NYC Marathon AND Frituras Puertorras!!!

WHOOO BABY! I am SO AWESOME!!!! Before you think I'm entirely too obnoxious please know that I never get so much done in one day so I feel like patting myself in the back. For today I have two things for you my dear reader (s). That "s" is MAD hopeful!!!
I have a pictorial on HOW TO MAKE BACALAITOS (Salted Cod Fritters)
AND a new page. WOOOOW!
First the page for those who hate reading and just wanna look (that's ME).

The NYC Marathon was today. Every year Dave and I go out to see it- this year we had MISS THING- it was nice to share that with her. We got to see that Chilean miner dude limp by- poor little dude- feel better chief. Apparently more people ran this year than ever before. I was especially inspired by the deaf and blind runners braving the crazy Brooklynites who insisted on playing chicken crossed the road in front of them. Dave insists he's going to start training for next year but he says that EVERY year!

I like how this page came together in 30 minutes flat. I was going to stitch it but decided to save that for another day. Broke out my magic mesh- LOVE THAT PRODUCT!!!!

And now... ONTO THE FOOD!!!
Bacalaitos are incredibly delicious and entirely UNnutritious. It's best to eat them with beer right after frying- so you get that extra bit of unhealthiness in. Here is a "sort of" recipe:

• 1 cup of boiled and crumbled salt cod (boil for a few hours then store in fridge till you remember a few days later)
• 1/2 cup of diced tomatoes AND sauteed (in olive oil) red pepper. (you can skip this if you want)
• 1/2 cup of the cod boiling water- this is better than adding salt later and you need that salt to make the masa (mix) taste good. OR you can whip out some canned chicken broth and try THAT.
• 1 teaspoon of Ms. Dash- I'm telling you you need that extra bit of "taste" with no extra salt.
• 3/4 cup of flour. I used white but next time I'm going to try wheat.
• canola oil for deep frying

Mix the veggies, crumbled cod and flour with the reserved cod water- add a little flour if you think the mix is too watery. Let stand for an hour of so to "set" (I watched Batman and fed Miss Thing)
It's important to get a mix that isn't too watery or to flouery (word?). You will spoon the fritters into the hot oil and you need something that won't stick to your spoon or flow off like snot (sorry). Fry the things till they are golden brown. Chomp away!!!
Here are some photos.

Tomato, red pepper & cod 

Add reserved cod water

Mix well 

Just about right consistency

Ignore THESE

Pay attention to baby that looks like THIS

EAT THESE

Ha ha. Did you see how nasty the apartment got? Yeah- never got around to THAT but whatevs- that's what mondays are for.

Muchos SmOoChEs!!! 

M

CHoMP!!! My husband is a HAM.

My husband Dave has a great sense of humor- he HAS to. It's a defensive strategy for my morning self. WAAAAY back in 2006 we visited family in Salt Lake City. We got lost trying to find a mountain bike rental and happened upon The Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point.   YO WHAAAAT??? We simply HAD to go in. Best. idea. ever! 

My Mom works in the Museum of Natural History so I practically grew up in a science museum that takes it's exhibits seriously- it's not "entertainment",  it's HISTORY, it's SCIENCE- note the capital letters. 

TMAL had no such limitations!! They had dino bones you could walk under and touch but, MOST EXCELLENTLY, there was this totally awesome giant prehistoric shark model popping out a corner. 

CHoMP!!!!!

Pencil Lines Sketch 211

TMAL claims to be the largest Dino Museum in the world. Uhmmm no you aren't!!!  But I'll forgive you for that particular bit of hyperole because you gave me... MEGALODON!!!!!!!!

Approximately 67 FEET in length, MEGALODON (or Big Tooth), is thought to be the largest predatory fish in history.  It fed mainly on large WHALES. GOTTA LOVE SCIENCE! Especially the kind that allows you to build large models and stick 'em onto a wall.

I tried and TRIED to get a good "AHHH!! MEGALODON!!" shot but failed. Dave walks up, strikes a  pose and NAILS IT. I took two shots and fell on the floor laughing. I love that man!

Anyhooo... I'm submitting this page for the Pencil Lines sketch 211 by Rhonda Palazzari- one of my favorite artists. Check out the Pencil Lines website- her page is amazing!!!

Muchos SmOoChEs!
M

Pages About Me

The following three pages are about me trying to have fun exploring some of my deepest held beliefs and ideas about myself. I see myself as thoughtful, rebellious and creative. I also wanted to try to break out the more neutral paper in my collection- I love these colors but they don't exactly scream BABY or FAMILY! I really enjoyed trying to make these work and will keep working this theme in future pages.

Hernandez family portrait, 1987. One of us did not suffer the photographer's  bad breath in silence.

