We're Back
Well, Andy and I are back where we belong, above the Mason-Dixon line. While he continues to enjoy his vacation, I must slave away at work. Driving down to Louisiana went surprisingly well. On the way down there we had lunch at the Chimes as motivation for a safe arrival. The food there tasted exactly the same which was really nice. I had a crawfish poboy, which was awesome. After all of the rich food we ate while we were there I told Andy I only wanted to eat sushi and vegetables and drink water for the next month to recuperate. We also had boiled crawfish, shrimp okra gumbo that my mom made, homemade macaroni and cheese, crawfish omelets, and a great dinner on Tues. night in Lafayette. Urgh.
The drive back up to New York was a little harder. We left late on Wednesday night which I now realize was a mistake. When it was my turn to drive I could not stay awake. I was so tired that my eyes would cross and then there were four lanes instead of two. Then I would try to trick myself by closing one eye and then I would have to physically open that eye with my fingers because I couldn't make it open on its own. Needless to say Andy ended up driving most of the night. Things didn't get any better in the morning. After I woke up I only made it an hour before the same thing was happening so I pulled over and we both slept in the car parked on the side of a gas station in Alabama for an hour. Good times. We did make it back in one piece though. I would definitely drive down for Christmas again...it was nice to not have to worry about bringing presents back or arranging car swaps while we were in Louisiana.
So now I must remove the Christmas music from my ipod, take down the tree this weekend, and pack up the Santa hats for another year....
Labels: Christmas, Louisiana
Christmas Past
Well Christmas has come and gone....my Christmas cheer is still pretty high. I'm trying to avoid the day after Christmas crash. The drive up here was pretty uneventful which was good for us but bad for blogging since there weren't many interesting stories for the blog. I did realize how sheltered I am living in New York...I know that sounds funny but the first time we stopped I walked into the truck stop in Virginia and was like...uh, holy crap. It stunk like nasty smoke and was just disgusting. Although I did regret doing my Christmas shopping ahead of time since there were tons of interesting gift ideas at the truck stop.
I got tons of great presents from Andy and my family and a Christmas miracle, the Vegeenas made it into the fantasy football finals! I thought there was no way I was going to win since I was down by 9 going into the Jets game last night and I had Cotchery and my opponent had Laverneus Coles...and Cotchery pulled it out for me. He had 11 points and Coles had a big ZERO so I won by two points.
Cactus Maximus...I'm coming for you!
Labels: Christmas, vegeenas
Driving?
Yes...we are driving....pulling an all nighter...we should be there tomorrow.
Christmas Cheer: 2/10
Anxiety Level: 20/10
I expect these numbers to fluctuate wildly over the next two days so no one panic. The most nerve wracking part of the trip is of course the part where I have to drive from the car rental place to my apartment by myself. I've already printed out four maps, two confirmations for the rental car, bought an atlas, and offered to pay people to ride with me. Should be interesting.
Labels: Christmas
Mad Hot Ballroom
Christmas Cheer: 8/10
Anxiety Level: 10/10
Two nights ago Andy and I watched Mad Hot Ballroom, a documentary about 5th graders in New York City who were participating in a 10 week ballroom dancing program. There was also a citywide competition at the end of the program between the different schools. It was sort of in the same vein as Spellbound except it was focused on the dancing, not so much the personal lives of the kids. Anyway, if you think kids are funny then you will definitely like this movie. I'm not even a huge kid fan but I was laughing the entire time. It was also interesting to see the teachers reactions to the kids winning or losing at the competition. But seriously these kids...it's hard to believe they're in fifth grade too. I guess the kids in NYC have to grow up a little quicker...I dont' know if that's good or bad but some of the things they say..especially the inner city kids...it's just unbelievably adult sometimes and then they're jumping rope the next minute. Anyway, I definitely recommend the movie.
Tomorrow we'll be setting off for Lousiana. I think the worst part of the trip will be when I have to drive the car through Manhattan tomorrow afternoon by myself. I advise all other drivers to stay off the road if possible.
