Cinco de Mayo! - that was yesterday. I celebrated with a small glass of bottled Barcardi Mojito.............wishing I had purchased a bottle of Margarita instead and then hating myself for not channeling Martha and making my drink with fresh ingredients. I found a jar of Kalamata olives and I was happy.

Work has been slow and I am concerned about paying my bills on time and making the most of what I can forage from my mother's pantry and my own pantry. My pantry has become the catch all for my over flow of books and storage. When I lived in Los Angeles, I once made a meal of canned beets and popcorn, the beet juice soaked the popcorn and ruined my mood and the meager fixings I had so eagerly anticipated.

Stocking my pantry is a dream for me in these lean times. I fantasize a Costco spree where I can load up on oatmeal, artichoke hearts, coffee, walnuts, almonds, cheese, pasta, cream, crackers, toilet paper,maple syrup, Clorox wipes, fish, meat, hot wings and eggs. Of course I'd be tempted to buy things not on my list and I would be happy. I had a friend in LA, Linda, an attorney, who said she felt better when her cupboards were well stocked and now I understand. She was a brilliant woman with beautiful kids and a ready smile and the last time I saw her she had lost a lot of weight and we greeted each other from across the room, only later did I hear that she had been diagnosed with cancer and died. I have fond memories of consuming mass quantities Long Island Iced Teas and eating at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles and shopping with her. She surprised me with a pair of brass earrings in the shape of the great Pyramids, I had admired but couldn't afford. I decided to toss some frozen strawberries in the blender along with some more of the bottled mojito and it was not bad.

Here's to Linda, full cupboards and cocktails with friends.