----------------------------------------------- */ ----------------------------------------------- */ ----------------------------------------------- */ ----------------------------------------------- */ ----------------------------------------------- */ ----------------------------------------------- */ The Fabulous Adventures of Astera: Writer/Actress for Hire: December 2008

The Fabulous Adventures of Astera: Writer/Actress for Hire

Meet Astera (aka: me), a star in her own mind. Our plucky little heroine has embarked on not one but two difficult, low-paying career paths: writing and acting. Witness the menial jobs! The unreasonable demands! The quirky friends and family! And the glimmer of success just ahead! Through it all, Astera maintains her core beliefs: 1) She is destined to be fabulous 2) Everything is more fun with a cocktail.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

A Quiet New Year's Eve

Mr. Pink and I thought about going out tonight to celebrate New Year's Eve, but we delayed and delayed, and then we thought, why not just relax at home? We had a wonderful Christmas celebration with our families up in Napa, so we were ready for some quiet time to ourselves. Besides, I've found that New Year's Eve parties are often over-hyped.

Mr. Pink got home before I did today, so he went grocery shopping and picked up the dry cleaning and cleaned the kitchen. When I returned from work, there were fresh flowers on the table (a beautiful tropical arrangement of Hawaiian ginger and birds of paradise), and he'd also laid out our fine china.

We celebrated with a delicious meal of New Mexican chile-rubbed pork tenderloin with ancho bourbon sauce and sour cream and green onion smashed potatoes. The recipes were courtesy of a Bobby Flay cookbook that the Blacklabels had given Mr. Pink for Christmas. We complemented the meal with a bottle of Migration Pinot Noir. (Thanks to the Pater Familias for that contribution to our wine collection!)

Now, we are relaxing in our warm and comfortable home, and soon, we will pop open a bottle of Mumm Blanc de Noirs and begin the countdown to 2009. And there is no one else that I would rather be spending my New Year's Eve with.

Happy New Year's, everyone! Check back tomorrow for my resolutions for the upcoming year.

posted by Astera @ 9:09 PM   0 comments

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Errors of the Week

Hey, everyone makes mistakes. But that doesn't mean we can't all point and laugh!

This error comes courtesy of the Food and Drink Newsletter from the Tribune Group. Yes, I know that the company has filed for bankruptcy. Still, it should invest in some better copy editors! Oddly, the headline was correct on the original article. The dessert in question? An apple crisp.

This next error comes courtesy of the Dana Point Times, a small community weekly. The idea of wanton soup just makes me laugh. What's next...promiscuous pot stickers? Or, as Mr. Pink suggested, reckless rice?


posted by Astera @ 10:11 PM   0 comments

Sunday, December 14, 2008

On The Upswing

In my last post, I wrote that my life was something of a roller-coaster ride, and I felt like I'd been hurtling downhill for awhile. But now, I'm headed back for the heights.

On Monday, I started a new job as a copywriter for a small marketing company. So far, I really like it. I work with intelligent people, and we have interesting clients. I even have an office with a door! In addition, I completed a small freelance assignment for a local publication, and I have a couple of new tutoring clients. And, my novel is still in play. (Well, at least I haven't received a rejection letter yet!) I've gone from being discouraged to being encouraged, just in time for the holidays. And I am so grateful to have gainful employment, especially since unemployment is so widespread.

Mr. Pink and I will be headed up to the wine country for Christmas, where I hope that we'll encounter merriment and good cheer, although family drama is sure to rear its head. All in all, though, it looks like the new year will be bringing us many blessings. And who knows? We might even have a very special addition in 2009...stay tuned.

posted by Astera @ 8:58 PM   3 comments