Friday Fill-Ins

It is a rainy Friday night and I went searching for a meme. I found this one called Friday Fill-Ins.

1. There is absolutely NO way you can get me to eat seafood!
2. Seeing the pool open reminds me that summer is almost here!
3. I cannot live without my Mac.
4. Snow shoeing and the new Ben & Jerry's flavor Imagine Whirled Peace are two things I'd like to try.
5. When life hands you lemons make lemon drop martinis.
6. Realizing I could read is my favorite childhood memory.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging on the couch, tomorrow my plans include dinner out with friends Tracie and Becky and Sunday, I want to sleep late!

A sense of humor is born

Yesterday Zoë was drawing at her little table and I was just in the other room when we had this conversation:

Zoë: Mom! Do you want to see my drawing?

Me: Of course I do (not looking up from my book)

Zoë: Look! (Suddenly she is standing right in front of me holding a blank piece of paper.)

Me: (Looking hard at the paper to make sure I'm not missing something) Honey, what I am supposed to be looking at?

Zoë: This! (Holding the paper higher.)

Me: Um, I don't see anything.

Zoë: You're looking at a polar bear in a snow storm.

Me: What?

Zoë: A polar bear in a snow storm! (followed by maniacal laughter)

Me: (finally getting the joke) Very, very funny!

I laughed quite hard once I realized it was a joke and the joke was on me. Up until recently Zoë has basically had no sense of humor -- it was bad (and badly told) knock-knock jokes or nothing. I love to tease and I have had to work hard at not teasing her because she doesn't take it well at all. So to have Zoë tell a joke like that is huge step towards an actual sense of humor. I know she still isn't ready for real teasing, but there is a glimmer of hope.

Anticipation

Every year towards the end of February I get really sick and tired of feeling cold and I start to look forward to summer like a child anticipates opening presents on Christmas morning. In my neck of the woods spring is now unfolding into summer in such a delightfully slow way that I don't even want summer to come yet. It should stay the equivalent of December 24th a little longer. I want to keep on being teased by a warm, beautiful day followed by a chilly evening here, a balmy night after a day of rain there for a few extra weeks.

Summer is my favorite time of year because I always feel freer in the warm weather. I love being able to sit outside, to leave the house without a jacket, to enjoy the long evenings. I seem to do more in the summers -- both work and play.

There are lots of activities going on in and around my house in preparation for summer and it is getting really exciting. Today the pool was unwrapped from it's winter coat and it is nice to see the gurgling water again. The lilacs are just beginning their brief stint as star of the show, the outdoor furniture has begun its migration to the backyard and Zoë has started leaving a ring around the tub again. Usually I am in such a hurry to get to the full-on summer that I hardly notice spring, but this year I am trying not to rush.

We can never know about the days to come
But we think about them anyway
And I wonder if I'm really with you now
Or just chasing after some finer day.

Anticipation, Anticipation
Is making me late
Is keeping me waiting

Fun costs...

...and here is where you start paying. In sweat. [Props to anyone who gets that reference.]

I found all kinds of delightful ways to spend money this weekend.

It started Friday night with cocktails at the Algonquin Hotel in NYC with good friends and fellow bloggers including Becky, Emily, Chris, and my newest friend Dorr. A couple of rounds of drinks, dinner, and a final glass of wine made for a really terrific (if somewhat damp) evening and a perfect start to the weekend. Of course, none of the 3 different checks were under 3 digits.

His original plan had been to work all day and night, but due to some snafu Rob ended up not having to work at all on Saturday. Because of that I was able to alter my Saturday plans to include some shopping (gotta love buying new jeans in a smaller size!) and a pedicure. Saturday night we took Zoë to the carnival at her school. The carnival is a fund raiser for the school so we brought cash to drop and drop it we did. I'm not sure how, but somewhere between the squirt game and the hit the balloon with the dart game we realized we only had $5 left! We definitely did our part for Riverfield School that night. Zoë had a great time and even took home a new friend, a stuffed Penguin named Pengwinny, of course.

Between gifts and meals I haven't even wanted to add up what today cost. I am a bit of a Scrooge when it comes to Mother's Day, but I still managed to have some fun. Zoë did not repeat her behavior of last weekend and was actually quite well-behaved and very, very sweet. The highlight of the fun was definitely when my nephew hurled a bowl of ice cream on the floor of the restaurant. He is too cute and since I'm not his Mom it made me laugh. And I did get some great gifts (including several Zoë masterpieces) so I can't complain about that.

All-in-all it was an expensive, but really nice weekend. Which only makes Monday morning that much harder to face.

My flip-flops are speaking

After yesterday's fun creative mind test, I was in the mood for some more silliness. Of course I chose the one about shoes!

According to this quiz, my flip-flops speak to my personality...

What Your Flip Flops Say About You

You are a warm, friendly person who simply enjoys life. You don't complicate things for yourself. Life is too short! You have a super optimistic attitude, and you have figured out how to be happy. Everyone wants to know your secret... and it's a lot more simple than they might think. Your ideal warm weather place: San Diego

The Flip Flop Test

I definitely don't have a super optimistic attitude, but I do love San Diego.

How my brain is wired (?)

I saw this silly quiz on Emily's blog so I naturally had to rush right over and confirm what I suspected...she is more creative than me.

60%

I have no idea what basis this assessment is made on, but I am always a sucker for these kinds of things.

Top 106 Unread Books on LibraryThing

I considered myself tagged for this one by Chris.

Below is a list of the top 106 books tagged “unread” on LibraryThing. The rules:
bold = what you’ve read,
italics = books you started but couldn’t finish
crossed out = books you hated
* = you’ve read more than once
underline = books you own but haven’t read yourself

1. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
2. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
3. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez*
4. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
5. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
6. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
7. The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
8. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
9. The Odyssey by Homer
10. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (I just can't get into the Russians.)
11. Ulysses by James Joyce
12. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
13. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
14. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte*
15. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
16. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
17. Moby Dick by Herman Melville
18. The Iliad by Homer
19. Emma by Jane Austen
20. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
21. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
22. The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
23. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
24. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen*
25. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
26. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
27. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
28. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
29. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
30. Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
31. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
32. Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco
33. Dracula by Bram Stoker
34. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
35. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers (This seems strange on this list.)
36. Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
37. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
38. Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
39. Middlemarch by George Eliot
40. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
41. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
42. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
43. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner (Hate all Faulkner.)
44. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley*
45. Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson
46. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
47. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
48. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
49. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
50. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
51. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde</li>
52. Dune by Frank Herbert
53. The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
54. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
55. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen*
56. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
57. The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen (I started this as an audio book, but the CDs I'd borrowed from the library were damaged and I never tried to get it again in any format.)
58. The Inferno by Dante Alighieri
59. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
60. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
61. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
62. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
63. Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
64. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
65. Persuasion by Jane Austen
66. One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
67. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
68. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
69. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
70. The Once and Future King by T.H. White
71. Atonement by Ian McEwan
72. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
73. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
74. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
75. Dubliners by James Joyce
76. Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
77. Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
78. Beloved by Toni Morrison
79. Collapse by Jared Diamond
80. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
81. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
82. Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence
83. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
84. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
85. Watership Down by Richard Adams
86. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
87. The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
88. Beowulf by Anonymous
89. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
90. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
91. The Aeneid by Virgil
92. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
93. Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence
94. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
95. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
96. Possession by A.S. Byatt
97. Tom Jones by Henry Fielding
98. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
99. Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon
100. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
101. Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
102. Candide, or Optimism by Voltaire
103. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
104. The Plague by Albert Camus
105. Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
106. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier

read: 34
started, but did not finish: 6
hated: 2
read more than once: 5
own, but not yet read: 6

I'm not sure what these results say about me, if anything at all, but it was fun none-the-less.

