brooklyn gal for a while

forgetting to blog

2009-02-04T20:17:00.001-07:00

How has life happened and I've not been blogging about it? I may resume blogging at some point, we'll see.

Tornado?

2007-08-08T08:08:00.000-06:00

Each time I awoke in the middle of the night (or so I thought it was) to the shrill crack of lightning followed by a chorus of car alarms and a low rumbling, I thought it would be the last time. But it went on, incesently. I remember wishing TS was back from Atlanta, but glad that Lisa Dog wasnt here, as this would have frightened the pee-pee out of her. The rain drumed against the AC, sounding like hail. More flashes coupled with barritone thunder, with another round of urban crickets underway.
And then as I awoke, to the blue sky and humidity seeping through the non-AC bedroom, I cursed the storm for waking me without even leaving a cool day in its place.
Then I stepped out for a morning walk. Trees are down. everywhere.
check out Bay ridge in the news
scroll down on this page for photos, I think a couple of the trees on cars are on 72nd st

excerpts

2007-08-07T21:49:00.000-06:00

Hello all, sorry I havent posted in a while. Basically I work rather ridiculous hours lately, and when I'm not at work, I am working on wedding details. Oh, or going to the beach*. I havent even been reading all that much, but there are a couple of little excerpts I've been saving up to post.

From Freddy and Fredricka (a bit of an epic, with British humour):
"What's your name?"
"Kitten the Tenth."
"Kitten the Tenth?"
"In Romany the word kitten, pronounced, kitten, has a meaning different than it does in English. It means -- and it's impossible to translate directly -- a small, agile, young, fleixible, playful cat."

From Book Doctor (a disappointingly boring book I didnt finish, but I love this sentense)
"Sometimes she worried that she looked a little too much like a Jewish woman from Westchester who'd once had an affair with a Quiche Indian and never forgot those wild three days, the kind of wide-hipped woman who discusses estrogen and only wears silver bangles."

From This is My Daughter (a book I picked up in the BK Heights secondhand shop for a dollar. I just started but its set in the UES in the 80s)
" It was late in the year for tourists. Emma wondered what they hoped to see in February; here in quaint Greenwich Village the sidewalks were narrow and crowded, the streets full of trash, the traffic homicidal. Homeless people trudged past, pushing shopping carts, muttering. Maybe the tourists came here just to feel relieved that they lived somewhere more sensible."

*Tony and I hit Coney for the first time this year, even going in the water and hitting the Cyclone. That coaster is f&$*in' awesome. Go there. Ride that.

trial

2007-07-20T07:59:00.000-06:00

hmm, blogger hasnt posted my last 2 posts, so this is just an attempt . . .

lame poster

2007-07-19T06:41:00.000-06:00

Hello all, sorry I've been a lame poster as of late. (It does seem to run in my family).
I feel like there are funny little stories or something that has happened, but nothing other than work stories seem to jump out at me, and theres that whole HIPAA thing, so, you know . . .
I did get a chance to lunch at Eisneberg's sandwich shop near the flatiron building yesturday. This place was on my list of places to check out when I came to the city 2 years ago, and it was my first time checking out the place. I believe one is supposed to order tuna sandwich and egg creams, but I am not a fan of egg creams, so I got lemonaid instead. It was a very tasty lunch, and right at the counter.*

*Although is it just me, or are the stools in the old dinners really close to the counter? My knees dont fit, unless I really stradle the seat, perhaps its just that whole shorter people in days of yore.

celebrating Freedom

2007-07-04T10:04:00.000-06:00

TS, LD and I are watching ESPN. This is a first in our home. What are we watching? well, it is sponsored by Heintz, does that give you a hint?
http://www.nathansfamous.com/nathans/contest/
As of this writing, Kobayashi will make the big decision of to compete or not, at the last minute. This is of course after he had full face acupuncture this morning.
we will are full of spectulation about the match up.
Will Chestnut do it? Does the US need this win to keep our freedom?

In the words of the announcer, how does one get to Coney Island? The answer, apparently, is not the N train, but "practice."

I wish you well all 4th of July celebrators.

Remember, celebrate Freedom. via hot dogs. beer. perhaps a corn on the cob.

We're back!

2007-06-23T21:34:00.001-06:00

Niagara Falls were a hit!

Cougars

2007-06-14T08:12:00.003-06:00

Last night during some intermittant Last Comic Standing viewing I saw an ad for Age of Love a new reality show which pits the "cougars"* against the "kittens"**. I have a bizarre but strong desire to watch this show, but I feel like it needs to be in a group environment for all "catty" remarks to be repeated and ridiculed, all while enjoying margaritas and nachos . . . any takers?

beach day

2007-06-07T16:12:00.000-06:00

I am sitting here, listening to some low key guitar, with a gin and tonic (extra lime) sweating on a coaster besides me, my face prickly hot, my hair a bit stiff, as I reflect on a lovely day with TS.
We headed down to Jones Beach today*, for day of sun and sand. I wont say everything was easy when we were down there, or that everything was open that we were hoping, but I, for one, had a splendid day. Its so nice to be able to go away for a day, or even half a day.**

*had the buses from Freeport to the state park actually been running, would have been in incredibly easy and inexpensive trip
** we ended up getting back to Bay ridge around 5:30, enough time for GandTs before watching the sunset down on the pier.

only in nyc?

2007-06-04T11:46:00.000-06:00

The other night, when many of my friends were down on the jersey shore or at neighborhood barbeques, I was getting off work, picking up some wonton wraps at the corner Chinatown market and some parmesan cheese two blocks away in Little Italy. While I couldnt join everyone else in their memorial weekend fun, I could, at the very least, take my hand at a new recipe, one that included making my own ravioli.* I'm not sure if anyone has tried this, but the recipe made it sound easy, just saute some minced mushrooms and shallots, then plop a bit on the pasta wrap, fold and crimp closed and boil for 2 min. The first three steps were easy. Its the crimping bit that didnt work. No matter how much force, or water, or cornstarch TS and I smooshed, the ends refused to merge into one piece.

Just as I was about to get frustrated, I heard an odd beat break into the Avril Lavigne (sp?) on the radio, turning it down, we were treated to a live (and loud) Mariachi band across the street. We believe there was a wedding (although no bride or groom was seen)** The band proceeded to play for about half an hour, long enough for us to finish making and eat dinner. This treat to the ears definitly made the dinner, the pasta tasted like mushroom glue.

*the picture is of mushroom ravioli, which is what I made, with a parm-chive white sauce, but trust me, my end product looked NOTHING like above.

** although in retrospect, perhaps a confirmation?

my first iced coffee of the season

2007-06-01T13:53:00.001-06:00

I dont remember my first iced coffee*. It may have been in college when I worked at the coffee roastry. I know I didnt quite enjoy them right away . . . I think its been in the last 2-3 years that I have decided I do indeed love it.

I recently had my first iced coffee of the season. I got it at the Greek dinner at Grand and La Fayette. I love this little dinner, the lady behind the counter always calls me "sweetheart." This delic version of the dish comes in an un-assuming coca-cola waxedpaper cup and costs about $1.50**.
The very next day while walking from my future work place to my current work cite I stopped by Local I bought my second iced coffee of the season. This place is great, and although it was almost twice as expensive, I could feel trendy with my agave sryup sweetner.

Later I somehow convinced TS to try iced coffee. Hee-hee, the look on his face with the first sip was one of bitter disgust.

Since then I've been enjoying this treat at home, with day-old coffee*** and I may even take it a step further to make my own coffee-cubes - watchout, this will be one caffinated gal!

*I do remember the first time I had hot coffee . . . it was at my great-grandma, Mimaw's house for Thanksgiving, and it was out of a small silver cup . . . I think I was 8 years old
**the price seems to vary a bit, depending on who rings me up

*** ok, sometimes several-day old coffee

brooklyn gal blog, now read on the other side of the pond

2007-05-25T15:30:00.000-06:00

I am constantly surprised to find anyone other than TS or my father reading this blog. But I just noticed on my little blog-reader map that I have a lone European reader. Hurrah! Whoever you are, you rock!

good day

2007-05-25T07:07:00.000-06:00

Yesturday was my day off. This was the first absolutely nothing to do day in quite a while. TS, LD* and I had a picnic lunch down on the pier** by our apt. In preparation of the air show this weekend, we were treated to a mini show, with old-school red robin planes, several hellicopters and a big, sluggishly-moving blimp. I know it doesnt look to huge in the pic, but it was.

*Lisa Dog, not my lovely friend in Maine
** I counted 41 fishing poles being cast during lunch. During the hour or so we were there, one fish was caught, to a loud cheer by the lower end of the pier. judging by the response to the caught fish and the lack of most of the fishers to have coolers/buckets etc, there probably isnt too much being caught. And really, based on the frothy mess at high-tide, isnt this as it should be?

RW becomes RJ (MJ stays MJ, but gains wife)

2007-05-25T07:05:00.000-06:00

This past weekend, I had the privlige of seeing RW wed MJ. I love attending all my friends weddings, but since I lived with the bride, when they first started dating, I really had a chance to them "bloom."*
This bride went beyond the call of duty, making her own lemon buttercream with raspberry wedding cake!
Not to pat my own back, but you might notice how evenly flat the layers are . . . my job on the day of cake creation was to saw off the 10 cakes so that when arranged, were short cylinders.

* what can I say, weddings make me cheesy

Rock, Paper, you've got to be kidding me

2007-05-14T11:46:00.000-06:00

When I go to optometry conventions, I will admit feeling a wee bit dorky. After reading this, I no longer feel charined about embracing my inner four eyes.

a little thing called culture

2007-05-14T08:43:00.000-06:00

In the past couple of weeks, after noticing that my weekly culture qoitient was being fullfilled by Little People, Big World, I decided to be a little more proactive. Actually thats not true, SD and LA invited me out for fun stuff and I said "OK"*. Last weekend SD and I went to The Rubin Museum, which had a free Friday evening admission! I must admit, when I looked into the museum, I was surprised to find SD had chosen a Himilayian art museum, but when we walked into the low-lit, groovey lounge at the entrance to the museum, I saw that this was a museum I could grow to love, one where you could see the art with a lychee mojito in hand! Its a really impressive space, combining many different mediums of art collectively. I definitly recommend this as a Friday night outting!**

Then this Thursday LA and I teamed up to hit another UNC alumn evening*** going to see some chapel thrill bands that were at the Mercury Lounge. Long story short, we had a lovely dinner, followed by approximately 30 minutes being pounded by soundwaves of music three shades harder than our usual tunes, searching the "crowd" for any sign of tar heels. On the upside, we heard some great tunes at Oliva on the way to the train.

