Wandering Allyn

Goodbye For Now

2010-02-18T11:51:00.004-05:00

It's been such a long time since I last posted. And the funny thing is, I have no clue where the time has gone.

I've been working hard, teaching three classes this session (Cooking, Creative Writing and Codes, Puzzles and Word Games). But now work is over. This week is the mid-winter break for Easthampton Public Schools, but it's also the beginning of what we can call my maternity leave. Because our program sessions run approximately 8 weeks each, the next (beginning next week) runs into mid-April, which Andy and I thought came a little too close to my due date (May 2). So I opted not to teach this session, aside from substitute work in the after school program (which comes in handy, since I already know I'm working 3 days next week. So even though my "break" has started, it's really doesn't feel like it).

I've also been busy with baby stuff. I still have other interests, I haven't lost my sense of self or my identity (always a fear, I think, for a modern-woman-turned-mama...or at least for me) but I have definitely devoted a lot of my time and energy into reading up on all things baby. But, you know, when you have a living thing inside you, kicking you and reminding you it's there 24/7, it's hard not to be obsessed.

We are still gradually working on our home. Now that we've been living in this house for nearly eight months, we do truly feel like it's home.

Day by day new things are being set up or arranged, everything we can do to make this our home. I suddenly understand how my grandparents' house never really changed. The placement of each piece of furniture or candy dish seemed like it had been there forever (probably had) and would outlive us all (which they all did, for the most part).

As someone who lived in a variety of places growing up, as well as moving between divorced parents' homes, I feel now the amazing comfort in simply setting up my belongings and knowing that I will not have to move them anytime soon. It does make me wonder if you were to fast forward 50 years into the future, would the house would look completely the same with the exception of Andy and I looking 50 years older? While I can see that being depressing to some, it doesn't bother me in the least. The worrywart side of me likes the stability that image implies.

Anyway.

Because I have a hunch that in coming months life will start to become all-things-baby, and because I feel there's a natural line being drawn in our lives, no matter how resistant we might be toward it (life before baby and life after baby), I have decided to retire this blog and move the party over to my newer blog -
Western Mass Mama.

The new blog, as the title indicates, is a bit more baby/family-oriented. I also started it not so much as a personal "all about me" blog (like this one has been) but more of a resource for parents in our area.

When I started looking for information on prenatal yoga in the Western Massachusetts area, I could find very little info. The same goes for other parent or child-related things. So that's the mission of the new blog - provide some resources for parents in the area.

The blog is also pretty new, so now that I'm on leave and moving forward in my pregnancy, I hope to devote a little more time to it and flesh out some ideas. I hope you will check it out, even if you don't live in the area (and aren't a parent).

So, here we are.

It's been a long run.
A fun run, since my first ever blog post - my outrage over "Veronica Mars" being canceled, to my summer of training for the NYC Teaching Fellows to the first of many accounts of our 8 months living in Prague and traveling around Europe, from 2008-2009; and finally, to our moving back to the US and buying a house (and the decorating that followed), and of course, to finding out we were expecting a baby.

Thank you for dropping by, and I hope to see you soon!

Allyn (Western Mass Mama)

Kooky Old Ladies

2010-01-05T18:39:00.002-05:00

I'm a big fan of kooky old ladies - are you? Who isn't!

I hope you get as much happiness and joy out of watching this video as I did!

Happy Holidays

2009-12-24T10:00:00.003-05:00

Happy Holidays!

We are so thankful to be celebrating Christmas with our family, and are also thinking of our family in the Czech Republic, where we had such a blast celebrating Christmas last year.

Have a lovely holiday, everyone!

*AND, if you are looking for something to do with your time off, feel free to check out a great new blog - Western Mass Mama - by someone you're a little familiar with, about baby-related stuff in Western Massachusetts, and pregnancy in general. Enjoy!

The Answer!!

2009-12-16T21:41:00.000-05:00

It's a girl!!

We're thrilled!

Baby Boy or Baby Girl??

2009-12-14T16:22:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow we have our anatomy scan ultrasound, where we'll find out if we're having a girl or a boy!! Hooray!

Our plan is to have the tech write it down and put it in an envelope. Then we'll go someplace private and open it just Andy and me, and find out what we'll be expecting.

Can't wait!

Holiday Madness Begins!

2009-11-25T09:46:00.006-05:00

I haven't written much lately. Truth is... I've been really sick! Like, 1st trimester morning (all-day)sickness and serious fatigue.

It's not pleasant. Especially since I'm nearly 18 weeks pregnant (this Sunday!). I should be feeling better, and I'm not. But I am looking forward to feeling the baby move, which could happen any day now.

But, we go on. Other than that I'm fine, and obviously very obsessed with baby stuff right now, which is the real reason I haven't written as much lately. Oh, and work. That takes my time, too.

On the bright side, it's the day before Thanksgiving! We will be spending the time with family, and it's exciting to realize that next year we'll have an extra mouth to feed pureed sweet potatoes to. Yay! It's also amazing to think that on Thanksgiving last year we were in Prague and went to our favorite Thai place, Noi, in Stare Mesto (I don't have the energy to go looking for proper accents right now, sorry).

Have a great holiday, everyone!

Announcement Time!

2009-11-01T11:22:00.004-05:00

Family and friends know this already, but for everyone else...

I'm pregnant!

My mind and focus have been all over the place lately, and I've been very baby-oriented.
Today I am 14 weeks. Today the baby is the size of a 3.5" lemon!

Here's my 14 week picture. I'm starting to show a bit! I wasn't the skinniest to begin with, but I'm fairly confident that the bump that's starting to show is baby and not ice cream and Halloween candy (*I hope!*).

Before & After: Master Bedroom

2009-11-01T10:30:00.005-05:00

I'm finally ready to unveil Step 1 of our Master Bedroom Redo!

The redecorating of our master bedroom was no small feat... if anyone remembers, the previous owners had some very eclectic taste which they exhibited masterfully in the master bedroom.

The room was a mix of sponged-on mustard yellow walls and large vertical stripes of red and green fabric separated by gold ribbon a la Christmas wrapping. Hm. Interesting.

What we did: We used Stone 2 by Laura Ashely (from Lowe's) on the walls. I saw the color on a design blog, where it was used in a nursery and I loved it. It's surprising, because it's a pretty neutral color for me (I'm generally a bit more dramatic and bold) but it was so soft and pretty and completely unlike the look of the room that we wanted desperately to undo.

The paint is a kind of pinky-taupe that I think looks amazing with our bed (which I've had dreams of for years and we finally got from Humble Abode). I realize most of these after pictures are bed-centric... but we don't have other furniture, aside from a dresser, and it's not a huge room so the bed really is the focal point.

We have so much more to do to bring the whole room together (Step 2) - curtains, pictures of walls...but for now this is what we've got!

Before Pictures

After Pictures

The Cutest Dog Ever

2009-10-20T22:23:00.002-04:00

Vivi Videos!!

Vivi has a wild moment:

Vivi barks and just looks cute:

Vivi tilts her head in response to an obnoxious sound:

Outside Seasonal Decorations

2009-10-20T18:53:00.005-04:00

As promised, here's the fall decorations on the front of our house...

Actually, we think we'll leave the crazy weird and slightly scary (and creepy) flying monkey hanging from the nail in the middle of the porch ceiling. This was my dad's and we love it. No matter how weird it is!

Coming Soon...

2009-10-05T23:49:00.002-04:00

...My new unhealthy love for seasonal decorations.

Seriously, I don't know who this person is that I've become, but all I want to do is buy, like, twelve different wreaths for my front door.

Stay tuned...

Welcome to the Neti Pot!

2009-10-02T09:30:00.004-04:00

This week I got sick.

This was a major drag, because last weekend I was fine, but on Sunday I started sneezing. I figured it was allergies.

I continued to sneeze on Monday. "Damn allergies!" I thought to myself.

I went to work, and then to an after work meeting in Northampton at La Veracruzana, a Mexican take out/eat in restaurant. I was super proud of myself because I drove into Northampton, parallel parked, went to the meeting and then drove home in the dark - all by myself!! (Remember, I'm a new driver, so these were firsts... don't kill my buzz, dude.)

(La Veracruzana Side Note: I took home two Carne Asada Burritos for Andy and me... they were fine, for what they were, and the salsa was great, and I appreciated that I got some limes with the order... but I really find myself missing Burritoville and it's creativity!!)
Anyway, somewhere on the drive between La Veracruzana and my house, I came down with an awful head cold. I was suddenly so congested and disgusting that I could barely be alive. I was sneezing non-stop... it was gross.

A day later I'd had to miss work and was still nasty, so I forced Andy to drive me to Whole Foods where I purchased my first Neti Pot.

A neti pot is a little pot (kind of looks like a mini tea pot) that you fill with warm saline water (you buy the neti pot salt separately and mix it in, or use Kosher salt), and then pour it into one nostril for it to come out the other. Sounds gross, right?

It kind of is, at first, and when I first did it I felt like I'd jumped into a pool... it's just that water-in-your-nose-and-face-cavity feeling. But you get over that.

The whole point is that the saline washes out toxins and mucous and crap that's making you all congested and nasty. And, by Golly!, it worked! It absolutely worked. I've been doing it twice a day for three days now and I feel great. I would definitely recommend the neti pot to anyone. I mean, people swear by it for relief for allergies, sinus issues, everything, and now I know why. I'm a true devotee for life.

Hooray for the Neti Pot!!

And if you have a hard time picturing the process, here's the official how-to video to help you:

New Rug!

2009-09-26T11:48:00.004-04:00

Hooray, we finally got a rug for the living room! It finally feels (fairly) complete. We still have some little tables to buy and pictures to put on the walls, but it feels like a real room now.

We got the rug from homedecorators.com, which has proven to be a pretty great resource for us. We also got our TV cabinet, standing/reading lamp from them, and now we're waiting for our new dining room chandelier.

It was also a relief, because we weren't sure what colors would look good...I've gone with a semi-monochromatic look (notice how most things in here are blue?) with highlights of yellowy-gold (the couch) and the complementary color of orange (the copper of the top of the coffee table).

Anyway, the rug looks fab with it all, I think. If you disagree, don't tell me!

I'm a Jerk!

2009-09-19T22:31:00.004-04:00

Not really, but I am busy.

With my job...remember, that thing, that job, I got?

It keeps me busy.

Working.

And I'm tired.

That's why I've not written lately.

I work with kids, you know.

And they're young.

Some are, like, five. Years old.

So, I'm kinda beat lately.

But, I'll write soon. Just know I'm alive, just super tired.

I'll be back soon!

New Job

2009-09-09T10:07:00.004-04:00

I started my job yesterday.

Back to the world of schools, children and perfecting my "scary" face (a.k.a. my "stop-talking-now-or-I-will-call-your-parents-and-make-your-world-hellish" face).

It was great to be back working. I'm working at two elementary schools here in Easthampton. Today I'll have my first day at a different school than yesterday. I get such butterflies in my stomach anytime I have to start something - anything - new; I just hate it. But yesterday went well and I'm sure today will, too. It's just the getting into the routine process.

It's really starting to feel like fall here in the Pioneer Valley, too. I always sleep with the windows open and there's such a chilly breeze coming through in the morning, it definitely feels like the start of the school year.

You can practically smell October and Halloween creeping up.

I love it.

If you want more...

2009-09-01T09:58:00.001-04:00

pictures, of me, Andy, Vivi and Western Massachusetts, click here.

Vacation at Home Reflection

2009-09-01T09:26:00.005-04:00

Our "Vacation at Home" has just finished, and we had a great time. Edith was here staying with us for a time, so she embarked on some of these journey as well.

Thursday we went for lunch at La Casita Azteca in Easthampton, my favorite local mole place. Afterward we did a relatively brief (45 mins) walk on Mt. Tom, then we went to the Montague Bookmill, which was pretty awesome.

Friday Andy and I headed off for Quabbin Reservoir, planning to do a nice big hike and give Vivi some great exercise. Of course, as soon as we got there (about a 30 min drive) we saw the sign: NO DOGS ALLOWED. Ugh. So, we'll return some other time (though I did get to snap a couple pictures from the entrance), and instead went for a walk in some off-season fishing and hunting area. Not the same, but good nonetheless. Later we stopped at a roadside stand for fried clam rolls. Yum!

Saturday was rainy and crappy, so we went to Ikea. It was an hour and twenty minute drive, since the closest one is in New Haven, CT.

Andy, Edith and I decided to make the most of it, and stopped to get pizza at Frank Pepe pizza on Wooster St, which is supposedly the greatest pizza ever, but the line was long, we were cold and starving, so we went to a lesser known spot a couple blocks down and surely had lesser food. Ah, well. Then we bought stuff at Ikea, went home and vegged for the rest of the night.

Sunday we all went to some yard sales, but the only thing purchased was a children's book called Tea with an Old Dragon: A Story of Sophia Smith, Founder of Smith College for a buck. We dropped Edith back at home, then Andy and I went to Bub's BBQ for lunch. It was AWESOME. Great, smoky pulled pork sandwiches, awesome BBQ Ranch beans, everything was great. I'm so happy this place is open year round, and in our area.

After lunch we went for what ended up being a crazy steep and semi-difficult hike to Rattlesnake Knob in Amherst, where it was all worth it for the view. Needless to say, Vivi and I were dead for the rest of the night.

Finally yesterday we saw "Inglourious Basterds" which was okay, but I didn't like it as much as so many other people. The beginning was promising, with the conversation
at the French dairy farm that was reminiscent of "Reservoir Dogs" and "Pulp Fiction." ("Pulp Fiction" is also Andy's favorite movie.) But Andy and I both felt the second half (after the scene in the pub) dragged. There was still good stuff, but once again I had high expectations that I feel weren't met (sadly I felt the same about "Julie and Julia"). Ah, well.

The awesome news for yesterday, though, was that we found Banh Mi in the Pioneer Valley!! We randomly went for lunch at Miss Saigon in Amherst and there on the door was a sign that they were making Banh Mi. We are suckers for these Vietnamese sandwiches, which have gotten so popular lately, and after trying them in NY, I had searched and searched for them here and found nothing. And they were good! I'm seriously considering stopping for another one for lunch today. We'll see.

