House Hunters

I like to look at real estate. I like to watch HGTV. I like to think that someday in the not-TOO-distant future that I will be a home owner; think being the key word. As of now, I have no real savings, I have no real way of saving money, and my primary focus is my career. So why am I partially obsessed with the thought of owning a nice house with a nice yard with nice furniture, and art, and appliances?
I love New York. There really is no other place I'd rather be right now, at this point in my life. But, after living here for 3 months, I can honestly say I don't see myself living my entire life in Gotham. It's so big, so full, so busy, so colorful, so expensive, and so...much. Living in New York City is a lifestyle. It's a one-of-a-kind place; there's no other city like New York.
So I look at houses. I look at homes for sale in the North East and laugh. There's no way in hell I could ever afford my ideal home. Then I look at homes for sale in Austin, Tx. Why Austin? 'Cause it's one of the very few cities for which I would leave the East Coast. It's a great town with a great appreciation for the arts, and with affordable property. What's more, I look at these houses and say out loud to myself, "Oh that carpet would have to be pulled. And the kitchen needs new flooring and new cabinets. The living room is a good size, but that wall could be knocked down to create a great open space. Oh, the master bedroom is a good size, but I'd get rid of that wall color." And so on and so forth.
Maybe my homeowner envy stems from the fact that a lot of my friends are either married, engaged, living together and practically engaged, or- the most recent news- trying to get pregnant. Since I am far from being married or cohabiting, and even farther from becoming a mom (although my desire to be a dog owner drastically increases daily), I play house by looking at houses. It could be worse.

Eatin' Good in the Neighborhood

Restaurant Week is coming up here in New York, and I gotta tell ya- I am pumped! Robert, Amanda, and I usually eat in during the week so we can save our dollars for some weekend treats. Since restaurant WEEK(s) is exactly what it sounds like, I'll have to make an exception- especially since my friend Jonathan and I are planning on having dinner at Orsay.
New York is overwhelming when it comes to dining out- there are just SO many places from which to chose. How do you know what's really worth the money? What's to say it's not going to be anything more than an overpriced pasta joint? Luckily, Jonathan has yet to make a bad restaurant recommendation, so I'm sure I will not be disappointed. Although, I'm the one who chose the restaurant. Oops. But it looks good, no? And at $35 for a three course meal that would normally run me probably 3 times that amount, I'd say it's a deal.
Ideally, I'd like to hit up at least one more way-too-out-of-my-price-range joint during restaurant (2) weeks. Perhaps a 3 course fancy lunch? That'll run me $25.

Knee-slapper

From my hardcore Episcopalian Uncle:


A man in a Florida supermarket tried to buy half a head of lettuce. The very young produce assistant tells him that they sell only whole heads of lettuce. The man persisted and asked to see the manager.

The boy said he would ask his manager about it.

Walking in the back room, the boy said to his manager “Some asshole wants to buy half a head of lettuce.”

As he finished his sentence, he turned to find the man standing right behind him, so the added “And this gentlemen has kindly offered to buy the other half ".

The manager approved the deal and the man went on his way. Later the manager said to the boy “I was impressed with the way you got yourself out of that situation earlier. We like people who think and react this quick. Where are you from, son?”

“Canada, sir.” the boy replied.

“Well, why did you leave Canada?” the manager asked.

The boy said, “Sir, there’s nothing but whores and hockey players up there. ”

“Really?” said the manager. “My wife is from Canada.”

“No shit?” replied the boy. “Who’d she play for?”

Finale

"Now we understand the root of Coulter's insanity"

This bitch reveals her crazy roots.

Weekend Update

First of all, ENGLAND WON!!!!!!!!! So far, both of my picks- England and Germany- have advanced. Funny how I really know nothing about sports, but generally have good luck at choosing winning teams (NCAA b-ball, college football, etc.)
Anyway, despite the humid grossness of the weekend weather, my parents had a lovely time here in Gotham. We ate at some great restaraunts, walked a million miles, and saw The Drowsey Chaperone. If you are looking for a Broadway show, I HIGHLY recommend this one. It is one of the funniest things I've ever seen. The costumes are gorgeous, the acting is great, the comic timing is awesome, and the show itself is just really well written. I would pay to see it again.
So it's back to work when it feels like I just left this place 12 hours ago. I can't believe it's almost July.

Happenins'

First of all, take a little peak at where I'll be headed at some point next weekend. Yes sir.

