THE FINAL STRETCH TO THE OSCARS

I'm on the final stretch to the Oscars.  And, once again, I am lagging behind.  This time...it's my fault. I've had plenty of opportunities.  But two weeks ago...

..I stalled
..I slowed down...
...I came to a screeching halt!  My legs, restless.  My eyes, worn.  My hips, spreading.  I got sick of movies.

Nonetheless, after this past Tuesday, I have regained my enthusiasm and you can expect me to be catching up and passing up right up and through the finish line...

The Finish Line = Sunday, February 27th on ABC, 8:00/5:00 pm EST/PST.

I am PST.  And Book Club-P comes between me and The Oscars.  So, I don't have much time.

Because of my suspended enthusiasm for movies, I missed a couple:  127 hours.  Winter's Bone.  Although one theater is showing 127 hours, the timing doesn't work; though, I can't say I'm disappointed.  My movie budget is almost depleted.  And I think I have gained about 3 pounds.

In the month of February to this date, I did see:

Biutiful (gloomy)
Alice in Wonderland (boring)
I Am Love (lovely)
Another Year (dreadful)

Documentary Features:
Exit through the Gift Shop (hysterical)
Gasland (educational)

And then...I reached the wall.  My ambition waned.  My enthusiasm drained.  I couldn't sit through, watch through, cry through, and cry through more and not even laugh through one more movie.  There were things that became much more appealing to do.  Like work.  I needed a push to get me back up on my feet....or rather back up on my ass and into the chair.

The Push was inevitable.  I committed, some time ago, to The Photographer to attend an evening of Live Action and Animated shorts at the Samuel Goldwyn theater...she bought me a ticket....JT and CeCe too.  I was looking forward to the get-together; however, dreading the theater and, no less, sitting through a bunch of cartoons.

But, Tuesday, I bucked up and showered up!  And off to the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, an evening of Oscar nominated Animated Shorts and Live Actions Shorts, hosted by Kevin Kenneth Branaugh.  At least I will be forced to check a few films off my list.  At that time, by no want of my own.

JT and Me meet, from opposites ends of The Valley, at CeCe's house.  The Photographer is photographing in Los Angeles so she is to meet us there.  Save us seats.  CeCe drives....over the hill.  We get a little lost.  Parking full.  More parking full. Parking...two blocks over.  We have reached the destination.  We park.  We walk.  We run.  We run across the street, just beating the walk-across countdown by 1.  Not without a couple stumbles here and there. Then, along with bazillion jillion peoples, we walk into the theater.  Thankfully, The Photographer has found a seat for us 'cause it is pretty full.  I only hope she has Words with Friends on her phone...to kill a bit of time, 'cause she has been there a while. We told her 6:30.  We are late.

We take off our coats.  We sit.  Half of us take a trip to the toilet.  Half of us stay in our seats.
It is my half that takes our seats.  I pull out my phone and  take a picture.

Apparently, an illegal picture

and

this is the picture I take.

No sooner than I take that picture, a guy with a big fat swirly cord sticking out of his ear approaches Me, "No Pictures Allowed."  A slight slap of the hand.  But mission accomplished.

The other half takes a trip to the toilet.  The other half takes their seats.

After a short tinkle, my half returns to their seats just as the Academy Member President Guy of Shorts (not denim) takes the podium.  He talks.  And 15 minutes later, we awake from a short snooze as Kenneth Branaugh takes the stage.  He's an actor.  He's an entertainer.   Need I say more?  Charming!  No more snoozing.

The curtain opens to 5 animated shorts in a row.  And, I must say, they are cute and unique with great stories.  They are short!  My eyes awake.  My glutes tense up.  And I am awide-awake and interested for the rest of the show.  Surprise, surprise!  My enthusiasm has returned!

Animated Shorts:
Day and Night (happiness)
Gruffalo (sweet)
Let's Pollute (sarcastic)
The Lost Thing (good story)
Madagascar (unique)

QUESTION & ANSWER - with no questions, only answers

INTERMISSION
  
Despite us liking the first half, it is already 9:30 and the program following intermission is much longer.  How will we stay awake?  How will we drink wine?  We devise our abort plan.  We decide to see the first three,  skip out on the last two.  Tonight we can do without Rwandan genocide and terminal cancer.


We take our seats.


Live Action Shorts:

The Confession

The Crush

God of Love

First.  The Confession.  Funny!  Brilliant!  Compelling!  Sad!  Should be in the Best Picture category.

Following that showing, JT now wants to stay.  I say if the first is that good, no other will match.  The Photographer prefers to stay but would not mind leaving.  CeCe is hungry.  I say stick to the plan.

Second.  The Crush.  Cute!  Thrilling!  Twisty!  Not as good.  But good.

Third.  The Good of Love.  Interesting!  Appealing!  Nice message!  Not as good.  But good.

We stand.  Half discuss staying!  Half discuss leaving! But we all leave for some discussion...with wine.  One block over, Kate Matalini.  We take out booth. Three tortilla soups, please...with wine.  Cheers, girls!

It is worth it.  We have plenty to discuss.  The movies were well worth coming out for.  And as the discussion ensues, I can't help noticing that my see-all-you-can-before-the-Oscars ambition is back.  I will make that final push.  Whatever I can do!

Lucky me.  The documentary shorts are all showing at a theater on Saturday.  Her Highness has agreed to go with me.  Blue Valentine, Friday night.  NaK agreed to go with me.   Sunday I can feel good about seeing as many films as I have. Next, the most challenging. How to vote. I'll keep you posted!

Ciao for now!
k

On LIKING AND LOVING...

"We choose those we like; with those we love, we have no say in the matter." 

~Mignon McLaughlin

This quote has been brought to my attention already three times  this week.
Over the past two weeks, I've seen three films based on this premise.
So true!
Maybe, sometimes, it takes art to remind us of like....and love!

ONE DAY ONLY! WITH DONNIE DARKO AND FRIENDS

This last weekend I allowed myself to wallow in sadness in the company of Donnie Darko, 2 cosmos, a yoga class, nachos, a lot of rain, a nap, a pile of  laundry, Citizen Cope, numerous blog posts, a bad headache, self-doubt and... Kahlil Gibran.

Yet I managed to find some comfort.  Because, my rule for sadness:

One Day Only!

What is it on Saturday?

Lack of exercise?
Too many thoughts? 
Too much chocolate?  I had one.  I'm not allowed any.

It is, probably, all of that...maybe more!

The family is gone for most of the weekend...except Her Highness, she is in and out.  And, I am giving myself permission to wallow in sadness. 