So, if you're reading this and you weren't tagged by Chris, consider yourself tagged by me!

I'll have the Belgian waffles!

About a hundred years ago when Rob and I were dating and still quite ga-ga over each other we used to have breakfast at a diner most Sunday mornings. We didn't have a usual spot, we'd pick different places depending on where we were headed that day. One day we were at some diner we'd never been to before (and haven't been back to since) happily ensconced in a booth awaiting our pancakes and eggs and other yummy diner breakfast treats when a family of five sat down at the booth behind us. The husband and wife sat on one side and the three children crowded into the other side. It was a tight fit, but it worked.

They were a loud family so we couldn't help overhearing much of what was going on at the table. The mother declared loudly that she was getting the Belgian waffles with whipped cream and when one of the kids asked if they could have that too she said, "No, there's too much sugar in that for you. You'll be crazy all day."

Rob and I were a little surprised that she would do that, but the bigger shock came a few minutes later when after the kids were arguing over space on their side of the booth the father asked the oldest boy, who was maybe 10 years old, to go sit by himself at the counter. The look on that boy's face broke my heart. "No," he whined. "I don't want to sit by myself." His father tried to convince him it wasn't that far away and they would all be more comfortable, but the boy just said nothing and didn't get up. At this Rob and I were appalled. That poor boy. We were sure he would grow up to murder his father one day.

Throughout the rest of the meal we kept catching other nasty comments the parents were making to and about their kids and we couldn't help ourselves in feeling that we would never be that way with our own children. We have often recalled that breakfast and how horrible we thought those parents were and we have often felt that we could never/would never be like that.

Today I felt my first shred of sympathy for those parents. Zoë was just relentlessly badly behaved for most of this weekend. She is normally a talkative, energetic kid who has a little trouble listening and sitting still, but it was as if someone turned all those behaviors on high this weekend. I don't know what it was, but by this afternoon Rob and I both had pretty much had it and while we were waiting in line for our lunch I turned to Rob and said, "I'll have the Belgian waffles." He knew exactly what I meant.

Big night at the Carlyle

This past Saturday night was the big party for my mother's 65th birthday. After my wonderful preview I had no doubt that the Cafe Carlyle would be a great place to celebrate and it did not disappoint -- not one little bit. The entire night was fun-filled from start to finish.

As a last minute impulse we decided to rent a limo for a bunch of us who were planning to caravan into NYC so the evening started off in style with a ride in a somewhat gaudy, but still comfortable for 9 white, stretch limo.
Here's a view from inside the limo:

(That's my Mom with the big smile and gorgeous sparkly dress. More pictures here.)

And because no one had to drive we had a little pre-party at home with champagne and presents for the birthday girl.

We were 18 in all at the Cafe. The service was impeccable and the cheesecake was truly divine. After all the toasting and talking and stuffing ourselves we were all happy to shut up and listen to Christopher Cross perform. He was really good! The set was a nice mix of the old hits and some new songs. I did bring my camera this time so I took some grainy video of him performing. Here's a montage of some of the old hits.



Incidentally, Christopher Cross did not look like what I thought he looked like. I think because I first heard of him back in the early 80s when I was a General Hospital fan and they used his song "Think of Laura" as part of the Luke and Laura storyline. (OMG, yes, there is wikipedia entry just for Luke and Laura!) I think my mental image of Christopher Cross got morphed with Tony Geary (Luke). For the record Christopher Cross looks absolutely nothing like Tony Geary and never did.

Speaking of looking good --
Mom, like I said, I hope 65 years looks so good on me.

Ecojustice 08

Emily has started a great new blog which is centered around challenges to become more environmentally friendly.

I have signed up for the challenge, but so far I've only committed to one of the 6 items on the list -- probably the easiest one which is reading a challenging book about the environment. I have already begun researching some options.

All of the challenges listed are good ones, but they are a little harder to adopt with a child involved so in addition to the book I have chosen one more item from the list that I am going to make a bit more family-friendly, but which I still think will be in the same spirit. The original challenge is to:

Buy only those things sold in recyclable packaging and make sure you recycle that packaging.

My version of this is to try and find acceptable substitutes for all the regular food items I buy for the whole family that don't currently come in recyclable packaging. In addition, I will only send Zoë's snacks and lunches to school in re-usable containers. We already have a lunch box and lots of little tupperware containers, but I tend to use ziplock bags a lot too.

It's not a lot, but it is my commitment for the quarter and hopefully every little bit counts.

So, if you're at all curious about the challenge you should check out the Ecojustice blog. I think this will be a really interesting year of challenges.

Passover faux pas

On Saturday night we celebrated the first night of Passover at my father's house. He and his girlfriend, Laura, made a seder geared towards the grandchildren. There were 6 kids all age 6 and under. It was a loud evening to say the least. Part of the seder includes reading the Haggadah which tells the story of Passover. The children's Haggadah we were using was very brief and simply written. When we got to the part where Pharaoh's daughter finds the baby in the basket floating down the river I was reading and it said something like "Pharaoh's daughter pulled the baby from the river and that baby..."

Suddenly Zoë burst in with, "I know who that baby was -- JESUS!"

Every adult in the room burst out laughing. It was completely hysterical. However, poor Zoë was completely mortified. She had no idea what she said that was funny, but she knew everyone was laughing at what she said. She put her head down on the table and would not look up until Rob held her for about 10 minutes.

I know it is one of those moments that will live on to her continued embarrassment. We all have those moments from our childhoods -- I know my own still haunt me. And I will try not to laugh at it every time, but it was truly one of those priceless moments.

You know it is Monday when...

• you oversleep (of course)
• a book mysteriously falls off the bookshelf knocking down other things in its wake including a small vase which shatters
  
• at the ATM and there is a notice that it is temporarily out of service
• hot coffee from the overfilled Starbucks spills on your white t-shirt before even making in the door of the office
• you realize you forgot to include a key person in an important meeting -- even though they were invited you didn't call the conference line
  
• out for a little peace at lunch time and run into 2 people you know from work
• you spill diet coke on the desk
• time stops at around 3:30 in the afternoon
• your husband buys exactly everything he was told we didn't need for dinner and nothing we did need

Luckily a glass of wine and what eventually turned into a decent dinner has rescued Monday night.

The advantages I've had

I saw this meme over at Noble Savage. The original authors of this exercise are Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, and Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you PLEASE acknowledge their copyright.

Bold the true statements. You can explain further if you wish.

1. Father went to college -- first in his family
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college -- and then some. She has more degrees than your average thermometer.
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor.
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers.
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home
9. Were read children’s books by a parent
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18 -- ice skating, swimming and ballet
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
16. Went to a private high school
17. Went to summer camp -- day camp and then sleep away camp
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
Not all of it, but most. I had some hand-me-downs from older brother and cousins
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them -- I helped pay for it though -- an '82 VW Rabitt which I loved.
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child -- I'm guessing mine doesn't count here.
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home
25. You had your own room as a child
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
31. Went on a cruise with your family
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family

Clearly I have been quite lucky. What about you?

Gossip Girl

In a March issue of The New Yorker there was a review of the YA Gossip Girl novels by Cecily von Ziegesar. I haven't read a YA book since I was a young adult myself -- I think it must have been one of the Sweet Valley High series -- so I was intrigued by this review because it made the books sound really good.

