Spring weather here in Southern California is like no other. The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is open all the windows and doors and let the fresh air in. This is how the trouble started... I left the slider in our bedroom open the other morning, and a bee got in the house. I didn't know that that's what had happened. I ...
Silly Things
The Biggest Insult
My kids are generally pretty nice to each other. Of course, there are the occasional sibling fights that crop up when someone's in a foul mood or has had a bad day and chooses to take it out on those closest to them. For the most part, they get along great and are friends. The exception being that the older ones would take advantage of the ...
I Have a (Cuban) Superpower
I get my nails done regularly. What I mean by that is that I usually get a regular manicure and pedicure at my local nail salon. And, yes, I suppose I could just buy some polish and paint them myself, but I really enjoy taking the time and pampering myself that way. (Or I may just be shallow and spoiled.) So, every other week I trot into my local ...
Famous Last Bites: A Cautionary Tale
Marta here. It's summer and the Orange County Fair is in full swing here in our little corner of the world. My Lucy went with her friends, her camera, and her appetite. What follows is her account of the crap unfortunate food choices available to her. CAUTION: Not for the squeamish. - - - I’ve tasted regret. And it’s ...
May the 4th Be With You
In 1977 when I was young and adorable (This is NOT a lie), a film was released that changed my personal perseption of movie making forever. (This is NOT a lie, either.) It was only playing on a few screens and there was no advertising for it. It was completely word of mouth. We had friends who dragged us to this screening. Apparently everyone was ...
Hot! Hot! Hot! (a mini-rant)
On Monday, the 27th of September, we here in Southern California experienced the gosh-darndest Hottest Stinking Day of the Year. This is the thermometer (excuse me, Comfortmeter) in our backyard. For those of you who are impaired when it comes to reading old-school-liquid-filled thermometers, the red liquid (possibly alcohol or mercury; both ...
Mooove it!
One of Lucy's creative writing classes involves creating a literary magazine. In fact, I think the name of the class is actually "Literary Magazine" or Lit Mag for short. (<--That's cool & hip student jargon in case you were wondering.) The title of this fledgling Lit Mag is The Invisible Cow.* [*The Invisible Cow refers ...
Why it’s weird to be me sometimes…
I love blogging. And I love that I have a certain amount of fame (little tiny "f" - I'm not completely delusional, but that's not important right now). So I went to my regular checkup with my dentist last week. After the hygienist completed the ex-rays and cleaned my teeth, the dentist came in to look at everything which is ...
How To Throw a Virtual Birthday Party
My daughter, Amy Kikita, spends a lot of time online. Today is her birthday (27) and I wanted to do something special to celebrate. "No time," she said. "I have a ton of work to catch up on." Fair enough. I guess it's good that she has a work ethic at all.... But I also know that in between uploading and downloading and ...
Mother’s Day Blog Shout Out
Kikita here. In case you didn't know (because you've been so busy getting ready for "Kikko de Mayo") Mother's day is THIS SUNDAY. I know what you're thinking: "¡Ay Kikita! I'm not ready! I don't know what to get her!" Never fear! Kikita is here! (Ok, I really can't take the credit for this ...
The EPIC Mr. Don’t Touch the Banana
The following post was written by Kikita, whose appreciation for bananas has led to endless laughter and entertainment. I can't tell you where or how it all started, but it started. I can only guess it happened on facebook because that's where most things happen these days.Let me be clear about something . . . I am not particularly fond ...
Mas café, por favor.
My mom is back from Miami. She spent the entire summer there and she has stories. Lots of stories. A plethora of stories. (I know. The acorn does not fall far from the tree. Shut up.) So we've been talking. Or should I say, she's been talking. And talking. And talking. My job is to keep food and drink on the table in between stories. My ...
I see Cuban people, mama-baby.
I told you there was Elvis. And I told you about the whole Vegas-Wedding-Renewal-at-The-Graceland-Chapel thing. I finally got the photo of my big, fat, Cuban family with Elvis. (Or The Elvis Tribute Specialist Du Jour.) And then, suddenly and without much warning... he left the building. (I guess that's just his ...
How Many Cuban Girls Does it Take to Get ONE Photo?
So, remember when Amy and I were in Las Vegas a few weeks ago? While we were there I had gotten it into my head that I wanted to take a picture of us in the elevator. But let me explain.... The elevators at Bally's (where we were staying) were mirrored. And you know how much I love Now-and-Then type photos. Somewhere, I remembered, there was a ...
“Ya, KIA, Ya!”
I drive around my suburban neighborhood in a minivan. It's actually a KIA Sedona. And I like it. A lot. We just call it The KIA. And that has become its given name. Adam, who is 22 and who has, shall we say, a different driving style than I do, mocks me whenever I am driving and I accelerate to pass someone. "Ya, Kia, Ya!" He shouts ...
