My grandma is a hilarious lady.  She loves Britney Spears and any other hot blondes.  She decorates her rooms and restaurant with posters of these hot blondes.  She’s also a really tough lady.  She raised 6 kids alone after my grandfather died at age 40.  I like to think that she also raised tough ladies, that went on to raise tough girls.  She’s a wonderful cook, masseuse, card player, and bargain shopper.  Oh, and the mangoes from her mango tree are THE best mangoes I have ever eaten.

I love my oma.

I got well enough to venture outside today.  My mom and I ate burgers at Toot’s Grocery, a modest but tasty local burger joint.  I’ve always loved the signs on the building that say “Toots”.  I picked up some souvenirs to bring to coworkers and friends in Japan.  I’ve gotten the most favorable reaction in the past to food souvenirs (who doesn’t love trying local delicacies?)  I decided to bring cheese straws, a rich cheesy Southern spritz cookie.  A friend of the family’s makes them downtown and when we went to fetch them, I got to see the spritzing in action.  She’s happy to know that her cheese straws are traveling the world!

Next time I write I will be in Japan!  Goodbye for now!  xoxo

We canceled our trip for New Orleans when we found out the Saints had made it to the Super Bowl- because it would’ve been exactly the same weekend— wow that would’ve been a crazy weekend in New Orleans.  We went today for a short trip.  It was rainy, so we just walked a little around the French Quarter.  We went to Cafe Maspero based on my brother’s high recommendation.  My mom and I split red beans and rice and a jumbalaya.  I miss those foods and don’t get to eat them often so I enjoyed it, and the food is decent for the price.  Sort of like the McDonalds of Cajun food– go somewhere else if you’d like a more sophisticated meal.

I was happy to visit–I love New Orleans.  I hadn’t been in so long, since before the hurricane, and there’s been lots of damage, and lots of rebuilding, but I was happy to know that it still felt the same as always.

My family asked me if I’d set up my camera to take a picture of all of us together- something we haven’t done in years.  I was too happy to oblige.  Can you see the family resemblance?

My family is always having to put up with my weird whims.  You know I love you guys xoxo

thankfulness turns every meal into a feast.

wishing everyone a very happy food coma~

our meal in reverse:
pecan pie, ice cream
french roasted turkey stuffed with chestnuts and pork sausage
not pictured: ham, rice pilaf, baby carrots with parsley, mashed potatoes, gravy, braised cabbage with bacon, sparkling cranberry juice, chardonnay

I don’t really mean to be, but these days I find that I’m a bit elitist, turning up my nose at most things.  Food for example– if it’s not spectacular, not amazing, if it’s just mediocre, it might as well be horrible!  I just can’t bring myself to put it in my mouth– it’s like… not worthy of entering my body.  Haha.  I usually also won’t go to see a movie unless I’ve heard it’s incredible, or if it’s so bad that it swings back around to being incredible.  I won’t touch bagged tea. The only shampoo that will do for me is this stuff that is $20 per little bottle and makes my hair super shiny, and I buy the most expensive, softest toilet paper in the grocery store.   It’s mostly little things that I’m elitist about– soft toilet paper is probably the cheapest way possible to feel luxurious.

I spent my middle school and high school years, though, in a small sleepy town in Mississippi, and this somehow has gnawed a few holes in my elitism.  I love all sorts of down-south foods– purple hulled peas, collard greens, candied yams, and of course, fried anything.  Though I might still be slightly elitist about this– my favorite restaurant at home, Walnut Hills, serves vegetables that they grow in the garden right outside!  Also, coming of age in the south instilled in me a tolerance for country music that occasionally even veers into liking– John Denver, Tanya Tucker, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, and most recently Taylor Swift.

Don’t judge, okay.  She writes about boys and heartbreak, songs that will remind you of your first crush, in a manner that is not at all annoying– like someone who is experienced but managed not to become jaded, someone charmingly in turns levelheaded and silly.  Which is impressive for an 18 (well now 19) year old I think.  And, it’s country, so, it’s not at all pretentious.  Also Taylor sounds like a super ridiculously cute person, a person I’d want to have giggly sleepover parties and roast smores with.  In her youTube channel she writes that she is waiting for a guy who has great hair and an immature sense of humor.  Those are a pretty good 2 requirements, if one were only allowed 2 requirements for a boy!

It’s a strange day when I’m thinking whistfully of Vicksburg, Mississippi.