experience the warmth

We had record breaking heat yesterday topping off at 91 degrees. That's right, in February. I know to a lot of you that would be super hot weather. To me, all I could think was "ahhhhhh". It felt like a warm hug.
I'm neither bragging nor complaining. I'm telling you all this because of Alec. He hasn't wanted to have a haircut in a while. He says he wants "hair like Joe Jonas". Yes, those were his exact words. I thought it was cute at first and went along with it, but it's hot now and he's sweating. My mom says he's five and shouldn't even be allowed to make decisions about if or when he gets a haircut. I get it. I mean, I'm not going to have him in blue hair if he suddenly feels like it. Or if he suddenly decides he wants a perm or a mullet, I wouldn't let him. I just sort of thought this was cute and not tremendously out of the ordinary. Plus, it's really hit or miss at his school right now. Little boys either have a crew cut or they're letting their hair grow/have long hair. He kind of looks up to a couple of Brianna's friends right now, both of whom have Joe Jonas-like hair. I guess we'll see how it goes. If I see that he's going to be dripping in sweat, that's too bad for his longish hair. It'll have to go. For now, let's just hope he's not, uh, burning up (rimshot). <-- Consider yourself lucky if you don't get that.

feeling: I think we're going to have a HOT summer
listening to: Depeche Mode (Wrong)

drunk yvett

I got drunk last night. I'm not bragging like some kids who thinks it's cool to drink. Quite the opposite, actually. I think it's pretty sad. We were watching Top Chef and as part of their challenge they had to make a cocktail. I thought they looked soooooo good that I really wanted one. Now, we have wine in the house but I have to admit it's mostly used for marinating. We have an occasional glass once in a while. We also have a hutch with liquor bottles, but those are mostly for display. For some reason, people would give my grandpa bottles for Christmas and he just collected them. He's since passed away and my grandma saved them for years. When we got this house, she decided to give us that awesome antique hutch and gave all the bottles to Rodrigo as a gift.
So anyway, back to my story, I decided to make cocktails for us. We had some unopened vodka in the freezer and some cranberry juice. That's what I made. Only I think that the fact that I added too much vodka and the fact that I have zero tolerance now made a bad combination. My chest felt all warm and my face felt hot. I started speaking gibberish about how I now understood why St. Bernards carry alcohol around in that little barrel of theirs. Or whatever it is. Rodrigo was just laughing at me. We came upstairs and I started trying to change my blog banner. That didn't really work. When I went to bed the pattern on my pillowcase was moving. I couldn't focus.
Isn't that just pathetic. I mean ONE cocktail. Sad. Really, really sad.

feeling: I lost my cool
listening to: The Ting Tings (That's Not My Name)

you deplete me

The books I've been reading lately have been leaving me just plain exhausted. Emotionally drained. This is really the kind of book I love, but I don't remember feeling this way from a book since The Kite Runner.

I just finished reading The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb. I loved it. It's about a husband and wife in a troubled marriage who both work in Columbine HS. He has to go away because of a family emergency and that's when the shootings happen. This is basically everything that happens to them afterwards. While reading it, I found myself feeling just sort of worn down. It actually depressed me. I don't think I'd ever gotten a grasp of just what a horrible tragedy Columbine was.
Still, I'd absolutely recommend it. I've read both of previous books and I suggest you do the same before you read this. Characters from his previous novels pop in and it's nice to know who they are and follow up.



Now I'm reading Revolutionary Road. Oh. My. Goodness. I really want to see the movie, but I hadn't read the book. It makes me soooooo grateful to be happy with my life. Still, reading about them exhausts me. How could anyone feel like that all the time? Exhausting. Still, a must read.

Let me know of any good books you've read lately. I am forever compiling a "to read" list.

feeling: looking for a rag doll pattern
listening to: U2 (Get on Your Boots)

No Soup for me

Hello. My name is Yvett and I'm a soupaholic. I love, love, love soup. Imagine my surprise when I found out that January is supposedly National Soup Month. What? Why. Didn't. Anyone. Tell. Me?!?!? Besides, who makes these things up anyway? ARGH, I could've been making soup after soup after soup this whole month by having the excuse that it's soup month. : P I've only made some a few times this month. I've made chicken noodle soup, tortilla soup, a roasted tomato soup with bacon and yesterday I made egg drop soup - with perfect, no clump egg ribbons thankyouverymuch.
Although I love soup, I try to avoid canned ones like the plague. I am forever trying new recipes. So now I'm asking you to share your favorite soup recipe with me. Pretty please? I like any kind. Yum, tonight I think I'll make albondigas (meatball soup). I can't wait.

feeling: in the mood for warm soup
listening to: Rufus Wainwright (Cigarettes & Chocolate Milk)

my furry baby

It's been a while since I've shared pictures of Badger. Here are some . . . .


A-ha! Badger caught on a couch. Big no-no.



Alec and Badger like to watch Dada leave to work each morning.



Badger likes lying down wherever there's sun. Except for outside, of course. If the sun is right on the stairs, then that's where he is.



Nap time.

OK, everyone say "aww". I love my puppy.

feeling: what's with this cold weather?
listening to: The Ting Tings (That's Not My Name)

. . and then she scared me at the store.

A lady I know always talks to me as if we were in the middle of a conversation. I love it! Of course, I love it mainly because it amuses me. We know each other casually; not enough to call each other up. I wish we would, though. I'd love to pick up the phone and have her talk to me like she does.
So, the kids and I are the grocery store picking out produce. She was there but I hadn't seen her. Then she came up behind me and said something like "well I had to come back because I was here earlier and didn't buy what I came for". I laughed and said I hated when that happened to me. The thing is that I laughed because she startled me and started off as though we'd already greeted each other. My theory is that she does this because she's always in a hurry. By the time I answered, she was already walking away. I figure she doesn't have the time to properly begin or end conversations.
At home I told Rodrigo about it and he said I do that too. I suppose I do, but only with him. Even then if I start talking about something it's about something that we had already started talking about. Even if it was days earlier. (Hence his usual question, "you're still with that?) Anyway, I'll tell you stuff that's happened here in the last few days already begun.

- but he said he didn't like snakes anymore and we had to do another project.
- they were cheaper because I can fit into children's size shoes.
- and that's why I only have 7 hours left to record on DVR.
- she pretty much made me explain why I wear the clothes I wear if I don't work.
- because he says he wants his hair as long as Joe Jonas.
- so I guess I'll find out what new phone I'll have once I get it in the mail.
- that's why I think the dog is obsessed with him.

feeling: hungry . . what time is it, anyway?
listening to: Zoot Sims Quartet (Blinuet) <-- I call this "Badger's song"

Happy Inauguration Day!

Finally! Don't ask me how many times I cried. The kids were really excited today. They wore their shirts all day long. Alec asked me if he looked like Barack Obama once he put it on. I answered no and he looked really disappointed almost on the verge of tears. I explained I hadn't gotten a good look and told him that yes, he definitely looked like Obama. : )
Look at the cake they decorated. It looked really nice. The kids had some then Badger helped himself to some too -- A Christmas Story style. He's lucky I'm in a really good mood.


feeling: the sun is shining, the birds are singing, strawberry fields forever
watching: coverage of the inaugural balls