This Friday, was the ultimate in "culture". SD and I went toRomeo and Juliet! I dont think I had seen a ballet performance in 8 years (barring BK in Nutcracker about 5 years ago). I bought along one of TS's telescopes and was surprised by the amount of expression on the dancers' faces. The group dancing was impressive, as was Sterling Hyltin's twirling/twisting/leg thing (I honestly could not tell which was a left or right leg). However, I dont think ballet is for me; my mind kept going off track, wondering how old the dancers were, what their feet looked like, and how I needed to loose weight . . . probably not fair to poor Juliet and her Romeo.

In an effort to continue my cultural awareness, TS and I will be visiting an exotic land in about a month; I will be sure to keep you posted about our adventures in Detroit!

*like my grandma and dad before me

** I do not however recommend following this serene and slightly buzzed evning with dinner at Cafeteria, while I believe it was mentioned in Sex and the City, thrilling the newbie NYer in me, it was RE-diculously loud, and dark. Yes, I am 29 going on 63, I live it and love it.

*** last year the alumni harbor cruise drinks and apps evening turned out to be $6 bottles of Bud on a water taxi. boo.

Lisa

2007-05-07T06:29:00.000-06:00

Yesturday I got to meet Lisa (and see TS too!). She seems very nice, if having a bizarre taste for grass.

a perfect example of . . .

2007-05-05T19:24:00.000-06:00

If you ask someone to give you an example of irony, he/she might find it difficult*. If you ask someone to give you an example of schadenfreude, he or she might just point to the headline of many of today's newspapers, like the the Post. I know this news made me smile a little wider.

*unless of course she is Alanis Morrisette and confuse irony with murphey's law.

home for a day

2007-05-04T06:51:00.000-06:00

Yesturday I was down in my home state, MD for almost 24 hours. I had a list of things to do while I was there, approximately 15 things. I supose its no surprise that roughly 4 got marked off. One of them was scanning in some old photos that are kept in what we lovingly call the photo-basket (albums? scrapbooks? those are not for the K fam).

I especially love this one; it is on Easter when I am 2 years old, just before any crying brothers came along. My mom's face is lost in the shade, but boy, do I look cute or what?

Doggie Days have begun!

2007-05-01T10:20:00.000-06:00

Yesturday TS met his new guide dog for the first time. Her name is Lisa and she is a 70 pound German Shepard! I dont have a picture yet, but you can see (and hear) her here.

the letter K

2007-04-26T08:27:00.000-06:00

I just noticed that my new shoes contain an emblem that quite resembles JK's new design as seen here.

Rad.

an excerpt

2007-04-26T07:50:00.000-06:00

In The Autograph Man, Zadie Smith's character, Alex, is drawn from England to "Roebling" a part of Brooklyn on the edge of gentrification.

"He finds a seat and watches a mixture of Hipsters and Poles mark out a beat in a perfect circle. The Hipsters run in towelling sportswear, in seventies brand-names and sweat-bands. The Poles do too, though in a different spirit. These two groups do not meet on the race-track or chat by the fountain, they keep to themselves. It was the same deal, Alex noticed, in the shop where he bought this muffin. Herring, latkes, kilbasa and perogi on one side, lattes, falafels and cheescake on the other. And in the bookshop a shelf of the popular writer Charles Bukowski stood across from a table piled high with Polish-language bibles.

On the street the Poles seem to understand the snow and dress for it. The Hipsters think they can accessorize the cold away, or simply ignore it. The Polish girls are waxy skinned, cat-eyed. The dont know Alex is alive. The Hipsters girls are apple-cheeked wih erratic hair and may be interested, depending on how much interest you show in the art that they are making. Though he has only been in the area twenty minutes, Alex feels qualified to further probe this weird cohabitation of Hipster and Pole, to puzzle the relations between them the laws. . .

1. Poles need Hipsters because Hipsters bring new money to the area.

2. Hipsters need Poles because Poles are proof that Hipsters - despite their increasing financial stability - are still bohemian; living near Poles is a Hipster's sole remaining mark of authenticity.

3. Hipsters are Poles. Poles are Hipsters. Poles sell 1950s retro gas-station t-shirsts. Hipsters eat pickled herring."

Happy Earth Day

2007-04-23T13:17:00.000-06:00

a day late, I know, but well wishes in any event.

Since it was a gorgeous weekend, and Earth Day, I was inspired to plant something.

Now I have passsed by little garden gloves and cute little equipment in various home good stores several times. However, I have never purchased such items. So when I went to weed the window boxes our landlord had left, I had to use a big meat fork. I must admit it did work quite well. In ~3 weeks, we should have some wildflowers and basil growing strong!

After washing off the green thumb, I pumped up and dusted off my bike, rang my little bell and was off. There is a path that goes along the water in Bay Ridge, down and past the Verrizano Bridge. I had been down it before, but never to the end. I was going to do it. Did it end at Dyker Heights Beach? did it go all the way to coney Island? Did it end as it started, at a large pier? After about an hour ride, at the end of the road ? . . . there was a mall! I love Brooklyn.

Select Dental

2007-04-17T07:00:00.000-06:00

Someone. anyone*. PLEASE. Go to Select Dental so that they can run a commercial with someone besides those nitwits they have now.

*HM and JR, you're in Queens, please, make the sacrifice.

aahh, pear-E

2007-04-16T20:42:00.000-06:00

Well, TS and I had a fabulous time on the other side of the pond*. I dont want to get anyone more moody than they already are about the weather, but you may notice from the photo** that not only are the skys very clearly blue, but what's that in my hands? my coat!?! yes folks. April in Paris is a springtime delight.

*wait, do people only say that when they are talking about London?

**i know, i know, who's that dude next to me . . . next time I will crop pictures before posting.

does the "young" retired guy have an alter ego?

2007-04-13T14:17:00.000-06:00

I recently happened upon the blog craftydad, while searching for my dad's recipe for meatloaf, that I once posted on a blogger cite. I must admit, I think it was my mom that was more of the egg-dying-die hard, it has always been my dad who was in charge of making the infamous* pickled eggs.
The boiled (peeled ans sliced) beets and hardboiled (peeled) eggs would be placed in a 3 gallon jar** with some vinegar and, well, actually I dont really know the recipe, but maybe water or the water/juice from boiling the beets added. The aluminium (tin?) lid would be screwed tight, with an extra turn just in case, and halled with ceremony to our downstairs fridge, where it would wait in the cold dark box for several weeks, to emerge upstairs again on Easter. The eggs would be a deep purple, their golden yolks a startling contrast when you sliced one in half, something to be admired (or to scrunch your nose at, depending on the person) before being salted and eatten.

*or as it was in our younger years, now most of us like 'em.
**what was this jar's intial use I wonder now . . . was it one of Mimaw's mayonaise jars from her church functions, a pretzel jar from the first warehouse store . . .

the curious incident of the male manicurist in the evening

2007-04-07T15:27:00.000-06:00

I have to make this post a little short, as I can no longer type with ease. In preparation of becoming tres chic for Paris, I stopped by the nail salon last night after work, and while clipping my nails, the dude took a little chunk of pinkie with him. As blood gysered up and over my finger, no bandaids could be found. Cotton wool on top and a drop of green anti-septic later, the owner of the store said she wouldnt charge for the rest. umm, lets say I was once bitten, and already shy, heading to the door instead of free mani pedi.

Arriving back to bayridge, the once white towel I managed to grab was no longer so pristine, but it has, for the most part stopped bleeding.

Phasers tag

2007-04-04T21:31:00.000-06:00

Tonight I got an email from AH about one dude's life of glasses and contact lenses and the possibility of his escape there from.
"I understand that many highly trained individuals are prepared to shoot lasers into my eyes . . . I keep thinking maybe I'll go ahead and get it, and I go to the optometrist, and he's wearing glasses. So laser surgery is like ordering the cut the butcher won't eat. " Read more of the article (from Wired) here

Min-E-ah-chore Odessa

2007-03-30T12:35:00.000-06:00

Ever since stumbling across Everything is Illuminated on our random month of movie channels, TS and I have been a little bit obsessed with the Ukraine. From toasting with "Na zdorovia" to looking into Honeymooning along the shores of the Black Sea, we finally checked out Little Odessa in Brightton Beach. I must say, I liked what I saw . . . or more specifically, what I ate.

We happened upon Katiana's on the board walk, getting a table out in the sun. Finding a menu in English, we had several questions for the waitress. We ended up ordering the required Ukrainian Borscht, Kvas (a type of yeast soda), Palmini (kind of like Russian tortellini), and Po'Flatcas (sp? like a macaroni with onions and ground beef). I must say all was pretty darn delic, especially the Borscht!

Also, I just finished reading both the World to Come and A History of Tractors in Ukranian . . .

you've heard of Wikipedia, but . . .

2007-03-27T10:32:00.000-06:00

have you heard of Craftopedia? Its true! The enchanting Craftster website ha a spin-off of various how-to-dos. To be honest, I'm not sure how easy to understand some of the knitting instructions are, but its another place for crafty inspiration!

*yes, that is a knit turkey purse and drumstick changepurse. no, I cant find the pattern to make it.

parallel walking

2007-03-27T09:38:00.000-06:00

Everyday I walk down the steps to the N/Q line at Canal st, there are hordes of people along the wall, waiting for the next train. As I walk cautiously close to the yellow line/ledge, I slow behind people with bags, or the elderly, only to pass quickly, dodging the oncoming line of people walking from the R up to the ground. Finding a place to wait can be difficult because the wall space is usually full, and if I was to stand in front of someone near the wall, I would block the narrow path I was just walking. Inevidibly someoned does just this, "double parking" themselves, causing an abrupt jam of motion and a possible collide as someone tries to walk around. Last night as I cruised along searching for a spot, a young girl huddled closer to her friend, creating an area for me to stand. Beeping, under my breath, I backed up to fill the spot.

Metropolitian

2007-03-23T09:14:00.000-06:00

Yesturday TS and I joined the MET. I am so excited. I mean this MUST be something a true NYer does, yes?

Actually, we partially joined so we wont feel so daunted by the treck to 82nd st and will go more often.

