From Sunnyvale, CA

I spent a wonderful two nights chez Grace Davis, including the requisite Fish Taco lunch at Aldo's of Santa Cruz (delicious! the best!), and a most convivial Mexican dinner in honor of Mir. So many notable blogging women attended that even I couldn't talk with all of them.

This morning, thanks to the very excellent map hand-drawn last night by Squid, unaffected by the pitchers of Margaritas (no Sabra liqueur available, therefore no Hezbollitas), I made my way to the Bad Mom's Coffee hour in Deadwood City. There I finally met, in person, sweet Barak, his delicious 10-week-old daughter, and my doppelganger Jo Spanglemonkey. So reluctant were Jo and I to part that we rode off into the sunset Safeway together.

Guess Where I Am

 

Hint: it's not Tel Aviv...yet. I'm due home on August 1. 

Hezbollitas - The recipe

Attention all bartenders! Here is the newest, most politically palatable drink: the Hezbollita!

Tequilla (product of Mexico)
Sabra Orange Liqueur (product of Israel)
Lemon juice (product of lemons, many of which derive from Life in our Times)

Optional variations: proportions, ice cubes, blender-smoothedness, salted glass rim.

It's My War Too

I plan go home to Tel Aviv on schedule, and here's why: when my nearest and dearest have a crisis, I want to be with them. I have just visited my brother, my daughter's family and my son's family. As far as I can tell, none of them is in crisis, and as much as I would love to be with them once a week for eternity, we've been getting along pretty well without that. Israel is my family too. I may just have to create recipes for alcoholic soups, because my war coping mechanism involves cooking.

Stolen in two languages

Stolen in two languages
Originally uploaded by savtadotty.

The forlorn tissue punctuates the crime. Seen inside a Big Blue Bus. It seems Los Angeles actually has a mass transit system after all. I showed my bus map to the locals in my family and they were amazed.

A Fish Taco at Wahoo's of Santa Monica

 Fish rather tough and salty. Great funky atmosphere, though. And cheap enough. 

The Party's Over...

...but the memory lingers on. and on. and on. To see 105 unedited images in slide show format, just click. If you can wait, eventually I'll post some of them to flickr.

Total Tinky Winky

Total Tinky Winky
Originally uploaded by savtadotty.

After the rousing success of Laa Laa and the Laa Laa hat last week, Little Bear said wistfully, "Tinky Winky hat someday." Someday came today.

Santa Monica Pier Fish Taco

Santa Monica Pier Fish Taco
Originally uploaded by savtadotty.

I finally ate my very first fish taco. It was a little peppery for my taste. Looking forward to comparing the Northern California version(s).

Els

Els
Originally uploaded by savtadotty.

This sign was made to order.