Labels: movies
Lost- Not the TV show
Not many things make me crazier than losing things. I am usually pretty responsible so it's really rare that I lose anything. I still have a ring that my parents gave me when I was five that I wore everyday until about a year ago. When I was a kid they took me to see "An American Tale" the movie with that mouse Fievel and he had this really cute hat. The whole movie I was so afraid that he was going to lose that hat that that was all I could think about. I just kept asking my Mom over and over, "where's his hat? where's his hat" Anyway, the point is I HATE losing things and lately I have been on a bad streak. Two weeks ago I lost one of my leather gloves which I loved and only got last Christmas...so pissed. Then on Friday I lost my glasses. My freaking glasses for god's sake! What am I a three year old? So I had to get new glasses yesterday...just what I wanted to spend money on around Christmastime. That definitely knocked my Christmas cheer down a couple of notches.
Don't worry though...tonight I'll be wrapping presents, packing, and baking which should put me back up around an 8 or 9!
Labels: Christmas, me
Trip to the Library
Since The Vegeenas were #1 in the regular season of my fantasy football league we had a bye this week. Since I wasn't glued to the computer pulling for LaDonkian to score his third touchdown of the game, Andy and I decided to go out and about in NYC. We visited the Morgan Library, which is having a Bob Dylan exhibit right now. The Bob Dylan exhibit was fantastic. There wasn't really any new information presented (for someone that's read two biographies and his autobiography) but it was really cool to see some of his guitars and handwritten lyrics. The exhibit also did a really nice job of contextualizing his work with timelines of events and newspapers from different years. The permanent collection at the library is also really cool...Morgan's personal library is awe-inspiring. It's nice because the whole library can be seen in 2-3 hours (and I read EVERY sign), so it isn't overwhelming.
After the library we had lunch at some crappy diner around the corner...Moonstruck or something...well while we were waiting for our food I was staring off into space and Andy asked me if I saw a celebrity or something the way I was staring and I was like, yeah, i'm sure tons of celebrities hang out at the moonstruck diner. So I got up to go to the bathroom and when I came back who was sitting behind Andy? Carson Kressley..the blond guy from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. I mean D list celebrity but celebrity none the less. So I guess I was wrong.
Labels: bob dylan, celebrity, NYC sights
You Can't Graph Happiness
Saturday night we went to Cassie and Martin's for games and the conversation somehow got around to finances. I am really anal about keeping track of my cheking account (I know, shocking) so I still balance my checkbook, recording every transaction in Quicken on my computer. Martin was saying that he does the same thing and then creates a graph of the different categories of expenses. I'm afraid to do this because I think it would be shocking how much we spend on "dining and entertainment." Anyway, Martin commented that the "pets" portion of their graph has gotten bigger and bigger due to Cassie's recent foray into the world of aquariums to which Cassie responded "you can't graph happiness."
I tried to remind my self of this yesterday as I entered the receipts for Chester's new terrarium, substrate, water bowl, climbing log, and plant into Quicken. For a $5 frog, he certainly has a nice home. When I told Andy that I thought it may be a little over the top he responded by saying "no, it's just like the exhibits they have at the zoo" uh, yeah...exactly.
After we put the new terrarium up yesterday morning and introduced Chester to his new home we spent about an hour watching him climb around. The cage is 18 inches high and he repeatedly climbed to the top and then with no where left to go would just fall back down to the ground. Either he really likes the new place and climbing around or he hates it and has been trying to commit frog suicide since yesterday morning. Either way, he was a lot of fun to watch.
Labels: chester, pets
Cold Outside
Actually it is not cold outside here. The highs have been in the 50s every day for the past week, prompting Andy to say this morning that it felt like Christmastime in Louisiana here. Yesterday I listened to Christmas music courtesy of Karin and Jenn on my ipod ALL day. "Baby It's Cold Outside" is quickly becoming one of my favorite carols. On the surface it sounds like such a sweet little song but then listen closely and you realize something much more sinister is going on....I laugh everytime I read them. So here they are for everyone's Friday enjoyment.
Baby It's Cold OutsideI really can't stay - but baby it's cold outside
I've got to go away - but baby it's cold outside
This evening has been - Been hoping that you'd drop in
So very nice - I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice
My mother will start to worry - Beautiful words you're humming
And father will be pacing the floor - Listen to the fireplace roar
So really I'd better scurry - Beautiful, please don't hurry
Well, maybe just a half a drink more - Put some records on while I pour
The neighbors might think - But baby it's bad out there
Say, what's in this drink? - No cabs to be had out there
I wish I knew how - Your eyes are like starlight now
To break the spell - I'll take your hat, your hairs looks swell
I ought to say no, no, no sir - Mind if I move in closer?
At least I'm gonna say that I tried - What's the sense of hurtin' my pride?
