Emma's Fantabulous Blog

Thanks to some new “Death to America” terrorists in England that were caught on an America bound flight with gel explosives in Gatorade bottles, there are now some new security measures in place.

“The Transportation Security Administration issued new rules banning nearly all liquids, including beverages, lotions and hair gels…

British airlines went even further, banning all carry-on luggage except for keys, wallets, glasses and other essentials. Medications and baby formula are being allowed.”

American airports are recommending that passengers arrive 3 hours early, to allow time for the new security screening procedures.

Kill me now. On the upside I don’t have to check my electronics like my cell phone or computer. I can just imagine how busted up my iBook would be if i had to put it in my checked luggage. The baggage handlers throw those things so hard that they’ve bent the metal frame thats in my suitcase.

On the downside, I now have to put my hair products in my checked bags, which will inevitably end up leaking through 2 ziplocked bags, all through my clothes. I’m still unclear as to if I can carry on my lip-balm, or not. If I do have to check it and go with dry chapped lips for hours, I assure you, there will be hell to pay.

But yeah. These incompetent terrorists are pissing me off.

See the whole article here, at CNN.com. 

There is a really ghetto house a couple of blocks away from my house, that I’ve been dying to get a picture of for a while. A little over a year ago, the owners raised up the house onto wooden supports and I assumed that they were going to move it. Its kinda small and doesn’t look like it could be historic, but no matter. Over a year later, the house is still up on blocks. There are about 5 or 6 cars that rotate being parked UNDERNEATH it! (along with a boat hitch and various lazy boy sofa chairs.)

I want to know why the house has been up on blocks for so long and why people would park cars underneath a house that was on wooden blocks. Also, do people actually live inside? And if so, how do they do that with no plumbing? My current theory is that the owners wanted a garage and decided to raise the house up and build one underneath it, but then ran out of money before completing the project.

Anyways. Decide for yourself.

Behold, the ghetto-ness.

and from another angle…

Kinda a stark contrast to the other house in my neighborhood that I showed a few posts back, huh?

1. What new class should i take?
2. How do you exercise?
3. How do you exorcize?
4. Do you shower with warm or cold water?
5. What is your favorite cereal?
6. Do you “sample” bulk foods at the grocery store?
7. Badgers. Snuggley or Surly?
8. What are 3 things that you would like to do before you die?
9. Have you ever taken a ride in an ambulance?
10. Have you ever used a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?

Wednesday is my last belly dancing class and I’ve been thinking about taking another dancing/exercise class. I could sign up for another semester of the belly dancing, but I’ve been kinda frustrated a few times with being unable to do some of the moves, like belly fluttering and shoulder shimmying. I’ve had lots of fun learning the basics, but I don’t think that I’ll ever be very good at it. So I was looking at some other classes around town.

Our friend Christine is taking a stripper-cise class downtown, which I was thinking about, although I’m a bit nervous about the other people taking the class will be all hardcore exotic dancers who will make me look really bad. I like how my belly dancing class had everyone from dance majors in college to little old ladies.

Or I could somehow coerce Devon into being my dance partner for a ballroom dancing or salsa class. That would be a ton of fun… For me at least… But yeah, that might happen.

Other options are a pilates class at my gym, adult ballet classes, hip-hop classes at a local dance studio, or trapeze classes at a circus college.

Decisions, decisions.

I woke up this morning all motivated to go to the gym, which I havn’t been to in like 2 weeks. Before getting changed into gym clothes, I snuggled back into bed for a little bit and in the process, knocked over a glass of water. That started lots of water works and girl drama. Devon stuck me back in bed and turned on Animal Planet and has retreated to the office until the crazy girl emotions subside.

Where’s my chocolate, dammit?

I found a yummy looking recipe online and made some subsitutions to it to create this one. It’s a super delish and easy recipe that looks uber fancy.

1 box puff pastry (not Phyllo)
4 chicken breasts
3 ounces goat cheese
3-4 TBSP pesto

Partially defrost puff pastry. While puff pastry is defrosting, mix together goat cheese and pesto. Set aside. Cut chicken breasts to create a “pocket” out of them. Stuff chicken breasts with pesto mixture.

Spread out 1 sheet of puff pastry and cut in half. Place 1 chicken breast on the section of puff pastry. Fold up and seal with water, making little packets. Repeat with remaining puff pastry, chicken, and pesto mixture.

Place on greased cookie sheet and brush with milk or egg (optional). Bake at 400 for 40 minutes, until puff pastry is golden brown. Serve with a salad.

Fifi enjoyed her visit with my parents last weekend, and she especially liked my Dad and his green shirt.

As for an update on her health, we took her in for a ultrasound last week, which turned up hardened arteries/heart disease, as well as an enlarged liver and kidneys. Thats probably due to old age and to her having been fed animal proteins early on in her life. So now she’s on heart and liver medicines. On the upside, she should still be around for a few more years and since we started her on her new meds, she’s been much more active and normal-iguana-like.

But yeah. Most expensive iguana ever.