Secondly, it's time for me to update my specs- I just got my contacts in the mail today, so I'll be able to see with the correct prescription, so I'll need to update my glasses as well. I checked out a little glasses joint near work today, and their prices are pretty good- plus I get a Columbia discount. I really had no intention, well a little intention due to my current frames pinching me a bit, of buying new frames. That is, until, the pretty sales girl said "Is that bag Michael Kors?" I laughed and said, "Um, I got this at Target." Yes! Fooled someone. Well after she stared at me in disbelief and swore she was headed to Target tonight, we talked frames. "See, you're lucky because you can pull off plastic frames and metal frames. You have a great face shape- you're one of those people who looks good in glasses." Now, I know this is her selling technique; I wasn't born yesterday. But I must admit, out of the 20 or so frames I tried on, she was honest with me about what looked good and what did not. So, yes, sales girl- I AM one of those people who looks good in glasses, thankyouverymuch. I'm still thinking about the frames- I would get a nice discount and I did pick out some SUPER cute ones.

And lastly, my parents are in town. I'm happy they are here- I haven't seen them since March. That might not seem like such a long time, but I was only an hour away from them for the past 4 years, and could pretty much visit any time I felt like it. Now it takes money and time off of work, and we all know how full my social calendar is. So tonight I'm showing them Astoria, and tomorrow (weather permitting) we are headed to the Botanical Gardens before seeing The Drowsy Chaperone tomorrow evening. And while Robert is dancing his tight little ass off at the Pier on Sunday, I'll be drinking mine off at the beer garden. Not such an empty social calendar afterall.

How to disappear completely

More praise for Radiohead.

Pleasantly Surprised

A co-worker of mine is leaving next week for London, her hometown, where she retreats every summer with her 2 sons. She told me they usually visit the motherland several times a year, and always stay for the summer months. I'm jealous!
At any rate, I've really enjoyed getting to know this co-worker for the 2 months that I've been at Columbia. She was filling in for the receptionist (whose last day happened to be my first day), until our new receptionist started this week. So now, she just does random things in the office (sort of like my Hopkins job) and generally amuses people with her smart, British outlook. A few days ago, I got some bad news regarding taxes, and was visibly upset at work. Not only did she come over to comfort me and share some personal experiences that made me feel better, but this morning, she came into work with a gift for me. A gift! She handed me this little box, and said "I'm never going to wear this, and I knew this would match that blue skirt you were wearing the other day." It's a beautiful necklace, brown and blue- the exact colors I had on a few days ago. I was really surprised at such a lovely gesture. I was even more surprised at the necklace itself- it's totally something I'll wear!
So I will be sad to see her go. I'm not sure if she'll be coming back in the fall, but I certainly hope to stay in touch. It's nice to know that in a city where everyone is primarily concerned with themselves, there is room for selflessness.

Waldorf- Uber Ghetto

According to Hilary Duff, the place where my grandparents lived is a ghetto. Now, I'll admit- I haven't been to Waldorf, MD in probably 20 years. I'm sure a lot has changed. But I remember my grandparent's house being very nice, in a great neighborhood with a lot of trees and nice homes. The funny thing is, Ms. Duff has never been there, so how does she know it's a ghetto? Maybe they should skip Waldorf and head to East Baltimore.

8 Simple Rules for being a civilized New Yorker

Amy Poehler's 8 Simple Rules for being a civilized New Yorker.

Amy Poehler has two main qualifications for judging the city's manners.
One, she's starred on Saturday Night Live since 2001-which means she works at Rockefeller Center, a maddening, tourist-choked hellhole for most of the TV season. ("You get used to people asking you, 'How do I get to the ground-zero gift shop?' " she says.) More important, she logged many, many hours waiting tables-the etiquette equivalent of years spent in the foxhole on the front lines of boorishness. "My absolute pet peeve is people who are rude to waiters," she says. "Any guy who's in any way difficult, your lady-boner immediately goes to zero."

And yet, on balance, she thinks New Yorkers are exceptionally polite-at least by the local definition. "Etiquette in New York is all about time management," she says. "In other places, you seem rude if you see someone and don't talk to them long enough. But here, it's all about speed. And people are fine with that. It's like, 'Hello. It's nice to see you. Thank you for giving me your kidney. I gotta go.' "

Of course, New York also offers its own unique etiquette conundrums:
catcallers, meeting Oprah, the correct response to someone crapping in public. Thankfully, Ms. Poehler was kind enough to offer eight handy rules for civilized interaction in the city.