Now, it's kind of back to the grind. Andy's back at work, and I'm prepping for next Tuesday, my first day back at work since June 2008! Weird. And exciting.

How are you spending the last days of the summer?

Day Trips & Fun Spots in the Pioneer Valley

2009-08-21T23:33:00.005-04:00

Andy has four days off next week. We'd initially thought we'd make a trip to the Cape at some point, but because of various life things right now I suggested we do a "vacation at home" instead.

So, instead of spending the money to go away and stay in a hotel AND pay for every meal, we'll stay here at home but do vacation-y, explorer-y trips each day.

After all, we've lived here in Easthampton since June and really haven't explored much, like Mt. Tom or anything. We just went to Look Park in Northampton for the first time on Monday!

With this plan we can also actually splurge on a few nice restaurants and maybe even buy some "souvenirs" in our travels, AND get some exercise AND have fun in the nature and towns of the Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts.

I was reading a recent post in a great local blog, in the valley, that has some amazing pictures from Mt. Pollux (click on that link to see them). So, I think we might try that for a picnic one (clear) evening. The sky from that spot just looks breathtaking!

Also on my list is the Montague Bookmill, which sounds very exciting to me, and the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst. Have I mentioned I'm an English Teacher? This is the stuff that gets me going!

(Now that I think of it, Mark Twain's house is in CT... maybe I should see how long the drive is?)

If you know of any fun places to go to see, eat, enjoy - whatever - anywhere here in the Pioneer Valley, please suggest it!!

Found Me A Job!

2009-08-21T15:05:00.006-04:00

Time to reveal that I've got a job! I will be teaching Poetry and Newspaper for an after school program here in the town.

Where I live.

Trying not to reveal too much.

Trying to be professional.

Very happy to be teaching again. This program will be quite structured and for this I am thrilled. I am in the process of doing curriculum plans. Nice.

Other than that... I was out of town last week visiting my grandmother in the Midwest. She's in the hospital. It's kind of stressful time, as she's 92 and we all love her so much. That's about all I'll share for now.

We took Vivi to the vet today and she got her rabies shot and took it like a pro. That bitch has got mad skills as toughin' it out through the pain and discomfort. Like her moms.

She also has gained 2.2 pounds, for a grand total of 6.2 pounds now!! She's growing so fast and it just breaks my heart. I can't imagine having a baby, as this puppy's throwing me for a major loop. Ah, well.

Back to my research for lessons now...and if anyone has any tips on producing a class newspaper (like, um, can it be on regular 8x11.5 paper?) please leave 'em in the comments section).

The Puppy!

2009-08-19T12:57:00.002-04:00

Click here for pictures!

Some are old but there's some new ones on there.
She just turned 12 weeks yesterday. We've had her for 5 weeks now.

Away for a Bit

2009-08-13T09:46:00.002-04:00

I'm in Michigan now for a family thing, but I had to take a moment to post this video (I found it on dlisted) which made me laugh. Enjoy!

Before & After: Kitchen (Step 1)

2009-08-03T11:00:00.007-04:00

We went back and forth deciding what color to paint the kitchen (the first of many steps in fixing this space up).

We were going to go for white, because we want a clean, open, light space...but decided on the same pale blue (Behr's Cool Sky) with white trim (Behr's Creamy White) that we used in the living and dining rooms. One reason is because the first floor of our house is very open and you can see each room from the others. We wanted things to feel connected, cohesive, and not broken up (since the rooms aren't huge and don't need to feel smaller than they are).

Another reason we went for the pale blue/white combo is because it's just so pretty. Every time I look around at the walls I say, "Isn't this so pretty?" So, why not spread that love to the kitchen?

Before
After
Before
After
See how light it is now, without that dark green keeping everything in shadows?
The blue might not go with things yet, but soon it will all come together.

The next step we plan to take is to paint or stain the cabinets white. I say paint, Andy says stain so they're kind of white-washed with the wood grain still showing through. I'm open to anything - does anyone have experience/knowledge pertaining to this? Please share!

Eventually we'll also (over who knows how many months) replace the sink (I hate this one!), replace the counter (probably with granite, though a big part of me yearns for butcher block), put up a tile backsplash, and change the floor. Speaking of which - what do you think of the floor? Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it...

What's Cookin'?

2009-08-01T19:14:00.003-04:00

Our kitchen - the color, that is.

(Wait, does color cook? or does a kitchen cook? Whatever. The question was "What's cookin'?" meaning "What's happening?" and the simple answer is "We are painting our kitchen." Whew. Sorry.)

We spent the last two days priming & painting the kitchen. We finished today, and although we still plan to paint or refinish the cabinets, I'm really not one to wait, so I'll post (pre-changed cabinet) before and after pictures tomorrow.

Am I making sense? I don't think so. This is what two days of painting does to my brain. Ouch. Consider this a word problem.

Not Pathetic at All

2009-07-29T11:43:00.003-04:00

Should I have capitalized the "at"? Or not capitalized the "all"? Capitalization in titles always confuses me. Sorry.

Anyway, because I was primarily raised by television, to this day I feel comforted and normal when the tube is on. I do house chores, cook, clean, work on the computer, all while it's on. Because I like to be amused, I find myself DVR'ing random shows I enjoy ("Gilmore Girls," "Seinfeld," "Sex and the City") and having them on all the time, so at least when the TV is on, it's tuned to my selected mind-fluff, and not just whatever crap is on.

So, while I'm here on the computer I've had "How I Met Your Mother" on - I've begun taping old episodes that I've discovered are shown in Lifetime on Monday evenings. How great is this show? I really enjoy it - Doogie (Neil Patrick Harris), Jason Segal ("Freaks and Geeks" is in my Top 10 favorite shows) and Willow from Buffy?! Right on. Anyway, just watched the episode that ended with Barney (Doogie) writing his blog on his computer a la Doogie-endings. Right on. (Did I just say that twice? Oh well, I won't delete one - I won't!) Love it.

It smells like dog food in here. Schizophrenic much? Perhaps. Or just a smart, fast-paced, ever-thinking (?) mind. Or something.

Oh - just saw a commercial for "Post Grad" - Rory from "Gilmore Girls" is in it. And speaking of which, I saw a commercial (on Lifetime?) for "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" that said it "launched the career" of the actresses and showed Alexis Bledel at that moment. Um - no! I think "Gilmore Girls" did that!

Enough tv/movie stuff.

Movie Madness

2009-07-29T10:07:00.002-04:00

I finally took a break from my three-month long "Battlestar Galactica" (such an awesome show) fest with Andy to actually move some movies to the top of my Netflix list and sit down and watch them. In the past five days I've seen three big supposedly must-see movies of the year: "Gran Torino," "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Revolutionary Road."

Of course, "Slumdog" was awesome. I just love movies and books about East Asian culture. Fascinating. That culture is one of the reasons I had a concentration in Cross-cultural Literature when getting my BA. The first English class I took at Hunter College was East-Asian Women's Lit and it basically changed my life. Reading works by Shani Mootoo, Arundhati Roy and Jhumpa Lahiri (among so many other amazing writers) was just amazing, and turned me onto a whole new world. So, of course, this movie went right into that world and was just great. And sweet and lovely, which is always nice, too (I'm so easily pleased).

"Revolutionary Road," which we watched last night, was good and depressing and all that. I won't get too into it, for those who haven't seen it, but I admit I was nervous that when the movie was over I'd turn to Andy and insist we sell the house and get out immediately. This wasn't helped by the fact that just about every day I tell Andy how much I want to return (again) to Paris. Those who've seen the movie, you know what I'm talking about. Anyway, when it was over I was depressed by the story, but didn't feel I had to change my life... because we're special, we are the Spaceks, after all...right? hm.

And "Gran Torino." I though this was a reference to a "Grandfather" or "Grandpa," last name "Torino" because, you know, Clint is old, and what the hell do I know about cars?

Anyway, I liked the movie, and again, it's always nice to get a glimpse of other cultures... however I found that the girl who played Sue was such a terrible actor it was hard for me to concentrate. I felt this way about a lot of the dialogue between her and Clint - like I was watching a student film. A bad one. Sorry. I thought it might be because I had the English subtitles on (I do this when I can't hear/understand the tv/actors sometimes) - perhaps I was reading too much, and that made it seem so scripted? But then I turned them off and I still thought she was awful, so go figure.

Have you seen these movies? What did you think? Wanna argue with me about that bad actress? Do you like/dislike the authors I mentioned? Leave me a comment!

Oh, a Disclaimer

2009-07-23T08:43:00.003-04:00

*(See previous post to know what the hell I'm talking about.)*

Don't make fun of my favorite videos - I like watching babies eating limes - if that's not pure comedy, I don't know what is!

If you visit you tube here at this link you can enjoy not only Vivi, but also see an old video of Andy & his brothers in Prague, laughing, eating & speaking Czech. I think they were drunk - what do you think?

Videos of Vivi!

2009-07-23T08:37:00.002-04:00

Yes, I DO have that much time on my hands.
To post videos on you tube of my puppy.
Between job searches on the internet.

I mean, you never know - I could post videos of Vivi on the internet and she could be the next big sensation. This reality/internet world is a mysterious thing.
You just never know.

Anyway, to see videos of Vivi (because you have as much free time as I do, right?) click here (I'm Ivyreb).
Better yet, subscribe to me when you get there - I don't know what it will do for you, but it will make me feel mad important.

Just in Case...

2009-07-23T07:46:00.001-04:00

...you didn't think she was cute enough before...

Dog Days

2009-07-18T11:04:00.004-04:00

Introducing our new puppy, Vivian!

We call her Vivi. She's a West Highland Terrier, and very smart - she has learned her name, to fetch and to come AND has been AWESOME in her housebreaking (for the most part). And it's only her second full day here!

See more pictures of our little Vivi here.

We're not really the kind of people to call ourselves our pet's "parents" or her our "baby," but seriously, she's so cute and little and we have to wake up in the middle of the night to take her out, so it certainly feels like we are getting some preparation for a baby (and no, I'm not pregnant yet!).

We've wanted a dog for loooong time, but never could get one in our NYC apartments. We knew we wanted one as soon as we moved here. We thought we would get a mutt or something, but we happened upon a litter of Westies, and my mom's dog Buster is a Westie and a great dog, so we went for it.

And it's not just me who loves terriers! One of my favorite sketches by "The Kids in the Hall" is Bruce McCulloch singing the Terriers song.

Your Average White Suburbanite Slob

2009-07-12T11:02:00.006-04:00

Wait, you don't know the song "Asshole" by Denis Leary (my favorite line conveniently perfect for the title of this post)?? Before going further, go watch the video NOW!!

(and yes, our other, often-quoted, favorite line is "When handicapped people make handicapped faces"... don't judge!)

Little did we know that one day we'd be what we've been laughing at all these years.
It all started with... a mower.

That's right - we got a lawn mower.

Not just any mower...

a ride on mower.

We have a big yard.
A push mower would take hours.
Everyone else has a ride on mower.
It makes the air smell really nice.

Never mind the excuses, here's my own white suburbanite slob, taking that bad boy for it's first spin.

It's absolutely thrilling. I know. Don't be jealous.

I don't know what's next - me wearing an apron, baking a pie? What other suburban stereotypes can we act out?

Babies & Movies. And Stuff.

2009-07-11T12:14:00.006-04:00

Hey! A great friend of mine has started a blog. You should go on over and check it out - the dad scene.

My friend is the first-time father of an (adorable) 11-month old boy AND a self-proclaimed pop culture nerd. Because I kind of am, too, we've never run out of things to talk about, and he's like my TV show soul mate. But he's got other things going for him, too. Check it out!

Painting (Before & After)

2009-07-08T11:11:00.009-04:00

Painting, painting and more painting. That's where I've been.

But today was a change - the big carpet cleaning expedition! How exciting!
We rented a carpet cleaner and just finished up four hours of intense cleaning.
I hate carpeting.

Here's some before and after shots of some rooms we've done so far, in terms of painting. We have lots of decorating that will be coming up soon; just not yet. foyer before (looking into the half bath)

foyer after

half bath after (never got a decent before pic)

guest bathroom before

guest bathroom after

guest bedroom before

guest bedroom after

dining room before

dining room after

living room before

living room after

Paint Colors:
Foyer & Half Bathroom: Glidden Antique White w/ Creamy White trim. (We were dumb - we went ahead and bought the Antique White based on a suggestion on a website that it's a great cream color, without actually testing it first... it's a little more grayish than cream, but it looks clean so I guess it's okay for now.

Guest Bathroom: Behr White Bathroom paint (mildew resistant, all that good stuff) w/ existing wood trim

Guest Bedroom: Behr Grass Cloth w/ existing wood trim.

Living room & dining room: Behr Cool Sky w/ Creamy White trim.

Steak Night (and stuff)

2009-06-24T00:37:00.003-04:00

We bought our grill yesterday. Hallelujah!

For anyone who knows us, you know we usually have "steak night" once a week - kind of our version of date night, I suppose, where we make steak and drink a (big) bottle of wine and talk and watch some half-hour TV show (used to be "House Hunters" though now our needs have changed, it's more likely to be "Renovation Realities" or similar) where it takes us two hours to watch it because we pause and chat so often.

Therefore, we've enjoyed steak made on the grill... two nights in a row! I know, sacrilege. Don't judge our red-meat tendencies. Please, don't.

My mom is coming tomorrow and we're off for lots of shopping, mainly for the guest room & bathroom. We need to buy bedding, a shower curtain and towels - we must buy these otherwise she has to do without. We should have lots of girly fun.

Also, we got our bed frame delivered today, and tomorrow our guest bed is coming, along with our new oven. Thursday it's our couch that's coming. It's definitely a busy week here - and, though I'm not giving too much away, I have two important things this week. Tomorrow I meet with a woman at UMass Amherst about finishing my Graduate degree and getting certified to teach in Mass, and Thursday... I have another appointment that I'll discuss later.

