In Christina's (Fabulous) Shoes

Engagements are in the Air

2008-03-19T16:47:00.002-05:00

Don't worry, I don't mean me.... but I have had some friends say the big "YES" in the past few weeks. So, congratulations to Michelle (you all remember her, my junior-year suitemate) and her fiance David, and congratulations to Floria and her fiance Peter, who finally got engaged after 11 years and one month of dating. I can't wait to share your days with you (just try not to plan your weddings on the same day ;) ).

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

2008-03-04T21:08:00.002-05:00

As many of you know, I have been blessed with the world's worst sinuses. Besides for me constantly being sick (see previous posts), they've also contributed to my trademark 'foghorn' nose blow (as it was dubbed by a floormate during my sophomore year in Warren Towers), my nasal-y voice, and I'm convinced it's the reason why I sing so abominably. As a matter of fact, the only good thing that's come out of those stupid cavities in our skull is that I can muster up a pretty decent French accent if I need to. Over the years, I've pretty much become immune to every nasal spray and allergy medication out there, so today I did the unthinkable. Yes, Ladies and Gentleman, I bought and tried out a NETI POT. For those of you that are unfamiliar, a Neti Pot is a little pot that looks a lot like a genie lamp. You fill it up with warm water and a sinus rinse (salt and baking soda). You then tip your head forward, stick the spout up one nostril, pouring the water into the nostril, and wait for water to stream out of the other nostril. At first, there's that sensation you get when water gets up your nose at the pool. But once the water starts streaming out, I have to admit that it's pretty cool. When I was all done, I felt some instant relief, mostly I think because some moisture got to go through my system (a good defense against the heaters on all winter long). Whether there will be some long-term improvement remains to be seen.... I will keep you all updated!

I'm Still Here...With Too Much Information...

2008-02-23T00:25:00.004-05:00

To trace the route of my new computer, it started out in Shanghai, then visited Anchorage, followed by Indiana. It is now sitting in a warehouse about 10 miles west of me in Jamaica, NY. The wait is unbearable, though impressive that a mere 2 days ago, it was on the other side of the world. Why why why did I not spring for the weekend delivery? Now I have to wait until Monday, with it so temptingly close to me. And of course, this begs the question: are we privy to too much information these days? Is it healthy to my psyche that I am able to check my package's whereabouts on FedEx.com every few minutes? Would I be better off if I was completely surprised by its arrival? Computers to track information, caller ID that now pops up on your television, media coverage of minor stories, thermometers to tell us what day to make babies, sizing up countless sources of information before we make any sort of decision --- when does it end? When do we as humans allow ourselves to put our faith and our fate to the test? When can we just BE?

I'm Going to the Other Side

2008-02-20T00:52:00.002-05:00

This post could possibly represent the end of an era. Specifically, the end of a Dell laptop / pc applications era. Yes folks, I am just days away from a brand-new macbook arriving on my doorstep. My reasons for needing a new computer are pretty basic: with mine approaching the 5-year mark, it operates slow at best. It has less than 10% of its disk space left. The wireless card is shot, red buttons keep flashing, I can actually hear the computer 'think' when I ask it to do something, it won't ever fully charge, and I've gotten the scary blue screen on more than one occasion. And why a mac do you ask? Mostly because it can better support my growing hobby of photography. The creative opportunities are endless, the new photo editing software pretty impressive, and let's not forget ease of use. I will never ever have to again upload photos to add to a blog, to share a photo album online, or to create photo books to be printed.

Don't you worry: I will come back one last time with a nice link for you to follow to get to my new mac website when I set it up.

My new favorite chicken recipe

2008-02-17T17:13:00.004-05:00

Growing up, my mother never really used the broiler. Inheriting most of my cooking habits from her, I never made use of the broiler either until recently. My first broiler experience didn't go too well--- my party appetizer of bacon-wrapped dates ended up burned. I've learned a little more about how my broiler works, and have recently found my new favorite chicken recipe:

Put boneless skinless chicken breasts in a shallow bowl; marinate in juice of one lime, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Let set for 10 minutes at room temperate. Broil 3-5 minutes on one side. Turn, add sliced onions, broil for 3-5 minutes more. I then cut them up and make fajitas from them, with all of the normal fixings. This chicken would also be delicious over a salad, or just on its own with some sides. I love that it's about 20 minutes from start to finish, and while I'm broiling I can make the side dishes (today it was sauteed mushrooms and an avocado).

Another Shoe Challenge

2008-02-10T11:12:00.001-05:00

I think I've hit an all-time level of obsession. This time, it's creating the perfect selection of shoes to take to Paris in April. The Challenge: Shoes that meet the following requirements - (a) can withstand hours of walking (b) enough of a heel/sole so my pants don't drag on the floor, and (c) somewhat fashionable and dressy enough for European standards as well as my own standards. In the past two weeks, I've bought a pair of shoes that meets requirements (b) and (c) - gorgeous handmade loafers in brown Italian suede with a great wedge of lightweight foam - perfect for museums and sight-seeing that will only be for a few hours. I've also bought a pair of adorable light green mary-jane style sneakers by Privo (see photo) that meets requirements (a) and (b) for full days of walking. I'm thinking I'd like to round out the collection with one more pair of shoes that are a cross between the two. I'm contemplating Clark's or Merrell, both of which are entirely new territory to me, who typically prefers more streamlined, dressy pumps. And I've realized that there's nothing in the exact middle of that cross - leaving me to decide between a pair of Clark's that's got a nice wedge heel to it (I'm including a photo here) and a pair that's completely flat. Decisions, Decisions. If anyone has any input or ideas, I'd love to hear!

News, Reviews, and Other Things

2008-01-22T20:29:00.000-05:00

Okay, so it's been over a month since I posted last; somehow the post-holiday season is turning out to be even busier than the holiday season itself. In the past few weeks, I've had the opportunity to try out different places and explore different neighborhoods. Here are the highlights:

I met up with some friends for brunch on the UWS at Isabella's, where I had the most delicious french toast stuffed with caramelized bananas. A few days later, another friend and I found a great Indian restaurant, Indus Valley. Nice laid-back atmosphere, friendly staff, and most importantly, really delicious food. The tandoori chicken was incredibly tender and the vegetarian plates flavorful. Also on the UWS was this year's Restaurant Week pick: Compass Restaurant. New American food, refined decor, and catering to a more sophisticated palate, the food from this little-known place was refreshingly creative. My favorite was the first course of grilled fennel, mushrooms, ricotta, and Parmesian cheese. They also threw in little touches throughout: a ceviche tasting, petit fours, and a goodie bag of a coffee muffin for breakfast the next morning.

My Long Island excursions as of late have not been as positive: a crowded experience in a Cheesecake Factory; being rushed through a meal at Benihana's (the waitress took my plate away with my fork en route to my mouth....); a lowlife crowd in Dave and Busters to watch the Giants playoff game; restaurants that close down at 9pm in the town where I live. I did have a good lunch experience at my old tried and true place, Louie's in Port Washington, where I also happened to run into the retired principal of the school where I work.

Random Thoughts

2007-12-30T13:56:00.001-05:00

Here are some random thoughts I've meant to post, with none being substantial enough for its own post:

1) I am STILL sick. For those of you counting, I got sick the weekend before Halloween. It's all related to my sinuses, allergies, and a wonderful asthmatic cough that has developed. And let's not forget the antibiotics that destroyed my stomach as well as my sense of taste and smell. At one point I was on seven medications.

2) My newest favorite snack and/or meal: Greek yogurt with honey. I can't even begin to tell you how delicious this is. You can buy the pack with the honey on the side, but I just buy the huge tub of Greek yogurt (fage brand is my favorite) and add honey on my own. The whole milk yogurt is so creamy but fattening, so I go with the 2%. Don't try the fat free - it is too tart and thin. The greek yogurt is a little more like sour cream, so much better than the Dannon-type yogurts!

3) I am in dire need of a new computer, ready to chuck this one out the window. I have to suffer though until I have the funds. On the horizon: a MacBook. I cannot wait!

4) What ever happened to the Christmas Season lasting until the Epiphany? I'm so frustrated: they put Christmas stuff out by the end of October, and by 8pm on Dec. 25 there is an abrupt end to everything! Why not start the Christmas season later (i.e. after Thanksgiving like it's supposed to be), and then gradually fade out of it after 12/25 so that by January 6 it's all finished?

Merry Christmas

2007-12-23T18:21:00.000-05:00

Wishing Everyone a Blessed Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Wintry Mix

2007-12-16T10:52:00.000-05:00

In the past few years, it seems more and more that the metro area is getting hit with what is known generically as a "wintry mix." What is a wintry mix, you ask? Basically, it is a fancy way for the weather people to say, "you might get some rain, some sleet, some ice, maybe snow. Have fun on the roads." What strikes me most of all though is the relative frequency of these mixes. By far, these 'wintry mixes' are outnumbering good old-fashioned snow storms, and seem to be so recent an occurrence that we're puzzled by them. When we're little, we learn that it's sunny, cloudy, rainy, or snowy out. Within the first few weeks of learning a foreign language, you learn how to say "it's raining" and "it's snowing (il pleut; il neige). You don't learn how to say: we will be in the midst of an ice storm.

I grew up in the 1980's - that legendary decade that besides for terrible fashion and music sense, gave New York a series of mild winters. I rarely had snow days; snow was not a regular form of weather until the early 90's. Back in the early 2000's, I remember being hit with nice, big blizzards of SNOW. Now, for the past two or three years, it is just ice storm after ice storm after ice storm. It hurts and scratches my face - you can't even remotely spend time outside like you could if big soft flakes of snow are swirling around you. It's much worse on the roads than snow. It doesn't make anything look pretty. And the worst, we don't get snow days!

Review: Cafe Cluny

2007-12-10T21:54:00.000-05:00

In a city full of different characters, with different interests, tastes, budgets, etc., it can be tricky sometimes finding a dining locale that seems to be just the niche you're looking for. Some restaurants cater to a 'younger' (read: immature) crowd, others to a loud crowd, others to sloppy, casual beings, and still many others are filled with pretentious, snobby people. So imagine my enthusiasm when I stepped into Cafe Cluny and realized that I was amongst normal people just like me. People who put care into what they look like, but in a down-to-earth sort of way, people who are not obnoxious (something very important in Manhattan restaurants where you're crammed into a very small space with your fellow diners...). Just a nice change. A likely explanation is the restaurant's location: nestled in the sideways streets of the West Village, amidst cobble-stone streets, brick-faced buildings, and tree-lined streets.

The service was great; the waiter offered recommendations and was extremely attentive (he even came around regularly to pick up my empty sugar packets!). We were not rushed and allowed to sit back and savor our coffees long after our brunch was eaten. And of course, the food was very good too. Granted, we weren't exactly adventuresome, settling on a cross between a blt and an egg sandwich. But the egg was fluffy, the tastes melded together well, the toast was toasted to perfection. And the fries were delicious! I would definitely recommend Cafe Cluny for brunch.

A Milestone

2007-12-07T23:37:00.000-05:00

In about 15 minutes, I will be celebrating my last birthday in my 20's. Technically, I have almost 24 hours until I am 29, being born at 11:17 pm. Nevertheless, ahead of me I have only 366 days (thanks to '08 being a leap year) to answer "how old are you?" questions with the word "twenty---". No worries, I'm not entering some third-life crisis. It's actually the opposite: each year I find more happiness and confidence within myself, and I am certain that the years ahead will continue to get better and better. Looking back, I have very few and very minor regrets. And hey, the 40's are the new 30's and the 30's are the new 20's so I've got nothing to worry about! It's just strange to be edging out of my identity as a twenty-something year old and preparing for the thirty-something years. On this milestone, it seems appropriate for me to share the wise words of Bob Dylan - the very song that my Uncle Gerry would be quoting from if he was still here to guide me through my milestones:

May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

2007-12-02T12:57:00.000-05:00

Today, we had our first snowfall of the season. Along with it came the inconveniences: icy roads, rescheduling plans, bringing out the snow boots. But of course, along with it also came the beauty of snow-covered trees and houses. There was a break in the snow, and I headed out with my camera to get some shots. Some of my favorites were seeing the colors of late summer and fall (flowers still in bloom, foliage) covered in snow. I hope you enjoy!

Why I Hate Computers...

2007-11-28T18:15:00.000-05:00

I would definitely describe myself as being bookmark-dependent when it comes to the web. Just like we don't memorize phone numbers anymore because our phones hold them, I don't bother to know web addresses anymore. Like most of you out there, I've spent hours upon hours browsing the web. Sometimes mindlessly, sometimes with a purpose, sometimes via links or recommendations from friends. Whenever I stumble upon something worthwhile, I bookmark it. I took bookmarking on with greater fervor in the past year, since switching over to Firefox - even spent some time organizing the bookmarks. Friends' blogs, shopping sites, great news/historical sites, local neighborhood info, places to visit on my next vacation, links to my hotel reservations, important documents, sites with materials for work - the list is endless.

