The other night I went to a new Mexican Restaurant named Gringo in the Central West End with a friend. I noticed it a few weeks ago when I was at Pi (LOVE PI) and wanted to return to check it out.  Leslie had been visiting at the time, and since she’s from Phoenix (home of thousands of excellent Mexican Restaurants) I didn’t go with her, but with another friend.

The first thing we noticed was that they have margaritas ON TAP. The waiter told us that the margaritas are mixed and then set up to go into the line (these are technical terms, don’t get too confused) so that no more mixing is required. They had two kinds on tap and then also numerous other kinds that they will mix for you. We tried the ones on tap, and they were very good (and a better value for your $$.)

The second thing we noticed was that there is a grasshopper taco. We were assured that the grasshoppers were free-range and organic, and the description of the taco was “like the texture of oatmeal with sunflower seeds on it.” I was intrigued, but decided to save that taco for a later visit—instead I chose a pork taco, a calamari taco, and a fish taco. We also split an order of the guacamole which is made tableside. It was delicious as were the tacos. I will be trying the grasshopper one on my next visit since I was impressed by the quality of the “normal” ones.

Overall it was a great meal! Fairly reasonably priced and very tasty. As usual I ate too many chips and guacamole/salsa, but it was a great evening.

I recently went for a run, and decided to sign up for a Fourth of July race downtown. It’s 4 miles and I’m not really ready for it, but I figured it’ll be a good time, and I’ll be just fine, and unlikely to come in last place.

Oh, and I don’t believe I ever shared this picture from the mall.

Okay more old pictures! I got a few more albums online from my mom (she had our old slides converted to digital photos, which is just awesome.)

This is to remind me of when I say, hey, I wonder how I’d look bald. There it is. That is my brother Jesse holding me awkwardly.

I think Jesse has me in a chokehold. Check out the old school plastic diaper cover!

My first birthday! I was a pretty happy child, evidently!

My brother and I taking a nap. Or at least me taking a nap and him posing for a picture. We are utterly adorable.

Another angle. You can’t see my little legs, but my head is pretty cute too.

Why are you interrupting our reading, Mom?

How stylin’ am I with my short dress and knee socks? LOVE THIS OUTFIT. I seem to be holding an art project of sorts.

I’m less sure about this outfit…but I had the legs for it, so why not, right? Jesse had the legs for his outfit too.

This picture is great because Jesse is giving a perfect look at the camera. He looks like a model and I look like I just rolled out of bed.

ONE foot in the air running! Longtime readers know that is rare for me.

I was so tired I just fell asleep like that, evidently. Interesting note: that bed is still in my room at my parent’s house.

I had a pretty awesome mohawk for awhile.

I joined a T-ball team for awhile. If I recall correctly, I never got a hit. (Process that…the ball doesn’t move.) I don’t have the greatest eye-hand coordination.

I did NOT know how to hold kitties when I was younger. I’m pretty sure this cat wasn’t enjoying that.

Case study on why NOT to tell kids to smile for a picture. Leslie is standing in front of me, and please note my “book it” button. I was WEARING that voluntarily at home.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed those pictures! I know that (most importantly) I do. It’s fun to see pictures that you haven’t seen in years…because as awesome as slide shows are, they are a pretty inconvenient way to look at pictures.

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I think that’s what people are doing, right?

My mom recently had some slides converted into digital form. I wanted to share a few of me as a kid!

Me holding my sister Leslie. Look at those CHEEKS! And my adorable eyes and blonde hair.

Me, Leslie, and my brother Jesse. Leslie laughed because I was stuck with the yellow pjs since they had pink and blue covered. Already chewing my fingernails, it looks like.

I was evidently very proud of my baby sister. Who possibly had the mumps in this photo…she had the biggest cheeks anyone has ever seen.

Like now, I tanned easily.

An early violin recital. I seem to have won some sort of award than Leslie is taking a bow for.

Remember the dome house that my dad built and my parents live in? Here’s the beginning of the construction. I’m in the green with stripes. That’s my Dad, me, Jesse, and Leslie.

And one last one, as to not leave my mom off the blog. On the couch, my dad, baby Leslie, my Grandma and Grandpa (mom’s side), my Mom. In the front, Jesse and me.

Aren’t old pictures the best? I probably take more pictures in a couple of weeks than we used to take in a year! It was different when you had to buy film and pay for developing, wasn’t it? But I think that makes the pictures more precious, in a way.