When it snows, you stay in and eat. And eat.

And eat. It's the American way.

Because I have been monitoring the increasing cost of citrus over the past few weeks, I decided I would create my own stockpile for when times are really tough.

It seems as though I could not help myself. When there is plenty, there is plenty to consume. This, also, is the American way.

Once I polished off the oranges, I had a taste for something salty. We Americans strive for harmony and balance, as you know. So I decided to make a pizza-a pizza with the works. I hate to shame my father but I bought a pre-made crust instead of making one from scratch the way he does. As a result we had a fantastic pizza with the works that left the aftertaste of cardboard (the kind that's left out in the rain).

Feliz Cumpleanos, can we have an extra side of rice & beans?

Matt & his birthday sopapillas

What's better than a Rio Grande birthday??!! (for us, not much else)
Thanks Vincent, Anne-Laure & Neil for sharing it with us! -Aimee-

Thirtysomething

When I first saw the TV show, Thirtysomething, I was in High School (teensomething). It appeared that being in your 30's is complicated. So much drama, so many feelings. So many tears and bad 80's clothes. Plus, it had Arnold Poindexter from Revenge of the Nerds.

So as today progresses, It dawns on me (Matt: Aimee doesn't qualify yet for many years, and she'll tell you as such) that I am the same age today (36) as the people in that show. So, as I qualify to reach this stage in life, I can provide the following commentary about the show:

1.) If you inserted me in Thirtysomething, it would last one episode. In each scene I appear, I would slap each person I saw, in the face and say "Stop being so whiny. You are so irritating; you make me want to throw myself out of a window (first floor)." Each character would proceed to snap out of their selfishness and be 'healed'. With their new found reality, they would thank me, be happy (except for this guy), and the show would end..in one episode. It would still be a hit because I was in it, slapping people.

2.) I am much better looking than this guy.

So, way back in High School, I had no reason for concern. BEING Thirtysomething isn't that bad, unless you are the whiney, "I need a hug" type, who wears pleated pants.

TV people know the formula for a hit. A.) Take a populous age group and make a TV show. B.) Make all people in show pitiful. C.) Real life age group audience feels better and continue watching. They have yet to learn of my formula: one episode of me slapping people.

One thing I WONT do, is deny my 'Thirtysomething-ness.' For example, someone in his/her mid-thirties should not wear IRONIC TEE SHIRTS. There are so many ironic tee shirts worn by 'the kids' these days, that the only truly Ironic tee shirt is just a basic tee shirt. Isn't it ironic.

If I were in denial about my age, I already know the Ironic Tee Shirt I'd wear because I thought of it. I think it's ironic that someone who wouldn't wear an Ironic Tee Shirt (think Mature Adult) comes up with the best idea for one.

Anyway, the above is a fairly bold statement I made, so I guess I have to prove it. If you see the following Tee Shirt around, you'll know where it came from:

Click here and Enjoy

I told you.

So, what is Thirtysomething? We already know it's not that bad. I am also too young to say wise things, so all I will say right now is this: If you're not a whiney wet sock, full of tears and "hug-me's", then it's pretty good!

In the spirit of Costanza leaving on high notes, I will leave you....

New Camera Phone

I have a new cell phone, that has a camera phone. I know, "sooo 2003."

Anyway, here's a picture from the phone of our backyard.

Here's a picture of the same picture above, but on my computer screen.

Here's a picture taken a little farther back, while I am adding the imgae above, TO this blog posting. Are you dizzy? Totally Awesome.

My new Camera phone is Kitchen-Fairy Approved.

The only thing that the camera phone cannot do is take a picture of itself. Aside from that, the possibilities are endless.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you. Wishing you a great 2007!

Your skills are fanciful, but they are no match for my crane technique.

Help me win, Oh Kitchen Fairy (Mischmaschine-Fee).

Vincent, Boubou, and Anne Laure

Aimee, reenacting the rules of Twister, dictated by Mickey.

Pimp my Kitchen

Little is known about the minor Holiday that comes right after the attention-hog we know as Christmas. This special Holiday celebrates the whimsical little spirit that inhabits and protects a home's kitchen known as the Blender Fairy or "Mischmaschine-Fee" to its original German celebrants.

Yes, it's the Rodney Dangerfield of Holidays known as Mischmaschine-Fee Feierfest und Küchewunder or Blender Fairy Celebration Fest of the Kitchen Miracle, translated to English.