Anyway, it's getting later as I write and I'm beat (must be that half giant bottle of wine getting to me)...

more later! Have a good night!

House pictures & Boston!

2009-06-23T11:04:00.006-04:00

Okay! For all the exciting moments of our first week and a half in our new house captured on film (well, my digital camera) AND a quick trip to Boston on Saturday, click here.

And for just a glimpse of dusk from our back deck, here's a quick video to give you and idea of the surroundings. We love it!

New House Stuff

2009-06-22T20:08:00.004-04:00

I am so exhausted from painting and cleaning (still) that I can't really think of a halfway interesting or intelligent title for this post. If you've come here for the complete entertainment experience, my apologies.

I am desperately trying to post pictures from our first week and a half in the house online and provide a link, but I think the Charter internet makes is difficult. Or it's Facebook, which is where I create my photo albums.

Soon I'll write more and show off all the cleaning/black ant/oven-smoking fun.

Finally, The Truth!

2009-06-21T11:09:00.001-04:00

(UPDATE: I think embedding the video slowed down my blog and stopped a lot of pics from loading, so I've removed the original post and now just put up the link to the video.)

Lauren Conrad from "The Hills" (in case you live in a cave) came clean on "The View" about Spencer's apology, basically saying everything is staged! Ah ha!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF84yVrvfp8

Lions and Tigers and BEARS?! Oh My!

2009-06-16T22:36:00.002-04:00

We met the next door neighbor today.

She told us there's wild turkeys, foxes, coy dogs (whatever the HELL those are) and BEARS here. Sometimes you see them in the front yard.

what the HELL.

Great Looks

2009-06-15T23:24:00.005-04:00

If you've been paying attention, you know that my mind is in overdrive with decorating this new home. I want clean, calm, organized but warm...I want colors and patterns but nothing too busy but instead all cohesive and beautiful... yada yada yada.

I'm inspired by Parisian apartments, French Country, Victorian (especially because of the exterior of the house) and am working with a lot of inherited old wood American furniture.

Here's some great sites I frequently drool over that definitely inspire me and keep my eyes on the prize (and remind me that there's so much more out there than Ikea or Pottery Barn!). Check them out! The last one is great for DIY stuff and clean, organizational ideas (their place is sooo clean looking, especially their kitchen!)
La Maison Bohéme
The Paris Apartment
Southern Hospitality
The Inspired Room
This Young House

Here's some pictures that I've found online that are also inspirational for colors I'd like to use (rich cream, soft lavender, grey-green, sunny yellow, pale and deep blue).

I'm a Homeowner - Get Me Out of Here!

2009-06-15T20:12:00.003-04:00

No, actually, I love it...

But for the record...

96 Hours in our new house and so far:

- Slugs (outside, thankfully, but still - ew!)
- Dead critter in the pool
- Discovered water in the basement after a major downpour (above the foundation, thankfully)
- Discovered a leak in the ceiling of the guest bedroom
- Pretty sure the house was hit by lightning today while we were painting (flash, boom, buzz, electricity out momentarily)

And finally, an hour ago...

- The oven caught on fire. On the inside. And smoked the whole house up. We moved it out, aimed the fire extinguisher and had at it (pictures to follow). It's sitting in the backyard now, and I'm about to search online for a new one.

I've always been terrified that bad things happen to good people. Or that there be balance in the world. Or whatever. I just hope this whole house thing works out...

Closing on our House

2009-06-08T20:40:00.004-04:00

We did it!

After years and years...

and years...

...of dreaming and planning, we finally have a house. It's weird and crazy and didn't go quite as smoothly as we'd wanted (nothing ever does, right?).

The original plan was that we were supposed to close at 11am with a final walk-through beforehand at 9:45am.

But, last week we were told that the seller had movers coming at 8am today, and probably wouldn't be done in time. (Hey - I bet I know what you're thinking... you're wondering why wouldn't the seller move out any day OTHER than the day of closing? Hm. Good question!)

So we changed the closing time to 1pm with a final walk-through of 12. Of course at 11:45 today our real estate agent called to let us know that the seller was still at the house, along with lots of his things, a storage pod and a big garbage container (like, you know, for construction projects?). They'd be all moved out by three o'clock. ANGER!

But we knew we couldn't do anything. So we walked-through, we went and closed but withheld some money till the seller left, signed our names and initialed tons of papers, and finally went back to the house. At 3pm. And hung out there while the seller continued to move...

til 5 o'clock!

But he's gone. So is the trash container, his pod of stuff, and everything. We have moved some stuff in there, and now, sadly, are back in Pittsfield till Wednesday. Then we move some more things from the condo to the house, go to New Paltz, and meet the movers at the storage space there the next morning.

And, finally, by Thursday evening, we'll be home sweet home.

Finally!

SO Frustrating!

2009-06-05T11:41:00.002-04:00

What's frustrating, you ask? Trying to set up utilities for the new house (which, in case you're counting, we close on in 3 days!) and being told I can't set up an account or appointment for my cable and internet until the current owner of the house JUST MAKES THE CALL to disconnect his account.

Just call. He can schedule it for anytime, but he just needs to MAKE THE CALL!

But, no. I've been passing the message through my agent to his, to him since Tuesday. Just called, thinking, surely it's Friday, he's SURELY gotten his act together by now...

But no. Still has an account. Hasn't made the call.

Frustration.

Home Decor for Moi?

2009-06-01T13:18:00.004-04:00

As I've mentioned, I'm a little stylistically challenged. I've got lots of great ideas, and my heart is always in the right place as the creative being I am...

...but I get lazy.

My big fear is that I'll start out with great plans and the right intentions, and end up buying everything at Crate and Barrel. Or Pottery Barn. Or something like that. (Not that there's anything necessarily wrong with these places for the occasional odd or end...I just don't want my home to look like everyone else's.)

That said, I'm trying not to get overwhelmed by the prospect of visiting friends this summer, and am swearing to myself I will not let this rush me into buying a bunch of crap for my home.

So, I'm taking it slow and doing my research. I want so many things in this house... I want it to be classy but also reflect me and my many loves: art, travel, family...other stuff (is there more? that's the question).

I want it to be clean and organized, not cluttered... but not modern and cold... I want romance and soft colors, and comfort and homeyness...

I don't want sterile, I don't want generic... and I don't want stuffy or old ladyishness...

So now it's just a matter of putting it all together and praying that I can find some way of making it look, well, put together, and not like a psychopath lives there.

From my research on the internet, reading books about home decorating and watching HGTV 24/7, I think my first step is to decide on a color palette for each room...

Preparing for The Big Move

2009-06-01T00:16:00.006-04:00

We close on our house in one week. From today. Oh, goodness.

Next Monday we will, presumably, do the final walk-through, sign lots and lots of papers which basically promises we'll never be able to afford to eat out again (or for at least 30 years), and then get the keys to our new place.

I say this is all "presumably" taking place because although we were pre-approved for the mortgage, we are still technically in the process of getting the whole thing tied up because of little details here and there, as well as a delay with some underwriting something that had nothing to do with us...all of which is causing things to be just a little less than definite for my liking.

But, everyone involved assures us everything is normal and set and we've got our plans for next Monday, so we are under the impression that the show will go on next Monday, as planned.

It's really a wild thought that we'll soon be in a house at all, much less our own house. Living in apartments all these years has felt to me to be temporary, and then this past year has been made up of living in even more temporary places... it's amazing to think that in a week I can unpack my things and find places for them, and not have to consider packing them up any time soon. It's completely surreal.

More on relocating plans later... have to go call cable companies and set up an appointment!

Adventures in Bennington, VT & Williamstown, MA

2009-05-30T13:31:00.008-04:00

Andy and I recently had the day off (well, he did; I, of course, seem to be on an eternal work vacation - but I AM looking!) and decided to go to Bennington, Vermont for a hike and then lunch.

I knew of Bennington because it's the home of Bennington College, a small writing college that I briefly had an obsession with attending. Bret Easton Ellis went there (author of American Psycho, which has scenes based in Harry's in NYC, the real restaurant where Andy and I worked and met one another).

If I visited Bennington, VT when I was looking at the school, I have no memory of it. So, always eager to explore new college towns, Andy and I were super excited to go there.

We went for a brief walk in Woodford State Park, on a rough, woody trail that surrounded the lake but on which you couldn't see the lake. Sad.

Unfortunately, the climbing, stretching and reaching I had to do on the trail seemed to upset my rib injury I'd acquired the previous week (from a fouled up, wine-induced jumping photo op that only caused me to fall flat on my face and - as I learned the day after this hike when I finally gave in and went to the ER - a cracked rib). So we turned around and instead sat and looked at the lake.

Then we went into town. There was a potential for a very cute town - there was a clear main street with shops and it was okay looking... but ultimately none of the restaurants (there weren't many - a couple of pubs and a couple cafes) had a menu that looked interesting and good. It was just the same old stuff served anywhere - a cobb salad, a bowl of chili, blah blah blah. We had a beer at a brewery and cruised over (took an awesome scenic route) to Williamstown, MA, where we'd had relatively good sushi at Sushi Thai Garden Restaurant.

After our failed attempt at sushi in Lenox, we've found ourselves at Sushi Thai Garden a couple times. The sushi is fine, and the prices aren't insane. Their lunch menu is a little limited, but overall it satisfies the sushi urge. Even though on this day I ordered the Box 4 special which is served in a big wooden boat. Kinda embarrassing. Kinda cool, though, too, so I'm not (really) complaining.

Picture of me & Andy: I look miserable - rib injuries are REALLY painful!

Picture of me at the hospital the next day, waiting for my x-rays.

Although I look pathetic I think I look super cute in hospital robes, which makes me excited that I recently applied for some jobs where I would wear scrubs. The same thing? Not really, but both equally comfortable!

Sad Passing

2009-05-29T13:40:00.003-04:00

To my Aunt Ramona, one of my top followers on here, and a woman unlike anyone else, ever.

Tough and sweet all rolled into one, long nails and that constant "umm hmm" that will forever keep you with me, and with all of us in this crazy family.

It's hard to think of you as gone. We love you.

Eating Out in Easthampton!

2009-05-27T16:57:00.001-04:00

Yesterday we went to La Casita Azteca in Easthampton and it was AWESOME!

We shared the chicken Enchiladas con Mole, which were fresh and good, and the mole was truly amazing. So rich and flavorful and great. We also had a couple Dos Equis and the whole thing came to $15. We sat outside, despite clouds. It was nice and chill. I also loved the kid (he was probably 30) who was working there, he was adorable. And yes, I realize I sound like my mother when I say this. (Shut up.)

Then we went to Mt. Tom's Homemade Ice Cream & Candy Store and had some great hard-serve (is that what it's called? It wasn't soft serve...) Coffee Heath Bar frozen yogurt. Yum! This was an extra treat for me, because although I'd never been there, I have been reading the owner's blog for months, since we decided we'd be moving to the area.

Mt. Tom's is a super cute shop and was equally chill and relaxing, and I know I'll be back, with or without Andy. If not for ice cream, then for coffee, which they appear to serve as well.

This was our first foray into eating out in Easthampton (aside from that one day at Subway), and we're psyched, since this is our new home (closing date is T-minus 11 days!).

Great food in Easthampton - right on!

Just the (Food) Facts

2009-05-27T16:41:00.006-04:00

I tend to get annoyed by my own writing, and often lose steam halfway through most things I'm trying to focus on.

This is true especially when I write about restaurants or food.

I want to share my experience with you... but I also like to cut to the chase and just get the info out there.

I've never been one for flowery writing or poetry - from a young age I found a soul mate in writers like Charles Bukowski - those who don't mince words and who tell it like it is.

That said, I'll be sharing some food experiences in this whole new world of Western Massachusetts. Short, painless, and straightforward. (Here's a recent one.)

Be prepared!

Spring Cleaning

2009-05-27T11:45:00.004-04:00

Now that it's warmer out (and despite today's rain clouds here in Pittsfield), I felt the need to transition from the glamor and glitz of my old template to the calm floweriness of this new design. It's like Spring cleaning for my blog.

This is Andy's last day of "vacation" - he's had five days off surrounding Memorial Day, so it has felt like a vacation - and although it's rainy and we're all in a tizzy trying to find a good, cheap and reputable moving company this morning, we're determined to enjoy ourselves on this last day. I'm off to make plans now.

How are you enjoying this Wednesday? Is it cloudy where you are?

"I'll Be Back"...

2009-05-25T20:08:00.004-04:00

When Christian Bale, "John Connor," said that in "Terminator Salvation," which I saw today, I was the only one who laughed. Andy chuckled. Seriously, hadn't the other four movie watchers lived through the nineties?

Weird.

(And by the way, I was totally disappointed in the movie. Sad. I wanted to like it.)

ANYWAY, it's true. I will be back. I've been away for two weeks, and Andy's off for the next two, so I'm trying to have quality time. I'll write soon.

Have a great Memorial Day!

I Have No Style*

2009-04-27T09:53:00.006-04:00

(*Sung to the tune of "I have no legs," sung by that guy on the subway in "Kids.")

I have totally been lazy about posting and I'm so sorry! It's been a crazy couple of weeks. Mainly, two HUGE things have happened!

Last Monday was my birthday! 31 years ago I graced the Earth my arrival. I've been going strong ever since.

I never thought I'd have a problem turning 30, and I didn't. Now that I'm 31 I feel I know myself even better and have come to terms with who I am. Mainly:

- I get super nervous before going somewhere or dealing with a situation that is anything outside of my normal routine (new job, doctor appointment, seeing anyone for the first time in ages, etc.). Even thinking about it makes me one anxious lady.

- When I am mad or upset I cannot respond to someone or something immediately. If I do, the chances that I will regret my response is inevitable. Instead, I need to take at least 15 minutes to consider all sides and possible repercussions and calm down. My response is then better thought out and much more level-headed.

- I am an unbelievable softy. Nearly any sentimental or cheesy movie, commercial, story, person - anything - can bring me to tears.

