15 February 2010

 

Red Bean Mochi: $7

One of the things I really, really miss about my apartment in Logan Square was that is was a short bike ride up Kimball to the magical Asian food mart, Chicago Foods.  I got turned on to lots of foods that I have no idea what they're called, due to the fact that like 80% of the signage was in a language that wasn't English. They had the cheapest tofu in town, the best heat n' eat udon soup mixes, and a whole freezer case full of dumplings and potstickers, and these magical treats, mochi. They're rice dough wrapped around sweet red bean paste, and although I'd best describe their texture as maybe what biting into a zombie might feel like, they're fantastically delicious. And I can't seem to find anything remotely like them in Mexico.

14 February 2010

Monster Farting Love Facebook "gift": $2

So it was my friend Shoshanna's birthday, and I was writing her a long-distance facebook birthday message, because despite the fact that we've celebrated a decade of birthdays at a grand combined bash over the years, we haven't managed to be in same country for our birthdays in the last 4. When I saw that facebook was offering this beauty as an add-on to my birthday wishes, I thought nothing would better express my loving and frustrated sentiments about us celebrating our birthdays in separate locales yet again. And then facebook wanted me to give them actual money to send a virtual gift. And I told facebook to shove it. 

Happy birthdays to us, Shosh!

13 February 2010

Box of Cinnamon Life: $5

 

Man, oh, man, I am behind in my drawings. Partially due to some action-packed weekends, having my birthday, having smog throat (tm), and being on the verge of starting a new quarter at school. Excuses - BAH. I'm pretty sure a groovy, 70s-style box (just like my ancient self remembers them) of Cinnamon Life could help me power through all my troubles.

11 February 2010

Cadbury Creme Egg: 89 cents each

Today while eating a piece of Dove Revitalize, some sort of dark, miracle vitamin-laden chocolate (god bless the Mexican dollar store and the dark-chocolate treasures hidden within), I received the fortune "Enjoy the small things in life that bring you joy". For me, Cadbury Creme Eggs are those small things, and I believe that the passing of Mardi Gras brings open season on joy. Sadly, I'm on the wrong side of the Rio Grande to get in on the happiness. Geography can't stop the fact, though, that I have the best grandma in the universe, who always buys me a few boxes and socks them away in her freezer until the next time she sees me.

10 February 2010

Banjo: $150

I've always loved the sound of the banjo, probably from listening to my Muppet Movie record too many times as a kid. The Rainbow Connection still makes me tear up more often than not. Anyhoo, I'd love to get me a banjo, take some classes, and go on a world busking banjo tour.

9 February 2010

Pee-Wee Abstinence Ring: $20

It's possible that one might need to be, well, abstinent to think about wearing an abstinence ring, but I think I'm pure enough in heart for Pee-Wee to approve. And the fact that it's pewter with Swarovski Crystals (whatever those may be)? Just icing on the cake, baby.

8 February 2010

Weird Little Rubbery Chicken: $10 pesos

One of the glories of Mexico is that anything you'll possibly need, or could never even conceive of a notion of needing, will find it's way to you with little or no effort on your part. You can sit in your house, and a guy carrying two 12-foot ladders will walk past. "Hey, buddy, need a ladder?" Or sit in your car at a light in Guadalajara, and you'll have the option of getting your windows washed, recharging the balance on your cell phone, buying communion wafer scraps for snacking, a bottle of water to wash them down, and maybe getting your hands on a mini-punching bag and gloves to get your 3 year-old off to a good start. Among other possibilities. 

So it didn't surprise me even a little when, while sitting on the beach, a guy walks us to us with a rack of these totally bizarre little jiggly rubber chickens for sale. Not your typical rubber chicken, but his much smaller and squishier cousin. I'm thinking, "Of course! The only thing lacking from my current beach experience is some tiny poultry!" Except for, of course, my wallet, which was in the car.

7 February 2010

 

Bike Gear Clock: $39

We have a bit of a curse of the clocks right now; out of the 5 clocks we've got at the school, we can only manage to keep two of them keeping something approximating the correct time, vigilant battery recharging and changing be damned. Add to that the still lucky kitty clock at the house, plus 4 or 5 of Luis' watches with kaput batteries, and we've got a downright epidemic. I'm thinking maybe the whole buying-clocks-from-the-dollar-store- (well, the 12 peso store) strategy might need to be rethunk.  This clock would sure be a nice start.

6 February 2010

Soy Milk Creamer: $2.50

I miss normal soy milk. Mexican soy milk is all bizarre and fruit flavored and doesn't quite do it for me. 

Non-Purchase Victories!

It was not my intention at all, but this blog has helped me rack up some victories in wanting stuff, not buying it, and getting it anyway. Miraculous! I just got a big fatty birthday package from my Dad and his wife, brimming with monkey slippers (3 pairs! 2 models! Holy lifetime supply of monkey-laden feet, Batman!), tea, and natural peanut butter. And I've been promised the use of A People's History (RIP Mr. Zinn) the next time I'm in Chicago. So look at all that stuff that I can enjoy yet I didn't have to buy! The power of positive drawing?

Update- More tea! From Everman, the source of my love of Genmaicha. Thanks, Everman! 

5 February 2010

Cool Book: $16.50 (on sale at Amazon even!)

Run around the world taking pictures and writing about ingenious examples of recycled crafts? And then sell it as a slick-looking book? Why have I not done this already? Ah well, I'll just want the book.

4 February 2010

Creepily Named Yet Incredibly Effective Hand Cream: $5

I first found this stuff while I was bartending, and other than skeeving out my managers, it did a damn fine job of keeping my angry and constantly submerged hands relatively soft and happy. I don't know if that testifies to its work with udders, but you all can check that out for yourselves.

3 February 2010

 

Bubble Tea: $4

Given the opportunity, I might just trade my pinky toe for a bubble tea right now.

2 February 2010

 

Bottle of Decent Gin: $26

Once, while attempting to feign classiness in a Vegas club during a bachelorette weekend (for reals) I ordered a Sapphire and tonic, and it set me back eleven dollars.  I've been a little gun-shy around it since then, but it sure would be a nice alternative to the only gin in Z-town, El Oso Negro. 

1 February 2010

 

Spiral Shell Ring: $30

This is a ring that I've seen, contemplated, and ultimately passed up at many a craft fair. Now I'm nostalgic for the days of even thinking about dropping thirty bones on one ring.

31 January 2010

 

Space Heater: $90

I think I did a quick and dirty job on this here drawing because my subconscious just won't let me spend time and care on a space heater in - god help us - Mexico. There's a cyclone in town, which means rain for a few days, which I actually dig, on account of the fact we're not due for any for another six months or so, but also means that there's no sun to warm us up, and leads me to sleep in long underwear with four blankets on the bed. Unacceptable.

30 January 2010

 3-D Movie Viewing Experience: $5

The vast majority of movies here are shown in the theater in English, with Spanish subtitles, with two main exceptions: cartoons and gigantic blockbusters. The idea being that we shouldn't be holding the children or the unwashed masses to read for 2 hours. Which I get. Even then, with the blockbusters, you can usually find a special showing in English, just not on the most gigantic screen in the theater. So everybody wins, right? Here's the quandary: movies that have 3D showings. Can you even work subtitles in 3D? Or would that just freak everybody's shit out too much? I think the folks in the anti-dubbed-movies camp might just be hosed. And I'll remain the last person in the universe who hasn't seen Avatar. I think I'll be okay.