One Day Only!

I wake up with a headache and sad. 

I don't know what it is.  Well...maybe I do.  Thoughts about work, family, self-doubt...other stuff.  No!  Not a hangover!

I try to remedy each with 2 ibuprofen and yoga class, respectively.  And, each is remedied temporarily.

Rain outside. Thoughts inside. Work, family, self-doubt...other stuff.  I decide to watch the pile of laundry like it's gonna fold itself.  The eyes go back and forth from rain...beautiful...to laundry...disaster... from laundry to rain.  The rain doesn't stop.  Laundry doesn't fold.

One Day Only!

I nap.  I dream.  A short respite.  I wake up...the day is half over.  It's still raining.  I'm still thinking.  Laundry still unfolded.

One Day Only!

I go to the blogosphere to find humor, inspiration or some company in my misery.  Citizen Cope plays over and over again as I search on the internet for humor, inspiration...and a little company for my misery.  I try all.  I find two.

Inspiration.
Misery.  And even more Misery!

No humor. 
No relief. 
Only perpetuation.

One Day Only!

The song, Mad World, has been running through my mind all week...the slow version of the Tears for Fears song...dark and beautiful all at the same time.  I find that the slower version is used in the film, Donnie Darko, a film I have heard of before but know nothing about.  I netflix it.  I watch it.  Though a great film, Darko serves as, yet, one more companion to my misery. And one messed up teenager, a monster-bunny and big gigantic plane engine falling through a roof later...well, more bleakness sets in.

Accompanying my Darko-fest was my nacho-feast.  I made them myself.  Solace in nachos?  Nope!

One Day Only!

At the end of the day, I pull out the big guns.  I reacquaint myself with Kahlil Gibran's book of Treasured Writings and cosmopolitan martinis...two.  Gibran is one of my sources for living, love, contemplation, and, sometimes, misery.  I read.  I read stories about misery, rules on living, messages in contemplation and finish with thoughts on love.  In that, I find some solace before the day's end.  I get up, turn out the lights, crawl back into bed, and  remind myself once before I fall asleep.

One Day Only!

Sunday, I woke up early to the dawn of a new day.  I got out of bed.  I got myself to the gym. It was a fantastic day...from start to end.  I was back to feeling hopeful.  I was back to feeling confident.  I was back to feeling happy.  Because on that one day before, Saturday, I gave myself permission to wallow in sadness for...

One Day Only!

Ciao for now!

k

On LIVING...

"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens." -  --  Kahlil Gibran

OFF TO THE OPERA....kinda

About a month ago I reminded The Husband that I have never seen an opera.  Ever!  Not even on T.V.  I have seen plays, musicals, rock concerts, and classical concerts.  Many classical concerts.  Too many classical concerts.

I have never been to the Opera!

3 weeks later...

...The Husband is offered two free tickets to the Opera...kinda!

It's surprising that I have a Husband that:

Number 1. studied voice in college

Number 2. has a Masters in conducting

Number 3. has a close college friend who is now only the most famous opera star in the world!

Yet, He has never taken me to the opera.

The Husband came close to taking me once.  His friend was in town.  He called up.  The assistant called back. 

"Of course!  There will be two tickets for you...we are able to swing two orchestra seats, third row, center and they will be waiting for you...

...at will call....

...at 350 bucks each!"

And...No Thank You, Please!!!

Although, I did get a chance to see his friend perform one Operatic piece...once....for free.  It was the L.A. Phil season opening.  Our senses were treated to One Gorgeous Dress with One Beautiful Voice singing One Fantastic Opera Piece.  Payback was to sit through the rest of the concert.  That was a treat for the restless legs.  Backstage, I met his friend.  His friend is nice.

So, last week, The Husband calls me up. 

Would you like to go to The Opera tonight....kinda?  I have two free tickets. However, we can't get there until the Second Act.  And...it's a Dress Rehearsal.  There may be stop and goes.  Probably not.  But could be.

I say Yes! I usually say Yes! I'm easy!

Hmmmm...dress up or dress down for a dress rehearsal?  I decide, dress up!

I dress up... black, black, black, black, black....and purple!  The scarf, purple.

We're going to see...

Never heard of it.  But, then again, I believe I can only name 3 operas...under pressure.  If you ask me at this very moment, while relaxed, I can only come up with one.  The Merry Widow.  However, if this one includes Italy in its title, it must be good.  I must say, with the stylishness-blackishness get-up I am wearing, I think I kinda look Italian-ish...in Los Angeles.

We drive.

Surprise, surprise.  $5 dress-rehearsal-car-people parking!  $5 parking at the Music Center?  No way.  But so it was. 

We pay.  We park.  We step up to the Music Center.



We arrive before intermission.  We are allowed to take our seats, in the balcony, prior to the Second Act.  They offer us a synopsis.  Great!  I don't speak Italian!  I glance at the synopsis.  But, alas, my granny glasses are at home.  Nevertheless, The Husband, 5 years my senior, is able to read the synopsis....sans granny glasses.  What's wrong with that picture?

We choose our seats....in the balcony.  And without me fainting, falling and seizing from the altitude, we take our seats.  That Dorothy Chandler has some step up, steep up, high up seats!  I look out to the stage and, before I begin watching the singers, I notice the Super Titles.  Great!  I don't speak Italian!  And, I don't need my granny glasses!

Singers are singing.  Actors acting.  Movers moving. Two women fight over one man.  Two men fight over one woman.  Beautiful costumes.  Gorgeous sets.  And a trailer park.....on stage.


20 minutes later:  Intermission...kinda!  We could sit there for another hour, yet.  For all others, they could use a break.

One coffee and a diet coke, please!  That will be one hundred million bazillion bucks, Sir. Okay.

The Chimes ring.  4 times.  Maybe 5.

Second Act:

Two men bargain over one woman.  Two women scheme after one man.  Beautiful costumes.  Gorgeous sets. And...

One Masquerade Ball!

Four golden walls surround the set.  Beautiful stone steps are set in the distant upstage.  And one big, blood red carpet rolled out onto the floor just stage right to mid-stage.  This scene, that set is the most gorgeous scene/set I have ever seen.  And it is speckled with opera-extra-people, men in Fellini Black and women in Audrey Hepburn black, all mimicking having sex on, over and against all parts of that stage.  There are opera-extra-people rolling across the carpet.  Opera-extra-people on top of one another just off the carpet.  Opera-extra-people in threesomes strewn throughout the steps.  Opera-extra-people thrown against golden walls.  All beautiful, all in black, all mimicking their own version of a roll in the hay....and all happening...in slow motion!!!  