- While I can be a real powerful, professional ball-buster at work, I can be a whimpering, fearful fool in my personal life.

- I have no style.

This last point I bring up because it covers a lot of territory. In terms of personal style, mine has become one of dressing way too much for comfort and not enough for style. Having little style is my style, I guess.

I have great aspirations to dress in one-of-kind, great clothing, looking hip and stylish and classy and creating mass envy among everyone I meet.

But, realistically, I'm lazy and end up at Old Navy buying the same cheap shirts that are cute but really do nothing for me. Ah, whatever. I'll work on that later.

This lack of style carries over to interior decorating.

The first apartment Andy and I had, in Brooklyn, was painted with bright reds and turquoises and had a ton of colorful Ikea furniture. It was exhausting and headache-inducing and I ended up hating everything there.

Then our apartment in Queens was white and plain and cramped with a lot of hand me down furniture. It was comfortable but messy and had no style. Followed no color scheme, incorporated no flow with objects or anything. It was a senseless mish-mash.

I have great, stylish ideas, but I kind of suck when actually making them a reality.

And so, the real reason I bring all this up...

The second HUGE thing that's happened to me...

We've found a house!

It's awesome. We found it last Saturday when looking with my mom and step-father. We found it, made an offer, haggled just a little, signed the papers, and yesterday had the inspection. It looks good.

We close (it's ours) on June 8th.

So, right now I'm obsessing over style. And sofas. And paint. And color palettes. And everything.

Needless to say, that's what I'll be thinking of and writing about for the unforeseeable future (at least until the 8th... and probably for a while after that).

Our lovely contemporary Victorian (contemporary because it was built in 1991) in Easthampton, MA.

Recent Activity In My Oh-So-Riveting Life

2009-04-23T09:51:00.009-04:00

Besides watching "The Hills," here's some recent activity in my life:

Andy and I visited my brother, a freshman at George Washington University in D.C., on Easter weekend to see him in a production of "Jesus Christ Superstar." (He was an apostle.) It was a great production (especially the leper scene!) and my bro rocked!

Besides seeing my brother, we also saw my mom and stepfather (who also drove down for the play) and my stepsister, her husband and their two kids. It was great!

The rest of the time was spent:
- Walking around the White House.

- Eating at Logan's Roadhouse and experiencing their amazing rolls!

- Staying at a Hilton for the first time (it was awesome!)

- Lamenting over the very few cherry blossoms that were still on the trees (where we were, at least).

Another exciting thing that happened was... I got my driver's license!
It's true. It's amazing. Seriously, I didn't think it would ever happen. But it did, even though my parallel parking was a little sketchy, and I was extra cautious when taking a left turn. Whatev, I'm officially licensed.

The next day Andy *conveniently* locked his keys in his car, so I had to go pick him up, thus initiating me into the solo driver's club. I wonder how much of that was accident vs. unconscious (or conscious) decision. No matter, it gave me the push I'm sure I needed.

A less-exciting event that took place was I became completely up to date with "The Hills." That show sucked me in like quicksand, and the more I resisted, the more I had to watch for hours a day the goings-on of those people.

I'm trying to take some time back for myself, fighting the urge to jump into "The City." Struggles.

Finally, I'm preparing for this weekend. My mother and Harvey, my stepfather, are meeting us on Saturday in Northampton to do some house-hunting. We're putting a lot of pressure on them because we want a house but have serious fears and doubts about just about everything at this point, and feel like we really need some adult pov's. They are staying the night with us, as is Buster the Westie! Can't wait!

Speaking of being an adult - my birthday is this Monday! 31! Woo hoo!
I've been pretty chill and happy with my 30s thus far, so I'm not too depressed.

I am, however, looking for a good Italian restaurant to go to this Saturday night with the family. If you know any in the Pittsfield/Berkshires area, please let me know!

I Watch The Hills

2009-04-15T09:57:00.005-04:00

I've started watching "The Hills." On MTV.com. All the episodes are there. All 5 seasons - right up to the most recent one.

I started watching "The Hills" last Thursday. Or Wednesday. It's all a blur.

I'm on Season 3, Episode 9. I'd be much further along, except we went to NYC, then DC, then New Paltz this weekend, and didn't get back till Monday evening.

I'd heard about these people - Lauren, Audrina, Heidi, Spencer - and the show, but never had the chance or really the desire to watch.

But now. Now, I've taken up with the watching, and I can't stop. It's addictive.I'm still not completely understanding whether it's reality or not, or why there are voiceovers at times. What's that about?

And that Spencer is awful. And disgusting. If I had to choose, I'd rather spend the rest of my life with the Tick (see previous post) than this guy.

Ticks in Massachusetts!

2009-04-15T08:52:00.005-04:00

Yes, it's true - there are ticks, deer ticks, here in Massachusetts! Not only that, it seems there are some right by a house that we are interested in!

Long story short: We like this one house. Before asking the Realtor for a showing, we decided to drive by and take a look. Since it's empty, we parked and walked around the house, peered into the windows (looks good! we'll see it in a week!).

Two days later Andy's sitting in the driver's seat of the car, at a stop sign, reaches down to scratch his leg.

(You get where this is going, right?)

He pulls up the leg of his jeans and there it is - the dreaded bullseye that everyone and anyone who's ever taken a walk in a wooded area has heard about. No doubt about it.

I mean, the tick, the lyme disease, everything makes it so obvious - that red circle looks like it was drawn on with a pen!

(It was disgusting. And terrifying.)

So we rush to the ER, have them take that sucker out, and Andy starts a 3-week long antibiotic fest. Fun. Seems we caught it early enough so everything should (hopefully) be okay.

Remember kids - always check yourself after taking a walk, or walking around, spying into a house.

(Obviously, we've learned our lesson.)

And for those of you who are strong of heart - here's a close up of our little friend. Yuck!

And here's a picture of the brave patient, just because he's so dern cute.

(How can anyone smile with this parasite embedded head first into their body?)

American Life Today

2009-04-08T19:43:00.002-04:00

American Life Today is an awesome website! Go there right away! But read this first!

I can't remember if I'd posted anything about the site in the past, but I discovered it a while back and sent in my info, never thinking I'd actually show up on it. But I DID! TODAY!

Go to American Life Today and read about me (you know you'll jump at any chance to get more), and the woman behind the site. It's very cool, and not just because I'm the interview for today!

Yea!!

House Hunting in Western Massachusetts

2009-04-08T07:27:00.007-04:00

We are still at the house hunting phase in our relocation to Western Massachusetts process.

We are looking for a home in the Pioneer Valley, specifically Northampton, Hadley or Southampton.

At this point we have actually made offers on two houses. The first was way out of our price range, but the seller's agent said the sellers were very motivated and we should not hesitate to "throw out a number!" So we did, expecting nothing. And we got nothing. The sellers responded by saying they weren't going to respond to such a low number. How rude! (Yes, I hear Stephanie Tanner from "Full House," too.)

The second house we made an offer on was very cute, also at the very top of our price range, and the best house we'd seen that particular day. But, really, in hindsight, we acted way too hastily. We put the offer in, discovered we were dealing with house flippers who started haggling over weird things and acting a bit shady. They rejected our final offer, and then called two days later saying they accepted it.

After that we started realizing that the house was really small, AND we'd go broke having to fix the things that needed fixin', considering the price we were paying for the house was so high. So, ultimately, we backed out of the sale.

Now we are searching again. We've walked through nearly 20 houses at this point. I wonder now if we are going to be one of those couples who is unrealistic in our search, or end up seeing 100 houses before finding "the one."

We also have been a little disappointed because we haven't seen as many of the houses in the style that we'd prefer - colonial or farmhouse.
We've seen some, and a lot need updating or renovations, which we're totally fine with, but they are already nearing the top of our price range, so that doesn't leave much money for those renovations.

We'll see what happens. We're on a little break right now, mainly because we are going away this weekend, Andy's weekend off, so we won't be seeing houses till April 25th, when my mom and step-father come up to visit from NYC.

I'll let you know what happens!

Colin Firth Is A God

2009-04-07T19:26:00.004-04:00

Okay, well that might be pushing it, but Colin Firth IS great. In case I hadn't made that clear recently.

After my early morning post today, I happened to find this nice little piece about the lovely Mr. Darcy (er, Firth) starring in the upcoming film of "Dorian Gray" - one of my all time favorite books.

Nice.

What Is This World Coming To?

2009-04-07T08:31:00.004-04:00

I can tolerate a lot. But not this.

I just stumbled on an old survey posted on Pop Sugar UK, asking readers who their favorite Mr. Darcy is from movie adaptations of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" -
Colin Firth from the BBC production; Matthew Macfadyen in the film with Keira Knightly; or Elliot Cowan in an ITV version.

Anyone who knows me knows that I own the BBC version of P&P and watch it several times a year. At least. For me, there is only one Mr. Darcy, and that's Colin Firth. You can't beat a man like that in a role like that.

But, apparently the readers of Pop Sugar UK disagree - Matthew Macfadyen came in on top at 50%, followed by my fave, Colin Firth at 35% and the other guy at 14%.

I just don't understand. Are the readers younger, and can't get into the idea of now-slightly-older Colin? Have they not seen the BBC version? Are they just younger and stupider? I don't get it. It really makes me nervous about the future of our world, particularly regarding pop culture, which is something I hold very closely to my heart.

I think the only way to get out of the funk of disbelief is to go watch my Mr. Darcy. NOW.

Who is YOUR favorite Mr. Darcy? (And if it's anyone but Colin Firth, explain why - please! educate me!)

(For my (and nearly every other woman's) favorite clip, click here.)

Fin Sushi & Sake Bar

2009-03-26T20:31:00.005-04:00

I was craving sushi last week, so Andy, Edith and I went to Fin Sushi in Lenox, Massachusetts. I'd never been to Lenox but heard it was nice, and it was only an 11 minute drive from Pittsfield.

I found Fin Sushi & Sake Bar on Trip Advisor which is a site I have used often (usually when traveling outside of the US) and the place had good reviews. I think these reviews must all have been created by staff and friends of the owners.

Overall, the food wasn't terrible but the experience was so disappointing that I will never go back...and was inspired to write this post to encourage others not to go, as well (in the event you happen to be looking for sushi in Lenox or Western Mass).

The Fin Sushi menu was not available online. But because it was in Lenox, and it was sushi, we decided to go for it. One review said it wasn't "as expensive as NY sushi."

Being from NYC I've had great sushi at not crazy-expensive prices. I will typically pay $4-$6 dollars for a roll (my usuals are Eel Avacado or Spicy Salmon). And usually I'll get gyoza or shumai for about the same price.

Fin Sushi was the only open spot on the street, and it had about half of its tables occupied. We were seated and reviewed the menu. Gyoza was $9. I didn't see shumai, perhaps I missed it but I don't think so.

Entrees like chicken teriyaki ranged from $20-$23. That's pretty pricey, but maybe it was spectacular. Based on the food we got, though, I doubt it.

Edith and Andy chose off the "Soups, Noodles and Salads" list.
Andy got the udon noodles with vegetable tempura for $10.50. We didn't realize it would come as a soup, but it did. The broth was okay, decently spicy. There weren't too many noodles and the tempura was nothing special.

Edith got the Beef chukka something for $14.50. When she asked if it was a soup, the waitress described as having a broth, and specifically used the word "savory" to describe it. Of course it ended up being sweet and really not savory at all. Nice waitress, but poor description.

Sushi rolls ranged from $5 to $9 per roll (6 pieces). The cheapest were avocado or cucumber. The eel avocado was $8. I got that and an avocado roll. There was nothing special about the sushi - and the fact that the sushi roll was rolled so pathetically that it was not closed completely and falling apart, was quite frankly a disaster. I mean, are you a sushi restaurant? Then roll your rolls properly. Come on. It really pissed me off.

Of course, it wasn't a surprise that the rolls were sucky, since the sushi guy was chatting with some customers instead of paying attention to the sushi. I had to wait for the sushi and didn't get it till about 10 minutes after Edith and Andy got their food.

Afterward, we waited for a while before we could flag someone down to get a check. At this point there were only four other tables. There was no teamwork between the two servers, so the other waiter passed us about five times (and even looked at us!) before our own waitress finally asked if we wanted the check.

If the food had been great I would have been fine with everything. But, again... poorly rolled sushi! Yuck! With everything together we were all disappointed and we won't go back. Sorry Fin Sushi!

Sad sushi

Healthy Living, Budget Living

2009-03-11T10:27:00.011-04:00

Before we get to the healthy living and budget living portion in this post, you need some background.

In case you didn't know...

Back in July we up and left the United States and took a long vacation to the Czech Republic. We then returned to the U.S. this past February with no home and no jobs, and big dreams of relocating to, and buying a house in, Western Massachusetts (Northampton or Amherst or somewhere in the area).

Needless to say, things have been crazy.

We left our old lives to start new ones. This is crazy. This is exciting. Sad. Fun.
Scary as sh*t.

To add to this mish-mash of emotions, we also know that we want to start a family.

Ha! That's right! For those of you who thought we'd get knocked up as soon as we were married, we surprised you, didn't we? We've gone almost eleven years (with the dating and all) of being baby-free, but now we are looking to go there.

Because we want to procreate we know we have to get healthy.
This has been an ongoing theme in our lives (and most others, I'd think). Lose weight, get healthy. Not smoking. You know.

So, we're not smoking. For exercise I'm using the workout room downstairs in our building since it's free and no one is ever in there. (And there's a big TV. Nice.)

Because we are living on only one income right now (more on that later), and times are tough for everyone, we are on a budget. I'm hoping that some kind of "back to basics" food life will help our weight as well as our wallet. This goes along with my whole anti-preservative and chemically-laden, pro-whole foods talk back when we got to Prague (and I did lose weight while there, despite eating baked goods and butter).

So, I find myself channeling my inner Donna Reed right now as I search for good deals in grocery stores and cook things myself instead eating lots of frozen or packaged processed foods (to a degree - I'm not psychotic and am still using bottled and canned things as components in my homemade meals).

