PG?

What does the term "PG" mean in the movie world? Not much. We watched "Bride Wars" last night and I was shocked by some of the images and themes that were deemed appropriate for a movie with a PG rating. The movie is about two best friends who, after a  beautiful childhood experience, witnessing a bride and groom passing by while at New York's Plaza Hotel, it becomes their dream for the next twenty years to one day marry in the Plaza Hotel. 

Fast forward 20 years. Things go awry as their weddings are scheduled for the same day and they start hating each other. There are a lot of fun lines, like how you don't alter a Vera Wang wedding gown, you alter yourself to fit the gown, and tender scenes of a fiance comforting his future bride after her hair accidentally becomes dyed blue. However, much of the movie attested to the degenerate nature of our society: fiancees living together, abundant drinking, a scene at a strip club for the bachelorette party, scenes of partial nudity. These things were disturbing, and as I was hiding my head in my husband's chest, I mourned the decision to have entered that theater. The movie attested to the crumbling value structure of our society--where something as beautiful as a childhood dream of marriage became muddied by sin.

If you haven't seen the movie, save yourself the trouble.

The Lame Duck

During one of our Sunday walks we came upon a duck.  This was no ordinary duck for it had lost the use of its webbed feet.  We found it just huddled in thick grass looking listlessly at passersby.  Seeing that the duck had sustained injuries far beyond repair, we thought he would like to rejoin his duck friends at the pond on 8th.  The only evasive maneuvers he could do was muster a few flaps of his wings to hop a few inches out of reach.  But, alas, he could not dodge me forever and I caught him mid flop.  

We proceeded to carry him the block distance from 7th to the pond on 8th.  Along the way a young couple approached us, the girl saying it was her life dream to pet a duck.  She patted it softly on the head and we told them the injuries and likely doom.  We continued onward.  Feeling sentimental, we had to get a picture with the lame duck friend before we set him free.  

The moment of freedom was short for this duck.  I had gently placed it next to the water where it had lost its balance and flopped head first into the water.  My attempts to save it were in vain but it did flop its wings to get its head above the water and managed to stay afloat.  It took some refreshing sips of water as if it had been parched for a time.  All seemed to be well until a duck friend speedily came to greet the newcomer.  

The duck friend then sadly proceeded to push our lame duck under the water.  We did not understand why but my thoughts go back to Dr. Nelson's Biology class about how you can tell if a species is successful in life.  You measure success if you can "survive and reproduce."  Our lame duck proved a threat to the other healthy ducks of the pond since the weak-spirited genes were frowned upon.  The only solution for the lame duck was to meet his end there at that moment.  

Perhaps the lame duck would serve as a fine meal for a local coyote or cougar if they were even in the neighborhood.  All we know is that we regretfully assisted in the circle of life by putting the lame duck back in the water.  So next time you see a lame duck at the side of the road that has lost the use of its legs, keep it away from the other ducks or it might meet its last moments at the side of a pond with its last sips before it is viciously pushed under the water. 

Argentine Alfajores

We had planned out a wonderful desert to take to our ward picnic.  We decided that the best non-cliché food(i.e. Chocolate Chip cookies, or Brownies) would be alfajores.  They are a lovely dulce de leche filled cookie sandwich as you can get from the image above.  We didn't quite know the response we would get from the ward members since most are not to familiar with Argentine food.  This was our opportunity to share Argentine culture with our fellow ward members with much excitement. Some of the responses were like, "Does anybody have any idea what these are?" My wife who was an earshot away said they were argentine sugar cookies with dulce de leche in the middle.  The remnants are only about five alfajores and we are too stuffed to eat them since we just ate Choripan for our easter feast and Tiramisu.  Kali came over and we had an awesome feast with argentine foods and foods and foods and more foods.  What a wonderful day to have, lots of foods and easter combined.  