A few weeks later I happened to be at Border's with Zoë and while she was browsing the children's section I wandered over to the YA section and found book #1 in the Gossip Girl series. What the heck, I thought to myself, why not give it a try. The New Yorker piece really made it sound as if it were really written for adults at least on some level. The article says, "Her designated reader is an adolescent girl, but the reader she seems to have firmly in mind as she writes is a literate, even literary, adult."

So, I bought the book and I read it. It was a quick read. It was even an entertaining read. However, ultimately it did not transcend its YA status for me. Certainly it was a lot more racy than anything I had read as a teen, but it wasn't any deeper than Sweet Valley High. I didn't at all see what the author of The New Yorker piece saw even though I was primed to see it. Now I can't decide if I am just not a "literary adult" or if the review was reaching.

7 Weird Facts About Me

I was tagged by Emily for this one. I often feel like the weirdest person in the room so this shouldn't be too hard.

1. I'll start with an easy one. A lot of people who know me already know this about me. I studied costume design in college and grad school. I desinged costumes for several plays and musicals and I loved it until grad school where two things happened to derail me. First grad school was incredibly hard. I was working 20 hours a day and I still wasn't as good as most of the people I went to school with. There were some amazingly talented people in my school. Second I realized what an incredibly difficult career I had picked for myself and I took that advice that is often given to actors -- if there is anything else you want to do, do that.

2. Continuing the theme...while I was in graduate school at SMU in Dallas, TX I worked a short stint as a shopper for the TV show Walker, Texas Ranger. That was a really fun job. I never shopped for Chuck Norris -- just the extras, but it was still great. I wish it paid better because I probably still would be working as a shopper.

3. Before going to someone else's house for dinner I will often eat at home first. I am a pathetically, child-like picky eater and I hate feeling like I am being held hostage and forced to eat something I don't like. If I am not hungry it is much easier to deal with. Sometimes this has really saved my night.

4. I have to have the bed made. I cannot leave the house with the bed left unmade. I cannot get into an unmade bed. I can barely stand to be in a room with an unmade bed. Interestingly, I don't feel that way in hotel rooms at all.

5. When I shower I always wash in the same order. I never realized it until a few years ago, but I know that if I do something out of order, I get all messed up and end up getting out of the shower with conditioner in my hair or soap still on me. I think it was born out of necessity because I am often only half-awake in the shower so the routine helps me get through it efficiently.

6. I talk to myself in this weird whispering under my breath way when I am alone. I drive myself crazy when I do it, but I can't help it. It especially happens when I am working at home and I haven't really spoken to anyone all day or in hotel rooms when traveling on business.

7. I hate Bruce Springsteen. I know it is like I am missing some kind of gene or something, but I have never, ever liked his music and I don't think I ever will. There are a couple of songs I can tolerate, but overall I just cannot understand the phenomenon that is Bruce Springsteen. And please don't try to explain -- I still won't get it. Really.

Mom, you need [insert product name]!

The other day I was fishing around in my bag for something. I can't remember what it was, but I do know that it was my swell new Coach bag that I was fishing through. It is a bigger bag, but the inside zipper compartment is smaller than I am used to so things fall out of it easily (my one small complaint about this otherwise wonderful bag). As I was looking Zoë turned to me and said, "Mom you need the Buxton Organizer."

"The what?"

"You know, the Buxton Organizer. You'd never lose anything in your bag if you had that. You should order it."

And just then I could hear the commercial in my head. "Order Now!"

"Plus you could get the message reminder and you won't have to write out lists you could just play it back at the supermarket."

The "Digital Message Reminder" is your free gift with purchase of the Buxton Organizer.

No offense to anyone who owns this bag, it may be practical and wonderful at keeping one organized, but it does not meet a major handbag requirement for me. That is I do not like the way it looks AT ALL. Not to mention the fact that the words "As Seen on TV" are an instantaneous turn off.

"I don't think I need the that, honey," I said to Zoë. "I really like this bag."

"But you could be more organized. I really think you should get it," she implored.

"I'll think about it." Which everyone over age 10 knows is parent-speak for "that's never going to happen."

The commercial for the Buxton Organizer shows on the Disney Channel occasionally. It is eerie to hear the words of the commercial coming directly out of Zoë's mouth. Some marketer's dream is coming true as my own daughter tries to sell me on stuff I don't really need by insisting that I do need it. It is such an obnoxious commercial (as you can see if you follow the link above) and yet it sinks right into the brain.

I am already the proud(?) owner of the Betty Crocker Cake Decorating kit which my mother helped Zoë order for me for Christmas and rarely does a week go by when she doesn't find a reason why we also need Mighty Putty.

Meme time!

I haven't done a meme in awhile and since I really should be working this seems like a perfect time to get started on one. Got this from Emily & Becky -- thanks to you both!

The Extremely Random Meme

What is your occupation?
I am Associate Project Director for the electronic media department of a small publishing company.

What color are your socks right now?
I am without socks. I hate socks and only wear them when absolutely necessary. I would rather have cold feet than wear socks.

What are you listening to right now?
R.E.M. All last week Sirius satellite radio channel 18 was playing all R.E.M. all the time to promote the release of their new album (are they still called albums?). It was great and I have been continuing the binge via my iPod.

What is the last thing you ate?
A slice of pizza from Planet Pizza. It was just Zoë and I for dinner tonight so I let her pick.

Can you drive stick shift?
Nope. I believe I've blogged about that fact that before.

If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Red Violet. Not quite one thing or the other.

Last person you spoke to on the phone?
My husband who called from his latest job to say he would be (surprise, surprise) working even later than expected. However, my Mom is out tonight as well and Zoe is already in bed so it is nice to have some quiet, alone time at home.

What’s your favorite yoga pose?
The only one I know -- the plank.

How old are you today?
37 years, 2 months, 24 days

Favorite drinks?
Diet Coke, wine in it's many available forms including red, white and sparkling, vodka.

What is your favorite sport to watch?
Tennis. I have been watching it since I was little. Live or on TV, but preferably as part of a major tournament.

Have you ever dyed your hair?
Yes. Pink, black and blue as a teenager. Light brown highlights a few years ago. I am too lazy/busy about going back to the hair salon to maintain any kind of hair color.

Pets?
Yes. I still have a dog named Spanky.

Favorite cake?
Yellow cake with white buttercream frosting from Ambrosia bakery in Stratford. It is sweet enough to make your teeth chatter. Yum!

Last movie you saw?
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day with Becky.

Favorite day of the year?
Zoe's birthday. The first one changed me forever. Every one since has been a happy celebration.

How do you vent anger?
It depends on what I am angry about/who I am angry at. I guess I either shout or grumble.

What was your favorite toy as a child?
My Snoopy. I loved him so much. I bought him clothes and other accessories and I brought him everywhere until the incredibly sad day when his head fell off.

Autumn or spring?
Autumn. Spring around these parts is just cruel.

Hugs or kisses?
Hugs.

Cherry or blueberry?
Neither -- unless you mean as candy flavors and then I would choose cherry.

Do you want your friends to respond?
Yes.

Who is most likely to respond?
I got this from the two most likely to respond. So, maybe Tracie?

Living arrangements?
House in Fairfield with one husband, one daughter, one mother and one dog.

Last time you cried?
Saturday night, but in general I am not a big crier. I can't remember the time before that.

What is on the floor of your closet?
Hangers, boots, and my black Le Sport Sac overnight bag.

Who is the friend you’ve had the longest?
Heather. We've been friends since Mr. Corica's 6th grade Social Studies class.

