May 242013
 

As I’m writing this post, Steev and Raine are in the bathroom battling a fly that had somehow gotten in. I’m hearing animated shouts of “Okay, okay, I see it! It’s here! Oh no, it’s gone. Can you see it? No, can you? Oh, oh, there, there it is! Shhh, wait, where’d it go? Here , see it? No, where? Okay, don’t move, I think it can sense you!”

Hilarious if you’re not the one in there. Frustrating if you are.

This is the second fly episode we’ve had this week. The weather is hot, no doubt but the windows in the apartment are all screened so we really have no idea how errant flies get in.

Knowing us and how much we hate flies (and insects, in general), there’s just no way we can have a fly in the house and not do anything about it. We don’t own any fly swats or zappers but Steev has insect stickers here and there to trap the pesky creatures. Still! We don’t usually set out to kill any of these insects but on occasion, the inevitable does happen.

In fact, in Fly Episode No. 1, we successfully got not 1, but 2 flies to leave gracefully via the window after a whole lot of waving, shooing and dancing around the living room on our part.

In Fly Episode No. 2, however, because the fly was trapped in the confines of the bathroom, there’s limited space to wave and jump around. It was unfortunate the fly got smacked in the process. But at least, we can all rest easy tonight knowing we won’t be sharing the bathroom with an uninvited guest.

May 232013
 

I’m walking around with a spring (literally) in my step and a song in my head, literally. That plus the tostada salad I simply had to have at Baja Fresh. Best thing ever.

tostada salad

Back in college, I used to have my tostada salad every Friday at the college cafeteria. That crunchy shell, the heaps of grilled chicken, lettuce, cheese, guac and salsa, even the black, white and pinto beans which took a while to wrap around my tastebuds – absolutely to die for.

May 222013
 

1. It’s National Bike Week…do you own a bicycle? When did you last ride a bike?

I had a racing bike when I was at college. I guess that was probably the last I rode a bike since I don’t do the gym bike.

2. What’s something you learned in school that wasn’t part of the curriculum?

I couldn’t cook a thing before I left for college. Once I got there, it was either cook or starve. It’s amazing how quickly you learn to cook when you’re hungry and can’t afford to eat out every day on a student’s budget.

3. What’s a food you’ve never tried, but want to try? What’s a food you’ve tried and will never try again?

Mediterranean food would be one. I’ve tried food from many countries but Korean food is something I just can’t convince my tastebuds to like, especially kimchi and those little plates of weird tasting preserves or whatever.

4. Have you been more demanding on yourself lately or less? Why? Do you think that’s a good trend?

Less, because I’m having a blast in California so I’m kinda hanging loose, no bus runs and no pickup/dropoff alarms going off wildly on my smartphone. Certainly a great break for an ever-busy mom. Oh, and no workouts either :lol: .

5. Who is your favorite book, movie, or TV show villain?

Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) of Pirates of the Caribbean. What’s not to like about a guy who is both suave and hilarious at the same time?

6. How concerned are you about identity theft?

Unless we’re living under a rock, I don’t believe any of us would not be concerned.

7. I saw this last question on Dawn’s blog a couple of week’s ago and asked if I could share. Everybody hop over and say hi, but first answer this…would you rather have an ordinary home in an extraordinary place or an extraordinary home in an ordinary place?

An extraordinary home in an ordinary place, hopefully not so ordinary that it offers nothing exciting to see or do.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Steev’s commencement ceremony was one of the proudest days of my life. I tried holding back the tears – epic fail!

May 212013
 

Everyday Ruralty
1. Are you a heavy sleep, light sleeper, or somewhere in between?

Somewhere in between.

2. Are you currently reading anything interesting?

Nope, I’m too busy enjoying my vacation in California right now.

3. Do you like to enter contests?

The idea of winning is fun, that is, if you even win at all. The hassle of filling out a huge long form of info (TMI, if you ask me) is off-putting and a waste of time.

4. Are you good about taking time to do things you enjoy?

Not really but I’m making it a point on this vacay to hang loose and just do and eat what I enjoy, and not sweat the small stuff.

5. What’s your favorite food to cook on the grill, or enjoy at a BBQ?

I don’t grill or BBQ often, but I tasted some really delicious ribs with thick smoky sauce recently. So so good.

May 202013
 

Acting Balanced1. May is National Asparagus Month – do you like it? Have a favorite recipe?

I like my asparagus wrapped in prosciutto and drizzled with olive oil.

2. May is also National Salad month… what’s your favorite salad?I

I have several – tostada salad (which I just had at Baja Fresh yesterday), Nicoise salad, apple cranberry, just to name a few.

3. Laundry Question: Fabric Softener yea or nay? How do you keep your clothes soft and static free?

Yes, if I’m hanging my clothes out to dry in the sun, I use Downy softener. If I’m using a dryer, I go with Bounce sheets, they make my clothes smell heavenly.

4. Do you speak more than one language? What language would you love to learn?

I speak 4 languages, as do my kids (no, we’re not aspiring tourist guides :lol: ). Our conversations tend to get jumbled with vocab from all of them at once. I took some classes in Japanese once but am out of practice and would love to pick up from where I left off. I’m in the midst of learning French on my own but it’s not easy and I’m stalled right now because I don’t have anyone to practise it with.

5. My question…

Do you stick strictly to expiry dates on food, or do you go easy with them?