So anyways, imagine my frustration and anger when I agreed to a routine firefox update, then went to my bookmarks only to discover that about 75% of them are missing. Yep. Just gone. I'm MAD MAD MAD MAD MAD. Ugh. So MAD. Did I mention how MAD I am?!?!?! I don't know whether to scream or to curl up in a ball and cry!!!!! HOURS of research gone OUT THE TUBES!!! So frustrated. Want to throw a tantrum. Someone should reimburse me for those hours of my time just totally wasted. Do I dare consider turning back to internet explorer?...

PS My tabs are also missing...... grrrrrr.....

Review: Bee Movie

2007-11-18T12:47:00.000-05:00

Cute, smart, and hilarious. See it!

Review: Wintuk

2007-11-11T17:07:00.000-05:00

On the way home from my first-ever Cirque du Soleil show, Wintuk, I turned to my parents and stated, "that was the first time in a long time that I felt like a kid again." Indeed, that was the magic of this show. With the simple story line of a city boy in quest of snow, I was told by my Cirque-frequenting friends that this show had more of a story line and more verbal narration than typical Cirque du Soleil performances. This, I'm sure, was due to it being geared towards children and marketed as a holiday family event. But whomever it was geared towards, and for whatever purpose, made little difference to me as I sat there, completely mesmerized and enchanted.

The set looked like pages of a storybook, complete with watercolor backgrounds, talking lampposts, larger-than-life marionette puppets, and monsters come to life. The first half of the program moved slowly at times as the story line was set and characters were introduced. The acrobatics were framed into the story, such as the skateboarders and cyclists, the 'construction worker' who balanced on an assortment of tubes and wood planks to 'fix' a broken lamplight, or a tightrope walker who performed on a clothesline. After intermission, we were transported into a magical ice world, where, similar to The Nutcracker, a showcase of various acrobatic acts took center stage. Included in these was a terrific and hypnotic contortionist; dressed in a blue leotard and dancing with several silver hoops, at times her human form was lost completely in favor of fluidic shapes. Another favorite was the Russian bars, and another still the dancers suspended on aerial straps. At times, the performances were anxiety-producing: mind-boggling acts of balance and gravity-defying movements. At other times, the performances were entrancing, with the movements, music, and lighting taking hold of my emotions.

I was left trying to remember the last time I smiled for 2 hour straight, the last time I had not a single worry for such a stretch of time, the last time magic actually took over. It was probably the last time I was sitting in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden, watching Sesame Street Live as a 5 year old. The magic of Wintuk is not that it is a show for children. It is that adults become children, watching this show.

Fall's Quick Fall

2007-11-07T22:00:00.000-05:00

So, the summertime temperatures didn't leave us until about two weeks ago (and I'm being generous when I say that....) and now snow is in the forecast. So much for fall. I hope spring will last longer!

Water for Thought

2007-11-04T15:47:00.001-05:00

Next time you reach for bottled water, think about this (courtesy of EatingWell, Dec. 2007):

-In the US, more than 10 million barrels of oil are used to bottle water annually - and that's just the production. Consider the oil consumption (and emissions) required to bring water to the U.S., from Fiji, for example.

-Americans throw away 22 billion water bottles each year, over 60 million each day. It can take as long as 1,000 years for the average plastic bottle to biodegrade.

-Numerous studies show that bottled water is generally no safer or healthier than tap water, despite costing up to 10,000 times more. And, 40% of bottled water - including top brands Aquafina and Dasani - is simply filtered tap water, not water from natural springs or other "pure" sources.

Aware of the impact that bottling has on the earth's ecosystem, I have, for the past few years, only grabbed for the bottle of water when there are no other alternatives (i.e. when I'm out and about and couldn't lug around my re-fillable bottle). It's amazing the impact we could all make if we use our tap water, with filter systems if we don't like the taste (I have a simple pitcher one), and re-fillable bottles. Also, beware of refilling the bottles that bottled water comes in. They actually start to disintegrate after a short time, and you are likely drinking in the chemicals used in making the plastic! Instead, make the small investment into a bottle that's made for this purpose.

Greenkill

2007-10-30T12:42:00.000-05:00

Last week, I chaperoned the annual 3-day 6th grade trip to Greenkill. For those of you not familiar with Greenkill, it is an environmental camp in upstate New York. The kids learn about ecology and they also partake in Project Adventure activities. It's a great way for the 6th graders, who have come from different elementary schools, to get to know one another and to learn about teamwork and the environment. We chaperones had it pretty easy this year: no visits to the ER, no 'criers', no calls to home for kids to be picked up. The naturalists are with the kids for most of the day and all night long, so the teachers get to do a few different hikes of our own, including a midnight hike. We climbed up to "The Ridge" a little after midnight, guided by the light of a full moon and by our flashlights. Then we set up blankets, lay down, and stared at the stars. Lucky for us, a science teacher was there and more than willingly pointed out the constellations to us. It was so refreshing being back in nature for 3 days.

Breaking News?

2007-10-30T09:41:00.000-05:00

So, I'm home sick today with a sinus infection and I finally settle on watching Rachael Ray (the pickings are really slim in the 10am-11am slot....). Her guest, Michael Buble, is about to perform, when Eyewitness News cuts to its Breaking News. Like any New Yorker, since 9/11, my heart actually stops when there's Breaking News, just fearing the worst, having flashbacks to the nausea and horror of that day. The dreaded Breaking News music plays, the anchorwoman comes on, and the title of the story appears on the bottom of the screen: "Joe Girardi Accepts Offer to be Manager of Yankees." ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! I am sorry, I don't care what fan of what team you are, under NO circumstance should sports warrant Breaking News. Especially in this day and age. I'm not just saying that because I am a Mets fan. As a matter of fact, I have no problem with the Yankees, will even root for them in the off-season, but I find myself more and more being absolutely disgusted by the media attention that this team gets. People wonder what happened to the bygone days of baseball, and your answer is right here. It's not about the game, the fun, the athleticism anymore. It's day after day after day of drama. Really now, maybe the team should consider moving to Hollywood. And don't even get me started on the media, who has perpetually ruined the sport as far as I am concerned....

Fall Trip

2007-10-20T21:15:00.000-05:00

Today Rina, Amanda and I headed upstate to enjoy the fall foliage (albeit in 70-something degree weather...). First, we visited the Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery, which is basically an apple orchard that also presses grapes into wine and apples, pears, and berries into ciders and spirits. We enjoyed a tasting of about 12 different alcoholic drinks (leaving us a little tipsy!), then wandered around their orchards. Afterwards, we went to Och's Farms, which is where I used to go with my family when I was younger for apple-picking. After paying for our all-you-can-fill bag, we headed into the orchards only to find a bunch of empty trees! It took us awhile, but we managed to fill up our bag, mostly with small apples. We also got some yummy pumpkin and apple bakery goodies in their shop.

It was great being in the fresh air. The foliage was beautiful - reds, oranges, bright yellows. It never ceases to amaze me what nature produces each year. The only way this day could have been better is if the weather felt like fall!

When Did I Get So Old?

2007-10-18T21:18:00.000-05:00

For some reason, AARP seems to think that I'm over 50. I get mail from them every week with exciting details about what's offered to me for simply being over 50. I've called them. I've sent notes in the business reply envelopes stating that I am 28 years old, but still they persist. Did my parents lie about my year of birth? Was I born in 1957, when my parents were 2 and 3 years old? It makes me so sad to think about the waste of paper and of postage - hey, we will need those trees when the ozone is shot, and we will need that money to put towards our social security when it's all depleted in another 50 years!!!

Sweet Home Alabama

2007-10-16T21:16:00.000-05:00

I'm a little upset I can't find a direct link to the news story, but lucky for you, I have dvr and was able to rewind this story a few times to type out the transcript... Here's how it goes, according to the CW11 news at 10:00 (yes, I know I should expect this from CW11, but there's baseball on Fox, so I can't catch the 10:00 news there)....

" "Grannie's Got a Gun." In Alabama, this 81 year old woman [camera pans to old woman rocking in a chair] took matters into her own hands when she caught an intruder in her house. He was in his underwear and he was washing his clothes in her washing machine [camera pans to a washing machine]. So she shot him."

It's times like this that I'm so thankful for living in New York. Not to say we don't have our fair share of bizarre (and too often upsetting) news, but, well, need I say more?... I'd so love to be in the interrogation room with the intruder so I could figure out why he was breaking and entering to wash his clothes!

Random Thoughts

2007-10-14T12:40:00.000-05:00

The past few weeks have pretty much been routine, so unfortunately I don't have much to report in terms of things I've seen and done. I figured instead that I'd put together a list of random thoughts that have passed through my mind recently.

-This has been the first year since 1996 where I haven't moved out of one home and into another

-Starbucks has changed their apple cider drink. It's now made with bottled apple juice instead of cider and has a completely different name to fool us from the truth - "Caramel Spiced Apple"

-The ankle that I hurt in 1997 (falling down some stairs at the BU science building) is STILL hurting me. It's been really bad this weekend.

-I can't find my favorite pair of shoes. I've looked everywhere, including the car and under my desk at work. Where could shoes disappear to?

-I'm LOVING that autumn is finally here! I've got my candles going and got to wear some of my cute layering pieces.

-I went to my first Rangers game of the year in my dad's seats, where they lost 3-1, giving up 3 goals within a minutes' span (yes, you read that right). Fun fun. I think I was to blame for the loss because I sat in seat #6 instead of my usual seat #7. After the third goal, I switched seats w/ my friend and the Rangers let up no more goals.

-My newest addiction: Country Choice Organic's Ginger Snaps. They are SO good - so nice and spicy.

That's all for now. I promise there will be more exciting things to read and some more photos later in the month. I have an autumn trip upstate next Saturday, and then later next week I am chaperoning 201 sixth graders to the annual 3-day trip to Greenkill, in upstate NY. Until then, I hope you've enjoyed the little thoughts that, well, make me ME.

A Farewell to the Boys of Summer

2007-10-07T21:38:00.000-05:00

It's taken me awhile to overcome the heartbreak associated with the New York Mets' demise this season. For those of you who don't follow the National League, the Mets set a MLB record (and maybe even professional sports record) for worst fall from first place - specifically, losing grounds of being 7 games up on the 2nd place Phillies with 17 games left in the season. At least they set a record - I mean, if you're going to do something THAT bad, you might as well make it memorable, right?

What made it worse is that it was the Mets own horrible playing that caused them to lose! It wasn't due to inhuman efforts by the Phillies. It's almost like the equivalent of the 'nice' break-up. It's so much easier to just HATE someone and put all the blame on someone else!

Lucky for me, the Phillies were swept last night by the Rockies. I could barely watch the playoffs, thinking the whole time, "that should be the Mets." Now, with Phillie out of it, it's all even again and I can once again tune into the playoffs. Sure, my heart will still pang for David Wright, and no team is complete without the speed of Reyes or the heart of LoDuca. So, to my Mets: rest up and have fun golfing for awhile. I'll see you in 2008....

Now, which one of my teams will disappoint me next? I have a feeling it will be the Jets, following their terrible game today....

And a Weather Follow-up

2007-10-06T09:30:00.000-05:00

For those of you who've read my previous post about it being close to 90, that was unfortunately not just a random day. We've had temperatures in the mid 80's all week, and expected to stay so throughout the weekend. Worse, it's disgustingly humid. It sort of feels like those rainforest rooms in the aquariums or zoos over here. Looks like I'll be spending my 3-day weekend locked in my air-conditioned living room.

Obviously the lack of fall weather has been preoccupying me....

Another Weather Complaint

2007-10-03T20:53:00.000-05:00

It's sticky. Very sticky. My wrists are sticking to my keyboard. Tomorrow is supposed to be 85 degrees. It's October. I've worn none of my cute fall clothes. HELP.

Street Food

2007-09-29T17:49:00.000-05:00

This morning, the crisp air of autumn came breezing through my windows, waking me from my slumber. The air was fresh and clean, and begged me to come out and play. And so I did. I was feeling a little nostalgic for the Union Square farmers' market, so I made a pilgrimage there, and caught a street fair as well. It unfortunately warmed up a little (hit around 75), but it was nice in the shade, and signs of my beloved fall season were everywhere. It's hard to re-live the unique sights, sounds, and smells of New York during a street fair and at a market, but I hope my photos do it justice!

Congratulations

2007-09-29T09:44:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to my friends Brian, Erica, and Big Brother Brady on the birth of baby Cameron James. He came into the world on Tuesday September 25, weighing 8 pounds and 5 ounces.

Change - What is it Good For?

2007-09-28T23:45:00.001-05:00

Tonight a friend and I had dinner at one of my favorite casual eating places in the city, Elephant and Castle. It's somewhere between 6th and 7th Avenues around 11th St. (where Greenwich Street cuts in and all these weird corners show up), and one of our favorite things about the restaurant is that we rely completely on our memory of landmarks to get ourselves there! It's this great relaxed Irish pub-like atmosphere (with the emphasis being on food table service; there's no bar in there). You can stay as long as you want, no one rushes you out, the servers are as nice and can be, and it's just a great homey place.