Singers?  What singers?  Thosa Italianz lika the sexo! 

And this was the style of The Ball

Audrey-Hepburny-

-Fellini-ish costumes. 

Fantastico! Impressionante!

Shortly following the Masquerade Ball, the opera comes to its climax then all is resolved.  This is no tragedy.  This is comedy.  And very funny it is!

So, I suppose, I can now say I've been to The Opera...kinda.  I definitely got the flavor.  Furthermore, I was surprised that I enjoyed it.   I wasn't there long enough to fall asleep or bored enough to fidget in my seat.  I'd definitely attend again...even kinda!

Ciao for now!

k

TAVERN TUESDAYS

TAVERN TUESDAYS

Laurel Tavern

Studio City, CA

  

A couple weeks ago I "friend-requested", on Facebook, a girl I was a co-volunteer, co-gossiper, and co-dancer with when my kids were in the elementary school.

I was added + messaged.  And, following a polite back and forth, the First Order of Business:

Girls Night!

Back "in the day", not too long ago...I guess...Girls Night for the two of us meant only once a year at the School's Annual Dinner Dance, where we would meet on the dance floor, double-fisted with drinks, barefoot and dancin' 'til the band begged us to go home.  That's where the "co-dancer" comes in.

Swede is smart, spunky and fun!  And is good with numbers. 

It's been too long.  So there was an immediate call to action.  Let's make a plan!  I knew just the girl to start the ball rolling.  Next order of business: Contact-thru-Facebook the fun-girl-can-make-it-happen-person......

Aussie!

Aussie also is spunky. She has high energy with a positive attitude. And loves Oprah and musical theater.

Aussie, too, was a co-volunteer, co-gossiper, and co-mingler with me when my kids were in the elementary school.  Girls Night with her, too, meant only once a year at the School's Annual Dinner Dance.  Though I don't recall her on the dance floor, she too, with me, worked the room, double-fisted with drinks, and hung out 'til the band begged us to go home.  Fortunately, since then, I have had the privilege of hangin' with Aussie many many more times...

Because of Tavern Tuesdays!

Aussie was the "origin-izer" of Tavern Tuesdays, a meet up at Laurel Tavern, a "gastropub," in Studio City, early on Tuesday evenings.  Aussie originally organized this meetup as a Facebook experiment just when us girls were almost caught up with this new social networking phenomenon that our kids were foolin' around with.  More importantly, while her kids were in a 2-hr class, she needed a place to hang out ...with wine.

STATUS UPDATE:  I'll be at Laurel Tavern between 4:00 and 6:00...will you?  Come join me!

I signed up/joined up the very first day!

One Tuesday there could be 3....when the next Tuesday there could be 13....girls!

Always a different group.  Always a fun group.
Always an Aussie group.

The 2-hour kids' classes have since ended, so, recently, Tavern Tuesdays have been a little too few and far between.

So, Tavern Tuesday, I thought, would be the perfect opportunity to get together.  Girls can come and go as they please, come after work, come after carpool or come if they wanted to just get out of the G*D D*&M house!  A Drop By.  Or a Stay Awhile.  Their choice.  Again, check Facebook, or miss out.

So this needed a little prompting. 
So prompting, I did.

Aussie's Wall:  Tavern Tuesday?
Comment:  Happy to oblige.
Comment:  Date?
Comment:  February 15th?
Comment:  I'll be there
Comment:  (from Swede)  Good job, k!

!!!

I had been feeling a little down that week so I was particularly looking forward to Tuesday.  Kill two birds with one stone...a get-together and a pick-me-up!  What's a better pick-me-up than a get-together and booze?  Or booze and a get-together?  Not sure the order.  But often one shouldn't be without the other.  This was one of those times.  I wanted to laugh!

STATUS UPDATE:  I'll be at Laurel Tavern at 6:30...will you?  Come join me!

I arrive there a little late.  I hate being late.  But there was a glitch.  I walk in.  It's packed.  Where's Aussie?

It's 6:45.  I'm accustomed to 4:00.  No wonder it's packed.  I first look to the bar.  Then toward the back. But to my right I hear a Hey!

There she is!

She snagged the last table, the table right by the door!

Perfect!

So there is Aussie, sitting by herself, her fingers wrapped around the stem of her glass of wine, waiting for one of us, or any of us to walk in.  Who will show?

She has her wine.  I don't.  Before she could talk, I excuse myself to take care of business... at the bar.

Bartender:  Chardonnay?  Oaky or Buttery?
My ignorance gets me one sip of each, but I sneak two gulps....of each!

I choose.  I pay.  I tip.  I grab... my glass and head back to the table.  We chat...and chat...and chat.  At a thousand miles a minute.  Simultaneously!

In walks Swede.  She takes care of business...at the bar.  She pays.  She tips.  She grabs...her glass of wine and heads back to the table.  We chat...and chat...and chat.  At a thousand miles a minute.  Simultaneously!

I don't know that each one of us knows what the other is saying...

We are excited...
It is 7:00...
It's loud!

Then, in walks Swiss, the Party Girl!  Somebody saw something on Facebook!!!!  So it's one Dirty Martini for her, of course!  I'm happy to see her. 



The Photographer strolls in.  She can't visit.  But she knew where I was to catch me.  Facebook!!!!!!  So she stops by to drop off a ticket to an event I'm attending with her the next week.  The pub is closer than my house.  That there qualifies the Laurel Tavern as the neighborhood pub.  Crazy!

We just then finally begin deciphering what each other is saying.  Because...

we calm down
we slow down
we read lips

Georgia arrives.  Swede leaves. Work calls.

So five girls, a drop off...2 dirty martinis, 4 glasses of chardonnay and 3 glasses of cabernet later...I am picked up by my bootstraps, having a good time, and in a much better mood.  I look at my watch cell phone text-machine...and it's time to go! 

So after 2-1/2 hours...home I go with ringing ears and a joyful mood.

The next Tavern Tuesday?  I don't know.  So if it takes a little prompting, I'm happy to do so. 'Cause we all need Friends and A Tavern to spice up our week!

Ciao for now!
k

On MAD WORLD...

Why does this song keeps running through my head?

...the slower version.

MAD WORLD

 All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
And their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
'Cos I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad World

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me

- Tears for Fears

ANOTHER PAELLA...STILL BEGINNER'S LUCK?

I just knocked off the February Paella...

...and I've already broken the rules.

