Cleaning the bones

Aimee and I eat meat off bones a little differently. She sucks her bones clean while I tend to leave fat, gristle, veins, (shudder) you know, that nasty stuff, behind. In fact, when I lived in San Diego, Apollo's brother Tee used to clean my chicken bones for me because I "left a lot of good stuff behind." We often joke that Aimee cleans her bones like Tee and I clean mine like "white people." I don't have a problem with that either.

Today Apollo slow cooked two game hens and some beans, resulting in a chicken bone/gristle/fat bean stew. Not my favorite. Sure, it tasted great and the meat was delicious, especially since it had cooked in broth and beans but there was some funky chicken parts in it. During dinner Aimee decided to rub it in that she sucked the vertebrae clean and even pulled what she thought was the spinal cord right out and ate it. I'm disgusted, even as I type this.



Here she is with her insolent face, showing off one of her very clean bones. Somehow attempting to imply that her bone cleaning is superior to mine. Eh, little sisters. What can you do.

Snow, steak and disbelief

Much to most people's surprise, we got some snow this month. Because we're in the valley, we usually only get rain, rain and more rain. But a week or so before Christmas we got three inches of snow on two different occasions. The city was practically paralyzed in disbelief and most people stayed home.

I love the snow because it's so beautiful and because I don't have to drive anywhere in it or feed any ungrateful cows in snow and ice after dragging bales of hay half a mile up the road and wheelbarrowing water brought up from the creek in buckets. Not that I am bitter. However, there's a reason I do not live near a cow and love a good steak.

So while we had snow, we didn't drive our car because we don't have studs or chains. Instead, Aimee took the opportunity to drive her jeep (otherwise known as Roger) on errands.

One day she asked if I wanted to ride along with her to finish up some Christmas shopping. Of course I was game, I wanted to check out all the snow! As I packed up the sock I was knitting, she said, "I think the sock will be here when you get back." I was stunned as I realized the magnitude of the statement she had made. Obviously, I had failed her somehow as a knitter! I could see that she has some way to go before knitting is truly a drug of choice and she is fully addicted. Needless to say, the knitting went with me. I peacefully knit while waiting outside for her in the jeep, watching people skid by on ice and children play in snow.

The next day we went to a yarn store where Aimee bought the yarn for her Oregon Duck scarf and some nice Malabrigo for a hat. It may take some time but I'm sure Aimee will catch up with the rest of us addicts!

Looking forward to February

On Black Friday Mom and I drove straight to Sears where I was able to buy a washer and dryer. We got a great deal on a set of front loaders, with a savings of about $600. The bad part of the deal is we have to wait until February to get them. Meanwhile, off to the laundromat we go!

Above, Aimee waits patiently for her laundry to go through the wash cycle. She's working on an Oregon Duck scarf, a popular color theme in these parts.

Update!

It's 10:30pm and I feel much more confident about my essay which should be done by midnight. After a "brief" (two hour) phone call to Aimee in which I hoped to get some moral support (unsuccessful) and in which Aimee suggested that "turning in a half-ass essay is better than no essay at all because your teacher will just think you're stupid and will be impressed with your final paper and see how much you've supposedly improved," she had the NERVE to suggest I box up my knitting and "put it away" when I told her about my recent knitting injury. *big breath*

THE GALL!!

We did, however, manage to wear down the batteries in both of her handsets so she won't be able to talk to anyone else tonight. I feel a tiny bit vindicated. Bitch!

Taking in the scenery

Mom and Aimee look across the bay towards downtown San Diego from Coronado. Mom's obsessed with the airplanes that seemingly fly between the buildings when coming in for a landing and always gets excited when she seems them: this is a great vantage point for watching plans "nearly" fly into buildings. Much of our time last year was spent trying to get near hit photographs. She's like a little kid when it comes to the airplanes.

Nature imitates...nature

I finally bought Aimee's last birthday present today. Yes, her birthday has passed, but there is much guilt involved when it comes to her birthday this year, so I must overcompensate. The guilt is partially due to my not be there for her birthday but I don't know what makes this year any different from all those others.

Anyway, after a quick shopping spree involving my dragging Apollo around town on a Sunday and embarrassing him by having him hold my purse, I walked towards our apartment steps and came face to face with this:

Those of you that remember the problems I had with caterpillars last spring will understand why my heart almost stopped when I saw what appeared to several of the beasts sticking straight out of a weed only inches away from my face. I immediately had flashbacks.

Of course, my brain told me that it was impossible for a real caterpillar to stick straight out like that but as you can see from Exhibit A, there is a striking similarity to the real thing:

Leave it to mother nature to remind me of her evil little minions!

Happy Birthday Aimee!

I don't remember the day Aimee was born. I was only 18 months old and in the hospital recovering from kidney failure. I suspect all the stress I caused Mom may be behind Aimee arriving two weeks early. But even though I don't remember her entering my life, I can't remember a time when she wasn't a part of my life. We were attached at the hip and did everything together.


As children, Mom reminded us constantly that we had only one sister and that we should always love, respect and protect each other. I'm glad she taught us this too because even though we went through a rough spot during our teens that may have included one or two physical altercations, we're now best friends. And yes, still attached at the hip. Thank goodness for unlimited long distance!

Despite those times she pulled my hair or bit my leg and left that scar, I don't think there could be a better sister out there. Thanks Aim, for being my little sis. Hope you had a happy birthday. :)

Aimee's got the blues

Or at least she will once I get these in the mail.

Yarn: Blue Moon, Blue Moonstone
Pattern: Vine motif taken from Dublin Bay Socks (the condensed version)

Aimee got her socks today!

I haven't gotten all the info from her as to which yarn or pattern is better. But, she says they fit. That's always a good sign. :) She has more pics on her blog.