Whee! 1st post (I think...)

What a fun trip you will have to Paris! I am so jealous.

Looks like a fantastic weekend - although at first I thought you said Cadaver's Greek Seasoning. Which would have been cool, in a sick kind of way...

Y'know, although moms and grams look like nice ladies, I bet Aunt Pam is a real hoot.

Looks like a great weekend, and what fun it is to look forward to your girls trip to Paris! The closest to your trip I have made was a girls weekend to Vegas and we had dinner outside of the Paris hotel and watched the fountains at Bellagio for 3 hours. Oh well, not quite Paris, France, but a fun trip none the less. :)

Sounds like a great weekend! I have the same look on my face that Roy does.

I'm totally going to have to check Olvera Street out on my next trip to LA! I didn't even know it existed! So, so fun!

Monkey -- Aunt Pam is a hoot and a holler!

I love Shannon's hair.

Your family looks fun! So do your friends!

Roy looks freaked out.

PS...I can't say the name "Roy" properly. I don't know why, but something about the R and oy sounds together always comes out sounding like I'm talking with with my mouth full, which is unfortunate since Roy is the name of one of my brothers-in-law. Heh.

PPS...I just call my BIL "Jake" instead.

I love Roy! Paris is waiting, woman. I think 2006 is going to be the best year yet!

Awesome post. Thanks for all the pics. But the last one of Roy was great, cause he looks like he's feeling so much better.

So glad your mom came. Moms are the best!

Sounds like a fabulous weekend! Roy, every day's a weekend for you, dude. :)

I am so, so jealous.

Yum, Cavender's Greek Seasoning! I dunno if it's Greek at all, but I have never not had a can of the stuff in my pantry since the day I moved into my first apartment.

If you ever need some and your mom can't smuggle it to you in her handbag, let me know -- I'd be happy to send you some!

You are going to have a BLAST in Paris. I went to Japan with my two closest friends and it was a totally different experience than travelling with your partner. We stayed up late, made irreverent comments about late night Japanese television and ate very very weird Japanese snacks.

Although, personally, I think 'Crunky' is a fantastic name for a chocolate bar. I have begun to use 'Crunky' as a description of my mood.

Roy is just beautiful - doesn't it make your heart melt when they look at you like that?

HOW can Los Angeles not have something multicultural? How is this possible? I'm glad you had a great weekend.

Enjoy your Mom's visit, it looks like it'll be lots of fun. And Paris, my goodness, that will be such a fun time, I can hardly wait for the postings!! Roy is looking good!!

Where the hell is Olvera Street? I've never heard of it. Glad you had fun with family! It's so nice to be visited (not that I'd know :/ )

Dude, are those candy tamales at the sweet shop?

having never been outside of North America, I am SO SO SO jealous of your upcoming trip to Paris. My favorite Aunt is a high school french teacher who took student tours every other year, so one would think that I would have been able to go on one of her trips, but no. I always ended up having to stay home for one reason or another.

I'm so glad that your mom flew all the way out to L.A. for a visit. I think you needed a little Mommy-time.
And if you want to decorate your home like a Tijuana brothel, go ahead. Have fun in this new year!

That picture of Roy is so cute; it melts my heart.

My parents were married at La Placita Church, which is buried somewhere in Olvera St. My mom took us there once, when we were little, I barely remember.

But it's just too funny that my older brother works like two blocks from there now, AND NEVER GOES. Maybe it's cuz we're messican. I know for a FACT that my brother still has his very own mexican wrestler mask! I "lost" mine pretty quickly as it made me break out.

You're so lucky your mom comes to visit. I just bought my overpriced ticket to LA to visit my mom in a couple weeks.

So jealous, both of your weekend and your upcoming trip to Paris. I wanna go SO Badly. And a trip over there with the girls? Even better!

My parents were married at La Placita Church, which is buried somewhere in Olvera St. My mom took us there once, when we were little, I barely remember.

But it's just too funny that my older brother works like two blocks from there now, AND NEVER GOES. Maybe it's cuz we're messican. I know for a FACT that my brother still has his very own mexican wrestler mask! I "lost" mine pretty quickly as it made me break out.