While I was hoping to see the couture collection, that of course had just closed, we ended up wandering through the modern art section, drawn in by the craft movement exhibit. One of the many Picassos on display is this painting of Gertrude Stein. While wandering through we learned there was a class to start soon, called discovering art, or seeing the big picture, or something like that. Interested, we joined the group.

Our fearless leader, an artist herself as she let us know right away, brought us first to this painting. She discribed, in detail, the orientation of the painting (the group is for people who may not be able to pick up all the specifics of various art peices). One thing she pointed out that I did not pick up on my own, is the orientation of Stein's hands on her lower body and the sense of roundness of her back . . . as if she was about to get up. The other thing our instructor mentioned was that during this time Picasso was studying African face masks. When you know that, and look back at her face, one can see the influence of the mask on her "flat" features.

All and all, I hope we go to the next one in April, about Gaudi and Dali in Barcelona . . . its definitly a more thorough approach to gallery gazing . . . although hopefully we will get a more swiftly moving groups.

fish tank

2007-03-23T09:08:00.000-06:00

Since the computer at work is right next to the window display, I often see people on the street looking at various frames/sunglasses in the display. This has ceased to be weird to me, but I must admit, when people poke the glass when pointing to a friend, it always reminds me of being a fish at the aquarium . . . we need a little sign outside to warn people of touching the glass.

Pirate Queen

2007-03-20T15:42:00.000-06:00

This St. Patrick's day TS and I headed uptown to the theater district to see the new musical The Pirate Queen. This is a collaberation between the guy behind Riverdance and the guy behind Les Miserables. The sum of this equation is a reflection of the parts . . . rather equal amount of somewhat cheesy song and posing and then a drum beat and dancing in unison. However, I did quite enjoy it!
After a rather quick ride home, we stopped in at our corner Irish pub, the Three Jolly Pigeons to drink a pint (or whiskey sour in my case) and listen to a visiting Irish band (which plesently mixed what I presume to be their own tunes with U2's).
Cheers!

rump shaker

2007-03-17T07:05:00.000-06:00

In England its called a hen night. In Canada, a stagette. Here we call it a bachlorette party.

What I think I enjoy most about this tradition is the ridiculous attire that a normally conservative dresser will don in the name of "tradition."

of course, that tradition is only a decade or so old, but hey!

Really, if you cant wear a tiara, beadazelled tank and belly dancing wrap out to shake it with the gals, I supose, where could one wear it?

Cold outside, warm in the belly

2007-03-17T06:53:00.000-06:00

Last night, while little ice pellets (NOT snow) fell continuously yesturday, creating a little wall of ice in our very own windows (on the second floor!) we dinned in the carribean.
Well, obviously not in the ACTUAL carribean, but in the figureative sense.
Inspired by CL, I made Cuban Black Bean Patties with Pineapple Rice and flan*.

It doesnt look so great in the pics, but a rather tasty din-din all and all.

*OK, it was a work night, so the flan was from a box :)

happy st patrick's day!

2007-03-17T06:49:00.000-06:00

Erin go Braugh!

army terminal to wall street to a spicy cab

2007-03-16T08:37:00.000-06:00

This Wednesday was gorgeous up here. Unfortunately it was uber busy at work (seeing about 20 patients!). But TS provided an excellend adventure after work to unwind.
We have meaning to ride the ferry here in Bay Ridge for quite some time, and Wed was to be the day.
The ferry leaves the Brooklyn Army Terminal on 58th St and rides up the bay, along Red Hook to Pier 11 at Wall Street, just south of the South Street Seaport.
Granted, by the time we were aboard, the weather was changing to a rather murky greengray (this is not our photo of the view), but because of a reverse commute/ride, we had the ENTIRE boat to ourselves! We stayed up in the bow for most of the time, although the inside has 8 person booths available (which seems odd for a commuter boat, but whatever).
Once docked, and regaining our land legs, we headed north for our first outside dinning experience of the year. Where was to be the destination? well, we felt a little touristy (especially walking around Stone St in a fleece jacket . . . this area seems exclusively designer suit wear) so we decided on Caliente Cab* where some delicious mole and margaritas was had.
All and all a lovely first evening of spring.
To bad its f'in snowing right now.

*I just googled Caliente to get the link, but I spelled it wrong, as Calente, and the first site up, was my very own website! yeah LK, you can really spell well.

sometimes cards just get right

2007-03-06T18:00:00.000-07:00

(from LD)

Wine-y cake and water-y tables

2007-03-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

So I've been meaning to post this forever . . . well, since the wine and cheese at JP's. Inspired by AP's beer cupcakes, and the wine and cheese theme, I baked up some Burgundy Cupcakes. While not totally incredible, they had an interesting taste . . . the cinnamon seemed to overwhelm the wine flavor, but everyone who had one seemed to like them.
But the cupcakes were not the only "hot" item at the party . . . there was a fire. no, not a fireplace kind of fire, a fire, that one smells something burning . . . not unlike toast . . . "is someone making toast?" then a glance at the coffee table, a flame . . . not like the candle flame that was there before, but a bigger flame, like the size of a deck of cards
. . and I said "umm, fire."
nothing happened. it was still there. everyone's attention was on Nicole Kidman's ridiculous dress.
"fire!"
a glance from another party goer.
"ohh, really, fire!"
I stepped closer, trying to blow it out (as did some other people).
someone pulled the tablecloth that was a flame off the candle (this did NOT help)
someone started wacking it with . . . i really dont remember, could it have been his hand?
still there were flames,
finally someone poured a bottle of water on it, and it hissed out with a pouf of smoke.
oh, yes, water.
I looked to my left.
and there in my hand was a glass of water.
good one LK, good one.

24 hour culture-a-thon

2007-02-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

In the last 24 hours (ok, actually, it was 25 hours and it ended last night at 10pm) I have seen it all. (ok, actually, not ALL, but a good deal)
First up was the Quotidian opening at the Buia Gallery. This was an exhibit of art pulled from various galleries such that it was all "found objects."

This was a lot of stuff that makes you go "hmmmm".

An example of a piece is to the left. This was cut out images from fliers for various places that sell toys and taped on a white sheet of paper. I was told by the gallery owner's brother that it was to inspire a sense of awe and bring us back to childhood by having all the good stuff right there for us to feed upon with our eyes without having to hunt through pictures of detergent and batteries first.

yes, well, thats all nice and good except, why not cut the images a little nicer, and present it with more cleaner lines? or was it supposed to be a childish cut job? We spent some time infront of this piece and I raised the question of copyright. The artists took these images and put them together as art. My question is, do the models, the stylists, the photographers of these images recieve any recognition? Should they? For some reason or other these images were chosen from other pictures of stuffed animals and what not. My main opponent in this discussion retorted that since these images were found in the trash, and therefore, free, that this dismissed the artist of having to acknowledge anyone involved in producing the original picture. I retorted that we pick up music free of charge from the radio, and if I was to record it and broadcast is as art, or part of art, say in a play, I would have to acknowledge the original recording. The opponent came back with. "no, this artist doesnt have to acknowledge the designer of trash."

mmmm. I wonder if she really meant to call the piece trash.

Next up on the culture a thon, was the dragon parade yesturday in Chinatown. The image to the right was similar to most of the dragons going down Mott St. Its 2 guys (seemed to be all males) making the legs and mouth/eyes move. Mostly they would just come in and walk around each shop and blink and open their mouths and one of my bosses would give them a little red envelope with some cash as good luck. But there were 2 dragons that set up directly in front of the shop to "perform." Why they chose us, I dont know, perhaps my boss knows the leader of this particular group. But anyway these guys were amazing, they danced and jumped and got on one another's sholders so that the dragon was standing up and waving. The dragon continued to "eat" the gifts of oranges and red envelopes left out for it. (it was incredible to see this . . . i mean everything was gone from the bowl. . . it really looked like a dragon was eatting it). Next the dragon spun around and tossed out of its mouth the oranges, mostly at little kids, because recieving one of these means good luck for the whole year. A second dragon (this was only 1 guy) then got up on a pole 12' in the air and spun in danced on a freakin' pole, grabbing a lucky cabbage also in the air, on a pole, with its paws* and eatting it, tossing the then shredded cabbage down to our awed upturned faces.

If you missed it this year, go down and check out the parade, its always 6 and 7 days after the official Chinese new year (this year is 4705 in the chinese calendar).

Finally, last night I saw Coming or Going. This was the best performance I've seen in a long time. And it was off,off Broadway. And, of course, TS helped out with the sound design. But I am telling you, if you are in town on a Wed- Sat next couple of weeks, go see this show (Closes March 10). It takes place on the back porch of the childhood home of 4 sisters in Texas. Their father, Big Daddy, has just died. Frankly, no one seems to upset by this. The story is more about the sisters' relationship, those who stuck in town, the one that moved to NYC, and the one who found God and moved to Dallas. The set, costumes, music, were all right on point and Amy Dickenson was amazing as big sis Mo.

So with all that culture in the last 24 hours, what to do today? well, hmmm. . . . I'm thinking bad Style network shows, like Bridzilla, and later, some Winey Stars and Cheesey costumes with the Oscars.

*this means the guy was using his feet to grab the cabbage, one arm to hold up the heavy dragon head of the costume and one arm to move the mouth up and down/blink the eyes and grab the cabbage, all while balencing on about 1/2 square foot of space on the top of 12 foot pole. seriously incredible and he did it so that it was really a magical looking dragon.

Hampton Chutney

2007-02-20T14:36:00.000-07:00

Hampton Chutney is a little restaurant on Prince St that serves, among other things, a great tasting Cardamon coffee. I think I've mentioned this before, actually.
So anyway, it being a lovely day, I was walking around Soho and decided what better way to spend Fat Tuesday, than with a decadent cup of joe?
Apparently, I was not alone in this thought, for the place* was packed. I was waiting, just kind of looking around, when I realized who was ahead of me in line!
I havent had a celeb citing in a while, and certainly never in a restaurant that I frequent. But the actress of great lines like, "What New York really is, is it's an island, with lots of people, lots of different people... I hope to maybe meet some guys, some Italian guys, and maybe watch some TV. " and "When I get out of here, I'm having my eyes lasered. "was actually there with her little white dog.
The whole time I played it cool. no, really. And then, once on Lafayette, called TS to report the sighting of his favorite actress.
I am "hearting" NY today!

