I wish I lived here...

I can only imagine how much a plot of land costs in this neighborhood...it is the suburbia haven...quiet, clean, tree lined, beautiful...I was walking around and all I could hear were birds calling and singing...eerie actually since that's rarely something I hear in my other spot...but it was fun! Just for an estimate, I would say this plot of land-just land mind you-NOT the land and a house...is probably going for $134,500 US...

This cutie patootie house is something I would be HAPPY to live in...it's got a gorgeous yard...whoever owns this must be soooo happy!!

This yard is nice...with the big tree and mature flowering plants...wow...I can envision all sorts of wicked stuff for the yard...it's a double lot...so...my estimate: $195K US

My dream home? I will probably scan my design sometime and post it...but "haaa...haaa...honk..." at the rate I am going with trying to keep up, I might take a WHILE!! :)
Someday...
See...the thing is...I had ALL good intentions to post sometime this weekend...and then I plumb got carried away with my buddy Court being here and all...but...anywho...here you are...just glimpses into what I want and wish I could have...dreaming and scheming and plotting to own a home...

Valentine...

Warning:

This post contains:
mushy stuff,
adult-style imagery,
and alcohol.
Lots and lots of booze.
Read at your own risk!

Had a great Valentine's Day - spent the afternoon baking nearly 75 chocolate chip cookies for my brother-in-law's bake sale...he really only needed 50, but you have to take into account some will not look quite perfect, some need to be taste tested...and with the ginger mojitos flowing, one needs something to nibble on.
That's my story.
I'm stickin' to it!
My gorgeous, talented, smart, did I mention BEAUTIFUL sister in law was helping me? She looked at the cookies and they came out perfect. I never have that effect on cookies...or anything! She's a total cutie, and sweet to boot. I couldn't ask for better in-laws. I am truly blessed!!

Andrew, Julie (Miz Cutie) and moi...

Oh, and her little brother was a darling too - and poor thing had to stay home in bed as he was recovering from the flu! :( She was so concerned for him, and went shopping with me for ingredients and when we got back to her house, he had already cleaned out their room. She felt even worse, and decided to come over to my apartment and help me bake.
Sweet, sweet!

C'mon, let me kiss you! You're my little brother, I have to torture you... (god they are too cute for their OWN good!)

DISCLAIMER: Cutie is of legal drinking age (18), she has a girlfriend, her parents allow her to party, and she is a very responsible young lady.
So, several ginger mojitos later, we were deep into convo about life, love and men/women. She always tells me how much she loves her brother (my honey bear) and she wishes she could meet someone like him who would obviously make her as happy as she sees me! Isn't that sweet? I am SOOOOOOO glad that we're considered relationship role models (ha...if they knew the truth...hehehehe)
Though for the moment, she is happy with her girlfriend, she's very diplomatic about how love can come courtesy of a man or woman.

And I wondered, later, after she had left with TONS of cookies, while I chopped, diced and seared Valentine's Dinner for my hubby, how everyone else was spending their Valentine. Even though it is a highly commercialized "holiday", it is a time for reflection and appreciation.
I have LOTS of gay friends, confused friends, a high ranking woman in our town is also gay - so it is everywhere you look, and I for one have no problem with it, and wonder why anyone else would. And then I remember the Fight against Prop 8 and realize that in my little cocoon of love and understanding, I am insulated to the real, ugly world of hate and discrimination.

What happens to those who were excited to get married, adopt and share a life together. How bittersweet is such a day do you think?, for them to realize that despite all attempts, they are not considered normal.
Is loving someone NOT normal?

My two cent piece - which some may argue is superficial and not necessarily worth much considering I don't know what I am fighting for...but I could care less...I value opinions, and believe that we are all equal, and I just honestly wish that legally and constitutionally, we can all accept what the people have already accepted.

And re: Valentine's Celebration? It was lowkey for us this year, what with expenses and such, we decided to stay in. I have an incredible hubby to share my life with, and when he hinted that he would love a steak with some kind of potato and a GREEN salad? What do you think I did? Hells yeas, I cooked. I was on it! Like white on rice (which was NOT on the menu btw). And did I take pictures or do anything a proper blogger does? Heck no. I was so busy trying to finish everything on time and getting the meal set up properly I didn't take not one picture. I will say this though, I am glad that I didn't. Some things are better off kept private. Oh, and to top off the nice meal, I made these: Mmmmmmmm!!!

We met up with our other couple friends for some drinks afterward though, so that was nice.

This is how the night ended up degenerating!!