1. Be nice to everyone, especially people wearing hospital bracelets.
2. Don't ask white girls if they "left their ass at home."
3. If you have to bring your baby to a movie, make sure he laughs at appropriate times.
4. Don't eat Cheetos and then sit down at a fancy hotel piano.
5. If you are in Central Park and think you are getting mugged, first check to see if maybe you're just part of a student film.
6. If you see Oprah at a fancy function, don't grab her wrist and ask for money. Quietly sneak up behind her and whisper, "You give me that money, Oprah. You hear me?"
7. When walking on a New York street, try not to spit, litter, bleed, or take a crap.
8. If you need to do any of these things, try to do it between two parked cars.

This looks inSANE!

I love Rachel Ray, but dammit this is funny.

The Light

It was so refreshing to watch The Light in the Piazza last night on Live! From Lincoln Center. Real singers, singing good music with excellent acting and a wonderfully touching story. Now THAT's entertainment.
Besides the fact that Aaron Lazar is g-g-g-gorgeous, he can sing too. So can Katie Clark and the rest of the cast. Truly a top-notch performance.

Spittin' Jealous

My friend Bucket saw Radiohead last night at Madison Square Garden, and I couldn't be more jealous. I could have gone, of course; but I didn't have $60 for a ticket. I don't know HOW he score the seats that he did- and at a discounted price- but the bitch sat 8 feet from the stage. I saw Radiohead once- 11 years ago, on The Bends tour. They were awesome then, and I'm sure they are awesome now. Definately one of the defining bands of our generation, and along with Bjork, one of the few bands to receive acclaim from the classical world. In fact, I'm listening to classical pianist Christopher O'Riley play transcriptions of Radiohead songs right now. Gorgeous.
Here's the set list from last night, for anyone who cares:

01 You And Whose Army
02 The National Anthem
03 2+2=5
04 15 Step
05 Morning Bell
06 Arpeggi
07 Videotape
08 Kid A
09 Fake Plastic Trees
10 Climbing Up The Walls
11 Nude
12 Bangers 'N Mash
13 Idioteque
14 There There
15 Street Spirit
16 Bodysnatchers
17 Lucky

Encore 1
18 I Might Be Wrong
19 Down Is The New Up
20 The Bends
21 Everything In Its Right Place [Thom sings,'Silent Night']

Encore 2
22 House of Cards
23 How to Disappear Completely

They played for 2 hours. Spittin!

Good way to start the day

Not having a car conjures up two different emotions. On one hand, I really miss the freedom of being able to hop in my ride and escape. I could drive to the mall, or to my parents' house, to visit friends, or just drive to the country. On the other hand, I don't miss the gas prices, looking for parking, shelling out money I don't have to fix my car, and being the designated driver. Besides the fact that I don't need a car here, it's nice to have once less big thing to worry about.
That being said, I wonder if I still have a bit of road rage. I don't tend to get upset in cabs, and I really could care less what people driving down the street are doing, so maybe I'm cured. But it brings up this question- are non-driving people (and I'm talkin' lifers; not me who just recently stopped driving) susceptible to a form of transportation rage, be it the subway or the bus or the train? And is it with the same intensity that some drivers experience?
On the subway this morning, I witnessed an actual fight between a woman (with a small child) and a man. The woman claimed that the man had, on three separate occassions, touched her hand (since they were sharing a subway pole), and if he "touched my hand one more time, I'm gonna punch you in the fuckin' face." Wow. Is it really that serious? The man apologized as she continued to threaten him, and at this point, some random teenage kid started harrassing the man as well, asking "don't you know how to treat a lady? Show her some fuckin' respect." Respect? Nevermind the 5 year old kid that is witnessing this. Talk about setting a great example.
So I guess I answered my own question this morning. While I got annoyed at traffic issues, I can't say I ever physically threatened another driver. And while I did get a kick out of a certain asshole bringing up my "road rage" randomly in an arguement, in retrospect, I probably looked just as stupid as the woman on the subway.

And another reason....

...why soccer is good.