Rules:
8 taste-testers,  4 bottles Spanish wine  

February Paella:
15 taste-testers, 1 bottle Spanish wine.

This will mean uncorrupted palates, uncorrupted minds...double the pressure!

Crap!

But I had to break 'em.  It was The Father's birthday celebration:  A Family.  A Hike.  A Paella.   

So this is the family that ate the Paella.

...disguised to protect the innocent

Disney, Juicy, Daphne, R, SisterLee, J, The Father, The Mother, A2'd, Ricky, K, Lucy, Her Highness, The Smallest Dog in the World, and A
(From Left to Right, Back to Front)

Respectively:  Bro-IL, Sister, Bro-IL, Nephew, Sister, Niece, The Father, The Mother, Niece, Brother, Nephew, Sis-IL, Daughter, Dog, Son

....and Me (not pictured)

Not to say that this family is the family that went on the hike. 

Here were some of the excuses:

We have to clean the house
We have to attend an afternoon party
We have to go to Disneyland
Our legs only work after cocktail hour

So only a few of us fared the hike.  The Father, The Mother, Daphne, R, Her Highness, A and Me.  Oh, and The Smallest Dog in the World.  It was a beautiful hike!

However, the focus for me was on that Paella.  After all, it was a Birthday Paella and I only have made one other.  The Mother's "consolation" of "Beginner's Luck" was ringing between my ears...and I felt the pressure of competition with another one of The Mother's new recipes, which inexplicably ALWAYS turns out incredibly tasty the first time.  Oh, yeah...'cause Beginner's Luck.  Her brand new recipe:  Seafood Chili......and with Lobster!! 


Double that "Crap!"

Prior to traveling out to the folks house...actually, prior to the day before traveling out to the folks house, I choose the recipe...or rather recipe(s).  I decide to go to the First Stop Recipe Shop of the 21st Century - The Food Network, online. 

I choose a Rachel Ray Paella because of the title word, "Perfect."  From that, I take the sprigs of thyme and the bell pepper.

I choose an Emeril Legasse Paella because of the title word "Mixta." From that, I take the 16 chicken thighs and his Essence recipe to coat the chicken.

I choose a Paula Deen Paella because of the title word "Spanish."  From that, I take diced tomatoes, but fresh and chirozo.

I base the Paella on a Food Network All Rights Reserved recipe...because, of course, of the disclaimer words "All Rights Reserved."

THIS MONTH IT'S GOING TO BE A
SPICY CHICK-OZO PAELLA

Sunday morning, I prepare ingredients at home.  We drive.  We hike. We eat.....snacks.
Half-hour countdown to proceed with cooking.

4:00 pm BBQ.  A gas BBQ.  Not a charcoal BBQ.  Fine.

I fry the chicken, both sides, 16 pieces...in the paellaer.  Takes more time than expected.  Off schedule. 

I fry the sausage...in the paellaer.  More time than expected.  Off schedule.

SisterLee, Ricky and Lucy walk in.  They take a pour of the wine.

The Father keeps me company.  It's his BBQ, his domain.  He turns down the heat.  I turn up the heat.  He turns down the heat.  I turn up the heat.  He leaves to take a pour of the wine.  I win!

I saute the veggies...in the paellaer.

Juicy and Disney walk in.  They take a pour of the wine.

Where's my pour of the wine?  No one wants to give me a pour of the wine...I'm making the Paella, and they know it's the second Paella.  Possibly the No-More-Beginner's-Luck Paella?

In goes the rice...3 stirs.  In goes the broth...3 shakes.  And the paella is on it's way! 

Before anyone can notice, I take a pour of the wine and scurry back outside.  A little broth.  A little more broth. A shake or two.  Add the chicken.  Add the sausage.  A little more broth.  And throw some asparagus on there for good luck!  And 40 minutes later...

It's a Paella!

...and the birthday boy thinks it looks gorgeous!

...or did he say fabulous?

...or did he say beautiful?

...no, he must have said fantastic!!!

After taking silly pictures...

Like this one...

...we sit down with the Big Salad, Seafood Chili, and Paella.  We open the Spanish wine.  We drink the wine. We eat the food.  Surprise!  It is Muy Delicioso! The chicken is extraordinary.  The rice is cooked kinda-perfectly-ish.  Perfect except it never made it to crispiness, like how the Paella is supposed to be...according to the Spanish friend. 

Her Highness and A are happy.  They like this one better than the last.  I get the unhesitated thumbs up from Juicy.  A "great chicken" from Disney.  And "yummy" mumbles and raves from the rest of the table.  Obviously, my Beginner's Luck has not yet reached it's statute.

And, of course, the Seafood Chili is fabulous....Beginner's Luck!

Bellies are full.  People are happy.  We laugh.  The Father opens gifts.  We laugh some more.  And laugh and laugh and laugh.  Enter the Birthday Cake.  Better than Sex, it's called.  First time recipe for The Mother. 

It is almost better than sex! 

Again, Beginner's Luck! 

Ciao for now!
k

If you want to check out the recipe, go to In Pursuit of Perfect Paella under my blog favorites
or inpursuitofperfectpaella.blogspot.com

On INSANITY...

Over this past week this quote has been brought to my attention so many times:

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  - Einstein

Is this supposed to be my lesson?

NOT ABOUT MY NINE LIVES

I'm similar to a cat.  In a sense that I have Nine Lives. Otherwise, I'm nothing like a cat.

Actually, by the time my life is complete, I hope to have Nine Lives, then some.  But maybe it will be Nine Lives, take away some.  Who knows?  But I will probably have right around Nine Lives. These are Lives that are, in my mind and in my heart, divided into parts.  These parts may be divided by milestones: starting school, graduating school, jobs, boyfriends, moving, marriage, kids, etc.,  Or parts that may be divided by intellectual and emotion growth...much more difficult to define.  And some parts that the transition is made through the convergence of both.

To this date, I count 6 Lives.  I am beginning the 7th.

Last week I met up with LaRs, a dear friend of mine. We met for a workout and, following, a sit down for lunch.  It was nice to have company for the workout.  It was nicer to have company for the lunch.  I can do this...I'm in my 7th Life.

Whenever we get together for a workout, our workout includes catching up on family; catching up on friends; catching up on gossip.  Actually, not too much gossip...we're not very good at it.  We know nothing. Nevertheless, the focus for this workout is definitely an exercise of the mouth.  And not without being surrounded by plenty of furrowed brows.

We speak of family.

We Elliptical!

We talk about B and his college life in the Frozen Tundra and EM and his college life in the Very-Warm-Not-The-(818)(310)(213)(805) Southern California.