Favorite smell?
Citrus or peppermint.

Who or what inspires you?
Zoe.

What are you afraid of?
Crowds.

Hamburgers?
Yes. Yum!

Favorite car?
VW Carmengia in red, please.

Number of keys on your key ring?
2. One for the car, one for the house.

How many years at your current job?
2 years, 363 days.

Favorite day of the week?
Thursday. The week is just about over, the weekend is near, but still being anticipated.

How many countries have you lived in?
Just 1 unless you count Texas as a country which many people do.

Dream job
I can't decide between running a film festival or creating photo/story books. Both would be good.

Wild Man Blues

I didn't get to bed until after 1AM, but it was worth every moment of missed sleep.

Last night, thanks to my generous mother, I had the good fortune to go to the Cafe Carlyle for an evening of dinner and live music. The Cafe Carlyle is a New York landmark. It might not be as widely known as the Village Vanguard or the Rainbow Room, but it is a wonderfully unique and very New York kind of spot. Monday nights are especially famous at the Carlyle because the usual act is Woody Allen and his New Orleans Jazz Band.

I was excited to go just because I had never been and it is such a famous place. I thought it would be entertaining to see Woody Allen perform live and had no doubt it would be a singular experience. We were there as guests of the maitre d' because my Mom is giving herself a 65th birthday party there later this month and he was good enough to offer her this opportunity to taste the food and experience the Carlyle. My mother was good enough to invite me to join her.

We arrived right on time for our 7PM reservations and Tony, the maitre d', showed us to our table right in front of the stage. We were immediately offered cocktails by the wait captain. "Champagne, Cosmopolitan, Kir Royale?" he suggested. Kir Royale was my choice and my mother opted for straight champagne. The drinks definitely fit the setting and got us in the right mood. Champagne has a way of doing that. We ordered dinner and started to relax into the night.

Woody Allen and band were slated to start at 8:45PM. "What do you think Woody Allen's version of 8:45 is?" my Mom asked.

"Probably 8:40," I joked. Woody Allen strikes me as someone who is compulsively punctual. I can imagine him standing outside a door waiting for the clock to strike precisely the invited hour before he knocks.

I was not disappointed. At 8:40, after polishing off our excellent dinners and just as we were being served dessert by the incredible wait staff, members of the band who had been readying their instruments on stage began to play and Woody Allen entered. He unceremoniously took his place, removed his clarinet from its case and settled down. He was dressed in tan corduroy pants, a yellow oxford shirt, a brown sweater . I got the feeling he wears the same outfit every time he performs. (A quick Google of the band this morning proved me right, too.) After assembling his clarinet, or licorice stick to use the New Orleans lingo, he removed his sweater, took the briefest look around and then cast his eyes down and began to play. He barely looked anywhere but down the entire time and that was probably the strangest part of the performance. Strange, but about what I expected.

Once I got over the fact that I was seeing the Woody Allen on stage just an arm's length from me, I started to really get into the music. The music took me by surprise actually. I am not the biggest music aficionado and I know next to nothing about New Orleans style Jazz, but I completely loved it. The musicians performing with Woody Allen were incredibly talented and the music was transporting.

Given that Woody Allen is so private I assumed that photos wouldn't be allowed. I was wrong. Even so, I wasn't going to do it, but ultimately I couldn't resist snapping a few photos with my phone.


The hour and a half performance flew by. The final number had Woody Allen singing as he cleaned and put away his clarinet. Still barely looking up and not ever looking directly out into the audience. It was a great conclusion to the performance. In the taxi to Grand Central both my mother and I were rubbing our faces which were sore from smiling for 90 minutes straight.

Can God forget stuff?

The following conversation occurred this morning in the bathroom:

Me: Brush your teeth.

Zoë: (leaning over sink with face close to the mirror and fingers on teeth) I think this tooth is getting loose.

Me: Let me see!

Zoë: Here. (Presenting open mouth with finger on one of her bottom front teeth.)

Me: (Feeling tooth) I don't feel it moving, honey.

Zoë: You have to do it hard.

Me: Oh, OK. Brush your teeth now.

Zoë: Mom? Can God forget stuff?

Me: I don't think so.

Zoë: I think God forgot to give me big girl teeth.

Me: I think they're just not ready yet. They will come and you will get a loose tooth. I promise you. You just have to wait for your body to be ready.

Zoë: I think God forgot. Katie lost a tooth. Kyra has a loose tooth. Everyone but me.

Me: I promise your teeth will get loose just as soon as the big girl teeth are ready now please brush your teeth or we are going to be late.

Zoë: (Big sigh) OK.

April Fool's Day

I am not much for April Fool's Day gags -- although I did once pulled a very successful one on Rob for which I don't think he has forgiven me for to this day.

However, this morning I did find my self wondering what gags would be going around today -- especially on Google. They always come up with something clever and this year is no exception. I admit, I fell right into it. I was looking at my work Google calendar and there was a new link at the top for the Google Wake up kit! I especially like the results of the "Learn more" link. Nice touch.

It is nice to know that even though Google is getting scary, conglomeration big, they still have a sense of humor.

I am a famous runner

Well, almost.

My good friend Christine is the author of the Running and Jogging blog for About.com and she mentioned me in a recent post. It's quite exciting and it is also quite good advice that I started trying out this weekend.

Christine is one of those incredibly fortunate people who have managed to combine two things they really love into one great job. She is a writer as well as a runner/running coach and now she writes about running! So very cool -- just like she is.

Thanks again for the great, personal advice!

Shadows of Easter

These were taken outside the restaurant where we had Easter lunch. I love taking pictures of shadows.

A new look?

I've been thinking it might be time for a new look for my blog. The pink is getting kind of old. What do you think?

Ask for what you want

My Mom and I took Zoe to the mall on Friday to fulfill some of her birthday wishes. Friday was her actual 6th birthday and luckily coincided with Good Friday so we were all off from work and school. Zoe's wishes included riding the carousel and getting to build a bear at "Build-a-Bear Workshop" (oh how I wish I had thought of that idea!), and a visit to her favorite store of all, Claire's.

After we rode the carousel, built a pink sparkly bear named "Pretty" (my Mom is a very generous grandmother!), and Zoe ate some McDonald's we set off to find Claire's. I am not familiar with the mall we were in so I didn't know where it would be. After walking around for a little while I said we should find a directory, but Zoe suggested we just ask someone. We were walking past a jewelry store and my Mom said we should ask there. Zoe marched right off in the direction of the women at the counter of the jewelry store and said, "Excuse me."

"Yes?" one of the women behind the counter said looking to my mother and me as we came up behind Zoe.

"Where is Claire's?" Zoe asked. No hesitation, not at all shy, just openly demanding. She had absolutely no problem walking up to this complete stranger to ask for what she wanted. I was really impressed. I think the women behind the counter were pretty surprised too. They told us where to find Claire's and then I saw the smiles creeping onto their faces. I had to stifle a few giggles myself because I didn't want Zoe to think I was laughing at her.

In truth I was and I wasn't. Mostly I was amazed at her. I am sure when I was Zoe's age I would never have approached someone like that. Even now as an adult I hate asking people things like that. I would much prefer the complete anonymity of a directory. That is one of the reasons I love the internet so much -- you don't have to talk to any actual people to find the information you want.

The Pooh Character Test

I got this from Emily and found it completely irresistible. I'd say it actually is a pretty good summation of me too. Now I must read some Pooh to Zoë tonight!