I really can't stay - Oh baby don't hold out
Ah but it's cold outside - Baby it's cold outside
I simply must go - But baby it's cold outside
The answer is no - But baby it's cold outside
The welcome has been - How lucky that you dropped in
So nice and warm - Look out that window at that storm
My sister will be suspicious - God your lips look delicious
My brother will be there at the door - Waves upon a tropical shore
My maiden aunt's mind is vicious - Gosh your lips are delicious
Well, mabye just a cigarette more - Never such a blizzard before
I got to get home - But baby you'd freeze out there
Say, lend me a coat - It's up to your knees out there
You've really been grand - I'm thrilled when you touch my hand
Why don't you see - How can you do this thing to me?
There's bound to be talk tomorrow - Think of my lifelong sorrow
At least there will be plenty implied - If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can't stay - Get over that hold-out
Ah but it's cold outside - Ah but it's cold outside
(Louis solo:)
Where could you be going
When the wind is blowing
And it's cold outside?
(Both:)
Baby it's cold, cold outside
Labels: Christmas
Christmas Cards
Christmas Cheer Today: 10 out of 10!
Perhaps someone can make me some sort of Christmas Cheer Chart to monitor my daily cheer level. Last night I bribed Andy with Rotel dip and toffee bars to help me write Christmas cards. Turns out he didn't even need the bribe. He very willingly wrote 3 Christmas cards. During that time he also downed a large bourbon and coke which I think affected the 5 cards he wrote after that. The cards are supercute though so watch your mailbox! If you're lucky maybe you'll get one that Andy wrote after the bourbon.
Tonight we'll be finishing up the cards and I'll take another stab at the toffee bars which did not turn out as expected. That seems to be my holiday baking theme...crap the first time, success the second!
The one hour THE OFFICE Christmas special is tonight!! I can not wait. My holiday cheer may go through the roof. Man I love that show. Although, I do not like that Jim is involved with this new girl. He obviously belongs with Pam. Also, I'll keep posting new holiday pics over the next two weeks as we engage in fun holiday activities!!
Labels: Christmas
The Nutcracker
Last night I attended my first performance of the Christmas classic, The Nutcracker. A group of about 10 of us went, some of us opting for the cheap seats, some for the more expensive seats. The ballet was at Lincoln Center, and I don't really think there was a bad seat in the whole theater. We were in the fourth ring in the first row, which I enjoyed because we could see down into the orchestra pit. The first half was somewhat marred by the obnixious people sitting behind me who thought it was Ok to eat an entire bag of Peppedridge Farm cookies during the first act. Also, the entire first act is mainly children dancing which wasn't that exciting. Also, the "battle scene" which I had imagined to be protracted and involved was really only about 3 minutes and sorta lame. It's obviously geared towards children, but come on.
However, the second half made it all worthwhile. The two kids arrive in the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy and different groups of dancers proceed to dance for them. All of the dancers were great, especially the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Waltz of the Flowers. There were also the Arabian dancer, the Russian dancers, and the Chinese dancers. Some stereotypes were thrown in there that I thought may be construed as a little out of date for today's audience but whatever...
Overall, I really enjoyed it. I definitely want to go back for another ballet, maybe one that is a little more adult. Afterwards we had dinner at Rosa Mexicano which was delicious!!! A very very good night which upped my Christmas cheer two notches. Today I give myself an 9 out of 10 on the Christmas Cheer scale.
Labels: Christmas
We're #1!
Well this week was the final week of the regular fantasy football season. Don't get too upset though, because we've got a couple of weeks of playoffs yet to go. I finished ranked #1 in the league which means I will be the top seed in the playoffs (which almost guarantees a loss) and I get a bye in the first round. So hopefully the Chargers will rest Ladanian this week so he can have two more stellar performances. And to answer Nick's comment from the last post, no the fact that LT played for Franchione does not taint my affection for him. Even if he doesn't score another touchdown this season, I wouldn't be where I am now without the Donk and it's not his fault he had to play for such an assclown.
After cheering ManU on to victory on Saturday morning Andy and I did some Christmas shopping and then came home to take a nap before going out that night. I turned on the TV and....nothing....just college basketball. I don't like facing weekend television without college football. I have a feeling I'll be spending a lot more time out in the city now. Not that I don't love college basketball but after watching LSU lose to Texas in overtime on Sunday night I don't think I can take a whole season of John Brady..I may just have to pick things up in the postseason.
