old towne orange

My bookclub met at The Victorian Manor in Orange. This place was okay. I felt like I could have made everything we ate--the scones, sandwiches, cut up fruit and vegetables, truffles, and store-bought cake. I think I just don't like high tea, except when someone I know makes it or at the Streeter Teahouse. Still, it was fun just to get together.


The Victorian Manor


glazed raspberry scone with strawberry jam and Devonshire cream


truffles, veggies and fruits, and sandwiches--tuna, chicken, salmon, egg salad, and cream cheese with sun-dried tomatoes. there was also cake for dessert (not shown)

the staples center

I went to the Lakers vs. Kings game last night. It was such a blast! The Lakers led the entire time. We had great seats and the food was good, though I remember the cotton candy being a lot bigger the last time I was there. Celebrity sightings: Jack Nicholson, James Worthy, and Morpheus himself--Laurence Fishburne.

rescue breathing

Last weekend I went down to San Diego to hang out with friends and to renew my CPR certification. The American Red Cross sponsored the free Save A Life Saturday Activities (S.A.L.S.A). Last year the Red Cross broke the single-site CPR training Guinness World Record of 2,121 people that was set in Los Angeles in 2002. The program was fun and well organized.

Afterward, we went to the Hillcrest area for sustenance. We had lunch at Crest Cafe and cake at Extraordinary Desserts. If you like sweets, this is the place to visit. Everthing tastes as good as it looks. Very decadent.

Full and sleepy, we went rock climbing at Vertical Hold. It's not the best idea to go rock climbing on a full stomach. I got a little banged up and scratched, but otherwise had a great time. It was a fun-filled day in San Diego.

the snow

I went up to Mountain High this weekend. I didn't ski or snowboard, just went along for the ride, a six hour ride :(.

watching the oscars

My friends and I had our annual Oscar potluck on Sunday.


The Stuffed Mushroom Club (Documentary Short)


(clockwise from top) Crash Jambalaya, March of the Chicken Enchiladas, Memoirs of a Quicha, The Constant Gardener Garden Salad


Reese Witherspoon Bread (Pudding) with butter pecan and caramel ice cream


my prize for getting 15/24 picks correct

santa monica

On Saturday, I satisfied my craving for chicken and waffles at Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles. I got two pieces of white meat smothered with gravy and onions and waffles. The food was great. Everyone left happy. Still, I have to give a thumbs down to the corn bread. I've had better from a box.

Afterward, we went to the Nomadic Museum at the Santa Monica Pier to see Gregory Colbert's Ashes & Snow exhibit. It is a beautiful collection of three films and 100+ photographs in auburn and sepia featuring people and animals in their native habitats. Check out the website to see many of the photographs. I was surprised that none of the works had been digitally collaged or superimposed. They seem unreal. The exhibit will be in Santa Monica until May 14. Go see it if you haven't already.

Then we headed over to Westwood for some Diddy Riese cookies. Always good. I was too full for an ice cream sandwich, but milk and cookies hit the spot. It was another beautiful day in LA. I could have done without the traffic, though.


a sunrise (freshly squeezed orange juice and lemonade) and fruit punch


chicken smothered in gravy and onions and waffles


The Nomadic Museum is a temporary structure constructed of 152 steel cargo containers