exceeding the speed limit

Life....at the speed of...life

Everybody warned me this would happen.  That the years would go by faster, and faster.  This year was a blink.  One minute baby boy was starting kindergarten, sobbing and holding on to my leg.  The next he's confidently graduating.  My last Mother's Day tea...my last day of class...Memorial Day....aggghhh.

So here's the rundown.  Oh, don't cha worry, I'll be posting some food stuff soon.

Mother's Day Tea...
Mac played "Jesus" in their play....so proud of my v. blond, European version of Jesus!  hehe

I actually missed my "final" on my last day of class!  Duh!  I thought it was on Wednesday.  Thank goodness my final project was complete.  Guess who got an A??????????  V. 4.0 student!

Then, back from the dead, Flamingo Night.  Inspired by my friend Poohsie when I was visiting her in Minnesota. They did it in their hood.   An informal gathering of neighbors on Friday nights..whoever has the flamingo, drinks and appi's await.  We have lots of new babies in the hood.  So nice to have kids here again.

Kel's hub Mark and Elle from next door

Kelly and beautiful baby Ryan (do not tell Kelly she is on here!)

Julia's "boyfriend" Nate, who liked the taste of the bubbles we made.  Jules did his hair...

Mac and the Flamingo

Next up, Kindergarten Graduation and the last day of school...

Lorraine and I took these pics and I put together this collage photo for Mac's teacher.

Mrs. Fry and Mac

Next day..Alcatraz and SF with Claire's 2 BFF's Camille and Camilla (yes, it got confusing over the weekend)  More on our weekend manana!

I'm so tired I could sleep for two days.  It was a FABULOUS weekend.  Need to go birthday shopping now!  Off I go.

Dewey vs. the Seal

We just HAD to pick thee most freezing beach ever to spend Memorial Day.  I think it's been warmer there in winter.  Any-whooie I love Fort Funston because it's like doggie Disneyland.  Hundreds of dogs, off leash, racing up and down the water - and getting pummeled by waves.  We had seen this seal popping up every once in a while, but it looks as if they knew each other, no?  Maybe the seal was thinking lunch. 

A Tribute to Mom

Sharon Lee Congiardo Ferris - October 15, 1942-May 24, 2007
Download 01 Song for mom

I was driving down Cherry Avenue at about 10:30 a.m. and I called my stepdad, Bill to check in.  I was flying down to So. Cal. to visit my mom and take her to a movie that afternoon.  We were going to see, "Because I Said So", a chick flick.  She liked going to the movies - Bill didn't.  And then he told me she had passed away just two hours before.  With a hospice bed for only 24 hours, she passed away quietly. (mom had a near model looking home and she thought it wouldn't "go" with anything).  She didn't want me to see her die.  Of this I'm sure.

Two years ago today I lost my mom to leiomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer.  Since then, I've been dealing with the life altering changes that come with losing a parent.  So much of who we are is how we were raised and who we were raised by.  Cancer sucks, plain and simple, in any form.  I choose to see all of the good that came out of her 7 year battle.  The healing that it had on so many relationships - and the peace she ultimately found in herself.  The love I was given for so many years.

I still miss, daily, all of the quirky things she said and did that made us laugh. The way she said, "goff", for "golf" almost forgetting there was an "L" in there.  Her resourcefulness and ultimate shopper ways.  Her beauty (which I never told her enough).  I miss her carrot cake with loads of cream cheese frosting.  I miss her stubborn, independent spirit.  I know that bits and pieces of Sharon are alive in me and my kids.  I thank God she is in heaven with him, living a pain-free, very social existence with Him. (at least that's what I envision :0)

I had no idea, truly, what life may have been like for her until I had three kiddos of my own.  No idea the sacrifices she made to make our life good.

I recently watched the Farrrah Fawcett documentary.  Although it brought back painful reminders of her ordeal, it also reminded me of her strength and courage.

If you still have your mom, call her today and tell her you love her.  I love you, mom.

Two cures for chicken thighs

Accepting your inadequacies in life is huge.  There are so many areas of my life I can/should change.  There are also those I can't.  One thing?  My coloring.  I am butt ass white.  Not Nicole Kidman white.  No, I didn't get those genes.  I mean chicken thigh white.  As a kid, I would lay out with spf 2 on a dock and fry myself to try to get some color.  (mind you my dad is Italian and Mexican/Indian and is quite olive complected so this sucks that I am white even more).  After a couple of bad burns (like the kind you can't walk for 2 days) I came to realize that tan I would never be.  I did convince myself for a  while (late 80's) that tanning booths were the way to go.  Ya, they are.  If you're going for skin cancer that is.  My tan is most people's white.  Self tanner turns me a burnt sienna version of orange.  Can't stand the smell and wonder what all those chemicals will do in my body when they absorb.

And then ***Aaaahhhh*** down from the heavens *****choral angels ascending***** I find this...

Neutrogenia Sheer Body Tint

Of course, the first time I used it I went in the pool and came out with streaks all over my legs.  Such a Dawnielle move.  BUT, I can use it to give my old leggies a little color that looks real and no more third degree burns.  I've always thought tan fat looks better than white fat, so there ya go.  With summer screaming minutes away, it's a good trick to have!

I actually think chicken thighs are tanner than me too, oh well.

And other magic...chicken thighs.  The poor overlooked part of the chicken.  Ugly step-sister to the beloved chicken breast.  Actually, chicken thighs are great for summer grilling and taco meat.  They're super moist and cheap.  My fav marinade I found in Fine Cooking and adapted.  We call it Green Chicken.  Sometimes I add cardamom to it for an Indian flavor on the grill.  Most of the time I use it as is in tacos.

While you were out...

Ok, while I've been out.  I'm still taking this class and trying to work on my other blog, that is simply for school, but may be used later for my foodie friends once I get all my recipes going.  If you really could care less about my life and just about the food, you should check out my class blog....

www.ineedtoeat.wordpress.com

It's still being tweaked and some of my links are messed up, but let me know what ya think.  Still pondering some interesting changes...we'll see how far I get with that!

Baby boy wanted the golden egg (which gets you the LARGE golden bunny from See's)  He even prayed he would win.   And he did :)

Oh ya, today is Earth Day!  Remember it's not a sin to use your Trader Joe's bags at Target, Safeway, or heck, even Nordstrom, or wharever you shop!  Make small changes!

Miss you terribly!