Also..GO SAINTS!!! They look like a legitimately good team right now. I got to watch my first game this weekend since they were on Sunday night and it was fun to watch the Saints play well...especially Devry Henderson, former Tiger, crawling into the endzone.
New pictures are up...from Andy and I's tree, my trip to Macy's and our attempts at taking a Christmas card picture.
Labels: football, vegeenas
SANTA!!
On Friday I continued my holiday activities with a trip to Santaland at Macy's to see the Jolly Old Man himself. Karin, Jenn, and I set out at 9:00 to avoid the long lines and annoying children. I don't really have any memory of seeing Santa when I was a kid. I seem to vaguelly recall some story about me crying hysterically on a Santa visit...maybe my mom can fill in the details. Anyway, Santaland did not dissapoint. We entered through a hallway shaped like train cars with a floor that shook just like a train and made me slightly nauseous. Once we got inside it was a winter wonderland with animatronic bears dancing around, elves, sleds filled with presents, and tons of snow. There was also a really nice model train set up with a winter scene. We blazed through most of Santaland and then came to screeching halt about 10 feet from the actual entrance to Santa then we had to wait for like 45 minutes...and this was getting there right after it opened. Finally it was our turn and the elf led us to one of the six "Santa huts" they have set up. The entrance to each one curls around so the kids can't tell that there's more than one Santa there. So we go in and I tried to sit on the bench next to Santa but he would have none of that...he insisted that I sit on his knee. So there we were..Karin and I each on a knee and Jenn in the middle, sitting on a little box about four inches off the ground.
He asked us what we each wanted..Karin said "a Fendi bag" to which he replied, "oh this one has expensive tastes" I said a new camera, and Jenn said black boots and then Santa said "Well girls, Santa can not bring you everything you want or even everything you need but Santa can bring you a message of peace, love, joy, and hope for the new year." Then he went on with this semi-religious message for about 10 more minutes during which time Karin and I looked at each other uncomfortably, thinking that maybe we had left Macys and accidentally stumbled into Christian right Santaland.
Needless to say we had a great time...followed by looking at the Macy's windows which are really cool this year. I'll have pics up tomorrow plus pictures of our tree at home...in the meantime here's the there of us with Santa...
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Labels: Christmas, NYC sights
currently reading
If you will note, at right, I am currently reading Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer which tries to answer the question of what makes a sports fan a sports fan and why are they all so effing crazy. He tries to answer this question by tailgating with all of the RVers at Alabama football games. The author Warren St.John is a lifelong Alabama fan and even includes a pic of him with Bear Bryant in the introduction. In the beginning, I really liked the book and definitely identified with all of his crazy fan things and the tailgating anecdotes but there's one aspect of the book I can't get past. The guy is an Alabama fan and I hate Alabama. I am sick of hearing about every Alabama game that season. Unfortunately for me the book takes place during Dinardo's last season when we went 3-7, winning our only SEC game against Arkansas with a substitute head coach. I am dreading the chapter about that game. Apparently my fandom runs too deep to get past this and just enjoy the book.
One interesting point he makes in the book is about what nick calls "t-shirt fans"..people who support a football team even though they didn't go to college there. While I think he uses this as a derogatory term, St. John says that most of these fans look down on the alumni as lesser fans because the fans that aren't alumni could have chosen any college in the U.S. to support but they chose THAT team whereas alumni have their team built in. Maybe I'm especially defensive of these fans b/c I was raised by a huge bunch of them. GEAUX TIGERS!!
Thursday nights just aren't the same without The Office.
Labels: books, football
the moment has passed**
Well, the excitement of Christmas has ended for me. Pretty much the same thing happens every year...I get this image of a beautiful apartment in my head, there is a gorgeous tree, delicious smells wafting from the oven, Christmas carols playing, Christmas cards being written...and then at some point it all comes crashing down. Last year it ended with the decorating of the Christmas tree. As previously mentioned, I did most of it, so it looked like shit. This year, the tree decorating went fine, because Andy did the whole thing. The tree looks great. So tonight I tried to whip up a batch of snickerdoodles and they were absolutely disgusting and made an enormous mess. So there goes my perfect Christmas image. Also, Andy has informed me that he is tired of always doing these "little projects" as he calls him so there will be no Christmas cards, there will be no Christmas baked goods, there will be no more decorating...you'll be lucky if I even think about getting gifts. I should've just gone the Mueschke route and not put up a tree. Better yet, just ignored Christmas all together.