We Elliptical!

Husbands good? Working hard?  Date nights?
Yes. Yes. Yes.

We Elliptical!

We catch up on work.  Her turn first.

We Elliptical!

My turn now.  I catch up on work.

We lift! We switch.

We lift! We switch.

We lift! We switch.

We gossip!
As soon as we break a sweat...Time for Lunch!

It's a beautiful day.  Meet at Vivian's...Garden-side.

While the workout is about catching up, the lunch is commonly for checking in, meaning decompressing, heart-to-hearting and, gratefully, philosophizing.

The subject of family pictures comes up.  This is our launch into philosophizing through burgers and salads, diet cokes and ice teas.

Pictures.  Family pictures.  Baby pictures.  School pictures.  Wedding pictures.  Vacation pictures.  All of which we both admit to ignoring all the many boxes and drawers of them, let alone not organizing, not filing or not "scrap booking" any of them.

What can we do?
Suggestion 1:  A picture night....with wine!  unrealistic.
Suggestion 2:  A picture night...without wine! unrealistic.
Suggestion 3:  A picture weekend...without wine!  unrealistic
Suggestion 4:  A picture weekend...with wine!  getting closer
Suggestion 5:  A picture month...in another country...with meditation and with wine!

BINGO!

Well...realistic for the pictures.  Unrealistic for our lives!

In all seriousness now, we agree:

It's not like we don't care.
It's not like we don't want.
It's not like we don't love.

Why?  We're busy?  We're lazy?

Right then I admit...

LaRs, I am embarrassed to say...though, I'm grateful to be...I just am not nostalgic!

There, I said it.

I tell her...It's not that I don't care.  It's that I'm not there.

I hit the nail on the head for LaRs too.  Relieved from my embarrassment, I am delighted that my cohort is in agreement.  My friend is now my cohort in non-nostalgic-living-non-picture-looking-atterer-organizing.

We discuss.

I speak to LaRs about my theory on living many lives within the whole life.  It brings some light to our conversation.  It brings more light to my contemplation.  As we talk it out, I think about it and I haven't stopped thinking about it since.  I realize maybe that is why my pictures are still in boxes...are still in drawers...I haven't even laid eyes on them.  Maybe that is why I am not nostalgic.  Why revisit a past life, of which I have already transitioned out of, when you can't go back?  I would be afraid that I would miss those moments, those lives.  I certainly could never make those moments physically come back.  Moreover, emotional attachment would be unrealistic... because even though I am the same girl, I am not the same person....growing to be a different person through all of life's transitions.

So this, here, now, is my next life.  Kids almost all-growed up.  A transition in jobs.  Physically feeling the best I've ever felt.  Finding more freedom with time. Emotionally changing and intellectually growing. Making decisions to get what I want and want what I get. This is my 7th life.  No other life.  Not the 3rd.  Not the 5th. And, not the 9th.  This is the 7th.  And, so far, rather pleasing. 

It's not about my Nine Lives.
Today, it's about my 7th.

Ciao for now!
k

DISTRACTION-IZED

This week I was Distractionized!

You know, when you start a project and get completely distracted by another project...and loose track of your original intention?  Or maybe you don't.  But I do.  Quite often. This week, no different.  I was like a dog hot on the trail of a burglar when a cat crosses it's path and it tears off after the cat instead.  This week was an example of that. 

Aaaah...this week I gotta Organize Schmorganize!

THE PROJECT LIST:

Clean out/organize dresser drawers
Clean out/organize bathroom drawers and cupboards
Clean out/organize car glove compartment

Simple, right? Hmmmm...

Wednesday Objective:

Clean out Bathroom Drawers
Clean out Dresser Drawers

Wednesday, Actually:

Clean out/organize Freezer
Clean out/organize Closet

My first intention, the bathroom drawers.  My first distraction....The Freezer.  The everything-stuffed-to-the-back-of-the-freezer Freezer.  I open it to retrieve some ice for a cup of water.

I am DISTRACTIONIZED!   I pull.  I dump.  I take apart.  I scrub.  I clean.  I re-schmorganize.
Freezer meat, freezer vegies, freezer fruit, a big freezer block of ice...and one hidden freezer frozen chocolate bar.  All freezered up.  Toss!  I keep one miniature pizza, 2 bags of frozen vegies, coffee beans, ahi tuna, a salmon, a bag of gnocchi, 9 frozen pirogi, 8 cold packs, 3 packs of butter, the ice in the box, and a bottle of vodka.

Oh, and a hockey puck!

Don't ask.
I don't have an answer

Justification:  More storage...less freezer burn. 
But I still can't cross anything off the list.

I ignore, still, the bathroom drawers.  I decide to tackle the dresser drawers.  Then again, before I reach the dresser drawers, I'm halted by a glance over to my closet.


I am DISTRACTIONIZED!  I pull.  I pack.  I toss.  I clean.  I find "missing clothes."  I find the "Professional" looking clothes.  Part of my search for work. Yeah!  I need to start on that.  So I mirror model.  Alotta mirror-modeling.  These don't fit.  These still fit.  This is a wreck.  That goes with this.  This goes with that.  I realize that I have been wearing the same clothes to the same office in the same basement of a building where nobody would think twice of walking into.  So there was no dressing for impressing.  I'm having fun.  And I'm pleasantly surprised that I have at least 5 days of working-girl clothes.  I'm looking forward to the future. I then put the shirts on the upper...pants on the lower...dresses to the right...scarves to the left.  Voila!  The closet is done.

Justification:  New wardrobe and one more step toward finding work.  
But still can't cross anything off the list.

Time is up, Wednesday.

Thursday Objective:

Clean out bathroom drawers
Clean out dresser drawers
Clean out glove compartment

Thursday, Actually:
Biutiful
Clean out/organize dresser drawers

Thursday morning an Arclight Cinema members e-mail pops up.  It occurs to me that I have one more foreign film to see...Biutiful. 

I am DISTRACTIONIZED!   I pick my seat.  I buy my ticket.  I watch my movie.  Yes, my movie...private screening.  I'm the only one in the theater. 


Justification: Something I can cross of a list.
But still can't cross anything off the list.

I walk out.  A depressing movie.  A guilty conscience. Was it worth it?

Okay, dresser drawers.

I come home.  I pull. I clean. I mirror-model.  I mirror-model again.  I mirror-model some more.  I toss. I pack.  I re-schmorganize.  I am done!   And, finally, after 40 some years of sticking stuff in dressers, I learned myself a little something.  Roll and tuck.  Not fold and stack. That's how I pack.  That's now how I store.  And why not? This way I can fit more into my little tiny dresser drawers than Mariah Carey can fit into one wall of her house-closet.  Well, not quite.  But almost.

