This past weekend, Ed and I went to the skateboard park with my brother and my three nephews (that's my oldest nephew there in the photo!). That's right, ME in a place swarming with children. No, no, I'm okay. Thanks for asking.
But while watching and taking pictures, I felt like I was in a foreign country; grind, ollie, carve, half-pipe, trucks. I needed a Skateboard-English dictionary. If I'm going to be the cool aunt, I have to know how to communicate.
The best part of the day for the boys (and by boys, I mean Ed, my brother and my three nephews) was the mini-sports cam we bought my brother for Christmas. They were strapping that thing on anything they could get it around; helmets, heads, thighs, chests, foot, etc. They made a video that makes going on a rollercoaster look like a walk in the park. I wanted to throw up just watching it, that's how disorienting it is.
But with geeky Ed on the laptop (yes, at the skatepark) and my nephews "shredding up" the skatepark, they were in heaven.
Look what I found in the driveway when I got home! This fierce looking bobcat was staring me down like I was a fat, juicy rodent! If I wasn't sitting in the car at the time I took this shot, I think I would've been a bit nervous.
The other night we were watching The Kids Are Alright (starring Annette Benning, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo). First I have to say that it probably wasn't a really good movie choice to watch with my parents.
The main characters are lesbians. Now don't get me wrong, I love the lesbians, and the previews for the movie looked really great, but there was a little too much lovin' of the lesbians in it. Not graphic, just very suggestive. Awkkkwaaard.
Annyyyywayyy...in the movie, Mark Ruffalo was a restaurateur who also tended a small community garden. He was super cute and laid back in the movie. A little too "California" but just scruffy enough for me to decide to ad him to my celebrity crush list.
In one scene, he was in the garden and as he was walking through, called to one of his helpers to get the Swiss Chard he had left behind.
He looked so incredibly cute at that moment, that I exclaimed "I love Mark Ruffalo."
Which was followed by my mother saying, "I love Swiss Chard."
Is it any wonder I'm so obssessed with food? I have two parents who made food a big part of their lives; my father with his cooking skills, and my mother with her keen ability to watch a movie and spot the delicious produce.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I can't keep a resolution for one day, let alone one year, so I'm not making any this year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? An old friend from high school gave birth to a gorgeous little baby girl named Ava Rae.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No.
5. What countries did you visit? Italy! Oh my god, we finally went to Italy!!
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? More time in the snow, a girl's weekend with Vicki, a week in a cabin with Eddie, time alone with my brother, a great vacation and time to sit down and organize my computer data.
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Our Italy trip; I will remember it because saw some amazing places, learned a lot about how to pick travel companions, decided that I was born to travel first class (but can't afford it so have to suffer with the cattle in coach), realized that something 2,000 years old can be as beautiful as something built yesterday, and came home with a horrendous case of bronchitis which wiped me out for the two weeks following my return. The passage of the Health Care Reform bill, because it's the right thing to do. The repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, because it's about time.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting recognized for what I offer the trucking industry; my blog, my articles, me. I've been approached several time for trucking industry related shows; one a documentary on women drivers. I don't know that it'll go anywhere, but I like that I was considered.
9. What was your biggest failure? Similar to what I felt last year; that I don't really see things as pass/fail. If something doesn't work out, it just doesn't work out. To me, it's not a failure. Plus, I don't pin too much on any particular outcome.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? The worst illness I've ever had; bronchitis that was contracted on the trip back from Italy. Ed and I were down for two weeks with that little beauty, and the coughing for me went on for weeks after. And, as a result of the coughing, a pulled muscle between my ribs that made it unable to move without pain.
11. What was the best thing you bought? A new computer!! And earlier in the year, Ed bought me a new iPod, since I dropped the other one in a cup of Diet Coke.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Well, there's always Obama, who always does something that makes me want to celebrate. My godson, who got an A+ in every category on his report card. Eddie, for being as easygoing as ever.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Certain family members; it doesn't depress me, it pisses me off and appalls me.
14. Where did most of your money go? Paying off the last bit of my debt, fuel for the truck, the Italy trip, new computers and all the little things we always do to keep us entertained out here.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Seeing snow!!
