Warning

I was hanging out with Ruth earlier today. We were having a real pleasant time while watching the Food Network. But then this dude's show came on.


He hosts a show called Guy's Big Bite. Ugh. Today's show featured Guy making a total travesty out of one of my favorite foods. The tamale. I don't want to relive the whole thing, so let me just say that his recipe involved frying a few chunks of beef to a crisp before adding in store-bought enchilada sauce. Gross. Ruth nearly had a heart attack, as she, like myself, takes the tamale very seriously. So if you're also a lover of tamales and ever feel like making some on your own, please don't go to the Food Network for a recipe. And definitely don't go to Guy's Big Bite as a resource. What you should do is find a nice old Mexican grandma lady to teach you the ways of the tamale. If you don't know any nice old Mexican grandma ladies, at least wait for me to post a quality tamale recipe. I'll be sure to post one up soon...with some awesome video commentary if you're lucky.

After trying to comfort my dear mom after this whole ordeal, I finally remembered that Cafe Rio always serves tamales on Thursdays. I asked Ruth if she'd feel better if I took her to Cafe Rio tomorrow to get a tamale. "Yes," she said, "Yes, that would make me feel better." Poor Ruth, it's the least I can do. So come join Ruth and I at Cafe Rio tomorrow if you feel like a good tamale. Cafe Rio has the best tamales around here, hands down.

On the Heels of Change

I’ve been thinking a lot about change lately. What does it really mean to change? How does someone truly change? Should people try to change? Can people really change? Why is change usually so hard? Yeah, I’ve been thinking a lot lately…can’t help it, I’m a pisces. Did you know Benicio Del Toro is a pisces too? Gosh, I love him. Anywho, back to change. So I’ve been working through a bunch of changes as of late. And yeah, change is hard, real hard sometimes. It’s funny how easy it is to get very comfortable with a daily routine we create for ourselves, either consciously or subconsciously. It’s funny and kinda scary at the same time. I mean, one of the reasons I decided to quit work, move to a new place and go back to school is because of a routine that I created for myself over the course of a few years. This routine wasn’t good for me. It was killing me (killing me softly as Roberta Flack would say). The routine might’ve been good in the beginning, when I first started it. But it was time for a change once this routine started to prevent me from learning new things, growing, and moving forward in my life. I try not to think about how long it took me to finally scrounge up the guts to make a change. Man, it took me way too long. But I finally did it, finally made some real changes, and it feels good…most of the time. I mean, I’m still at a stage where I occasionally feel like going back to my old routine, because it was comfortable and still feels more familiar to me at this point. But when I feel like going back, I remind myself of all the good that has come from the changes I decided to make and all the good that I believe is still to come if I continue to move forward with the change. I know routines are a necessary part of life. And I don’t think they’re bad unless they start preventing you from growing and experiencing new things. In trying to keep up with the spirit of experiencing new things, I recently made a few purchases and need your input. Okay, those who know me well, know that I’m rarely caught wearing heels of any type. I would say that 95% of the time, I’m kickin’ it in a pair of Vans or Rocket Dogs (see Exhibits A, B, and C below). Well, I’m thinkin’ that it’s time for a shift. I think that it’s time for me to start wearing heels like all the other grown up girls. So I bought a few pairs of heels not too long ago (see Exhibits D, E, and F). I’ve had a chance to try out one of ‘em a couple times, and it’s been a bumpy road. I mean, they’re not the most comfortable things to walk in. I find myself missing my Vans real bad whenever I’ve tried my new heels out. So what do you think? Should I stick with my new heels and trash my old sneaks? Or should I return the new ones and continue to kick it in the more comfy shoes? I dunno, change is hard sometimes.

EXHIBIT A:

Ahhh, the Rockets. I wear these all the time, probably a bit too much.

EXHIBIT B:

These Vans have been my very good friends for many years now. They're so thrashed, I should've thrown them away years ago. But it's hard to part with good friends.

EXHIBIT C:

Aren't these cool? A little beat up though. I have a white pair too. Ha!

EXHIBIT D:

I call these eye stabbers, 'cause they double as weapons to be used in self-defense. If I was ever in danger, I could just take these off and start eye stabbing to defend myself. Hey look at how desolate it is under my bed.

EXHIBIT E:

They're wedges!

EXHIBIT F:

I needed a black pair...I'm not sure about the buckles.

Love

Maya and I are huge fans of love, so we'd like to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day. So Happy Valentine's Day. Remember to tell your family and friends how much you love them. Another thing Maya and I have in common is that we both really enjoy Nilla Wafers. So if anyone is having trouble thinking of a Valentine's Day gift, let us suggest that you may want to consider Nilla Wafers. The world would be a better place if everyone expressed their love a little more and shared Nilla Wafers with one another on a regular basis, at least Maya and I think so.

Shakespeare's Sonnet 116

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O, no! It is an ever-fixed mark,
that looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error, and upon me prov'd,
I never writ, nor no man ever lov'd.

February Sunday Vid, with a cameo by Maya

Here are Matt and Leesh's kids displaying just a few of their many talents. I'm so proud. Isaac's on guitar, kinda. Luke's showcasing his black belt skills. And Maya is kind enough to show off her walking expertise. Nothing but good times for this month's Sunday vid.

Balance

I saw this picture of Martha Graham in one of my classes last week and think it's really beautiful. It's been stuck in my head ever since I saw it. How did she do that?

Bright Lights, Big City

Last Thursday I met Maria for lunch. While we sat across from each other, enjoying our egg salad and turkey cranberry sandwiches (Maria had the egg salad, I had the turkey with cran), Maria got the bright idea of inviting me to go along with her to Manhattan for the weekend. My little sister has this gnarly habit of taking off to Manhattan to hang out on the weekends, and I've never had the opportunity to tag along with her until now. So I said I'd go. The next morning I found myself on a plane to New York City. I love making last minute plans with my sisters. All of them are so spontaneous and willing to do whatever comes their way, very fun.

The hotel we stayed in is right in the middle of Times Square. This was my first time in New York, so being dropped off in Times Square right from the get go was a bit overwhelming. Lucky for me, Maria knows her way around the city really well, so I was able to relax, let her lead the way, and have lots of fun.





Here are a few seconds of us on the subway on our way to Little Italy...

And some more highlights from the trip...

Mmmmmm, Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity.

Central Park.

Obama rally outside our hotel.

Greenwich Village. Matt, that Turkish Delight shot is for you.

We went to see a few of Maria's friends that live in this awesome building in the Financial District. I loved going to the roof 'cause the view was so cool.

That construction site you see there is where the Twin Towers stood.

I had a great time in New York. Maria, thanks so much for letting your big sister tag along with you to the city. I liked Manhattan a lot more than I thought I would and can't wait to go back and explore some more.