I'm Groovin on this Pot!

E..for Elliott

Then we got the munchies and had to have a rib-eye.

kd lang at Mondavi

I got chills when she sang this...her voice is so incredible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_NpxTWbovE


She was engaging, witty, funny, and incredibly entertaining. Her band is rock solid...perfect. We were in the first balcony..but couldn't see kd's face or anything..but, I know what she looks like.

The Mondavi Center? It was hot in there!! Everyone around us was fanning themselves. One guy got up to let us by and his seat had a "butt sweat" mark in it. I didn't want to look back at mine. We also thought the acoustics were a bit off...she sounded "tinny" at first..and the Wood Brothers before her certainly did~it hurt my ears sometimes. The flood lights that come from the stage to blind the audience were a bit disconcerting as well.

I wouldn't want to go to the Mondavi again unless I could get seats up close..and that is unlikely unless you become a member and give lots o cash. I have decided to pass on Patti LuPone, even though I would love, love, love to see her again. I'll stay at home in my cool house and watch a DVD of her in concert. We'll go to the Palms and see some great bands instead....where you can actually see the performer!

So, kd gets two thumbs up and the Mondavi Center gets 1 1/2 thumbs down. We gave a 1/2 thumb because it is beautiful (in a hotel kind of way) and the bathrooms were easily accessible. Friendly staff as well.

OH....we had a lovely dinner with Lori and Shari in Davis at Wok of Flame. Loved it. Get the honey walnet glazed shrimp fer sure!! All of the food was very good and the service was spot on. It was "Americanized" Chinese....but still very delicious.

BTW...I bought tickets to see It's A Beautiful Day at the Palms April 17th. 4 of the original band members ..including the lead singers (LaFlamme). Can't wait. I don't think Dave is too excited to go see them with me. :) They sang "White Bird"....anyone 'cept me remember that song?

Our Anniversary...today

Known each other 12, been together 11, lived together 7, married for 5....years, that is. We've had some fun together!!

Corned beef hash n eggs

It's my husband's favorite. I made this the day after St. Paddy's day..just didn't get around to posting. I used chopped corned beef, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and the broth from the corned beef. I crisped it up in a pan, poached the eggs in water...and there ya go. Delicious! We always add some hot sauce over the top. We like it spicy.

My Last Jar (wipe's tear from cheek)

There they are..my last jar of canned tomatoes...plunk, into the sauce.

I like to swirl up some cooked broccoli and add it to the red sauce.

Bucatini....our favorite pasta.

This is a 1955 serving size. The plate is only 8 inches across.

Letter from Prison

[ We received this letter from Jer today. We sent a quarterly pkg with food stuff and hygiene stuff..and one CD. My favorite, Greg Allman..."I'm No Angel". Jer is doing well in his classes and seems better than ever...thought I'd post it. Here are his words:]

Dear Folks,

Got some good news. Not only did I get the package, but I've also got new eyeballs on the way. Plus I'm gonna get my stomach stitched up. Getting hooked up finally. Turns out I've got two hernias, maybe three. All pretty much in a straight line down the middle of my gut. That's cool, rather have em there than in the more common nether regions.

As for my eyeballs, I just didn't know what I'd been missing until I tried on a friend of mines glasses. It was over after that, figured I better have me a pair. Went to the eye doc and he agreed. He said I could see well enough to pass a drivers test (ha ha) but I have trouble reading, etc. Kinda funny, as a kid I never wanted glasses but now I can't wait!

The only thing that should still affect me that hasn't been vetoed by our governor is the 6 month parole upon discharge. It's the only thing that would of at this point anyway. They pass this bill, post it in the library, get everyone all fired up with some hope, and then veto it. Dumb-ass.

Great CD by the way. He was the bad guy in that movie "Rush", huh? I never knew he went on his own way , so there I was telling the C.O. doing my package search that "I think my mom meant to send me the Allman Brothers". He set me straight. Gave me the run-down, the whole history of the Allman Brothers and their breakup. Longest conversation I think I've ever had with a cop.

Thanks for the package. I like the smell of that AXE. Hell, I even like the smell of that 100% Austrailian Beeswax. Not smoking, I find myself caring alot more. I even put a drop of body wash in my rinse water when I wash my clothes or sheets. Hell-of-a lot better than smelling feet and ass all the time in these cramped quarters.

