baking away

I may be getting a job as a baker/cook, managing a professional kitchen!!! so, I've been baking and baking and baking. Unfortunately I didn't take pics of the food, but we all know food doesn't photograph well unless a pro (and fake food) are present.

So, perfected the oatmeal-raisin cookie (thanks to nutburger for the secret ingredient), cc cookie, muffins, carrot cake, scones...just realized a flourless chocolate cake would be good as well. Maybe after I finish the scones...made blueberry scones and while the flavor is good, not too pretty. remaking with just cinnamon sugar to see how it looks.

Have an audition tomorrow!!!

Cell phone died. Died dead. Revived it but lost most my numbers. Oh well. Leaving AT&T (blowing the lid off...) and going to Working Assets for cell coverage. I'll miss my phone but it was going to have to go one way or another--hands-free while driving law going into effect 7-1.

C'est la vie!!!!

I am so much happier now that I'm not at that job. No more rashes or freaking out every night, dreading the next day!!!

pics, past and present

molly's feelings about life at the moment

roomies, blanche, dooey, all getting along splendidly.

Nana, papa, and unknown lady in Coney Island, late 1920s. Nana is pregnant with my mother. many thanks to my awesome cousin michael for finding this pic.

it appears that blanche is choking molly. she's okay, though--she's used to it.

Catching up

By mutual agreement I left the job from hell Friday. A small, highly mismanaged company in Carmel, this was by far the worst job I ever had. I tried watching “The Office” last night but I didn’t see the humor—I’m still scarred.

So, I’m unemployed. Had an interview for the job of my dreams—baker/manager of professional kitchen BUT (there’s always a “but,” isn’t there?) the pay isn’t enough. Haven’t been offered the job either, so right now I’m enjoying my unemployment and reading, going to the movies, seeing my friends, (job hunting), relishing in my imaginary love life. I did have the most embarrassing dinner last night. Let me tell you about it.

First off, hung out at the bakery with Scott for a bit, which was truly the high point of my day (except for the excellent cinnamon bread at the Farmer’s Market—strong competition there, Scotty). Then, met Elana so we could see a movie, hang out at the FM, buy some of that incredible sage honey—I ate almost all that Natela brought home. I had forgotten how much Elana can annoy me, but I was quickly reminded. After leaving Scott went to E’s house to get her. She’s having car issues, so it was at the mechanic’s. Turns out it’s at Greg’s, my mechanic, so I decided to go with her and schedule an oil change and say hi to Greg and Bill (have a crush on Bill). She thought it would be a good idea to let them know she’s my friend so she could get a good deal later on. I hate that. I show up, they’re happy to see me, and we decide I’ll become a car mechanic, working alongside Bill (sigh). When I’m not servicing cars, I’ll make cookies. We decided to rename the place “Cookies and a Gasket.” I’m in heaven, flirting with Bill as best as I can since I’m the lamest flirter on earth, and having fun with them. Elana, of course, has to park in a spot that pisses off Greg’s next-door-neighbor, and when he motioned for her to move the car, I figure it’s time to go, hit the movie, etc. I really thought I said I’d meet her at Enterprise, where she was returning the rental, as she was hurrying to move her car and mumbling “it was only for a few minutes…”

This is where it started going downhill.

Get to Enterprise—no Elana. Wait, wait, wait, read my book (Splendor of Silence) in the Enterprise lot. No Elana. Call her three times. She finally calls me, she was waiting for me at Greg’s. Loser. Bet she wanted to wrangle a freebie from him.

She shows up at the car-rental place. We go downtown, park, see an Israeli-Arab movie about a band and policemen and a really cute Egyptian guy. We ate at Papa Chano’s—not the best meal ever, but we were hungry and the FM wasn’t opening for 45 minutes.

Movie’s pretty good, I have to admit. I want to tell everyone about the other movies I want to see, but it’s time I grace my audience with the grand finale.