*where TS and I have a had some bizzare dosas

Here's to the ladies who brunch

2007-02-20T13:56:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was splendidly spent among my oldest friends. KVH and RW braved the weather and Brooklyn roads to spend some time in NYC. While the first evening was spent using hammers to brake the heaped-up ice in order to park with at least one tire on actuall ground, the fun-level only went up from there.
We gathered strength while brunching on delectable trio of meals at East of Eighth before heading west to gallery-land. The coolest, I thought, was among the last 2 we checked out:
Huang Yong Ping at the Gladstone Gallery. This was a suprising collection of 4-5' + urns with various "scary" things inside. This was great, not only to view for yourself, but to see everyone else's reactions as they reached up on tip-toe to peer over the lip and take a gander. Separately there were also a mini Pentagon and Colliseum, seemingly to scale and about 10' across diameter, on average, filled with (although not "full of") plants. The overall image I took home from this artist was a work of commonplace structures, but enclosing the possibility of evil and mayham.
The other "NY" thing we did was go see Company. The New York magazine rated it the number one musical of the year. umm, well . . . I dont really agree . . . even though it is infact the ONLY musical I've seen this year. While it was different to see the actors/singers/dancers (although not really a lot of dancing) also play all the intruments, the characters seemed to follow stereotypes of couples and women's roles . . .granted its a revival from the '70s, but other than a truely awesome "Not Getting Married Today" I wouldnt really recomend this musical.

Saturday night included a round of Bacci at Union Hall before attempting to dance to "hipsters" 80s . . . later a new DJ showed up and got people shaking.

Sunday night after drinks at Calente Cab, dinner at Rissotoria, we happened upon Rocco's bakery . . . new to me, and if you are in the area check this place out! the hot cocoa was surprisingly rich for a $2 drink!

Of course, it would not be a queg weekend without a little bit of chocolate and decadence. Chikalicious was devine!

V day

2007-02-14T06:53:00.000-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day

pics

2007-02-13T19:13:00.000-07:00

ok, so I've been living in a hole* recently and have nothing too much to say, so I thought I'd post some pics.

*except for trip to Restoration Hardware that turned into a midtown search for the perfect hook, that ended up being from Urban Outfitters of all places. . . of course this search did take a break to sip the devilishly delicious City Bakery hot chocolate.

enough already

2007-02-09T10:37:00.001-07:00

Okay, Okay, about a month ago I was bitching about global warming and the lack of a true winter. I'm sorry. I regret it. If I could take it back I would.
I'm not sure about where you, dear reader, live, but it has been rather frigid this past week. At first the weather people would taunt us that it would snow overnight, and therefore all cold would, obviously, be worth it for a run down the park's tall hill. After repeated mornings of:
Alarm: Beep beep beep
TS: ahhmhmm, did it snow? I think I heard a plow
me: hmmmuhh, [getting out of bed and going to the window] no, no snow [scramble back under covers]
we decided that the weatherpeople were idiots. I've noticed the past few days that the weather isnt even a headline on the news. I guess no one wants to hear that its more of the same.
Myself, its not even so much the bitting wind as I walk around, but really, the lack of clothing options.
I mean, I've been wearing the same boots, everyday, for 3 weeks straight. There are only so many smartwool socks and longunderware that a gal can own, only so many warm sweaters to have in rotation for work.
I am ready for not wearing 2 coats at once. I am ready to return to (otherwise scarf-pulling)dangly earrings. I am ready for some shoes that show a little ankle, much less the peeptoes that have been taunting me with their BOGO sale.

jammin to the goodies and oldies

2007-02-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, TS whisked me to downtown bay ridge for a habatci feast at Arirang. There was much knife tossing and flying zucchini as well as dancing shrimps. This was all done to some lovely elevator-esque jazz jams. It was all background music to me until I recognized one tune. I couldnt believe this had been soft jazz-ified! It reminded me of waiting to check out at Giant and hearing Madonna's Like a Virgin playing out in synthesized clarinet. Anyway, the tune in question, playing to ours and 3 other tables* was The Way You Move, by Outkast. seriously. Outkast. is that when you know you've made it, or you know your over?

The tunes continued the next night as TS and TM accompanied Tegan Meyers for her second act at Shutters, for a cabiret show of sorts. It was all very old-school New York, with even a delicate lace shaw draped over the babygrand piano. My favorite song was (actually I'm not sure of the title, but I think its) Meadowlark. Of course all songs in which TS accompanied were fabulous! :)

*oddly, or perhaps not so oddly, as what else would bring people out in the freakin' freezing weather? there was a birthday at every other table there.

my evening of cooking not-so-dangerously

2007-02-04T20:40:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Julie & Julia Project: my year of cooking dangerously, and, well, let's just say I freakin' loved it. I must admit, a book about a young, witty gal cooking in a cramped apt in NYC sounds almost as good as a book about a young, witty gal working in the lower eschelons of publishing in London. But wait, there's more! Page 9, "I got off the subway, after what seemed like years . . . at the corner of Bay Ridge and 4th Ave." umm, my stop! Page 16, "this is before we got priced out of Park Slope" hello! me too " . . . I'd sewn stockings out of felt, his red with white trim." Sadly for TS, this also fits his homely stocking.
The book goes on to not exactly be my life, but there are other semi- coinincidences. She works at a boring government job, shoping in Chinatown before heading home. While not a government job have I, I wouldnt exactly saying switching people from Focus Dailies to Acuvue Moist is thrilling, and well, the C-town part is probably self-explanitory.
Anyway, the book is about a blogger who cooked all the recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a year, with no previous cooking instruction etc.
I like to cook, and, well, used to, untill I started regularly arriving home after 7:30pm every night. But today, I decided to cook something more difficult than a Trader Joe's dinner, and more oldschool than Cooking Light's Gridiron "grub". I ended up trying to make my mom's recipe for Chicken pot Pie*, which it must be said, is really more of a chicken and dumplins than a Stoffer's little pie with chicken and peas.
It turned out ok. I had to try a couple times to get the cornstarch and water mix to thicken the chicken broth, and not just suddenly cook into a little cornstarch pancake, but the effort of skining and de-boning half a bird was worth it, if only for the aroma. Totally took me back. I think TS most liked the appitizer . . . in honor of the game, a cheese ball shaped and designed to look like a football**. But the finale, which is actually for Grammie K, turned out swimmingly.
I occationally make "low sugar" treats for her, torturing delicious dessert recipes with Splenda and egg whites and even applesauce. Up tonight was an apricot walnut bar/torte, and I am impressed to say that it turned out with a damn crispy/flaky crust and no acidic splenda aftertaste. Best of all, nothing stuck to the pan! I used a silicone baking pan for the first time, and boy, these things are awesome! Usually there is at least some burnt sugar crusted in a corner or something, but not this time! I mean the 10" square lifted right out, all, freakin' together!
I realize that nothing had to be flambed and certainly there was no aspic involved*** in the dinner tonight, but it was a dinner accomplished.
I definitly recommend Julie and Julia**** to anyone who is a fan of either freaking out chick lit, or culinary adventures.

*somehow TS has never had this before
** sadly, forgot to photo
***as apparently many French recipes involve this jello-esque substance made by boiling calves feet
**** check out her original blog here

Urban fairies

2007-01-31T13:07:00.000-07:00

All over the world, there are various fairies of various sorts. Here in the city we have urban fairies; these are a different sort of breed from the more common fairies we might hear about in childhood lore.
Many of my laptop using readers may have been visited by the Internet fairy. This is a fairy who brings good boys and girls Internet acess without charging a fee. This fairy is most commonly found in highly populated buildings, but can occationally be found in a parked car outside of a public library.
The paper product fairy is not unique to a city, but can be found throughout the world, anywhere two adults living together share a comode. Roughly only half of this population has seen acts of this particular fairy, the other half being stanch disbelievers.*
Some fairies, like the tooth fairy both take something from us, and leave us a treat in return. So goes this friendly fairy. . . you might leave a rusted muffin tin, or one shoe out on the sidewalk, and in the blink of the eye these unwanted items have disappeared. But wait a few days and a treat for you, a new book perhaps, will be just around the corner, all thanks to the Stoop fairy.
While TS is still trying to determine the existance of the late night Soho bar fairy, and disappearing pants, Out in Bay Ridge, we have encountered another urban fairy, the pooh fairy. This sprite leaves little parcels along the landing of the north exit of the train. He has occationally has left gifts in such exotic lands as the stairs from the Q to the LIRR, but most regularly at our subway stop. TS doesnt believe these treats are courtesy of the pooh fairy, he lays the blame on someone more notorioius . . . the shit bandit.

*I have an intermittent paper product fairy known as GK.

ethnicity

2007-01-27T06:48:00.000-07:00

Once while at work in Sunset Park* I was repremanded by a woman in her 50s for not speaking Spanish better. I appologized and told her I had never actually taken a class. She responded with something along the lines, of "but you should know it! You are a Latina!" Arching my eyebrows, I disagreed, reporting my Irish heritage. She seemed bewildered, to her I looked Latin.
About a month later I was walking to work (this was in east Chinatown) and was stopped for directions, where I only understood "East Broadway" and then the gentleman repeated himself in halting English. I pointed the way, only to have him respond with "Chinese? you are Chinese, yes?" Smiling, I said no, and he came back with "you look Chinese."

all I have to say to these reports are
1. seriously? is it the blue eyes, or freckles that lead you to these "diagnosis" of race? and
2. which lens is better, one, or two?

*a Latino neighborhood

What to do when sick?

2007-01-25T15:16:00.000-07:00

I recently was under the weather* and was home from work unexpectedly. I dont know if you have a chance to watch daytime TV, but it is pretty much completely awful. Since my current book was at work, I turned to the internet. I let my fingers direct me to websites I dont usually dare visit . . . no, Not porn! travel sites!
After doing some casual searches, and calendar checking**, I clicked my way to our next vacation. The plan was for this to be a suprise for TS, as our anniversairy is coming up soon. But apparently my secret holding capabilities were maxed out for a recent party for TS himself; I caved to the excitement later that night and spilled the beans. In 10 weeks we will be here!

