Happy 2013!

I think I'm going to miss 2012. It was an epic food year. Some highlights:

• The fairy tale that is French Laundry. I wrote about it here. 
• The heirloom tomato festival @ Kendall Jackson winery. I plan my summer around this event.
  
• I tried whelk for the first time (in Anguilla, at the Straw Hat) and loved it! It was prepared in a mason jar, drenched in a decadent garlic sauce, and served with toasted baguettes. It was so good, I came back to the restaurant later to have it for "dessert." Yes. I had already eaten dinner.
  
• I also tried crayfish for the first time (also in Anguilla, at On da Rocks). It tastes a like a shrimp-baby-lobster-crawfish Frankenstein. Grilled and buttered, I overdosed.
  
• I probably ate too much cheese as well. Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam, to be exact. 
• I made a lot of tomato soup (out of heirloom tomatoes bought in bulk at the Farmer's Market) in the summer and froze it for a rainy day. I also baked beets for the first time.
  
• My mom spent a day teaching me how to make Chinese eggplant with ground pork and how to make Vietnamese fish sauce.
  

I am not sure what kind of eating I'll get into in 2013, but I know I have to lose a few pounds first. Actually, it'll be more like exercising so I can keep eating like I do. 

cutest baby animal video in the world!

This has nothing to do with writing or eating. It has everything to do with CUTE!!!!

Why I Love Jodi Meadows

1. Because she draws hearts on first class mail!























2. Because I was "around" the whole time she was knitting these and I had NO IDEA they were for me! I even helped her pick the utterly lovely pattern. She is so sneaky. (It was a good thing I was too busy at work today to read her blog!)























3. Because she isn't afraid to put socks on her head. Because she isn't afraid to be true to herself and her characters. She is the writer I strive to be.























4. I can't even sew on a button, but she *hand-knit* these gorgeous, intricate, airy, delicate, happy, looks-like-a-field-of-flowers, perfect Spring socks!!!!

If you haven't already, please go and ...

I am so incredibly proud of the YA community!! Stunned, amazed, in awe of, humbled, omg*heart swelling* ... there aren't enough positive words. They are the most thoughtful, generous, and giving group I have ever experienced. Not only did they receive an OVERWHELMING number of donations, a lot of the bids have gone above $1000! Thank you, thank you, thank you to Victoria Schwab, Amanda Morgan, and Myra McEntire for putting this phenomenal event together!

A Historic Moment: Go VOTE!

Ok... today's post is not about the book or writing, but!

I have just set my beloved Tivo to record 7 hours worth of Election Day coverage on NBC! I have MSNBC.com's Decision Dashboard up n' running, as well as FiveThirtyEight.com ready at my fingertips (read this interesting article about how Obama dominated early voting making it so that every day has been Election Day).

I've emailed my grandparents who care more about this election and this country than anybody I've ever met. Period. Grandma and Grandpa, I wish I could be there tonight to scream and toast champagne with you!

Alright ladies and gentlemen, I'm headed to the polls! It's time for a refreshing, much-needed change, it's time to make history. Go Obama!