Guess I need to visit TJ having Buffistas more often.

I totes agree. You know it's a Southern California chain, right? So if you come to, say, LA you are practically at ground zero for TJs. (The original is in Pasadena, if memory serves.)

I am not a huge mint fan, but my kids are. I did buy the new chocolate covered mint marshmallows, but then DH insisted I had to wait to try them! That was mean of him.

OK. I'm off to make some coffee for me and breakfast for the kids.

The very first TJs (by name) was the store on Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena. The very first TJs (by business model) was Pronto Market in South Pasadena, which is now the TJs in South Pasadena. TJs had its business HQ in South Pasadena for years. But eventually the Germans who now own it moved it to Monrovia and now they may even have moved it elsewhere.

Those minty mallows are heavenly for those who like mint.

Pronto Market! Reminds me of my childhood that does.

The only time I have been in a TJs was when Lori and I went camping in Joshua Tree. She made a pit stop before we hit the road. It was very impressive. I didn't want to leave. Then again, camping with Lori included campfire espresso too. She is an awesome host.

That sounds so awesome.

I only had packet hot chocolate the last time I camped. It was cold, though, so I was pretty happy to have it. Then yesterday I saw an awesome insulated french press mug that stores the coffee grounds, two mugs worth, in the base. I was all, that is worth the weight in my backpack; I am totally getting that.

My friend Lawrence is like, super-camper (he's a hard-core caver, if anyone ever wants to go caving in SoMo or N. Arkansas, I can hook you the hell UP!) and camping with him is AWESOME.

The fire always blazes, he makes blueberry cobbler in a hole in the ground, you never, ever get lost, if it rains, you have awesome cover in like, 5 minutes, and twice, he's hauled in a homemade sauna, and we end the day saunaing with eucalyptus and plunging into spring-fed rivers, then back to the sauna. Heaven!

Now I want to go camping. I should look into doing that over the Christmas break. It is a great time to go to the Keys camping.

I just purchased a nativity scene for probably way too much, but my old one is really in rough shape. It seems they are only available on line so I have to wait a few days too. Oh well, I will have to do some lights and stuff this weekend to prepare.

It is a great time to go to the Keys camping.

Is the Coral Grill still open down in the Keys?

The fire always blazes, he makes blueberry cobbler in a hole in the ground, you never, ever get lost, if it rains, you have awesome cover in like, 5 minutes, and twice, he's hauled in a homemade sauna, and we end the day saunaing with eucalyptus and plunging into spring-fed rivers, then back to the sauna. Heaven!

I'm so pathetic. I read this with a growing sense of, "You did what? Then what? And you enjoyed it?" Outdoorsy, I ain't. Which is weird, when you consider how I spent my summers as a teenager. I guess my tolerance for roughing it has strictly defined limits.

Yes it is, David. Yum! There are way too many good places to eat on the Overseas Highway.