I'm feeling my inner Donna Reed today, that I'm about to make a spreadsheet for my own personal use to compare prices of items at different stores.
Don't laugh.
I've been saving my receipts from Stop & Shop, Target, Trader Joe's, Walmart and Guido's (a market here in Pittsfield) and am totally gonna save money by studying where to go for what. It's research! It's fun!
Don't laugh.

Anyway, I'll let you know how our healthy living and budget living attempts go.

In the meantime, here's some links and suggestions that I've found entertaining and/or helpful.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver I've never read anything by her, but heard about this book and was intrigued. Considering that locavores are alive and kicking in Western Mass, this book about the author and her family living for a year off only what is grown on their land and neighborhood (resulting in each meal costing only 50 cents for a family of four), seemed like it would be an interesting read and good for my own healthy, budgeted living.

A Year of Crockpotting This is a great blog with great recipes for the crockpot. I love my slow cooker (it's the same thing, in case you weren't sure. Crock Pot is just the brand name. It's like Kleenex or Bandaid). No matter what I put in there, it always ends up good. And there's always enough for leftovers.

Great Depression Cooking with Clara
If you don't know about Clara, you must watch this now.
She's great, her recipes are simple and cheap and look very tasty, and her stories are wonderful. I love Clara!

Finally, for the celebrity gossip-loving a-hole that I am (and you know you are, too!), enjoy this site:

Celebrity Body Gossip
I know one of the writers and she's snarky, witty and great. And what better way to spend my time not working out or being healthy, by reading about (and judging) celebrity body issues ? You know you love it.

A Funny Thing

2009-03-10T13:29:00.004-04:00

Something kind of funny happened a couple weeks ago.

We were in Michigan, visiting Nana, and I got message through Facebook. It said:

"Subject: Was Steve Cronk your dad?

I used to write for Steve and learned recently he'd passed away. If you're his daughter, I wanted to write a bit more to you about my positive experiences working with him.
I have a facebook account, but I never look at it. I only used it as a means of finding you. Please respond to ---. Thanks!"

Wow, I thought. Yes, Steve Cronk was my dad. And yes, it's true, he died a few years ago. Who is this? Did this person really write for my dad, or could it be that my father had another family and this is his son? (Dad and I used to joke about that.)

Well, it turned out this person is not my father's illegitimate child, and really was a writer for him. For those of you who don't know, my father was the editor of "Teddy Bear Review" magazine. Funny, right? We thought so, too. Teddy Bears. But it's true! Anyway, the work my father gave him ultimately led to professional and personal growth.

This man wrote to me that a woman who'd worked with him and my father had told him that dad died. She sent him a memorial article that had been written, that mentioned his only daughter -me. He wrote to me that he has four daughters and thought of writing to me. So he got himself on Facebook, did a search and there I was!

He ended his email with: 'My sympathies to you, Allyn, now almost 3 1/2 years later! I'm a richer man in a number of ways for having had the privilege of working with Steve Cronk. If you have the inclination, I'd be interested in having my very narrow perspective of your dad widened a bit.

I knew this would be an emotional letter to write, and I finally did it today. I thought I would share it here with you. Some of you knew my dad. I know I didn't capture everything about him... how can you reveal a whole person in just a few paragraphs? This is just a snapshot of my dad, who I miss lately more than ever.

Dear Mr. Lee,

It's so hard to know what to focus on, about my dad, so forgive me if I ramble.

My father was from Anderson, Indiana. He was an only child and loved to play chess. When he was young his parents dealt with any rowdiness by having him run around the (small) house a few times.

When he was a teenager he had a 12 string guitar that he carried around with him all over the place. This is something people who knew him then remember about him. He loved folk music and loved Simon and Garfunkel. When I was growing up he took me to the Paul Simon concert in Central Park in 1991, when I was 13. He once got into an argument with my mother about who was more influential to music: The Beatles or Simon and Garfunkel. He felt it was Simon and Garfunkel.

He went to Purdue University and became an English teacher in Indianapolis. The Christmas before he died he told me one of the greatest moments of his life was when he heard that a couple of really tough kids he taught told someone that "Mr. Cronk is a cool guy".

He then taught at Anderson High School, where my mother had just graduated from, but her younger sister was a student. My aunt used to tell me that all the girls were in love with him (I've seen the pictures from that time - his thick 70s sideburns looked great!).

He and my mom, an aspiring singer and actress, met, got married and moved to NYC together. They both had always wanted to get the hell out of Anderson, IN, and so they did. They lived in Greenwich Village while my dad went to NYC for his graduate degree. While in school, he worked at The Strand book store.

This was an important time for my dad because he was always into beatniks and writers who based a lot of writing in the village. And it was rumored that Bob Dylan had lived in the same building a few years before. The building is at the corner of MacDougal and Bleeker streets, over the recently closed Le Figaro cafe.

After he finished school he and my mother moved back to Indiana because that was the only teaching job he could find. In 1978 they had me (he was 30) and about two years later they got divorced.

My mother moved me back to NYC in 1983, and my father and his girlfriend (they were together until 1992 I think) moved to Hoboken, NJ, to be close to me. My father had various jobs, and when he started working for Collector Communications he started at the bottom. He worked his way up, working a lot on "Collector Editions" and finally becoming the editor of "Teddy Bear Review". He'd never considered the idea that he'd be working in an area of teddy bears and collectibles, but he enjoyed it.

He did this for years, and worked on his own poetry writing but wasn't really published. Finally, in about 2000 or so, he left the company and did some freelance work. A year or so later he went back to Indiana to take care of my grandfather, whose health had declined (my grandmother had died a couple years before). So, my dad was back in his childhood home in a town he wasn't crazy about. But he took care of my grandfather, who died a year before dad did.

I hated my father being there, so far away. At this point he was single and I worried about him. But he was fine, just kind of in an early retirement and having a good time.

Soon, though, he told me that it looked like he had liver disease, and then he ended up in the hospital. My husband, who dad loved like a son (Andy and I have been together for 11 years now), and I drove to Indiana and were with my father as we found out he was about to die. This whole thing went on for about a week, while he was in the hospital. Being the only child of him, also an only child, he talked me through getting things sorted out and everything. He knew he was going to die and he was very calm and everything. I am very much like my father, including an English teacher and book lover, and we talked about things like the one book I need to read before I die (Ulysses, he said). My mother came to help and they reminisced about living in the village. We all got to say our goodbyes and he seemed at peace. When he died I was with him.

My father had a great sense of humor. He was sarcastic and sardonic and self-deprecating. We were able to turn everything into a time chance to laugh and joke around, so even when he was in the hospital, we truly had a jolly time.

My dad was also very funny and had a great ability to set people at ease and was just easy going and fun. He was also so smart, and was a very sensitive and emotional person. He was always reading and had such an appreciation for stories that were about life, and those that were dark or sci-fi too. He loved Raymond Carver, William Burroughs, Kurt Vonnegut, Star Trek and Indiana Jones movies and Saturday Night Live. One of his favorite movies was "A Christmas Story," especially because Jean Shepherd was a Hoosier, like us.

He was a great dad, my best memories are of him taking me bowling or to play pinball, and to movies. Because he was a "weekend" dad (I lived with my mom and saw him every other weekend), he always made an effort to entertain me. But he seemed to have a great time. We always played board games and checkers and chess and everything. Don't get me wrong, he wasn't perfect. He drank too much and would get into ridiculous arguments, or play "House of the Rising Sun" on his guitar. He lived in his head a lot. He was a poet, to the core. But with a wicked sense of humor.

So, in a (lengthy) nutshell, that's my dad.

Truth Be Told

2009-03-09T23:22:00.004-04:00

Condo living is weird. Mainly because we came into this lovely space and were all impressed by it and it's all open and chic and a bit trendy...

but really, all it is is an apartment.

Yeah, it's got a 2nd floor bedroom/bathroom loft. But we don't use it, because it's easier to have everything on one level, and we like the shower in the downstairs bathroom better (it's a walk-in standing shower with no tub, which we're all about. We don't care for tubs. Tubs kinda suck. This probably comes from having no hot water in our apartment for years... who had a chance to even fill a tub halfway?? Not us!).

And it's loud!

As I write this it's 11:24pm on Monday night and we're getting ready for bed and our neighbors are clearly living it up. There is a part-tay going on over there. Their living room shares a wall with ours and we can hear everything.

Speaking of neighbors, we've met a bunch of them. Since the Clock Tower Condo building is this new fancy place in Pittsfield, it's not yet a fully occupied building. There are two sides, or wings (that sounds very fancy so we'll go with that) and a lot of the apartments (or should I be saying "condos"? Do condo people get all riled up if you call it an "apartment"?) are still under construction.

As explained to us by the couple we're renting from (she's from Queens, he's from Long Island, they've lived in Mass for a long time now), some of our neighbors are here full time and some are weekenders.

All of our neighbors seem to know each other. Or, if they didn't know each other before they moved in, they seem to become instant friends.

We've deduced that our building is a hot spot for recently retired nature-lovin', natural (i.e. no one covers their grey hair) people who like to ski. After all, we can see two different slopes from our windows: we are in the heart of the Berkshires.

I'm sure we're the youngest people in the building. That's fine. But it just makes the whole experience even more surreal than it already is.

Don't let my cheery and optimistic writing fool you. (You weren't fooled, were you?) It's strange here. And when I say strange, I just mean different. One thing I've learned about myself over the years is that I'm not one for change. I like stability. I'm sure it comes from being a wild child. Don't get me wrong - I'm enjoying the whole change of surroundings and I love Northampton, where we want to move (but, mind you, is not where we are currently living). But that's all okay. It's an adventure.

But, you know what I miss so much? About NYC?
This is besides my friends, my family, favorite restaurants and all the obvious.

I miss New York 1 News. You know, channel 1.

We just watched the local news here, and it was just not the same. I also realized that here in Massachusetts I won't see my normal local news people.
It's the little things that throw me off the most.

We're off to bed now, hopefully able to fall asleep amongst the rollicking time the neighbors continue to have.
Middle-aged hippie skiers apparently know how to party.
On Mondays, no less.

What do they care, I suppose?

First Week in Massachusetts

2009-03-09T09:33:00.005-04:00

We have survived our first week here! It had its ups and downs.

Some Ups were:
- I got my first job as a freelance writer (I'm writing 4 months' worth of motivational weight loss emails - hilarious, since weight loss is such a bone of contention in my family/life, etc).
- We have been house hunting and it's been pretty eye-opening.
- I've gotten some good driving experience.
- Getting to know the area a little better.
- Awesome weekend weather!
- Good thai curry in Northampton!

Some downs were:
- Andy and I having a huge nasty fight while I was driving, resulting in me throwing the key at him and walking home.
- Apparently spraining my ankle yesterday, not knowing how or when and now being in a fair amount of pain and hobbling around.
- A crazy experience at an open house in Southampton.

I know you want to know about the crazy open house experience. Let me preface it by saying the house was beautiful. A colonial farm-housey house, so quaint and cute but big... lovely. We wanted to see it Saturday but were told they were doing an open house on Sunday, and couldn't we come then? Sure, we said.

Sunday.
We pull up to the house right when the open house starts. The house is lovely.

There is a truck on the road, and a car in the driveway. There's a for sale sign in the yard. There's a man on the porch. 50s-ish, bald, a little frumpy, sitting on the steps.
We get out of the car.
Loud music is coming from the house. Hm. Interesting. Different approach to an open house. Hm.

I wave at the guy as we walk over, and Andy says "Is this where the open house is?"
The guy looks at us, but says nothing.
We get a little closer, I say "Is this the open house?"
Nothing.
We get a little closer.
He finally says (shouts over music), "You'll have to speak up, I'm deaf!"
We see a small handwritten sign on the door as he says, "Debbie's inside!"
We feel relief, sure that Debbie is the realtor for the house. We say "Ok!" And knock and push the door open.

It's a tornado. Clothes and stuff just everywhere. Disaster.
Andy peers around a corner and shouts over the music to someone "Is this the open house?!"
A 50-something skinny, trashy blonde woman (kinda made me think of Veronica, for those of you who know who I'm talking about) comes over with a hairbrush in her hand. "It's cancelled! But you can look around if you want!"

She looks weird. Off. She looks crazy. She comes up to us as Andy says "ok" and she says "just don't walk on my stuff!" The crazy is coming out in her voice.

She looks at me.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Allyn" I say.
She looks at Andy.
"I'm Andy" Andy says.
Nothing. Blank stare.
"We're looking for a house" I say.
"Alright, walk around" she says.

The house is a mess, and it stinks like cigarettes. Music continues to blast.

Andy starts to go up the stairs because we literally can't walk into the living room.
We get to the top of the stairs and stand at the entrance of the door to the bedroom.
The woman comes up the stairs and stands next to Andy and points to the upper corner of the bedroom. "That's where the camera is. I don't know if the microphone is on! Right there!"

Andy backs away. He looks away and says "ok, oh, here's the bathroom!" We try to focus on the bathroom in the face of madness.
The woman stands between us and places the bristly-part of the hairbrush into her mouth.

She starts talking again, I can't focus I just want to run, so I hear nothing. I pull Andy's arm as I go down the stairs. We start walking quickly down the stairs, saying "thank you!"

She follows, saying loudly, "Don't you like the house?"
"Um, we'll see it anther time" Andy says as we walk out the front door.

"One dollar! You can tell them I'm selling it for a dollar" she shouts (remember, the music is still playing).

We get to the bottom of the steps of the porch. We're making our way back to the car.

"And you can have it for one letter! F! As in..." [yes, you've guessed it!] "FUCK it for a FUCK!"

"Uh, Bye!" (We're so polite.)
We leave.

Scarred. And scared. Terrified.

As we leave we see the open house sign says "Open House Canceled".
Serves us right for not reading the sign I guess.