The other perk: their crepes. My friend and I have gone back regularly when the craving has hit for these unbelievable crepes stuffed with chestnuts and apricot jam. There's something unique about the texture and flavor. With the coming of the fall, I was SO craving their crepe. So, off to Elephant and Castle we went. We noticed a few changes on the menu - they took out the avocado from my favorite shrimp, avocado, and bacon sandwich; they added some nice omelets; they took out a pasta dish. But, the biggest change of all?!?! THE CREPE WAS NOT ON THE MENU. We played the game of denial while we ate our entrees, avoiding discussing the omission, dreading the point when the waiter would ask us about dessert, and we'd have to face the hard truth about about favorite dessert... The Parisienne (as we learned its name was), the waiter told us, is no longer served. It was a mournful moment. He suggested the Normandy, filled with thin slices of apples. It had texture, it was good, but it was no Parisienne. I'm not sure where this leaves me. I mean, I could get an apple or banana or nutella crepe anywhere. But the chestnut? Some things should not be tampered with.

Suburban Living

2007-09-28T23:33:00.000-05:00

Well, I've been out here for almost a year, and tonight was a great microcosm of some things I never thought I'd be getting used to about suburban living. Here they are:

1) People here drive. The time spent living in the suburbs is inversely related to the amount of consideration one gives to walking short distances. A year ago, I almost always walked to the train station, about 3/4 miles away. Now, I head straight for my car to drive the few blocks to the station.

2) There are bugs here. No city bugs like roaches (thank goodness) but I've had ants, a handful of centipedes (greeted by one just a few minutes ago, actually - oh and by the way, those suckers are FAST. I was unable to kill it before it darted behind my furniture and so now I'm afraid to go to bed, hence this post...), and a gargantuan spider on my garage door today.

3) There is grass here. And the grass gets watered. As a matter of fact, I got wet returning from dinner tonight.

4) There are gardens here. I looked out my back window today and was surprised to see in my complex's backyard these two huge green things. I'm not sure whether they are watermelons blooming late, or pumpkins not yet turned orange. I will keep you updated!

I Would Just Like to Point Out

2007-09-23T21:04:00.000-05:00

that we are at the end of September. The weather should be cooling down. The forecast this week should not be calling for temperatures just short of 90 degrees. Yet, we will be enduring just that. Agh! I'm so ready to move with my brother to San Francisco where temperatures are in the wonderful 50's and 60's all year round.....

My Trip to San Francisco - more to come!

2007-09-19T22:09:00.000-05:00

Giving into Temptation (or, a typical Chris story)

2007-09-10T17:18:00.000-05:00

Those of you who've known me since way back when know that sometimes (more times than not), things just happen to not go my way. I had one of those incidents today. Don't ask me why, but on my way back from the gym, I got the worst craving for one of those Alba 77 chocolate shakes (the ones where you add milk and ice to the powder and blend it all together). My mom bought a box or two of them back in the day, and honestly, I don't think I've had one since I was about 8 years old. But suddenly, the vision that shake hit my conscious, I could practically feel the unique frothy-icy texture on my tongue, and I just HAD TO have one, immediately. I stopped off at the tiny grocery store a block down from my apartment, but alas: no Alba 77. They did however have Carnation Instant Breakfast, and I figured it would do, considering the pinch I was in. On my way out, I noticed that the car next to me was awfully close to my car, and there was a tiny scratch on my passenger door. I was able to rub most of it out, but I still got into a little tiff with the guy, who claims it wasn't him (let's not even get into the fact that the paint color on my door was the same exact steel blue as his minivan). All I could think about is that the shake better be worth a tiny scratch! I arrived home, only to remember that I don't have a blender - I thus pulled out my food processor, knocking down my cookbooks and bottle of vinegar in the process. I loaded the food processor with the shake, milk, and ice, and...... got completely sprayed by the shake exploding out of the top of the food processor! I got Chocolate Carnation Instant Breakfast ALL OVER MY KITCHEN! Who knew that ice cubes don't act normally in a food processor?! It sort of reminds me of the time I put milk in the tea kettle, but that's another story for another day.... Anyways, the chocolate shake is just like I remember it: thick and frothy, and I am on cloud 9! It was just easier back in the day when Mom took care of the clean-up....

Mary Had A Little Lamb, Little Lamb, Little Lamb...

2007-09-06T17:15:00.000-05:00

A few friends and I are trying to plan a little day trip to upstate New York to enjoy the foliage. New York State has the most beautiful foliage, I believe because its hills and mountains have so many different layers of trees (as opposed to, say, Vermont, where everything is pretty much the same all the way up the mountain). Anyways, while doing some research on quaint towns, apple orchards, and wineries for our itinerary, I stumbled upon the following website:

http://www.sheepandwool.com/index.cfm

I kid you not. At first I thought that it was some sort of joke, but no, it is real. And the best is that while people are celebrating sheep and wool, while people are holding competitions for heartiest sheep and best wool, they are also holding a lamb cook-off!!!! One minute, some poor little lamb is baaa-ing to its pen-partner, and the next minute, his friend is gone but there's some delicious smell wafting from the grill....

Congratulations

2007-09-06T16:45:00.001-05:00

...to my friend Bridget and her husband Rob who just welcomed their first child into the world. Sophie Patricia made her debut on September 1 at 4 pounds, 4 ounces, and 17.5 inches. Congratulations to the new family! I'm so proud of you Bridget!

I Hate Ironing!

2007-08-30T15:02:00.000-05:00

Today, looking for a way to keep myself busy enough to skip the temptation to go shopping, I decided to catch up on my ironing. Here's some evidence of my strong hatred of ironing:

1) I couldn't find the iron anywhere. After searching for about 10 minutes, I finally found it in my linen closet, stuck between the Christmas towels and my down comforter.

2) My to-be-ironed pile was so old that it contained sweaters, as well as clothes that I had last worn on my vacation in early April.

3) The clothes haven't hung for so long in my closet that the hangers have been taken over by other clothes; I'm going to need to make a trip to Bed Bath and Beyond for more hangers!

4) I started ironing after the Mets gave up their first home run in inning one, and I finished just at the start of inning 8 - about two and a half hours later.... (note: Mets losing 8-5, about to be swept by the Phillies)

5) I'm sweating like crazy (it was the first time the a/c was put on stronger than 'Speed 1'), and I have the hugest headache now. I'm in need of some serious dark chocolate.

The Trials (-Sized) of Travel

2007-08-28T20:17:00.000-05:00

So, I'm going to visit my brother in San Francisco in two weeks. I know that I still have some time to prepare, but with Labor Day, the start of school, and the start of my classes all coming up, the time will fly, so I'm trying to get some things done during my last precious week of summer vacation. Given that I'm flying in and out of the ever-so-efficient JFK airport, and given that I'm only going to CA for 4 days, I decided that it be wisest for me to do carry-on. The problem: Apparently, makers of beauty products and toiletry items have not yet taken advantage of the 3-ounce-or-less market (or, if they have, they certainly aren't doing a good job keeping stores stocked with them!). HELLO COMPANIES - CAN YOU SMELL PROFIT DOLLARS?!?! Toothpaste, shampoo, and deodorant were easy enough to find in CVS's travel bins. But I'm still struggling with: body wash, face wash, face moisturizer, and my hair 'toss lotion'. These items I use on a daily basis and really can't live without. Add to it my hypersensitive skin that can't just take any brand, and you've got a recipe for one frustrated traveler. Granted, I'm not the most low-maintenance person out there, but I'm far from being the highest either. If I'm having these issues, so must thousands of other women. I know that L'Occitane makes travel sizes, but I really don't feel like spending $10 on 3 ounces. And I know that I can buy those little bottles and pour my own stuff in them, but when has any of those ever not leaked all over?! I'm begging for one of two things to happen: 1) the FAA lift this 3-ounce rule - and fight terrorism in a little more of a proactive way, or 2) start lining shelves of places like Sephora and CVS with smaller bottles of more varied products!

Men in Uniform....

2007-08-25T15:53:00.000-05:00

Today, I went with my family to SUNY Maritime College (just a bridge-ride north of me) where my cousin Nicholas had his Cadet Indoctrination Ceremony. Nicholas, who is beginning the SUNY Maritime program, spent two weeks on a ship, with no communication allowed with the outside world, as part of the official 'indoctrination' into the program. In addition to learning how to march and how to obey orders, they learned other survival skills like how to fight a ship fire. The incoming cadets looked like little kids playing dress-up in their uniforms and hats; after all, they're only 17 or 18 years old. We had some trouble spotting Nicholas in the crowd of white uniforms, but eventually found him. And of course, I enjoyed some eye candy looking at the older guys in uniform... Despite the disgusting heat and humidity, the ceremony was beautiful. I really loved the military characteristics: the swordplay, marching in time, "yes sirs'" and salutes all at the same time. It somehow transported me from a chaotic world to one of order and rituals.

Old Westbury Gardens

2007-08-24T20:55:00.001-05:00

First, just wanted to apologize for not posting a blog in awhile (thank you Annette for the constructive criticism! - watching my back for me!). I've been pretty busy juggling a few different summer jobs and some other things going on.

As any of you who've checked my blog recently are aware, I've been trying to get to know some of the historical landmarks on Long Island. Last weekend, we had the most beautiful weather; about 68 degrees and sunny - I was able to comfortably wear my jeans, and I actually put on a sweater at one point! I took advantage by visiting the Old Westbury Gardens, about 15 minutes from where I live. The property features several gardens including a rose garden, an English garden, a lily pad pond, and a lake with trails through trees. There's also a mansion on the property, built in the early 1900's to be a home to the Phipps family (I think they were in the shipping business). The mansion is fully restored, and it was pretty amazing to imagine the wealth that this family must have had. There's impressive artwork on the walls (including a portrait by John Singer Sargent) and elaborately-furnished rooms. Like my visits to the other landmarks on Long Island, the place was fairly empty (especially given the weather), and I had a great time practicing my camera skills once again. Enjoy the slide show!

Sands Point Preserve

2007-08-12T12:55:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we were lucky enough to have another tolerable summer day, with temperatures in the low 80's and low humidity (today, it's back up nearly 90). This time, I visited the Sands Point Preserve. It's now a preserve on the tip of the Port Washington peninsula (aka 'East Egg') - it once belonged to the Gould family, who built a house that looks like a castle (it's a little cheesy...). There are currently two castle-like mansions on the property, as well as a more manor-like house that was home to the Guggenheim family. The Castle tends to have a lot of kid-friendly exhibits going on inside the castle (for those of you who grew up on or around Long Island, I'm sure you remember going to see the 'Dinosaurs Alive' exhibit at some point). The rest of the property that's NOT covered by castle features several hiking paths, each around 1 mile in length, some of which hug against the coast. Hiking through the woods is not a favorite of mine (I need some sort of 'visual payoff' for my efforts, and a bunch of trees just doesn't cut it), but it was nice to be away from the crowds, and I tried to focus on interesting tree formations and the play of light and shadow. Oh, and I surprisingly came out with only one bug bite!

Stormy Weather

2007-08-08T18:54:00.000-05:00

This morning, the New York metro area was hit with yet another strong storm. It was raining so hard that I couldn't even see the street from my front door. There was even a tornado in Brooklyn. Streets were flooded, highways were closed, train service (both commuter and the subway system) was suspended, and many services are still not running.

For my 'summer job', the company asked me to work a few days this week in their eastern LI location. It's so far out in the middle of nowhere that the buildings there actually have septic tanks! The 32-exit, 42-mile journey took me about 2 hours, and that was only because I waited until after the storm to leave for it. The air was like soup; even now, after 8pm, it's 88 degrees outside and very very sticky.

And the worst part is that we're supposed to be hit with another storm in the next day or two. I don't ever remember a summer where we got so many intense rain storms. What a miserable season we're having!

Planting Fields Arboretum

2007-08-05T17:27:00.000-05:00

Today greeted us with a much-needed respite from the high heat and humidity that had been plaguing us for the past few weeks. I decided to take advantage of the low humidity and low-80's temperature by further cultivating my knowledge of the area around me. I decided to go to the Planting Fields Arboretum, located about 12 miles east of me, in Oyster Bay. Though now an arboretum open to the public, this was once the grounds of the Coe Family. William Robertson Coe was a wealthy insurance broker back at the turn of the century, and built a large estate on the Planting Fields property. The estate is still standing, and is one of few preserved estates of the gold coast. I decided to forgo the tour of the estate today, focusing my first visit on the grounds instead. Covered with wide lawns, pine and holly trails, rose gardens, trellised walkways, and greenhouses, the grounds were absolutely breathtaking. The grounds were fairly empty, with more butterflies than people in my midst. I hope you enjoy my slideshow!

I'm having trouble breathing....

2007-08-01T21:29:00.000-05:00

LOOK AT THESE!! I MUST HAVE THEM (Stuart Weitzman, "Abierto," in Charcoal Grey - size 7.5 if any of you are willing to splurge on me!)!

