The Smog Check Fairy

A few weeks ago, I went to AAA to pay our car registrations (it's the most wonderful time of the year with those due now too!) and it was the first time I actually opened the entire form. Oh look, we both need smog checks. And I'm already here. Curses to one and all. So, I pay, for validating the trip, and get the list for AAA-approved smog check locations.

Fast forward a week and I make my appointment for Wednesday at 12:30, to go during my lunch hour. It should also be noted I'm driving Scott's truck today because we're picking up couches and because the smog check will get done. I arrive, tell them I'm Erin with the 12:30 appointment and am met with,

"Oh yeah, you're the 12:30."

"Yep, that's me."

"The mechanic went to lunch. I guess he forgot you were coming. Well, here let's fill out some forms. I'm not really sure how much it is." WTF? There is a giant sign behind him with posted pricing. Truck smog check reads $65. And why did the mechanic go to lunch?

"Well the sign behind you says $65 and when is he due back?"

"Yes, but we like to quote $100, just in case. And he should be back soon." WTF part II. And famous last words. He's back just as soon as your forgotten about entree is entered into the system at the Macaroni Grill.

"Umm, I'm not okay with that. It's posted as $65, why are you quoting me a $100?"

"It's just what we do."

I should note again I have a tendency in these situations to sometimes lose my grip on the fact that this is wrong, BUT I have certain people I channel, kind like a What Would Scott/Kerri/Krissy/Do. They are my benchmarks for not standing for idiots and idiotic behavior.

So, the little front desk man (I really hope it was his first day) went to the back to find someone and appease me from the back. Said man appears, apologizes for the mechanic's absence and tells me to go see Chuck down the street. Awesome, let's hope I can find Chuck with the directions you just gave me.

By now, I think there is a camera crew following me.

I find Chuck, walk in, he greets me with a smile and I tell him the story above, and he laughs.

"I don't take a lunch." I also notice he's pretty much always open except for the sign posting not so on The Lord's Day.

"Give me ten minutes."

I sit down, expecting him to come back when he's ready to start and when he does, he tell me I pass.

"You're done?!?!"

"Oh yes, all done."

"They told me it would take an hour!"

He smiled at me like Mr. Miyagi and went on to tell me how healthy I was because I smiled so much (well no kidding, he just took 10 minutes, quoted me $10 less than first people, AND gave me a $10 discount. It was the stuff dreams were made of.)

I thanked him, told him I'd be back the next day with my own car, so he gave me a $15 discount coupon. It all seemed to good to be true.

He left me with what could have been an ancient Chinese proverb. "A happy heart is a healthy heart."

God bless Chuck for running his business in a manner that makes sense. If you are local and need a smog check, he stocked me well with those coupons.

Today Show

I'm slightly behind in watching this video, though aware of it, and now that I finally got a chance to see it, I love it! Maybe it's because of the song which reminds me of my best friend's wedding, or maybe it's because of cheesy "choreography" with the lyrics.

I'm pretty naive when it comes to tv production and was rather to surprised to see nearly everyone is a producer of some kind. And where was my friend Stacy London?

Enjoy, if you are like me and about 4 weeks behind popular videos.

Wish List

In case the man in my life needs inspiration...

For the living room so I finish my coffee in time to get ready for work in the morning.

Available online or in store here.

For all the ravioli and penne we consume:

Also available online or in store here.

Also this cutting board from the woman who makes everything a temptation (sorry, no photo.)

For the morning watering and "cleaning" of the yard:

Available from my mothership, here.

A new vintage kitchen. You know why. If it needs to double as birthday, that's fine too!

No title.

Death has a way of slipping in opened windows, unattended doors, and unguarded hearts. He hangs his hat silently, his departure more noticed than arrival.

There is no training growing up to prepare you for dealing with death. Or, perhaps I have been lucky enough to have not had to face it. I had all four grandparents for 24 years of my life, and have only attended two funerals. I know I am blessed.

People deal with death in different ways. Some need the company of friends, while others prefer solitude. The struggle I face is with dealing with everyone else's feelings and finding the words for survivors.

Today my community lost one of the classiest, friendliest, and warmest women I've ever met. Though our paths only crossed four years ago, I feel privileged to have known her.

Dear Ina

Dear Ina,

You have been featured in my kitchen a dozen times, especially when it comes to chicken, from the roasted variety to herbed goat cheese. I love how you always have some fabulous friend/family member/celebrity over for one of your own delicacies. I appreciate your directions to always use "good" olive oil, "good" vanilla, and "good" salt and pepper, even though mine are likely from Fresh & Easy, Target, and Trader Joe's, respectively. I find them sufficient and quite tasty.

Anyway, you have a fan (well, duh, lots of them) in me for the entertaining you do weekly and I am making this public declaration to visit you in the Hamptons, visit the Barefood Contessa, and taste cheese and wine from one of those quaint fromage and vino establishments you frequent. Of course the table would be set with one of your amazing hydragea arrangements (which I'd like to discuss with you because I do not have a north-facing wall-what do you recommend? Keep buying!?!?!?!?)

Anyway, I think we could get along swell. I look forward to hearing from you. I'll even sell out my beau's famous steak*. I will be bold and say it may rival your restaurant-style steak. It's to die for, even my best girl said so.

Sincerely,

Erin Haselton, Orange County, CA

*he will not want the recipe on tv. Yep, it's that good. Don't you want an invite?

What's for dinner?

I have had quite the struggle creating a dinner menu as of late. In the two years we've been married, I plan for the week and shop accordingly. It's been increasingly difficult to be creative in generating new ideas, thus turning into the same old same old. Who likes that? Input is appreciated but it's just as hard sometimes for Scott to devise the menu as I.

I've tried the plan-as-you-go method (which goes against all of my type-a ways) and inevitably I went to the store MORE planning only for that night or two days in a row. No bueno.

So, I feel like I am stumbling on an obvious idea, but I think cataloguing each meal that we really enjoy will make it easier to reference that 10 cookbooks or my excessive list on FoodNetwork.com.

This struggle also made me consider how much of our dinner menus are influenced by our parents meals growing up. I can say firmly that chicken divan has NOT graced my lap (no dining table yet.) But we have our fair share of tacos, enchiladas, steak, fish, and sloppy joe's (though a revamped recipe courtesy Pioneer Woman.) This is not special fare by any means, but it made me realize how generic our palates. I think the most exotic addition as of late was quinoa and couscous. The man in my life was not a fan of the latter, at least the way I made (though Kerri made a variety he enjoyed).

I'd be interested to know the sources people turn to for their grocery shopping lists. Mine are primarily food blogs and and recorded FoodNetwork shows, courtesy of Ina and Giada.

Ladies Night

Each Thanksgiving, my dear friend Lauren comes home from her fabulous travels around the world to hang out with Mandy and me. Laughing, teasing, catching up, and lots of girl talk always make for a night that could easily turn into a slumber party, and I am convinced we should do it one of these days.

I am very thankful to have had such good friends who don't see each other nearly enough, but always pick up right where we left off.

It's a joy to share in each other's lives, especially since they are continuing to grow and our ladies night is now including little girls too :)