Working Girl/Faire du football

Since I work in the Alumni Affairs Undergraduate office of fundraising, I have to work all of the major fundraising events here at the College. I don't mind, really...it's not brain surgery and I get paid. This weekend was Columbia Reunion- for classes who graduated in years ending in '6' or '1'...and a few in between. There were around 800 people, maybe more including spouses and families- attending lectures, tours, dinners, clambakes, a casino night, and many parties in between. I spent my days doing registration and my nights working dinners. Although I would have much rather been enjoying the great weather, I ate pretty well and drank for free. Can't complain!
In other news, the World Cup has begun. Why is the United States the only country who could care less? Every other country in the world anticipates this once-every-4-years event, but not us. After asking a few fellow Americans their thoughts on our (practically) disregard for this major sporting event, I came up with this answer- soccer isn't rough enough for Americans. No tackling, no ball possibly hitting someone in the crowd, no sticks or flying pucks. If there isn't a chance of someone breaking something, loosing a few teeth, or commiting statutory rape, we ain't interested. I also remember a former co-worker telling me that her husband always referred to the soccer players in high school as being "gay", whereas the football players were seen as the macho, Roid Rage types. Funny- I always thought the soccer players (along with lacrosse players) were the hottest of the athletes. Two words- David Beckham.
So I will definately be watching some of the games. I'm not really sure who to root for. Brazil is always the favorite, no? I'm going with England and (for home court advantage sake), Germany. I remember being in Paris the night that France won the World Cup in 1998. Insanity. Celebration. Pride. Three things you never see with the Superbowl...

This Just In...

...Well, 24 hours ago. But I've been working all damn day, so I just now have time to tell you all (waiting anxiously, aren't you???), that I think the mice are gone.
Last night,after some much-needed Guiness, I made my friend Sean come up to the apartment with me just to make sure there weren't 15 mice shitting up a storm in the kitchen. Immediately upon entering the apartment (the kitchen is right in front of the door), I heard something in the trash can. Sean took a look (he actually moved pieces of garbage around), but said he didn't see anything. Apparently he didn't look hard enough, because as soon as he started washing his hands, I saw them- 2 eyes staring at me from underneath the bacon-y tinfoil. Sean took the bag out of the can, we went down to the street where we (illegally) put our trash in someone else's dumpster, but we made sure to leave the bag open so the little fucker would be in garbage paradise.
This morning- no poopies. Fingers crossed that they're all gone.

Uuuuuuuuna furtiva lagrimaaaaaaaaaaa

I can't WAIT for this to come out!


PS- Less mice droppings this morning! I think they're going away for a very long time... Although, when I was talking to Dan last night I could hear one sqeaking in the background.

Screw you, Mickey!

We seem to have a bit of a mice problem at the apartment. I know, I know...everyone has a mouse at some point or another, but this is getting out of hand. It started out as one mouse- he was pretty tiny, so I kind of felt bad- and he mostly just scurried along the edges of the rooms, obviously scared shitless of us.
Well, over the past week he seems to have invited his friends to come play at 3F, because we now have what I'm referring to as an infestation. (This might be a bit overdramatic, but when it's an apartment, more than one mouse is an infestation.) Judging by the amount of droppings I see each morning, I would say we have 3 mice. They come in through behind the stove, run around the kitchen all night pooping every 2 inches, and sleep until around 10PM. Then we hear them- squeeking, scampering, shitting. They aren't afraid of us anymore, and clearly scoff at the traps. Supposedly, our landlord and his crazy Greek brother-in-law did SOMETHING in the apartment yesterday (as our furniture was moved around), but I still found poop this morning- and not just a little.
So, tonight I will:
1) buy glue traps, since we keep saying we will, but no one has; and the humane traps that I bought obviously aren't working.
2) rewash all the dishes by the sink, since they have droppings on them. Then move the dishes to the dining table to dry, to avoid more poopage on plates.
3) go through the containers that hold our wooden spoons/spatulas/etc to make sure there isn't any hidden poopie
4) try not to get freaked out when I see one scurry across the counter.


STILL better than roaches.

