It has been a rough couple of months. I lost my Gramps, but he lived a full life. I have been appreciating my elders a little more. It's hard to admit that they won't be around forever. Here are some photos to help immortalize them.

My daddy and my Grandma Vasquez -April 2009

My mom and me -April 2009

The Little clan, missing Uncle Tim, Aun t Bobbie, and David, and Gramps. By this time Gramps was in decline and it was only 3 days till he died. It was also his birthday. April, 18, 2009.

I did get to spend a nice visit with Gramps a couple weeks before he died. He was in the hospital, but we were able to still make a few memories while reliving a few for old times sake as well. I knew it had been a long time since Gramps had enjoyed any food from the outside world, so I asked him if there were any special items he would like us to bring. He requested dill pickles and rye bread.

I was driving home today and was passing a cul de sac in a rural area near us when I saw these huge birds circling around a house.

At first I thought they were ravens, but as I got closer I realized they were way too big. Then I saw the bright red heads and I guessed these guys to be turkey vultures. I would confirm with Joe, but he is at school, so I will have to check with him later.

I then became concerned for the house they were circling because any scavengers lurking around means something is dead nearby, and they were definitely hovering over one specific house. I turned around and pulled over. Of course by then they had all landed, and were surprisingly obscured from view in the yard's pine trees.

I got these photos and then quickly jumped back in the car when they all launched and started toward me.

I will drive by there in the morning and see if they are all still around or if they were just making a pit stop on their way to somewhere else. If they are lingering, should I call someone to come check out the house for dead things?

That's right. The Balls came to visit the Peacocks in Vegas. We gambled, got a tattoo (well, just Autumn), drank, danced, went to a concert, and hung out. Here are some photos:

Autumn is showing off her tattoo while we enjoy some wine.

Autumn's tattoo is a virgo symbol.

Here is the Peacock family. I am wearing contacts, and I think I look a little naked without glasses. Luckily my new ones were ready today.

Brandon and Autumn brought their cockatoo.

We went out and Joe convinced Autumn to do Patron shots. Love the green smiles.

Badasses.

Joe bought shots for the band. It was a country band called Third Town, and they were so fun.

We had a great weekend. The culmination was the Sunday night Puscifer concert at the Pearl. That was frakin' awesome. I secretly took a photo (posted on my facebook). The security/ushers were the gestapo and were trampling through the aisles to admonish people for taking photos on their cell phones. I get that you shouldn't take flash photography because it is distracting, but a miniature blurry photo on a cell is not a big deal. So when the gestapo wasn't looking, I snapped one. That's right. That's the way this 'cock rolls.

I have an addiction. I have been hitting the needle pretty hard. And I am happy about it. Don't try to change me! No intervention needed here, got it?

I am an embroiderer. There, I said it.

I just completed my first project. It is a tea towel with 3 hedgehogs on it. I am so proud.

We were all home for Christmas and went out to the Papago Brewery. We had a blast and here are the photos to prove it.

Seriously, what is going on with Julia in this photo. I think she is done.

We allow Logy to hang out on the dining room table as long as there isn't any food there. Being that we are the generation that grew up in front of the TV, we are lucky to eat at the table once every 3 months. So, Logy is free to hang out up there as he wishes.

I even leave the chair out for him so he can hop up. He is too old and can't jump that high from the floor.

Logy is so weird sometimes. I have seen him sit like this before, but never got a photo. He just hangs out on the stairs like this for about an hour. He looks around and watches the room, and the whole time the arm is extended.

Weirdo.

I work in a pretty conservative company, but every once in a while they let down their hair and do something fun for the employees. It was the annual Halloween costume contest. A bunch of us in the marketing department dressed up. Check out our costumes.

I was just a cave woman by day (many people called me Pebbles), and Sarah Palin cave woman by night. She believes that humans and dinosaurs waled the earth together and that planet is only 6,000 years old. So I got a toy T-Rex that I carried around and did the voice, but it was short lived.