16. What song will always remind you of 2010? "From The Morning" by Nick Drake (it's the one from the AT & T commercial where they drape everything in orange fabric - my favorite part is the draping of the St. Louis Arch),
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? Just as happy, a bit fatter and richer because I have no debt!
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Read. I have lots of books on my Kindle that I just haven't gotten to.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Eat. And maybe I wish I'd done a little less complaining (only because it annoys Ed).
20. How did you spend Christmas? In Portland, Oregon with Ed!
21. Did you fall in love in 2010? I'm in love with cheese, does that count?
22. What was your favorite TV program? It's still Glee. If you live under a rock, you can catch up on past episodes here. I'm also love Grey's Anatomy and Project Runway. Although, Mondo was TOTALLY robbed when Granola Gretchen and her UGLY collection won.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Not really.
24. What was the best book you read? I only read "Food Rules" by Michael Pollan. The rest of my free time this year was spent on the internet.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? I didn't really find anyone new, but I was reacquainted Teena Marie, someone who has been on my iPod for years. Sadly, it was because of her death that she was pulled from the dusty playlist.
26. What did you want and get? The trip to Italy and a few loads through places with bright, beautiful snow!
27. What did you want and not get? More time with my best friend.
28. What was your favorite film of this year? I didn't see many films this year. The one I remember at the moment is An Education with Carey Mulligan (which I really liked) and Bright Star (which I have, but I've yet to watch). Honestly, most of my movie viewing time was spent watching Criminal Minds, NCIS and my most favorite of all, Monk!
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 43 this year and we didn't do a whole to celebrate because we were under an oversized load to New York, meaning our time was dictated but how long we could drive each day and where we could do (which is nowhere). But once we got there, we spent several days in the area enjoying the Fall as only New York could do it.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? If I had more time in the snow; preferably in Canada.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? Anything that didn't bind at the waist or cause me to be hot. I'm not happy at all with my wardrobe and am thinking of revamping the entire thing.
32. What kept you sane? I don't really have a problem with keeping my sanity, but phone calls and texting with my best friend certainly help. As does Dunkin' Donuts every once in a while.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I'm having a never-ending love affair with Barack and Michelle, but this year I couldn't get enough of Monk...even in re-runs.
34. What political issue stirred you the most? No one political issue stirred me but I can't listen to the endless stream of lies coming from the mouths of Republicans; they disgust me and so do the Teabaggers.
35. Who did you miss? My father, as always. And this year, I really miss my maternal grandfather. Here's a picture me enjoying his fantastic guitar playing:
36. Who was the best new person you met? Marlaina, another female trucker who is also half of a driving team. We've met them for dinner, she and I exchange great emails and we're planning a 2011 vacation with them. And Charlie; a blog reader who is super-smart, extremely witty, and always one of my favorite emails of the day.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010. Do what makes you happy.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. From Christina Aguilera's "Can't Hold Us Down":
Lettin’ ‘em know we’re gonna stand our ground Lift your hands higher and wave ‘em proud Take a deep breath and say it lout Never can, never will, can’t hold us down!
But you'd think it was the second coming of Christ the way all the news outlets are covering it. "Winter Storm Warning", "Roads Closed", "Chilly". Calm down, people.
Boy, Portland really has a plethora of places to eat! This is the second Diners, Drive-ins and Dives restaurant of our trip; Arleta Library Bakery Cafe. No, it's not a library. Mostly because you can eat and talk as loud as you want. On the door was an OPEN sign; on the other side was an anagram of that word. It said NOPE. I'm so glad the place was open and not nope.
We put our names down at the front counter, waiting for a seat to open up. The place only had six tables that sat four people each; there were two stools at a window seat counter. I wanted a table. The front counter displayed homemade scones and muffins and in the cold case were bottles of Prosecco, for the Prosecco & OJ they had on the menu. The place was full but not chaotic. The cook had dreadlocks.
Juice was served in old jars, coffee in mismatched mugs. Ed's said Susan on it and proclaimed him/her a "winner". Food was served on plates of different sizes, clearly not from the same set.
But the food on those plates. Oh. My. God. I had the Pane Dolce. Their menu lists it as Pearl Bakery brioche, batter dipped and griddle-fried; served with whipped honey butter, organic maple syrup and seasonal fresh fruit. Like any sane person would do, I opted out of the fruit and requested their library fries. What an excellent choice.