Justification:  IT'S ON THE LIST!  I did it!  I checked one off the list.  And it's only Thursday! Ha!

Time up, Thursday.

Friday Objective
Clean out/organize bathroom drawers
Clean out the glove compartment

Friday, Actually
Glove compartment
TBD

It's Friday morning.  And, yes, so far I did the glove compartment.

I pulled.  I tossed.  I re-schmorganized.

I found the vehicle handbook, AAA Guide, 2007 2008 2009 and 2010 proof of insurance, 2008 2009 2010 registration, multiple CDs, a wedding program, a yoga gift certificate, a print out of Lectures on Modern European Intellectual History: Plato, the Allegory of the Cave (?), personal deposit slips, allergy medicine, a pen, a charger, a lipstick, some scissors, some tape and...

Yarn and a Knitting Needle???

Don't ask.
I don't knit and I don't have an answer.

So I'm 2/3rds there.  Even though I was distractionized, I am now more on my way to being organized.  And with that said, I am very excited.  I did more schmorganizing than I set out to do.  I crossed another thing off another list.  And I learned that not-very-too-old dogs can learn new tricks!

Is this what really gets a middle-aged girl excited?  Apparently so!  For this girl it does!  For this week, anyway!

Ciao for now!
k

On UNCHARITABLE by Dan Pallota...

Didn't finish.

He won his argument with me back in the first chapter.

Premise: Charitable organizations should be run as a for-profit business.

Should be able to pay for the best and the brightest, if allowed.

This enables the charitable organization to make more money and grow.

AGREED! 

ORGANIZE SCHMORGANIZE

Organize Schmorganize!  I'm not looking forward to it!

This year I've vowed to organize - learn, do and accomplish!

Hopefully, by this year's end, I'll be left with a clearer head and uncluttered surroundings so that I may function a bit more efficiently and calmly.  Most importantly, to make this work, by year's end I must Habit-ize to Organize!

So...it's almost the middle of February and I still haven't started.  Before today, say organize and you'd only be able to count a single finger on a single hand.  You pick the finger.  The appropriate finger or the inappropriate finger?  Whichever suits your style.

Pick a finger!

Me, I choose the appropriate finger that makes the strongest statement: The Inappropriate Finger! 

 

ORGANIZE THIS!!!  

Okay!  Now that's outta my system, I have to get on with it.  I have a big day!  Today I begin! 

I may be good at organizing thoughts, time, events, trips and people, but what I hate organizing are things.  Well...let me use "proper" English...I "dislike" to organize things.  I find it difficult to organize things.  I am really crappy at organizing things.

So, I figure before I take on projects like...tackle file cabinets, recipes, computer files, or the ultimate -

PICTURES

my head may feel a little clearer about what I need to do if I clear out, toss out, donate off or sell off a few things.  Or, maybe, a lotta things.  Depending on what crap I find.

So starting today - Baby Steps!

CONTRACT:

By the end of the week I vow to get done the following:

Clean out  my dresser drawers - for ship off/sell off

Clean out the bathroom drawers and cupboards - for toss out/toss out

Clean out the glove compartment of the car - who the heck knows? 

Depending what I find, this could be an exciting adventure.  or not.  we'll see.

So today I only leave you with a short post.  'Cause...

I gotta step away from the computer.

 

I gotta put on my workin' clothes. 

I gotta pull up my sleeves. 

I gotta suck it up.

I gotta launch this project. 

I GOTTA GET ME SOME RESULTS!



Ciao for now!

k

On THE BUBBLE...

I notice that still after I get out of a chair, the bottom of my shirt still creeps up to prop itself up on top of my butt to where I have to adjust it to be straight. 

That shows me that I still have a little bit of a bubble in my butt! 
Grateful!

A MAGICAL LIFE

I like to think of my life as a Magical Life!

THE AMUSING

It's like seeing a guy walking a hog on a leash in the middle of the city.  Magical!

It's like hearing an advertisement for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer research and a car pulls in front of you with the license plate "BOOBS."  Magical!

It's like thinking of a friend and a song comes on the radio that has everything to do with that friend.  Magical!

THE HELPFUL

It's when you have to find a wedding gown seven months pregnant and the first gown, in the first display, in the first store you see is the perfect gown for you.  Magical!

It's when your bank account says $0.65 and you need $100 for groceries that week.  You have a garage sale and sell $101.35 worth of junk.  And you have money left over for the parking meter.  Magical!

It's when someone out of the blue offers you a job just as you leave another. Magical!

THE COMPASSIONATE

It's when you're thinking of someone that you haven't been in contact with for some time and they call or e-mail.  Magical!

It's when you finally think of the perfect birthday gift for a friend on the very day of the birthday.  Magical!

It's when you don't think there's anything more in life and something stirs in you that you never thought you had.  Magical!

So I do think I have a Magical Life!  

And this past Saturday presented me with yet another little slice of magic!

"A" sprung on me Saturday morning that he needed a dress shirt and a tie for the special party he was attending that evening.  He also wanted to buy the birthday girl a gift.

"Can I have my allowance, please?"  (I'm frequently delinquent)

He had the shirt and gift covered.  He knew precisely the shirt he wanted and where to get it.  He knew precisely the gift he wanted and where to get it.  He knew precisely the tie he wanted...

...but knew not where to get it.  And neither did I.

He wanted...exactly, without negotiation or compromise a....

Black Skinny Tie!

I pushed that skinny tie to the back of my mind for the moment(s) and stored it there for future panic.  I had a busy day ahead of me and I promised  A and Her Highness a Runyon Canyon hike.  Or, rather, they promised me.  We did the hike.  The difficult trail where one may catch, from time to time, grown men crying on the top of that mountain.  I relished the hike.  They "survived" the hike.

Regardless, by the end, we were all sweaty, tired and hungry...however, apparently, also energized for some shopping.  Well...A and Her Highness were energized for shopping.   I was hungry.

Before we eat, we start with the shirt...easy!  A tries it and buys it.  $$Cha Ching$$ minus 50%!  Yay!

We're hungry.  We sit down.  Order.  That Black-Skinny-Tie-panic slowly and maniacally begins to crawl to the forefront of my mind.

"A, do you have any idea where to get your Black Skinny Tie?"
Nope.

"Her Highness, do you have any idea where to get A a Black Skinny Tie?"
Nope.  

