up more. We all have something we don’t like.

Does California have chubby pale people?

Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out.