When first asked if I wanted ketchup, I declined. But then after breaking open one of those crispy, quartered potatoes, I decided I wanted a little something with it. And boy, am I ever glad I requested ketchup. Because here they make their own ketchup. It was thick like tomato paste and once I tasted it, my mouth was all atwitter with flavor. I detected something, I thought it was clove. Clove?? Yes, I was sure it was clove.
But there was something else...I finally had to ask. I don't think she wanted to give out their "secret recipe" but she did say there was cinnamon, allspice and clove...and then I found a teeny piece of celery. My god, it was delicious. Who would have imagined clove in ketchup? Certainly not me, but I think I might have to make some.
I saved the best for last; Ed's breakfast. He had the special that was on the menu board by the front door. Gingerbread griddle cakes with housemade cinnamon Crème Anglaise and sliced pears. Holy mother of the griddle cake gods! (What is the difference between pancakes and griddle cakes? Is it just a griddle or a pan?) Whatever it is, these were THE BEST GRIDDLE/PAN CAKES I'VE EVER TASTED IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. My LIFE, I say.
Mine was good, but Ed's was definitely food from a place unknown to humans. It was ethereal. I felt as if I were transported to another plane and wanted to send my order back and have what Ed was having. I didn't have to though, because Ed loves me and shared; he said I was allowed to have as much as I wanted. I wasn't greedy, but I thought about pulling the plate out from under his fork throughout the entire meal, until his very last bite.
The gingerbread, the Crème Anglaise, the pears. He didn't even use his organic syrup, as nothing could be more pure and organic than this breakfast. This was definitely a place we'd return to. Hole in the wall, yes. But certainly worthy of being brought to the world via Guy Fieri's Triple D.
Now how am I going to swing getting that griddle cake recipe??
While in Portland, Ed and I visited Voodoo Donut, the donut shop made famous by locals, The Travel Channel and other media mentions. We excitedly found the place, and stood in line for about twenty minutes before getting inside.
Once in, there was so much to look at. Painted pink from floor to ceiling, there are t-shirts, hand written signs, a little bit of graffiti and donut stuff everywhere; all illuminated by an overhead chandelier.
It was hard to make a decision because there were so many choices, so Ed opted for the Bacon Maple Bar, which is a raised donut with maple frosting and a slice of bacon embedded in the top of it, and I went for the Grape Ape, which was a raised donut with vanilla frosting, dusted with grape dust and an edge of purple sprinkles. Their box says, "Good Things Come In Pink Boxes". Suggestive, much?
Because we couldn't decide which donuts to get, we chose the "Voodoo Dozen" where they make the choices for you. This is what we got:
Sadly, my review of these polytheistic donuts is four thumbs down (supposing I actually had four thumbs). Ed's Maple Bar with the bacon was interesting (good mix of flavors) but the Grape Ape was cloyingly sweet, almost inedible. I ate it, but only because I paid for it, not because I thought it was delicious. And we still had a dozen in the box to eat.
Later that evening, I ate the donut with the chocolate and peanuts on top. No good. Ed had the one with the Oreo cookies on top; another disgustingly sweet disaster. The rest of the donuts went untouched. I eventually threw them away.
For a box of donuts to be sitting in my truck, less than three feet away, and go untouched for more than an hour, let alone over a day, there's something wrong. I can understand them being profiled for their odd store decor and unusual donuts, but it's definitely not because the donuts are good.
I'm glad I went, just to say I'd been there, but I'll never go back. Thank God I'll be hitting Dunkin' Donuts in Phoenix this week.
I need to wash the taste of Voodoo out of my mouth.
Sometime last night we lost Teena Marie, one of the greatest R & B voices we've ever had; she passed away in her sleep at the age of 54. The music she made contributes greatly to the soundtrack of my life. When I think of where I was and what I was doing in the eighties, Teena was there. And although she grew up in California, she is SO New York to me.
This amateur video was filmed at the Artscape in Baltimore in the summer of 2006. Her voice is so clear. So strong. So inspiring. SO Teena. I'm just loving YouTube tonight for bringing back all of these memories!
