Fruit Fly Genocide

I am a murderer. A cold-blooded killer. And I am proud of it. We are being plagued by fruit flies so I've set up a hand-dandy death trap which consists of a small glass jar filled with a little bit of apple cider vinegar and a paper cone. The fruit flies swarm to the cider and then eventually find their way into the jar. But, most never find their way out. (Insert diabolical laughter.) Every time I pass the contraption I marvel at how damn many of them there are floating in a pickled stupor. Where are they coming from? My house is clean. I change the garbage regularly. Keep the fruit in the fridge. Normally, I'd probably take it personally that these flies have chosen my house to infest but apparently there is a small plague of insects affecting Los Angeles and beyond. The other day I had dinner at a friend's house and a bunch of rude flies descended on our prosciutto and melon appetizer. Pests are embarrassing whether it's your fault or not. So, I confessed to having a similar problem and jokingly assured her that she would not be judged. Maria says she's never seen a mosquito in Los Angeles until last week when she discovered a huge bite on her arm. Karla also confessed to having a mean fly posse in the backyard. Maybe it's the heat? Or maybe it's a fly's world and we're just living in it.

He Oughta Be in Pictures

We met Lauren and Abby Ross (an adorable sister act) on Abbot Kinney one morning and they asked if they could photograph Henry. There are so many to choose from but here are a few.

Baby, It's Hot Outside

A few more pics of Henry en el desierto...

P.S. I Miss You

We came home early from Palm Springs last weekend after one night at the new Ace Hotel. The design was beautiful (I really enjoyed the messages etched in cement on the way to the small pool like "You are everywhere" surrounded by a smattering of Xs.) The food was good: perfect hand-cut fries, tequila-cured lox, a bowl of chips and salsa for a reasonable five bucks. Otherwise, I felt like I was trapped in an episode of MTV Spring Break 1999. Zeppelin blasting from loud speakers on a 102 degree Sunday afternoon; a Boystown posse downing two-for-one adult snow cones in the public pool, a blinding amount of flourescent Wayfarer sunglasses. They put us on the second floor so we were literally stuck inside a dark room while we waited (and waited) to move into a suite with a patio so Henry could crawl around. As the clock struck 4, I heaved open the incredibly heavy door to reveal the raucous party and blazing heat with no signs of letting up. I was afraid Eric Knies was going to pop out of the ether and force me to dance. All I wanted to do was make an egg salad sandwich in the cool of my little kitchen. So, we bailed.

On the way home, Mike made a good point. The Ace's arrival is bittersweet. Palm Springs has always been the ultimate escape for us. Now, it's geriatric/gay/white trash charm is no longer subjective or open for interpretation. It's officially "the" place to be. Which makes us feel a little proprietary. And, frankly, a little lost. Like Goldilocks trying to find the right bed: the Ace is too wild, young, and hip; the Parker is too old and pricey. Next time, we'll rent a house with our own pool and BBQ. That should be just right.

The upside is that we snapped some great photos of Henry. Can't beat the gorgeous desert light.

Henry and the Jelly Lid

Doesn't he remind you of Pooh with his nose in the honey jar?

Chia Granola: Watch Me Grow!

Curiosity got the best of me and I bought this Chia granola yesterday (even though I swore I'd never buy store-bought again after making this recipe from the February issue of Bon Appetit.) Maybe it was this genius marketing factoid that hooked me. Did you know that Chia was a staple food of the Aztec warriors and they relied upon it for nourishment before going into battle? Hmmm, if it was good enough for the Aztecs then it's good enough for me. (A quick Google search shows that it's also good enough for dogs and horses. Apparently, it's mainly used for pet food.) The black sprouted seeds (they look like poppy seeds) one-up salmon and flaxseed in Omega-3s and they're easier to digest. Plus, it's sweetened with a hint of wildflower honey and has a very pleasant texture. Delicious sprinkled on top of Geek yogurt.

Henry's Secret

Here is Henry gazing up at lacy underthings at Lille. He looks a little uncomfortable hanging out in a lingerie shop, yet strangely curious. Such a little man.