Saucy!’s Neighborhood

Almost considered skipping the show tonight but soooo glad I didn't.

Traffic was HORRID - but it's LA, at the holidays, and the weather today was FANTASTIC (around 80) so I should have expected that.

Valet was $25... but they gave me a free carwash. Granted, it turned out to be a pretty shitty carwash - but it was free so, whatever!

The lineup was Royal Crown Review (very short set), The Ventures (THE original surf guitar band - over 100million records sold), the Brian Setzer Orchestra.

Brian never played guitar one-handed, which kinda bummed me out. But it was still a great show. I have a billion photos and video to sort through after I recharge the cell phone... or plug the micro sd card into a reader.

My knees were okay till about the time Brian Setzer came out. By then, they were thrashed. I had some empathy from the couple behind me (father & daughter) who also had knee/leg/foot problems. I got into the venue shortly before 8 and into my car round 12:15... 4+ hours of standing and/or walking. I would have done rude things for a drink after the show but nearly everything at Universal City Walk was either a disco or closed. So I did without...

...till I got back to Long Beach, where I stopped at Puka Bar for a drink... or 20 (I think it was actually 4).

I almost bought Crankypants a big carry-all bag at Universal CityWalk. It had something about being angry, or hating people, or something like that. Would easily work for me but seemed more "okay" if I got it for Cranky. But I eventually decided we could both do without it.

So now it's after 2a and I'm too awake (even after 4 mixed drinks) and tomorrow has only one commitment (hair color & cut at... 4??). I actually tried to run some errands today but I got there too late and the only errand I actually accomplished was getting fake eyelashes (they look GREAT).

late to bed, late to rise (makes a chick look lazy to morning people)

Well, ok, not mine specifically, but rather some ones on the the web that caught my interest. I plan on attempting version of all of these this holiday season. So here they are with a brief description:

• Rosettes: So many people are talking about these, I just had to find a good descriptive how-to for everyone. These bring back many fond memories as a kid. My mother used to make these and freeze them weeks in advance of Christmas and when she would take them out of the freezer, over half would be gone. <innocent whistling>
• Poofy Sugar Cookies: Yes Virginia, there is a poofy sugar cookie, one that doesn't break a tooth and is still as sweet as the sugar that goes into it. Anyways, yep. Sugar cookies the soft and poofy way.
• Coconut Creme filled Macaroons: Yes, that's correct. Filled macaroons. Actually, it's more like macaroon sandwich cookies. Take two macaroons and glue them together with coconut creme. I actually got this one just for the macaroon recipe. I want to coat the bottoms in Lindt white chocolate/coconut... Oh hell yes.
• Joy and Noel Jam Tiles: This one gets an A+ in my book for creativity, taste and simplicity. They look stunning, make great gift and are neat to layout at the Christmas buffet. Who can resist? These are at the top of my holiday cookie list. I just need to order the letter cookie cutters. Found them on Amazon! Awesome...
• Peanut Butter Cookie: I know, I know. Nothing strange or exotic on this one. But it was the words that Sarah J. Gim wrote in this article that intrigued me.

"Cookies – all of them – are never bad. Even peanut butter. I never grew up with peanut butter, don’t have even a childhood nostalgia for peanut butter, can’t stand the texture of peanut butter, am not particularly fond of the fragrance of peanut butter, cringe at the thought of how fatty fattening peanut butter is.

But a peanut butter cookie is still a cookie.

And I will eat it."

• Gingerbread: Once you scroll down through seventeen pages of pictures of the most magnificent gingerbread houses you have ever laid eyes on, you will find the details and recipe that they use to build these delicious mansions. I have had a detailed gingerbread house bakers die laying around for over ten years adn have yet to utilize it to make one single house. This is the year. I swear by all that is holy, I will at least bake the damn thing before January 1st of 2010 or everyone is invited to my house for a head shaving ceremony, mine.

