House on Haunted Hill

Friday, after our friend Marc recovered from food poisoning, we went out to see some famous Hollywood landmarks, specifically, the Nightmare on Elm St. House, and the House on Haunted Hill House. It is one of Mark and Marc's favorite movies, and it was a thrill to see the house in person. (The pictures here are of the Haunted Hill House.)

We zig-zagged up these windy, steep, narrow roads, hoping and wondering if the house was visible from the road. Well it couldn't have been any more visible! I believe it is a Frank Lloyd Wright creation. It is in terrible condition, and it lost it's Northside retaining wall in an earthquake. There is a fund started to try to save it. Even if it wasn't in a movie, it is a very interesting structure on it's own.

Then we went home to eat more Thanksgiving food.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was really small and intimate this year. Mark's best friend, Marc, came out from Arizona to stay for a few days. To celebrate we went out to PF Changs Wednesday night to eat and give Marc food poisoning. Yes, food poisoning. Poor Marc. He was horizontal most of Thanksgiving Day. It was mild, but that's bad enough.

After 8 hours of cooking, baking, roasting, the feasting began. And, of course every lunch and dinner since has been turkey dinner leftovers. The menu: turkey, gravy, cheddar and sage mashed potatoes, herbed bread stuffing, orange cranberry relish, green bean casserole (from scratch), and rosemary cornbread . Wine was a 2003 La Crema pinot noir. For dessert, blueberry pie and cherry pie with vanilla ice cream (Ben and Jerry's), and some Merlot.

We were asleep very soon after dinner.

Luckily Marc was all better Friday, so we were able to get out of the house for some more fun. Will tell you all about that next post.

The Celebrating Has Begun!

Last night my neighbors Tom and Ben, along with Tom's sister Sarah threw a pre T-day party. It was amazing and all-out with everything you'd expect from a Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatos, green bean casserole, sweet poatoes with marshmallows, dinner rolls, salad, pecan pie pumpkin pie, cupcakes and cookies. Yeah, I know.

Most of all my neighbors were there(group picture). In the group pic we have : top row, left to right: Ben, Rich, Sarah, Tanjareen, Tom, and Mark. Bottom row, L to R, is: Moira, Josh, Veronica and me. Everyone is fun, oh so good-looking and creative, and everyone is an awesome person. Mark and I feel so blessed!

Rich, Moira, and Tanjareen are all actors. Josh and Veronica both work in production for movies, TV, etc. And Tom is a very talented singer/musician/songwriter. And I know Ben is a very talented musician too! The pic of the two handsome men is Tom and Ben, who are also responsible for the incredible decorating. We had a blast! And the food was so yummy!