You're so lucky your mom comes to visit. I just bought my overpriced ticket to LA to visit my mom in a couple weeks.

Wow...can I have your weekend instead?

I LOVE Olvera Street. I'm always tempted to buy too many trinkets though. I take all my family there when they come a-visiting. I'm jealous because my Mom was supposed to come out for the Rose Parade and ended up flaking on me. :(

To DebR--my brother's name is Roy and one of his friends couldn't say it correctly either (I suspect some sort of speech impediment though). Whenever he would call for Roy it sounded like "Laurie" and I'd end on the phone with this gross guy.

Looks like a great party! Wanna come meet me in San Diego next month? Fibery fun :)

Yeah that Greek Seasoning is to DIE for... I bought some for my best friend's kitchen... My boyfriend's kitchen... My boyfriend's mom's kitchen. Pretty much anywhere I might me making anything.

YUM.

I'm willing to ship it if necessary ;)

Cavendars! Yum! It can be found at Cost Plus World Market. Or Ralphs (in Long Beach, at least).

:-)

Well, seems like you're having fun! That's good!!!! ;)

Whoo hooo, Laurie's back!! Missed yer posts, girl.

So when is the trip to the City That Must Not Be Named which is now being named??? And with girlfriends to boot?? I am green with envy.

oooh! I'd love to go to Paris someday! Also Italy!Think of all that wine! HeeHee!
Have fun with Mom and Grandma and Aunt Pam! You deserve it.LOL

So (ahem) why don't we hear more about visiting your grandma? I bet she'd be a wild and crazy grandma if you let her...

But Roy is still THE ROY!!

This Paris trip is going to be the best trip ever for you! I went to Paris about three years ago with five girlfriends, and it was an experience I'll never forget. I don't know how the gods smiled on us and allowed all of us to rearrange our schedules so that we could all make the trip, but it will never happen again (people are married, pregnant, etc.). We shopped, ate, drank lots of red wine, laughed maniacally on the metro and made total fools of ourselves (fulfilling every horrified Frenchie's stereotype of les Americains). We also made friends with some French boys at a nightclub on our last night, despite only knowing a handful of French between the six of us. They just don't make them that cute here!

Ah, looks like fun. that's right down the street from where I work.
Hey, I was given the task of getting a gifty to you via snail mail and the PO says you got it on Dec 29th. Could you just let m know if it did indeed arrive? I'd feel bad if it were picked up and taken by someone else.

Hmmmm? I think I've seen Cavender's spices at Papa Cristos in the Byzantine Latino District of LA. That's on Pico, near Normandie, across the street from St. Sophia's Greek Church. You can also eat magnifico food at Papa's too!

That is so funny that you went to Olvera St. My brother who lives in No. Carolina and is coming for a visit this weekend requested a visit to Olvera St. too. He was born here and we used to visit there ALL the time when we were kids. I guess he's getting nostalgic in his advanced years. Great photos, Honey!

Awesome photos, I'm glad you had fun. Smooches to Roy!

Roy!!

Creme Brulee? Lurve it! And lurve all the cameras on the table. Way to celebrate the first weekend of your new year! Yay! You!

ok i'm jealous. i want to be sitting at that table. and going to france with you guys. and i even want to live in la -- just for a moment ;)

i'm glad that 2006 is looking so great for you! yay laurie mom, crazy aunt pam, and grandma!

OMG - Cavender's is the best! I discovered it a couple years ago at the Monte Carlo Italian deli in Burbank on Magnolia (the one with Pinnochio's cheesy Italian food in the front). Enjoy Paris - it was one of our best vacations ever! So, so fun. And such good food and wine!! You must go to the Galleries Lafayette gourmet food store and buy goodies for a picnic some night when you don't feel like a restaurant. They have everything you can imagine and it's all so incredible. Yum!

Whee! Friday night was SO fun, even if in that picture I look ENORMOUS and am blocking both you and Jen. Eek!

And obviously, I am excited for Paris. I can't believe it's been 3 years - well, approaching 4 - since I've been there. And I've always gone with a big group of girls, and it's always outstanding fun. I can't wait.