Just for the Record...

2007-07-31T18:51:00.000-05:00

I hate summer! I hate the heat. I hate the humidity. I hate the thunderstorms. I despise the bugs. I hate shorts. I hate open-toed shoes (even though I wear them for fashions' sake). I hate the drafts from the air conditioners and I hate the beach even more. I hate that my shows are in re-runs (thank God for baseball on tv...). I almost cried today when I got a fall catalogue in the mail; sigh --- rich browns, olive greens, suede, leather. Fall, you cannot come soon enough!!! I can't wait for your crisp, cool days; your colorful and crunchy leaves; the smell from fireplaces wafting through the air; the anticipation of the holidays; beautiful coats and even more beautiful boots; I can't wait!

Restaurant Week 2007

2007-07-24T09:56:00.000-05:00

Restaurant Week is an annual event in New York where some of the more upscale restaurants (those that have the $$$-$$$$ markings next to their names in directories...) offer up a three-course prix fixe menu - each restaurants develops their own menu, but the Restaurant Week folks decide on the price, so every restaurant costs the same. It's a great chance to check out a restaurant that you might otherwise not consider due to the matter of budget. The Prix Fixe is still not cheap (this year, the dinner was set for $35.00), but a good deal relative to the prices on the a la carte menu.

In New York, these 'moderate to expensive' restaurants abound, each one known just as much for their decor and ambiance as their food. It takes awhile to go through the list of participating restaurants and deciding on which has earned the merits to deserve your patronage. This year, my friend and I decided on a place called Calle Ocho, which serves Latin American foods. It's always hard to fully critique a restaurant during restaurant week because it's usually a bit crazier and your choices in food are more limited. To start, the restaurant was much bigger than it looks from the outside; the space kept opening up into room after room after room, all spacious, with high ceilings and skylights above. The service was a little confused (i.e., our server gave us our dessert menus before we even received our entrees), but they were very nice. We started off with drinks: I loved my white sangria, but my friend's left her wondering if they brought her the right drink! The appetizers fell into that 'good, but nothing to write home about' category. I had a shrimp and oyster seviche; they skimped so much on the seafood that I felt like I was eating salsa. For the main course, we both got the pulled pork dish: there was a mound of what looked like mashed potatoes, but were probably more like sweet turnip - whatever it was, it was delicious. That was topped with garlicky spinach, and then crowned with the pulled pork. I thoroughly enjoyed the meal; the flavors melded together wonderfully. For dessert, my friend had a decadent peanut butter cheesecake while I had baked nectarine slices with lime cake soaked in Argentinian cream. I didn't enjoy the texture of the soaked cake, but the nectarines were good. Overall, the food here was good - not spectacular but a nice surprise. Would I pay full price? Probably not. But that's the joy of restaurant week - to try out a new place guilt-free not just to decide whether you'd eat there again, but to enjoy the moment and to make a memory.

My Wonderful Morning

2007-07-18T07:50:00.000-05:00

Here are the events that jumpstarted my morning:

1) got up, showered, dressed; as I headed out the door, the skies opened up and soaked me, as I ran to my car.
2) pulled out of my driveway and directly onto the shoulder of the road due to zero visibility from the rain
3) sat on the shoulder, in front of my building, for 20 minutes (panicking over the thunder and lightening, and watching the street flood)
4) forced to pull out on the road because the shoulder was flooding past my tires
5) got as far as the intersection (about 300 feet) where I was forced to make a u-turn due to road being flooded
6) headed up the other way, only to be stopped at THAT intersection because of flooding. Made yet another u-turn, parked in front of my apartment
7) got out of my car (by now, it turned into a drizzle), ran into my apartment, changed into dry clothes, hung out for 20 minutes.
8) convinced the rain finished, headed out again, only to be met with a deluge after stepping out the door. Clothing soaked once more.
9) ran back to my car to rescue it from the flooding streets; noted that both intersections were still closed
10) parked car safely under shelter of garage, ran in the pouring rain back to my front door.
11) changed into outfit #3 for the day; and it was only 8:30 at this point!
12) turned on computer, wrote this blog, will veg out here until the rain stops and/or I can get off my block! And all this to get to my completely optional 'summer job'.....

For those of you on the road, drive safely and be careful.

Farm Fresh Fruits and Veggies

2007-07-09T20:33:00.000-05:00

Since moving to Long Island, I've been trying to find a farmer's market that's nearby and that's open long enough to accommodate my 'sleep-in' Saturdays. In New York, farmers markets were a little easier to find, with lots of farmers coming from Upstate NY, NJ, PA, and even MA to sell their produce. Of course, these markets had the major downfall that the traffic of the city was whirling past them, and I always wondered to myself whether the city pollution negated the purity of the produce.

Anyways, with some research, I found three that were within 10 miles of my apartment. The first is only open Tuesday afternoons so I'm not holding much stock in making regular pit stops there (not to mention it's held in the parking lot of a hospital, which just seems a little unnatural to me). The second is in Port Washington, right on the water, but the hours of operation are rather undefined. The third is an actual farm that sells its own produce. The upside is that there's absolutely no transportation involved (saving our air from truck pollutants - then again, my car did have to travel to get to the farm!) and, well, food doesn't get much fresher than straight from the farm! The downside is that the selection is limited to what that one particular farm happens to have grown and harvested that week.

I arrived at this adorable cottage, surrounded by acres of farm land, owned by Young's Farm. It was hard to believe that 5 miles down the road, I was staring at my rearview mirror, at the reflection of the Manhattan Skyline. The air was fresh and smelled of that distinct combination of dirt and freshly mowed grass. Inside, I filled up my basket with tomatoes, scallions, garlic, fresh mint, zucchini, and famous Long Island corn. I also bought a pint of the largest and sweetest blueberries that I've ever seen. Of course I couldn't help but buy a mini carrot cake loaf from the bakery next door (Youngs Farms' fresh fruit pies are a wonderous blend of the freshest fruits and the most delicious pie crusts and crumb toppings; I went with the carrot loaf because of its mini size). The produce was delicious; the garlic was fresh and potent, as were the scallions. It's amazing how much more flavor these fresh ingredients have versus their counterparts that ripened in a boat or truck, and have been sitting on the supermarket shelves for a few weeks. I'm hooked now!

Review: Broken English

2007-07-08T20:38:00.000-05:00

In her film, "Broken English," director Zoe R. Cassavetes creates a story so real that the viewer questions whether they are sitting in a cinema or whether they are watching the lives of their friends - or themselves - unfold on the big screen. Parker Posey plays Nora Wilder, a slightly neurotic, slightly quirky 30-something-year-old single woman in New York City who has an unending stream of bad dates. True to the woes of a single woman, Nora is surrounded by well-intentioned relatives who constantly ask after her love life, as well as a best friend, played brilliantly by Drea deMatteo (Sopranos), who from afar is in the picture-perfect marriage. Enter Julien (played by Melvil Poupaud, my newest crush), a frenchman in New York for a brief visit, who does his best to woo the insecure Nora.

There are several elements that set this movie apart from a typical romantic comedy. The humor is subtle and true to life, the type that goes over the heads of some audience members but elicits a laugh from others. At one point, Nora is confronted with relatives giving her the stereotypical love advice; my friend and I found it amusing as we are in the same predicament as Nora, and have been in her awkward situation countless times. Yet the scene was constructed in such a subtle way that the few laughs from the crowd were not staged in the least bit. The same goes for her string of bad dates; the humor is in the reality of the situation, not cliched scripting. This movie was not 'Hollywood' - there was no magic, no phantom music playing to create the romance for the star-crossed lovers. The characters had to figure out their feelings on their own - by searching within themselves, by distancing themselves from their everyday lives, by challenging their own comforts and routines.

My only fault with the movie is the imbalance of character development between Nora and Julien. One leaves knowing Nora, and feeling a bit of Nora in themselves, whereas Julien remains a bit of a mystery. But, as in real life, Nora and Julien stumble through gray areas - feelings here are not cut and dry or easily recognizable. They make bad decisions. They are real people, up there, on the big screen. They leave you wondering. They leave you sighing; fulfilled yet wanting to know more.

Don't see this movie if you need action, fast-paced scenes, or laugh-out-loud moments. If you like to talk, analyze, pick apart, and relate your own life to film, then Broken English will not disappoint.

God Bless America...

2007-07-04T21:37:00.000-05:00

And a special thank you and blessing to our troops for keeping America and our freedoms safe.

If You're Going to San Francisco....

2007-07-02T12:10:00.000-05:00

I've known for over a month where my brother will be sent for his volunteer teaching position, but it is now finalized and I am now allowed shout it out to the world... He's going to San Francisco!!

I was a little worried about his placement, considering that one of his friends will be in one of those states where farm animals outnumber people (Wisconsin or Iowa I think?), and another got placed in a non-descript state on the eastern seaboard that can be a boring weekend visit for New Yorkers like me. I'm very happy that I have a good place to vacation to now! I can't wait to see the bridge, the houses, the cable car, Chinatown, the redwood forests, oh, and the wine valleys, and....

They flew him out to check out his new home last week, and he absolutely loved it. He had a great time in the city (he already went to a SF Giants game) and he liked his new residence. He will even have a cook in his house, a little Italian lady from Brooklyn! He'll leave for good at the end of July.

A (flip-) Flop from Grace

2007-06-30T11:08:00.000-05:00

Thursday night I was in the city to do a focus group (there's nothing better than being paid cold, hard cash to have a discussion about your favorite products...). It being around 10pm on a Thursday night, as I walked back to Penn Station, the sidewalks were filled with 20-and30-something-year-olds dashing into bars and nightspots to start their weekends early. I happened to be in a nicer part of the city with trendy restaurants, bars, and lounges - the types of places that call for a nice outfit. The guys were pretty much carbon-copies of one another; khakis with button-down short-sleeved shirts or polos and loafers. Neat, tidy, dressed for the occasion from head to toe. The girls were also pretty much identical (read: boring) to one another; thin and tan with long straight hair, skimpy but dressy dresses, chunky jewelry and.... FLIP FLOPS. Now, I'm not talking about the nice kind that are dressy with maybe a little heel or a sparkle here or there. I'm talking about the ones you can get on the corner for $1 a pair.

As I continued my walk, I saw woman after woman after woman in nice dresses with those cheap flip-flops. I have no problem if you're pairing them with a casual summer skirt or sundress, but how can somebody dress up nicely for an evening out and actually think of putting something so casual on their feet? At first, I hoped and prayed that these women would be changing their shoes once they arrived at their destination. But no, they walked in and out of these restaurants looking like glossy magazine ads from the ankles up and, quite frankly, disgusting from the ankles down.

I don't quite know how and when we lost pride in how we present ourselves. As an American, I always felt defensive knowing that most of the world thinks that we look like slobs; now, I'm starting to see where they are coming from. Yes, I'm the first one to complain that my feet hurt, even having to take taxis instead of walking or change itineraries because of pain. I can see the argument for comfort. But, come on America! We're at a point where chivalry is almost dead, function has almost completely obliterated form, speed and quantity take precedence over quality, individuality is almost nonexistent. Where is grace? Where is beauty? We women should be lucky that we have the opportunity to look and act with class, femininity, and individuality while still being respected and powerful. A (flip-) flop from our womanhood would be a tragedy, a path I fear that has already begun....

I think I might faint...

2007-06-24T11:43:00.000-05:00

Why, why, why, must my attempts at saving money be teased so??? I beg the gods of retail to have mercy on me...

Review: Curtains

2007-06-24T10:15:00.000-05:00

The curtain rises: a corny western musical with a talentless star performs its finale on its opening night; the said star is murdered during the curtain call; chaos ensues backstage between the performers, writers, and producers regarding the future of the doomed show; in walks Detective Cioffi of the Boston Police (David Hyde Pierce) to solve this case. And so begins the Broadway hit, "Curtains."

Despite the melancholic chain of events just described, the show is a comedy. It is at once a murder mystery and a melange of different love stories: Detective Cioffi, infatuated with show business, finds himself abandoning his investigative duties to offer constructive criticism of the show. He juggles these endeavors with the wooing of a love interest. These pursuits are matched in intensity with stories of maternal love, unrequited love, old lovers, and new beginnings.

The show-within-a-show plot allowed for varied and contrasting whole-cast scenes. Those taking place in backstage Boston were good with their tasteful costuming and traditional choreography; those taking place in the 'Western' were phenomenal. Raunchy was acceptable, given the plot: coy barmaids, obscene and suggestive gestures, lewd clothing characterized the ensembles. But beyond that was the choreography: a full stage of performers doing flips and turns and acrobatics, losing sight of which way is up and which way is down. In terms of singing, the talent abounded, each solo eliciting, "what a voice!" whispers from the audience members.