*flu vs mexican food hangover

**ok, and some bank checking too

Ghost Riding the Whip

2007-01-23T07:50:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was in a conversation that litterally could have been titled, "What those crazy kids are doing today". First of all, apparently the cool new thing for high schoolers to do is Ghost Riding the Whip. For those of you too lazy to click the link, let me explain. "the whip" is slang for car. "ghost riding" (as I understand it) is when a person puts the car (a standard) in neutral and driver and passengers get out of the car, run around it, or even on top of it, and then get back in.* At first I didnt really get what the big deal was . . . I mean, I was not a daring kid in highschool, but my group of friends, the quegs**, hyped up on Ellicott City coffee would do Chinese fire drills on our way back to AM's houses. But then it was explained to me . . . while we got out of the car, the emergency break was on . . . with ghost riding the car is moving, but no one is driving, and more often then not, people are on top of the car, while its moving. This of course, reminded me of when Teen Wolf car surfed through the neighborhood before the big basketball game, but then, Stiles is driving in that sceen.
But besides the ridiculousness of the current past time, I was struck by how out of the loop I was in terms of slang. It reminded me of when I tried to explain "to jock" to my parents . . . as in "are you jocking me?" and "dont jock!" All and all, it made me feel a wee bit elder.

i couldnt get you tube to load up for some reason, but check out a clip here: ghost ride clip

*ie, no one is driving the car
**yes, our clique has a name, didn't yours?

dance off

2007-01-14T18:42:00.000-07:00

Last night was the second annual LA's 80's dance party! This year, instead of shaking at 4R, we headed out, to Union Hall. This is a venue in the slope that has it all, indie mini-concerts, late night djs, strong drinks (and PBR), encyclopedias, brunch, and oh yeah, bacci ball lanes!
But the 80s dancing was rather stellar. I'm not trying to sound proud, but I do believe, LA, C, B, M and I started if off. Of course, we didnt finish it, well, maybe B did, but the highlight of the evening was the dance off between two young men. One was wearing a sweatband and the other a wool sweater . . . who would you place your bets on? While we "molly ringwalded" and attempted to popandlock* these fellows swirled and moved, but neither commited to "the worm"
The next morning we reconveined at UnionHall for a fireside brunch. While the menu was varied and surroundings cozy, service was crap, so we left without trying a round of the bacci.

*did you know there is a website for 80s dance moves

Will I love the netflix prize?

2007-01-12T10:02:00.000-07:00

Last night MJ was describing the Netflix prize. The rental megacompany is hosting a contest for the mathematical and computer whiz kidz to come up with a more accurate algorithim to predict which movies its patrons will enjoy. We were discussing all the possible things that go into a person picking one movie or another, and how if an equation could improve the computer's output on this one descision, the effect of this could have overall, of a computer prediction human action.
Intregued I checked out my "movies you'll heart" tab. Actually I had to fill out the few questions, rating various genres, then specific movies. When it came out, I must admit, I was pretty impressed with how 3 of the first 4 movies on the list, not only had I seen and enjoyed, but the diversity of them (Monsoon Wedding, Steel Magnolias and Best in Show). The one movie I hadnt seen, but was the number 1 recommendation was: Breaking Away, a movie about high school kids . . . vintage '79. I added it to my queue, I'll let you know how many stars i'd give . . .

a blue theory

2007-01-08T20:23:00.001-07:00

In the past few weeks several friends and family have sent TS and I congratulations and happy engagement cards*. What I find interesting is that they almost all prominently display the same shade of light blue. I have several theories to explain this phenomenon.
1. I am a tar-heel alum, card buyers remember this (however subconciously) and their hand goes out to these cards exclusively.
2. Faced with a trend of increasing baby girl birth rates, the card companies needed an outlet for the stockpile of baby blue ink.
3. The cards are exlusively made in this color scheme. This is for the benefit of the groom-to-be, as after popping the question, there is a rush of wedding detail questions that overload all male senses. This glazed eyes and slack jawed syndrome can only be appeased by a rush of male-ness in any form . . . sports, heavy metal, and all correspondance in manly colors.

*You know who you are and Thank you, that is very thoughtful

Mulchfest 2007!

2007-01-08T09:05:00.000-07:00

For those of you not near a NYC park this weekend, you may have missed the outdoor event of the year . . . Mulchfest 2007!
This is a 2 day event where one brings their dying Christmas tree out to the park to be mulched for nutrients for the lucky trees that didnt get the hack for holiday trimmings.
While TS and I had no tree to give, I was looking forward to some juniper scent as we walked along Owl's Head Park toward the water yesturday. Sadly, we must not have been the only ones to light a plastic tree this year . . . there was no mulch to be found.

a scrolling ad from my gmail account

2007-01-02T10:13:00.001-07:00

Jello Wrestling Party - www.jellowrestling.com - Have A Jello Wrestling Event. No Chill Formula Sets Up In Seconds!

Christmas surprise

2007-01-01T19:38:00.000-07:00

This Christmas holiday I got a chance to spend time with the fam in Maryland and down in not-so-hot Atlanta. One of the holiday traditions continued in MD . . . we had a lovely dinner after Mass at the Skaggs homestead, where we got to meet newbie people HH and MS. Sadly, I did miss the other K tradition, Christmas brunch at my G-ma's with family; I didnt get to see my cutie goddaughter, LB or her mom SB, who had sent me a very Soho worthy painting for the new pad.
But TS and I flew down down to ATL to meet a lot of his fam and friends. We also dinned Georgia style with visits to Chick-fil-a, and the Varsity. . . AND the world of Coke! yep, lots of syrup-rific concoctions from all around the world. Word to the wise, stay away from Italian soda, Beverly.
While TS and I did "cheers" with British Lilt, we did also toast quite a few times over the holidays, to family, to friends, and well, to our future. The first of these came 10 days ago, after TS got down on one knee in Grand Central Terminal . . . and I said yes.

happy new year

2006-12-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

start the new year off on the right foot . . . with a late rent check!
No mail for 3 days in a row, what a way to remember a late president.

Colbert has some pull

2006-12-22T14:37:00.000-07:00

Did anyone else see Stephen Colbert's final show of the year Wednesday night? It was a bit hyped . . . a guitar rock-off between the lead guitarist of the The Decemberists, Funk, and himself. Or, as it came to be, Peter Frampton, playing as Colbert.
I was amazed. ok, not so amazed by the actual performances . . not really my kinda music*. But amazed by who all was judging the contest. Whenever I've seen the Colbert report, and watched pass "the word" segment, it always seems to be authors of historical politics that he has as guests. Not Wednesday night. The judges for the guitar-off were Rolling Stone's critic Anthony DeCurtis, NYU music professor Jim Anderson, and our soon-to-be govener Eliot Spitzer. The announcer was Morley Safer, and the moderator/final judge was non other than Henry Kissinger! Each time someone was announced, my eyes widened in awe. Ok, so the NYU prof and even the rolling stones critic were kind of the level of celebrity judge I expected, but Henry Kissinger!?! how on earth did the Colbert crew get him to say "crank it up" via satelite?

*although TS, a guitarist, said one of them was impressive

Connie

2006-12-18T08:34:00.000-07:00

Shortly after we moved in to the new place, we opened all the windows one day to air it out a bit. Not 2 shakes of a lamb's tail later, a fly flew in. At first this was very irritaiting. But after the second day of seeing a black spot zoom by, I decided instead of trying to kill this thing, I would name it, and it would be our pet. Connie has been with us for 2 weeks today. I see her every morning, I have coffee, she sits on the curtain, we read the Times together. When I come home from work, she's waiting for me, hanging on the closet door.
When I mentioned Connie to a friend, she said flies only live 3 days, and that we must have an infestation problem, and that its connie's grandkids I'm seeing now. But I think this must be the Drosophilan fruit flies from science camp that she is thinking about. That said, it does seem odd that Connie hasnt left us yet. I keep thinking today will be the day I sweep up her remains, taking her, along with a few walnut pieces and dirt, to the incinerator.

adapting . . .

2006-12-08T08:32:00.000-07:00

the other night TS and walked through the new neighborhood looking at Christmas lights* when something ran across the sidewalk . . . is that? no, this is the city . . . yep, thats a racoon!

After a lovely evening in the city, including viewing the latest Christopher Guest flick, we arrived at the door of our apt, realizing the 3-train ride home from Chelsea took longer than the movie.**

The past week the radiator has been banging uncontrollabley*** throughout the day, into the night and again at 5:58 am. This morning, miraculously, I was awoken by the alarm clock, not the radiator, only at 8am to be startled by a car honk (TS said this was a type of alarm, but it sounded like someone was just laying on the horn to me) that continued as I left for work.

We have Cable! We have Internet****! now if we could only get the router to work, we will be able to go online WHILE watching the Daily Show . . . that will be simply awesome.

*and a blue light covered shrub . . . is this the famed Hanukkah bush?
**In my defense, I wouldnt have spent $11 on the movie had I known it was only 80 minutes long.
*** well, if we tighten one knob the noise dulls, but then it leaks a steady stream of orange-tinged water
****of course, my computer is still fighting a useable ISP address, but pics of the new place will be posted when I'm up and running

an NYC moment

2006-12-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

I rolled my eyes at the kahki-clad woman blocking the sidewalk while taking disposible-camera photos of Mexx's purple and silver themed window display. Laughing to myself as I walked passed a discarded hairpiece half in a puddle on Broadway, thinking that more of NY pic. Then I heard a familiar voice talking on her cell phone, looking up, I passed Claire Danes. Quickly my attention was drawn to the beat up Ford blasting Phenomenon. I closed my eyes and smiled.
I love this town.

exhausted

2006-12-01T09:39:00.000-07:00

Yesturday TS and I moved to south brooklyn. yes, its like living in the burbs. But I love the place!
After loading up TS Wed night, finishing my packing Wed late night, driving the UHaul to my place at 7am and then loading up more of my crap, TS, special guest TM and I headed south on 4th Ave to then unload the truck, and then another couple of loads of stuff Dad drove up as well. A HUGE thanks to both TM and Dad for all their lifting, loading, stacking etc. I dont know about you guys, but I am rather sore today.

World Aids Day

2006-12-01T09:37:00.000-07:00

December 1st is Worlds Aids Day and Bristol-Myers Squibb is donating $1 to the National Aids Fund for every person who lights a candle at Light to Unite. Just click the match to the candle and your good deed for the day is done.

Bullet Bros

2006-11-25T16:17:00.000-07:00

Yesturday I finally fulfilled my sisterly duty to take JK shootin'.

Yep, there he is with semi-automatic 9mm Baretta and stellar target. Me, I kept with a revolver, specifically, a Smith-Wesson 38 special.

Dad came too, but he kept to shooting photos.