Early on in her career, Teena Marie was thought to be a black R & B singer. It wasn't until her second album came out, with her photo on the album cover, that people realized she was white. She was called "white chocolate" and said to have a "black woman's voice trapped in a white woman's body". Her pipes could blow anyone's away! Listen to some of her other great hits as only she can sing them:
I’m Still Loving You: This video was taken from an episode of Live at The Apollo. If I wasn’t watching Soul Train, I was watching this show. This is a great, great song.
Square Biz: Who hasn't heard this one? Probably one of her best known tunes.
This last one isn’t by Teena Marie, but it’s one tight joint. I got a little sidetracked on YouTube. I LOVE this song and listen to it at least once a month. I cannot sit still when this one comes on; even if I’m driving, my body is moving. Jamaican Funk…let it get into you!
It's Christmas Eve and for the first time in over five years, we won't be home with family. This year, Ed and I are in Portland, Oregon and filling our day with a different array of activities. We started with a visit to one of Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives locations; the Blueplate Lunch Counter & Soda Fountain in downtown Portland.
We started with some of their House Made Sodas; I had the "Hawaiin Sunset" (pineapple, coconut, with a strawberry sunset) and Ed had the Chai Bomb (cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, cardamom, cloves and star anise). They were fizzy and delicious.
Then for lunch, I had the Roast Beef Dip (hand sliced natural roast beef on a soft hoagie roll served with a side of jus for dipping) and Ed had the American In Paris sandwich (sliced roast chicken with bacon, swiss cheese, and honey mustard on Texas toast). Both were served with a side of mashed Yukon Gold potatoes. My sandwich was freakin' delicious, but Ed's was over the top! I will definitely be recreating that one for lunch right here in my truck!
After lunch, we went over to Powell’s City of Books. Can you say oh. my. GOD? Well, I can! This place was amaaaazing.
According to the FAQs on their website, Powell's City of Books... • Has 68,000 square feet packed with books. • Buys 3,000 used books over the counter every day. • Have approximately 3,000 people walk in and buy something every day. • Have another 3,000 people just browse and drink coffee. • Stocks books in 122 major subject areas and more than 3,500 subsections. • Has more than 1,000,000 volumes on our shelves. • And have approximately 80,000 book lovers browse the City's shelves every day in Portland and via the Internet.
The building occupies an entire city block and has four floors and the new and used books are shelved side-by-side, which is super convenient. They began in 1971 and have become one of the biggest independent bookstores in the world! They sensibly have maps located conveniently by the entraces and it's wise to use them.
We ended the evening with a movie; well, two movies since I didn't want to see what Ed wanted to see. He hit Tron in 3D in the IMAX theater and I went to see How Do You Know?, a romantic comedy with Reese Witherspoon and Paul Rudd. Of course I think mine was better. First, because it was, and second because I didn't have to wear those dopey glasses.
First let me say that I don't understand women body builders. What is it about women who want to look like skinny freakish men with breasts?? I don't get it.
The woman in that picture is not only a skinny freakish man with breasts, she's also an entrepreneur. Her name is Marsha Boggs; she's the founder of Boss Creations and the creator of the CHRIST-mas tree. I don't know which is worse, the picture of her or the picture of her "Christian Nation" CHRIST-mas Tree:
In addition to reviving the spirit of Christmas with her tacky, plastic twist on the American flag, she goes even further with her shameless commercialism by claiming one of the ways to bring Christ back into the focus of our celebrations is to "decorate with more Christian-themed holiday decorations, including The CHRIST-mas Tree."
Yeah, because when I think of Christ, the first thing that comes to mind is a fucking hideous red, white and blue tree with an illuminated cross in the center of it. Oh, and a crown of thorns ("made from an actual plant in the Holy Land) to adorn the top of it. Are you fucking kidding me?? Boy, I can't wait for her to come out with the CHRIST-mas jewelry line so I can wear that abomination around my neck.
According to her website, among some other fact-deficient drivel, she's worried about how "America is moving away from Christianity and toward communism." This coming from a woman who is having her "Christian Nation" tree manufactured in, guess where? That's right, folks...Communist China.