The show's only fault is that it is a Broadway musical, and thus must succumb to certain cliched characteristics (as my friend helped me to identify): In the tradition of Broadway shows, its comedy translates into banal jokes and forced lines - even the laughs by the audience appear scripted. True to Broadway predecessors, the prerequisite characters are all there: a brusque 'matron' (played by Debra Monk), an overly-theatrical (read: irritating) innocent love interest, and a floosy blond.

In sum, the story is intriguing, the scenes are excellent, and the 'Broadway' is tolerable.

My Brush with Nature

2007-06-20T19:32:00.000-05:00

This evening, as I was heading out to pick up some sushi, I noticed a woman and her teen-aged son stopped on the walkway of my complex. They were hunched over and discussing something. As I approached, the woman pointed to a beautiful butterfly that was lying on the walkway. I've never seen such a large butterfly; my guess is that the wingspan was about 6 or 7 inches long. The wings were brown, with purple and yellow circles on it. The butterfly seemed injured, and the woman used a stick to prop the butterfly onto a very large leaf, and scooped it up into the grass.

I then ran into another neighbor, who asked what was going on. I showed her the butterfly, and after a few seconds, it became more active and crawled down off the grass, across the walkway, and onto the grass on the other side of the path. We began to examine it, and my neighbor declared, "I think it's constipated." Sure enough, something was being excreted from the body of the butterfly. We continued to peek, and then I took a gander that perhaps it was laying eggs. I'm including a photo so that you can see the little white dots.

Unfortunately, by the time I got to my camera, the butterfly folded itself in half. I do have photos of it with an open wingspan, but they are on my phone, and I don't know how to get phone pictures onto my computer! Anyways, enjoy these shots (well, maybe not the
one with the eggs and/or poop)...l. I hope the poor guy (or gal, if it's giving birth) survives the ordeal.... I'm so glad we humans have doctors to help us through this stuff. Truth be told, as amazing and beautiful this butterfly was, I'm a little grossed out and feel all itchy now, like there's stuff crawling on me or something. I guess there's a reason why I prefer the city over nature.

Some More Product Plugs (and their stories)

2007-06-18T20:16:00.000-05:00

Pizza: I've been trying to eat as healthy as possible, choosing organic when available (and when budget-friendly), eliminating hydrogenated oils, avoiding over-processed foods, etc. The two biggest challenges I've had to this are 1) the cost, and 2) nights like tonight when I don't feel like cooking and just want a quick bite (i.e. frozen food). To the supermarket I went tonight, finally deciding on Amy's Veggie Pizza (made with organic veggies and a whole wheat crust). The price was a little steep: about $7, but the knowledge that I could get two meals out of this, and thus the price was only $3.50 per meal, made it much more palatable. Well, the pizza was delicious. The crust got nice and crunch and tasted amazing. Like the back of the box promised, there was the perfect proportion of toppings to the crust thickness. A must-try.

Snack: Stacey's Pita Chips are delicious and, a warning, addictive!

Blister Pads: Seriously, don't make fun of me, but I LOVE the Band-Aid brand blister pads. You can use these two ways. The first is as a preventative measure: just put one on where your shoe is rubbing against your foot. The second is to prevent further pain if you already have a blister (just place it right over the blister). They are nice and thick to prevent any rubbing
and really stay in place - for a few days! I also like that they are exactly the same color as my skin and thus barely detectable. They come in two shapes/sizes: The first is made for fingers and toes, made to wrap around the appendage. The second is a larger, oval-shaped piece that's perfect for the back of your heel.

Review: Beneath A Marble Sky (by John Shors)

2007-06-17T09:48:00.000-05:00

In his debut novel, John Shors has created a passionate story about love and life. Set in India (then known as Hindustan) in the 1600's, this is the story of the building of the great Taj Mahal and about the destiny of the Empire. Told by the princess daughter of the emperor who commissioned this spectacular feat of architecture and the empress whose love inspired him to do so, this book is the weaving of love stories of two different generations. The love of the emperor and his wife is echoed in the love that Princess Jahanara experiences in her forbidden feelings for the Taj Mahal's architect.

And whilst the love stories are so strongly felt by the reader, they are indeed only one element in the lives of these well-developed characters. The story begins with a secure Empire where art flourished, different religions were not only tolerated but appreciated, and wealth abounded. Slowly, sibling rivalries are developed, war and hate dominates, and the strengths of the characters must overcome the most heartbreaking of obstacles on a personal level in order to survive the political upheaval over which they have no control.

For the reader, this book will transport you to another era in another place. Shors does a wonderful job of developing his characters and making them feel like real people. He avoids the pitfall of most authors: in this novel you will not find the overdevelopment of a character; you will not find the annoying and frustrating 'polarization' of traits to the point that the character no longer resembles anything close to a real person. Instead, you will fall in love with Princess Jahanara; you will feel her plight, you will delight in her joys. You will know who she is and how she thinks, and will understand her internal and external conflicts. And in the end, when you're done reading the last page, you will sigh for her. And like the lives of real people, the sigh is neither for polarized happiness nor tragedy, but rather for all the feelings in between.

Forbidden City

2007-06-16T22:59:00.001-05:00

(Thought it was a while since I posted photos; I took this one at the Forbidden City in Beijing)

A New Therapy

2007-06-16T21:04:00.000-05:00

I, loathing any activity that induces sweating (I've concluded that I'm allergic to my own sweat), never understood those people that, when under circumstantial stress, declare "I need to take a run..." How something as begrudging as taking a run could actually be desirable and mind-clearing is totally mind-boggling to me. Or should I say, WAS mind-boggling to me. Tonight, I had the unfortunate displeasure of being upset about something. Feeling absolutely suffocated in my apartment, I suddenly had the urge to run. Out the door I went, and I only ended up running for a block or so before switching over to a brisk walk. The fresh air felt so good, and I couldn't get enough of it into my lungs.

I eventually found myself at a playground, and I decided to take to the swings. It was dusk at this point and the place was empty. I couldn't believe how easily the movements came back to me and after a few swings, I was soaring high. Swinging up high was totally thrilling and invigorating, and made me feel free (and like a second grader again). Music from the Beatles, Radiohead, and Cat Stevens streaming from my ipod calmed me and helped me to think clearly. And yes, I've considered the irony that a mental health professional such as myself has found a run/walk and a swingset to be the ultimate therapy....

Strawberry Festival?

2007-06-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

Two weeks ago, on my drive home from work, I couldn't help but notice a very large banner stretching across the busiest street in my town. It advertised a strawberry festival at a church about 2 miles north of my apartment. This sort of thing being right up my alley, I eagerly awaited the date and thought of the strawberry shortcakes and crepes, crafts stands, food vendors, etc. that would certainly be there. I mean, it had to be a huge event to warrant such a big banner on prime realty, right? Finally the date arrived; I donned cute but comfy walking shoes and loaded up my camera with fresh batteries and an empty memory card. I walked up there to find a beautiful old little church, built in stone and red wood and.... a garage sale table, a barbeque with hotdogs, and people selling Driscoll's strawberries. That's it: a total of three tables and about 25 people.

Wandering around took me all of 10 minutes. I then peered through the covered walkway of the church and discovered a picturesque little cemetery, with rolling hills donned with eclectic and randomly scattered tombstones. It's fair if you find this creepy: cemeteries used to have the same effect on me. However, over the past few years, I've come to love them. There's this sense of quietness yet a feeling that you're not alone. Reading names and dates of people and their relatives, it's a dream world for an overactive imagination (like mine). Two things struck me about this cemetery. The first was the random layout of the plots. They were not in neat rows, but rather scattered about. I even found some hidden behind hedges. The second was that next to the cemetery was a playground. Yep, right there. The symbolism of the cirlce of life could not be more present....

On the walk back, I met the most endearing doggie....

At the Beach

2007-06-08T19:41:00.000-05:00

Today, we took select students on an annual field trip to Lido Beach. Lido Beach is on the south shore of Long Island in Nassau County. The weather was so-so; the temperature was perfect (warm with a cooling breeze) but it was overcast and foggy. The water's temperature was surprisingly warm once you got in there! I only went up to my knees, but the crashing waves ended up splashing me pretty much everywhere! The kids had a great time; it was so nice to see them relax and have the opportunity to be kids.

I realized when I was at the beach that, even though the beach is not one of my favorite places (it's hot, the sand is annoying, saltwater burns my shaven legs, and I detest how I look in a bathing suit), I don't think that I could ever live more than a few miles away from the ocean. I have always been able to smell the ocean from my front door on a hot, muggy night. And there's something about going to the beach on a warm summer evening, just feeling the saltwater air on your skin and lips. It's amazing how being so close to the water is so ingrained in me; something that I never really thought about until now. Here's to the Atlantic!

Not as Young as I Used to Be....

2007-06-03T19:00:00.000-05:00

This past Friday, my brother invited me to see a Billy Joel cover band (by the name of Big Shot) at Mulcahy's in Wantagh. If you live in the tri-state area, chances are that you've heard of Mulcahy's. I'm not sure of what it's done to earn such a legendary reputation, but it's unfortunately what's put my hometown on the map. It really is just a big bar by the train station that happens to get decent cover bands and is the cause of many stumbling drunks on the train platform on a weekend night.

Anyways, I thought that it would be fun to spend some quality time with my brother before he leaves for his volunteer teaching position somewhere in the US. The festivities began in our backyard, where he and a bunch of his friends had a beer pong tournament/barbeque. I just participated in the latter of these events. Afterwards, we walked over to Mulcahy's, getting there just as Big Shot was about to start. I have to say that the band was incredible. The lead singer really sounded like Billy Joel, and if you looked down for a minute, you'd forget that it wasn't him singing. The scene though was definitely NOT what I am used to! I struggled with what to order, not being a big fan of beer and feeling silly ordering a real drink in a sea of beer-drinkers. I quickly eliminated my favorite champagne cocktails from consideration. I also quickly realized that myself and my friend Lauren were the oldest people there, save for a handful of middle-aged folks (whom I'm assuming were there strictly for the music) and a wierd guy who resembled Beaker from the Muppets. My brother kept running into people from high school and college, and the whole time, as I stood, staring at these 22-year-olds (and remembering when they were like 8 years old!), all I could think was "man, when did I get so old?!?!"

In all seriousness, I had a great time out with my brother. He introduced me to a few drinks I'd never had before, and I even danced a little! Thanks Paul!

A Shoe Penalty

2007-06-03T10:24:00.001-05:00

This past Thursday, my building finally decided to share with me their shoe dress code (I've only been working there for two years, I mean, why the rush?). Turns out, I am not allowed to wear shoes with open backs. This poses no problem to me in the winter, as I'm usually in pumps or boots (and I personally am not too big a fan of mules, but that's another story for another day....). But in the warmer months, this dress code means that I can't slip into a pair from my variety of slides.

I know that this may be a quandry for some, but for me, it was just an excuse to go shoe-shopping. I held myself to just two new pairs of shoes, one a peep-toe with a sling back, and the other a sandal wedge with an ankle strap. As for my red, orange, green, blue, pink, brown, beige, and black pairs of summer slides? I suppose now you'll be exclusively part of the "going out" collection, removed permanently from the work collection.....

Paul's Graduation

2007-05-26T10:42:00.000-05:00

Paul's graduation from Manhattan College was this past Sunday, May 20, 2007. The festivities began with the Baccalaureate Mass, held in the school's gymnasium. The atmosphere was spiritual as the clergy honored the graduates at the mass. It was especially exciting for my family as my brother read the first reading and his friends were in charge of the incense, candle-lighting, and prayers of the faithful.

The celebration continued with a breakfast. Parents and graduates were invited to a continental breakfast under tents in the quad. Because of my brother's achievements at the college (see previous post), my family was invited to the 'VIP' breakfast buffet where we had the opportunity to meet with the school's president and the honorary degree recipient. Oh, and we also got to sip on mimosas.... At the breakfast, it really sunk in what my brother had accomplished in his four years at Manhattan. Only 10 students were invited to this special breakfast; my brother earned this recognition not for pulling impressive grades or having an influential family, but rather for truly making a difference at the college. He harbored his talents of his outgoing personality and drive towards service to create change. It amazed me that everyone knew him and respected him.

After the delicious breakfast (where I got some ketchup on my new white dress), we went back into the gymnasium for the Commencement exercises. The ceremony was beautiful and the keynote speaker was terrific. After we double-checked to make sure Paul did indeed receive his diploma (there was some concern due to an unreturned library book and an economics grade requirement....), we headed over to a local Italian restaurant where we joined the families of Paul's friends for some good Italian food and celebration.
Paul will be in a volunteer teaching position for two years somewhere in the country. He's not sure yet where he will be placed, but he's requested either California or Chicago. Both will make excellent vacation spots, so I don't care which he gets (though I am personally leaning towards California...).

Congratulations Paul, I am so proud of you!

