News for the Cheap & Nerdy

Thought you might like to know that tomorrow is Free Comic Book Day at your local independent comic bookstore. Papi thinks this is better than Christmas.

What mamacita is ...

Reading

Watching
If I can stay awake past nine tonight...


Listening to
Dear Lord, in my next life can I be even half as
talented, cool and beautiful as Dawn Landes?

This is still one of my favorites:

Pop Quiz!

What dessert should I make for the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon? It has to serve 12.

Tell Me a Story

I bought these for Becca and we're really enjoying them. It's a deck of illustrated cards; you mix up the deck and make up your own story about them. This is the Fairy Tale Mix-Up set. There's a princess, a frog, a witch, a prince, a bag of gold, a message in a bottle, a key, a castle... These would be a great gift.

This post was not solicited or sponsored; if you click the Amazon link I will probably get something (small) out of it.

The Sensory Delights of Lubbock, Texas

I landed in Lubbock early Friday afternoon and was greeted by 40 mph winds. Welcome to the plains ...

Seeing: They had some rain recently and the irises were beautiful.

When I was a kid Lubbock's alleys fascinated me. My great aunt insisted on driving around until she found the most picturesque alley in town for me to photograph.


Hearing: Lubbock makes a BIG deal about Buddy Holly. This is a museum dedicated to him. He died when he was 22!

Tasting: The big, fancy grocery store in Lubbock (going by the enticing name of "United") had this fantastic White Chocolate Apricot Bread.

Touching: I was in town to help clean out my great aunt Helen's house and get ready for an estate sale. She was moved into assisted living recently. She has the most beautiful costume jewelry; I got to take home some of the pieces she doesn't wear any more.

Smelling: I stayed with my Great Aunt Winnie. I still smell like Camay.

What mamacita is...

Reading

My new favorite blog. Except it only updates twice a week. ARGH.

Watching

FANTASTIC movie. I liked it a lot. But I watched it last night, and I have to say it didn't help much with the Sunday Night Existential Crisis. [You have those too, right?]

Bathtime

Two things you should check out:

(exciting picture, eh?)

1. White bath towels from IKEA. Why should you go and replace your ratty, threadbare towels with these puppies? First of all, they're $2.49. I prefer white so I can wash them in hot water and know that they are clean. They are lightweight, so they dry relatively fast and they won't get mildewed in the laundry. They are big enough to wrap around me, but not so big that I can only fit two of them into the washer. The best thing is that they have a hanging loop sewn into them already, so you can hang them up on the hook more easily. [I am the Mommy Dearest of hooks. Everything in my house is on a hook. But that's a whole other boring tirade.]

2. California Baby Tea Tree & Lavender Shampoo & Bodywash. It smells good and didn't make even Becca break out, which is nothing less than a miracle. The tea tree oil is definitely helping with the cradle cap, which STILL hasn't gone away in almost nine years. Kind of expensive, and unlike a lot of expensive shampoo, you can't honestly say that it will last "forever." Anyway, I love it. I bought it at Target, but I've also seen it at Whole Foods.

Disclosure: If you use the Amazon link to buy the shampoo, I might see a penny out of it. Otherwise, this post was not solicited or compensated in any way.

Camerascotta

Most everyday I check out the Maine Coast Book Shop website. It has a live camera of downtown Damariscotta, Maine.

Look at that light! I bet New Englanders have no idea how lucky they are to have that light.

I'm reading up on this restaurant, Haven. It's a new(ish) restaurant started by one of the church members -- he was a chef at Brennan's before. I love how everybody thinks she's Ruth fucking Reichl now with the restaurant criticism. And even the people who liked the place were stingy with the stars.

"Oh they don't have organic wiiiiiiine..."

"Me and three of my friends..." gave it two stars.

Die.

P.S. They have bacon spaetzle on the menu. HELL YES.

What E&B are...

Watching

Of course they LOVED it. The really surprising element was David Cross -- for whatever reason, he didn't mail in the performance; he actually seemed to put thought and effort into it. You could squint your eyes and almost see Dr. Tobias Funke. Amazing.

Eating
On Sunday mornings they're allowed to eat the Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs of their choosing. Lately it's been these. They look like kibble.

Reading

Try not to have retarded neuroatypical children. It's fucking expensive.

The Bunny Who Saved Easter

Emmet was feeling much better by Easter afternoon. We went to Letitia's house, and she fed us ham and pie, so we can declare it an official holiday. Emmet even got to hunt for eggs.

By Monday he was well enough to talk back to me. Today he went back to school after almost FOUR weeks (including Spring Break). He lost a total of four pounds, which is a lot when you only weigh 63 to begin with. He's eating again, though.

Update.

Emmet has pneumonia. He's going to be okay, but he's been sick for two weeks and counting. This particularly fun strain of pneumonia includes fluid on the lungs plus an ear infection and hives. Sounds fun, doesn't it? Also, somewhere amidst the three doctor visits (including two finger pricks and a big shot) and the two visits to the hospital for chest x-rays, he has picked up ANOTHER goddamn virus that causes high fever and body aches.

He is just the saddest little guy ever when he's sick. He's just been lying on the couch, limp and too tired to move. He went several days without eating. Fortunately, he's starting to bounce back; he ate a little on Thursday, and a little more on Friday and Saturday. He's feeling well enough to watch tv again.

But for now we're stuck in Houston. Papi and Becca are in Bridge City with the rest of our family. Emmet is very concerned about the Easter Bunny finding him; it's his first time to be in Houston for a holiday. Mine too.