And for those of you who absolutely adore Food Porn, the site you need to visit is TasteSpotting.com, where these purveyors, um, wait, they don't sell anything so I guess they really aren't purveyors. Free Food Porn! Yeah, I like the sound of that. LOL. Search for ingredients, or recipes or just oogle at the pictures displayed for your gastronomic pleasure. But be warned, it could cause hot flashes from standing in front of the stove later...

Actually, I did no such exciting thing as going to Cleveland. There was something in Ohio I wanted to go see, but can't for the life of me recall what it was. Lego Museum or soemthing maybe? Hmmm... Anywyas, where was I... Ah yes. A week has passed and I was goign to do an update on what's been going on. Once again, too much to really detail, but here goes some main points.

• Went to court over the ticket the city gave me. Won and lost. Still had court fees to pay for the ticket the city wrote, because I did have an unlicensed vehicle parked in the driveway. Bastards. Anyways, I won in that I cna park the RV in the driveway with no more trouble from the city. the odd part is, since I parked it in the storage lot, I think I'll leave it there. It's easier to get out and I can get to it 24 hours a day for access. Plus, it's far enough away that I don't have to worry about kids wanting to come visit and stay in it... Just saying. LOL
• Attorney handling the case of the RV Dude sent out the letter for demand of payment and the time for action on his part is up on Monday. Basically the letter states that we want the full amount due by Monday or we file repo paperwork. Might end up in Texas over Christmas to repo the damn thing. Approximate total owed: $12,500.00. Merry Christmas...
• One of my wonderful neighbors sent me a wonderful present of wonderful goodies from down under. I got up the morning after my Birthday a little later than usual and went out to get the mail. there was a package, which I thought was a shipment of Lego bricks at first. Until I noticed the address. Australia! I opened the box to find two bags of the most delicious cheesy snack food know to man... Cheetos Bacon Cheese Balls. Ambrosia to the common man. Only made in Australia. A whole lot of loving in that little box right there. Today at work, I sat in my office and ate them. Explaining the whole story to everyone. It was awesomeness in the First Degree. Thank you Emjay. I am beyond happy now.
• Lessee... I worked Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. Holy moses. That's more days than I've worked in a long time. So, the paycheck should be a good one. Paying down more debt... Yahoo!
• Oh, and the big deep freeze arrived. It's sitting in the corner of the Lego room for now. Monday, I get it's space all configured so we can start freezing stuff again. Right now, our fridge's freezer is jammed full of whatever will fit and the overflow is over at the kid's house in our old freezer there. Come on after Christmas food sales!
• Tuesday was a run my butt off day trying to get several things done all at once. I succeeded in most of them. But if anyone has a right front charcoal door trim panel for a 2001 Ford Escape, that would help tremendously. LOL
• Speaking of vehicles, I got the plates on our RV and even managed to take it out on a four hour road trip north of Kansas City. It was good to finally, after over a year of sitting because of the RV Dude not paying, take the thing back on the road. bad part is I had to pay for two year plates and there's only one year left on them. Gah! Damn Gubbermint...
• Did have some bad news. The main bathroom sink has died. Well, is dying. I noticed some water trickling on the floor in there. First glance it appeared to be the toilet. Upon further review, there is somethign corroded under the main sink. Like majorly corroded. So, it too is on the list. I cleaned up under the sink, dried it up with a few old towels, but the whole thing has to go. It's fifty years old, so no luck in finding a replacement. Plus, the plumbing under there is all wonky as well. It's ready to fly apart. So, that will be my big project for after the new year. I just need to baby it along and empty the tote every so often. I'm thinking it would be a good time for new tile as well...
• Maybe I should call Redz... Hmmm... LOL
• I tried out three different recipes for chocolate chip cookies. Fluffy, chewy and crunchy. All were met well and the final decision is in. Fluffy with big chips is the winner. I forgot, I made them with mini and regular chips each too. So, on to the other recipes I want to try, which I will post late. Good stuff.
• And a little side note, I've been looking for a commercial meat slicer, like Hobart or Berkel brands. You know, the big tank sized stainless steel behemoths behind the meat counter at the deli. I found one for sale but the guy had already sold it by the time I called. I want to pursue the dream of sandwich shop. I don't want to just talk about it, I want to go after it. Patiently, slowly, but I want it. So, I'll be getting some equipment to try the stuff at home before I get the physical place. Recipes too. Need to try out all sorts of things. Best part is we can eat the mistakes as well as the successes. Oh! And the bread baking as well. Yes indeed. There will be plenty fo that...
• What else have I got... Um... Oh yeah! Wookie Girl finally, to much fanfare, got her learners permit for driving! Hooray! Now we just need to get her behind the wheel and show her something. LOL. Everyone has been forewarned, Student Driver, beware! LOL. Oh, but there go the insurance rates.