Tales from the ER

2007-05-26T10:24:00.000-05:00

This past Monday, I landed myself in the ER. Through the weekend, I had these bad pains on the right side of my abdomen. The pains were so bad that my friend Annie had to drive me to my doctor's on Monday. After some jabbing, my doctor told me that I had classic signs of appendicitis, minus the nauseau and fever. Off to the ER we went, where even the surgeon there was convinced I'd be undergoing the knife by nightfall. Turns out, my white blood cell count was normal as was my CT scan. I underwent some other tests the next day, all of which came back negative for anything 'major' going on. I still have the pains, but they are considerably less with the anti-inflammatories the doctor gave me. At least I got some days off from work and had some fun 'people-watching' in the ER.

Review: Paris je t'aime

2007-05-26T09:59:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, I headed out to the beautiful Paris Theatre in New York. What I love about this theatre is that it's a real old-fashioned theatre, showing one movie at a time and with a balcony. Of course, it's completely re-done with cushiony seats and plush carpeting. We went to see "Paris je t'aime", which translates into 'I love you, Paris.'

The movie was composed of 20 short films, each taking place in a different district of Paris, and each by a different filmmaker (Wes Craven and the Cohen Brothers to name two). The stories encompassed the cultural characteristics of the districts and the people who live there. Most were spoken in French, with English subtitles, but some big-name American actors and actresses were also featured. Stories varied in genre, mood, and atmosphere, with some lighthearted, some darker but all revolved around the theme of love. There was even a vampire story in the mix.

Some more recognizable actors included: Juliette Binoche, Gérard Depardieu, Willem Dafoe, Nick Nolte, Natalie Portman, Steve Buscemi, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Elijah Wood.

I truly enjoyed this movie. It took a few films for me to adjust to how short each segment was. Once I did, I looked forward to the start of each story. This is the perfect movie for people who like to reflect and discuss movies after they see them: my greatest enjoyment was comparing and contrasting the films with my friends, and discussing possible endings to each vignette.

The Fall/Winter Collection

2007-05-19T10:46:00.000-05:00

Well, it's that time of year for Spring Cleaning. Into storage goes my winter spicy-scented candles, dark curtains, and heavy blankets. Out comes colors of yellow and light green. Space Bags become filled with wool and cashmere sweaters to make room in my closet for light cottons and silk. Boots and dark-colored heels get packed away; strappy sandals come out of hiding. As a final send-off to my favorite winter heels, I thought I'd take a few photos. After all, the colors and textures of fall and winter are my favorite, and although I'm looking forward to the warm weather, I will deeply miss the burgundies, rust oranges, and browns of the season. So, goodbye, farewell, and I will see you in September....

Bragging Rights

2007-05-18T22:16:00.000-05:00

Last night, I attended the Manhattan College Honors Convocation/Gunn Medal Presentation. It was a special night for my family: not only did my brother receive an award for campus ministry, he also received the highest honor that a student can receive, the Gunn Medal. In summary (from the college's website), "The Joseph J. Gunn Alumni Medal: This medal, awarded annually, is merited by the graduating senior who has been prominently involved in leadership activities over a period of four years at Manhattan College. Established in memory of Joseph J. Gunn, ’30, by his family." It is given to the graduating student who has left the biggest mark on the campus.

My brother had his bio read to an auditorium full of people. Some highlights include: Student Body President (where he introduced the 'swipe card' to Manhattan College), representing New York at a Lasallian leadership conference in Rome, volunteer tutoring of middle school students in Harlem, working at soup kitchens, speaking at retreats, and organizing various concerts and activities for the student body. Congratulations Paul!

I Ain't No Itzhak Perlman...

2007-05-08T17:43:00.000-05:00

Earlier in the year, when our school's music department emailed the faculty with the idea to end the music season with a big number that included band, orchestra, and chorous, and that also featured faculty members, I thought "what the hay? It could be fun" and I signed myself up. If there's one thing I've learned this year, it's to think twice before 'signing up' for anything.

A week before the concert, I very bashfully approached the orchestra teacher and admitted to her that not only had I not practiced the piece she had put in my mailbox weeks ago, but that I no longer had a violin (my cousin is borrowing it). My hopes these excuses would get me out of my commitment were soon crushed when she told me with gentleness (a gentleness that only orchestra teachers possess) that had extra violins, and she switched me over to the less intense "Alternate Violin" (aka second violin) part. I was invited to join the ensemble's rehearsal during 6th period.

Turns out, I had a blast. The kids were thrilled to see me join them, and everyone asked, "YOU play the violin?!" . It felt so good to pick up the instrument again. Also turns out that I am TERRIFIED of the band teacher, who will be the conductor for this joined ensemble. At one point, I actually thought that I was going to get yelled at! But anyways, so here I find myself, practicing in my apartment to "The Battle Hymn of the Republic". The beat is pretty easy: mostly just half and quarter notes, but the hard part is that there's a bunch of flats. I can't believe how much of my memory is still sharp in terms of reading music and translating it into fingering. The only bad thing: The violin has obviously been in storage for a little too long because it reeks of moufa (that moldy smell that resembles wet towel for those of you who don't speak Italian-American slang). And now my neck and shoulder also smells of moufa.

Well, Monday night is my big night.... for anyone who'd like to see, it's at 7:30 in the auditorium.

Wait 'til Next Year

2007-05-06T20:39:00.000-05:00

Today I attended a funeral of sorts - I attended the last game of the New York Rangers' 06-07 season. Their Eastern Conference semi-finals series against the Buffalo Sabres was quite a roller-coaster ride:

Game One (in Buffalo): Rangers lost big, a very fair loss

Game Two (in Buffalo): Rangers lost due to some 'interesting' calls; Rangers could have and should have won this one.

Game Three (in NYC): This is the game I went to (see previous post). Down 2 games to 0, the Rangers came out flying, the Garden was rocking, and a double-overtime win by the Rangers narrowed the series to 2-1. During this game, the officiating was horrendous, and utter embarrasment to the NHL - calls that were consistently in favor of the Sabres; even a legitimate goal by the Rangers was waived off....

Game Four (in NYC): The Rangers take this game, evening the series to 2-2. The officiating was definitely more fair.

Game Five (in Buffalo): Up until 5 minutes left in the game, the score remained 0-0. The Rangers scored, leading the game 1-0. With a minute left, Buffalo pulls their goalie to put a 6th player on the ice. The Rangers ice the puck, moving the face-off deep in the Rangers' zone. There's about 10 seconds left. With 7.7 seconds left, Chris Drury (a former BU player!) ties up the game for the Sabres. The scoring is very controversial because (surprise....) Buffalo committed a penalty that was not called by the refs.... In OT, Buffalo scores (during, guess what - a Rangers penalty...) and takes game 5.

Game Six (in NYC): I'm also at this game: the Rangers score first, but the Sabres take the lead, and the Rangers are trying to play catch-up the entire time. The reffing for the first two periods is bad but not as terrible as the past games. Period three is a different story: Jagr was called TWICE for penalties when he never even touched a Sabre... very fishy... The Sabres capitalized on their power plays and the Rangers just could not catch up. The refs did not call some obvious penalties on the Sabres and the saga continues... After the game, the fans gave a standing ovation to our Rangers, and it made me proud to stand as a Rangers fan. This is the best sports town in the world.

SO, Congratulations to the Sabres who won with a lot of help from the refs (some research also enlightened me to the fact that the officiating during their first series vs. the Islanders was also pretty horrendous and one-sided), who I'm sure was somehow influenced by NHL chair Gary Bettman.

And, a truly heartfelt Congratulations to the Rangers, who outplayed the first-place Sabres, and who should have won the series. Thank you for a wonderful year. We'll have an even better year in 07-08, under the leadership of Jagr and Shanahan, the amazing goaltending of Lundqvist, and the new talents of guys like Calahan. Let's Go Rangers!

Review: Romeo + Juliet (NYC Ballet)

2007-05-06T20:16:00.000-05:00

This Saturday, I decided to take advantage of the culture in my own backyard by seeing the New York City Ballet's production of Romeo + Juliet. It took place at Lincoln Center and was a classical rendition of the ballet (Peter Martin, choreographer), to Prokofiev's score.

Our seats were up high, and rather than this being a disadvantage, it really allowed us to see how everything came together to create a beautiful production. In ballet, there are no words; it is up to dance, expression, and costumes to 'tell the story': to tell us who each character is, what their position is, what they are doing, and how they are feeling. From up high, it was possible to note the intricate choreography and the formation of the dancers. The costumes were vibrant and looked spectacular from the birds-eye view. Even from a distance, we were able to tell the fabrics and textures. The costumers dressed the Montagues in cool colors and the Capulets in warm, easing interpretations during full-cast scenes. The music and the lighting, swelling and waning together, added to the emotions experienced in the story of the star-crossed lovers. The entire production was beautiful and moving - it amazes me that all of this talent is put together for a mere 2-week run; and whilst it seems a shame that it doesn't run for longer, it also makes my opportunity to share in the event even more meaningful.

The New Rules of Driving

2007-05-01T17:51:00.000-05:00

So, I've lived on the "Gold Coast" of Long Island for about 5 months now, and my strongest observation here is that people cannot drive. Actually, I should say that they do not abide by the rules of the road. My theory is that the people on the Gold Coast feel that they are priviledged, and thus the same rules do not apply to them as does apply to the rest of us. I'm so glad I drive a small car so that I can navigate around all these obstacles (and that it's red and thus visible to oncoming nuts). Here are the new rules of driving for you to be aware of, just in case you venture to visit me:

1) Signals are entirely optional

2) Cars making turns have complete right-of-way over cars driving straight, ESPECIALLY if you're making the left turn....

3) If you are pulling out of a parking spot, you DO NOT have to yield to traffic. Heck, you don't even need to look to see if there are any oncoming cars! Oh, and you can just open up those car doors without looking first for oncoming traffic too!

4) Lane markers are mere 'suggestions' - feel free to drive between two lanes!

5) Slow, leisurely driving and 'coasting' is highly encouraged, especially when you're driving between two lanes so that no one can pass you! Why wear out your accelerator pedal?!

6) Double-parking is highly encouraged, especially when you're directly across the street from another double-parked car so that the road becomes nice and narrow...

7) Should you find yourself as a pedestrian, you can (a) cross in the middle of the streets (b) take your time walking across said street (c) no need to look before you cross!

"I'm Blind, I'm Deaf, I Wanna be a Ref"

2007-04-29T19:32:00.000-05:00

I just got back from the Rangers game (3rd game of the 2nd round series, vs. Buffalo), and WOW, do I have a lot to say about this game! The Garden was rocking! First of all, GO RANGERS and their 2-1 win late in the second period of sudden-death-overtime. Second of all, this game should have easily been 3-1 Rangers going into the third period had it not been for the horrific officiating. From the first dropped puck, the refs continuously called bogus penalties on the Rangers, failed to call obvious penalties on the Sabres, got in the way of the plays, and made innaccurate calls on icing and off-sides. Just to give a sense, after regulation time, the Rangers were called for 8 penalties whilst the Sabres were only called for 2. It seemed the Rangers were constantly down a skater, and one of these penalty-kills ended up in the goal for the Sabres. Even worse, a Rangers goal went under review and was waved off because the puck was apparently intentionally kicked in. Feel free to review the play yourself. There was no deliberate kick whatsoever, but rather a Ranger who skated into the goal box, an allowable play and an acceptable goal. And it's not just me: here's a quote from another blogger, a Flyers fan, nonetheless!: "That game [Rangers/Sabres] was god awful. from the miss goal and on top of that the miss hooking call on that play. to phantoms callsToday was an embrassment for NHL. I cant believe two referees on the ice can't make the correct call on ice. Sabres are Bettman's puppet team and everyone knows it. God, I miss that Barabro Special, that probably would be more entertaining than that embrassment at the Garden. Long Live Barbaro!"

It was the kind of game where the less-than-mediocre officiating took away from the fun of the game. It was also extremely one-sided and, at some points, so ridiculous, we were laughing from the seats. 'Coincidentally', it's known that the NHL is unofficially supporting the Sabres to win the whole thing. The Sabres are the prime example of the new NHL ideal: A successful team from a small town with a small paycheck. Honestly, the NHL is suffering in so many ways; they are losing their fan base, and based on the ridiculous and unprofessional officiating at the Garden, I can see why. The NHL better get their act together, and it better start with those guys in stripes who can unfortunately decide a game more powerfully than player talent.

My Life: A Summary

2007-04-29T09:13:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy few weeks around here and I figured I'd summarize some of the highlights.

-First and foremost, we did get a few days of spring in! It's since gone back to dampness and rain with a chill in the air, but why dwell on details?

-I had two wonderful weekend days basking in the perfect weather. Last Saturday, I finally got to explore my new town. I found stores and restaurants that will do as replacements for some of my favorite places from my old neighborhood. I found a store that sells Stuart Weitzman shoes, and another that has the skincare lines 'The Thymes', 'Pre de Provence', and 'L'Occitane.' Oh, and a lovely old-fashioned intimates store. On Sunday, I met my friend Floria for brunch in the city (my favorite thing to do in New York), and then we walked around. I hit up the Mets Clubhouse store and we basked in the sun in Bryant Park. On my way back to Penn Station, I bought these great slingback sandals (I got the black ones).

