Wednesday, October 28, 2009

415 West Hickory Apartment B

It seems many of my good friends, Soul Blistas, have extra cause to celebrate this holiday season.  As I've blogged before, Brendee is engaged but Kevo and his Vanessa are expecting.  With all the good news flying around the level of emailing has been up, and along with the influx of correspondence we've each in our own way been reminiscing.

Brendee dug up this picture today.  It was taken in front of my little tree-house apartment on Hickory street back in 2004, I think.  Before the Forsyths were parents.  Before Stacy was a mom.  If I remember correctly Marina, our dutch friend, took this picture.  I loved that little apartment with hardwood floors and a weird door from the kitchen to the bedroom and the holes under the windows that were as big as my finger and not insulated or patched.  I would sleep with the screenless windows open when it was nice and my cat Andy, short for androgynous, would stare out the windows and make the squirrels bark.  A few times a neighborhood cat joined us through the open window and Andy chased him off.  I remember so many things about that period in my life.  Standing next to my refrigerator, something was always going down in the kitchen, when Rachel told me she was pregnant.  That was where Marina almost drove her rental car through the lawn (scary) and Becky Camp and I locked ourselves out when the screen door somehow happened to latch itself.  Andy attacked a French guy, must of given him cat scratch fever because we never saw him again after that. (He was kind of strange anyway looked like the scissor wielding bald guy from Stephen King's Insomnia)  Brendee and I became really good friends in that apartment.  That's where Stacy and I became friends too, before she was just a friend of B and Rachel.  We drank A LOT of wine in that place, on the steps and the lawn.  That's where No Shower Sunday was born.
But what really got to me about this photo was not the remembering but the unremembered, the forgotten.  I had forgotten about that picture until Brendee sent it out today.  How many other things have I, or we, misfiled or shoved aside to make room for new memories.  Hmm. 
Once remembered those moments in time are sweeter than any candy.  I almost said it was like money found in a winter pocket, but it's not it's better.  I spend money I find no matter how long it was in my pocket, but those moments....I'm putting them in the vault.

Friday, October 23, 2009

A Bird on the Head...


Everygirl wants to look marvelous, beautiful and fashionable for her special day and to some, Like SJP's character Carrie Bradshaw, that means haute coture or birds and feathers.  Wanting to refrence one of our, Brendee and my,  favorite movies,  I trained my eagle eye on the internet to find something fine and feathery for B's big day.  What I found were awesome birdcage veils, wedges and angle veils at Unveild Bridal Designs. Now I don't know that Brendee wants to put a bird on her head, but these classy modern style veils were just too faboulous for me not to share.  Each of these brides shared their stories and photos with Dorene after wearing her beautiful headpieces.  The first photo was taken by Lynn Michelle photography.  The next lovely photo was done by photographer Angela Fuller.  The third bride's photos were done by Maria Bernal.  I would love to give credit to the final bride's photographer but couldn't find the information on the website.















Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Happy Birthday Brooke


From brooke and aaron's
Yeehaw, It's Brooklyn's birthday.


From Jessica's Birthday Celebration
My beautiful friends Jessica and Brooke


From brooke and aaron's

So long ago.


From brooke and aaron's
Brooke, Aaron and Lukie

I couldn't be in Texas today to celebrate Brooke's birthday.  Instead, I looked back through all my photos and had a good laugh and felt merry.  I'll send a toast your way tonight, Tooker.

Hollywood Weddings

Once a bride's maid never a bride?  This myth is soon to be proven false by Brendee Medina.  Hip hip hooray for my soul blista.  I've decided to dedicate a few posts to my friend's up coming spring nuptials based on some of our favorite movie and t.v shows.  I won't ruin the suspense by telling wich of our fav shows, but just know that while some of the refrences may be obscure, B will get it.  Kevin says that I have my own language and he's scared that he is starting to actually understand it.  This language isn't mine own, but developed with my gal pals, and Kevo, throughout the years.  For enstance when I tell B she is like a dead babies finger she doesn't get offended she just laughs and asks me where her favourite raindeer jumper is.

So, some of the next few posts may be alot like the twinspeak that my friends and I have.  For those of you without years of inside knowledge....just curb dog it and make me a bicycle, Clown!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Craig's Scam-A-Lot

Last week I posted my services as a tutor on Craig's list.  I have received several different emails from potential clients, but my internet-smarts red flagged the first and all the following were eerily similar.

