This time next year...

Well, it's time for the New Year's Resolutions. I'm not gonna lie, I don't do the usual resolutions like joining a gym, not cussing as much, only one glass of wine a day, or anything fancy like that. I do the kind of resolutions that usually take me all year long. So that by this time next year, I will actually complete my resolutions. (Because there's no way this germophobe could join a gym.)

You see, a loooong time ago I created the "101 Things To Do Before I Die" list. The 101 list is in no particular order - I just thought of things I really wanted to do and randomly assigned them a number. And at the start of each year, I pick a few things on the 101 list and resolve to complete the few things within that year.

As the years have gone by, I've managed to complete 67 of my 101 things. (Yikes - I might need to die soon!) And yes, some things have changed on the 101 list. Seeing Nirvana live in concert isn't gonna work. Neither is going to the top of the World Trade Center. But for the most part, the remaining items on the list stay the same and I do a few each year.

One of the things I resolved to do in 2005 was to see Oprah in person. Done! One of the things for 2006 was to go to The Price is Right and cheer for Bob Barker. Done! In 2007 one thing on my resolution list was to live it up in Vegas and let it stay in Vegas. Done and done! While all of those kicked ass, it took a lot of planning to pull them off along with the other resolutions for that year. They tend to take a while to do.

The resolutions I chose from the 101 list for 2008 are not that bad but they all involve some cabbage. So here they are:

• Go for a ride in a hot-air balloon
• Go to the top of the Space Needle in Seattle
• Buy a hutch and fill it with dishes I actually like (I already got half of the dishes!)
• Get a lawyer to finalize my will ... because the 101 list is almost over

The Game

This year for Christmas, I gave M tickets to a Dallas Cowboys game. I was so excited because my hot island boy had never been to a Cowboys game and I wanted to "Dallas-ify" him. Little did I know we'd end up at the same game as Jessica Simpson. Our seats were positioned where we could see her with that big, fake hair. And other fake body parts.

The game was fun and exciting at first. Things were moving and it was looking to be a great game. But by the second quarter, the game was looking as bad as "Employee of the Month." Once it hit half-time, Jessica left her fancy window seat and bolted out of there. I thought she left the game but those watching at home told me that she just moved further back into the box suite. But switching seats didn't matter because the game just kept getting worse. By the fourth quarter, it was evident to me that we were not going to win.

The good news was that we were seated near a very angry woman who stood up and SCREAMED vulgarities throughout the game to everyone from McNabb to Romo to Owens. Of course, only those of us lucky to be sitting in that section could hear her insightful words of wisdom. My favorite of the night was, "McNabb, you pussy! Go put a fucking brace on your shitty knee and go warm that fucking bench!" I kinda wish the players could have heard her potty mouth because she was f-ing hilarious!

The game ended (horribly) and we walked out of the stadium with some serious disappointment and some serious anger towards Jessica Simpson. I guess I can't really blame her for the Cowboys losing as she was not on the field. But I can blame her for being a fussy distraction. It just seems fishy to me that a team like ours could fail so miserably once she got onto the scene. It seems even fishier that she flocked to Romo only after he signed over his soul for $65 mil.

Despite/Because of it all M was very grateful and said he had a great time. Since the game was a wash, our favorite part of the night was meeting the bat-shit-crazy people in the audience and having fun ourselves. Here are some pics:

M and me on our way into Texas Stadium














M striking a pose after the game













Cowboys-Elvis and me

Christmas Wishlist!

It's that time of year, people! So here's what is on my wishlist. And it's really just for M because he never knows what to get me. :)

Tote Bag

Flight of the Conchords Season 1

Once

USB Heated Gloves

Noise Canceling Headphones

Or do me a solid and make a donation to my favorite charity, The March of Dimes.

¡Fridalicious!

Oh. My. Gravy! Last night M and I went to Frida's Mexican Bistro for dinner. It's a cozy, new place tucked in the Cedar Springs area of Dallas, otherwise known as the gay district.

It turns out the owner of the restaurant, Jose Cruz, is from the same village in Mexico as Frida Kahlo. That definitely gives him some Frida-credibility. But Jose also built his famous culinary reputation at The Mansion. Yes, that Mansion.

I started off with a Frida-Rita (there's fresh guava in the margarita!) which was strong and sweet. Our appetizer was taquitos stuffed with potato and sprinkled on top was queso blanco. It came with a side of guacamole. The taquitos were flavorful and surprisingly light. That guacamole was so fresh that I could smell it even before the plate hit the table. They also brought out chips and salsa. I've never had salsa like that in my life! It was so good I was eating it with a fork!

M ordered arrachera a la chininque which was a skirt steak with roasted peppers and beans. The peppers were in this creamy, spicy sauce. Delish! The beans were so good that M wanted to order a giant bowl of them to go. I ordered sabana de pollo which was a pounded chicken breast covered in a mixture of queso blano and mushrooms. It also came with rice and sauteed veggies: carrots, peppers, chiles and jicama. ¡Aye Chihuahua!