It's up to me, I guess.

We Eat, Pay, Leave.

Next, it is Hot Topic for the birthday gift!  Perfect!  Right around the corner.  Though, panic is mounting, I feel like it's a little easier to keep at bay.  Could they have ties here?

As A searches through t-shirts...

ME:  Ties?

THEM:  YES!!!

ME:  Skinny Ties?!!  

THEM:  YES!!!

There they were.  Ties with skulls, ties with thorns, ties with roses, ties with kitties, ties with doggies...
white ties, striped ties, polka dotted ties, checked ties...pink ties, red ties, blue ties, brown ties, gray ties, and every other tie and plenty of each.  I don't see any Skinny Black Ties!

A, how about the black with checkers tie?  Nope.
A, that black tie only has one skull.  Nope.
A, solid gray is close to black. Nope.

No negotiation...no compromise!  Crap!

Just then my eyes travel down to the very bottom of the display.  And there it was. The One and Only, amongst 10s of other ties, at the very bottom, to the left on the display, pulled forward and separated from the others like it was yelling out to me, "Just for you!," a Single Solid Black Skinny Tie.

MAGICAL!

I then go through all the ties to see if there are any other black ones 'cause I just can't believe this is the only one.  For me.  For A.  Yes, and so it is... the only.   Thank you!

So....I grabbed.  He bought.  We left.  I continued on with my day.  Her Highness continued on with her plans.  Mr. Fashionisto continued on to his party.  It was a fun-filled, fulfilling, and a gratefully smooth-running day.  Thanks to the lil' bit 'o' magic.

Some may say someone's watching over me.  Some may say it's coincidence.  Some may say "What's the big deal?"  And it may be all that.  However, besides all that, I like to think that little tiny event was a little tiny bit of magic...to help me along in my magical life.  And I like to think that as long as I pay attention, more magic will come.  Because I prefer to live my life in amazement and wonder.   I wish for you, too, to pay attention to the magic. 'Cause it really is a lotta fun!

Ciao for now!
k

RUNNING TO THE OSCARS

It's February 4th and I'm just about to round the corner to get to that final stretch as I approach the finish line; going full-force, at tremendous speed, with dedication and both eyes on the......

MOVIE SCREEN

The Finish Line:  The Oscars!!!

Me and my movie girls take the Academy Awards seriously, and we're all on a fast track to knocking off all the movies we can before The Night of the Academy Awards.  We put down wagers.  It's serious. 

Well, now I'm that tortoise who's catchin' up to those hares! Take THAT movie-girl-goer-chick-people-persons!!!

Okay, gettin' a little ahead of myself!

Most of those movies girls have an "IN" to NOT borrowing free movies from their connections; connections who belong to the Screen Actors Guild, the Writers Guild, the Directors Guild, the Direct Line to Heaven Guild, etc. who get free films to watch in exchange for a nomination (or not).  Consequently, these girls have been gaining ground.

What I do have, though, is an IN to an IN to an IN of which I have been lucky enough to have NOT borrowed two movies thus far.  Not as many as my cohorts. However, two movies, nonetheless: "I Love You Philip Morris" and  "The Fighter".  And I'm hoping when people are finished I can NOT borrow 127 Hours.  But that may be a crap shoot.   In any case, at this point, I'm still trailing the pack.

Another way to catch the nominated movies for free is via the Internet.  A couple of studios have wised up to the fact that many people DON'T borrow Guild member's movies and provide only online access to their films.  These movies, apparently, spontaneously combust after 24 hours from logging in.  And you may only view them once.  This way only three heads can fit around a screen...the computer screen. 

My head, as of this day, has not yet been invited. I may have to change deodorant.

Many of these girls are also invited to screenings at many of their friends' homes who are Screen Actors Guild people, the Writers Guild people, the Director's Guild people, the Direct Line to Heaven Guild people, etc.  Good for them!

So in January I had to begin checking off my movie list.  I had to start the race with an open wallet...

Black Swan
The Kids are All Right (summertime movie)
True Grit

Social Network

 

Then I opened the change purse to DVD releases...

Toy Story 3
Inception
The Town

I still needed to catch up!  Obviously, I haven't even seen half the movies nominated.  Crap!

As the end of January was fast approaching...and I was running out of movie money, The Husband and Me got invited to a screening!  At a house.  With lawn chairs.  A Big Screen TV.   And Loud Speakers.  And people that talk.  And food.  And wine.  And chocolate bars. Yippee!!! 

I laid back my lawn chair to The King's Speech - Brilliant!!! 

I figured I've seen what's going to win Best Picture.  And, for free...with wine!

I'm gaining ground.  But still not close.

 

I counted off my check list to figure out how many films I've seen from each nomination list:

8 feature, 3 actor, 4 supporting actor, 2 actress, 4 supporting actress, 1 animated feature, 3 art direction, 5 cinematography, 2 costume, 5 directing, 4 editing, 3 original score, 1 original song, 3 sound editing, 4 sound mixing, 1 visual effects, 3 adapted screenplay, 4 original screenplay.

Okay...average...my girls have probably seen a little more than that. 

Nevertheless, as sometimes funny things happen...

unexpectedly...
magically...
and, on occasion, gratuitously...

this past week...

I GOT THE GOLDEN TICKET!!! 

I was asked by an Academy Member to be the go-to-after-the-husband-turns-her-down date to accompany her to the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood to watch any and every nominated film for the next couple weeks!!!!  

I really luck because her husband doesn't like to sit through more than one film at a time, let alone the ones that don't speak English, so I'm pretty much guaranteed a seat in that theater whenever she goes.  She's part of the pack o' movie chicks. She wagers too.  She's serious.

The very first showing started last Saturday at 10 am sharp!  We get there at 9:45 am sharp!  We sit fourth row down from the top on the right side of the theater.  We melt into the cushy chairs.  Turn off our phones.  And still have enough time to chat a little.

We spend two mornings and two afternoons back to back in that theater.  By the end of the weekend, I feel like this is my second home.  Same time, same place, same seats.

Saturday

Dogtooth, Greece

Outside the Law, Algeria

Sunday

In a Better World, Denmark
Incendies, Canada

 

All four foreign language films were great! 

Interesting..disturbing...educational...disturbing...sweet...beautiful...disturbing...disturbing...disturbing...with one Great Twist In The End!

We discuss.  Listen to other's discuss.  And...listen to other's disgust....of which I don't understand...but to each his own.

We return on...

Monday
Restrepo
Waste Land

Both documentaries are great! 

