Touching Base

off to Truckee

My husband needs to get out of town not me. He needs a vacation not I. It seems like I have been on a whirlwind vacation (yes, I am unemployed) but it has not been a vacation- not at all. My husband will get to snowboard this weekend, hopefully Squaw Valley will produce some powder for him to enjoy
It’s family time, to get away from our home town. Enjoy some home cooking from my husband’s family up in the mountains. Breathe some fresh air, some fresh mountain air, see my brother and his family.

JUST GET AWAY

A comedy club

Last night my girlfriend Sheli and I went to Tommy T’s in Pleasanton, CA. We had free tickets and it was ladies night.
We sat our table, ordered food, and drank some cocktails.
The comedians were this trio called “3 Blond Mom’s”. At first, I had all these thoughts and how I wasn’t going to think any of their Shit was funny. It was hilarious. Maybe because there were only 8 guys in this whole place and the rest was packed with women. Could it have been the comedians of choice that packed this place full of women or was it chance? Either way, they were all different and hilarious in their own ways. We had gotten more tickets for Sunday night. I just need to tell Sheli that my husband and I want to go.

READ THIS!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080324/ap_on_fe_st/tallest_man

It’s a very touching story. Can you imagine not being able to travel by car, bus or plane because you were a giant? Thank God to all the kind hearted souls that spare him the expense for clothes, shoes a giant bike. Don’t know where to donate, I think I have an idea.

not cracked up like it used to be

I remember Easter as being a time to unwind, spend time with one’s family, enjoy the outdoors, and eat a really scrumptious meal.

Now, this year, I dealt with a bratty child that was ungrateful that she only got 4 eggs while the other kids got 9 or 10. I’m saying ungrateful that the day before she got 50 eggs and today assumed that these eggs would be handed to her so she wouldn’t have to lift a finger to search for them. Maybe she did a little searching but come on. Then, she had the nerve to not say hello to me when I asked for a hug. I said that she will feel different once the other kids got their Easter baskets from me, then she said “ok, I’ll give you a hug”. Kids these days, drive me nuts, they’ll be nice to you if you are giving them candy or treats. Whatever!
Maybe I was just raised differently- actually for the better. I give gifts never assuming I am going to get something in return. That is the prize within itself, self gratification. Knowing that you are doing something better for someone else that day.

security at airports drive me mad….

Read this article- see what I mean???!!!!!

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/14047

Also, my husband and his friends came back from Spring Training in Arizona yesterday evening. My husband mentioned to me that once they got in their seats in the plane, one of his friends turned to him and said “I can’t believe I got onto the plane with this”. Apparently, he had a long pocket knife in his pocket. My husband said that the blade is bigger than the largest pocket knife he purchased (a set a while back). The blade was literally about 8 inches long and 2 inches thing and it was jagged. How in the hell did he get through security with that? They let a short, stocky, Philipino through with bunch of tattoos through carrying this knife through security. I wonder what else they let through. Is security really doing their jobs? Are the airports and the flights really that safe? I kind of wonder how much training Southwest is doing. Are their agents really looking at the monitors at what goes through? Does the metal detectors really work? His pocket knife was all metal, it wasn’t encased in plastic or anything. It just makes you wonder and THEN IT DRIVES YOU MAD. Mad to the point of going through all the BS in the line to get through security when they aren’t even doing their jobs.

Green Beer and Green Cake

The aroma of a fresh baked cake lingered in the kitchen as my husband stepped in from a long day at the office.
He walked into the kitchen just in time. I had just finished putting one drop of green food coloring into the bottom of a pint glass. As I finished adding the last bit of beer into the glass, I turned to my husband and handed him a green frothy GREEN BEER! It was a sight! Looked liked something from a comic book or children’s saturday morning Mad scientist TV show. We toasted, clinked our glasses together and took a swig as I said “Happy St. Patrick’s Day”. He turned and look at the cake that I had just made and stated “Wow, that is a green cake”! A green cake indeed. I had put two boxes cake mix (white and yellow) and added green food coloring. The white cake mix is a lighter shade than the yellow cake mix. I had made a box of white cake mix, added the green food coloring. Then, I made a box of yellow cake mix and added more green food coloring to make it a darker green. The cake also had green frosting and green/white sprinkles. The interior of the cake looked like an expert did it- with the two different colors.
I had not made a cake is quite some time. I even used the new oven (electric) and my new cooking sheets. It’s feels Great to bake with Great equipment and brand new appliances with light. Light in the oven that is instead of constantly opening and closing the oven to see how the contents are doing.
Overall- the cake was moist, flavorful and the frosting was not overpowering. I bought the Duncan Hines light Vanilla frosting and it was even whipped for a light consistency. Szabo- the cake was good and I wish I could save you a piece.