The Twilight Zone

2009-03-02T09:57:00.005-05:00

Don't get me wrong - I love "The Twilight Zone"... I was raised on that show, my father being a major sci-fi & TV junkie. So, when I compare our first 48 hours living in Pittsfield, Massachusetts to the show about twisted and dark realities, I mean no harm.

But, it's just strange, being here. Andy and I both feel a little discombobulated.

We moved here on Saturday -Mom and Harvey came with us (Andy drove Earl, I drove Samantha w/ mom and Harvey came in his car), each car loaded with our clothes, books and necessities that we can't live without. We brought our stuff up to the apartment and then high-tailed it out to Northampton to meet our realtor and see 4 houses. That's right - the house hunt has begun!

We saw two houses in the town of Northampton and one in Goshen and one in Chesterfield. The one loved and asked to see, in Noho, was a dark Victorian that we fell in love with months ago when it showed up on the listing website. It's gorgeous but in our visit we found out that the roof needs to be replaced (not a huge deal) but then we saw that the roof is actually being held together with cords, strung up in every room upstairs, holding the damn house together. Madness. We don't want to buy a place that will fall on our heads... literally.

The house in Goshen was 120 years old and awesome - huge, too, at almost 3000 square feet. But there was water in the basement and it's likely that with all the repairs we would be looking at some major money. It was a really cool old house, though, and it's kind of stuck in my mind, so we'll see what happens with that. The other two houses were not options for us (sterile, too small, etc).

Anyway, after we house hunted we went to Chef Wayne's Big Mamou in Williamsburg for an awesome cajun lunch, and then looked around the Williamsburg General Store where I bought some cheap herbs and maple sugar candy.

Mom and Harvey left, we went food shopping in Hadley to Trader Joe's, came home and basically passed out. Yesterday we continued our shopping (stocking up on groceries when you've got nothing is pretty crazy - and pricey!), bought slippers at Target (the floor here gets cold... we are in the Berkshire Mountains, you know), came home and chilled.

We're getting used to it, but we definitely don't yet feel at home here in the condo or the town. When we woke up yesterday morning we felt like we were on vacation... in a hotel, in a strange town, not sure what to do or where to go. Or how to get there. But, it's getting better.

Now Andy's at work - his first day at the hospital, but it's just the orientation. I've applied to a couple jobs, one customer service working from home handling calls for a Nursing Agency, and the other in the circulation department at the Berkshire Eagle, which happens to be right next door to our condo here.

We'll see what happens next!

Here's some pictures of the loft-like condo (check out the wood beams - remember, the building was an old stationery factory), and me in our new car (in New Paltz).

I'm Sorry!

2009-02-27T22:36:00.004-05:00

Because I didn't want Carrot Top to be the first thing you see when visiting my blog,I thought I'd write anything for a moment or two.

I'm sorry you had to look at Carrot Top. I really am. I know it was scary.

So, Andy and I are off to Massachusetts tomorrow. It's true. And crazy and amazing. It's the first true leg of our relocating process. We're leaving New Paltz at 8am and driving to Pittsfield.

Andy's driving Earl, our old Cutlass Ciera grandpa car, and I'm driving Samantha (or Sam - you guys name your cars, right??) our cute and new sporty little black Pontiac Vibe which is seriously an awesome car. Mom is riding with me, because, you know, I only have a permit, blah blah blah. Harvey is driving his car and bringing some of our suitcases. We are all hauling plenty of stuff.

We'll get to the condo, drop our stuff and then it's off to Northampton, where we are meeting our realtor and looking at houses! Excitement! We've fully prepared ourselves by watching House Hunters and Property Virgins all week long.

Here's to starting over and trying out a new place. Goodbye New York, I love you but need something new!

Vomitness

2009-02-25T09:39:00.003-05:00

The last thing I needed to see today when I checked my favorite gossip website, Dlisted, was this picture of Carrot Top, the has been prop comic turned vomit inducer. Well, he always one, but now more than ever.

DisGUSting.

Big Big Things!

2009-02-24T18:29:00.003-05:00

Gosh, we've been here for four weeks now and we've definitely accomplished some things!

- Andy got a kick-ass job at the first hospital he interviewed at. It was his first choice, and seems like a really great, progressive place to work. He starts next Monday.

- I am making progress on reversing the effects of the I'm-30-and-am-without-a-driver's-license syndrome of which I suffer, and picked up the old driving manual and even took my 5 hour pre-licensing class yesterday.

- We bought a new car! Yes, a real, new car. 2009 Pontiac Vibe. Metallic Black. It rocks, and pictures of it and me in it will follow.

- We found a place to live!! We will be renting this condo in Pittsfield (where Andy's job is) temporarily - for at least three months - while we house hunt in the Northampton area. It's beeyoootiful and is an amazing place that we'd totally never be able to afford in NYC. Pictures of that will follow, too, when we move in, this Saturday!!

That's it for now. We're happy but totally freaking out about how much we're doing and how's it's just a lot all at once. But it's great, so who are we to complain?!

OMFG!

2009-02-21T01:36:00.003-05:00

Dude - Where Is GOSSIP GIRL?!

Living at mom's, I thought maybe we'd had a DVR war and her shows somehow won out against GG this week when I checked upon my return from Michigan.

Alas, I've just checked itunes, the CW website AND tv.com and have discovered that there was NO new episode this week, and in fact there won't be till March 9th.

Why? WHY????? The sadness is quickly enveloping me and I'm feeling like I'm in withdrawal. I need my Gossip Girl and my Chuck.

So sad.

Visiting Nana

2009-02-20T14:56:00.004-05:00

We're back from Michigan, which was an adventure unto itself. Mainly dealing with my 92 year old grandmother and the madness that spins around her and her husband in their new apartment (and no, it's not assisted living).

But that fun basically revolves around organizing daily medication doses into baggies (she keeps throwing out those pill holders everyone in the family keeps sending her!), trying to convince her husband she should have two hearing aids instead of one, and of course no trip would be complete without the visit to the doctor to get her toenails cut. And no charge for it!

Yeah, you know it was fun.

Actually it was. Nana is great and just laughs her ass off at everything. We also had a lovely time at the Valentine's Day dance at the Moose Lodge. Here's some pics!

We said we were on a diet... and so they took us to "Wing Night" at the Vets Club... fried chicken wings, onion rings and fried mushrooms... not sure how many Weight Watchers points this was...

Nana at Tim Horton's - isn't she adorable?

Another day at Tim Horton's, Nana's favorite place for soup and frozen cappucino

Nana laughs her ass off about her dying hearing aid!

Andy dances with Norma, the single woman who came to the dance with us.

Oh, And Those Awards...

2009-02-09T13:04:00.003-05:00

I'm not big into watching the Grammys, really haven't been since I was a sophomore in High School and the Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam were nominated for things. But since I'm at my mom's and she's a musician, I did watch it last night with her.

I really enjoyed Radiohead's performance. They just rock. The other high point (hee hee) of the night was when Whitney first came on to present some award.

Mom and I are sure she was on the pipe.

Unfortunately I can't find a clip. Sorry.

But, if you DID see it...what do you think - was she high as a kite or what? She did a lot of eye-closing and thinking while she was up there. It wasn't as exciting as old Anna Nicole Smith high-points-at-awards-shows, but it was enough to make us wonder...

Only One Week?!!

2009-02-09T09:50:00.005-05:00

It's a shock to realize that we've been back for only just a week. It seems like we have done so much. We are right back in a semi-normal way of life. As normal as not working and living with your mother can be.

After seeing great friends in the city last week for the two days we were there, we came up to New Paltz, where my mom and step-dad have a house.

We got Earl (our tan '93 Cutlass Ciera, inherited from my grandfather, named after my great-grandfather who owned a Harley Davidson shop) out of the garage and discovered, on the way to fix a leaking tire, that the brakes weren't working!

After a trip to many fix-it garagey people (can you tell I'm not a car person?) we finally had to leave it for a couple days. Because we were going to Northamton the next day for Andy's interviews, we had to rent a car.

Thursday we were up bright and early. We drove in the rental car (using a GPS system, which was awesome and spoiled us and which we subsequently bought at Circuit City's
going out of business sale) and easily got to Andy's schedule interviews on Thursday & Friday and a meeting with a mortgage broker to see if they'd laugh in our faces when we told them we aren't yet employed, nor have been for 7 months, and want to buy a house.

All interviews went well, with one in particular being an amazing RN job where the even have a wellness program for employees (and hopefully their spouses) that includes yoga and aromatherapy. Yes, please!!

The mortgage broker did not laugh in our faces at all and said she'd get back to us and it was likely we'd have to wait 90 days after employment start to get a mortgage, which was great news.

Now we're just waiting for job calls and then will get settled with a short-term living situation in Northampton or the surrounding area.

Returning to Northampton and driving around the Berkshires, we were reminded of why we want to live there. It's such a great town - it was lit up and lively on Thursday night in town, despite the cold, and it's just such a great area with outdoorsiness and shops and everything. We can't wait! We didn't take pictures this time, but here's some pictures from last year.

We are going to my grandmother's house in Michigan on Thursday, so it might be a while before I post again. Have a great week!

What's Next?

2009-02-03T10:50:00.002-05:00

Now that we are back in the U.S. things are about to get really exciting.

Sure, sure, Prague and the European travels have been thrilling and exciting and all that, but NOW we’ll be getting into “real life” fun.

We will be experiencing the joys (or horrors?) of relocating to a completely new place:
- job hunting
- buying a house (or making due with some kind of short-term housing)
- making friends
- adjusting to a new (small) town after living in NYC

The first step of getting back into the real world after 7 months of not working and taking time to relax/write/explore/travel/do whatever the hell we want?
Cell phones.

We bought them yesterday.
With new phone numbers…Massachusetts phone numbers!
Crazy, right? We don’t even live there yet. I know.

God, we’re back in the real world, all reachable with phones and everything.
We bought the phones and signed up for the plan… and I didn’t know whether to be happy or to start crying.

Ack! The real world!!

We're Back!

2009-02-02T07:53:00.002-05:00

We survived the flight and are alive. It was smooth and easy and I didn't even take my anti-anxiety pills!

I was pretty hopped up on head cold meds and the sickness made Andy and I essentially deaf with the pressure from the flight (my left ear is still stopped up), and I did have a glass of wine with lunch on the second flight, but overall I was really calm and just enjoyed the flight.

Now we're back in NYC staying with mom and step-dad, had Saigon Grill for dinner, and got plenty of sleep. NYC is overwhelming! That's how I felt last night when we ran across the street to Duane Reade for cold medicine. After being in Prague it is so strange to be back.

Still a little jet-lagged after waking up but I think the onion bagel Andy just got me from Hot N Crusty should help.

Some Last Prague Pics

2009-01-30T07:40:00.003-05:00

We're all packed! Here's some last pics... click here
.

Okay, Something Funny

2009-01-29T17:43:00.002-05:00

I got this from one of the blogs I read, and while her post was followed by some serious talk, I thought this was hilarious (and thought-provoking, to the point where I feel like a total ass being on the computer right now).

My Living Will

Last night my sister and I were talking. I said to her “I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids to keep me alive. That would be no quality of life at all. If that ever happens, just pull the plug, okay?”

So she got up, unplugged my computer, and threw out my wine.

She’s such a bitch.

Um.

2009-01-29T17:31:00.003-05:00

I'm seriously feeling the blues right now about leaving.
Andy and I are starting to get really upset. I don't think we'd expected such a wave of emotion upon leaving his family and this beautiful city.

It sucks!

On a different note - we went into Prague for the last time today. Stopped at the library (had to return books), bookstore (needed a nice fluffy book for the plane ride), Shadow Bar - which was so crowded we had to go someplace else! - and then Noi.

We ate so much I vomited.

No, seriously.

In the bathroom at Noi.
Which is really cramped.
I could only get down on one knee.
I looked like I was proposing to the toilet.
It was sexy.

I think I just drank too much. This is NOT in any way a reflection of Noi's food, which is awesome!

Ho hum. I have pictures to post tomorrow. Čau!

Andy's Twin Brother?!

2009-01-28T11:04:00.003-05:00

Okay - the first picture isn't super flattering of my gorgeous husband, but it was the only one I could find where he wasn't smiling or laughing!

But hello, isn't the guy (the one on the left, people!) in the bottom picture (thanks Dlisted) kind of a (slightly younger and skinnier) dead ringer for Andy?
Minus the facial tattoos??

Andy doesn't agree, but I think they look alike. What do YOU think??

What? You Want More About ME?!

2009-01-28T05:49:00.003-05:00

Oh my god! I'm such a busy bee today. Perhaps it is because I was up at dawn (9) because someone in the Gibiš family next door decided that was the right time to play a horn. What?! It's true!

(FYI - Gibiš is pronounced "Gibish" - important to know since it's now used - by me, Andy, Heather & Crystal - as a adjective or noun meaning "idiotic" or "idiot".)

Anyway, right now on Facebook there's one of those "Write a note with 25 random things about yourself" thingies going around. I did it. And I didn't even use any of my 101 facts about me!!

These are all new things about me that you didn't know and surely never needed to know! And now... you know you want to know!

So because most of you don't know me through Facebook (we should fix that!), here's my list cuz you know you can't get enough of me.

25 Things About Me

1. I was an intern at "Sassy" Magazine for one week during the summer when I was 15. But then my mother found out I was cutting summer school and made me quit Sassy and spend my days in a recording studio with her instead, where I was bored and read 3 Stephen King books.

2. I have a really bad memory about a lot of things and people that occurred between the ages of 14 and 20 and usually have to Edith for clarification.

3. I don't have a driver's license, but have to get one ASAP and I'm terribly freaked out about it.

4. I went through a period 9 years ago or so where I was convinced that something terrible was going to happen to me. I became very nervous about myself and loss of control over my actions. I still get scared about things like driving because I can picture myself driving off a cliff or bridge all too easily.

5. I love Pizza King in Anderson, Indiana. We are planning a trip to Michigan in a couple weeks and will drive 10 hours out of our way to go to Pizza King.

6. One of my favorite things is drinking in the afternoon, but as I've gotten older I find it makes me very sleepy. This makes me really really sad and makes me feel like I'm old more than anything else.

