Strawberry Lemonade

So Les,

I know what you're supposed to do when life hands you lemons.  Make lemonade.  But what are you supposed to do when your mother-in-law hands you strawberries?  So very many strawberries?  3 lbs. of strawberries?

It's all my own fault.  When she asked if I wanted some, I told my mother-in-law sure, and I'd take whatever she could buy for a dollar.  Apparently your buck goes a long way at the farmers' market.  And now my fridge is overflowing with berries.  Baker doesn't eat fruit, and Sally's too small for them, so what to do now?  I'm thinking of freezer jam, but that sounds awfully domestic.  Can you outsource a jam maker?


I wish I had an Oompa-Loompa right about now.  (I'd prefer the 1971 version over 2005, if I had the choice.)  You'd think that having a pastry chef in the house would be enough, but no.  I'm still dreaming of a little culinary helper.

What are you wishing for today?

Strawberry kisses, Crystal

The Glamour of Giving Blood

hi Cryzzl,

I gave blood.  They lured me in with a free movie ticket, It was a golden, can you imagine saying no to a golden ticket?  That would be like  Charlie saying no...to..a, well, golden ticket!

I always feel so boring filling out those questionnaires at the beginning, I say no the whole way down.

Did you get a tattoo in the last three months?  NO

Did you travel to Europe in the last six months? NO

Did you meet a guy in a low brow bar and make out with him? NO

Did you have sex with someone at a dirty bathhouse in the last 3 months?  NO

no, no, no..., sigh. 

Then, this lady who is infamous for being mean to the donors was in charge of pricking my finger and taking my blood pressure.  In an effort to make this experience as painless as possible I immediately complimented her jewelry, I gushed on and on about it.  She LOVED it.  she never really smiled, but I knew she loved it.  She ended up being the one to stick me with the needle and she was as nice as a mother hen.  Rafael on the other hand got yelled at TWICE by her.

Then I went with Raf to pick up his birthday present, and ate a slice from a rather suspicious looking pizza dive and spent a couple of hours in the bathroom after.  I don't know if today was a good or bad day.

Leslie

Fun for Everyone

Dear Readers,

It has come to my attention (hi, Sarah!) that some members of our audience (hi, Jamie!) are not sure if it's appropriate to leave comments on what are essentially letters between Leslie and myself.  I just wanted to address that with a great big YES PLEASE!

Les and I have talked alot about the tone of our blog, and what we want our readers to get out of it.  Basically we want you to get a peek at the conversations we have on a daily basis.  (Like you said, Gail!)  That's half the reason we've been starting our posts with "Dear Friend."  The other reason is that we thought it'd help specify who the writer is, if she could sign it with "Sincerely."  We're not technologically savvy enough to figure out how to populate the author's name at the top of the post.

What I'm trying to say is this: although the posts are letters between Leslie and me, they are for everyone to read and enjoy.  We crack each other up, and we're trying to entertain you too.  So please, leave your thoughts!  (As long as they're nice and you tell us how clever we are and how cute Sally is and how incredible the cats are.)

Love, Crystal

YES EVERYONE!!!  We love you!  we love comments, questions, praise, compliments, congratulations, condolences, validation, etc, etc..

Leslie

Or Maybe a Late-Blooming Emo Kid?

Lesl,

I'm afraid I'm a hipster.  I just, I just might be.  Without ever having realized it.  Here are the reasons I think yes.  First, I love shopping at Urban Outfitters.  Second, I love living on Mill Avenue.  Third, I have thick black horn-rimmed reading glasses.  And finally, I love movies like "The Royal Tenenbaums" and "I Heart Huckabees." I'm super excited about this new show, "Wilfred."  Have you seen commercials?

But then, here are the reasons I might not be a hipster. OK, it's true that I love Urban Outfitters, but I always zoom straight past the size 2 clothes and go straight to the woodland creatures-adorned housewares.  Next, I've always hated kickball, and I would certainly never want to play it as an adult.  And then, instead of riding a skateboard, I'm usually pushing a stroller.  Oh, and I don't wear low-slung, tighty jeans.  Maybe mostly because they wouldn't fit.

So where does that leave me?  Somewhere between "Donnie Darko" and Anne Taylor Loft.  I guess that makes me...  Bridget Jones?

 Hugs and Kisses,  Crystal Jones

Hi Crys, I'm feeling...

Just a little, Rafael has been running around every night having fun, well, maybe not "fun" last night he went to Costco for us and that place is a zoo from Hell here in the city.   But still, I imagine him throwing his  head back laughing as he strolls down every aisle, maybe climbing in the cart A la "King of The World" while his buddy pushes him through the store as fast as he can run.

So, tonight is the same, Raf is out and I am in. I am super co-dependent, you might be one of the few people who know that because I love pretending I have it all together but there are lots of things I can't do on my own.  I can't get fast food on my own or go to the movies, sometimes I can go to the grocery store but normally I need someone to hold my hand through the milk aisle, (anything that curds frightens me.)

If you were here we would be having fun in.

Cats and Babies

Good morning, Leslie!  I just wanted you to know that Sally and I have dropped something in the mail for you.  I remember promising you when you left Arizona for New York that I would send you letters at least once a month.  This is a promise I have not delivered on.  And that probably makes me a sucky friend.

But thank goodness Sally is an active pen-pal.  I know it's hard to gauge these things when you don't have children of your own but, yes, pen-pal-ism is an unusual trait for an 8 month-old baby.  You should feel flattered.  I know I would be ecstatic if I ever got anything from your cats.  Did I ever tell you that caring for cats is about the same thing as caring for a baby?  You get equal amounts of love, respect, and attention from both types of creatures.  Which is to say, if you're a sufficient caretaker of cats (and I know you are), you'll be an okay mom too.

Just put that in your "good to know, for some later date" pocket.

Love, Crystal and Sally

I think I want to be a US Marshal

Right Cryz?

Wouldn't that be the coolest job?  I could rome around the United States solving crimes, kicking down doors and catching, maybe even shooting bad guys in the knee caps.  It would be great!

A few more reasons it would be awesome.

They got the coolest badges.
I could wear those cool sholder rig pistol holders.
Also a little pistol holder around my thigh. (how sexy is that!)
words like fugitive and tactical would be part of my daily vocabulary.

Picture me having this conversation....

Stranger:  What's your Jurisdiction?

Leslie: America.

Just think about it Crystal, I'll need a partner.