To partake in the miracle of Mischmaschine-Fee Feierfest und Küchewunder, we receiveded a wonderful Christmas gift allowing us to acquire Kitchen Appliances (thanks Aimee's Mom and Dad!). This post excites you I know. First, let's see the old Fridge and Oven:And another:

Now, let's Celebrate the magic of the Kitchen Miracle!

Oh joyous joy:

It's pure kitchen Magique'!

We close with the Gerätefreude Lied or "Appliance Joy-Song."

Christmas in Texas!

This Christmas, Aimee and I visited Aimee's home, Texas. Texas is near and dear to Aimee's heart. How do I know? Because she talks about Texas Ay-lot. Anyway, we had a great time. Many many thanks to Aimee's family for everything: the great food, the wonderful hospitality, and warm memories.

I won't go into how we made cracks while watching Little People Big World as it's not politically correct. Well, ohhkay, you're curious, so here are some of the impromptu dandies.

- At least when they have problems, they're little problems
- When they get angry, it's only a little angry.
- Instead of calling it "Finger Food," do they call it "Hand Food?"
- I wonder if she has to even squat to pee? (this one's Aimee's which was well elaborated upon)

I'll keep this post short..get it? Short? Here are some pics:

Aimee and Matt at her Uncle Chuck's ranch:















Aimee with Chuck's dogs, Mini and Red:



















A ranch without cows is like a Frenchman without a sour expression:















Silly Aimee and Dalton:















Tony Montana Santa, taking care of the Naughty:

















Many THANKS TO THE Stevenson and Davis families!

Your help needed with a decision.

Opinions needed on new "glass piece" in our home:

I need your help. Recently, we acquired a new glass piece to place in the North Wing of our home. I cannot decide whether to place a light behind it or facing it for the best possible vantage point in order to highlight the piece.

First, in front:

























Next, behind:

(Click on photo to get the full perspective, really..CLICK on it)













Wait Wait..Aimee had a better idea..The light should definitely be in front:

















So, what do you think????

Will the real Matt please stand up?

You CANNOT overlook Vincent's contribution!

Seeing Stars, waking up to RRD

OK, first let me start by saying I got this from a posting on another blog that I can't stop reading-beelog!
What you do is download a picture of yourself and you are profiled to see which celebrities you most resemble. It's totally ridiculous and I'm sure, in some way, tied to me ultimately having to purchase something or at least being harrassed by 1,000 emails from their sponsors.

You are given about 10 celebrities that you um, 'look like' but could only choose 8 to put in your collage-o-delusion. I opted out of Lisa Ling (just too gorgeous) and Rosanne Rosanna Danna (just a little too spot-on). **Matt, it's my christmas tree hair from middle school!



I guess this is what you take to the plastic surgeon?



I also profiled Matt--another picture of him rang up Zidane (yum!) I've always told him he looks like a young James Garner (what?!). Anyway, it was a fun way to waste an evening!

Mister Special II, Electric Boogalo

(by Matt)




















My adversary never sleeps.

To understand the following, one must backtrack a bit to this post.

There is news on the Mr. Special front. The Sinister Dark Frenchman Vincent has launched a new salvo in the saga of Mr. Special. They say the code of battle dictates that women and children are exempt from targeting. The maniacal Vincent knows no such rules.

On a crisp Winter afternoon one unsolicited email elicited a tremble of fear throughout Pebble Hill Lane. I present to you, Mrs. Special:

Does his fury know no end? Has he no heart?

Okay, enough with the drama...

Anyway, Aimee was so entertained by Vincent's fun with my nickname, Mr. Special, that she brought further life to Vincent's creation. She created a canvas poster...

Then, she hung it on a wall in the most prominent area of our house.

Oh, it gets better! She had him sign it!























Good Job Aimee!

Savory Molecules, Pain Bouilli & Self-Consumed Academics

(Aimee) Yesterday Anne-Laure invited Julie and me to a seminar series at the French Embassy-Savory Science . It included a variety of topics from the physiology of taste and smell to an age-old tradition of bread making in the French Alps to a roundtable discussion regarding the protection of taste--that is to say, should we be regionally possessive (to preserve authenticity) of local cuisine/production methods/raw products? It was a discussion that trailed off topic, as these normally do, because of audience members not so much asking questions as much as offering rambling commentaries to display their own knowledge of some esoteric, narrow subject. Regardless, the series was extremely interesting and a wonderful way to spend an afternoon with friends!

The ultimate pleasure came at the end of the day in the form a reception that included wine, cheese, quiches, and pain bouilli from Villar d’Aréne.

