There are 3 Cuban restaurants in Orange County.THREE.I might have mentioned this before. This is one of the reasons we cook Cuban so much. Mission Viejo is so NOT Miami. But we have adapted. Travel time to each one is at least 45 minutes to an hour for us, not counting traffic. And there is always traffic. I know. That sounded a little whiny. Our ...
Welcome To My Blog!
Be it ever so humble…
Yes. It's a fire. Yes. I'm aware we live in Southern California. No. We don't really "do" weather here. But the temperature dipped below 60 (!) last night. We've been waiting for even the slightest hint of a cool breeze so we could light the fire. No. It's not a real fire. It's a gas log. It doesn't even really heat up the room, but ...
Language Barrier
I am "dug in" in so many ways. I like things just a certain way. I know my preferences. I know what I want to do and for the most part, I do things my way. But today I encountered a language barrier. It didn't start that way. I was just trying to be efficient and then sort of hit a wall. When I was growing up and learning to read and ...
Sit Long. Talk Much.
When you come to my home this is almost the first thing you'll see. Anyone who knows us, knows we really mean it. The Bible talks about hospitality being a gift and that we should be eager to practice hospitality because as it says in Hebrews 13:2 - "Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have ...
Honorary Cubans
Yes, they exist. Let me introduce you to my friends, Pam and Gene. I love this photo of them, taken circa 1976. That's also how far back our friendship goes. They have raised two amazing kids, Mary and Genaro, who are now grown and married themselves to Johnny the Hunter and the Indomitable Kelly, respectively. Mary and Johnny have added ...
My white roses are in bloom.
There's something about roses in general, but white ones specifically, that move me to a response.The sight of them in bloom rocked me back to this experience: Earlier this year, Amy, Adam & I went to see the premier of Andy Garcia's fabulous film, The Lost City. We had the happy privilege to have been present on opening night here in ...
Bilingual Lollygagging…
Personal Electoral Nostalgia: I became an American citizen on April 17, 1975. I voted in my first presidential election the following year. No, I did not vote for the peanut farmer, but I did stop in Plains, Georgia while traveling cross country at the time, and bought some Billy Beer, just to say I did. I have been proud to ...
PSA
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." ~ Edmund Burke Do something good today. Go vote. Then get on your knees and thank God for that amazing privilege. ...
My Creative Process….
"Ladies and Gentlemen, make sure your seatbelts are securely fastened and place your tray tables in the locked upright position." "We're ready for take off!" Someone was asking about my creative process. As if it might be something easy to describe. I have to look at something for a long time before ideas begin to pop into ...
Who’s on The List?
I've got a list. It's a long and sloppy thing. I add things randomly and I cross them out occasionally. I have a list of things I'd like to do in my lifetime. Of places I'd like to go. Of performers I'd like to see. There are silly things on it, some serious, lots of fun stuff. I always ...
