Meeting Ina

As far as collecting goes, I've decided that I'm sticking to one collection of things. I have McCoy pottery and Fiesta Ware, but I never seem to have a kitchen big enough to really show anything off at all. So I've decided to collect autographed cookbooks. I started when I met Julia Child in 2003, just months after her ninetieth birthday. It was amazing. I felt like I was in the room with the queen. The Queen of Cooking she was and forever will be in my mind. So I could not resist meeting Ina Garten. Amazing. I've used her cookbooks and watched the Barefoot Contessa for years. And we had the chance to meet her. I even had Vail practice, "Pleased to meet you" and she said it when we got to the table. Craziness. Only a few pix, but good enough for my memory book.

There is salad in my ice cream

Vail at a fancy restaurant. Last night we went to Mattar's Bistro. I would have never taken Vail to Mattar's before they renovated, but now it is so much kid-friendlier - if I can say that and not have the grammar police arrest me. And to be perfectly honest, it was the best meal I have EVER had there. But that aside, Vail had pasta with butter and cheese. After which she played circle time with Izzy. She was entertaining to the whole restaurant.

For dessert, she had a bowl of ice cream. We've learned the hard way about giving her chocolate in the evening, so she had a bowl of vanilla ice cream. It came in a martini shaped glass with whipped cream and a sprig of mint. As she wolfed down the ice cream, by herself, with a spoon, she asked about the sprig of mint. "What is this?" Then answered, "I know what it is. It's salad." Yes, Vail, salad. Everyone deserves a little salad in their ice cream.

Smart Cookie

Today Vail schooled me in the art of idioms. Vail told me this morning that she was very smart. I agreed, and thought it was ironic I was putting her "smart cookie" bib. I told her she was a smart cookie. She told me that cookies are not smart. They are yummy. Oh my, if only I knew that before I had my cookie take my SATs for me.

I thought I was a smart cookie this week. Forging my way into the library world, I purchased a WII for our department. In order to promote gaming and tween programs, I thought this would be a great way for us to get kids into the library. We shall see what the WII does for us. Only time will tell. One patron called me the coolest librarian EVER - well, now if that doesn't say success, I don't know what does. I think I'll put that on my resume.