Thanks, Anne-Laure, for a lovely day!

Phone on the Fritz

(Aimee here)

So, whenever you are offered insurance for your cell phone, for god's sake, take it. You never know when your phone will fall 6 floors down an elevator shaft.














However, when you receive your new phone ($50 later), know that 'new' is a critically relative term. It will be new to you. It will not be new in the universally accepted sense of newness (i.e. meaning recently assembled, possessed or used by no one else). The (Sprint's) definition of 'new' now includes the synonym 'refurbised' which, is by its own definition, NOT NEW.
















When your phone is lightly dropped again and you find that it is much less durable than a NEW phone (and apparently more

slippery), you will find yourself again at the phone counter paying for yet another replacement phone. I only say that to say this: if I do not respond to your call/vmail/text in the next few days it is because I am waiting on my 3rd NEW phone to arrive. . .slippery bastard.

Chile Photos

Here are some photos from our big Trip to Chile...












This is Matt at a Winery. Is it me does the guy over Matt's left shoulder look like he's tinkling?













Hey Mom, cheer up, you are on vacation with your son and daughter-in-law. (Location: Plaza de Armas, Santiago)

Here's Matt and Aimee in a small little place on the ocean where you can drink wine. The owners, an elderly couple, were too shy to have their pic taken.

















Here's a shot of the Wine Region outside of Santiago, Chile. Woooaaow right?



















Aimee, Matt and Fransisco, in Pomaire Chile. All that vacationing and touring around makes you hungry. Mmmm - Pastel de Choclo!

Mr. Special

I don't know how to begin this post. Really. I guess the first question is "What are we looking at above?" Allow me to fill you in. You can also click on the image to see it even larger. Great.

Back story: Aimee and I seldom use each other's real names. Among the names she usually calls me are the following: Mr. Pickles, Pickles, MisterDaddy, Stinky, Mister, DaddyMister, MattDaddy, Squiggles, Nippy, Sprinkles, or Sprunkles (see the name of our Blog).

I am not the only one for which she uses creative names. For our dog Ginny, she uses the following: Lulu, Luliekins, Ginny Lou, Ginny Lou Weidawalker (her Debutante name), etc.











Darla (yes, we have two dogs): Darlalicious, Darla Jean Stevenson Rogers (her Debutante name), etc.








It doesn't end with just Aimee using nicknames for me. I have some for her too: Momma, Wife, Spouse, Schmoo (see title of Blog), KippleKedder, Monkey, Monkeyface, and Monkey Sniffer.













Anyway, I digress. One of Aimee's preferred names she calls me over IM, is "Mister Special." While I am at work, she checks in to see if I am at my desk by sending a greeting. For example, I'll see an IM box appear on my screen with the following:

"Mister?"

Well, unfortunately for me and fortunately for co-worker/friend/Frenchman, Dark Vincent, she contacted me recently with the following greeting:

"Mister Special?"

The moment I saw the IM pop up on my screen, I felt the brimming storm coming over the horizon. Vincent saw it too. I initially pretended NOT to see it of course...sort of like a Jedi:

(me, sending Subliminal Suggestion to Vincent, a la Obi Wan)

"That's not the silly nickname you are looking for."

Rather than seeing Vincent fall for my Jedi Mind Trick, I saw a sort of light come across his French face. It was like the first ray of sunshine after a dark storm. It was the expression of sheer and utter GLEE.

(Vincent, in a thick French accent [because he's French, don't ask])
"Meestere Special? are YOU Meestere Special?"

Then, laughter....

"Ha ha ha ha..Meeestere Special! Ha haha haa.."

Vincent looked as if he just learned Santa Claus was real. He looked as if he had just won an Oscar, or was the first person to set foot on the moon.

"Halloooo Meestere Special!..Hello! haaaaaa."

On his face was the expression of pure joy. Pure joy in knowing that in during any future ribbing I dealt him, he now had the ability to reach in his pocket, and pull out this wonderful gift that never loses its novelty: Until the end of days, I will always be, whenever the moment strikes Vincent, MISTER SPECIAL.

Case in point: Today, I was giving Vincent a hard time. Later on in the day, I see an email message from Vincent. It contained only this image. Not only can Vincent call me Mister Special, he can use his Dark Gift of Web Design to remind me of who I am.

Thanks Vincent. But understand this: Today's battle is lost, but the war is far from over. Be keen and alert, young man, for Mister Special is coming. And hell is coming with him!