Your Score: Rabbit

You scored 18 Ego, 15 Anxiety, and 19 Agency!

IT was going to be one of Rabbit's busy days. As soon as he
woke up he felt important, as if everything depended upon him.
It was just the day for Organizing Something, or for Writing a
Notice Signed Rabbit, or for Seeing What Everybody Else Thought
About It. It was a perfect morning for hurrying round to Pooh,
and saying, "Very well, then, I'll tell Piglet," and then going
to Piglet, and saying, "Pooh thinks--but perhaps I'd better see
Owl first." It was a Captainish sort of day, when everybody
said, "Yes, Rabbit " and "No, Rabbit," and waited until he had
told them.

You scored as Rabbit!

ABOUT RABBIT: Rabbit is generally considered Clever by his many friends and relations. He is actually a much better reader and writer than Owl, but he doesn't consider it worth mentioning. Instead, Rabbit's real talent lies in Organizing Plans. He organizes rescue parties, makes schemes to reduce Tigger's bounciness, and goes on missions to find out what Christopher Robin does when he's not at the Hundred Acre Woods. Sometimes, however, his Plans do not always go as Planned.

WHAT THIS SAYS ABOUT YOU: You are smart, practical and you plan ahead. People sometimes think that you don't stress or worry, but this is not the case. You are the kind of person who worries in a practical way. You think a) What are my anxieties about and b)what can be done about them? No useless fretting for you. You don't see the point in sitting around and waiting for things to work out, when you could actually work them out today and save yourself a lot of time and worry. Your friends tend to rely on you, because they know that they can trust you help them work things out.

You sometimes tend to be impatient with people who are less practical in their ways. You don't have much patience for idiots who moan about things but never actually DO anything about them. You have high expectations of everyone, including yourself. When you don't succeed at something, or when something goes wrong despite your best efforts to prevent it, you can get quite hard on yourself. You need to cut yourself some slack and accept that everyone has their faults, even you, and THAT IS OKAY. Let yourself be faulty, every now and then, for the sake of your own sanity.

Link: The Deep and Meaningful Winnie-The-Pooh Character Test written by wolfcaroling on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test View My Profile(wolfcaroling)

$#&%*&%$ SLR!

Saturday night was Zoë's birthday party and it was a big success. All her friends from school, all her cousins, and just about every other friend she has were in attendance at the Little Gym of Fairfield for the fete. There was running around, screaming, trampolining, and singing along to the songs from High School Musical. There was also a pinata, many cupcakes, balloons and 21 adorable children.

And if I hadn't accidentally put my fancy schmancy digital SLR camera on the wrong damn setting I would probably have tons of great pictures to share. I took 101 pictures that night. I only realized the camera was on the wrong setting in the last 20 minutes of the party. I couldn't even bring myself to download the pictures until tonight and I stupidly hoped there would be some happy accidents. Alas there were not. 98 shots went right in the trash.

This is one of the 3 halfway decent pictures that I got.



It is pretty cute, but still. Damn it!!

Manic Monday

Manic Monday for March 17, 2008

If you could have any music group or musician play at a party, who would you hire?
Wow, that is a tough one because a lot would depend on the kind of party. In fantasy land I'd go with the Beatles circa 1967 (the year Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band released). Back in reality I think I would choose Paul Simon joined by Ladysmith Black Mambazo. I do like a lot more current music, but for music for a party that I would host, that is what I would want. I am not a big fan of loud live music.

Name three things to be happy about today.
1. Zoe's birthday party was a huge success and she is still really pleased about it and therefore so am I.
2. I lost another pound.
3. The sun is shining.

How do you release frustration?
Sometimes shopping (retail therapy), sometimes at the gym or taking a walk, and sometimes by just bitching and moaning for a spell.

Bringing Home the Birkin

I was the lucky recipient of an Early Reviewer's copy of Bringing Home the Birkin by Michael Tonello. This book is the equivalent of all those mountain climbing, desert marching, storm sailing adventure books out there, but in this case the sport is shopping. (A sport I like to participate in myself, but my level is junior amateur in comparison.) It is also very similar to chick lit except that in this case instead of the typical spunky, unlucky in love, career, etc waiting for the big break heroine, this hero(ine?) is an openly gay man. who manages to turn a love and a knack for shopping into a business as well as quite a nice life for himself.

The book is subtitled My Life in Hot Pursuit of the World's Most Coveted Handbag. That handbag being the Hermes Birkin. I have heard a few stories of the famous Birkin waitlist and there was even an episode of "Sex and the City" that featured the same. I have only seen a few Birkins in person on the arms of clearly wealthy women, but they are distinct enough to be instantly recognizable. They are the ultimate elite status symbol.

Mr. Tonello's business involved luxurious travel to major European destinations to purchase Birkins from Hermes shops and then re-selling them on E-Bay from his envy-inspiring apartment in Barcelona. His trials and triumphs are amusing and the hotels and dining he describes could serve as a travel guide. The story works because the author never takes himself to seriously or fails to realize what a charmed life he's leading. Mr. Tonello has an amazing positive attitude self described as "Always half-full, that glass, always." Which is from a section describing a stay in a hospital where he was treated for severe anemia.

A family tragedy brings about the eventual end of his Birkin hunting in the way that kind of thing can do by making you take a look at what you're actually spending your time doing. He could no longer deal with "people who lacked for nothing, but who longed for more" and got himself out before he became that way himself.

So, if you're in the mood for a light-hearted romp through the luxurious side of Europe I think you'll enjoy this one. I definitely did.

Love & Marriage

I got this meme from Noble Savage and thought it looked like fun.

1. Where / how did you meet?
We first met at my Dad's house the summer after my freshman year in college. Rob was my brother's friend from his summer construction job and he brought him to my Dad's house one day to help out with some home improvement project. My Dad used to love to assign my brother and I home improvement projects just to torture us, I am pretty sure.

2. How long have you known each other?
18 and a half years. I didn't even realize it was that long.

3. How long after you met did you start dating?
We had a few dates over the course of several years, but we didn't start really dating until about 8 years after we first met.

4. How long did you date before you were engaged?
A year and a half.

5. How long was your engagement?
8 months.

6. How long have you been married?
8 years.

7. What is your anniversary?
October 16

8. How many people came to your wedding reception?
106 -- don't ask me why, but I remember the exact final count.

9. What kind of cake did you serve?
Carvel ice cream cake -- it is my favorite and we had individual cakes for each table rather than one big cake.

10. Where was your wedding?
The Top of the Tower at the Beekman Tower Hotel in New York City.

11. What did you serve for the meal?
It was a choice of Fillet Mignon, salmon, or ravioli. I didn't get to eat any of it so I don't know if it was good.

12. How many people were in your bridal party?
2 -- one each.

13. Are you still friends with them all?
No. Rob's best man never forgave me for taking him away.

14. Did your spouse cry during the ceremony?
No

15. Most special moment of your wedding day?
During the reception, standing out on one of the balconies watching the sunset and just holding hands.

16. Any funny moments?
Rob forgot to actually say "I do" until I reminded him.

17. Any big disasters?
None. It was pretty close to perfect.

18. Where did you go on honeymoon?
Aruba.

19. How long were you gone?
1 week.

20. If you were to do your wedding over, what would you change?
There was part of me that wanted one of those island weddings at Sandals or something, but if I were to change the wedding I had, I would invite about 20 less people and go on a longer honeymoon.

21. What side of the bed do you sleep in?
On the right in our bed at home, but my criteria when we travel is not right or left it is the side with the nightstand. If both sides have nightstands then I want the side that is closer to the bathroom. Rob is wonderfully not picky about sides of the bed.