Jose Cuervo ran out, so Aaron broke out the Corralejo...oooohhhh...shudder...These have got to be my favorite "cool" glasses ever!! I got them for my friend (our host) for Christmas, along with a nice big bottle of booze. The best kind of gift apparently! :) Oh, yes, we are "a small drinking town with a fishing problem". Seriously, the t-shirt says that exactly!

This was a gag gift, called Paris Hilton. She is brought out when the men are all together, and drinking. If anyone is silly enough to pass out (on their extra special, soft, fluffy couch), this becomes the prop for some HILARIOUS pictures and video. (We are all 20+ and early 30's). It used to be that anyone who passed out from too much partying, ended up with makeup and nails done. If you'll notice, it sounds like only men are the irresponsible ones who end up overdoing it. Us girls are SMART...we don't mess around. We have a few cocktails in pretty glasses and then we gossip and surf the net and borrow/steal our men's credit cards, and place orders for cute stuff online! Hehe. Oops, secret is out! :)
Oh, and if you're super concerned, we NEVER let friends go home alone after a night out as such. We have several cabs lined up who will come by and pick us up, and drops us off home.
Safety first.

My two cents

Just a thought, since I have been watching the news and reading all the gossip on the Chris Brown - Rihanna debacle. Abuse, any kind, is NOT right.
It saddens me to the very core that it happened - it should not happen to any one...man or woman, and abuse needs to be stopped. Now.
My mother was horribly verbally, physically, mentally and emotionally abused by my the man who raised me. I remember one instance where he literally spent ALL DAY beating her up, I came home for lunch from school and he stopped while she fed me. Then when I left, I left to the sounds of her screams. She tried to leave him and went to her parents for help, and her dad gave her an extra whooping and sent her on her way back to the husband "she chose".
I remember times when I had to crawl on my hands and knees as a little girl and begged him to stop hitting my mother. And getting hit in the process. And his laughter and acknowledgment that yes, he was all powerful and was the MAN. Fucking bastard.
Abuse hurts. It tears at you, rips you apart, makes you feel like shit, and debases you, makes you smaller than the dirt man treads upon.
It is vile, filthy, cannot be washed away, and is long lasting.
My mother, to the day she died, could not sit up right for long periods because one time, when the bastard decided that his fists weren't enough, that banging her head on the door wasn't enough, throwing her out on a rail-less verandah wasn't enough, that slamming the door on her fingers so she would lose her footing wasn't enough, he threw her down on the floor and proceeded to kick her.
She was the football and he was the deranged referee. Her disk slipped and she never managed to sit right again.

If anyone who reads this is experiencing any sort of abuse. Perhaps you have been made to feel inadequate, a word has hurt your feelings, or you have caught your partner looking like he/she is experiencing rage, reach out to a friend. Get help. Leave if you must. Do not look back.
Whatever happened that night between those two "stars", is happening all over the world. Re-evaluate your situation. Decide for yourself. Be strong.

If you are an abuser, or borderline - stop. Now. Get help. Break the cycle.

Stop the abuse. It hurts everyone; everywhere.

Ingredient: Recado

This is one of the ingredients that most housewives have in their kitchen! Recado. This little red block of spice makes for a red gravy that ROCKS. Every time I make stewed chicken, it's cinches everything together!

Brands vary - I sometimes prefer the homemade, but this was available in the greengrocer and it's quite good actually - stronger than the usual.

Oh...and ALWAYS, ALWAYS be sure to wash your chicken in lime! Yes, lime. (or vinegar if you don't have limes on hand) One of the things that makes me cringe is watching Food Network stars simply rinsing chicken from the pack it came in - with just plain water. That's just ...eww!
You have to soak the chicken in some lime...squeeze one whole juicy lime over the chicken, mix, add some water till it just barely covers the meat and leave to soak a couple of minutes, then proceed with seasonings and cooking.
It makes all the difference.
Oh, and while we are on the subject of cooking, I gotta tell you. I had Rice and Beans, with Stewed Chicken, fried plantains, potato salad, a bit of corn, and Hot Stuff. I roasted habaneros, with diced tomatoes, onions, lots of juicy lime, salt and cilantro. The combination is unbelievable. It makes EVERYTHING taste so much better! Oh...I have got to post this too...heehee...so many things to post, so little time. Till next time!

Johnny Cakes

Yes...Johnny Cakes. The recipe I use is one my wonderful, totally cute, adorable and sweeeeet Mother-in-law gave me. She always reminds me that it is my cooking that has packed on the pounds on her beloved son, but then she gave me THIS recipe! Hello?! I still luvs yas babe! :) Anywho...I have pasted a couple collages to show how I more or less bung up a couple things and come up with this divine concoction! :)

Yes, perhaps I could have said something, but really... silence is golden.
And pardon the dark-ish settings. I am not a PRO! :)

Next time, I will do a video of me making tortillas...that oughta be fun!