Apparently, injecting Christ back into Christmas is good for publicity too; in addition to being written about in her local Annapolis, MD newspaper The Capital, she's been mentioned on CNN, FOX, The Colbert Report and in several other media stories.
If you're not a patriotic Christian and you're just a regular Christian, you can get this more traditional tree-wreck to put in your home. Oh, and did I mention the trees are only $400.00? Sweet deal, huh?
Just think about how nice it'll look with the crown of thorns and some other Jesus-y ornaments. May I suggest flashing colored lights to distract from the fact that it looks like a tree that impaled itself onto a wooden cross.
Unless of course, that's the look you were going for.
We made it across the country, from Connecticut to Portland with no weather incidents to speak of. We hit some snow in Wyoming, stopping early one night because reports of ice on the road were numerous. The next day, I took this shot from the passenger seat as Eddie braved the snowy, slushy, icy in some spots Wyoming interstate. The only snow I touched that day was the fake, billowy stuff that I created my dashboard decorations from.
Once we crossed from Wyoming into Idaho, we stopped at our favorite wings spot - Winger’s. We dove into a basket full of fat little wings covered in their Original Amazing Sauce before we ordered burgers for lunch.
There was no truck parking, but Eddie managed to squeeze us into a spot right next to the restaurant. The sauce on those wings is so worth the extra maneuvering!
Ed stopped at this rest area to check the load and while he was outside, I took this shot.
It was just so creepy, like the kind of thing you'd see in a horror flick. The dimly lit rest rooms at the rest area, where the car full of teens stops to use the phone, but of course the phone doesn't work and there's someone lurking in the bathroom and even though each kid hears screams, one after the other, they keep going in to see what happened. Fools.
I was also a little surprised to see an actual phone booth. Are there still people out there who use them? And how much is a local call anymore? I remember when phone booths were a dime. And then they went up to a quarter. What's it cost now?
This photo was taken at a rest area in Cozad, Nebraska. There wasn't much snow on the ground, but the tree branches were laden with it. I love this type of scenery in the winter and I'm so glad this year I'm getting to see a lot of it.
Next stop, Wyoming and Utah. There should be plenty o' snow there!
I should have bought that magnet (the red one in the center with the naked woman on it) when I took the picture, because the title of this post, which is the little ditty on that magnet, is my new motto.
I'm combing through some old pictures from my first year on the road, before I started the blog. Here's one of Eddie and I in Canada. We're not easy to see but I assure you it's us.
And yes, I'm wearing a cowboy hat. I thought when I got on the road, I wanted to have a "signature look"....you know, "The girl with the black cowboy hat." But that didn't work. The hat was annoying and I couldn't stand wearing it. Signature look, gone.
Any ideas what my next "signature look" should be?
Looks like we'll be in Portland for Christmas. We got a smokin' load out of Connecticut and are expected to deliver by the 23rd. So if the luck of the snow gods is on my side, there will be snow on the way, in the process of falling or getting ready to greet me when I get there. I suspect, since we'll be traveling I-80, that there will be no shortage of the white stuff. Again, that reminds me that I have to go buy a coat.
What's significant about spending Christmas in Portland is that Ed and I spent our first Christmas together there. It was the first year we started dating and the first year I was on the road with him. These pictures were taken in the old truck; our Portland Christmas Portrait.
Ed has his winter beard (which he ia growing again as we speak), and I had much longer hair (which Ed wants me to grow back). In this picture we were sitting on the bed, with the camera on a tripod placed between the seats in the cab. This was one small truck. It had a 48" sleeper, which is teeny compared to our now 132" sleeper.
Behind us you can see the shelving unit Ed put in, where the top bunk would have been. I was like a gypsy in that truck, with stuff bungeed to the ceiling, clothing and goods stuffed in every little available nook and cranny. We only had a fridge, microwave and hot pot in that thing. Teas and instant oatmeal were a pretty popular breakfast at that time.
But it was fun. And cozy. And Ed and I were literally never more than three feet apart. What a way to start a relationship, huh? I guess we passed the test because more than six years later, we're still here. And like the Jefferson's said...
This past weekend, Ed and I went to the skateboard park with my brother and my three nephews (that's my oldest nephew there in the photo!). That's right, ME in a place swarming with children. No, no, I'm okay. Thanks for asking.