22. What size is your bed?
King.

23. Greatest strength as a couple?
We are able to be completely ourselves with each other.

24. Greatest challenge as a couple?
I like to be organized and to think things through -- maybe to to a fault. Rob does not.

25. Who literally pays the bills?
Me.

26. What is your song?
"Moondance" by Van Morrison

27. What did you dance your first dance to?
"Crazy Love" by Van Morrison

28. Describe your wedding dress
Ivory silk, empire waist with an a-line skirt to the floor (no train). The best part was the back that was a deep V. There was beading around the neckline that went around the deep V and also around the waistline. It was pretty simple, but I really loved it.

29. What kind of flowers did you have at your wedding?
Red roses. There were a few other flowers for the ceremony, but all I remember is the red roses.

30. Are your wedding bands engraved?
Yes. They both say: Always 10-16-99

Oprah's Big Give

Last night I was in the mood to watch a little TV. I didn't want to invest in an entire movie -- I just wanted to watch for an hour or so. Much channel surfing ensued and I landed on an episode of a new show called "Oprah's Big Give." I believe last night's episode was the second in the series and in it the contestants were dropped in the middle of Denver, CO and given 48 hours to give away some money "in the most creative and dramatic ways." Some of the contestants sought out charitable organizations like the Boys and Girls Club and a home for children and some found random strangers in need.

Of course I am all for helping out the needy and for trumpeting the fact that there are so many people in need, but there is something about this show that bothers me. I can't put my finger on what bothers me most. Is it the fact that it is a contest? Is it the randomness of the give aways? Or is it the wealthy celebrity judges who get to decide who did the most good? The whole thing just left a bad taste in my mouth and it surprised me that it did because I usually find Oprah's charitable works to be exemplary.

Am I missing something or do you agree that there something wrong with this idea?

Manic Monday

Today's questions are:

What's your favorite thing to spend money on?
Shoes and cosmetics. They are my default items to shop for when I am in the mood for shopping. Handbags run a very close third, but I don't buy those often.

If you could retire tomorrow what would you do?
Read more, see more movies, take more photos, write more, and sleep more.

Should anything be censored and if so, what and why?
Nope. I think children should be limited in their exposure to things, but adults can choose what they want to see, hear, read.

One week of braces

1 new WaterPik
2 "emergency" orthodontist visits
3 pounds lost
4 doses of Advil per day
5 brushings of teeth daily
6 moments of regret
7 days and counting without chewing gum, popcorn, apples, or any truly solid food

OK, I'm done complaining about my braces on this blog for good (barring any unusual disasters). Besides, the 4 pounds lost almost makes up for all the other stuff.

What's in your handbag?

Becky recently posed the question: what are the items you must have with you?

I liked this post so much that I decided that rather than answering her in a comment, I would use it as a sort of meme.

Looking my handbag you will find the following items (in no particular order):

1. Wallet. I am very particular about my wallet and tend to use the same one for years. I just got a beautiful new Kate Spade wallet for my birthday and I like seeing it looking so pretty inside my bag.

2. Blackberry. Yes, they call it a Crackberry for a reason and I love that little thing. It is especially good for keeping in touch with my husband who is, like me, never separated from his Blackberry.

3. 2 lipsticks. One from Clinique which is boringly named "pink," but is still a good lipstick and one from Laura Mercier called "Purple Haze." I love lipstick.

4. Lip balm. Yes, in addition to the lipsticks, I like to have lip balm too. In fact, I am hopelessly addicted to lip balm and I keep one everywhere -- by the bed, in the bathroom, in my car, at my desk and, of course, in my bag. Right now I have 2 different lip balms -- a Burt's Bees lip balm and a tinted lip balm by Tarte called "Thursday." Ordinarily I only carry my long enduring favorite Cherry ChapStick.

5. iPod. This is one of those things that whenever I decide to leave it at home, I immediately find myself in a situation where I desperately wish I had it. I love that most handbags come designed with the double inside pockets these days that neatly fit an iPod and a phone.

6. Bath & Body Works Pink Grapefruit Anti-Bacterial Moisturizing Hand Lotion. It does 2 things in one -- I love the efficiency -- especially after using a public restroom which is almost always equipped with industrial strength soap that can double as a furniture stripping agent.

7. Key ring with the minimum number of keys needed for my life -- 2. One for the car and one for the house. I hate carrying extra keys. I do have a cute peace symbol key fob too. I also have a separate key ring just for the fob that opens the doors to my office building.

8. Sunglasses. I love sunglasses and I always have a pair with me unless I am paring down for an evening bag. (No Corey Hart impressions for me.)

9. Nice'n Clean Antibacterial Moist Wipes. They have saved me from many sticky situations -- pun intended! These are a must for being anywhere with children under the age of 10, but out of diapers. When they're in diapers you always have the wipes with you and I am hopeful that by the age of 10, kids can clean themselves up.

10. Opti-free Rewetting Drops. A couple of months ago I got new contact lenses and when my eyes were adjusting to them, I found the drops helped. They can probably be taken off the must include list since I hardly use them anymore.

11. Cosmetics bag with face powder, concealer, eye shadow and tweezers. Sometimes my lipsticks are in here and sometimes they are in the zipper pocket where my keys live.

12. 2 pens -- one stolen from the hotel on my last business trip and one that came as part of the latest swag from my job.

13. Dental wax for the braces. This is a new addition, but very essential at the moment. It has replaced the chewing gum that used to be a permanent fixture pre-braces.

And that's it. I clean out extraneous stuff like receipts and other bits on a nightly basis because I like my bag to be neat and organized.

5 Things

I was tagged by Lisa for this one...

Here are the rules:

1. List five kind things you do for yourself.

2.List five kind things you do for your closest friend, partner or child.

3.List five kind things you have done for a stranger.

4. Have fun!

5. Tag five people.

1. Five things I do for myself
- Exercise
- Buy myself really nice handbags
- Get manicures
- Read
- Take long, leisurely showers on the weekends

2. Five things I do for my closest friend, partner or child.
- Remember birthdays
- Laundry
- Buy candy they like
- Tell them I love them
- Be thoughtful of what is important to them

3. Five things I have done for a stranger.
- Saved their place in line at the grocery store
- Picked up something they dropped
- Given them a diaper and wipes for their child
- Let them cut in front of me in traffic
- Paid their toll

Tagging: Musings from the Sofa, Telecommuter Emily, Reading Nook Chris, Karen, & Tracie

Thanks Lisa!

Star Wars -- What could have been

Of course I loved Star Wars when I was a kid, but nowadays I think I might prefer the version of that opens like this:




(Thanks to YesButNoButYes for the link.)

Manic Monday

And the questions are...

You find that your best friend has stolen money to pay for medical treatment for a seriously ill relative. What would you do?
I would offer my friend whatever money I could to help them either pay back the stolen money or continue to pay for the medical treatment. It would be hard for me to judge them for stealing for this reason. A lot would depend on who the money was stolen from.

What three things you regret not learning to do?

1. Play a musical instrument.
2. Drive a standard.
3. Play tennis well enough to have a regular game.

Zoe's choice

This morning Zoë and I were discussing the plans for the day. We were supposed to be going to my brother's for a visit. Zoë loves playing with her cousins so she was quite excited to do that. Unfortunately, my brother had to have hernia repair surgery on Friday so when we called their house this morning my sister-in-law said she wasn't sure my he would be up for visitors. When I told Zoë that we may not be able to go see her cousins, I said we could do something else fun instead. She said, "If I'm good, can we go to Claire's?"

