It’s been awhile, hasn’t it? Yikesy Daisies. Ok, brief rundown.

Christmas
My poor mom had an emergency root canal on Christmas Eve, but other than that the gang had fun in California, each of us patiently waiting for a turn at the Wii my sister brought with her. Yay guitar hero! The nephews lived up to the expected cuteness, with the youngest one (20 mos) demonstrating the lastest in dance moves. Step 1: Plant your feet as far apart as you can without falling over. Step 2: Stick your behind out as far as it will go, and keep it there. Wearing giant elmo slippers can help with balance. Step 3: When the music starts, lean from right to left like a skiier, shrugging your shoulders. Step 4: Once you get a good rhythm going, add hand motions to taste. Rockin!

2008
Do I have a resolution this year? No, not really. I would like to plant a tiny raised-bed kitchen garden, with a tomato, basil, cilantro, and jalepeno in it. I haven’t lived anywhere with even an outdoor porch since 2001, so this spring will be the first opportunity to try my hand at gardening as a grownup.

Doing a little recreating
I was laid low with a 10-day illness starting right after Christmas. Made matching coocoons in the bedroom and on the livingroom couch, and divided time between them. Read seven books and watched nine movies (latest discovery if you are the sort that likes the BBC miniseries Pride and Prejudice: North and South, also a BBC miniseries, set in industrial England in the mid 1800’s. Boy, the love interests in that one are going to have a loud marriage!). I’ve had quite a sickly year, the worst since I worked at the homeless shelter back in 1999. And that counts two years in a 3rd world country. This fact is making it more difficult for me to like Phoenix.

Food-related comment
Pozole is a yummy soup. You boil pork meat for about an hour with garlic, onion, and cumin. Then you skim off the fat, chop up the pork,and throw it back in the broth with some hominy, additional onion, crushed tomatoes, ancho chili paste, boullion, and chili powder. Let it cook another hour. Float fresh cabbage, avocado, radish, and lime on top to serve.