Crazy Kitchen

  Cucina Pazzo I had a lovely birthday dinner the other night at our favorite close-to-home restaurant, Cucina Pazzo. We had had them cater Alex's grad party, and since then, they've remembered us when we go, knowing for example that we prefer to eat outside when it's nice.   Actually, it's pretty much the only legitimate…

It was 20 years ago today…

This day 20 years ago was a Sunday, and my parents were driving over to Ohio to visit us for my birthday dinner. But by the time they arrived around 2:00, they found my friend Sue at the house instead, who we had called around noon to watch Nikki while we went to the hospital to have…

Sunday Brunch at SoHo Pittsburgh

SoHo logo I looked online this morning for somewhere in the city to have Sunday brunch before taking Alex to the bus station, so the child wouldn't starve on the 8-hour ride. Some place not too dressy, since he'd be in jeans (rules out Grand Concourse). Some place we wouldn't have to mess around too much…

QotD: Penny Pinching

What are some ways you save money?  Submitted by Pixiemom.   Well, the cool thing is that most of the things you can do to conserve the planet's resources… also save you money! Bonus! Here are some things I do: Avoid disposable cleaning items (paper towels, Swiffer-type single-use junk, etc – cut-up old clothes are free)…

Joseph makes three

Joseph I finished stitching Joseph this evening during the Pens game. Add him to the rest of the family, which I think I started about 18 months ago, and I just might have this Nativity scene done in time to give for Christmas this year… (or maybe it was originally for Christmas 2 years ago,…

Desert Pepper salsa

Desert Pepper salsa We just finished off a jar of Desert Pepper Trading Company's "Corn, Black Bean, & Roasted Red Pepper" salsa, with a bag of blue corn / flax seed tortilla chips. Most excellent! This salsa was labeled "medium", but just remember that's the El Paso idea of "medium", so it was on the hot…

QotD: My First Single

Music-wise, what was the first 45, single or download you bought?  Submitted by Paddy Melt Wagon. Download?!? Killing Me Softly Back in the olden days, I actually never owned any singles (not sure why…), but the first vinyl album I owned was Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly". It was a cool album, with a gate-fold…