I was so excited when I received the first one that I had to read it twice before I caught the stench of a scam.  I replied to the email, thinking I would be a detective and try to bust the would be criminal.  I'll let you read all the responses for yourself. Here are the emails I received:

Jones White to me show details Oct 10 (8 days ago)
Hi,
Let me know if you are available to tutor my Son great things and how much it will cost for a minimum time of 3hrs per week.
Dr.Jones.
 
To which I reply with the following email.  Check out my sneaky detective skills. I refrained from referring to him as Indiana. I figured if I kept it light and simple he wouldn't catch on to my ploy and divulge all his sinister plan to me at which time I would swoop in with a team of internet snipers and make him pay for his egregious crimes.
 
Dr. Jones,

I charge $25 an hour for tutoring sessions. Were you interested in the Spanish lessons or English Language Arts and Writing? What grade is your son and what is his name?
Please respond with days and times if you are interested in my services.
Thank you,
Amber
 
He responds:

Jones White Oct 15



Hi Amber,


Thanks for getting back to me...am Dr. Jones White. I am from Fresno,California but currently based in Elizabeth Vale, South Australia. with my wife and children.. My son Frank will be coming for an holiday in the States,and i want him to be busy throughout.
Therefore, i just want to know if he can always come to you and teach him good things on Spanish every afternoon..If this is possible,i will want you to get back to me with the cost of your teaching him for a month which can start by 26th of October to next month...
He will be in the state in 2 weeks time...He will be coming to your Place for 1 hour each morning or afternoon..The Local Library would be your meeting place and Nanny would be dropped off/picked up during the hours of teaching
My Son's name is Frank,he is 13 years old and he is just a beginner. I will want you to calculate 1 hour per day for Monday,Wednesday,Friday for a MONTH,and get back to me so that we can arrange on payment.Kindly get back to me with.. TOTAL CHARGES FOR 1 MONTH THAT HE WILL BE TAUGHT 3 TIMES PER WEEK..
Thanks and waiting to read from you soon.
Dr. Jones.

Does that smell fishy to you?  I think so.  I haven't figured out how to get into my angelienajoliesque harness and body suit yet, but am planning something ingenious to catch this lowlife who preys on unassuming victims.
Here are the other emails that followed the wily Dr. Jones:

Davis Micheal to me



show details Oct 17 (1 day ago)
Hi,
Let me know if you are available to tutor my Son great things and how much it will cost for a minimum time of 3hrs per week.

Dr.davis

 
Rev James Vincent to me show details 4:13 AM (6 hours ago)

Hello,


How are you and how was your day be like,I saw your teaching ad's on craigslist and i will like to know if you can teach my son in your field 3 times in a week and 1 hour each day. Please get back to me with your charges per hour and your cell phone number,so that i can call you to discuss about it better. 

Have a nice Day and i hope to read from you soon.


You Are Bless
 
Reverend James
 
Bill Blauer to me show details Oct 12 (5 days ago) -- Notice how in this last email from Bruce he tries to close the deal by selling the non-smoker aspect of his Son.  Reads more like a pedophiliac singles ad.

A tutor Teacher is needed urgently for my 14 years old Son, possibly 2-3 days a week. Very flexible hour, Non-smoker, Excellent compensation. Get back with your price per/h if you are available.
Regards


Bruce
 

 
I think I'll respond to all with the following message:
 
Dear all,
 
I think you all are in greater need of my services as an English teacher than your children are in need of my Spanish tutoring.  Your grammar is horrible, and the thin veil behind which you have hidden your scam is laughably poor.  Maybe this type of ignorant plot to extract money from a victim would work on you and your Son, but not me.
I would love to teach you Great Things.  Lesson number 1: Learn the language through which you are trying to deceive your victims.  Lesson number 2:  Learn about American culture if that is the country you would like to rob the most.  Here in the great U.S of A, the professional doctors don't generally sign correspondence with the title and their first name.  Idiots!  It would read Indian Jones, Ph. D, M.D or D.D.S etc..  Lesson number 3:  Learn your Geographical facts.  Billings, Montana is nowhere near Fresno, California.
 
I'm sure if you decided to grow a set of cojones and come here to the United States that my fellow countrymen and women would love to round out your education.
 
