My Favorite Store

THE BEST .. (I'll say it again) .. THE BEST toy store in the whole wide world is Archie McPhee.

Need a Magical Unicorn Mask? They got it.
Need a Yodeling Pickle? Look no further.
Do your hands need underwear? Try Handerpants.

Just look at it. How could you not love this place?



Once I saved all my change for one whole year and spent the whole lot at Archie McPhee. It was fantastic. I got to shop in the actual store when we drove through Seattle on the way to my folks' house. When Hubby found out I had spent over $200 at the best toy store ever he was a little mad. Money is tight, y'know. His being mad for having spent so much money was ameliorated by me telling him where the money came from but he was still mad that I had over $200 of McPhee Magic that we had to carry across 3 states in our car, and then it would clutter the house.

That was easily 10 years ago, if not a few more. I've since then amassed a great fortune in Archie McPhee products. So much so that Hubby has put a lifetime ban on me buying anything from that store ever again, unless it was for someone else and it would never, ever be in our house.

So yesterday when I got home I got a big surprise. There was a box on the stairs with those magical words "Archie McPhee" written all over it. I smiled. Then a wave of panic washed over me. I blurted out "I swear I didn't buy anything at Archie McPhee." Turns out Hubby wasn't home so I texted him "I swear on my honor I did not spend money at McPhee.com."

The kids were home, though. They hovered over me until I opened the box and then dove into it as soon as the tape was removed. I had to shoo them away so I could dive in myself. It was my box. Why should they get to go first?

Here's what was inside -
  
 
plus a few other things I can't remember right now but they are just as cool and fantastic and magical as the stuff I just listed above.

Turns out my birthday is next week. My good friend E had sent the package. Hooray for me and thank you E. For my 16th birthday she gave me a 6 pack of Mountain Dew, which I probably drank to my head. This year's birthday present is pretty much just as cool. Thanks E!

San Francisco I Am Coming Back Again

I seem to hear the fog horns calling me.
I seem to hear the surf at Ocean Beach
And from Sutro Heights, I seem to see the lights of the City that is very dear to me.

I seem to see the windmills in the park
The Farrallons and the sharks
In fancy I am lead back to Mt. Davidson
San Francisco, I am coming back again.



                                

In Which a Golfer from Ottawa Saved Me From a Drunk Girl

I'm in Upstate New York right now visiting my company's Mother Ship.

Not quite used to the 3 hour time difference, when I got back to my hotel room last nightI put my head down on the bed and the next thing I knew it was 3 hours later.

I woke up, brushed my hair and went down to the hotel restaurant for some dinner.


I sat at the bar. I ordered a glass of wine and a cheeseburger.

Sitting two seats away from me was a woman. She started talking slurring to me. For the first five minutes of our conversation I was entertained. She told me she was local, she was the oldest of 7, not married, no kids, but she had 14 nieces and nephews, 8 of whom were under 5 years old. She also noted that she lived not too far away from the hotel and didn't have anything in her house to eat, and didn't feel like going to the grocery store to get something to cook, besides, she was craving her favorite drink, Captain Morgan and Diet Coke (yuck, I know).

By the time my burger came I was ready to be rid of this woman. I was no longer entertained. I thought that she'd leave me alone if I pretended to be really really interested in the burger in front of me and the baseball game on the TV. I was wrong. She kept talking, and starting every sentence with "I schwear to god . . ." and "Sssserioussllly . . ."

Just about the time the woman was ordering her 3rd Captain Morgan and Diet Coke a man came up to me and asked very politely if I would scoot over a seat so that he and his friend could sit together. Instead of sitting closer to the drunk lady I scooted the other way. The men sat down. I look over at the one sitting next to me and thanked him. He looked at me funny.

We talked for a moment. He was Canadian and in town for a golf tournament. I told him I was from San Francisco and in town on business. Our entire interaction lasted about 30 seconds. He and I were both satisfied with the brevity of our conversation and didn't talk any more. In the meantime, Captain Morgana, in an attempt to be charming and friendly, spilled her purse all over the lap of the guy who sat next to her, laughed it off, ordered another drink and kept talking.

I finished my burger, got a second glass of wine to take back to my room. As I was leaving the bar the man stopped me, motioned to Captain Morgana and said "now I understand why you thanked me."

I smiled, wished him luck, then went back to my room, drank my wine and watched TV until I fell asleep.

Say Cheese!

This weekend we went to my niece's wedding in Victorville, CA. I gave The Boy my camera to take some pictures of my niece's special day.

Enjoy.

I would like to give The Bride and Groom my very best wishes and hopes for the future filled with love and good humor.
Also, I wish for them an 8GB memory card and unlimited batteries for their camera when their kiddies are old enough to push buttons.

We Could Talk or Not Talk Forever and Still Find Things to Not Talk About

At work I take lunch around the same time everyday. Sometimes I bring my lunch. Sometimes I buy my lunch. Most of the time whether I bring or buy, I eat in the same spot.

Here's a pic of the eating area in my office. Not so bad, eh?

There are a few different people in the office who take lunch around the same time I do. I have to say I'm pretty lucky in the "those-who-take-lunch-around-the-same-time-I-do" department.

Today I had lunch with one of my lunch buddies. He sat at one end of the table and I sat at the other. I ate my lunch, he ate his. I read my book. He read his magazine. We heard some really loud horns coming from the Bay. It was really loud. It sounded like two cruise ships yelling at each other. We both looked up at each other, shrugged, half smiled then got back to reading and eating.

When he finished, he cleaned up his stuff and told me it was very nice to have lunch with me today. He totally meant it.

I really like that there's no uncomfortable silence between us. There's no need to break the silence with useless noise just so there would be noise. He just wanted to eat his lunch and read his magazine. I just wanted to eat lunch and read my book. For the record, we do talk. We talk everyday. Sometimes we joke. Sometimes we tell stories. Sometimes we complain about work. Today was just a no-talking day and that was fine with the both of us.

Put the Eggs in the Coconut Flour and Mix it All Up

This morning I tried my had at making pancakes made with coconut flour instead of using pancake mix, bisquik or whole wheat flour.

Here's what they were supposed to look like.

Mine did not look like that.

I used the recipe from this website. The directions were easy to follow. I wasn't sure what coconut nectar was so I skipped it. Nectar, to me, suggests something sweet. I was going to use some honey but I tasted the pancake batter and thought it was sweet enough. I don't like my pancakes too sweet. I like my toppings to be sweet. I don't think that by not adding the coconut nectar I messed them up.

The recipe said to make them small. So glad I did. They were super delicate and broke easily. I also had a hard time telling when it was just the right time to flip them over. They don't bubble in the same way as traditional pancakes.

The Boy didn't like them. He said they were too coconutty. The Girl said they were just OK but then changed her tune after she  drowned them in butter and syrup. I'm not sure if Bean had any. I left the house for the morning before she ate her breakfast, but when I got home, I ate the leftover pancakes and offered her a bite. She wouldn't eat any. I don't know if it was because she was full or if she didn't like it. Hubby said they were good but he could tell they were full of fiber. I liked the flavor, but thought the mouth-feel was grainy.

I would definitely make them again. I wonder if using a different recipe would produce a less grainy product. Then again, maybe it's just a characteristic of coconut flour. It'll be both yummy and fun finding out.