I agreed to that. She's been asking to go for weeks and another $10 spent at Claire's would buy me a cooperative child for the day. That seemed like a bargain, in fact. The errands were run, lunch was had, we were out with my Mom for a few more stops and then we were just about to head to Claire's when my sister-in-law called to say we were welcome to come over. By that time it was 2pm and it being a school night we didn't really have time for both, but it could have been done with a bit of rushing in both places. So, I said to Zoë, "What would you rather do -- go to Claire's or go see your cousins?" I would have been fine with either decision, but I fully expected her to choose Claire's especially because she had been wanting to go for awhile and she missed an opportunity yesterday.

"Go see my cousins!" she answered immediately and enthusiastically. "We can go to Claire's another time. Maybe tomorrow."

"Are you sure?" I was quite surprised.

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Because I don't think we'll get another chance to go to Claire's until next weekend," I warned.

"That's OK."

I would have truly understood if she had chosen Claire's and I probably would have done both if she had pushed. If the situations had been reversed, I'm not even sure what my choice would have been, but I strongly suspect it would have been Claire's. (I would have loved Claire's had such a thing existed when I was Zoë's age.)

Off we went to see her cousins -- as well as my brother (who appears to be recovering nicely from surgery) and sister-in-law. There was never a moment of regret on her part and we had a nice evening.

She can really be a great kid.

What are you wearing today?

As was recently revealed over on Musings from the Sofa my excellent friend and esteemed colleague is heading for greener pastures in the very near future. While I am truly thrilled for her, I am sad for me because although I have no doubt our friendship will remain constant there is much I will miss such as barging into her office whenever I feel the need, our regular lunches at our regular spot, and finally, seeing her clothing and shoe choices each day.

I know that last one may sound silly to some, however, the bar for fashion is set pretty low at my workplace (clean clothes often qualify as dressed-up). Becky is one of the few notable exceptions to this rule and I strive to be one myself. As Becky wisely pointed out we basically dress up for each other every day. And that is absolutely true. Now that we're not going to see each other everyday how will we communicate what we're wearing? Jokingly we thought there must be some social networking application out there that would allow us to share the info in a fun way -- kind of like Twitter, but just for clothes. One Google search led to another and I stumbled across a blog called What are you wearing today? Go ahead and take a look at it and then come back here.

Unbelievable, right? Can you imagine how much time this person spends just photographing his clothing selections for each day? Never mind how much time and money he spends acquiring these clothes. I never fancied myself the next editor of Vogue, but this guy really puts my fashion love in check. I would love to see his closets. This blog is a little like men's fashion porn.

I don't think Becky and I will go that far.

Braces

In just under 36 hours from now I will be getting braces. No, not to hold up my pants, but to straighten my teeth.

This is something I have wanted to do for awhile and now need to do. The options in my case were: 1) braces or 2) an implant here, an extraction there followed by veneers or braces. As expensive as braces are option 1 is actually cheaper and shorter term. I am glad I am doing it because I am starting to feel a bit self-conscious about my teeth, but at the same time I am filled with dread. I know it is going to be uncomfortable and downright painful at times and just thinking about that kind of exhausts me.

Although I never had braces as kid, I keep having visions of my awkward, pimply-faced, nerdy, 14-year-old self. Will having braces on my teeth make me feel ugly and/or insecure? (Clearly I already sound like my whiny 14 year-old self!) I don't want to walk around feeling that way for 2 years so I am going to try hard not to focus on it, but I suspect it will be a bit of a struggle especially at first to not see only the braces. Or maybe not. Maybe (hopefully) I am making a bigger deal out of it than it will be because I am nervous and not looking forward to the discomfort. Fingers crossed!

Manic Monday

A new Manic Monday:

How did you celebrate your last birthday?
I had a really good birthday this year that included 2 rather nice celebrations. I had a spa day which included a facial, manicure, and pedicure with my good friend Becky and then I had dinner with my family which ended with ice cream cake. Yum!

What's the last thing you bought yourself, just for fun?
That question is pathetically easy to answer in my case because I love to shop. On Thursday of last week I bought myself a little plaid wallet from J.Crew (which looks kind of like this, but is a wallet not a make-up bag) while out for my lunch time stroll. It is rather dangerous working so close to many nice stores.

What would the child you once were think of the adult you have become?
Wow, that is a good question. I guess it would depend on which version of me as a child you were asking. I think under 10 year old me would like the adult I have become. I think child me would think I was a pretty good Mom who liked to do fun stuff. Child me would like to hang out at my house. If you asked the over 10 year old me, I think that might be a slightly different story. I think that version of me might be a little disappointed to find me working in an office 9 to 5 and not doing something much more creative.

The Pediatrician

This afternoon at the supermarket I ran into my daughter's pediatrician. We live in the same town so it is not that unusual, but every time I run into him outside of his office I am thrust into a feeling of incredible awkwardness and self-consciousness. It starts with what to call him. Should it be "Dr. Owens" or should I go with "Jeff" or try for a light-hearted "Dr. O?" I usually just say hello without mentioning his name. And that is just the first moment of awkwardness -- it only gets worse from there. What is it that makes me feel so insecure? I was sure he was examining the contents of my cart (even though I know deep down that couldn't possibly be true) and I was equally sure that I had babbled way too much by the time we said good-bye. The man is the same age as me, our children go to the same school, we go to the same gym, shop in the same supermarket. That should make us peers. And the fact that I pay him to do his job, should make him less of an authority figure in my eyes. And yet it doesn't.

At the movies: Michael Clayton

A last minute impulse and bit of luck landed my husband and I in a movie theater last night where we saw "Michael Clayton." My husband hated it, branding it with his ultimate insult -- "it was a talk show." I enjoyed it quite a bit more than that and not only because I got to look at George Clooney throughout.

"Michael Clayton" is a dark and brooding movie about a fight for truth and justice despite the evil, American corporate way. Mr. Clooney as the lead role is the "fixer" for a large corporate law firm that is embroiled in a long and expensive defense of a chemical company. (Think of the bad guys in "Erin Brokovich" or "A Civil Action." ) Throughout the course of the movie Michael Clayton realizes he is stuck in a role where he serves evil and decides that he needs to fight the same evil he serves. This isn't a David and Goliath story though. There is no hope that just because one evil giant is eventually slain (at great expense to our hero) others will change their ways.

Overall I give it a solid B plus. George Clooney is this movie and he carries it well. Not sure that he will actually win the Oscar, but the nomination is certainly well-deserved. I especially enjoyed the scene that played opposite the final credits which was just a single camera focused on Mr. Clooney as he rides in a taxi away from the final showdown.

Finally no account of my experience with this movie would be complete without the inclusion of the couple sitting behind us. Apparently they had mistaken the movie theater for their own living room because they talked through the entire thing. At first it was really annoying, but after a while it became humorous because they were both having such a hard time understanding the movie. I even tried shushing them at one point. It was effective for about 5 minutes. At one point the man said, "I would have to sit through this again to understand it at all." I couldn't help thinking that if they had just shut up and paid attention they would have understood a lot more. My husband and I walked out of what was quite a serious movie in uncontrollable giggles because of those two.

Manic Monday

Here's the President's Day Manic Monday:

What do you order when you eat Chinese food?
General Tso's chicken and pork fried rice -- those are my two favorites. I also really like scallion pancakes, but it is hard to get good ones so it usually depends on where I am ordering. Hands down favorite Chinese food restaurant is Sammy's Noodle Shop on 6th Ave. & 11th St. NY, NY. When I am there I often order the chicken lo mein too because their noodles are the best!

