A Lovely Day at UCLA

Well, we just got back from the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, one of the few events that make me feel like there really are good, worthy people in Los Angeles. I got to see Jane Smiley interview Gore Vidal, and it was very entertaining. She introduced him, saying, "He is reviled in all the places that decent people want to be reviled." He was very erudite, and it made me feel like yelling "Yes! Why isn't he more places saying these funny and important things!" Why is Paris Hilton everywhere I turn and Gore Vidal is not! But he was there today, and if I saw him face to face I wouldn't bother him with questions, I would just say, "Thank you". Because that is really what I mean.

Mr. Vidal answered Jane Smiley's questions and came back with clever and interesting answers. He mentioned Ayn Rand, saying, "Oh, you can't talk to Ayn Rand...." as if to say that she simply cannot listen. The other moment that sticks in my head is when he was asked if he thought that Truman Capote died as a result of publishing "Answered Prayers" he answered in a buttoned down, ironically cheeky way: "Are you implying that there is a god?"

I also saw one of my favorite people today, my former writing teacher, Lisa. We sat in the shade a talked for a little bit while her little boy kindly shared his toys with my daughter. It was really really nice.

Peanut is passed out from all the excitement. Kids! And Books! It's all so amazing!

Happy Earth Day!

So here is my darling little contribution to Earth Day... (Since I kind of forgot to bring IN my reusable, homemade bags to the grocery store today- I had a very hungry little kid and was sort of in a rush).

Here are some suggestions on reducing your junk mail (I know you recycle it, but still):

Sustainable Dave, a guy from LA that is trying his gosh darnedest to not throw anything away this year, has some great ideas on reducing your junk mail.

In SoCal, call 800-313-6880 to get rid of Red Plum, a marketing pile of paper each week.

To get rid of the Pennysaver, call 800-422-4116 or mail them at:

Circulation
C/O Pennysaver
2830 Orbiter Street
Brea, CA 92821

Another happy earth day idea- a repurposed pillow case from Martha Stewart. Or make a bag out of an old t-shirt. I made one, and we use it all the time!

Have fun!

Festival of Books!

Yay! It's that time of year again! The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is this weekend. 

I got tickets to the Gore Vidal interview, so that should be interesting. Sherman Alexie is going to be speaking on one of the children's stages, too, so we may make our way over there, also.

I am a little sad that we are going to miss out on the one and only Mo Willems, author of the Knufflebunny and "Pidgeon" books for young kids. I have a couple really good voices for the Pigeon and the duckling from "The Pidgeon Finds A Hot Dog". I do wonder about the wisdom of a story that involves ANYONE "finding" a HOT DOG AND JUST EATING IT but it is fun to read to Peanut. I mean, where did this hot dog come from? Was it on the ground? It concerns me. 

Happy Earth Day, one day early. Recycle, use a reusable bag, go nuts. 

Actually, I have to link to this idea, because I think it is so clever: a reusable bag you can make from a t-shirt, from Martha Stewart. Super clever- reuse an old t-shirt into something you can use all the time. Make a couple, keep them in the car. Neat! 

Go forth and reuse, recycle, and repurpose!
 

Isn't It Sad When Things Don't Work?

I got a new mobile phone this week, since mine has been baby-assaulted enough to make the plastic back finally give up the ghost. I got a Sony Ericsson Walkman phone, and so far I like it. I am pretty annoyed though, that on the Sony Ericsson website they say that you can photo blog from your phone. How cool, right? Except that it doesn't work on my phone. So that is lame.
SIgh. I mean, I CAN upload the pics from my phone using Bluetooth, then upload them to Photobucket, then post the link in a blog post (like this):



I mean, how often do you see a person on a unicycle on your way home?

It Smells Like Burning...

....In my daughter's room. Edamame and the amount of milk she has taken to drinking make her poop smell like something is literally on fire in her room. I mean, wow. Really? Or maybe there's a house on fire in our neighborhood. Maybe, right? A little girl's poop can't actually smell this bad, right? This is through the normally impenetrable Diaper Champ that I also put a baking soda disk into. I normally smell NO POOP in our house.

I have been back in touch with an old friend this week and have had some lovely e-mailed conversations.
Golly I miss you, philosophermom!

I am pretty excited that it is finally the weekend. Although, truth be told, I have been dreading it a bit, too. You see (written in a whisper) I have not actually filed my taxes yet. Shhh. Yep, that is my dirty little secret. I am not sure if we will be getting something back this year, as I took some of California's WONDERFUL Paid Family Leave in addition to my maternity disability leave. As a result, I have a wee bit of untaxed income to declare. I have absolutely no idea whether this will mean that we owe money or not, since we also have a Peanut to claim. I think we should hopefully come out even, at least.

I have been jotting notes to myself to remind of what I wanted to write about this week. Here is the weekly ephemera:

I love Fresh and Easy Market. USA Today thinks they aren't doing so well.I say everyone should shop there because I really liked it. How I love thee and thine own peeled, cubed, butternut squash. That cooks in it's own bag!* Hurray! And you can check yourself out. And it isn't stupid like the Ralph's self check out, which always takes me WAY too long.

*Side note: I made a really yummy baby recipe this week- all by myself! I took Acini de Pepe pasta, cooked it, then took the butternut squash from Fresh and Easy, steamed it in my steamer rack (I sort of didn't read that you could steam it in the MICROWAVE IN THE BAG. Um, duh.) I then smashed the squash with my potato smasher and then added some heated, previously frozen peas. Yummy for my Peanut! And easy for me! Woo!

Funniest thing I saw in the news this week- "Clothes on sale included Abadia's underpants, the quickest items to sell after his capture half-naked by Brazilian police in August 2007." From BBC News. Don't you just hate getting arrested while naked? I do.

Also in the food realm:
I grew up and fell in love with cauliflower, thanks to a work friend. Apparently I am not the only one. NPR and I like the same things! Yay!
From the story:
"My favorite approach is to find an organic, healthy-looking head and, after washing, to cut it into smallish pieces and coat with olive oil and salt. I then roast it until easily pierced with a fork, and when it's alternately soft and crispy with good blackened bits along the sides of the pan, I pick at it gingerly with a spoon while hovering nearby and waiting for it to cool. A roasted cauliflower is nothing less than transcendent."

I wouldn't quite say transcendent , but tasty. A nice way to shake up that recipe? Toss it with a little bit of red pepper flakes! Cauliflower is also very, very tasty in many Indian recipes.

Last but not least, I really want to go to The Spy Museum in D.C.It looks WAY too fun.

100 Posts! And a 1 Year Old!

Well, I have been somewhat sporatic in my blogging, but I finally hit 100 posts! Wow! And my kid will officially be 1 in a couple more hours. Crazy, huh?

So, I was reading about a website called Ponoko on Wired magazine's website, where you can design your own item and they will manufacture it for you. Crazy. Boo- there's your idea. Go forth and make loads of cash while working from home. There are some neato goodies there. Check it out.

The almighty Peanut, in her infinite wisdom, has allowed the loyal subjects of Peanutdom a brief respite, so I shall go make use of it and get some rest.

Good night, sleep tight, and wake happy.