M and I absolutely LOVED everything at Frida's. I can only remember 2 other times that food made me swoon and that was in Rome and Paris. And now I can add Frida's to the swoon-worthy list! What can I say? I'm crazy in love and now I kinda want to grow a unibrow.

Me in front of Frida's Bistro after the feast!

Turkey Day Birthday

Well, my birthday fell right on Thanksgiving Day this year. And yes, thanks to my friend Livia, I did get a new coffee maker. :) Thanks, L!

The first time my birthday fell on Thanksgiving Day was when I turned 4 and I can actually remember it. And it didn't bother me. But when I turned 9 it happened again and I was steaming mad. A little girl wants a birthday cake with 9 candles on top ...not a turkey with a big 9 candle stuck in it.

When I was little, I didn't have birthday parties because all my friends were out of town for the holiday. So growing up, the birthday was just not a big deal and over time it was actually fine with me. It bothered me when I was really young, but it didn't take me long to understand the importance of a low profile. I still celebrate, but it's low key.

So this year, I was hoping my Turkey Day Birthday would be a little under the radar. But it was not. My coworker, Nancy, decided to bake a cake for me. She did it on a Sunday night and took it to work the Monday after the holiday. I was so surprised! Then she opened the lid and I saw this:

I laughed so hard that I was wiping away the tears and almost couldn't breathe. Evidently, after icing the cake on Sunday night, the top layer of the cake split and slid down the sides of the bottom layer. To fix it, she decided to pre-slice the cake. But it didn't work and you can see the result. It was, by far, the most creative cake I've ever had! The best part was that it tasted awesome! Moist, chocolately goodness. And it didn't take long for word of the "eruption cake" to get around the office.

So my birthday was not exactly under the radar as usual. But what a way to make a debut!

Coffee Maker Funeral

Ok, so yesterday I discovered that my darling little 4-cup coffee maker bit the dust. This was a major bummer and here's why...

When I bought my house everyone told me I was crazy because I had never even lived alone. Why would single, little me buy a house? Truth is, that house swept me off my feet and we have continued our real estate love affair for almost 5 years now. In yo face, naysayers!

The downside of buying a house before you are married is all the expensive loot you must buy to make the house a home. I had no bridal shower or wedding reception to provide me with things like a toaster oven, a blender, real plates and, of course, a coffee maker. Plus, I had to adjust my spending for the mortgage. So I budgeted and slowly started buying stuff for the house. And every birthday and Christmas I was begging for a "house something." I hated sending out my Christmas wish list filled with things like an electric drill and a rake instead of Cynthia Rowley heels and a Yorkie-Poo. But over time, I was done and the "Pimp My House" years were gone.

Also, finding that perfect coffee maker was NOT easy. I needed a 4-cupper that was short enough to fit under my cabinet and no paper filter required - save a tree! And I didn't want a digital read-out because I want to unplug it after I use it - save energy! Of course, to match the kitchen, it needed to be white - save HGTV! A tall order, indeed! I called it my "Starbucks Tall Order!" But one magical day in 2003 I was in Target and found it *on sale* ...and yesterday, it died.

In the last 24 hours I have been to 3 stores and roughly 2,386 web sites. Still no replacement. I hope you have set aside some cash for a coffee maker. My birthday is in 2 weeks.

Some Things Never Change

I flew to the Panhandle to visit some friends and family. The Amarillo area is weird because there is a certain small town feel to it after all these years. I went to pick up my rental car on the other side of the airport and the worker just handed me the keys. He didn't check my paperwork, he didn't even ask my name. He just smiled, put my luggage in the rental and waved as I drove away. It was something right out of 1967 ...minus the whole racist/segregation thing.

I spent Friday at my Tía Susana's house in my old home-town and she showed me some of her awesome recipes. Albondigas, frijoles and home-made corn tortillas. Yummy! On Saturday, my buddy Livia and I decided to go back to my old hometown to see my Tía and hit the garage sales. We went to a local convenience store and looked for the newspaper but they, "didn't have it yet." It was 9:30 a.m. and there was no paper yet? WTF? We checked another store and there was nothing. Finally, at the 3rd store we were able to pick up a copy of Friday's newspaper! I felt as if I Livia and I were in the twilight zone. That crazy episode where it turns into 1967 once you cross the city limits of the small town.

On Sunday, Livia and I stayed in Amarillo and went out searching for some breakfast tacos. We went to a store and they only had bacon tacos. Yuck. This little Latina eats no pork so we had to try another store. The second store only had tortas at lunch. Dammit! Finally, the third store was the charm. I had to beg them not to put beef on mine. This little Latina eats no beef either! We felt like Goldilocks needing 3 tries to get the right food.

I couldn't believe it took 3 stores to get an old newspaper and 3 stores to get breakfast. But, in all honesty, the trip was a success. I scored some cool old books for my collection and I found some funny stuff at the Amarillo Flea Market. I got to watch Livia kick ass in a tennis match. I got a tour of my old university. And best of all, My Tía Susana showed me her coveted recipe for capirotada. And I have proof...

My Tía's apron but my capirotada!


My Tía and me after 2 long days of cooking.