Fav Mexican Food in Carmichael

After going to bed at 3 am, waking up at 8:30 am for my hair appointment at 9:15 am. Only having 5.5 hours of sleep is not enough especially since I have to drive home later on this afternoon. I am looking forward to lunch with the girls.
Jennifer, Beth, Gina and I went to lunch at my favorite Mexican food place- EVER, Garcia’s Restaurant that is. I grew up eating Garcia’s in San Ramon until the late 90’s when they extracted it from San Ramon. I was devasted. While attending Sac State between 2000-2003 I found Garcia’s in Carmichael. What a joy! Nothing like their savory bean dip to snack on while waiting for your entree’. The tortilla chips are super large and you can tell they are homemade, lightly salted and piping hot. Piping hot to eat with the piping hot bean dip. I dipped a chip, put it in my mouth, felt my tongue singe and pulled the chip back out again, you should have seen the look on Jennifer’s face when I did that. It was a facial expression of laughter as she drank her water, she held her reaction so she wouldn’t gush her water out into Gina’s face! Plus, it’s all about the red sauce with the enchiladas. I always get the cheese enchiladas with their classic red sauce, their tortillas are fresh, the cheese is so good- all pure mozzarella- not that skim milk mozzarella cheese shit either- all fresh ingredients. All of us ladies were sooooo stuffed, we didn’t have room for dessert- can you believe it- no dessert. I even asked if any of them had to share something with me, what would it be? No one had a comment. Then I changed the question around to if you had to choose a dessert, what would it be? Each had their own comments but still no one wanted dessert and at that moment, my rush for wanting dessert had vanquished. I absolutely knew that if Szabo was there, we would have forced ourselves to get dessert no matter how stuffed we became. (Right, Szabo)?
I was so stuffed and I knew all those carbs would make me tired. Sure enough I was sleepy on my drive home but I made it home with enough energy to crawl in bed and take a 3 hour nap on a Saturday early evening What a way to finish off a great weekend!

paid a visit and felt like a college student all over again

I paid a visit to Sacramento and while I was up there, these were my destinations:

1. Boston Market (mmmmhhhh, yummy)- had lunch with an old friend.
2. Visited our old stomping grounds (Szabo and I): East West Books on Fair Oaks Blvd. and Barnes and Noble on Fair Oaks Blvd.
3. Visited an old co-worker at his remote location- saw other old co-workers. Glad I got out of that work before all hell broke loose.
4. Picked up my friend Gina from work, almost got a ticket from parking attendant (key word is almost)- my wit and charm got me out of that ticket.
5. Had dinner at my fav spot in Sacramento (Tower Cafe’) with Gina and Juli. Nothing like a bowl of Corn Chowder, Pomme Frittes with the European Mustard Sauce (it’s all about the sauce) and dessert for dinner. So delicious
6. Went back to Gina’s place, played with her cat- “Bella” and played several rounds of DDR, broke a sweat
7. Went on a midnight walk in search of a party with her 5 friends, no luck and the destination changing after 20 minutes, we walked back to her place. I nestled up with a book to read on her couch to help me fall asleep while she ventured with her 5 friends to another party.

back home

It feels GREAT to be back home. I have so much to do between cleaning, finding a job and trying to put together my life back. A death in the family really puts a family through the ringer. Of course I understand that death is unexpected and I have no regrets but my life is just chaotic right now, and I have such an empty feeling that no one can fill. I assume I will have this empty feeling for a while.
At least I have my famiily and my friends that I can turn to. For those that have been through a huge loss like I (losing a parent) are very comforting. For those that have not been through anything like this have STILL been very supportive, comforting and willing to offer their time to listen to me vent. I appreciate all those that have been there for me to listen, to hang out, etc. You KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!! I love you guys!

went by fast….

Today went by super fast. Probably because I woke up late due to this Spring Forward crap. The only good thing that comes out of this Spring forward is that it’s brighter outside longer- woo hoo. It won’t get dark until at least 7 pm now.

Today, I ran some errands, hung out with Szabo over a bite of Cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory, won $50 at The Fiesta Casino, went to the Grocery Store, had dinner with my Mom’s neighbors, went to The Silverton and won $245.00, came home drank some mint tea and packed up. I depart for home tomorrow. I can’t wait to go home but I am REALLY going to miss my Mom. I am going to miss this house, I am going to miss all the pictures of my Dad lingering around, I am going to miss everything that “being here” has brought me.

Today went by so fast and now it’s time to sleep.