Let your heart be light

Things I loved (and am loving, since it's not over 'till the Epiphany for me) about our Christmas in 2008

-the de-emphasis on presents, focusing instead on traditions I adore (going-to-see-Christmas-lights night...cookie Sunday...Love Actually for the gazillionth time...)

-the "tree" I made to surprise Steve when he came home from work one December night (inspired from here)

-our humble Christmas day brunch of roasted fingerling potatoes and pancetta, then cranberry and orange pavlovas (from the December '08 issue of this), with mimosas

-getting to talk--no--getting to see Simona, Nonna, Zietta, Zio, Zia Lina via my webcam with Skype. Skype is wonderful.

Things I wish had been different this Christmas (and if we play our cards right, shouldn't be repeat mistakes)

-I wish our family(s) were closer.

-I didn't get to talk to my mom or dad on Christmas day. They're out of the country and because of insane time differences and their plans for an excursion involving 1) a camel and 2) no phone, we weren't able to connect until the 26th. That felt weird and sad.

-my dumb idea to broil our Christmas Eve lobster from some Cajun recipe I found. We usually just steam it and it's always amazing. This one came out charred, rubbery. Simpler really is better.

Merry, merry Christmas.

Roberto

Wonderful Saturday

It's always been a dream/life goal (so sad!) of mine to learn the Thriller dance, and I pretty much fell off the couch six months ago when a google search for "how to do the thriller dance" brought me to this website.

Fast forward to yesterday, October 25th, heretofore known as Thrill the World Day. Yup. Here's not one but two youtube vid links to prove it--I'm the pale, pale underling wearing a black dress and hiking boots in the bottom right-hand corner and towards the back of the pack (in my defense I am wearing white face paint as part of the un-dead look but yeah, apparently I'm the whitest Italian ever). Steve is to my left rocking the un-dead yet hunky combat/Hulk look in green plaid and navy blue pants. We're so cool. The night before we had gone in a group o' lucky 7 from the Embarcadero BART to the Montgomery BART to the Powell BART, doing the dance at every station, on the street! now we're those weirdo dancers you see on the street without a care in the world!--then we ended up in Union Square where we joined up with the Friday night roller skaters for a final dress rehearsal before TTW Day.

So very cool.

the photo above is of our ringleader, dressed in his MJ finest.

a toast

to Lambert and Adam and the happiness they've found in each other (congratulations!).



to Thriller dancing in Golden Gate Park on Sunday afternoons



to Hoodle dogs peeking out of limos

















to Pride wines, 'specially their sublime merlot (or is it their picnic area I'm in love with?)






to 47 months married



"The best days go fastest."

Our favorite winery dogs

so far, that is. we get our dog fix when we visit wineries--each place seems to have a mascot.

Ralph at Stony Hill



















Curly at Smith-Madrone















Until we get a pup of our own, though, we'll have to keep tormenting this little beastie:

Chihuly, Brilliant Chihuly

Yesterday I was lucky enough to experience the Chihuly exhibition at the de Young Museum here in San Francisco. I had first seen his art--unbeknowest to me at the time-- in February of last year when I lost my Vegas virginity. Recognize the location in this picture?*

Dale Chihuly's blown-glass creations (but no, they're so much more than that) are nothing short of amazing. They are whimsical, playful, Willy Wonka-esque fantasies come to life. I'll let my favorite photos from the exhibition do the rest of the gushing. I think they speak for themselves:

*Hint: it rhymes with Dellagio and is famous for its fountains...

Confession Tuesday

As I was wolving down my heavenly bizet--

vanilla whipped cream sandwiched by vanilla meringues--

(why did I wait so long to discover this place?)

--part of it fell into the wet kitchen sink.

I didn't care. I still sopped up every crumb.