7. I can be a real bitch, particularly with coworkers I don't like.

8. When I was 10 or so I was in a gift shop with my mother and pointed out a plant that said "Rubber Plant" and laughed because I thought it was supposed to be made out of rubber, or something. Then I realized that it had condoms hanging on it and was immediately embarrassed. It took me 15 years to get over it.

9. I love NYC but hate a lot of things about it.

10. When I was 6 I peed my pants in ballet class. Unfortunately, I wasn't wearing but pants but a black leotard with white tights. My oldest friend Erika told everyone I spilled lemonade on myself and totally stuck up for me.

11. I used to reenact the lift scene from "Dirty Dancing" in the pool with my friend Dionne. Like, all the time.

12. I didn't know squat about Eastern European history or Communism before I met Andy.

13. I dropped out of high school when I was a junior (and went back a year later).

14. Coming to Prague for 7 months was worth it, but I'm sorry I didn't finish the Teaching Fellows (since, after all, I still want to teach).

15. I've never been fired from a job.

16. I watch wayyy too much TV. And I love it!

17. The only time I ever participated in karaoke (in front of strangers), I sang "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" by Meatloaf. I forced Vicky from H-Link to sing with me but she didn't really know the words and I basically sang the whole thing myself.

18. I got engaged at the Chelsea Hotel. When Andy asked me to marry him I was so shocked I kept saying "No, no no". I finally shook off my shock and said "Yes".

19. I get really confused by explaining grammar and punctuation.

20. I can be really level-headed and confident, but whenever I'm embarking on something new, like the first day of a new job or on my way to an interview, I get so nervous I can barely breathe.

21. I show my emotions on my face. It's a bad thing.

22. I don't like being around drunk people (unless I am one).

23. I am very nervous about getting a job that is satisfying, fun and pays well while I am getting certified to teach in Massachusetts.

24. I procrastinate and usually don't write papers, lesson plans or anything till the last minute. But they always end up really great.

25. I am very needy with my close friends and am often nervous that friendships are in jeopardy.

Special Celeb Birthdays!

2009-01-28T05:21:00.003-05:00

I was obviously very ill yesterday because didn't read all of Dlisted's posts! So I didn't realize that yesterday was the birthday for two of my favorite people!

Mike Patton from the bands Faith No More and Mr. Bungle turned 41 AND actor Alan Cumming turned 44.

I have seen both of these fine men in performances.

Edith and I saw Mike Patton years ago at the Knitting Factory.
Just a couple years ago I saw Alan Cumming in The Three Penny Opera on Broadway.

Besides being an awesome show, and Alan Cumming being super sexy, I remember the show for this:
Right when Macheath (Cumming) was in the middle of saying something, someone's cell phone rang. Right in the first row. Alan stopped what he was saying, walked to the edge of the stage and reemed the person out and made them feel terrible.

I can't remember exactly what he said, but it was essentially "Are you going to answer that?" or "I'll wait" or something like that.

It was obnoxious, and uncomfortable, but highly appropriate. I mean, dude, you're sitting in the first row of a Broadway show where Alan Cumming, Jim Dale and Cyndi Lauper are performing and you DON'T turn your phone off?! You deserve a new asshole.

I love Alan Cumming.

Job Loss and Other Stuff for Today

2009-01-27T15:58:00.004-05:00

I am getting sick. I can feel it. I just pray it doesn't turn into bronchitis, since I'm officially uninsured once I return to the US.

Andy's mother's out of her room, and back in the real world with us today, but I took a 2 hour nap and have been gulping down the remaining Airborne I brought with me, which I'd planned to take the day before the flight since I always get sick from flying.

(I LOVE Airborne! Apparently there have been lawsuits about it not working, but that's crap. It works for me. I've tested it when I've flown, and working in a classroom, and it's great. Apparently it's very controversial and the lawsuits have been all about "Big Pharma" trying to squash this alternative product. Support it if it works for you!)

Anyway, if you got that promo-post from me in your reader or email about the signatures, please ignore it. It was me accidentally letting that website post something here. We learn through mistakes, right? The whole signature at the bottom of the blog is cool, though, and one that I wanted to totally "borrow" from a great commenter and one of my new favorite bloggers, Carolina Girl . But the signature kept coming out all ugly and fuzzy, so I gave up.

Andy's brother David lost his job today. He works for Moeller, the electrical-something or other company, which was recently bought by Americans... so of course now they're doing lay offs. The sucky part is that he has a company car (and computer, and cell) and of course all that goes back to them on Friday, his last day.

The non-sucky part is that he gets a 5 month severance package AND what amounts to unemployment from the country. Nice, right? Or maybe it's not... I've never been laid off or fired, so I don't know what the deal is with severance and unemployment in the US, but either way, at least he doesn't have to freak out right now about money. Although, he does now need to get a car since he lives in a village that's not super convenient with public transportation.

So, my day's slow. How's yours?

More Sad Czech Stuff!

2009-01-27T03:52:00.007-05:00

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova have
broken up!! Yuck!

For anyone who, like me, was obsessed with the movie "Once" and the soundtrack, this is sad news.

As I've mentioned, for my birthday last year Andy, Edith, Carrie and I went to see these two play at Radio City and it was an awesome show...seriously one of the most kind of sincere and large-but-felt-small, rockingest shows. It was a lot of fun.

AND, of course, we can't overlook the fact that Marketa is, of course, Czech! That's always exciting when we find famous Czech people, especially because she was so adorable at the Oscars last year. And their winning Best Song was seriously one of the best Oscar moments I've ever experienced.

Oh well, To old relationships!

Gettin' All Teary-Eyed

2009-01-26T10:45:00.002-05:00

Andy and I are starting to feel sad.

After nearly 7 months of being here, staying with his parents, we're gearing up to leave (in case you couldn't tell from all the posts about it).

Today we woke up and are totally depressed. Now everything is all "This is the last time we'll go somewhere/do something" and it kinda sucks.

Not to mention, Andy's mom is sick and has been trying to stay away from us so we don't get sick. She's been holed up in her bedroom since last Monday. That sucks, too. We like her and want to spend time with her.

We definitely have things we are looking forward to, but it's still hard to leave.
Andy's mother never goes to the airport when we leave, because it's too sad for her. She just told Andy that she doesn't want his dad to drive us because she thinks he'll cry and she won't be there for him.

It's all so sad.

We've been incredibly lucky to take this break from reality and come here. Not to mention, it's kind of resolved a lot of things for Andy, since he hasn't been home for so long since before he left to come to the US, when he was 19. Now, he's seen how his parents and brothers are living and feels like everything's okay, and now we can get on with our lives.

Whatever, I'm going to try to get happy and just enjoy this last week.

I hope everyone else out there is having a good day!

Um, WHAT?? Child Trading?!

2009-01-26T06:43:00.002-05:00

See, this is what happens when one has too much time on their hands. They start pressing that Stumble button and end up God knows where on the Internet.

This is a joke, right??

I feel certain that child trading is not a real/legit thing...

Light: It's a Good Thing!

2009-01-26T06:36:00.000-05:00

Fear of Flying

2009-01-24T06:56:00.003-05:00

I have a fear of flying.

I haven't always had this fear. In fact, I used to like flying. Actually, I still do. I enjoy the adventure, hanging out in airports (I suppose that's not technically "flying"), and airline food.

But I still have a fear.

Growing up in NYC and originally from Indiana, I was used to flying from a young age, to see my grandparents for summers. I flew alone several times when I was a kid.

Sadly, as I've gotten older I've become more aware. Of crashes and accidents and disasters. And after September 11th my fears expanded to include those of not just crashing, but flying into a building.

I don't let this fear stop me from flying, of course. If I didn't fly I'd never travel to all the great places I've traveled to. And yes, I know that my chances of getting into a car accident are way more likely than being in a plane crash.

But, I'm still freaked out.

In recent years I've taken to swallowing some prescribed anti-anxiety pills before take off. These are pretty great for knocking me out for a couple hours. Of course, this sometimes backfires, such as the time when we boarded the plane, took our seats, I fell asleep and woke up to find that we were delayed and hadn't even taken off yet. Great.

I also enjoy drinking on flights. This came in handy particularly when I was flying from France with E., and we basically drank ourselves into a stupor because she was so freaked out and tense from flying and it rubbed off on me. I try to continue the tradition of drinking a couple glasses of wine, and airlines that don't charge for alcohol are fabulous in my book.

Now I think about our impending flight next Sunday. We have a quick flight to Frankfurt and then, 2 hours later, a flight to NYC. This basically means I can't take my magic pills for the first flight.

After the recent landing of that plane in the Hudson I saw a little video headline from some morning show about how to deal with fears of flying. The "expert" said that it's a learned behavior and can totally be undone with therapy. That's great, but doesn't help me right now for next week's flight.

So, after some more internet research on how to quell the fears and anxiety, I found a free online course, made by an American pilot who assures us he is no expert, but wants to inform people to help them chill out.

I'm 3 lessons into it (there are 5) and it's GREAT! He interviews retired and current pilots, flight attendants and all kinds of people. The lesson I just finished was all about TURBULANCE and that rocked my socks because I feel way more calm now. I won't explain why (there's too much to say), but you can click here and educate yourself.

I don't know if this will help me from freaking out on the flight, but the way I see it is:
pills + wine + being educated = calm(er) allyn.

Christ!

2009-01-22T13:01:00.002-05:00

We are leaving Prague SO SOON!

We are super excited to get back, but also super sad that we are leaving.

If you're just tuning in... we've been here in Prague staying with Andy's parents since July (2008) and it's been an amazing experience.

We've gotten used to seeing the beautiful city... it's like being in a fairy tale with that castle and the river and the Charles Bridge.

We've gotten used to semi-lousy customer service ("Ne mame" = "We don't have it", a phrase we've gotten very accustomed to hearing).

We've gotten used to not working!!!

We've gotten used to beer and smazeny syr (fried cheese) and topinky (fried bread) all the time.

We've gotten used to being in a small country.

We've gotten used to walks in the woods.

We've gotten used to gray days.

We've gotten used to playing squash.

We've gotten used to cobblestone streets.

We've gotten used to Czech tv.

We've gotten used to Andy's parents.

BUT we look forward to...

Seeing friends and family.

Moving to Western Massachusetts.

American TV!!!

Starting over in a new town, getting new jobs, making new friends and getting a new life set up.

Pretty decent customer service (hopefully... Duane Reade I still have no hope for you!).

American food (I crave sandwiches and BBQ more than anything!).

Going on a Midwestern road trip as soon as we get back (I'm comin' Nana!).

Tomorrow we go to Prague for the 3rd to last time... lunch and just walking around, then Saturday to Sudička for fondue with the brothers and girlfriends, and then next Thursday will be our last dinner out... Shadow bar for drinks and the Noi for Thai.

9 days people! Then we are back in good ol' New York!!

What's Going On

2009-01-20T06:21:00.004-05:00

I'm a very busy person.

Here are some things I've been busy with lately:

Looking for furniture I'll probably never be able to afford to furnish the house that I don't yet have.
Looking at houses in the Northampton, MA, area on the MLS site and trying to figure out which ones we could actually afford to buy without giving away our first-born.
Watching "When the Levee Broke."
And "Dexter."
Trying to figure out if I've been wrong all these years by putting commas and periods inside quotation marks. (one example: "When the Levee Broke". -or- "When the Levee Broke.")
Reading "The Blind Assassin" which is strange but pretty good.
Looking at the google analytics for this blog and trying to figure out what it all means. Some things I've found out:

thus far no one has ended up on my blog through a search engine.

I get a surprising amount of traffic from the London area.

I go onto my blog more than anyone else. Hm.

Looking for some neat Czech glass item to bring back for mom.
Looking for a wacky Czech t-shirt (size SMALL - nothing else will do) for my brother.
Looking for anything that could possibly be an okay-present for my step-father who, wants and needs nothing.
Limiting cigarette intake before we come back, at which point I will not be smoking.
Losing 4 pounds (hell yeah!)
Getting snippy with some beyatch on a food site who undermined all of my suggestions to another member on where to eat in NYC. (see below)

So, maybe I didn't realize that Tony Bourdain is (according to this woman) no longer "involved" with Les Halles... on their site they do refer to it as his home base, and didn't he do a "No Reservations" last year of him in the kitchen there? No matter - she didn't need to shoot me down on everything. I was quite perturbed by it and wonders why people can't just be positive instead of feeling better about themselves by shooting others down. Hmph!
Taking wintry, snowy walks in the woods.
Drinking beer. In pubs. While eating fried cheese. Sooo good.

What have you been doing lately?

Fakers! Scam Artists! Losers!

2009-01-16T14:46:00.005-05:00

I can't believe this nonsense! Have you heard about this?

The jerk who owns the Gristedes grocery chain tried opening up "Trader John's" down the street from the 14th St. Trader Joe's.

Here's the brief article I read about it on Serious Eats: New York which is a pretty entertaining food-oriented website/blog I've just discovered.

What a scam! I love Trader Joe's. I had heard about them for years and finally started shopping there at the Long Island locations when we got a car. (All pre-14th street, of course.) It's a great store, and they have great products.

One reason that made us decide that we will move to the Western Mass area is because there is a Trader Joe's in Hadley. Seriously, we love it there.

My favorite part of this article is this:

"Last week, Trader Joe's filed a complaint against Gristedes for such a 'blatant attempt to confuse consumers and capitalize on Trader Joe's hard-earned goodwill.' But John Catsimatidis, owner of the Gristede's grocery chain, sees no wrongdoing. 'My name is John. I've been a trader all my life.'"

I've made my opinion on the matter pretty clear.
What do you think about this?

Hiccup Cure

2009-01-15T18:06:00.002-05:00

Having just won a battle with hiccups, I will share with you the cure.

I've been told all kinds of cures for the hiccups, like eating a spoon full of sugar or holding your breath.

But this one works 100% of the time. No joke.