Marley and Me Movie review

Last night we watched the movie "Marley and Me."  It was a splendid film about a man and his old time friend, the yellow dog.  John (Owen Wilson) started the movie well enough with a plan.  1) Get Married, 2) Move somewhere warmer (i.e. Florida rather than Michigan) 3) and start the family.  The first edition to the family was the clearance puppy (Marley) and then shortly thereafter a baby boy.  The progression of the film followed them on a tale of bonding between the Male characters being cast out into the dog house repeatedly.  But the trials passed and they mended it instead of ending it.  Although there was a lack of character development between the humans, that is okay because we were supposed to feel for the most dynamic character (Marley).  Doing so helps the viewers feel for the dog as it dies in the end.  A tear jerker but death was understood well and you want to have a dog like Marley even though he was often a burden.  We recommend this film with two paws up!

Yippie!

ps we have a cool new nephew named clark :)

Coolest

The Coolest thing about Vico is that he is the family webmaster. That means that he keeps all things technical rolling, you know the essentials, Facebook, music, our blog, etc. Yep, basically my husband's really HOT! :)

Ice Cream Machine

The latest scoop happens to be the delicious ice cream we made at home.  With the saved funds and a gift card from christmas, we purchased our prized ice cream maker.  We have used the various recipes in our book "The Perfect Scoop."  The following are the flavors we have fashioned:

Lemon Ice Cream

Blue Berry Ice Cream

Vanilla Ice Cream (Philadelphia Style)

Plain Frozen Yogurt

Strawberry Sour Cream Ice Cream

Triple Berry Melody Ice Cream (French Style)

Coming Soon...

Chocolate Sour Cream Ice Cream

Chocolate Dulce de Leche Brownie Ice Cream

Raspberry Ice Cream (French Style)

Life

My sister is having a baby tomorrow. I'm excited. It's a boy and we haven't had a baby boy yet. Also, this last weekend was the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I loved it. I always love it. President Monson spoke with so much love and all his words told us to live better and to protect ourselves from evil. He inspired us to be grateful and to cling to the gospel. The Church is true. Heavenly Father lives. His son Jesus Christ is our true savior. I love knowing this. 

The coolest part was where we watched conference. The Chipman Hall lobby. 

And Jill Walker's house.

It was awesome. :)

Although these would be nice too...

Transformer Names:
Optimus Prime (first and middle names)
Megatron
Bumble Bee

Super Heroes:
Green Lantern (first and middle names)
Flash
Batman
Darkwing Duck
Captain Planet

U.S. Presidents:
Taft
Monroe
General
Hussein
B. O.
Abe
Jackson
Hayes
Teddy

If we were pregnant, we'd totally go for Nacho Hussein Juan IV Darcy Zuniga Esq.
But since we aren't pregnant, Sarah and Paul, Nacho's all yours. :)
Bloggers, beware, we reserve Juan IV for future use!

Baby Names (Boy)

British:   American: Meso-American:

Edward Joe Jorge

Bingly Mama Juan

Darcy Jeff Juan II

Wickum Abe Juan III

Willibie Thomas Juan IV

Fitswilliam Dick Juan Carlos

Phillip Bill Juan Maria

Spenser Buffalo Héctor

Alexander Tracey Josue

James Harrison Abraham

Arthur Lucas Pedro

Swift George Santi

Gulliver Sam Santiago

Benjamin Steven Mateo

Lancelot Jeb Carlos

Lawrence Dave Chancho

John Ford Nacho

William Cruise Esquelito

Which should we use?

coming soon: Transformers names, Comic book heroes,  U.S. Presidents

This is us!

Adore

My name is Rachel Lynn Anderson Zuniga. I adore my husband. To have a husband such as Vico is to be truly happy. He is so patient and kind. Before we married this past Summer I never knew what it was to be tenderly considered. Vico is soft and kind, good and loving. To be his wife is to know the sweet bliss of respect, to feel the sacrifice and hard work of a friend who is planning for a future together.