How much have you controlled the course your life has taken?
Obviously as a kid I have had no control over the course of my life, but since college I would say that things have pretty much been in my control. I haven't always made the best decisions, but it has all been in my control. I chose my career path(s), I chose to get married, I chose to have a baby. That's not to say there aren't things I would change about my life, but I think I got myself exactly where I am right now.

Whose opinion do you value when deciding how to vote?
Frankly, no one. I prefer to make my own decisions about voting.

The Writing Meme

Got this one from Emily.

What’s the last thing you wrote?
Not counting blog posts, emails, and work-related documents -- a letter to Zoe. I keep a journal of letters to her that was started at my baby shower. All my friends and family wrote letters to Zoe before she was born. I try to write 3 or 4 times a year.

Was it any good?
I think so. It might not be high quality writing, but it is honest and loving and I hope it will be something that she will like having when she is an adult.

What’s the first thing you wrote that you still have?
There is so much I don't have. I have a tendency to throw things away so the oldest thing I have is an essay I wrote in graduate school on Dr. Faustus. It is good and I love to look it over now and again and remember that I used to be able to think and write like that.

Write poetry?
Yes. I used to write a lot of it and even had a few poems published in some obscure poetry journals. I don't write poetry much these days because it requires a combination and coordination of inspiration and time that I find difficult to come by these days. I hope to get back to poetry at some point in the future.

Angsty poetry?
But of course. And some humorous.

Favourite genre of writing?
These days it has to be blogging, but overall it is short stories.

Most fun character you’ve ever created?
Zoë. Not my daughter Zoë, but that is how I first fell in love with the name. Way back in the day before blogs circa 1999 I used to write for a now defunct website called Grrl Talk. I had a series of articles called "My Inner Sixteen-Year-Old." In the articles I called my inner sixteen-year-old Zoe and she was the fun, silly, daring side of life. I was really sad when that site became a victim of the dot com bust.

Most annoying character you’ve ever created?
Mark. Fashioned after and ex-boyfriend who was equally annoying in reality.

Best plot you’ve ever created?
I guess it has to be the plot of one of my favorite short stories which is called Taxi Ride. In the story a NYC cab driver gives a young woman a free ride.

Coolest plot twist you’ve ever created?
I'm not so big on twists, but the closest I've come is with the ending of the story mentioned above. It more just not obvious than any kind of real twist.

How often do you get writer’s block?
When I was really writing, it didn't happen often. I could move on to something else. The fact that I don't write much these days has more to do with time and energy and a lack of focusing on myself than it is a block.

Write fan fiction?
Nope. Never even considered it.

Do you save everything you write?
Nope. I wish I did.

Do you ever go back to an idea after you’ve abandoned it?
Yes. That can be great for me -- especially when I was writing poetry. I kept pages and pages of ideas that I would frequently go back to.

What’s your favourite thing you’ve written?
It is a tie between that same short story, Taxi Ride that I mentioned above and the poem I wrote for my brother's wedding.

What’s everyone else’s favourite story that you’ve written?
I would have to let people read more than one to know that.

Do you ever show people your work?
Occasionally and mostly through this blog.

Did you ever write a novel?
Nope. I would like to.

Ever written romance or angsty teen drama?No romance, but definitely some angsty teen drama short stories, poetry and plays.

What’s your favourite setting for your characters?

New York City.

How many writing projects are you working on right now?

Two not including the blog.

Do you want to write for a living?

Sometimes.

Have you ever won an award for your writing?

No, but I've never submitted my work for any awards either.

Ever written anything in script or play format?

Yes, I have written a few plays.

What are your five favourite words?

I find that really difficult to answer. I like lots and lots of words, but I don't know that I could narrow things down that much.

Do you ever write based on yourself?

Constantly.

What character have you created that is most like yourself?

A lot of my characters are strong representations of me in a particular time.

Where do you get ideas for your characters?

My life.

Do you ever write based on your dreams?

No, I rarely remember my dreams.

Do you favour happy endings, sad endings or cliff-hangers?

I prefer to read happy endings, but often end up writing sad endings.

Have you ever written based on an artwork you’ve seen?

Nope, but that is an interesting idea.

Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?

Yes -- especially spelling.

Ever write anything in chatspeak (how r u?)

Only when on IM.

Entirely in L337?

Definitely not.

Was that question appalling and unwriterly?

No, just not for me.

Does music help you write?

Yes. Music helps me do almost everything -- drive, work, sleep, etc. It helps me to focus by covering over all the other background noises.

Quote something you’ve written. Whatever pops into your head.

"Life often imitates art."

A Valentine's Story: The Lost Ring

Earlier this week while passing some time before boarding my train home (from NYC) I wandered through some of the shops at Grand Central. I was surprised to find that there is a Pylones there now. I have shopped their Spring Street location and gotten some cute gifts for Zoë. With Valentine's day coming, I decided to pop in and look for a little present for her and I was not disappointed. I found an adorable chunky plastic ring that was blue with little red hearts -- definitely right up her alley.

On Valentine's Day morning when she was all ready for school and we were just about to go to the bus stop I gave her the ring and, as predicted, she loved it. She hugged me and thanked me like I had given her a diamond and immediately put it on. "Mommy it is so beautiful!"

Then we got our coats, hats, and gloves on and headed out. When her good friend Hannah arrived at the bus stop she wanted to show off her ring so she yanked off her glove and with the glove the adorable chunky plastic ring that was blue with little red hearts went flying off her finger and promptly down into the storm drain. There was a moment of silence as everyone at the bus stop realized what had happened and then Zoë immediately broke down into sobs. She wrapped herself around me and shook with crying.

"I'll get you a new one," I promised in an effort to make her feel better despite the fact that I had no idea how I would go about getting back to New York and back to the Pylones store.

"But Mommy," she weeped. "I loved it so much."

"I know honey. I promise I will get you a new one. It is OK, really." I held her as she cried until the bus pulled up to the corner. Then I wiped her tears with my coat sleeve and she ran to board the bus.

"Oh man, that is rough. What are you going to do? The lunch time scramble?" asked one of the parents. I really didn't know because there was no way I could get to Grand Central. On my way into work I figured that I would go shopping at lunch time in hopes of finding a suitable substitute gift. I had the good fortune of being out to lunch with Becky who, after enduring yet another long Zoë story, brilliantly recalled seeing similar rings at our local Papyrus. The rings were there! Although they didn't have the same design they had some nice ones so I picked out a red and pink design and felt that I had done my best at making it all better.

Later on that afternoon I recounted the saga to my husband who just happened to be home early. About ten minutes later he called me back asking me which storm drain exactly because he was outside with one of the pool nets and was going to try and find the ring. He spent an hour digging sludge out of the storm drain looking for this ring. Sadly, he never found it although he did report finding a lot of plastic forks. I'm not sure why plastic forks are attracted to storm drains, but apparently they are. Personally, I wouldn't touch the stuff in a storm drain -- even with the ten foot pole he was using, but I give the man real "props" for this one.

When I got home from work I gave Zoë the substitute red and pink design ring and she hugged me fiercely and said, "Oh Mommy, this one is even prettier!"

Is that a Valentine from my family, or what?

Frozen Grand Central

Having just spent 2 days commuting in and out of NYC, I think it is interesting that my good friend Heather emailed me this today. I really wish I could have seen this in person, but the video is pretty great. Check it out...



Complete story here.