Back in September, Eric had to go to Las Vegas on a business trip for 4 days. Yes, I know. That was my first thought, too.Vegas and business in the same sentence is totally oxymoronic. ;-) But they were putting him up at the Wynn, and I never say no to a chance to go to Vegas. Which is how I wound up having to "amuse" myself ...
My Kids
Take Your Place
I can be pretty rigid. I admit it.I would however, argue that I am just old enough to know what I want. Or maybe I'm just rigid. ;-) Last night Adam cooked dinner.He barbecued a beautiful tri-tip and made scalloped and garlic mashed potatoes. So we could choose. I guess it's kind of unusual for a 20 year old to be doing this for his family. ...
Where is the love?
How I got my grown kids to come home for dinner. . . I sent them this picture on their cell phones with the following message:"The food's brown, hot, and there's plenty of it."(from City Slickers) I'm cooking "Crockpot Ropa Vieja" today at Babalú. You're loving me now, aren't you? =D ...
L’chaim (“to life!”)
On a recent trip to Florida, I made Eric go with me to the bowels of southwest Miami to hunt down the places of my childhood. This is me in front of Silver Bluff Elementary where I went to school as a newly arrived Cuban refugee. It was here that I learned to read back in the See-Spot-Run days. And it was here in this public school ...
The One With My Face
Straight talk for mothers here: Let's talk about mothering and the potential for homicide. If you have grown kids, I really don't need to explain myself. Of my four kids, Adam is the one who makes me the craziest. Smart. Moody. Enthusiastic. Clever.He has boundless energy. That is, until he can no longer hold up his body weight from self-inflicted ...
The Cheese Stands Alone
I was willing. Really I was.A houseful of people to cook for?Count me in!But, it wasn't meant to be."Mom, can we just order pizza?"ORDER PIZZA??Blasphemy!Of course not. If you must have pizza, I will make homemade pizzas for a dozen people. Cheese, pepperoni, mushroom & onion, garlic, tomato & basil. And serve sugary drinks.And ...
Cuban Mush Pot
A conversation with Jonathan:"What's for dinner?" "Tamal en Cazuela." "Tamales?" "Sort of." "Doesn't cazuela mean a pot?" "Yes." "Ummm.... Mom... it's MUSH." "Yes, but it's Cuban-style-corn-mush with pork and lime and garlic. Try it." "I'll eat it. And I'll ...
Quien es mas macho?
I took Jonathan to get a haircut. I have been taking him to a local barbershop. The real old-school kind with a striped pole in the front and 4 chairs lined up against one wall. (I think this particular outing should really fall under Eric's job description as Dad - after all, Jonathan is 11 and having his Cuban mother take him to a place ...
The Lucy Show
This is what happens when you have creative women in the house and a rip in the knees of your jeans.I think I remember it being last year's JCrew catalog that showed patched jeans for about $300. (!!) At times like these I make my kids repeat these magical words: "Mi mamá cose." "My mother sews." Seriously, all that good ...
Full House
I always wished that mine would be the house where all the kids wanted to hang out. (even though it makes me absolutely crazy when kids say they are just going to hang out.)But I am so not "the cool mom."I'm pretty strict about voices and volume and feet on furniture and doors being open. I insist on "pleases" and "thank ...