Sincerely,
 
Amber

Friday, October 9, 2009

Dirty Dancing

 Jessica, her sister Jamie and I use to put Madonna on the tape deck in Jess's living room and make up routines for our living room show. I also remember one time we played the Beach Boys or some other group that did surfing songs and we used the bench to the Prose's kitchen table as our surfboard.  Inovative we were. I had never even seen a surfboard, or the ocean but I was a pro that day. 
That memory led me to the one where my sister Janet and my cousin Deedee did our hair in that awesome 'do we call "the crimp" baby, I'm pretty sure Dirty Dancing was playing in the back ground because it seems like for a period of time that is the only movie females in my family watched. 

Dancing seems to be the thread I'm following here, so go with me to the high school dances at the cafetorium in Ponder, Texas if you will.  I remember being in elementary around 5 grade when the whole school would go to the dances.  My cousin Deedee and her friend would dance in the big group circles, that my friends and I would eventually embrace, and they would let me in sometimes too.  I remember my cousin being at the valentine's dance when I was in fifth grade, around 1988, and was nominated to be the princess.  I think Lori Crider may have actually won, but the point is I remember being so proud that my older cooler cousin was there rooting for me.

Years later it's Jess and I in the big circle dances, and don't remember them being "dirty" in high school but I do think back on them as being nerdy.  Back then, the big thing was to jump around your friend laying in the floor without stepping on them.  Sound weird, dangerous?  I think I stepped on Crystal Patterson's throat at my aunt Emma's house once. 

I wish I had this one picture.  It was taken infront of Jess and Jamie's house before the black and white dance, or maybe it was the polka-dot dance, we all had on blue jean shorts and polkadot tops. (is that right?) We being Jess, Jamie, Crystal and me.  I think Erin was there too, but maybe her shirt wasn't dotted. 

I don't know what got me thinking about hair and dancing, but it makes me smile to remember that stuff.

Just a bit


This is what I woke up to this morning. You can tell the pond isn't frozen over but there is snow on the ground, in the trees and roof tops. It's suppose to be a high of around 26 today, but warm back up tomorrow.
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Thursday, October 8, 2009

Beef Stew

When the weather turns cold I always crave hearty chunky steaming bowls of comfort food. Yesterday, to combat the falling snow, I made a delicious beef stew. Sorry, I forgot to take pictures. I don't think it would have photographed well anyway.  It was brown with chunks of other brown things (meat) and white things (potatoes) and orange things (carrot) and you get the point.  It made the entire house fill with mouthwatering aromas and I couldn't wait to dig in when it was done.

To prepare the stew, I used a pound of beef stew meat seasoned well with salt and pepper. I browned the meat in a large sauce pan for about 8 minutes. Then I removed the meat and added butter to the meaty juice in the pan and put in peeled pearl onions. After cooking the onions for several minutes I added minced garlic a bit more butter, then potatoes, celery, carrots and cherry tomatoes. I should have peeled the toms first because their little skins were floating in the stew at the end. I added a touch of salt, more black pepper plus red pepper flakes. Once the vegetables were seasoned and in the buttery meaty sauce I sprinkled flour over the top of everything, I had also added a bit more butter. I stirred the mixture to combine and check its thickness then I poured in beef stock and let the whole mess come to a boil. Once the concoction boiled, the burner was turned down so the stew could simmer for an hour or so until the veggies are soft.

When Kevin got home I toasted some sourdough jalapeno slices to serve with the soup. The stew was delicious and had enough spice. Kevin didn't need to doctor it up, but it wasn't too spicy for me. I'm having the left overs for lunch and I know it will taste even better today. Like so many other things I love, soups only get better with age.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

en coche

Since I've been in the great state of Montana, I've probably seen most of it from the front seat of various vehicles. I can't think of one weekend that Kevin and I haven't been traveling either within the state or outside to Texas, Utah, whatever. I'm not complaining. I've seen a lot of landscape, animals, rest stops and gas stations, but it will be nice to have some time "at home" this weekend.


I'm learning a lot about living here. It's an entirely foreign thing to me to WINTERIZE stuff. One thing that's different for certain is that in Montana fall means snow fall not autumn. We had about a week and half of fall-like weather and then it started to snow. I missed the first snow fall of the season, due to our journey back to Texas for the Peanut Festival, and Aubrey Homecoming, but it's snowing right now and I can't stop looking out the window to make sure it's still there. CRAZY. Snow in October.

If it sticks I'll take some pictures, but for right I've got to winterize myself. Where are those long underwear?

Meringue Cookies

I finally made beautiful vanilla meringue cookies.  It has taken me several attempts to get these to turn out looking and tasting great. ...