Compelling...eye-opening...compelling...compelling...happy....sad...  hopeful...educational...disturbing...thought provoking.

We discuss.  Listen to others discuss.  There was no disgust.

It hasn't ended.  I'm going back this weekend...to my second home.  I'm on my way.  Down that final stretch...at full speed.  I'm going to knock off two more documentaries.  A few shorts. Live-action?  Animation?  Some not available to many movie goers.  I may take a lead.

I realize I still have to open my wallet to a couple more...probably Biutiful and Winter's Bone...the Academy's schedule and my schedule don't fit.  But so far it's been a great movie adventure this year.  And...

 

...I'm catchin' up, suckas!!!

Ciao for now!

k

On PIERS MORGAN....

If I had a lot more guts, I think I could be the female counterpart of Piers Morgan.  I would be mischievous and it would be lotsa fun!

IN PURSUIT OF PERFECT PAELLA

LONG LONG AGO in a LAND NOT TOO FAR AWAY...

...I tasted my first and most scrumpti-ous-est Paella.

And I haven't tasted better Paella since!

It was not in Spain.
In fact, I've never been to Spain.
But I'd like to go to Spain!
But this here is not about Spain

This here is about PAELLA!

It's not like I seek it out, tasting every Paella in every Spanish restaurant in town.  I don't go inviting myself to every Spaniard-American's house for a meal.  And it's not like I've even tried cooking it...ever.  It's when I have the opportunity to eat it, nothing beats my first Paella-love. 


Wherever and whenever I have Paella, I never fail to compare it to my first Paella-love...

"This Paella is not like the Paella I had 5 years ago."
"This Paella is certainly not as tasty as the Paella I had 10 years ago."
"This Paella is okay but definitely doesn't come close to the Paella I had 15 years ago."
"This Paella is no Paella....not like the one I had 21 years ago."

People are sick of hearing it!!!

At a Holiday gathering this past Holiday Season, a "white elephant" gift was "conveniently" dropped into my lap.  It was, yes, a Paella Pan. 

Recap:

"You wanna trade?"  wink wink

"Uh, okay?"  I say.  Drop into lap.

I believe it was one of those Just-Make-It-Already-And-Then-Invite-Me-Over-For-Dinner gifts.

So this year I decided to be In Pursuit Of Perfect Paella.

12 months, 12 Paellas.

Criteria:

One Paella per month
8 taste-testers per Paella
1 bottle Spanish wine per 2 taste-testers

Okay...this will be fun!  I can impress or disgust.  Either way it's fun.....with wine!

January, First Paella...

The pursuit begins.  First, the recipe search. First time preparing my first Paella shouldn't be too complicated, right?  But no matter which recipe, I realize it's going to be a challenge.  What makes a good Paella? Apparently, perfectly cooked rice.  You know how many times I un-perfectly, un-correctly and un-satisactorily-ish cook rice for normal dinners?  Maybe 70% of the time (according to The Husband).

So, Nerves on high alert!

I decide on using three different recipes from various online sites.  I choose the one with the cheap seafood, the one with the wine, and the one with the garlic and thyme. I plan to marry the three.  After a little mixing and a little tweaking...or a lotta tweaking...I intend to make a pretty good Paella...well, a Paella, anyway.

First Guinea Pigs??!!! 

Quib & CeCe and NaK & MaK.  I call them up....AVAILABLE!!!

Two hosts, two couples, two teenagers and a Paella pan.  8 taste-testers plus wine!  Perfect! 

I decide to choose the seafood according to what Costco's seafood of the day was...and cheap.  Score!  Really? That many mussels for 14 bucks?  Snag!  I grab some frozen shrimp to accompany!  It was lookin' to me like it was going to be a Shrussel Paella that night!

Next...I prep all the ingredients like I'm prepping for a cooking show.  So... much to cut, chop and measure...8 ramekins, 3 measuring cups and 2 hours later, I had it all together.  Maybe? 

The Husband helps prepare the BBQ.  The table is dressed and wine glasses are set out.


All was in order.  And....I had Domino's Pizza on speed dial!


Quib & CeCe arrive.  With Saffron in hand....for Me...from their Holiday visit to Spain!!!

 
Quib takes charge of the Pour of the Wine.  CeCe takes charge of making sure I'm on task. You see, CeCe has done this before...plenty of times. Quib takes his throne at the counter, sips his Spanish wine and, from time to time, reminds CeCe not to be the boss of me.  She finally resolves to let me run my course with recipes, without, of course, not throwing in a couple last minute tips...ok reasonable tips...I use them...and mostly likely they prevent another rice-FAIL.  Thank you, CeCe.

NaK & MaK arrive.  NaK, proud of her new finds in wines.  Quib, once again, takes charge of the Pour of the Wine.  We sip new wines.  And we throw the paella onto the grill!   The BBQ lit up!  Laaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

The Paella was Mesmerizing!

The Paella SPARKLED!

I now am REALLY excited...if it doesn't taste fabulous, it's gonna look fabulous!!!

Just a 'lil more work:

Add the broth
Shake it up
Add the broth
Shake it up
Shake it up
Shake it..shake it...shake it
Add broth...
Add mussels...
...and DONE!

I put on the mitts, grab that Paella, and prepare my best Oprah-yell-out-to-the-audience-voice before walking into the dining room...goods in hand...


                                                 PAAAAEEELLLLLLLAAAAAA!!!!!!

The table is seated.  Even Her Highness has a place...with the adults!  Shocking!   "A", though, prefers Jason Statham's company to Adults-With-Wine.  That's okay.  He's eating the Paella...no love lost!

(...disguised to protect the innocent!)

By now, it is 9:00 pm...everyone, starving and tipsy!  Perfect...right where I need them!  At the table we Oooo'd and Aaaah'd.  We served.  We ate.  The rice perfect.  Yay for me!  The seafood delicious.  Yay for me!  Suggestion:  a little more Saffron ($cha ching$).  My suggestion:  Maybe a little more herbs.  Good, not perfect.

Consensus: Thumbs up from all!  Yay for me!

Beginner's luck, my mother says.  Give me 11 more months of beginnings, I say.

What a great evening!  By the end of the evening, I realized the experience was more about the fun in the preparation and sharing the evening with good friends and family.  The end result was just the icing on the cake.

I'm still in pursuit!  Yet I keep Domino's Pizza on speed dial! 

Stay tuned!

Ciao for now!
k

If you want to check out the recipe, go to In Pursuit of Perfect Paella under my blog favorites
or inpursuitofperfectpaella.blogspot.com