Back by Popular Demand-

It makes me feel good, to know that people actually enjoy reading what I have to say (thankx for the nudge to get my ass in gear lola). I take some sort of comfort knowing that what I write isn't some awful and trivial dribble!

It has been crazy to say the least these last 9 months that I haven't written. In fact if you do the math, I could have birthed a child while I have vacationed from this blog! Oh, the thought of that!

My pregnancy was fantastic, don't get me wrong, but the thought of gaining 80, yes 80 lbs is frightening. It took 6 month's to gain that weight and i have YET to get it all off. I am happy how I look, not Ecstatic, I could afford to loose another 10 pounds and have a tummy tuck, but that's a whole other post (to come at a later date).

My summer was great, even thought most of it was worry about the health of my dad and the well being of my mom. Despite all that, we managed to make it to Captiva Island, Orlando, Boston and NH (twice) and to have some great days just relaxing at the beach or pool. Now, like most of us parents the house is quiet, too quiet and wish that the summer was here again.

I am planning on a trip to Boston again, this winter. Nicolette was some what saddened at the thought that when we arrived in NH over the summer that there was no snow. I guess, from hearing me talk of NH she assumed the snow was always on the ground. So, trying to comfort her as she sat and looked disappointed at the green grass I assured her that this winter, when Mother Nature did her magic we would be there to witness it!

Now, I have to hope that this winter will yield some of that white shit that I am sure will interfere with our travel plans to come up there. THE IRONY OF IT ALL!

Until my next post.....

- Zila

A New Day

I felt like I should take a minute to post some brief thoughts about the other night's election. I'm feeling a bit patriotic at the moment, so pardon me for that. I think that we definitely live in some tumultuous times, and this country is in serious need of a change. Could Barack Obama be the answer we've been looking for? I'm really excited to find out. We've known for a few weeks that our dear republican party was going to get squashed in this election. I have been reading articles and researching debate topics in an effort to educate myself about Obama's stance on many important issues. He doesn't plan on doing things the way they've been done in the past, and the thought of change has made me nervous. But last night I found Obama's acceptance speech to be really inspiring. And how amazing is it that our country could finally put aside all the hatred we've felt in the past and elect our first African American president? This day is destined to go down in the history books!

Out with the old!

There are 16 more days left until the first day of school. I guess Florida starts a little earlier than most states. I guess it's because of the heat, but I am not 100% sure. So, today we spent the whole day going through Nicolette's clothes and taking inventory of what is needed.

Conclusion- She needs SOCKS.

Yup, I have been slowly accumulating clothes here and there, somewhat like a squirrel gathering nuts for the winter. And to my pleasant surprise we only need some socks. :)

I did manage to take away 2 large garbage bags of clothes to send to the goodwill, and her closet actually looks organized. For how long will it stay that way, Who knows. But for now, I can't help but smile at the progress we made today.

PS. the Nana countdown is 7 days and counting

Seperation Anxiety

I wake up this morning and realize that tomorrow around this time, I will be taking my folks to the Orlando Intl Airport for the beginning of their Alaskan Adventure.

I am both excited and sad. Not for reasons of Jealousy that I am not going, more like what am I going to do without you know who... The NANA. I have made a list of all the things that we (Nicolette & I )are not going to do without her.

1. Go to our favorite spots

a. Dunkin Donuts
b. Any boutique this side of Florida
c. Wal-Mart
d. Publix ( apparently we are not eating while she is away )

2. Do our Favorite things

a. go to the movies
b. go to Breakfast with the Blue hair Ladies
c. go to beach
d. go to sprinkler park

I guess Nicolette and I are just going to sit home and just be pool potatoes!!!!

Nana, for the love of Mary GET HOME QUICK!

I am in the KNEED of a Knew KNEE!

OK, OK, call me what I am.... a GIMP. The other day I was on the bed, and zigged when I should have zagged and twisted my (already BAD) knee so much that you actually heard a loud POP.

As tears swelled up in my eyes, I tried to suck them back in as to attempt to be brave for Nicolette as she was looking as scared as if she saw a ghost. I did manage to squeak out "Mom's ok hunny, just moved the wrong way", and ever so slowly limped out of that room, to another and let those tears jump out from my eyes on to the floor.

Now, several days and advil later, the pain is still there, especially when I manage to move just the right way and send this unbelievable JOLT of pain up my leg and to my back. I guess I will attempt the holistic approach a little longer before I put my tail between my legs and go to the Doctor who will undoubtedly give me a handful of drugs and push me out the door and lure his next victim in!

If there are any mystical forces that happen to find my blog, please, please , please send something my way!

V for Validation!

So, today was an ironic one. Earlier this morning my mom, AKA "The Nana" was talking to me about my blog. She said that she liked it, but thought that it would be better for me not to say "fuck" or "the F word" is how she explained it on my blog. I, chuckled and kindly responded "well ummmm... Yes, its there and is going to stay there. That's the whole point of my blog. To have the freedom to write what I am thinking, and not sugar coat it".

