After driving an hour and a half toward home after work and still not being to my exit, I decided to make a quick stop for what my stomach knew I needed, some cheap, gringo Mexican food.
Soon enough, I came upon and intersection where I was flanked by Del Taco on the right and Taco Bell to my left. It would require 2 left turns to get to Taco Bell, but the heart wants what it wants! Once at the drive-thru menu I realized everything had changed since I was last at a Taco Bell probably ten years ago. It was hard to figure out what these items were, much less what to order. Power menu bowl? Black bean chalupa supreme? A stacker? What would Jesus do?
The cheesy bean and rice burrito. How is this different than the bean and cheese burrito? I assumed it was the rice. Who knows? I ordered it. As I unrolled my tortilla to carefully apply 3 packets of delicious, vinegar-y, not-really-hot-at-all, hot sauce, I learned that as it turns out, no. The difference is not only the rice. It's also the cheesy part of the cheesy bean and rice burrito. Because there's no (get this!) There's no actual cheese inside. It's nacho cheese sauce. Of course it is!
I don't regret my burrito decision and if given another such delicacy, I would eat it again right now.
My children were born and raised in Northeast Los Angeles where the local food is served from taco trucks owned by people from many different regions of Mexico. My kids will choose carne asada, burritos al pastor, and carnitas or ceviche over other culinary options on most days. But I was raised on Velveeta dip with Fritos in my grandma's backyard in North Carolina. It was called chile con queso and was the most exotic food I ate until I was 12. This explains a lot about my white trash dietary preferences I think.
Sure, homemade salsa made with chipotles and fresh onions is very good. But if you can't appreciate the joy contained in a packet of fast food hot sauce, then I can't possibly explain the luxury of grocery store fried chicken to you. Much less the heavenly taste of homemade fudge made with marshmallow creme.
Plus, a fast food burrito comes with that paper wrapper which doubles as your plate. No dishes to wash. It's so great.
Taco Bell should put me on the TV for them, me and Jonathan Van Ness, por favor.
Last month I witnessed a new subculture en masse when I attended a quilters' convention in Ontario, California with my sister, Mikie. She loves fabric, majored in fashion design, and is now earning a living creating art quilts. We went to the convention because a quilt she made, "Under the Sea," won first place in a nationwide competition and it's now on tour around the country! There were incredible quilts at this show, all award winners. And it was amazing to see them all in a museum-like setting.
I equally enjoyed watching the throngs of older women (and some supportive husbands) gasping and fawning over the exhibits. Inspiration was in the air!
From a photo of my husband's favorite place to fly fish, she made this landscape quilt for his birthday (thanks to my parents for the commission). Look at it!
Her Instagram is full of quilts she's churning out. And she has a few for sale on Etsy, here. Please go buy yourself a gorgeous quilt to hang on your wall because I don't see how they will be available much longer.
Art Deco Collage (a glamorous lady)
Down the Rabbit Hole (Alice in Wonderland)
Patio Art (relaxing little spot)
If you have ideas, she can honestly make anything you want. My advice is to have a general idea and let her create you something because she is more creative than all of us put together (no offense. HAHAHA!)
Love you all,
Shannon