Author: Ali Carras

Easter brunch 2008

Happy Easter! Coop-dawg made a feast this morning: a delectable glazed jamon and multigrain blackberry pancakes. I made a fruit bowl fit to feed a family of four. It was all so good we are both in a food coma (combined with post wedding exhaustion…a double whammy). Last year at this time my mom/pop/bro/sis-in-law were visiting and we ate a ham/crab cake brunch off of our coffeetable. That was an experience to say the least. Perhaps too small a space for 6 folks to eat comfortably. Maybe we need a new apartment.

***

Last week C-feezie and I were in Vegas for WPPI…a wedding/portrait photographer’s convention and trade show. It was a whirlwhind of four days…lectures/tradeshow time from 8:00am-10:00pm then post convention parties at various bars and swanky places until the wee hours of the morning. We were exhausted by the end of day one and probably didn’t do the event justice, but at least we tried. Let me say this: there is a lot of crap out there.  This was Cooper’s first time to Vegas and we both agreed it wasn’t our cup-0-tea. We really didn’t get to go to any shows are eat at any of the new foodie restaurants, but we did hit up the buffet (with all you can eat crab legs…whoo hooo!). We also went to a party home off the strip complete with tarot card readers, tattoo artists, bowling alley, a private band and who knows what else. The rumor was that this place was Whoopi Goldberg’s old home or maybe where her housekeepers live, but I kind of doubt both. I think it was just a party home. Although we came out of the conference with some new ideas and are motivated to improve the business, we are glad to be home. Home sweet Oakland (a phrase I never thought I would say in my life!).

***
Congrats WB on the news! Alice Cooper couldn’t be more excited for you!

Things I can say I accomplished this weekend:

• painted my nails a gothic color. Note to self: this does not work when your hands are long, bony and whiter than white.
• did my taxes. You would be surprised how little I made in 2007! I would most definitely be considered in the poverty level range, but somehow life couldn’t be better. As a matter of fact, 2007 was the best year in my life. Just goes to show…money isn’t everything.
• watched all 14 episodes of project runway on youtube. Yes, I had an obsession and was glued to a computer for days. aye carumba.

Only in Berkeley will you find a park with the following:

• a group of folks with  a tight rope between two trees, practicing their balancing/circus skills
• a different group of folks playing croquet
• and another group of six grown adults with hula hoops

Yes, only in Berkeley.

We are back from Jamaica! Whoa. A great land, interesting people, fun times, but we are happy to be home. The wedding last weekend was by far the most culturally diverse wedding we have shot yet…the groom and his family are all Jamaican and the bride and her family are Dutch (a portion of whom are living in the states).  Never before would I have ever imagined listening to Dutch coming in one ear and Patois in the other. Nor would I have ever dreamed of eating a traditional jerk/Jamaican meal followed by Dutch apple pie. It was awesome! Not only that but people were so gracious and open…by the end of the night at the reception we felt like we were completely part of the family/party and people wanted take photos of and with us (a rare occasion unless people are drunk and don’t know who they are taking photos with).

My three main men from the trip:

Akeem

Ray Charles


Coop-dawg. (Not sure what is going here except that I am showing a lot of gum and Cooper’s adam’s apple could have poked my eye out)

Thirsty? I sure hope so.

Beverage news #1: The Bruery received health department approval so Pat and Rachel Rue can now brew beer! The following photo is a toast to their beer and all their hard work. Prost folks! I am so proud!

(side note: the beer in the photo is not a Pat Rue beer. Technically, the brown liquid in the glass is not worthy of a Bruery vessel, but we had to drink in honor of the big news).

Beverage news #2: My new addiction post Morocco trip 1 year ago…MINT TEA! There are a lot of good mint teas out there, but none of them do justice if you want the true Moroccan mint tea taste. The solution? Seep straight mint leaves in hot water, add a little sugar, and bask in the moment. I have been basking in the moment a lot lately. Aka, drinking mass amounts of mint tea.