Turkey Eve

2006-11-22T21:02:00.000-07:00

Wednesday night TS and I took the train uptown to watch the filling of the balloons. Its kind of like the running of the bulls, except in super slow-mo and no one is gored to death.
Its a bit overwhelming how large these things really are, but the best is not just seeing the figures. Its all the kids running around, amazed to see Snoopy or BigBird come to life.
To get to the balloons we had to meaner north along CPW and then back south through the park. I hadnt been in central park at night before, but the misty atmosphere caused the old-fashion-esque lampost light to diffuse into rainbow halos every 15 feet. It was a magical stroll.

full circle

2006-11-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

Somehow, this BK gal has come full circle. . . the blog's been up for a bit over a year now, and just in time for another Ben Fold's concert. last year's concert was great, but this year TS and I went up to the Beacon theater to see the show. If you have a chance to see anything here, I recommend it! Its in the art deco style with lavish murals on the walls, a huge chandelier in the lobby, and a rather delapidated rear exit (it cant be perfect).
The opener was corn mo. Nope, I hadnt heard of him either. I thought he was a rather self-effacing version of meatloaf, but TS enjoyed his wit and piano style.
Ben Folds was all over the place with some old, some new, banging on the Baldwin regardless. He had purchased a $2K synthizing keyboard and would play one hand on each instrument, and considering he had to maintain a large wing-span to do this, it was impressive. He was a little (too) involved with ten hertz. Last night was the last show of the season's tour. Not to be mean, but one could tell. The musicans all seemed a little drained, and there was a lot of dead time (no music, fans just shouting requests). However, I think his best song of the night was actually a cover. A cover of the postal service version of Such Great Heights.

In other music notes, since I'm in that vein, we also caught a short gig of Tucson's Ryanhood at the Rockwood music hall (my favorite venue in the city). This duo has one extremely talented guitarist, and one flirty, funny singer (AH deemed him the Jack Black of the group, and I concure). Before Ryanhood went on was a foursome playing ukulele, guitar, stand up bass, and that string instrument that one plays on one's lap. It was very 1940s Hawian-esque. Thats whats great about that place, you never know what you'll hear.

teepee?

2006-11-21T08:43:00.000-07:00

Sadly, I did not have my camera with me to take a picture of the new structure under the arc at Grand Army Plaza*. However, there is a several story high conical structure made of wire mesh currently residing across the road from the BK central library. Perhaps this is the skeletal structure for a more "authentic" looking- larger-than life teepee that will be completed by Thanksgiving? If so, is this a random act of Native American awareness? Is this a government funded project? And why, UNDER the arc? wouldnt at least closer to the park, or near the botanical garden make more sense? Right now it kind of looks like
someone was trying to match the triangle in the oval space.

*you may be able to tell, but this is not a picture of a teepee taken in Brooklyn

there are only 2 kinds of people in this world . . .

2006-11-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

At a party recently, I mentioned to a couple women who I had met 1/2 an hour previously, that I was moving to a new apartment soon, and looking forward to decorating. The lady on my left turned to me, raising an eyebrow, to ask, "So, are you a Pottery Barn, or Crate and Barrel person?"
Slack jawed, I turned, wondering so many things . . . is this a new defining characteristic, the leaded or unleaded of the home furnishing world? . . . why did she not ask Anthropologie? or Target? why did she presume to know* which catelogues I repeatedly flip through, a fantasy land of "fern" linens and walnut endtables?
After a moment, I smiled, "actually, I'm more of an Ikea girl at heart."

*accurately

it started

2006-11-18T14:02:00.000-07:00

this morning, I heard my first Christmas song* on the radio: Go Tell It on the Mountain by Martina Mcbride. . . . I feel jolly already!

*umm, i have actually already listened to my Perry Ellis Christmas CD once or twice. . . even submitted poor TS to swirl of harmonous "ahhhh"ing.

Big Trouble In Little China

2006-11-14T11:43:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, 3 dudes strolled into work, after looking around a bit, one of them stepped forward and asked for the store owner, flashing an ID card. One of my bosses told the gentleman that the owner was on vacation . . . indefinitly (this was not a true statement as one owner was in the office, and the other had stepped out to grab lunch). The dude that had asked explained that he was with Con-Ed and, pointing to a con-ed bill on a clipboard, if the owner changed plans, the store would get a discount, assuming that this month's bill was paid today. in cash. My boss, KH, asked to see his ID again, he hesitated, saying he had just showed it to her, but when he eventually let her see it, she remarked how there was no information on the back of the card, and under her breath, that the picture was cut at an odd angle. Now KH just told the 3 guys, no, no change of the bill and owner will call con-ed when he gets back. As the guys left the office, I was informed of the most recent scam to hit Chinatown . . . these guys tell their story, and if some of the shop owners dont speak english, they just point to this number on the bill on the clipboard saying that payment is needed now, and people give them cash (as almost everything is paid for in this neck of the woods). KH then went next door, to check on the elderly dried-mushroom-and-shrimp shop owner, and sure enough the lady had just opened her cash register, KH stopping her from retracting money, explaining the scam. Apparently the 3 guys left, heading south on Mott.
After much "call 911", "umm, how about YOU call 911", "should we call 311?", and "Con-ed should know about this" we got a cop to stop in the office . . . turns out another shop keeper called and the cop was just asking everyone who saw them, to describe the 3 guys.
The cop came back, saying he had 3 guys who fit the discription in custody around the corner and can someone come and ID them. again, a lot "want to go?", "no, you should go", and "well, if a patient comes in, I should really be here". I mean, its not that i didnt want to do a civic duty, its just that these guys were kinda big. kinda scary, not the kind of guys you want to meet in a dark alley, if you know what i mean. It wasnt like in the movies, where you are protected by the oneway glass, it was litterally on the corner. Eventually M went, riding in an unmarked car to the corner in question, and it turns out it wasnt them.
Today, there is word that the guys were back this morning, and the cops have taken pictures of the dudes they suspect, they should be coming by for us to ID photos later today . . . i'm glad its photos, but now, its been so much time, I only remember that they all had huge diamond earrings . . . definitly not something to make a definite finger point to . . . i'll keep you posted . . .

baby Hades

2006-11-10T12:34:00.000-07:00

Last night I ventured to Babies-R-Us (oddly, located in Union Sq) for the first time. Equipt with my 9 page print out of a friend's baby registry, I was set to find a nice gift. Upon first glance, this seems not so different from recent trips to Crate and Barrell or Target for wedding gifts. But as I read through the list, I realize, baby world has a whole new language. For example, what would a "newborn starter set" be? a "baby relief kit"? "superyard XT"?
So I thought maybe I would just browse a bit to get my bareings. There was a lot of cute Christmas outfits, a whole wall of rubber nipples (there apparently is a plethora of shapes/sizes and your choice of 1 to 3 holes), and a large display of what seemed to me to be fancy fabric covered pillows.
Re-connecting with the list, I tried to find a "bouncer*", the location is listed as "second floor". Once up there, I ask for help from an over-extended employee with a spare second and am brought to one of 2 sections of about 20 different types of things that bounce, but which is "wonder cradel swing"? it turns out, that particular type is no longer sold at the store (it went out of style 2 months ago!)
After another 20 minutes of scouring to find something on the list, only to find it sold-out, I am returned to the first floor in search of the last item on the list in my price range, a "Boppy Signature".
I find myself facing the wall of fancy pillows again. ahhh, the boppy.
I hope the newest R addition will appreciate my venture into Baby Hell.

*this is what you put the kid in, and the weight of the kid makes it bounce up and down . . . apparently a way to cut down on the crying

Barely Makeup

2006-11-08T19:33:00.000-07:00

I know I am going to sound like an infomercial, but Bare Minerals is the best make-up I've ever had! I splurged and bought the starter kit at Sephora a couple weeks ago and have "swirled, tapped, and buffed" my way to a smoothly finished face. Seriously, not only does less 1/8 teaspoon of this powder cover better than any foundation of the past, the brushes really feel great on the skin, like a mini facial every morning. If that wasnt enough, it all has SPF too!

leaf work

2006-11-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

Growing up one of the possible chores/punishments was raking the leaves. This was difficult because we have dozens of trees in the front and more in the back yard. If this has created an image of wonderful autumnal colors and a plethoral of climbing branches, you are sadly mistaken, for at the K house we have lame-o locust trees (think tall straight tree with quarter-size leaves).
I always thought one of the great things about living in the city is that one didnt have to do things like rake leaves/ burn leaves (as we occationally did, but more often saw along trips to far off places like Damascus, MD). But apparently I am wrong. This past weekend, while walking around Prospect Park I saw 3 separate groups of kids raking leaves in the public park. To give credit, one group was raking to accumulate a soft landing for the follow up jump. But the other 2 kids seemed to be content with the raking of several small piles (the begining of city-savy OCD?).
The next day on my walk along Canal St, a woman had a 10gallon metal bucket. That alone is not so bizarre in Chi-town, but within this bucket, on the sidewalk, was a small fire. She was picking up leaves on the street and dropping them into the bucket, one at a time. . .perhaps she forgot her rake back in the apartment?

an excerpt

2006-11-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

an excerpt from Who Will Run the Frog Hosptial? by Lorrie Moore

"I often think that at the center of me is . . . a house in my heart so invaded with other people and their speech, friends I believed I was devoted to, people whose lives I can only guess at now, that it gives me the impression I am simply a collection of them, that they all existed for themselves, but had inadvertently formed me, then vanished."

Passport dinners

2006-10-27T08:56:00.000-06:00

Recently LA and I brainstormed an alternative to Taco Tuesdays (with Scrubs viewing). This is something that can be any night of the week, and involve a revolving cast, depending on whose home we go to. This extravaganza is Passport Dinners. This involves picking a location, making a dinner that would be found in that area and showing a movie from/about that location. While initially concieved for foreign lands, we seem to be incorporating exotic locations of the US as well. So far we have visited the South (Midnight in the garden of good and evil), India (Fire), and last night Morocco* with a viewing of Casablanca. The next destination? Chicago! (can you guess which movie? its not a musical and its fitting for a November viewing . . . )

*Moroccan carrot salad was a surprising hit

an excerpt

2006-10-27T08:46:00.000-06:00

from Teacher Man by Frank McCourt:
"Sometimes [the principal would] slip in a word or two about the necessity of teaching diagramming and I'd promise to try it. . . I tried but failed. I made lines vertical, horizontal, slanting, and then I stood, adrift at the blackboard. . . [The principal] understood. . . He said some people just dont have it. . . Joe Curran certainly had it. Afterall, he was a graduate of Boston Latin. . . H could diagram in Greek and Latin and probably in French and German. Thats the kind of training you get at Boston Latin."

