Happy Birthday, Suehyla!

Suehyla is another year older today. As a friend who now lives outside of Atlanta, I was among those who were challenged with sending photos to Suehyla of ourselves doing something we LOVE, RIGHT NOW.

After a disappointing Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday), I was nervous that I would not complete my assignment.

However, with 2 hours to spare (Pacific time) I offer you all a little photo essay I call "The Things I Love to Do, Right Now"

As we view, please lift a Makers on the rocks and let's all toast Ms. El-Attar on a great year and an even better one yet to come.




Every Wednesday and Saturday in Central Park, Davis, there is a Farmer's Market. It was one of the first things that made me smile about living here. I live only about 3 blocks away and I love heading over there at least once a week to see what's fresh and to sample some of the best fruit around.


These photos were shot the day before Thanksgiving. The market was a bit quiet, but there were tons of baked goods for sale. Too bad I was traveling across the country.

Dude is that bok choy AND a scarecrow? How festive!


And how can we skip the kettle corn guy?


I took the red-eye on Thanksgiving day to spend the holiday with my family in New York. Many thanks to Randy for watching my little nuggets while I was gone. I usually make the journey from Long Island into the City (Manhattan, that is) to see friends or theatre each visit. The photo above is from the drive in to have some fun with my mom and sister-in-law. I believe were were going through Queens.


Right before heading to the airport (JFK) last night, my parents and I went to a great local family-style Italian joint. My parents and I dined on stuffed artichokes, angel hair with white clam sauce and chicken parmesan. We ended the meal with a delish fresh cannoli. Um, yummy!




Due to the fact that one of my classmates commented on the fact that my pants were too small, I signed up for a CORE fitness class during my lunch break. I usually drag my bum there each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This is my teacher, Chris and me doing one of my favorite exercises at the end of class today.

Friday, the day of the domestic

Today was my day to catch up on all of the domestic things I have not done in a while. Laundry (um, 4 loads!) grocery shopping, eyebrow wax. I did manage to get to my CORE fitness class to balance things out.


I started my day however at one of the laundromats in town. When my parents were here they insisted that we take my rugs and blankets to Suds to have them wash and fold for me. That gave us time to tool around Sacramento and drink great sangria at Tapa the World -- get it top of the world...tapas...

Anyway, when we picked up the 2 rugs and 3 blankets (which came to a whopping total of $38!!) my lovely white bathmat was GREEN. See, they washed it with my green kitchen mat. Can we say dumb ass?

So, the next day we went into complain and were met with a lovely man who apologized for the mistake, took the mat and our ticket and said someone would call. Five days later and no call, I marched back in there, pointed at my mat on the shelf, wrote my number down AGAIN and was promised a phone call from the owner. Since I had yet to receive a call I went in today with a receipt for a new mat and just asked to be reimbursed. No problem, right?

The girl on duty was the same as last time. She could not believe that the owner had failed to call me. She rang him, but he didn't pick up so she left a message. There was no way that I was leaving there without a resolution.

My side: I have been back here three times and no one had the courtesy to call me. I had to not only buy a new mat, but matching towels and accessories since I no longer had a matching set. I only asked them to pay for my new mat which was $20.

Her side: I don't have the authorization to give you money.

So after asking repeatedly what I should do, because I knew if I left no one was going to call me -- she caved and gave me $20 out of her own pocket. I left my receipt so she could get the money from her slacker of a boss.

As I walked out, I thought I heard her cry.

Am I going to hell?