We meet her friend, Gabrielle. Gabrielle is ill, she has thyroid problems, skin problems, which is why she showed up with shiny ointment on her face. I felt really bad for her. Then she opened her mouth. All she did was giggle after everything she said, said she was OCD about forty times, and, and, and…

We ended up going to a Shake place on the wharf for local’s night. E and I weren’t hungry, but I felt uncomfortable going to this nice restaurant, commanding a window view, and not eating. I order a cosmo. Elana and Gabrielle bring out their sanitizing wipes, and I wondered when hand-washing went out of style. We get complimentary appetizers that they discuss sending back ‘cause it’s calamari—they are kosher. Thank goodness they didn’t do that. Then Elana opens the window and throws out pieces of bread to feed the seagulls. I told her not to do that, that it’s not good to feed wild animals, that there’s enough food in the bay, that they need to forage for themselves, etc. She doesn’t listen. Other customers start doing the same thing. I am mortified. I later remind the hand-sanitizing queens that bird feces carry a lot of diseases.

Gabrielle orders the salmon, which she sends back no less than four (maybe five or six) times to get reheated. The fish wasn’t not hot, it wasn’t hot enough for her taste at that moment. The chef, being a professional, kept giving her a new piece of salmon. By the fourth or fifth or sixth time I had had enough. I gave Elana money for the cosmo, said I needed to get home, and ran.

It will be a long time before I hang out with Elana again. Unfortunately she left some things in my car, so I will probably put it in a bag and leave at her house.

Few things in this world piss me off more than cheap people, people that have a hidden agenda, people that are rude, or people who don’t appreciate what they have. Yes, in this economy, money is tight, believe me I’m aware of it, but for fuck’s sake, bitching about money, trying to get something for nothing, always looking for something more, etc., is not living. Enjoy where you are, what you have. You will never find future happiness if you don’t appreciate today.

I believe that for me, everything will somehow work out. It may not be how I planned it but I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason. Holly gave me a magnet that I need to look at quite often, to keep me sane: whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. That is my mantra, along with the serenity prayer. Both help.

Now that I have time I can write more and post more beauties.

A dirty dream

I had a sex dream about Tony Soprano. It's especially crazy since I don't even watch the Sopranos much, now I'm completely obsessed. And, the last time I had a sex dream was about Emmett Smith (sp?) the football player. I couldn't pick him out of a post office lineup, but when I was married I had a dream about him. I woke up and asked Nelson who Emmett Smith was, and he told me. Then I told him about the dream. N knew full well I had no idea who Smith was, so he soon became a little joke for us.

Enough about this. You don't want to read this. You want to hear all about the NY GIANTS WINNING THE PLAYOFFS AND GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL!!!! We're having a Superbowl party at our house and I promised everyone I'd watch the entire game if the Giants won the playoffs. I later amended it, asking if I could read a book too. I can. Phew.

The cats and the dogs are getting more and more integrated. It's a good source of amusement for us humans. Cats don't poof so much any more, and Dooey (boxer, above) is my new boyfriend until I can meet a human one. When I get home from work he puts his flat face on my shoulder and his front paws on my hips and we dance. I love him. You can barely see Blue behind Dooey, but he's a well-behaved Australian shepherd that doesn't bug the cats at all.

The guy in the pick is my cousin Bennett. He was murdered several years ago in Brazil and I found this pic of him I took at Alison's wedding. He would be a grandfather to Emma now.

I for one am not unhappy these days. Good for me. Have a lot of energy and went on a crazy run the other night. Then I cleaned my room. It looks very good and I'm pleased. I don't have to go to work tomorrow so I'm especially pleased right now.

Nighty night.

And, thanks to Dynex, the unsecured wireless network that's allowing me to get online at home.

It's been crazy

Haven't written in a month, but that doesn't mean things haven't been happening. Mike and Natela have officially taken up residence in the house, along with Blue and Dooey (big dogs). Cats are doing well with them, and I absolutely love having them in the house (both humans and canines). Had a nice simple Christmas with Gary, an INCREDIBLE New Year party at the house that was terrific. Probably the best new year's eve I'd ever had. One guy ended up staying until 8 pm the next day. We had 8 adults and 3 kids, not much booze--great idea--and good food. I have to say it rocked, really.