When you get the hiccups, take a drink of water for as long as possible, swallowing continuously while you drink. Particularly at the moment when you are engaged in a hiccup. Keep drinking and swallowing till you just can't anymore.

There. Your hiccups should be cured.

This is Andy's remedy and it's always worked for me, including tonight. Does it work for you?

2008 in Pictures

2009-01-15T10:35:00.007-05:00

After reliving 2008 for that survey I decided to post some of my favorite pictures from last year.

These are in no particular order, and there were so many... sadly my hair looked like crap in 90% of those, so I had to leave them out.
Wintry branches in Loket.

Christmas ornaments in Nuremberg.

Piazza San Marco, Venice.

Prague Castle (a little blurry but still pretty!)

Heather playing the horn at Stodola on that fateful night!

Me and my man at the Louvre in Paris.

Students! Reading! Of their own will!

The plane ride to Prague, July 8th.

Students working together.

My birthday dinner at La Flor.

Spanish Moss in Savannah.

She-crab bisque at Poogan's Porch in Charleston, SC.

2008 Reflection

2009-01-15T09:42:00.005-05:00

I've heard that the key to a successful blog is to mix it up a bit from time to time, with lists, polls, pictures, etc.

So, here I am... mixing it up.

Here's a survey I stole from an entertaining blog I've started reading, which she says she stole from nearly everyone in the blog world. I don't do these very often, but 2008 has been a pretty wild year for me, so I figured what the hay! And I didn't post any of the requisite resolution posts, so this makes up for it.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Participated in and won NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), played squash, stopped working to pursue something different.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? My resolution is and always will be to lose weight and quit smoking… I’ve lost weight and am about to stop the smoking (I swear!)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yep – my friend Matt (well, his wife Leah, actually).

4. Did anyone close to you die? Auntie.

5. What countries did you visit? Czech Republic, Poland, France, Italy, Germany.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Anger control.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory and why? July 8th – the day we left for Prague.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Writing a novel.

9. What was your biggest failure? Making running a part of my daily routine.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I got sick of running. Other than that, no. I did think I was getting arthritis, but we decided that was from holding my Nalgene bottle.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Seafood Gnocchi in Venice & Chef's tasting menu at Elizabeth on 37th in Savannah. (I like food. Leave me alone.)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? I really can’t think of someone.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Those freakin’ AIG suits who got the government loan and then bought the spa/vacation retreat thing.

14. Where did most of your money go? Travel stuff.

15. What did you really, really, really get excited about? Travel. (Do we see a trend for 2008??)

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? “Hey Hi Hello” by Shaun Baker. To my chagrin. (Lookin at you, crapper!)

17. Compared to this time last year are you:
Happier? Sure, why not?
Thinner? Yes! (a little – no miracles)
Richer? Absolutely not.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Exercised

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Sleep

20. How did you spend Christmas? With the Spacek family in Prague.

21. How did you spend new years? With family playing poker & drinking.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008? Yes (calm down – it was just "falling in love again" with Andy).

23. How many one-night stands? none

24. What was your favorite TV program? The Wire

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Yes

26. What was the best book you read? Middlesex

27. What was your biggest musical discovery? Mig 21 (Czech band)

28. What did you want and you got? Chanel Mademoiselle perfume

29. What did you want and not get? The Coco Chanel Lifetime movie that mom taped but forgot to burn & send to me (seriously I didn’t plan that Chanel would be the answer to both questions!)

30. What was your favorite film of this year? Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old did you turn? Turned 30. We had dinner with Carrie, Josh, Edith & John at La Flor, then a couple weeks later Andy, Carrie, E and I saw Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Having more money and suitcase space to buy more stuff from travels.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Jeans jeans jeans – at least after school was done. It’s so nice to wear jeans everyday!

34. What kept you sane? Andy for sure (when he wasn’t driving me crazy)… and writing this blog.

35. Which celebrity did you fancy the most? Michael K. Williams (aka Omar Little)

36. What political issue stirred you the most? The election, since beyond that I tune out.

37. Who did you miss? Dad.

38. Who was the best new person you met? Didn’t meet anyone new.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008: Fictional characters aren’t real, so it’s not always necessary to cry over them.

40. Quote or Song Lyric that sums up your year: I got the shotgun. You got the briefcase. It's all in the game though, right? (Omar)

Creepy Faceless Babies Artist At It Again!

2009-01-14T14:52:00.003-05:00

Click here to see and read about the newest controversial art installation by David Černý, the mad genius who is responsible for the creepy faceless crawling babies in my blog title image.

Madness!
Genius!
Art!

Good Question

2009-01-13T15:01:00.004-05:00

Czech food is not diet food. Say it with me.

Anyway, we're coming home in less than 3 weeks and that's nice. In the meantime I seem to be a disgusting mess. Snow and cold make it hard to walk.

Regardless, walk we did, around Prague today. Went to the library. Among others, I got The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. Have you read it? What'd you think? Will I like it?

Bought a couple little gifty things for family. Bought a cool soapdish for our house that we don't have yet. Had a couple beers. Went to Tesco to buy Wasa crackers (the only thing between me and a mumu). Went home.

Talked to Nana, who told me my cousin is moving to California, where, she informed me there are a "ton of gays" and she's very worried that they will hurt my cousin. This was news to me, because Nana's always been pretty chill about that stuff. Nevertheless, I tried to soothe her. "But Nana, the gays aren't violent!" She wasn't convinced.

Anyhoo, we finished "The Wire" which is truly one of the best shows of all time. It's up there with "Six Feet Under" and... I can't even think of another show right now that's as smart as "The Wire". We lurved it!

We saw this poster the other day and I liked it. I never thought to ask this question. I like posters - they make you think.

Oh! And this picture is for Edith - not very clear, but this is what is served at the billiard hall over here.

For when you're drunk.

It's bread spread with pork fat and topped with raw onions, and a dash paprika to make it pretty. It's awesome when you're drinking... but the next day you wake up tasting nothing but onions. But that doesn't stop you from craving it a week later - oh no. As you can see, I could barely refrain from stuffing the whole dern thing in my mouth before I realized I needed to take a picture of it's hangover-easing goodness. Don't mind the bite marks.

Andy and his mother are laughing like crazy Czech hyenas downstairs so I must go join the fun. Tootles.

Hey! There's a Spider on Your Back!

2009-01-12T09:41:00.005-05:00

For those of you who know me, you know I'm a TV junkie. And being here in another
country without English-language TV has been a little tough, although I think I've handled it much better than I would have thought.

But I can't really say I haven't watched any television... Andy and I hang out with his parents and watched "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" in Czech, as well as another Czech show, "Pošta pro tebe" where people find long lost friends, family members, etc., and that person comes on the show and guesses who was looking for them.

And, with the help of iTunes we've watched "Mad Men" and "The Wire".

But, sometimes you just wake up and have nothing to do, and more than anything just want to veg in front of the TV.

I recently felt that way. Luckily, I brought with me some "Kids in the Hall" DVDs, so I popped one in and vegged. And laughed. I love that show.

One of the best sketches, which I watched on this day, was my inspiration for this blog post. It's a short and funny sketch.

On that note... here's how I spent this past Saturday.

Andy's brother Lukas is crazy and has a thing for spiders... as pets. And not little simple spiders, but big hairy nightmare spiders. He's also had praying mantis and scorpions as pets. Yuck.

He felt the need to get a new one, so on Saturday we went with him to an insect/creepy-crawly show where he got a new spider.

There were all kinds of creatures there - spiders, lizards, turtles (yay!), snakes, and grubs, crickets and baby mice for food. Besides the creepy-crawlies, seeing the people who go to these things was hilarious - a mix of geeks and goths with some regular looking folk mixed in. And it was packed! Quite an experience.

Welcome!

2009-01-09T05:36:00.000-05:00

Hi and welcome to the new address! See, I told you everything looked the same. It's safe here, don't be scared!

Please add yourself as a follower, or subscribe in the feed thingy.

Welcome!

Hedgehog Disclaimer

2009-01-08T18:26:00.000-05:00

Andy insisted I note that although that hedgehog is really cute and the video is kinda cute and funny, I don't really agree with it because it's kind of torturous to the cutey.

I suppose so.

The woman who made the video has another of him in the tub - now that one is complete abuse!

Anyway. I don't agree with the treatment of that cutey, but he's still cute. And I still want one!

I just can't help it

2009-01-08T14:08:00.000-05:00

Dude.

Hedgehogs are adorable.

Seriously, I think I want one.

I'm not savvy enough to know how to put this youtube video into this posting, so just click here. Sorry to make you work so hard.

**Something else I can't help is how much I love Gossip Girl and Monday's episode was wonderful,
if only for (KIND OF SPOILER ALERT? RANDOM DETAIL ALERT?) Chuck Bass wearing a kimono and smoking opium in Thailand. Awesome!

It's Official!

2009-01-07T13:48:00.000-05:00

We've bought our tickets.

We fly back on Sunday, February 1st.

We are flying Lufthansa, with a layover in Frankfurt.
We opted (I refused) to not fly on a prop-jet to Frankfurt.

I've never flown Lufthansa. Have you? I hope I hear only good things about them!
I think they are supposed to be good. Right?

I hate flying.

2 Cafes & a Pivnice

2009-01-07T12:00:00.000-05:00

Now that it's January, we are in the process of planning our great return to the US, to NY and the relocation to Massachusetts.

We are planning to buy our plane tickets tonight, and return Sunday, February 1st. That's 24 days away! Oh my god!

As much as we have had a great time here for our 7 month long trip, we are both excited to come back. I'll talk more about that another day.

For now, we are in the process of still enjoying ourselves...but we are also kind of saying a long sad farewell to Prague. Of course, we'll be back - Andy's family's here! - but we both have had such a great time, and I for one have become very at home here.

Because we see the end zooming toward us, we're trying to hit all our favorite spots before we go. This of course includes restaurants and cafes.

Today we went to a great Czech pub on Národní called Krušovická pivnice in Prague, where we have been many times. The just have good Czech food and it's not crazy expensive. We shared Hermelín (see picture) and Svíčková. Their Svíčková is pretty great.

After lunch we took a big tram ride on the 22 up past the castle and back down. I love riding the tram and think it's a great (warm) way to see the city. Afterwards we went to Kavárna Louvre (Cafe Louvre, also on Národní) for some hot chocolate. We'd never been there but had heard great things about the "Horká čokoláda 'Louvre'" and figured this cold day was a great opportunity to try it. It was sooo good... very rich, like pudding or chocolate fondue, as a drink. Yum! They also had these little blank note papers on each table that say "Cafe Louvre." I like to think those are there for big business deals where one person has an offer to big they must write it on a slip of paper and then pass it over. Very classy.

Last week we went to Cafe Savoy, another favorite, for our regulars: Salát s gratinovaným kozím sýrem (salad w/ baked tomatoes with goat cheese, carmlized walnuts and a kind of maple vinaigrette), and Tatarský biftek Savoy (Beef tartare with topinky - fried bread). Double Yum! This food is SO GOOD!

These cafes are so beautiful, I just love going somewhere where I can dine in style!

Oh, and here's some more recent pics, including Kolín, New Year's and some crazy Czech wine sausage, "vinná klobása".

This is NOT a Drunken Blog...

2009-01-04T17:48:00.000-05:00

Well, not really. I did just come from the pub (Stodola, Crapper) and had 5 pivo (that's pět beers). Whatever.

Regardless, here's a couple things for today:

Talked to Nana today for 45 minutes (I usually limit the calls to 30 minutes - it's expensive from Europe, hello!) and found out the names of her mother's sisters (she could only remember one Uncle - Robert): Stella (hello, name for my second daughter!), Myrtle (Nana's mom), Osa (or Osea - had a hard time translating this due to aphasia), Mildred, Helen (who was with Nana when she met PaPaw - another story altogether), and JUANITA. I love Juanita!!!
That's awesome that I have (well, had) a great-aunt named Juanita.
My best friend, whose anonymity I will protect and simply call Cheesecake leaves for Denver tomorrow from NYC to start a new life with her new man. I couldn't be happier for her, though I am so, so sad for her to leave. I will also say that although she is my best friend in the whole world the beyatch has never read this blog, despite the fact that I've been gone nearly 7 months. The only thing saving her is that she's the only friend I've talked to on the phone. If and when she reads this blog, she better feel bad!
My brother (younger by 13 years) takes his road test tomorrow. He's another one who hasn't read this blog. You can all tell by now why I'm so depressed and lonely. Anyway, good luck, bro.
About to watch the last episode of "The Wire" season 4. This is the school season, which I'd heard so much about. It's amazing how accurate it is. Seriously.
Have to go eat 1/2 of the frozen pizza now.

That's it. Good night and good luck! (Especially those going back to work tomorrow!)

The Original Auntie

2009-01-03T14:40:00.000-05:00

Mom just called and told me that Auntie died. Auntie is my great aunt, my grandmother's sister. Her real name was Naomi, and her husband was Red (Now that I read that I wonder if that wasn't his real name...amazing how we don't question things), but I always just called them "Auntie" and "Uncle", although I've had plenty of other aunts and uncles.

I guess they were the real-deal Aunt and Uncle.

I'm sad to think of Auntie gone. She had a long life, though... I'd like to say exactly how long, but because of the big flashing question mark next to Nana's age, it's hard to figure it.

Two prominent memories I have of Auntie (and yes, both involve food):

1) The second-to-last time I visited her, Andy and I hung out with her in her assisted-living apartment and she made us an AWESOME Marie Callender (who Nana always calls "Marie Callas" - funny) Razzleberry pie. In her toaster oven. That was and still is the best pie Andy and I have ever had. Sorry gourmet-foodie-baker friends.

2)Auntie made one of the best desserts EVER (this time not frozen) - 7-Up Salad. Ever hear of it? It rocks! It's all Dream Whip, 7-Up, crushed pineapple and lime Jello. You know it sounds good! I was maybe 10 or 12 when she made it, and I begged her for the recipe. She wrote it out for me. I still have it, at home. I'm totally going to make it when I return.

Here's to you, Auntie. We love you.