TAGGED - I'm one of 6 IT's!!

Hehehehe...what a lovely morning...was coming from home and on the way, I thought of posting a couple personal things on this morning's post. Then I log on and rebel has TAGGED me! :) I have never been tagged before...so...here goes...

25 random things about me (oh gawd...)

25. I speak Yucatecan Maya - and actually didn't have to read the sub-titles on Apocalypto...:)
24. I dream in color - wild crazy colors - and never have had a black and white dream...
23. I secretly wish I had super powers (well...not a secret anymore) - I always wanted to fly
22. I have NEVER tried da herb... (most people I know have...and still DO!! but not boring ole me)
21. My favorite cereal is Honey Nut Cheerios (I literally will sit and eat the whole BOX if no-one stops me...dry, with milk...whatever...I will hog it!)
20. I once went to Europe after a guy I met and spoke to for ONE hour in the flesh, invited me one year later....confusing? Um...I met this guy, we spoke for one hour, exchanged emails and over the next year, plotted and planned until I actually took my FIRST overseas flight to meet him in London - then he took me to Paris, and a couple spots in Spain...aaahhh...to go back to innocent old days!!
19. so...in relation to that...I have never been to the US...though I know one section of the Miami Int'l airport very well...
18. I do love a good ellipsis...
17. lol...I just Googled the spelling of the word...and realized that I had spelt it wrong on MANY occasions...and so, my 17th confession: I LOVE GOOGLE!!! (not their backing of Prop8 though)
16. Back to food...I don't really care much for chocolate - like, I will eat it, if it's in a dessert or something, but I won't actually go to the shop and BUY one...
15. I love writing backwards (in cursive too)
14. I used to have prophetic dreams (I think I have learned to suppress them or something...it hasn't happened in a long time!) - I once met this guy, and that night, I had a vivid dream about him...that he was getting married but he kept dilly-dallying between getting married and officiating the wedding...when I told the friend who introduced me to him, she cried - saying that he had taken his trip to Belize to clear his thoughts and make up his mind about whether he should marry his fiance or join the priesthood...I have also dreamt of many incidents that have happened...and I will on occasion get a feeling that something will happen...and it does...some silly, some a bit serious...
13. When I was growing up, I wanted to be a neurosurgeon. And a pilot. And a teacher. And a bank teller. I am neither of those things - I fly in the cockpit often in our little planes; I used to teach; I turned down a job as a bank teller - instead, my hubby-wubby is one...perhaps one day I will operate on someone's brain...metaphorically...coz blood makes me a bit queasy...
12. while on the gray matter...I ALWAYS have a running commentary in my head (ever watch Scrubs? yeah...sort of like that but not quite!) - I am always imagining a scenario - whatever I am doing...walking down the street? check out that goofy smile I have on my face...that's because I just imagined something hilarious about whatever is on the street...
11. (you're still here?) I started cooking at the age of 8.
10. I can wiggle my ears and twitch my nose (I guess on command)
9. I have never watched Star Wars or Star Trek...and have NO desire to do so...
8. I cry easily...when Grissom left CSI...I bawled...
7. I love Disney shows - the cheesy tween ones (esp. Hannah Montana and Suite Life of Zack & Cody...etc...) and the cartoon-y ones (with a bowl of cheerios on a Saturday/Sunday)
6. I love the cold more than the sunshine & heat
5. I believe in lucky underwear/clothing
4. I am secretly a bit of a food snob (gee...thanks BLOGGERS!)
3. I will spend all day on perezhilton if allowed
2. Even though I thought the Cardinals had a great story...I secretly rooted for the Steelers (but it's only because Big Ben is so CUTE and kinda reminds me of my hubby...so if I had his love child, you couldn't really tell...) - yea...NUTSO!! hahahaha...
1. I LOVE knowing the endings...To a book (sometimes, I start reading there) To a movie...I annoy the bejaysus out of my hubby when I constantly ask him...and then...what's gonna happen? huh huh huh?

So...now that you know how annoying I truly am...I will pass on the torch to a few people...sad thing is, I don't really know who I should tag. hmm...the conundrum (Rebel already went...hmm...huh...)

1. tacogirl
2. Joy
3. okay...this is REALLY pathetic...I am not sure I can tag anyone else...not today anyway...but these two will go for now!!