Weddings Get me Hot

Yesterday, I attended the wedding ceremony of my friend Brian- an ooooooold bud from WVU days. Brian is without a doubt one of the nicest people to walk to face of this earth. He is kind, gentle, giving, caring, honest, talented, and I'm sure very loving. In short, he's the ideal husband- plus he's hot.
I was supposed to sing before the ceremony- my friend Jeff and I were scheduled to perform Shepherd on the Rock. I was really excited-I had been getting the piece back into my voice for the last month- even memorized it (it's about 15 mins long)- and was really feeling good about how it was going to sound. Jeff and I (AND Brian and I) have done the piece together before, so it wasn't going to need much rehearsing. As luck would have it, I lost my voice and fell ill a few days before the wedding. No Shepherd. I was pretty upset- I put a lot of time into preparing it, plus I feel very honored when friends ask me to perform for something as special as their wedding. I felt like I was letting him down.
I made the trip to Philly regardless, with MUCH hilarity ensuing thanks to Jeff, and was present for the festivities. First of all, at nearly 350 people, this is definately the biggest wedding I've ever attended. I don't think I even know that many people. The bride is perfect for Brian- she's just as beautiful and nice, and I kind of hated her a little because of it. That and her dress was gorgeous- as was her hair, jewelry, and violin playing. At any rate, as soon as Brian saw his bride making it down the aisle, he started to cry which of course made me lose it. As soon as the groom starts crying, it's all over for me. As I watched Brian go through all the emotions of that day- nervousness, excitment, bliss...I realized how terrifing marriage really is. Now, don't get me wrong- I want to get married. We've covered this. I'd like to be married by 30. I'm not sure if that will happen, but who knows. But the whole production of the wedding ceremony, and the fact that this person is (hopefully) your partner for LIFE is so...REAL. I was never one of those little girls who dreamt about her wedding day her whole life. I still don't know what I want it to be like- big or small? Hanover or NYC? Afternoon or evening? How many in the wedding party? I guess I figure if I don't have too many hopes, there is less chance of being crushed if it doesn't happen.
So, I wish Brian and Hannah MUCH happiness in their life together. (AND congrats to my friends Lauren and Jeremy on their four year anniversary!!). I only hope that when my day of complete terror/excitement/fulfillment comes, I will be half as happy as these couples.

Top 5

Unlike most people, I prefer the colder months to the warmer ones. I know, I know- there is a lot more opportunity for outdoor activities when it's warm, and people are just happier in general. Don't get me wrong- I love love love the beach and the park, swimming, eating outdoors, etc. Honestly, I really need all 4 seasons to feel balanced. When September hits, I'm WAY over the heat and ready for crispy fall. When March hits, I'm sick of the cold, and can't wait for flowers to start popping up. I never really tire of autumn or spring, but I welcome the season change.

That being said, here are my top 5 reasons why I prefer cold over hot.

5) No frizzy hair. This might not go for a lot of people, but for me it's key. I hate sweating through my hair and having it look like crap the minute I step out of the house.

4) Better fashion. I look way better in cute sweaters, jeans, and cute boots than I do in tank tops and shorts. I usually feel uncomfortable in pretty much anything I put on when it's hot. I hate looking like a sweaty gross mess.

3) Better holidays. C'mon- who doesn't prefer Thanksgiving and Christmas to July 4th? Birth of our country vs. birth of Christ.

2) Snow! I love it. A lot of people hate it. I know it's a pain to walk around in it, drive in it, dig out your car, shovel your driveway, etc. But it's so beautiful and calming to me. I love midnight snowfall- it's so bright and quiet, and the trees just sparkle. I want to own a cabin someday, where I can ski to my front door, chill on my bear skin rug with some good red wine, and fall asleep by the fireplace. Heaven.

And the #1 reason for me isssssssssssssssssssssssss

1) NO HUMIDITY! 'Nuff said.

Um, I have a dime.

I always feel bad when someone asks me for money. I feel bad because 9 times out of 10, I ignore them. To be honest, I rarely have any money to give. I hate carrying cash because I spend it all, so I'm usually just left with some odd change. And even then, who wants a handful of pennies?
It's hard to tell whether the person asking for money really needs it to eat, or really wants it for other purposes. I think most of the people who approach me are hungry- hence, my feeling bad. As my friend Sean and I were walking up the street last night, a man on a bicycle approached us, asking for 75 cents. I was kind of surprised at how casual Sean was about it- he reached in his pocket and said, "All I have is this dime- sorry buddy." I gave the guy a few spare nickels. The man on the bike didn't look hungry- he looked pissed that we didn't give him 75 cents. He rode away, and I said, "How altruistic of you, Sean." Sean said, "Nah. If you wouldn't have been here, I would have kept on walking."
So that got me thinking- is charity all for show? Or do people donate money to worthy causes because they actually want to. I know on the few occaisions that I have donated money, I haven't really made it a point to tell anyone. Why? It's not like it's gaining me points. If I need points with anyone, it's the higer power- and he already knows of my good deeds.
So how does one get over the feelings of guilt? (And I'm not looking for any sarcasm here.) A few Sundays ago at St. Thomas (AMAZING men and boys choir), the sermon was all about "loving thy neighbor as thyself", and how to turn the other cheek. I can't help but think of that sermon everytime I ignore a beggar. Is this God's way of reminding me that things could be worse? Perhaps. Or maybe it's his way of reminding me that I could always do a little bit better.