L'aventure américaine

Why did crazy Libertarians and Republicans and the odd Democrat have to take the benign "tea party" for their party name? It means that when a liberal Dem wants to actually have a real tea party, her friends get all worried that she's gone all right-wing on them. I'm taking the tea party back. I also wanted to include a picture of my Christmas cookies. I have been a cookie apprentice to the cookies masters for the past few years (that is my mother and her friend, Sandra Tokarski). A few days ago, I branched out on my own and produced 5 different kinds of sweet in one day. I was beat and sugared out. And I missed having a cookie apprentice who has to do the dishes at the end of the day...

I thought that I was a connoisseur of Christmas trees after years of diligently urging my parents and brother outside to chop down a tree while we sang, "O' Christmas Tree" and my dad recited "A Tree" by Joyce Kilmer . We would then drag it back to the house, my dad would fill a bucket with sand or gravel and Charles and I would hold the tree straight while he shoveled the filler in to hold it there. Afterwards, we would decorate it with cocktails and Christmas carols and Dad would subsequently take care of the watering. This was my first urban Christmas tree this year (last year I didn't have one), so I went with all good city and suburb folk to the nearest Home Depot and picked out my tree. People had had their trees trimmed so there were fir branches lying around, which I picked up and threw in my trunk in lieu of going out the white pine in the backyard to cut some greenery for the house (as I do at home). I was ambitious for my first tree and got a...

I had the bright idea that Odie and I should do a Christmas card together this year because I know that we both love the holiday season so much. So, one afternoon this week, I attempted to get a picture with my self-timer. I included the attempts below. Know that many are left out due to redundancy. And the camera was only knocked over one time! I chose this last one, although Odie didn't want me to. He said that he looked to mean and I told him, "Sometimes you are mean, Odie!" But he insisted that that wasn't in the holiday spirit. However, since he refused to cough up any money for the cards, his vote didn't count. I told him that he could pick the picture next time... but only if he pays.

It was my Phoenician year anniversary last Wednesday and I toasted myself a few times throughout the day. I just reviewed my postings from last year and revisited my Scottsdale neck of the woods yesterday when I took Odie to the vet. And I'm trying to reflect on lessons from my first year in Phoenix. 1. Do not run straight into Jumping Cholla cacti. (I actually learned this vicariously through Odie.) 2. If you leave a candle outside in the summer, you will have to fish inside the wax for the wick, which has long since sunk to the bottom. 3. Saguaro Cacti might be the coolest plants on earth (I have learned a lot of cactus facts.) 4. Odie may NEED shoes to run on the asphalt during the summer, but he doesn't like wearing them. 5. Inviting yourself to parties and camping trips pays off when you meet new friends. 6. Said parties and camping trips go down easier with a bit of beer. 7. Oncology is hard and sad and inspirational. 8. It's important to find a happiness/sadness b...

I am home for Halloween and got dressed up for the first time in a few years. However, my mom's enthusiasm and ability to scare small children far outshone the rest of us. It's so good to be home.

Dear Phoenix, I know that it's not my birthday yet, but I wanted to give you a preemptive thank you. Even though you threaten thunderstorms tomorrow, the high temperature is 86 degrees. While I appreciate your flashy wrapping paper of lighting and baseball-sized hail, a simple cold snap will do. However, I'm grateful no matter what the presentation and I look forward to enjoying a temperate day with you. Love, me

Birthdays are fun. Especially when you add wine and cheese to the mix. I threw my first party last night for my 28th and it was a success. I labeled all of my wines, my cheeses and got my Pandora station ready. I was a little worried when only two people had showed up at 7:30pm (the party "began" at 7pm), but more guests soon arrived with libations and fun. It was a rousing success and my little house held us all and my first birthday party in Phoenix was excellent. And so commenced my birthweek! Here are the remnants of the party. Macaroni and cheese will be on the menu for days to come.