Category: Uncategorized

Unless you have been living in a cave for the last few months you probably already know that Election Day is tomorrow. I hope you are getting out to vote. Even if you live in a state that isn’t considered a swing state. Even if you are confused about how the popular vote and the electoral college work. Even if you have to work a little later to make up the time. Even if… well you get the idea. Don’t know where your polling station is located? Google knows.

 

I would like to be more of a patron of the arts, but to be honest, our current budget and my taste in art doesn’t quite match up. One of my favorite artists is William DeBilzan. I have admired his work for a long time. I love the bright colors and the long skinny figures. If we had an extra $10K burning a hole in our pocket, M and I decided we would like the one above titled “From Within”. The picture doesn’t do it justice. There were a few smaller pieces that maybe would have fit in the budget, but to be honest, some work just doesn’t translate into small. A lot of the power in this painting comes from the fact that it is larger than me. If only I could have purchased back when he didn’t have his own gallery in the plaza…

I know I have posted about my love for all things skull related before. Well today while wandering around the plaza area we passed by a jeweler that had a lot of nice things in the window. A lot of nice things and one really really awesome thing. I fell in love with this belt buckle the moment I laid eyes on it. I don’t usually do this, but I went in and tried got a closer look. Then I tried it on. Then I put it through my belt loops. I try not to be too terribly impulsive so Mom, Bill, M and I went for lunch while I pondered it. There is just no denying how awesome this belt buckle is so we went back. After a little more discussion we decided that ruby eyes would make this already badass hunk of silver just that much more so. Since there are a few changes to be made I will have to wait a few weeks. I am so excited! Thanks again Mom and Bill!

This is just about the cutest cupcake I have ever seen. My sister got it for me at a bake sale. I couldn’t get over the oreo eyes. I am definitely going to have trouble eating this little guy.

Today is Day of the Dead. Personally I am more a fan of this holiday than Halloween. It is a day to remember those that have passed on with altars and offerings such as sugar skulls and favorite foods of your loved one. I like the idea that you would honor the memory of people that you loved and take time to remember them. In remembering them they live on. I also like the figures of skeletons dressed up in all different outfits from traditional all the way to silly. Unfortunately for some reason last weekend was the celebration here, but I can still see all the decorations around town.

M&I are on vacation in Santa Fe. Since we used to live here we mostly like to do the thing that we liked to do then when we visit. I guess that means eating out because we have a long list of places we would like to eat and a short list of things we want to do. Tops on the eating list was La Choza. We can check that off already. Today I had a breakfast burrito with a friend smothered in some delicious green chile. This evening we went to The Shed. Yum. So much chile so little time.

I have been a New Yorker for a long while. Even when I was living in Santa Fe, I was a New Yorker, which is why I moved back. I started watching Life on Mars this evening because I had run through all my regular TV shows and what the heck, I now the BBC version was good so I figured this one might be as well. The main character is thrown back into 1973 from 2008. He figures this out when he looks over at the Manhattan skyline and sees the Twin Towers still standing. With the scene set and the music building up as the towers appeared on the screen, I got teary. I didn’t expect it. I drive past ground zero once a week and beyond being terribly disappointed that there is still a huge hole in the ground, I don’t have a real strong reaction. I miss the towers. They were visible from just about anywhere on the island. You may not have known which way Broadway was but you knew which way was south.

I grew up at a time when Star Wars was cool. You know, before the clone wars when Yoda was a teacher instead of an ass kicker and no Jar Jar. I am not usually one for dressing up pets on Halloween, but these costumes are so cute, I almost let out a squeal of delight. There are detailed instructions on how to turn your pup into Princess Leia, an ewok or Lord Vadar. Leia is my favorite, although it helps that the model is a dachsund. Wiener dogs will always have a special place in my heart.

For my birthday I got a rice cooker with a setting for porridge. Just like the three bears. Tee hee. I have been using this setting to make steel cut oats for breakfast. It is great. I get everything set up the night before, I set the timer to be ready when I get out of the shower and voila! Hot oatmeal for me and M in the morning. I don’t know if you have made steel cut oats, but they are messy and time consuming. 45 minutes and a pan with oatmeal stuck to the bottom if you aren’t constantly stirring and then sometimes even when you are. In the rice cooker, it is so easy that I could have hot oatmeal everyday. Look out cholesterol, you are about to get lower.

A few years ago I decided it would be a good idea to go back to school for a year. So I went part time, took out a student loan and went to FIT to learn how to make jewelry. If I had to do it all over again, I would. I love to learn new things even if I don’t end up using them in my real life as much as I would like. I don’t really make jewelry, although sometimes I bang something together. Well yesterday I sent what will be my final payment for my student loan! What a nice feeling. Next month we are also making the last payment on our upstate property! Whoo hoo! This December we are going to feel like millionaires! But don’t worry, we are planning on saving and even investing a lot of that money for the first few months.