Had me some Holga plastic lens/multiple exposure fun.

This page was REALLY fun. I love metal, corrugated paper and plastic bubble wrap!!

Hope SPRUNG! September 2010

I created this page in September 2010 for Lola's first birthday. I found I was hugging her entirely too hard that week. I was, and still am incredibly, fantastically, overwhelmingly grateful that I got to keep her. I'm telling this story because it is truly the central story of my life. I have had a very comfortable, no problems kind of life. Then I was told that most probably my daughter would either die in utero or shortly after being born.

Hope Sprung! September 2010

This is strikingly awful news for any expectant parent. For me it seemed doubly so because I had waited to so long to have a baby. David and I are both in our mid thirties but we were together exclusively for 9 years before we got married. We love each other and both wanted a family but we kept thinking we needed to wait for the perfect moment- for financial "security", for the "grown up" feeling, to buy a house- all the excuses people use these days to extend the teenager stage for just 1 more year- or at least it seems that way to me now.

Then 1 day we decided Ok NOW. We found out I was pregnant right away (WOO HOO!!), next day I was out of a job (there went financial "security") and 3 weeks later I was given the news that a large Cystic Hygroma was growing on my daughter's neck- it was 9mm which is incredibly large for a baby 4 months in development.  I was told that it was a signal that there most likely was a "terminal" genetic or heart defect in the fetus. I was given a battery of tests and 6 weeks later I was told they were all negative but the doctor STILL recommended we "terminate" the pregnancy due to the overwhelmingly strong possibility of a mechanical heart or lung defect in the fetus. But no one could give me a definite answer- no test could be 100% negative. I had a decision to make and no expert, no doctor, no scientific fact- information always being my fall back position- was going to help me make it.

Devastating. 

Against all logic and reason I drew up inside reserves and found I believed with all my heart that this baby is going to be okay. My Mom and David agreed and we fought our own fears and those of our entire family to make sure baby Lola was born- and here she is 1 year later!!! She was 6 weeks premature and struggling through a diagnosis of fetal hydrops where fluid had accumulated around her neck and both lung cavities but after 2 months in the Columbia Presbeterian NICU she was ok- no defects or observable problems of any kind have developed. 

I wanted to post this because after I was given the first set of bad news I started doing research and it seemed the odds were very much against my pregnancy having a positive outcome. I want to give hope to other parents- yes the odds are very slim but the possibility is there. I have proof- she's walking, smiling and yelling for Dada at this very minute. And for that I am grateful and will never again doubt the power of hope, motherly intuition and a fantastic medical team.

As always- muchos smooches!
M.

Teething, Flu shots and separation anxiety- OH MY!

Impatience runs deep within my family- why wait when you can get it all done NOW so you can get back to reading "Emma"?? (For the 5th time!) Knowing Lola had that particular string of letters within her genetic code I should not have been surprised to see not 1, not 2, but FOUR new teeth. Add three "12 month" vaccinations, her rising separation anxiety and you've got THE PERFECT STORM. 

I've heard Moms talk about it but being an ignorant firsty, I always thought they were exaggerating. Silly human!!! My normally quiet, smiley and self soothing tot is now a nexus of dissatisfaction and seething rage I didn't think I was going to experience till AT LEAST year 12. Put her down- CRY, Pick her up- CRY. Bottle? CRY. Raisins? CRY. Beans and avocado (her fave)- CRY!!!!! CRY CRY CRYYYYYYYY!! What kind of of Momma am I? DO SOMETHING!!!! Sing! Dance! Cry along? Pass out in terror? 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

It's been hard but I don't have 4 teeth cutting my gums to ribbons so I don't get to complain. WOMAN UP chica!!!!

Then Grandma visits and thank goodness- SILENCE. Giggles, pitter patter- peace.

So this entry was SUPPOSED to be about my newly invented BEEF STEW but I've decided to give a huge HUGE shout out to my FABULOUS Moms instead. My Mom Teresa and my Mom Reyna. These women are awesome Abuelas. Patient, gentle, accepting, FIERCE defenders of Lola in ways I can only aspire to match. I watch in awe- women who don't smile at my cheesy antics LOVE my baby- love her wholly and unconditionally. It's such a blessing to see that and know that they looked at my husband and I that way too- once- before we cut school to hang with our boyfriends (me) or came home puking drunk with our high school buddies (him). So last week, (before THE EVIL happened) I made a page for each and I tried to include things I knew they would like- lace, flowers, and the colors pink and blue. Love you Mom. Love you Reyna!!!!

3 bellas Nietas. Para Reyna- una Grandma sin igual.

Just The 2 of Us. For my Mama whom I love and appreciate with all my might!!

Thank you- gracias!!

AAAAAAAAAND MUCHOS SMOOCHES!!!