I like that passage for a couple of reasons. 1. My Dad was always upset with our school system because we never had to learn sentence diagraming, and he had to endure it, darn it, so we must as well. 2. I know a Joe Curran who probably can diagram in all those languages.

what the heck have I been doing?

2006-10-24T14:35:00.000-06:00

In about 2 months I will have Internet access at home and hopefully this will lead to an increase in blogging frequency, as my current rate of posts has started to resemble, or even lack behind my brother's. Until then, I will try to summerize, bestweekever style.

I went through a NYC culture crash last week, visiting the National Design Museum, specifically an exhibit on dinning through the ages (Feeding Desire) . . . this consisted of 4 centuries worth of flatware. It is interesting to note that one piece really did remind me of the past. . . Did you ever go to a birthday party at a bowling alley? There was always a pizza party after the bowling in a back room that had the faint scent of sawdust from the previous over-ambitious 8 year old reveler. And following the pizza they brought out little cups of ice cream (chocolate or vanilla) and little wooden spoons to aid in the ice cream consumption. Anyway, it was these little spoons, in the "Pine State" wrapper that was in the exhibit that lead me to then wonder, if this is here, why isnt the 7-11 Slurpie straw/spoon?
The next stop on the culture parade was to see the longest runing off-off Broadway production, Line. Hmm, what can I say about this show to put it any positive light at all? Well, Fleming was a convincing character. To give the show credit, it's leading lady had sprained her ankle and the understudy wasnt available (hmm, unpaid actors not available at a moment's notice on a Friday night?), so the gal who was available and "familiar with the play" read her lines off the playbook while onstage. I suppose too, since the play is 32 years old, the blatent mis-treatment of women was perhaps not as offensive in its year of origin.
What was the original tipping off for culture week was to see Barack Obama read from his new book at the 17th st Barnes and Nobles, got axed in favor of spending a day in Bayridge (a neighborhood in southwest Brooklyn). It was one of what has become a few R rides to see if we (TS and I) like the neighborhood. We do, and have spent the past few days in a ferver to get all the i's dotted and t's crossed so we get the apartment we liked.
As of a few minutes ago virtually all our paperwork is in and we wait for the nod or frown from the board at Birnhouse . . .

ny blase (imagine a little acent agu over the e)

2006-10-16T12:08:00.000-06:00

One of things that is great about NY is the people watching. I think if you live in NYC long enough you get over it, double takes become a thing of the past. A prime example of this I observed on my walk to the train . . . a 30ish lady with shockingly bright pink hair crossing paths with a ~6 year old boy in a monkey suit . . . neither seemed to notice the other.
One can tell I'm still a NYC newbie; I gawked at both.

double 10

2006-10-10T14:48:00.000-06:00

Today is Tiawan's independance day celebration. I admit, I didnt know much about this day, but when the parade started out my window at work, I was curious and looked things up. There is something about a parade, even if your not sure what the signs say to make an afternoon festive. What is always fun is seeing the dragons dance down the street to the beat of various drum bands, and little kids eyes widen with awe.

NYC was being a jerk this weekend

2006-10-09T14:47:00.000-06:00

Here it is, autumn in NY . . . it was Open House New York this weekend . . . the makings of a beautiful weekend, right? No, this city was pissy. First there is the train debacle. It seemed any train I wanted to take was being re-routed, coming once an hour, or completely stopped. This meant over an hour and a half to get home Saturday night (midtown to Park Slope). Then on Sunday I had plans to check out the Crystler Building, a green bakery in the east village and maybe the HighLine park. After looking at the bakery and where I was (basically Macy's), reading LA's text that the information about the bakery was available everyday, I knocked it off the list of sites for the day and headed to the Crystler by foot. I was stopped twice for a row of 12 police cruisers passing, all with sirens on(loud. very loud). I kind of think it was the same group and perhaps they were lost? It seems ridiculous that 2 dozen cars would be headed in opposite directions minutes from each other . . . perhaps it was a left turn difficulty?
When I got to the shiny tower, there were some people milling around outside, but when I stepped inside the building, the tour had been cancelled for the day. There are only 2 days a year with this tour, and it was cancelled for one of them.* I did learn that there was a tour at Grand Central Terminal and headed over. I learned that people had been waiting for an hour and that no one had seen the guide yet. hmmm, it was too nice of a day to wait for an unlikely-to-show guide, so I headed outside.
While I was walking east, everyone was stopped and staring behind me, so I turned, to see a cab half hanging over the railing of the bridge above. And a crane was raising to . . . help the cab? but wait, there were so many bright lights on the crane . . . it turns out they were filming Will Smith's latest flick.
At this point I gave up on Open House and decided shoe / paper shopping were a more productive endevor, and started walking toward Union Square. I was crossing along the crosswalk (I had the little man) in the upper 30s a dude with a walkie talkie grabbed my arm, yanking me back. Bewildered I looked around, and at him. There were no cars around, no other people around, and all the guy said was no one can cross here. No reason given. Perhaps it was still the movie "set", but I was re-routed an additional 2 blocks before I could cross the street. So first the trains were a waste and now, I couldnt even walk around town.
When I finally got on the Q back to Brooklyn, emerging at Pacific, I was greeted with the Flatbush Avenue street fair. Walking up Flatbush to 8th Ave, the aromas of several tasty delights teased my nose, and caribean, latin, and hip-hop tunes blended together. Treating myself to a buttery corn-on-the cob, I was glad that at least Brooklyn could redeem itself from its past days behavior.

*apparently they only have one guy that gives the tour and his voice went out after multiple tours on Saturday.

buttons and ribbons and trimmings, oh my!

2006-10-06T12:15:00.000-06:00

Yesturday I made my first visit to M J Trimmings . . . I cant believe I have lived here for over a year and not made it to that place yet! There are so many things to look at and so many craft ideas coming in, there was a total bottleneck of thoughts.

I did pick up a few things, but withheld many purchases with the thought that I can always come back later (I have a bad habit of buying supplies for crafts and not making it for quite some time).

EK/EE gave me a bag of sample fabrics to do with as I please, and I finally have the ingredients I need to create something stellar out of these pieces . . . perhaps I will post a pic when I'm finished. . .

muddled

2006-10-03T14:32:00.000-06:00

The other night at Bar Toto, I ordered a drink solely because it's description contained the phrase "muddled orange." It actually turned out to be delicious, but had the description been more specific (ie, orange pulp), I may not have ordered it.
Thinking about this now, I wonder how much of advertising that works is the whimsy . . . perhaps the idea of Audrey Hepburn dancing to AC/DC is more compelling than the look of skinny black pants . . . perhaps the thought of drinking Irish coffee in Ireland is more compelling than the cold and muddy environment . . . perhaps to think that the guy across from me on the train is flirting is more compelling than the actuallity of his contemplation of his latest myspace posting.
If advertising works on "muddled," can science? politics? religion? or does it already?

~deep thoughts by a bored optometrist

bad babes on TV

2006-09-29T14:07:00.000-06:00

Lately I only watch TV when I am at the gym, which means I watch whatever is on at that time. The Evening News with Katie Couric, and the View are shows I've recently seen. In both of the shows there is a change in the format, or I should say stage directions/ set of the show. At the end of the news Katie walks in front of the desk, leaning on it to deliver a light-hearted news piece or give her not-a-real sign off. This shot is a full body shot, and I think is supposed to make her more of a real person with viewers. But while pearls have appeared on her neck to make her look more mature/respected (I am assuming), her shoes have remained more the NY ladies elite - towering power pumps of various animal skins, leaving you wondering if her tootsies would perfer to be back behind the desk.
At the View, the roundtable discussion is now without a table*, the women sitting on a curved couch. This change is a disaster asthetically. In the show I saw 3 of the 5 women there wore button down shirts. Now, for most women, the button down shirt can look quite professional when standing, but when sitting, it can gape open inbetween buttons. This was happening to the women on the view and they were aware of it, continuously fussing with their shirts. Also, everyone but Rosie had on a skirt, one that was probably below knee length when standing, but again, changing shape when sitting so that on the full group shot, the center of the picture seemed to be aligned with knees desparately hugging each other to not give away too much to the camera. Lastly, because the legs were so firmly crossed, the foot of the crossed leg was in a position to show off the worn underside of the ladie's shoe . . . all and all I thought all the wardrobe "malfunctions" were distracting, and very . . . unladylike.

*I couldnt find a picture of them without the table, but trust me, its gone . . . I guess they dont get to drink coffee anymore either

hot stuff!

2006-09-26T13:52:00.000-06:00

The newest thing in coffee drinks:
Wolfgang Puck's self-heating lattes. "Each of the lattes come in a unique self heating can which heats to over 140 degrees F in just under 6 minutes to give you a very portable instant hot latte. The technology to create a self heating can took 7 years, and over 24 million dollars and was developed by OnTech. The OnTech self-heating container is built from two main parts: the container and the actuating "puck" (how appropriate). The container is composed of an inner cone that holds the mineral (Calcium Oxide), and the outer container body, which holds the beverage product." (from singleserve.com)
I am a little bit torn about these. On one hand, I think "hot coffee, yeahhhh", and then I think "more crap for the landfill, boooooooo". I myself havent tried one yet, but my boss has been raving, and he thinks they are recyclable since they do have a deposit on them . . . I wonder if they will impact DunkinDonut's styrafoam stylin' coffee . . .

make-up

2006-09-23T08:50:00.001-06:00

I remember sitting on my parents bed watching my mom lean over the bathroom sink, rubbing her face with foundation, brushing her cheeks with blush and then slowly opening her mouth really wide. I always thought she would put on lipstick at this point, but no, it was the paradoxical open mouth for wider eyes with mascara application. I remember watching her get ready to go out, usually on Friday nights for meeting up with friends, a gentle waft of Jean Nate then a blast of Shalimar. Replacing all her bottles and brushes in a tan Woodies bag that sat on the back of the toilet, she would then pick through her dozens of Clinique free sample lipsticks, for her casual color, Berry Frost.
***
When she died, I inherited her makeup. Since I do not have the "throw crap out" gene of my father, I kept it all, a shoebox size bag with a separage bag just for lipsticks. When moving my things to New York, I went through the bag and smelled all the lipsticks, if the had an odd-scent I tossed them, leaving me with only 23 tubes.*
Last night, for no reason other than I had no plans, I brought out the bags, and went through all the colors, the powders and creams, tossing out 90% of the stuff, including everything that had been Mom's. It was hard. Sounds silly, doesnt it? I mean its just dusty compacts and bottles, but they were artifacts of what a mom passes to her daughter, how to cover up the negative and accentuate the positive.
When I said I tossed all her stuff, well, I did keep one thing. For the last few years of her life, I think it was her prized cosmetic, as she had searched for a non-pencil method forever, her eyebrow-enhancing chocolate brown powder and special brush.