Thanks for reading along!

In today's Twitter post round-up:

• Finished a story this week, need to finish another. Being in a combined state of illness, depression, and mourning is detrimental to writing
• Thought it was awesome that Stephen Colbert did Jay-Z's parts on "Empire State of Mind" by Alicia Keys. bit.ly/5sS5xV

Brought to you by the letter "L"

I'm currently watching you on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.

I don't know if anyone's told you but you are NOT Steven Tyler. Let it go!!

Cause I am REALLY out of sync tonight.

I got up at noon, thinking it was 10a, cause I forgot that I reset my alarm clock yesterday (I still haven't remembered WHY I reset it). So I started the day an hour late.

Then I heard a police scanner say something about "do you have the suspects?" and it was REALLY close so I checked the windows and found out it was pretty much in front of my house. Then I recalled strange noises and lots of barking by the neighbors dogs, and Boo sitting in the backyard with her look that conveys something is wrong. When Boo gave me the look, I understood that there were people in the neighbor's driveway - but I didn't process the fact that it was a bad thing. (I suspect, based on little, that it was more than 1 person and they were trying to break into homes.)

So waiting for police issue to resolve delayed me a little more.

Knowing I'd miss lunch at work, I stopped at 7eleven and snagged a sammich and coffee - to which I added an energy shot.

Traffic was freakishly horrid, on all 3 freeways that I use, so that delayed me even more.

The day just zooooooomed by. I was driving home and shocked/annoyed that the Sketchers store was closed, as was the mexican food joint at the end of the street. Oh yeaaaaaa... it's almost 11pm. Duh!!

Now it's after midnight and I feel like it's about 9pm, max, and I'm really really thankful that it's Friday so I can not care about being awake all night and sleeping late tomorrow.

BRIAN SETZER CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA CONCERT tomorrow night (with Royal Crown Review opening).... BOOO YAAAAA!!! I'd like to do the retro/40s hairdo that I learned but I'm sure I'm too lazy to bother.

Today I got a wild hair and bought a ticket to Timbaland, at the HOB WeHo, on Jan 29. I like his music. He pairs with lots of celebrities. He'll be in LA (maybe some cool special guests??!). Tix were cheap ($45-ish; So I won't feel bad if I can't make it). It's all good.

ZOOOOOM ZOOOOOOM ZOOOOOOOM@!!

In today's Twitter post round-up:

• RT @JMMcDermott: It occurred to me that I've seen more wooden crates in video games than I've ever seen in life. &lt;---[Funny Truth]

Brought to you by the letter "L"

Evidently this explains why my body seems to not like melanin:

http://knol.google.com/k/frank-w-sweet/why-are-europeans-white-e1/k16kl3c2f2au/14#

It boils down to this: The Gulf Stream made the Baltic ocean warm enough to support grain farming in that region, which led to people eating fewer fish and other meats that contain Vitamin D. Vitamin D in the proper amounts prevents birth defects. So in order to get enough Vit D from the sunlight in the darker, more wintery region, our skin had to stay in a light, childlike state in order to absorb as much Vitamin D as possible.

So I basically have skin that doesn't want to grow up!
Weird.