Beverage news #3: As of tomorrow, actually 12:00am on Sunday, Cooper and I will be on our way to Jamaica for a wedding. Yeah, mon. What does that have to do with beverages, Assin? Well, indirectly it means rum, Red Stripe, and tropical drinks. We have not made any super tropical drinks lately, but we did make lemonade with mint in it so this will suffice for now.

krumkake iron

Funny how when you are on a diet you tend to eat more than you normally might…and when you are on a no spending diet you spend $$ on any frivolous item you can find and try to justify it. My frivolous purchase of the weekend: a krumkake maker. What is krumkake you may ask? It is a beautiful Norwegian cookie that can be made flat or rolled and filled with whatever suites you (cream, fruit, ice cream, etc). My dad wanted to get my mom a krumkake maker like 15 years ago and ever since then I have always thought of the amazing little iron. Well, Cooper and I found this frivolous little thing at a thrift store for $10 and I was completely torn. Do I spend my hard earned $10 bucks on a waffle iron that I will probably use maybe once a year (if that) or do I save it for all the $2385928375928375928375928759283752398472 worth of traveling we have coming up? Well, after much deliberation I proudly walked out of the store without a purchase but then had to stop and call the parentals for a third/fourth opinion. Needless to say, they convinced me to buy it and now I am a krumkake owner. Goodness. I guess I won’t be eating while in Mexico, Italy, St. Thomas, New York, France, Chicago or Tahoe.

Green pond water juice

I know drinking green pond water juice is nothing new, but for some reason I have recently become obsessed with it! I think the attraction stems from 1.) thinking I really am drinking pond water and 2.) the pond water tasting like a smoothie. If you are curious as to what pond water tastes like…go to your local trader joe’s and pick up a bottle. Pond water drinkers unite!

Last weekend I went home to Boulder to be with “the girls” for my mom’s b-day. My timing was a bit off because everyone in the house was sick as a dog or slowly recovering. So far I have not had any symptoms, but now that I say that I will probably come down with something within minutes of writing this. The saddest thing was seeing my little niece look like such a weak noodle. The moment we got there she barely had energy to smile, but with a little coaxing and some silly acting on my part she was laughing in no time. Amelia went from this:

To this:

And my mom was her usual:

Cooper’s Anti-Valentine’s day flowers for me…the day before v-day

Cooper and I are not Valentine’s day friendly, although we did have a heartfelt (actually heart clogging) V-day with a massive Zachary’s pizza. The flowers Coop-dog bought for me were not for Valentine’s day…they were “just cause” flowers which are so much better. Next year he plans to get the day after Valentine’s day leftover/sale flowers…atta boy!

***
Wednesday night we went to a pre-screening of In Bruges with Colin Farrell. It was actually really really good! (although, the screening was free and free things make everything better). If you are in the mood for a funny comedy and want to take your guy to something that involves guns but isn’t as serious as Rambo, this is a winner.

Ahoy! I forgot to mention that Cooper was nearly attacked by a cougar this past weekend. Luckily he has some sort of ability to woo the animals and the big cat just cuddled and purrrrred instead. Oh, Cooper.

Yeah, so it has been a little while since I have last written. Nearly every day I think of something I must jot down, but I have not had a second to write. Now is my chance!

A weekend or so ago Cooper and I went to Juno. It is a fabulous movie…a must see. My only frustration with the film is that Cooper and I have or had “a song” (I know, cheesy) and this special song was a major component to the movie. The song that was once not so mainstream is now all over the place…even the ladies at “The View” are exploiting it. So, our little secret song is a secret no more. I guess we will have to find something new.

In an effort to not to ruin Juno for anyone, I’ll play “our” Moldy Peaches song to “Eternal Sunshine for a Spotless Mind” movie instead.

[youtube:http://youtube.com/watch?v=zF1S87xlNY0]

This past weekend was road trip #1 in 2000 and 8. Cooper and I drove to Palm Springs for a wedding and stopped along the way at Pat and Rachel’s INCREDIBLE Bruery and Emily’s home for Cucas burritos. In a three day time span we went from temperate weather to the desert to snow in the mountains to a rain/dust/wind storm to 5 different rainbows to a downpour. We made it in one piece but unfortunately missed out on a bucket of KFC and the super bowl.

If you are ever thirsty for a beer…keep this collection in mind: The Bruery. They hope to start brewing soon so keep your eye on the shelves/bars. Honestly, this beer is some of the best juice I have ever tasted.