I've aquired a couple of C.D.s Dave will like, although he probably has em. Alan Jackson "Under the Influence" and Reba McEntires "Greatest Hits". Just needed some country in my life. That C.D. I mentioned, Pink. I think you'd like her. She's like a new age Pat Benatar or Joan Jett. She's "cool". [that CD was not available]

Speaking of cool, I didn't play it very cool this morning. I was off where I shouldn't have been doing some work when a C.O. came looking for me for an appt. that I'd forgotten about. I wrote it down wrong on my calendar. Dumb mistake on my part. But a different C.O. that I'm cool with heard it over his radio and came to get me. Anyway, I'm too close to getting my time back. I would have felt very foolish,

Love You Guys,
Jeremy

[c.o. = correctional officer]

Trying New Food Stuffs

Can't wait to try it with eggs and hashbrowns

16 grams of fat in that pkg of rice..has ghee

Hello? Shankari, what do I do with this?

Love this tea...just a tad sweet, but barely.

St. Patty's Day at the Koontz House

Stay tuned....I am making corned beef hash from the leftovers.

Chicken Soup for cat lover's Soul

I bought this "wet food" at my local pet shop. It is a hairball
remedy. My old cat Simon loved it...and threw it up right after
he ate it....no hairballs included. Stan and Stella kept it down....
they loved it so much!

It does look like soup when it comes back up.

I know..can't help it.

My son with my grandkids...in Old Sac.

My DIL and my grandson.

My granddaughter and Simon...at my house.

My grandson trying to grab the camera.

My granddaughter getting ready to go under.

My son took the pic of Jenn and Ethan http://www.ffphotog.com

Making my tummy happy

I LOVE Chicken and Veggie soup...big chunks of veggies with chick peas

I LOVE hard-boiled eggs...think I'll devil em!

Birthday Chick Pics

After some fun gymnastics...it was cake time!

Elaina wasn't scared of the trampoline!

Ethan doesn't have the hang of it yet, and he's not a chick.

The chicks got pedicures before the birthday party!

Elaina and her BFF, Bella, at the pedicure place.

Of course, we had to hit Starbucks before the pedicures.

Leavin' on a Jet Plane (maybe)

I've had a perfectly great time in Portland. Elaina had quite the birthday party! It was held at metro gymnastics (where she'll be attending pre-school this fall). The kids got to jump into a huge bunch of foam bricks. jump on a long trampoline, and have some fun time in a huge slide/ball jumper thing-a-majegee. Then, it was on to cake and beverages..and present opening.

I took some pictures with my old sony..so we'll see how they turn out. The screen is so small I could barely make out what is in the picture...that, and I am getting old and can't see as well as I used to.

I slept in Elaina's bed this trip and each morning she climbed in bed with me and we played "hide from the monster's". One just never tires of that game.

I woke up to great big snow flakes falling the other day...and it is presently hailing. My flight leaves at 5:50 p.m. Maybe I'll get "snowed in" ?? I best check the airlines. While I do that, please enjoy the following youtube video...a classic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sesmHVYiOHo&feature=related

Portland or Bust!

The photo above was taken Christmas, 1995. This is my reaction to my son, Mike, telling me I'd probably never have grandkids! (well, I'm guessing)

The above photo is of my granddaughter Elaina...who will turn 3 years old tomorrow.

I cannot wait to get to Portland to see her and my darling grandson, Ethan. Thanks Mike and Jenn! Good work.

[photo taken by Mike Harris at Old Town in Sacramento. http://www.ffphotog.com/ ]

BTW...do you think it would be strange for me to put some frozen rib-eyes in my suitcase??

Let's do the pasta step!

My dear husband built this "pasta step" for me. I love it. I especially love the foam bumper he glued around the edges...it's a real ankle saver! I am short..and making pasta over there always made my shoulders hurt. I told him I needed to be about 3 or 4 inches taller! It also makes it easier to put dishes (from my new Bosch dishwasher) away in the cupboard. I used to have to use a little step stool. Being short sucks.

For Lori...let me hear your body talk!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb7C4Ki2t1M&feature=PlayList&p=6493AA676EA93ECB&playnext=1&index=46

Lori...this is for your viewing pleasure.

[I saw Lori today...took food over. She had this bandage across her forehead..and it covered her right ear. She did resemble Olivia].

You are a trooper indeed.