That weird moment where you can't figure out if your alter ego is your real ego or if your real ego is your alter ego.

There's a chance that, in living in Austin for nearly a year, I have in fact adopted and ingrained the weird into my life.  A few months ago, a friend proposed that we attend a soiree labeled "Alter Ego Party".  Oh, my luck!  I already had one...a few years back, my brothers and I gave names to the personalities we likely became after a few bubblies- theirs Mr. Fabulous and Merv, and mine would be Ginger.  But Ginger had been locked away in the closet for some time and I knew we would need to redefine her- a new look, a new character.  An Alter Ego makeover, if you will.  And she would have a friend.  The missing piece of a dynamic duo.  And her name would be Estelle.

Here is what we know about these broads through the mastering of a technique called improving (read: making it up) answers to questions about them.

Estelle Rivers is a saucy little thing from Yonkers who likes extra ashy cigarettes, the smell of motor oil, and the cha-cha.  At least now she does.  She prefers a stiff martini, and by stiff I mean liquor and olives hold the olives.  The glass makes her look classy until she cha-chas that thing all over herself.  Estelle met and married Carl in her younger years.  When they met, he was the only sober one there- he wasn't a drinker, that Carl, until he met Estelle.  He gave her that gaw-gaw-gorgeous ruby red ring on her finger, but she had to give him the old Moe Green Special after he messed around with Ginger.   Friends over fellas, ya know?

Ginger Macdonald-Suarez kept both last names as the Macdonald family is was very well known in Yonkers for their bootleggin' during the depression.  She couldn't give up a name and a reputation like that.  Suarez comes from Rico, her late husband she met in Cuba during the war.  Don't ask which war.  Her memory is fading and it frustrates her when she gets her wars and seasons mixed up.   Rico approached her in the tattoo parlor where she got that beauty of a pirate tattoo.  No regrets.  Ginger loves a good shampoo & set, a strong cough drop, and an unexpected bar fight.  And she and Estelle loath the authorities.

And on a cold, dreary day, Ginger and Estelle's paths crossed at Grace's funeral in New Jersey.  A mutual friend's demise led to the power duo that Ginger and Estelle would become on and off the ice.

 

Ginger's strength and Estelle's grace made lifts and spins effortless.  They went on to win, like, every Olympic ice dancing event, were cast in picture shows, and became nation-wide celebrities.  And they would not. let. that. go.  Today, they still believe they belong at the top of the A list, and they'll give it to ya if you think otherwise.

There are moments...fine, the majority of the time...where we prefer to be Ginger and Estelle.  There are times where I want so bad to have been her in the 20s (30s?  40s?  50s?  We're not sure...) shmoozing with Pablo and Zelda and Cole over champagne, and it is in that moment, when I am talking to the checker at HEB in a Yankee accent that I realize I may actually be her and her alter ego may be me. 

And Ginger and Estelle will live on.  We won the alter ego contest at the party and were cast in the production company's next movie. Here's a tease.

Dear Husband,

Tonight I went to a new coffee shop on the East side... Or, new to me.  While I waited on my decaf Americano, I overheard a group of people in the back of the small, old house hooting and hollering as an older male voice belted something unrecognizeable all the while strumming his battered guitar.  You of all people know that when I did in fact get my hands on that Americano, I plopped myself in a chair right in the middle, and they smiled at me as if I was their long lost cousin who just made it to the party.  And I wanted to know them.  Their names, their stories, the song he tried so hard to play.  A family, I gathered, here for a birthday celebration, and the man brought his guitar just so he could sing to her on her special day.  That's your kind of love.

Imagine my horror when I realized the book I thought I had with me was in fact not in my bag.  You know that mood too well.  So I watched and discovered something so sweet.

