My favorite author

I enjoy reading, it's a hobby I've had my whole entire life. I never understood how people cannot like reading. For me, when I read, it is an escape. I don't even see the words on the page, it becomes a movie in my head.

This is going to sound strange, but my thoughts in my daily life are very spastic. They never run continiously, this is a byproduct of having ADD. Think of it like a television where the tv channel is constantly changing. That is my thought process. It takes a good deal of concentration for me to be able to focus on a single point for a long time, and I quickly get bored.

Anyway, I digress. Reading is the one activity where this doesn't happen for me, and I love it. When I was younger I would read anything and everything. I also read extremely quickly as well. When I was younger (like middle school age), I could polish off a three hundred page book in a day. Lately I have had no time to read. My reading consists of Parents and US magazine.

I do not like reading cookie cutter mysteries that certain writers churn out. I like authors that put a great deal of thought into their work. Consequently, some of my favorite books include Memoirs of a Geisha, Midnight in the Garden of Evil, For Whom The Bell Tolls, Catch 22, and Cather in the Rye.

My favorite author who I love, love, love is Christopher Moore. The first book I ever read from him was Dirty Job. I loved this book. It's the story of a male who realizes that he is the Grim Reaper, and it is his job to collect souls so that demons don't get them (after people die, of course). This led me to explore his other works. His stories are all interwined, meaning that different characters pop up in different books. I love him because he is sarcastic (just like meeeeeeee). I highly recommend that you read him.

Yet another Ben video

Ben is such a happy kid, and I am so glad. He is constantly laughing and smiling. Lately he has done a combination/laugh scream. So adorable.

My weekend was good, except for a bank of america fiasco. I transferred money from my savings account to my checking account to pay my for my first semester of school. I transferred (got the confirmation number) and paid the bill. Unfortunately, BOA didn't log the transfer and overdrew my checking account by a large amount of money, and then tacked on a large amount of fees. They told me they can't refund anything until everything goes through. I'm pissed, but such is life, I guess...and it will get resolved. We had beautiful weather this weekend and I had fun cooking. I experimented with my new springform pan and made a strawberry tart that goes along with Weight Watchers.

Life is really busy. I'm working 50 hours a week and Damien has started school, so sometimes I feel like I never have a moment to myself. But then Ben laughs and he makes it all worth it.

On a side note, I'm really looking forward to visiting my brother and Carrie in Maryland in the middle of June. It will be a much needed vacation! They bought a new house this past fall and I can't wait to see it.

Guacamole

This is kind of random and out there, but I have been completely obsessed with guacamole lately. I love putting in on everything - burgers, sandwiches, and of course, for nachos. I didn't "discover" guac until I went to NYU and started hanging out at Burrito Loco (but that's a story for another day).

I have a fabulous guacamole recipe, from my man Alton Brown. And really - what beats salty margaritas and chips w/ guacamole on a hot summer night?

* 3 Haas avocados, halved, seeded and peeled
* 1 lime, juiced
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
* 1/2 medium onion, diced
* 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
* 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
* 1 clove garlic, minced

Directions

In a large bowl place the scooped avocado pulp and lime juice, toss to coat. Drain, and reserve the lime juice, after all of the avocados have been coated. Using a potato masher add the salt, cumin, and cayenne and mash. Then, fold in the onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and garlic. Add 1 tablespoon of the reserved lime juice. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour and then serve.

Restaurant I Am Obsessed With

About two months ago I found a little restaurant in a strip mall about a mile from my house. Actually, I shouldn't say *I* found it, Damien knows my love of falafal and he discovered it and suggested that we eat there. I didn't want to, and I'll admit, it was because it was in a strip mall. It's called The Garlic Lover's Corner.

I was pleasantly suprised when we walked in for the first time. The decor was upscale. Tiny christmas lights, a long mahogany bar, piano music. Not something you would expect out of a strip mall.

They immediately brought us over warm pita bread chunks with garlic olive to dip in. Um, can you say love? We ordered falafal as an appetizer. I ordered the apricot lamb stew, and Damien got the filet with bleu cheese sauce.

The falafal was delicious. We also got salads with our meal with a cucumber sauce and olives.

The lamb stew...oh. my. god. You wouldn't think that lamb and apricot go together, but they do. They give you a HUGE portion of it, too! It's served over orzo. I swear, I could eat this stew every single night.

Ever since we went there, I make it a point to have the stew at least once every two weeks. Screw the rest of the menu. I even took my mother here when she was visiting, and she liked it (and I like to think she has fabulous taste).

Here's the website:

http://garlicloverscorner.com/

And if you ever visit me in the land of Troy, you bet your ass I'm taking you here.

More Ben Stuff!

Sorry that I have been slacking on posting. I have been really busy for a variety of reasons. I just wanted to share a few cute pictures of Ben and two videos of him laughing his head off at my dog, Fenway.