-I went to my first Mets game of the season, and watched them crush the Rockies. I had cotton candy and delightfully felt like an 8-year-old again! Let's Go Mets!

-I got to see my cousin Annette, who was visiting from Austin. My brother met up with us for awhile; they two of them haven't seen each other in almost 3 years! We got drinks and then sushi in midtown. It was great seeing my cousin!

-I had fondue for the first time at Annie and Jordan's place. It was so good, and I ate way too much! I also met the cutest baby (who belongs to Floria's friends Mimi and Nat).

-Today I'm going to the second round playoff game between the Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres. The Rangers are down 2 games to 0.

-I found good pizza in my town!!! Reminiscent of the pizzas in Italy, this was somewhere between the size of a regular pie and a personal pizza, with a super thin crust. I got it 'Margharita', meaning fresh mozzerella, fresh basil, fresh tomato sauce. Yummy!

Review: 'inoteca

2007-04-21T12:34:00.000-05:00

Last night I met up with some friends to try 'inoteca, located in the lower east side. The concept behind 'inoteca is to bring new and different Italian wines to the table while enoying a simple meal. The night definitely had its ups and downs: The wait was frustrating, to say the least (about an hour and a half) - I shouldn't even complain because the subways made me late so I only waited an hour; Amanda was the one waiting for the full 90 minutes... What made the wait a little more frustrating was the wierd sewer smell coming from the streets...

We were finally seated in a not-so-primely-located table in the basement and given a waiter who was a little scatter-brained (at one point, he explained that he had to excuse himself to address the espresso that he had spilled!) but still nice!

BUT, despite these setbacks, I really liked this place! The plates are small and meant for sharing, and the menu has lots of antipasto and cured meat choices. We decided on splitting a truffled egg bruschetta dish and a salad of beets, fennel, oranges, hazelnuts, and (my favorite), a generous helping of romano shavings. Then, we each ordered a pannini, only able to finish half. We split the panna cotta for dessert. Being that 'inoteca is also a wine bar, I decided to try something completely new to me: a red spumante. I was expecting it to be like a rose champagne, which has a pink hue, but this was the color of a dark red wine, just bubbly! It was delicious (Its name is Lambrusco La Luna, for those of you interested...). I also capped off dessert with a glass of delicious, sweet Muscato wine. The prices were very reasonable; the paninis and small plates were all around $8 or $9, and there were many glasses of wine available for around that same price. I'd definitely recommend giving this place a try, but maybe going a little earlier when there may be less of a wait.

If April Showers....

2007-04-13T22:29:00.000-05:00

bring May flowers, then what do May flowers bring?

Pilgrims!!!!... Just thought I'd try to get a laugh in there to help deal with the "spring" we're having so far. For those of you out of touch with the weather in the northeast, we had a few days of 65+ weather a few weeks ago, but it's been in the 40's ever since. And now, a nice big fat juicy nor'easter is going to hit us and it's going to coincide with the highest tides of the year. That means lots and lots of rain and coastal flooding for those of us (like me!) who live by the shores. Beach erosion is also expected. I guess I shouldn't complain being that those people about 100 miles north and west of me are expected to get their April showers in the form of lots o'snow. So, for those of you lucky enough like me to be living in the northeast, keep your heads up, your umbrellas open, your basements dry, and just remember: in a few months you'll be so sick of the summer heat that you'll be praying for winter! Oh, and make sure your car's sunroof is closed....

Uncork the Champagne!

2007-04-10T12:46:00.000-05:00

Since starting this blog, I've tried to chronicle my own life and my day-to-day adventures. Within these past weeks, I've also had many friends and family members reach milestones for which I am so happy to be able to share with them. It is now with pride that I share them here:

Annie: graduated from Harvard with a Masters in Architecture while receiving high honors on her dissertation.

Mike: married his soul mate Tara (and I had to heartbreakingly miss the wedding because of the icy roads and bridges out here). Best of love now and always.

Floria: about to embark on a new professional adventure as she leaves Nickelodeon for a career with CBS.

Diana: about to enter into home ownership with a beautiful condo in Florida (not to mention an excuse for vacations for me!).

Erica and Brian: expecting their second child this fall!

My cousin Jillian: Just got engaged to her high school sweetheart Anthony! Congratulations! I've been asked to be a bridesmaid and I can't wait for the big day in November 2009.

It's a Small World After All....

2007-04-06T20:31:00.000-05:00

I just returned from a 'mini-holiday' to Walt Disney World with my friends Amanda and Diana. Despite the large crowds, undisciplined, wild, and screaming children, and a heat wave, we had a great time! We stayed at the Boardwalk Villa which is decorated to evoke a feeling of a bygone era of early-century seaside resorts. My favorite part of the resort was the balconies we had that overlooked the boardwalk (perfect for people-watching!), the EPCOT ball, and the fireworks. Being that we had all been to Disney before, we just visited the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. The rest of the days we spent leisurely: shopping at Downtown Disney, high tea, curling up on the balcony with a good book. We even met up with my aunt who was staying at the same resort (It really is a Small World!). Just as I was getting into real vacation mode, it was time to come home (greeted of course, by a forecast of snow....).

Here's me, Amanda, and Diana posing in the oversized sofa. And here's Amanda and Diana after we got hit by the 'water canon' on Splash Mountain. Needless to say, we were so soaked that dry clothes had to be purchased from a gift shop. Not happy campers....

In EPCOT, Diana and I enjoyed some Pomegranate Kir Royales in Paris.... our European sophistication continued at high tea in the Grand Floridian.

One night we went to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for an African buffet dinner. Everything was delicious, but the highlight was the lodge itself. It's nestled in the midst of a savannah, with giraffes, zebras, and wildebeasts roaming around. What will Disney think of next?

And of course, we caught some classics: I got a photo-op with Goofy, we admired Disney characters made out of shrubbery, we paid an homage to the classic rides and sites...

A Shoe Story

2007-03-22T19:42:00.000-05:00

OK, so anyone who knows me knows that I generally prefer heels - nice, tall heels. High heels are a woman's best friend. First, they slim your figure and make your posture look better. Second, they add a few inches (a necessity, not a luxury, for short women like me who don't want to have to hem the 'petite' or 'short length' pants any further....). Third, they are beautiful. Anyone who knows me also knows that I have an averse reaction to flats: I trip all over the place in them, and after awhile, they hurt my foot arches and lower back.

So, imagine my dismay when I came to the conclusion that I need to find a sensible yet dressy shoe for when I'm doing an extensive amount of walking (i.e. a day when I leave at noon for a museum, and then out to dinner with friends, not getting back until after midnight) - and that finding such a shoe might, gulp, compromise on height. Off to DSW I went, with my mom in tow to make sure my eyes did not wander to the wall of amazing high-end pumps. Though I set out to find a nice 3-inch cork-based wedge with a closed-toe, my hopes came to a screetching halt when I realized that all their shoes were either 1) boots, 2) sandals, or 3) flats. After trying on lots of shoes, teary-eyed, and in a bit of denial over the whole low-heel thing, I finally found a wedge loafer with a 2-inch heel from Kenneth Cole Reaction. It will have to do for now. My hopes were further deflated by Zappos and many other a shoe website, who also failed to deliver my ideal shoe.... Maybe I need to start my own business....

Why We Embrace Change...

2007-03-13T19:18:00.000-05:00

Today, as I perused the aisles of the supermarket, my eyes fell upon a special treat of yesteryear. Memories of sleepovers at Grandma's where we'd make treats and then dive under the covers on the pull-out couch to watch Mary Poppins and Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Which item made this time travel possible do you ask? Jiffy Pop. You remember it: that aluminum pan filled with popcorn that you shake over your oven burner and watch with eyes of wonder as the foil expands with delicious-smelling popcorn....

Hungry for a little nostalgia, I bought the pan, and made it tonight as part of my very own American Idol party for one. I followed the instructions exactly, and, to my horror, soon enough, my apartment began filling up with black smoke while the foil barely expanded! I shut off the stove and opened the foil top, where an awful chemical smell escaped, along with more billows of black smoke. Tucked inside was a combination of charred kernels and unpopped kernels. So much for my adventure. I've got the windows open, the fan on, the febreze air effects sprayed all about, and it still stinks in here. Here's what I say: There is a reason why microwave popcorn is so popular...! Trust the people!

A Trip Around the Ol' Proverbial Block....

2007-03-11T10:18:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, greeted by the first warm breezes of the spring, I decided to visit my old neighborhoods of Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. For those of you not familiar with the area, it's the two neighborhoods just south of Brooklyn Heights, a mile or so south of the Brooklyn Bridge, along the water (think Moonstruck). I only lived in this neighborhood for two years, but it conveyed a sense of home stronger than any other place I'd lived in (and I've moved A LOT since graduating High School!). It is truly a neighborhood: tree-lined streets, old brownstones, hidden parks, privately-owned restaurants and boutiques where the owners get to know you; you get the idea....

Here's what I did: First, I got my hair cut at Salon de Quartier for my seasonal appointment with Kathleen who always does a great job with my hair! I still go back there for 3 reasons: 1) they do a great job 2) it's an excuse to visit the old neighborhood, and 3) the French receptionist makes you feel like you're in Paris, serving you croissants and coffee while they address your tresses! Next, I had brunch at a favorite restaurant of mine called Alma. It serves up great Mexican food in a classy environment, but you really go for the view: there's rooftop dining that overlooks the Manhattan skyline. I was on a first date, and all I could say was, thank GOODNESS there was a view and good food there to help me survive... I also have to add that their dinners seem much better than their brunches. After bolting from the guy, I did what any practical girl would do after a disasterous date: I ran to a good bakery, and bought some carbs, guilt-free. My bakery of choice: Mazzola's. Mazzola's is an old neighborhood establishment with amazing specialty bread. I got a loaf of the cranberry walnut, and an olive loaf. You don't know the meaning of good Italian bread until you've checked out the bakeries in this area. To complete my tour, I stopped off and Smith and Vine, a great wine store known for their table of excellent $10 and under bottles. They actually moved down the street, which was a little bit of a surprise to me, but I'll deal... Lastly, I poked my head into Handmade, a great boutique, especially for gift-giving.

(Note: these are old pictures from last year! The snow is gone by now!)

American Idol (and a bit of a crush...)

2007-03-05T20:02:00.000-05:00

Okay, I FINALLY did it; I finally gave in to all of the pressures of society - I went out and got myself hooked on American Idol. Quite frankly, I surprised I made it through five whole seasons without as much as an interest in the whole sensation. In my defense, the decision to 'go over to the other side' was a sacrafice on the part of my profession. You see, there's not a single upper-middle-class middle school girl (and few boys) who are not obsessed with the show. And being able to relate to my kids is of course paramount.....

SO, now here I am, not only addicted, but with the hugest crush I've had on anyone since a certain blond cutie in sixth grade.... My Idol's name is Brandon Rogers and he's from California. Oh, and conveniently (or maybe coincidentally), he's my age! He's got the best eyes I've ever seen - trust me, the photo does not do him justice! If he lived on my coast, I'd write him a note in pink ink with boxes to check off whether or not he likes me, and then I'd have one of my best friends deliver it to his best friend. Sigh.

A Sight for Sore Eyes

2007-03-05T19:34:00.000-05:00

Okay, I'm just about getting to the point where I'm ready for the warm weather. Don't get me wrong, I love the change of seasons and I never understood how people live without it. However, I'm also not opposed to winter (and summer for that matter...) being a few weeks shorter to make spring and autumn a little longer! Anyways, in tribute to the warm weather, blue skies, and hopes of warm weather fun, here are some photos of the classic Coney Island that (believe it or not) I took in March of last year! The Paraschute Jump

The Waterfront at Sunset

The Famous Brooklyn Cyclone

Sabrett hotdog anyone? (WonderWheel in background)

Review: Ayurveda Cafe

2007-02-23T23:46:00.000-05:00

I guess it's time for my first negative restaurant review here on my blog. Tonight, a friend and I went to a restaurant called Ayurveda Cafe (Amsterdam Ave. and 94th St.). It follows an Indian holistic view of well-being (Ayurveda) by serving carefully-selected vegetarian dishes that balance out the tastes of salty, sweet, sour, bitter, astringent and pungent. Basically, you are served a large platter that consists of small servings of: rice, two entrees, lentils, salad, raita, and naan. There is also an appetizer and a dessert. Ayurveda Cafe follows a daily set menu, so the diner does not have any ordering options.