I tried to explain that point, and I hope that I did so with regard to her feelings. Of course you want to be able to express yourself, but also do not have to be rude getting your point of cross. So, Nana I hope that I didn't hurt your feelings when I was explaining why I was going to keep being Me.

So, the irony here is that I got an email from a reader (that will remain anonymous, for the sole reason that I think if she wanted her comments to be know then she would have posted on the blog. So, to give her privacy I will leave her name out) that appreciated how I wrote my blog. The honesty behind it, the fact that I was for real, AND liked that I was able to say Fuck... because that is how when all of our guards are down, we as a nation can get our point across.


So, I have been validated! I can be me, and people get it. I, am happy!

Thank you!

Tomorrow is "D" day

So, some of you know, and other's do not. My niece Alexandra has been quiet ill. We know some of the problem, but not the underlying cause(s).

She has been on (and off) some medications for the last 4 weeks. What the Dr. was thinking is that we know what is going on, but lets try the least evasion, most common cure for that problem FIRST and then get into the other, more evasive shit.

Well, tomorrow she goes in to tell him that the medication has not work, and therefore I have labeled tomorrow as "D" day. Solely because we don't know what happens next, and I have to admit I am going crazy wondering what is going to happen next. My mind is racing in all kinds of directions, and then I think :

1. I am not the patient, nor the parent for Christ's sake...

2. GET OFF THE INTERNET and stop drying to investigate the "causes"

3. Are you making it worse by constantly asking "how was the test today..."

4. SHE IS ONLY 15

Then, I calm myself down, and say that I have all the confidence in Lexi's (nickname) Dr. He is the CHIEF pediatric Nephrologist in the area, so other than Dr. House he is the man we want on our team.

I will learn something by 2-ish, so I will be sitting by the phone and I will let all my dedicated readers (all 2 of you) know as soon as I do.

Also, please try thinking that "positive postulates can work miracles" because we really need one!

Going Ghetto!

So, I spent the day with my friend and her kids, helping her move into her lovely new house! Then, I get home only to find that I have nothing in the fridge........After a search and discovery mission, I manage to find the following ingredients.


1 can organic diced tomatoes
1 pint organic mushrooms
1/2 bag baby spinach (organic)
fresh garlic ( i some how always manage to have this in the fridge)
1 box lasagna noodles
red pepper flakes


you see where this is going.... I manage to make a very tasty, edible meal from this, however it was totally ghetto. I took the lasagna noodles and broke them down to pieces like you would be making a Mosaic tile masterpiece, No two pieces the same.

I think that I will name this dish, Mosaic Madness....

My Lil Chef Nicolette helped out a lot. She said she needs more spinach for her Karate lessons tomorrow night. She is so funny to watch in class. They have the kids doing push ups, and all kinds of things, so she is running around the house everyday practicing. I will post some pictures when I sneak my camera in the studio.

Ciao for now,

Chef Claudette & Lil Chef Nicolette

Sundays=REST

Today= woke up, cleaned closet, ate sushi, cleaned kitchen, made dinner, now bath and bed. I hope that tomorrow deems more productive for anyone who actually reads my less than stellar blog.

Man vs Woman-Equal or not....

I think that its a fair question, but I think that the answer is very subjective... There are many factors in that equation. (High-school Calculus nightmare's come to mind....)

If, I were asked about my life, and would Nick and I be considered equal I would say "No" we are not equal because I feel Physically he works harder than I do, but I do more in other area's of the life.. So one can argue the point that realistically we will never be equal. The trick however is to be a "whole" together.

Is it possible, well I don't know. I know the notion sounds wonderful, that we all can except each others strengths and weaknesses, but human nature isn't as compassionate. We as a human race are more of search and destroyers than planners and builders. So, all this less than physically equal girl can do is wait and see what happens next.

SUMMER Colds Suck

How is it even possible to get one? Well, my mom had "the sniffles" the other day, but insisted that she wasn't sick........ I am going to try to paint a picture of how she looked when we saw her the other day.... HER NOSE was as red as these words, but still insisted that she wasn't sick.


Here's the nana, relaxing at the park, she didnt want to walk the boardwalk, because she wanted to save that prime bench location, not that she was too sick to go.... I LOVE U NANA!!!

I don't care much anyways, we are hardly sick with colds in this family. So a sniffle now and then is ok. But I have a whole host of ailments, the most annoying is that I can not eat meat...... I know its better that way, better for my body, especially since my dad had colon cancer and I am at a higher risk of getting it........ but my GOD, a filet cooked perfectly is HEAVEN..... So, I guess for now, i will have to rely on my fond memories of me and my meat.... OMG, that sounds gross, but I am not going to edit it because it was how I was feeling at the moment, and I am not going to be one of those people who have to make sense all the fucking time.

Other people's blogs

I will promise you this, if you post a comment on my blog I will post it. Even if it is a negative one, I will put it on for everyone to see. Why am I telling you this? well, someone that I know, has a post and I said something that apparently hit home, because of course it was NOT POSTED.

I don't get people like that...whats the point? I guess some subjects are off limits... UHHH then why do you post them?