*Did you know I usually just wear Pepperment chapstick?

Webkinz addict

2006-09-21T12:47:00.000-06:00

Recently, TS gave me a little stuffed pup. He refutes that this is to make up for the lost stuffed pup, Stanley, but Humphrey entered my world just days after Stanley's escape. Regardless, Humphrey is a webkinz pup by Ganz. What is cool and apparently the biggest adult obsession with toys since beanie babies, is that you can visit your animal online, decorating its room, earning it money, buying food, and I think visiting other webkidz (although, I dont know any others, so I dont have anyone to ask for a park date). I know I sound like a fool, but its kind of addicting . . . I try to check in with Humphrey once a day while I'm at work, and maybe win him a bacon bone or take him for a walk.
Im not really ready for a pup with a pulse, but the stuffed doggie who also lives online has found a place in my fur-fearing heart.

Save the evironment with a pivot

2006-09-21T12:42:00.000-06:00

The other day I was walking through Soho and came upon two people with "Environmental Outreach" on their Tshirts. One was offering the other a brochure while she walked up the street. I thought they were both bored volunteers, one sarcastically soliciting the other. Then I heard the gal say, "Next time move your right ankle as the target passes you."
Who knew those flyer-hander-outers had lessons before accosting you with glossy so-to-be litter?

Bicycle on train 101

2006-09-18T15:51:00.000-06:00

If you happen to look on the bicycle saftey on the subway website, you will notice that rule#2 states:
"Do not carry your bicycle through one of the tall entrances or exits with high steel bars.If you get off at a station where there is only a tall exit with high steel bars, wait for the next train and go to the nearest station that permits easy exit with a bike.
High Entrance Turnstile - Don't try to get your bike through here."
Last night TS and I saw an older gentleman do quite a bit of fretting about his bike caught in the turnstile, spokes caught between spokes, locking the bike in the narrow passway.
seriously, what was he thinking?

The Drowsy Chaperone

2006-09-18T06:32:00.000-06:00

Yesturday I met up with MD * who was in NY for work. We tried several ways to get last minute tickets to a show, setteling for the TKTS line. This was remarkably easy. We ended up going to the matine of The Drowsy Chaperone. I had absolutely no idea what this show was about. Everyone had just told me that it was hilarious and that it won the Tony, so when MD wanted to go, sure.
When we walked in the theatre we recieved our playbill, and I browsed through, trying to find the synopsis. It wasnt there. Then I remembered that there was no synopsis at other shows recently. When did it go? It definitly used to be there, just a paragraph for each Act, but has it been replaced with an ad for Hillary Duff's new perfume? Or are the writers of the Playbills just lazy?
It definitly is a hard show to describe . . . I suppose I should say it is a faux 1920s musical within a modern day play, and leave it at that. It was very funny and the Alberto character was especially laughable. I must say that I was not too thrilled with the set, but I think you arent supposed to be.
If you are thinking about a show to see, this is definitly one to consider.

* hee-hee, I just realized MD is married to an MD

San Gennaro Festival

2006-09-15T13:02:00.000-06:00

In case you didnt know, the San Gennaro Festival started yesturday. This is an open air fair throughout Little Italy celebrating the patron saint of Naples. Here you can take part in traditional Italian activities like shooting water balloons for 2' tall stuffed Spongebob Squarepants, or buy traditional Italian goods like rodeo-inspired license plates. Best of all is the sample of the mother country's authentic foods like pina coladas (in souvenir tiki cup!), philly cheesesteak subs and deep fried oreos!

random stuff in movies

2006-09-09T08:40:00.000-06:00

I recently was watching a bit of Dazed and Confused on TV and discovered, at the back of the Junior High classroom, a poster of Mid-Atlantic Fish. This may seem less than eventful, but it happened to be exactly the same poster that has been on the northern wall of the beach house, for as long as I remember.
I love when stuff like that happens . . . the only other similar discovery in recent past is that the Mom character in the Family Stone has a favorite mug that is the same mug that RW took to Boston from her mom's collection.
a little bit of hollywood that I recognize

Humperdinck?

2006-09-08T11:25:00.000-06:00

My roomie recently did the hair and make up of Engelbert Humperdinck. Who is this man? Apparently he was a foxy pop singer in the 60s and 70s, his first hit beatting the Beatles' Strawberry Fields Forever in the charts.
Me, I had never heard of the Tom Jones rival . . . when I hear the name Humperdinck, this is who I think of:

ommm

2006-09-08T09:33:00.000-06:00

I started Bikram yoga yesturday. This is the hot room yoga, like 100 degrees hot. The instructor said if I made it the full 90 minutes just staying in the room, then I should consider my first day a success. Low expectations, I like that!
I did manage to stay in the room, and even attempt all the poses. The instructor also said that feeling dizzy and nauseous is normal and to just return to the standing position to rest. The thing is, that it was the heat that was making me dizzy, and when I bent down to the ground, the air was so much cooler, that standing seemed to make it worse. Luckily, we eventually moved on to the floor. When I left, I was thirsty, of course, but OK.
Today I woke and returned for my second class, and felt OK untill the end. All and all, I think I like it, especially pose #13.

the wilds of Red Hook

2006-09-08T09:19:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday* TS and I took Babs out for a final spin around Brooklyn to see some neighborhoods that we dont normally see (ie, not Park Slope). I have to say I was less than impressed with most of them, but when we crossed into southwestern BK, it was like entering an entirely new city. First it was really run down, then it seemed like there were hippies riding their bikes everywhere on actual cobble streets, then we found a tuti-fruity organic grocery (Fairway?) that actually let you take your buggie out to your car (as opposed to C-town, my usual grocery store that has tall gates all around the exit). Then amoung the stoic looking ex-warehouses/factories? not too far from a Princess Cruise docking location, was a tiny little pie place, selling key lime pies. Various sizes of key lime pies, but only key lime pies.
As TS and I nibbled on a chunk of pie on a stick (and then chocolate dipped!) we walked around the warehouse to a luxuriant and lively bucket garden on the dock, finding the most beautiful view of Lady Liberty I've seen.
With the tang of lime still on out tongues, we wondered at a city with so many nooks and cranies.

*after a very tasty brunch with CR and S (I had green eggs and ham!)

unexpected night out

2006-09-04T08:57:00.000-06:00

Last Thursday TS and I headed into the city to see the sunset over the Hudson. In our effort for a good view along West St park, we happened upon the Chelsea sports compound. We thought we might be able to sneak around to the floating dock to catch some rosy dusk light, but alas, no. We did however find the Chelsea Brewing Co . It turns out this outdoor seating area gave us the perfect view of a very pink and broad sunset (well, it was partly covered by the driving range net, but still beautiful). To make the dinner extra fine, we ordered a flight of the brewerie's brews . . . the checker cab was my favorite.

The chicken dance

2006-08-31T07:29:00.000-06:00

This past weekend, TS and I went down to MD to go to my cousin's wedding, I had taken this opportunity to visit many friends in the area and it was a jam-packed weekend to say the least. I had given us 90 min to get from DC to Waldorf MD for the wedding at 4pm (this is about 45 miles). I should have known that if one traverses the beltway, allow 3X the imagined amount of time. After thinking I was going in the wrong direction, I turned around, only to find, I had indeed been going in the right direction, then there was a car on fire on the beltway. Luckily I pulled to the first exit after I saw the black cloud of smoke ahead. I had been in touch with BK (who was driving our Grandma and her friend MG) who said that he was just passing the fire and while it slowed a bit, traffic was moving fine. So I U-turned to get on the beltway to find cars reversing back the onramp because up ahead literally no cars were moving. Hmm, finding an alternate route on the map I was able to follow the remaining portions of our directions, untill the last bit. We were on a windy road in a forest for miles. I didnt see the church anywhere, so I turned around to make sure I had taken the correct road. Let me just say at this point it is after 4 o'clock, but weddings never start on time, right? Back at the road, sure enough I was on the correct road, so back for more car commercial style driving and sure enough not one mile past where I had turned around, was the little Piney Church. And look, there were people standing outside, in the parking lot! Had the service still not started! It was almost 4:30 at that point. . . wait, people were mingling about, going to their cars and retrieving presents . . . then I realized . . . we missed the wedding.
:(
But the reception was great, and the bride accepted my apology with a laugh. Highlights include the chicken dance*, the electric slide**, and at the very end, a sudden display of his inner 80s child with the worm and backspin moves by TS.
All and all it was lovely and good to see so much family and celebrate with SB and JB as well as the ever cute LB.

*which is apparently a family must at weddings . . . who knew the K's were such free spirits
** you know how at most weddings you kind of take the lead from one person who really knows what they are doing/the beat? tragically for all involved, I was that person for this wedding.

Snakes on a Plain

2006-08-28T15:59:00.000-06:00

While upstate, we saw Snakes on a Plane at the Fair View drive in. I hadnt been to a drive in since my family went to ET.
The movie itself was scary funny, and a great one to see drive-in style.
The best part was since the audio comes through the radio, as left the "theatre" we heard the first few minutes of Miami Vice.

adventures in boating

2006-08-28T15:45:00.000-06:00

Two weeks ago, when TS and I were at the beach, we tried many times to go for a boat ride. The alluminum row boat was too big for us to maneveur, the sailboat's oar lock was broken*, the canoe rental place was booked . . . so we bought a boat. Check out this kickin water craft. It was a little cozy for 2, but turned on a dime when we just had one in it. While it handled the canal and even the inland water way excellently, when we took it to the beach for faux-white water rafting, we ended up with bumped noggins and skinned knees.

Last week we went up north to go kayaking** in Cortlandt, NY. It was relatively quiet (although we did hear the occational Mack truck on route 9) and we got to see some cool birds like egrets and a huge blue heron. Since we arent certified paddlers, we had to stay in minibay area . . . which was great because I am sure the Hudson would have taken us away.

*and neither of us are strong enough sailors to sail without a back up way of getting home
**totally not us in the photo, we got a tandem sea kayak that I got to steer using my toes, while paddeling