Our food arrived faster than an order of fries at McDonalds, and based on its texture and temperature, seemed like it was lying around for a little bit. The appetizer resembled a hockey puck, but based on the potato-and-pea filling, I'm guessing that it was an attempt at a samosa. The entrees were not bad, but were eaten because I was hungry, not because I was necessarily enjoying them! The naan was flat (nothing like in the picture!). The salad remained untouched. My friend and I saved the raita (a yogurt-based sauce) until the end, thinking that it was rice pudding. To our surprise, it did not taste like rice pudding, but rather a bitter, awful, familiar taste that I quickly pinpointed as paint. Luckily for us, a real dessert did arrive after our plates were cleared, and it was an interesting (and good) dish that tasted like cardamon-enhanced peanut butter but had the texture of brown sugar. At least the meal ended well! The service was lacking, no one took the time to explain to us what was on our plate (if they did, maybe we wouldn't have mistaken the 'paint' for pudding!), and the place had no atmosphere to speak of. My friend was squished between a wooden divider and a space heater while I became hypnotized by a neon-light buddha display. Although the dinner is a mere $12, I would recommend spending a few dollars more and ordering the vegetarian thali plate from a good restaurant like Curry Leaf. All that Ayurveda left me was craving some real Indian food - and thus no sense of balance or well-being!

Shameless Product Plugs

2007-02-17T13:53:00.000-05:00

Let's face it: we're Americans. We love our products. In fact, at times, we can become over-zealous about our products. Whilst I've become increasingly sensitive to the effects of commercialism getting out of hand (and realizing that I, too, am a culprit), I did want to take the time to offer my 'can't live without' product plugs:

Makeup: Bare Escentuals - All of the makeup by this company is made up of 100% natural minerals. No oils, no preservatives. Nothing to clog pores or cause allergic reactions. It feels like you're wearing nothing on your face and they last all day. The colors look amazing and after using their products for nearly a year, my face has never looked clearer or brighter. Best of all, the makeup is fun! You can find their products at Sephora, or, for great sample combos, visit qvc.com.

Cleansers: Fresh - Fresh only uses natural ingredients as well. Currently, I'm in love with their soy makeup remover and their brown sugar/strawberry face mask. It's so natural you can actually eat it! I have ultra-sensitive skin and these products are so soothing and work great! I also recently picked up a lip gloss from them that I love! Check out a Fresh store (they're in Boston and in NY), or look for them in Sephora.

Household Cleaner: Magic Eraser - If you have not yet experienced cleaning with the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, run (do not walk) to the nearest store and pick a package up. It is incredible. You wet the magic eraser, which feels a little like light styrofoam, wring it out, and use it to clean everything from cabinets to counters to bathroom surfaces. It's great because it gets into all the little grooves, like those in your refrigerator. There's a very light cleaning product built into the eraser itself that you can barely detect; no other cleaners are needed! If you think your counters are clean, run over them with the Magic Eraser and see what clean REALLY is.

Snack: Calavo Dates - I've recently discovered a love for dates and after trying several types and brands, I have decided that the Calavo brand (grown in California) are my favorite. They are packaged with no preservatives so all that you taste is the yummy date. This brand happens to have a very deep, creamy texture that somewhat resembles chocolate on the palate. You can find them in your grocery store, by the produce, in small plastic containers. I recommend the pitted ones!

Review: Flute Champagne Bar

2007-02-17T11:45:00.000-05:00

Last night I met up with two very dear friends from my old job. It was so great seeing them, catching up on life, exchanging stories about work, laughing about recent dates-gone-wrong. What made it even nicer was the scene: We met up at a champagne bar called Flute, nestled away in my favorite neighbhorhood of the city, Gramercy (40 20th St. btwn. Broadway and Park - there is also a midtown location; www.flutebar.com). We had a choice of sitting at the bar, or at comfortable oversized sofa clusters tucked away in the privacy of dark lighting. We opted for the bar. Suprisingly, the place did not get as busy as we thought with the after-work crowd, but we quickly determined that this is the place for intimate conversations between friends or a romantic date. Flute features three flight tasting menus: champagne, kir royale, and bellini. Kir Royale being my drink of choice, I went for the tasting menu of pomegranate, peach, and the traditional cassis. Everything was delicious. My friend tried the raspberry and lemon Kir Royales as well, and my other friend went for the champagne-tasting menu. Drinks were also available by the glass. There was light bar food: we ordered a cheese and fruit platter and the raw tuna and avocado spring rolls, which were presented on the plate like pieces of sushi. There's also a very decadent dessert menu that includes chocolates from La Maison du Chocolat. The servers were very attentive and took the time to offer their suggestions and to explain the champagnes to us. Prices were typical for Manhattan. Overall, I strongly recommend this great place!

To Be A Snow Day Or Not to Be (that is the question)

2007-02-13T18:48:00.000-05:00

When you're working in a school, there's always that slight glimmer of hope that keeps you going through the freezing and doldrum winter months, that reason why you can get up every day and face a schoolful of cooped-up kids - that glimmer of hope is simply referred to as a Snow Day. Since we're in Kindergarten, a phenomenon of psychology happens in the days leading up to the possible snow day. First, there's the first words of a winter storm, usually several days before the day in question. As the day approaches, eyes and ears are out for every possible weather report, and comparisons are made between the best case and worst case scenarios.

Then, the day before the questionable snow day, conversations abound, guessing the outcome. Now, there's people who fall into two strictly different and converse schools of thought: There are the pessimisms - these are the people who go around saying "accumulations will be less than an inch," "OUR district? We NEVER close!" or (and even more aggravating to me) "it's supposed to turn into rain." Then, there are the optimists, those who go around announcing loudly, "hey Tom, I guess I won't be seeing you tomorrow, SNOW DAY!" or "The roads will NEVER be clear for the morning busses to get through."

Whilst I like the thinking of this latter group, I also feel that they are breaking the cardinal rule of Snow-Day Wishing: NEVER EVER, under any circumstances, ASSUME that there will be a snow day! I firmly believe that the chances of a snow day are inversely correlated to the number of people who assume that there will be one! It's Murphy's Law at its simplist! Now, I'm not saying to proscribe to the pessimistic thought of the former group, but rather, be cautious. Don't go broadcasting the possibilities. Don't rub it in to your private-industry-employed friends who don't get snow days. Go to bed early, assuming there will be work in the morning. It's okay to watch the news or to look out your window, but don't let it consume you! And lastly, should you have to go to school in the morning, leave early and be extra careful on the roads.

Dim Sum - "A Little Bit of Heart"

2007-02-11T18:12:00.000-05:00

Today I met up with some friends for dim sum, a traditional Chinese 'brunch' of dumplings and other small steamed and fried foods. I once had dim sum way back in High School but don't remember it much. I had it again when I went to Asia, first in Hong Kong, which is known for their dim sum, and then again in Beijing. I loved it!!!! Similar to Spanish Tapas, I love when everyone at the table shares a little bit of everything. I'm also a big fan of being able to try a little taste of lots of different things!

Dim sum can be a little overwhelming to the English-speaking diner! The descriptions in English are pretty vague. I was lucky enough to go with some Chinese friends who knew exactly what to order (and how to pronounce it!!!). We also went to a great place that I'd recommend to any of you who are new at Dim Sum. The place was called Our Place Cuisines of China (3rd Ave. btw. 81st and 82nd Sts.). I have to say that it not being in Chinatown took away some of my fears of being overwhelmed. Everything was delicious, and the menu was simple to read. My favorites today were the roast pork buns (both the steamed and the baked ones), the red-bean sesame balls, and the chicken sticky rice (that comes wrapped in some sort of leaf!). I also loved the su long bao, which are like pork dumplings but have a pocket of delicious juice that bursts in your mouth. I also liked the very traditional dishes like the beef and shrimp wrapped in a big rice noodle (sort of looked like a manicotti). Delicious tea (a blend of chrysanthemum and jasmine) completed the experience. The price was incredibly reasonable; we left stuffed and ended up shelling out a mere $12 per person. I highly recommend that you give dim sum a try: it's a great get-together for friends.

A Photographic Ode To Spring - Please Come Soon!

2007-02-10T09:29:00.000-05:00

Go Naomi!

2007-02-08T19:27:00.000-05:00

Well, I just finished watching Naomi perform on Teen Jeopardy! Naomi got off to a slightly slow start, but quickly ripped through the 'Cartoons' category, and took the lead after the first commercial break. During Double Jeopardy, Naomi raised her score by getting lots of the $2000 questions right (including one impossible one about the name of a type of camel). The guy on the right took the lead on a Daily Double (he risked $10,000, and, quite honestly, the question was way too easy... very unfair...). Into Final Jeopardy they went, with Naomi in second place. The guy in last and she both got the question right, but the guy in the lead got it wrong! Naomi wagered enough and she won! Now she gets to go on to the semifinals! Go Naomi!

Naomi's semifinal appearance will be on Tuesday, February 13!

This is Jeopardy!....

2007-02-06T18:21:00.000-05:00

This is very exciting: the teenage daughter of a family friend (and a subject of many of my practice psych tests while I was going through grad schoool....) will be on Teen Jeopardy! this coming Thursday night. So, everyone be sure to tune in and root for Naomi from Brooklyn, NY on February 8 at 7pm on ABC. After the show I'll give you all a report of how she did!

Review: Curry Leaf

2007-02-05T20:19:00.000-05:00

I had the BEST Indian food this Saturday night at a restaurant called Curry Leaf (Lexington Ave. and 27th St.). The decor was a little plain, and not exactly eye-catching from the outside. However, the food was amazing. We started out with generous-sized samosas, which were crispy outside and full of flavor on the inside. We then ordered the chicken makhani (tender chicken breast in a slightly sweet thick red sauce) and the vegetarian thali (which consists of several small dishes like spinach with paneer, lentils, cauliflower, and some yummy sweet ones too - it was a great way to try different things). I also tried mango lassi, which I had never had before. It's a sweetened mango yogurt drink, which I loved. The naan was baked to perfection. At the end, they treated us to cardamom rice pudding, which was absolutely delicious. The prices were reasonable and the service was excellent. I will definitely be visiting this restaurant again!

Review: Picasso and American Art

2007-01-27T21:37:00.000-05:00

Today I checked out the Picasso and American Art exhibit at the Whitney Museum of American Art. The focus of this exhibit was to show the influence that Picasso and his works had on American painters (Max Weber, Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock, and Roy Lichtenstein, amongst others - Lichtenstein's painting is here on the left). Overall, this was a great exhibit for those of us who don't intuitively make relationships between painters and works. The influences were very clear.

While I enjoyed and appreciated the focus of this exhibit, I was sad to see that it mainly focused on Picasso's works in cubism. Though I do appreciate Picasso as an artist, my interest lies in his earlier works; I'm not a big fan of cubism. This disappointed me and made the exhibit less appealing than I had originally hoped. Overall, if you like cubism, you'd probably love this exhibit. If not, it's okay to miss this one! Tomorrow is its last day at the Whitney, but you can catch it as it travels to San Francisco and Minneapolis.

My day was capped off with dinner at Sala 19, a tapas restaurant (same Sala as the one in the Bowery). This restaurant never disappoints... it can't get much better than dates stuffed with almonds and wrapped with bacon!

Reminiscing on my Vacation

2007-01-26T17:10:00.000-05:00

So, on this cold winter day, I thought that it would be the perfect time to reminisce about warmer times. And then I realized, what the perfect opportunity to post photos from my trip to Asia last summer. Our first stop was Beijing, where I saw some great ancient Chinese architecture and we hung out on a deserted stretch of the Great Wall of China. Then, we were off to Singapore for my friends Annie and Jordan's wedding. After that, we headed to the island of Koh Samui in Thailand where we were pampered paradise-style. Lastly, we visited Bangkok where we were immersed in a culture like no other. So, sit back, relax, get warm and toasty, and enjoy!

"No Shoe For You"

2007-01-22T19:08:00.000-05:00

Since the end of the summer, I've been eyeing the Stuart Weitzman shoes to the right (it's hard to see in this photo, but the bottom platform of this shoe is tortoise-shell). For those of you who have not had the opportunity to wear a Stuart Weitzman shoe, I can tell you that it's a wonderful experience. Cushioning all around, a great fit that cradles the foot, and a sexy look. Once you try on a pair, the somewhat high pricetag makes complete sense and any lesser of a shoe becomes something to scoff at.

Anyways, being a conscienscious consumer, I decided to wait until these babies went on sale. They did, on Friday, and I sprung. The website said that 7's were in stock - and the purchase made my weekend! Today, however, I received an email alerting me that they were, indeed, out of stock. I had to switch my order to the brown, which does not have the tortoise-shell bottom platform, but I suppose will do... here's hoping that they are in stock...

Welcome Me!

2007-01-21T17:49:00.000-05:00

Well, I figured after years of reading my friends' blogs, it was time I got started on my own. A quick update of my life: I'm working in a terrific middle school on Long Island, I recently moved into my own place (a one-bedroom co-op on the second floor of a very pretty development for those of you who like details), and yes, my closets are still brimming with clothes and shoes... Currently, I'm keeping myself busy with photography and re-learning French. I'm also getting to know my new neighborhood. Today I took a nice long walk in the freezing cold to the library. Based on the crowds and the full parking lot, apparently the library is THE place to be on a cold Sunday in the 'burbs these days.

So hopefully you'll stop by often for updates on my life, reviews of things I've tried, and just for a general walk in my shoes.