Thursday, February 19, 2009

My new Limoncello cups


Kinda cute,eh? They weren't my first choice but the other sets I liked were either out of stock or just way too much $$$$ like almost $300.00 not including shipping!The quality was not up to parr either...a few pits here and there and the color wash is uneven...but it serves its purpose for sure!

My Limoncello supplies are dwindling so I'll be making another batch as soon as dear old Dads tree kicks out some new fruit.

I noticed a bit of difference in the two batches between Cali and Idaho. The Cali lemons were organic and the Idaho ones store bought. Even with a good wash the Idaho end product did not freeze up like the Cali's did. I don't know if that has something to do with the wax on the fruit or what? The Cali's had a much smoother flavor, too. So...that means I'll lugging a dozen or so lemons on the plane to Idaho when the time comes. I'm gonna try oranges next time, too!

I'm taking lessons from the Italians...

Rules of the Italian Road:

"Look at this testa di [XXXXX] kissing my bumper!" Italians drivers
are much more comfortable driving much closer than is typical in
America. 'A centimeter is as good as a kilometer,' is a motto we love
and we couldn't care less of getting that close. If you know to
expect this and do not panic by slowing down, or worse, touching your
brakes, you will be fine. After all, this reduces air resistance and
increases mileage.

"These cornuti keep cutting me off!" When driving in Italy, your
responsibility is to those in front of you and those to your side.
Rear-view mirrors are solely used for checking our good looks. If
there is an opening in front of you, it is your obligation to fill
it, or we will fill it for you. After all, the more we cut off the
faster we arrive to our destination and the more money saved on gas.

"Look! Stop signs and traffic lights are useless to these coglioni!"
Time and mileage are of the essence for the Italian driver. We do not
have money for brake maintenance nor the patience and will to
downshift gears. Besides, it is irresponsible to go through an
uncontrolled, blind intersection quickly without at least a look or a
small toot on the horn.

"There is no place to park, [XXXX]!" You would be quite surprised at
how difficult it is to find parking in downtown Italy. The sidewalk
parking space is savored and rarely abandoned. After all, it helps to
avoid wasting gas driving around the neighborhood for 30 minutes in
search of unoccupied sidewalk space.

"Faccia di [XXXX]", 70 euros (90 USD) to fill up a tank?! I'll buy a
fuel efficient mule instead.

People who say Italians do not know how to drive are measuring us by
the wrong scale. We have a very controlled recklessness to our
driving and we now do what is necessary to save money on gas and
maintenance.

**
So if I keep my POS Jeep...it's already got 282k miles on it, I should fit right in. I'm not so sure about parking on the sidewalks here... but I can relate to the parking, or lack of it, in downtown Sandpoint.
Side note-I do not know what those words in "" and [XXXX] mean, although I'm sure they are not nice.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Extreme Makeover: Foreclosure Edition

This article was on the front page of the Daily Bee in Sandpoint,ID
"Donated home used as loan collateral"

SANDPOINT — The Bonner County home featured on the reality television show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” is in foreclosure.
Eric Hebert put the home up for sale last year because he said its upkeep and utilities became too costly. Hebert also cited the darkening economy as a reason for putting the home up for sale.

Since then, the home was used as collateral on a defaulted Wells Fargo Bank loan, according to a legal notice of trustee’s sale slated for publication later this week. As of Feb. 11, Hebert owed the bank $396,145, the notice said.

Hebert could not be reached for comment on Monday. A message left on his mobile phone seeking comment was not immediately returned.

The 3,678-square-foot home off Baldy Mountain Road was listed for $529,000 in May 2008, when Hebert put it up for sale. The current asking price is $449,000, according to its listing on the Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby’s International Web site.

The online description calls it a one-of-kind custom home, but makes no mention of its high-profile origins.

The home was built by the show and a swarm of volunteers with donated materials in November 2005, after producers learned Hebert was raising his late sister’s twins and living in a makeshift “berm house.” Hebert, a bachelor, took custody of the children after their mother died of a heart attack.

The reality TV program rebuilds homes for families in the grips of hardship. The series debuted in 2003 and is in its sixth season on ABC.

Although the show is a ratings hit for the network, it has also attracted criticism for exalting lavish lifestyles and saddling recipients with hefty property tax and utility bills.

Hebert’s home is among a growing number of “Extreme Makeover” homes to become subject of foreclosure proceedings.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported last summer that a couple lost their Lake City, Ga., home after using it as a collateral for a $450,000 loan from JPMorgan Chase which fell into arrears. A couple in Oak Park, Mich., were facing foreclosure of their home partly because a refinanced mortgage caused their payments to soar, the Macomb Daily reported in December of last year. However, according to an Associated Press story earlier this month, the loan was renegotiated to give the family a better chance at keeping the home.
**
I think EM need to keep in mind where all these "winners" are gonna get the money to pay taxes, heating bills,etc., on these McMansions when most of them are blue collar workers...no forethought. They could build three nice homes for families in need instead of these outrageous monster homes.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Pitiful Palin

Ok, this had to take the cake. People on the Sandpoint forums had nothing better to post than saying "Happy Birthday" to Sarah Palin? Whoo hoo. She was born in Sandpoint and lived here for a whopping three months. Thankfully, she's screwing up Alaska now..but then again what state isn't screwed up lately.

Wanna read an Alaskan political blog ..and no, Palin is not their favorite politician.
http://mudflats.wordpress.com/

Thursday, February 12, 2009

What I did today...

Below is what we do in Idaho for fun....after milking the cows..just kiddin. We bought a new John Deere, and yes, it is kinda fun!

I flew into Idaho last night and this morning went on a job interview . It went quite well, but I'm unable commit to full time and hoping they'll have a slot for someone who wants to work every other week. They call it occasional, I call it per-diem... it's all still iffy.

Anyhoo..afterwards we had lunch at one of my fav restaurants in Sandpoint, Bangkok Cusine. There must have been a different cook because the Thai soup and salad just didn't taste the same...the waitress was less than enthusiastic, too. She didn't even ask if we wanted drinks and I really didn't notice until I sat down to write so I guess I can't bitch about that too much. I hate being disappointed over food your paying good money for...ok, it only cost $20.09 for the both of us and it beats me sloggin over the sink and stove.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Pasta Putanesca !



I decided I wanted to eat something bad tonight and nothing from the cardboard diet (aka Nutrisystems)... with simple ingredients and a tad bit of pepper flakes this dish has enough zing to keep me happy. Would you believe the first time I ate this was in Idaho at a restaurant called the Power House. I'd never even heard of it and the name was rather peculiar... "Putanesca?", I say out loud... my sis sat there and nodded her head giving me that "yep, it's exactly what you're thinking" look.

Watching the Super Bowl tonight did nothing to curb my appetite, so there I sat with the bowl like a feed bag and watched the climactic ending...I am feeling rather guilty now..I couldn't eat just one bowl...and I feel like a nap to boot. Oink !