The Adventures of Jane, Marley and Cat

Root Canal

Feel free to click on the above link…. it’s worth the quick listen.

So, I’m back from the Mexican Dental Adventure.  Actually, the whole trip to San Diego was marvelous.  72 degrees, sunny, time with Julia and Ben, time with Michele, time with good buddies… and traveling with 3 Studly Men (Ron, Jordy, and Poodle Boy John).

We walked across the border, and had a taxi driver pick us up and take us to the dentista (yes, she is a woman dentist and very awesome).  OK, it really wasn’t as easy as that sounded, but we did eventually get where we needed to go.

Michele, on the right, brings people across the border every Friday to get 1st Class dental work done at 1/3 the price.  My root canal, crown prep, and the crown was $600.  In the states: $2500.  I guess that is less than 1/3 the price.

We hang out at a restaurant around the corner until it is your turn for the Dentista.  Had the best margarita I’ve ever had, but then had to chug it so I could get to my appointment.

I love San Diego.  I can live without ever going to Tijuana again, but it was an adventure.  Interestingly enough, it was nothing as I had expected.

I’m glad I’m home, but I love San Diego!!!!!

Tags: adventure, evil offspring, liv peeps, mexico, travels

Cooking has always been a part of my life. I had grandmothers who were wonderful cooks, albeit rather traditional and goodness knows we wouldn’t eat some of those casseroles to save our lives. But they cooked. My mother was a good cook too, tending more to the adventurous and wildly exotic fare.

Of course everyone knows that my sister is an amazing cook. I mean, she likes all the intricate recipes that take hours to prepare. Her mole is amazing, let’s not even start with the Mexican Night, and frankly, everything else she makes is just incredible.

So, cooking is part of our life. Do I cook? Yeah, I’m not bad. I’m not as patient as Carolyn, but when given a task or when I get a wild hair, I can cook with the best of them. My current bomb.com is my Lo Mein, which as John says, “tastes like a real Chinese person made it.”

Michael, the kids’ dad is also a pretty good cook. He’s a baker, which is something I cannot wrap my head around. But he’s been known to make some amazing creations… some scary ones too.

John was the first of my kids to really get into cooking. He has been sous chef to Carolyn many times, and he follows me around the kitchen. In fact, I do believe his goal is to learn to cook the family tradition foods (mac and cheese, enchiladas, Swedish meatballs, etc) and master them and IMPROVE them. Frankly, he has mastered the mac and cheese.

Julia is really getting creative with the cooking. She and Ben are vegetarians, so she has fun experimenting with traditional foods in a vegetarian mode. She gets lots of tips from Carolyn, and of course they both live in SoCal where they can get amazing produce.

Robbie can cook, but he does “survival cooking”. I think if he were home more, he’d get into it also. He also sews, with dental floss, but that is a different topic.

Kjarsti is getting into the cooking too. In fact, she made dinner for us the other night all by herself, and it was awesome! We talked about cooking last night, and she said it just feels natural to her, like she “understands what goes together”. Is that a genetic thing?

I’m delighted to share this part of my family’s traditions with my kids.

I especially like the part about THEM cooking.

Tags: cooking with kids, evil offspring, food is my favorite drug

Well, we’ve been home since Saturday.  I still miss California, mostly because the weather here in Utah is HORRIBLE (bad air, bad snow, bad everything).

We left for San Diego on Saturday, December 19th.  It was an easy drive, as John had us out of the house at 4:30 a.m.  Kjarsti slept the entire way, John peed the entire way, and I played on the iPhone… well, when I could get it away from John.

Staying with Ben and Julia in San Diego was so great.  Their apartment is sunny and bright and cozy.  We visited the beach, Old Town, and Escondido where we hung with Michele Taylor and friends.

Wednesday we drove up to Long Beach to hang with Carolyn.  She, of course, over did herself with cooking AMAZING things.  It was a very relaxing time, even if we did have some blow-up mattress excitement.  Mexican Night and Swedish Meatballs and Crepes galore!  And Percy the Wonder Dog! It was fantastic.

Christmas Day we spent with the Ormenyi’s in Van Nuys and partook of Gabe’s amazing meal of prime rib, mashed pots, etc.  AWESOME.

And now we are home in Utah again.  In winter.  With bad, bad air and snow.  Somehow I will survive until April.

Needless to say, Jane and Marley were thrilled to piddling that we came home.  The Cat didn’t seem to notice we were gone.

Why? I don't know....

This pretty much sums it all up

Tags: Christmas, Food Feasting, Travel with the Family