Memories

I have blogged before of my friends the Barbershttp://barbersnz.blogspot.com/ who sold everything they owned (except their children) and moved to a better life in a different country. I should add here that the Barbers are both Doctors so it wasn't as if they were without gains and means....I should also add here that GeorgeWBush might have influenced their decision to get the hell out of Dodge! ANYWHO..... My friend Manford gave me a great idea for a blog post..... "Memories" Oh my God, I have so many! My Grandma Fast's roast beef .... sometimes I can still smell it out of the blue....My honeymoon meal in Spain.... The waiter was changing a light bulb and cussing while simultaneously getting shocked!.. The first time I tasted the ocean and almost drowned! ....every vacation I ever took as a child with my mom or my dad .... when I was stopped by a KKK roadblock in Mississippi wondering if I was on Candid Camera ...comforting my brother that the BTK killer would not crawl through his bedroom window and murder him during his sleep.... eating goose jerky and making gingerbread houses with my neighbor Terry.....driving to Hudson Wisconsin with my dad and a load of greyhounds, reading out loud Forest Gump and drinking Miller lite beer. The first white wine I drank with my friends Lori and Mike .....oh my God I could go on and on and on and on...... please tell yours!!!!

Yo estoy triste....

I held out hope until the end that my home girl Kathleen Sebelius would be Obama's VP pick..... Maybe if it weren't for those damned Russians picking on little tiny Georgia, wanting a war, then Obama would not have been so pressured to go with Biden. Oh Well. I would have preferred our Governor as the Vice President of the United States but I can and will live with Joe Biden. One of my best friends was grocery shopping the other day and our Governor was shopping as well. (by herself) My friend walked up to her and said " I just want to thank you for your solid stance against the coal plants in Kansas" I do not like very many politicians, I do however love my Governor. You rock chica!

My 14 Euro Feast

As I mentioned before, Paris is the most ridiculously expensive city I have ever been too! Miguel and I travel a lot and in order to do that we travel on a budget. Our budget does not afford 150 Euro dinners, let alone a 12.oo euro cup of soup.... The unromantic but sensible solution ? Eat out of bakeries and grocery stores. Everything that you see in this photo was purchased in a Parisian grocery store for 14.00 Euros. (2 blocks from the Eiffel Tower) Miguel and I took our loot back via subway to our Hotel and feasted! As you can see red wine for me, peach nectar for Miguel. Roquefort and chorizo sandwiches on baguette bread. Followed with an apple, chocolate filled sweet bread and a cafe latte. My only advise, if you go to Paris take a lot of money , you will need it!

Menu de Comida Asturiana

So you find yourself in Asturias and have a craving for fresh seafood! I recommend the coastal village of Luanco. Not as touristy as other coastal locals, you can get fresh seafood as cheap as anywhere I have seen before. The prices listed are in Euros, tax included and Spanish waiters do not work for tips like we do in the USA.

Parrocha= Sardines

Chipirones= Whole Baby Squid

Calamares= Squid

Mejillones=Mussels

Pulpo= Octopus

Gambas Plancha=Grilled shrimp

Almejas= Clams

Fritos Bacalao= Fried Cod

Llampares= Goose neck Barnacles

Navajas=Razor Clams

Bigaros= Ocean Snails

Every year I tell myself that this will be the year I finally try snails! ........ to date I still haven't tried them yet. My plan is definitely set for 2009.....

One Wonderful Weekend!

I can not believe it but school starts here this week so Miguel and I took the boys on a little get away to Kansas City. We had a wonderful time! I highly recommend the hotel we stayed at. ( Hyatt Place) it had all the amenities that our house does not have.... like fluffy goose down pillows and comforters, and a 42" flat screen TV. We took in the local amusement park on Saturday with the family of very dear friends, followed by a trip to their home for pizza and superb white wines. (My friend L has impeccable taste in wine) Afterwards we went back to our beautiful room and watched the flat screen .... "gotta get one of those!" On Sunday L took us to an awesome outdoor restaurant and treated everyone to lunch. I had chilled avocado soup and it was fabulous! Life can be so wonderful!!!!

The Station Master

This is the best Station Master in all of Spain! If you are ever in Asturias and find yourself on the train line C2, that runs from Aviles to El Entrego, you absolutely must stop off in Veguin to meet my friend Isidoro! I don't know the technicality's of what a Station Master does but in addition to those he sells tickets and hands out bombones and hard candies, dispenses weather reports, informs people of local fiestas and happenings, gives directions and has time for kind words to everyone. Isidoro has brought me sidra from his Aunt's orchard and Spanish red wine to share with my family. Gracias Isidoro. See you in a year.

My friends of Veguin

Please meet some of my friends that I spend time with every summer. I can tell you that I am always so happy to see these people and it is always sad to have to say good-bye.

Starting from the left is Almodovar. He is an auto body painter, loves all foods and plays cards almost every evening in Bar Corea with the same partners.

Berto is in the middle. Berto and I have 2 things in common , food and drink. We have long conversations about Spanish and American wines. Berto loves seafood but does not care much for meat and hates cheese!

Yoli is a co owner of Bar Corea. Kids adore her and vie for her attention. Yolie is one of my most curious friends about life in the United States and endlessly asks questions about my life here. She is usually Almodovar's card partner and Berto and he wait patiently while she pours cider and draught beer for the bar patrons in between hands. Unlike me Yolie hates Sidra.

Somebody drink a sidra for me because I miss it sooo much!

Puxa Asturias, Puxa Veguin!

Dedicated to Nina & Her Mother

Home Delivery

Every morning my mother in law hangs a cloth bread bag from the door knob of her home, by mid-morning a fresh loaf of crusty bread is hand delivered. On this particular morning Mari placed a quick call to la tienda and requested eggs and peaches as well.

Imagine how much a person could save by not going grocery shopping! * Note that eggs and milk are not sold refrigerated.