We went to an atheist Halloween party. Joe went as Jesus. Ah, yes...blasphemy is fun. I made both of our costumes and I was happy with how they came out. Joe went to a real costume shop and got a beard and mustache made of real human hair. He picked up a basic wig and the whole thing came together.

The beard and mustache didn't last long, but I think he changed from a traditional Jesus into more of a Mormon, clean cut version.

Joe and I were marveling at the tendency for weird names among those running for office. For example, here in Vegas there was:

Brian Scroggins Joe Heck Susan Scann

But, I think the topper of them all was this guy. We found this sign when we were in Phoenix back in the summer. Specifically, we were in Chandler, down by the Chandler mall.

Talk about name recognition! Alas, Schmuck was defeated in the primary and would not go on to the general election for a seat in the AZ legislature.

This weekend I went to Phoenix to console my friend who lost her gramma. Actually, let's be real. Julia lives in DC and I live in LV, so we don't get to see each other very much. So when she let me know she was coming to Phx for the weekend to be with her family I saw an opportunity. Luckily, Julia was amenable to the idear. Also, it would give me a chance to see my folks, so all the way around it was completely selfish on my part.

Julia and I decided we needed a night out, and I found this restaurant review for Digestif in Scottsdale. As soon as I got to the part about absinthe being served, I was sold. Luckily Julia was up for an adventure too. The menu looked intriguing, but really I was drawn by the green fairy.

Apparently absinthe is legal in the US again after a 95 year ban. The particular brand of favor at Digestif is Lucid Absinthe. This link to the Lucid site has a lot of history and background about the drink. This site has a lot of good info and I give it the Peacock Marketing Review Stamp of Approval^® because the design is good and is chock full of good content.

So Julia and I show up for our reservation with our curiosity piqued and hunger a brewin'. We promptly order up two Lusid Absinthes prepared in the traditional fashion.

The manager came over to help us with the fountain and gave us an ABSY-101 lecture about the history, the prohibition, the distilling and blending, and how to drink it. It was very informative.

This is an image showing the cool fountain, the water dripping on the sugar cube, and the green liquor itself.

It was finally time to imbibe. I loved it. MMMM...potent alchohol swallow followed by a warm, round liquorice flavor that filled my mouth.

We sipped and ordered some tasty morsels while waiting for the full absinthe effect to set in. The manager had explained that absinthe's herbs and the thujone create an upper, while the alcoholo content (62% !!!! No wonder you dilute it with sugar and 4-5 oz. of water) acts like a typical downer, so the effect is unique and can be potent.

Julia, who started to get some sort of trail-like vision, was definitely affected by it. She was opening her eyes wide and blinking slowly. The description she gave was that she could move her head at normal speed but all images moved in slow motion, but inside she didn't get that typical drunk sappy smiley feel. You want to know what I felt? Nothing. I got nothing! Okay, so maybe I drank it slowly, and maybe I didn't finish the last 10th of my portion, but still. You'd think I would have some kind of reaction. Nada. Tostada.

Oh well, it was still great to eat a fine meal and be with my best friend. We ate several courses including 2 appetizer courses, a shared entree, dessert, and a few more tasty beverages. The drink menu was an odyssey. Julia ordered her new favorite, campari and soda, while I experimented with the Corpse Reviver mixed drink that contains Hendricks gin (never heard of it before), Cointrau, Lillet (que?), Lucid Absinthe, and fresh lemon. MMMMMM...lemony liquorice. Still, aftert this, I was fine to drive.

Okay, so maybe we were there for 3.5 hours, and maybe I drink at a snail's pace, but still!

We had a great time and got this classic hold-the-camera-at arm's-length-and-take-your-own-picture shot. We had to do it twice because I was just a head in the first one.

Please appreciate this document chronicling our escapade. You know it is a good dinner when

• The drink total is more than the food total
• The whole bill only comes to $102.56 with tax
• That bought you drinks and good eats for 3.5 hours of girl time