Within the group of squawking, bellowing friends was a couple who were making their way to say goodbye.  He, in his late 80's, with his white fedora and matching handlebar mustache.  She, possibly his senior, in a long blue polyester skirt, blouse, and floral cardigan.  Her glasses slipped down her nose, and just before they flat out fell off her face, she would catch them with her pointer finger, and press them back.  And she smiled...the biggest, happiest smile...because from what I could gather, most of them were her children.  A mama with her chicks.  Oh my heart.

And as they walked out, she kissed the right cheek, then the left, on everyone at the party saying not a word.  On her last goodbye, the man thanked her in Spanish and I wondered...could she understand anything anyone said tonight?  And if not...there's so much I can learn from her.

As they left the coffeehouse, she clung to her man's arm like a fireman down a fire pole and they walked step for step together.  He took his time gingerly escorting her down the 3 steps, and when he got too far ahead, she flailed her arms not because she needed to hold on to stand up, but because she wanted to hold on to stand up.

If I can't have anything else in this world- if I live wanting for the rest of my days- please, let me be there.  With God and with you.  Holding onto to your arm like there's no ever-lovin' tomorrow so I can stand up.  It is absolutely all I want for my life.

Wife

Enchilada, hold the hydrolyzed soy because I don't know what that is.

The mister requested enchiladas the other night and, per my enchilada recipe, I found myself in the Hispanic food aisle of the grocery store staring at the ingredients of all of the different sauces available, and THAT is when I realized something life changing. 

I could just make it.

So I did...

And Devin said it was the best enchilada he's had...

So I thought I'd share the sauce I made!

In a food processor combine:
- 1 can organic tomato paste
- 1/2 can organic diced tomatoes
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tsp cumin
- about 1/3 cup water (more if you like runnier sauce- Devin preferred it thicker)
- 1 hatch green chile

Blend!

I made a batch for the mixture in the enchiladas and a separate batch to pour on top. 

 

Cheers to knowing what's in your food!

(Note: delicious and nutritious dinner: half enchilada served on bed of spinach with onion and avocado.  Use salsa as a dressing!)

Abode

Y'all...

We have a house!

This beauty is ours and we get to start work on her first thing August 26th.  Our first digs are in terrific condition, but the previous owner's taste resembles that of an 80's beach house.  Need a visual?

I think this nails it.

So we started our master to do list (more on that later) and all I can think to do in my spare time is geek out over super cool websites like Pinterest and Young House Love and...Lowe's.  And after we have the guys remove the popcorn on every square inch of the ceilings, we'll move in and get to work on our little roost.

As for the backyard, Bird has no idea what she's in for.

Sub 100 temperatures: I missed you, Fall.

Tax Free Weekend, Back to School, Football Preseason...Fall is here, friends, and even though Austin, Texas is repping the Summer weather, I. Am. Ready.

I always am, but for the 18 years that I have lived South of the Dee Eff Dub, I have consistently been shocked that it's still so dadgum hot.

And so, to prepare for the cold fronts I am manifesting, I have done the following.

I traversed over to the Mecca only to stumble upon a new Austin transplant named Hannah who dressed me head to toe in endless outfits that I could never in my wildest imagination come up with.  I think I'm stylish when I wear more than one bracelet.  I walked out with this dress of which Devin said I looked like the church organ player from his Baptist childhood memories.  I returned it, but these I shalt not return. 

They are gorgeous and I can only assume Dr. Scholls' hip, trendy, great niece created the innards because I swear I could Prancercise in these blister free.

Secondly, I bought this.

Because I'll be able to wear it in 6 months for a good, solid 2-3 weeks.  Reasonable.

I think it's fair to say I'm drooling over all sorts of things for my kitchen...because if you gave me $1000 to spend, I would probably spend $950 on my kitchen, $12.95 on a new bone for Bird, and the rest on clothes.  I'm loving the plums and mustards that Sur la table has out, and I want every ghost and leaf and pumpkin cookie cutter ever made.  I decided to welcome Fall into my home yesterday with a little gluten free baking sesh- Pumpkin Apple Muffins in some super cute and unique papers from some expensive baking supply store Marshalls.

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