That is the cutest picture of Roy ever! Sorry Soba, please don't hurt me. How's the rest of the kitty clan Chez Laurie?

I grew up in the Valley -- we used to go to Olvera Street for the Blessing of the Animals. We'd get cactus candy -- too sweet and sticky but wonderful because it was made of CACTUS. Do they still have those eggshells full of confetti? To me when I was 9 or 10 those were the BEST things in the world.

I can still say L.A.'s given name: La Puebla de Nuestra Senora de los Angeles. Ta da. And I can even say it fast. Don't mess with me or I'll do it.

I grew up in the Valley -- we used to go to Olvera Street for the Blessing of the Animals. We'd get cactus candy -- too sweet and sticky but wonderful because it was made of CACTUS. Do they still have those eggshells full of confetti? To me when I was 9 or 10 those were the BEST things in the world.

I can still say L.A.'s given name: La Puebla de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles. Ta da. And I can even say it fast. Don't mess with me or I'll do it.

I MISS L.A. I think it will soon be time for a visit to show Birdie how to go shopping...

oooo, Cavendar's! It makes the BEST beer can chicken.

Jealous that I could not be there for dinner. Sounds like fun was had by all. Also jealous of the trip to Olvera Street.

What EXACTLY does the inside of a Tiajuana brothel look like??

I'm.just.askin.is.all.

(you can use Cavendars for beer can chicken? hmmmm)

Wow! Sounds like it was a great party! And Paris..sigh!! So so jealous!

Great photos of your Mom and Aunt and Grandmother- It looks like they had a blast!!

if you want suggestions on things in Paris (food, yarn or otherwise) feel free to email me :)

It is good to see Roy looking so healthy.

Oh, P.S.- it seems that "college chick" has finally caught on that she's been outed and is now offline. BUSTED!

Hey Auntie Perl,
I think the word your looking for is "dearth".
Just my anal-retentiveness when it comes to great vocab words:)
My mom gave me your blog. Great fun and a wonderful way to "look like I am doing something important at work". I think the frown line that appears when I am concentrating on something helps as it is always there when I read your entries and the comments.
I have two furry four footed friends as well who rule the roost. They are truly wunnerful.
Hey, a word no one really uses anymore and is tons of fun to say... flabberghast!!

Sorry, I meant Auntie PURL!!

Oh, Olvera Street, how I miss you! Growing up we called it "la placita olvera." I was baptised (sp?) in that little church there god,like 27 years ago!

We thought you'd be visiting Florida this month ... we're distraught.

Reenie -- collegechick hasn't removed the content she stole yet ... it's still there.

She hasn't linked to CAP either.

I did find her flickr account, though:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marieapril/

I think the obnoxious college chick just removed the post. What a lame-o.

still there:
http://www.collegechick.net/index.php?m=20060105

You look like your Grandmother. Does she have a pool boy?

You do not have a big head

Oh my goodness! I just realized that the Laurie who posted on my blog is YOU! Oh my oh my oh my, I haven't even cleaned up my house or done my hair...=) I used 10.5 US needles for my purple pillow, which is reasonably chunky, I guess...just kabillions of stitches. Have fun in Paris! Meet someone dark and brooding named Jacques and break his heart! =)

Oh, I miss Olvera street most of all about LA. Except the creepy folk that pave the way between Olvera street and Chinatown!

hello @ glorious.
rawr @ shannon.

I can't believe your grocery stores don't have Cavender's... although I must say I "discovered" it when staying in housekeeping cabins in MN, THEN tracked it down in Texas. But if Tom Thumb has it, so should all of it's regional cousins.

and Olvera Street!! Have you been to their Los Posadas procession at Christmas time? where they re-enact (mariachi style) the 3 Kings trying to find Jesus? And those wonderful long pointy suckers in radioactive green and orange and yellow, that get STICKY no matter how neat you try to be?

Ah, but food and knitting... don't go so well together. Glad to read of your joys....

Roy looks great! Has he totally recovered from his recent illness?