Got to catch up with my old buddy from NY Nancy Rosenbutt. Forgot how much we had been through together--flo caught us smoking pot and BOY did I get into trouble, Mr Sykes, wow. My suspension from 104. Good times, good times. Nance, here's to us.

At one of the cafes here in town, happy to have internet service outside of work. Can't stay, gotta go, but it's nice to say hi to all of you.

Oh, one more thing. We did have a huge storm last week, and we're fine. Town survived, no damage to the house or car, we did lose power for about two hours--some people lost power for 4 days!--and it was great to watch. One person said "California is having a hurricane but they won't admit it." So true.

My Day in Court

(This picture is of papa and Uncle Ronald.)

One reason I don’t write in the blog a lot is my connection at home is AT BEST poor. That’s the price I have to pay for free wireless.

Lots of good things going on. Won my court case against the jackass (for those of you who don’t know about it, don’t ask, please. Long stupid story in which my normally excellent judgment is completely lacking.) Kim, the one I love, was my hero as well as my ears when needed in the courtroom.

I have advice here: if you have any doubts about someone, check them out at the courthouse. The idiot I sued has a history a mile long of being a total jackass. I now have a judgment to enforce my lien on a beautiful piece of property in PG.

Work is good. The people at my company seem to be very genuine and nice, very different from those at CTB. Baaaaddd CTB.

Spending a lot of time with Travis and Sean and Mike. I absolutely love living with Mike—it’s very nice having a male’s perspective, and he’s respectful and kind and the cats like him. Mr. Mango is getting used to being inside a lot right now because it’s cold here. Poor kitty. My cats got their leukemia shots and it’ll take about a month or so for it to reach full immunization.

This is Travis with Blanche. She loves him. He's a great kid. He was convinced my house was reeking of orbs (ghosts) but his father quickly dispelled that myth.

Suzy, Suzy, Suzy. She noticed my grandmother had a pic of a naked lady behind her in my previous blog. My family appreciates the human body very much, as you can see, nana and siblings are no exception.

Leaving you with awesome photos. Suzy, Mom, Kate (in that order). PS: Suzy, no one sees you drinking that beer, really.

Kate, thanks for wearing that impossible-to-clean ashtray on your head to make me smile. Man, this is my apartment way back when. Look at the white carpeting, 70s style table and chairs, and Kate with an ashtray on her head! I wish I had kept that tiffany-style lamp. Looking at it it won't fit in my current house, but I wish I still had it. Oh well. Don't have the ashtray either. Still have Kate (yippee!).

That pic of mom is from Venice, when we had our trip to Italy in 1984. What a trip! What a neat lady she was. How she hated being photographed!

Pictures! and Sorrow

We'd been cleaning out the garage and found the old pictures. Good news and bad: one box was fine, the other was almost completely destroyed by mice. I was horrified at the damage--anyone who has had that happen knows what it's like and I won't go in to detail.

Pic on left are my grandparents, fondly known as nana and papa. the picture in the frame to the right is Uncle Ronald, cousin Michael's father (with the dog, think his name was Lucky. My mother loved that dog.) This has to be an early photo, late 40s, early 50s.

So, here comes the old pictures! I decided I'm going to scan all of them and post for the family to see. That will somewhat alleviate my guilt (why do I feel guilty? I'm a nice Jewish girl from NY) about the mice. When I told Michael what happened he expressed surprised that we even had mice in California. Shows how smart he really is.

Okay, since you asked, one more. This is an awesome picture of nana and her siblings:

l to r, standing: Uncle Lou, Aunt Syl (who died before I was born), Uncle Ira; l to r, sitting: nana, Aunt Rose, Aunt Lil.

I am so heartbroken about the rest of the pictures. I did fine some incredible things though! My mother and I traveled out west when I was 9, in 1972, and we came here to Monterey. I remember being in this area, not because of Monterey itself, but because of Hearst Castle and driving down Highway 1. My mother picked up a hitchhiker, and he was cute and cool. The neat thing is we used to write postcards to Nana every day to tell her what we did the day before. The postcard we sent to her from Monterey was from what I believe is now Casa Munras. I am going to double-check the address and show it to them. Can't find it right now but oh do I have scanning to do! Just found unc ronald and aunt judy's wedding picture!!