Somewhat related...as is widely known, I am terrible with plants. I have something of a "black thumb" Two previous times I have tried to grow narcissus or paperwhites and they've died. Well this time I bought some very close to flowering and I managed to keep them alive so far. This morning I was fixing my lunch and something smelled funny. I kept holding the lettuce from my salad up to my nose to make sure it hadn't gone bad. I couldn't figure out what it was. Then when I got home this afternoon I was not greeted with the lovely smell of my real Christmas tree, instead I was hit with a wave of sickly sweet sour something....the paperwhites. The entire upstairs of the apartment reeks of it. Yuck.
**well 12 hours later, and after further reflection, the above post seems to be a bit of an overreaction. i know, me, overreact? shocking! i have regained approximately 75% of my Christmas spirit and Andy has promised plenty of Christmas fun this weekend so I should be back to 100% shortly
Labels: Christmas
ants in the pants
that's exactly how i feel today...like i am four years old and i have ants in my pants. I can't sit still, i've been shaking my leg all day, fiddling with everything on my desk...even more than my usual fidgeting. It's not like there's anything really special going on, it's just one of those days. We started putting up the tree last night and let me tell you..the lights look about a hundered times better this year since Andy did them. We had planned on finishing last night but once again we didn't have any ornament hooks. Last year we were rednecks and just used paper clips instead. We did get all the non-hook ornaments on though, including the a green one that Andy has dubbed the "Ginornament" because of its size. While most people have problems with their cats getting into their trees, Miss Kitty remained indifferent to the whole process. As you all know I am champion eye-roller and I think I may have passed this on to Miss Kitty. I asked her last night if she wanted to help decorate the tree (yes, I know she's a cat) and I swear she rolled her eyes at me.
In football news, The Vegeenas won again and are in prime position to get one of the two byes in the first round of the playoffs. We just have to win next week and not score less than 60 points below Suspicious Package. I am sure Ladanian will not let me down. Also LSU has accepted an invite to the Sugar Bowl which a lot of fans are disappointed by which is ridiculous. I remember the first year with Dinardo that we went to the Peach Bowl and everyone acted like it was a national championship. Come on, it's a BCS bowl! and we get to kick the crap out of Notre Dame who is my least favorite college football team. LSU fans are getting spoiled. GEAUX TIGERS!!
Labels: Christmas, football, vegeenas
It's beginning to look a lot like.....
This weekend Andy and I were treated to a visit from his parents. We had a great time hanging out, shopping, and eating some great meals. We also picked up our Christmas tree which put me in the super-Christmas spirit. Andy and I are decorating the tree tonight which is always comical. Our tree last year was pretty ugly if you remember from the pictures. My Mom blamed it on the fact that I put the lights on in the wrong direction...bottom to top instead of top to bottom but I'm not sure anything could have saved that tree. I'm also looking forward to doing my holiday shopping and Christmas cards. This will be the first year Andy and I have done cards but I am really excited. I told him that I wanted to write the cards while we listened to Christmas music and drank hot apple cider which caused him to look at me like I had three heads and say "you don't even like apple cider" but then I reminded him that it is delicious with a little whiskey in it. So if the handwriting is a little shaky or your Christmas message is slightly inappropriate you'll know why.
Also, if you aren't watching The Office, you should be ashamed of yourself. I keep thinking that it can't get any funnier but every week, guess what? It's funnier.
Labels: Christmas
My Morning....
JACKET!!! Andy and I went to see them in concert last night and they were FREAKING AWESOME!
I never really think about how short I am until I'm in a crowd like that. There were no seats, just standing room and we were pretty close, probably about the equivalent of being 10 rows back...I was by far the shortest person around me. I felt like I was standing in a hole. I would see someone that I thought was about the same height as me and then realize that it was because they were standing 15 feet away. This is with an extra two or three inches since I was wearing boots. Also, MMJ rocked out for over two hours so my feet were killing me by the end of the night. I made Andy pull my boots off in the cab on the way home they hurt so bad.
Anyway, if you ever have a chance to see them live...DO IT! They had such great energy and the crowd was really into it. When I go to a really good concert I always try to explain why it was so good but I don't think I ever do a very good job of getting the point across. Just trust me. It kicked ass.
The only drawback of the night was the drunk man standing next to me for the first half of the show. He was trashed and apparently thought it he was at a Nirvana concert because he was doing some serious headbanging, then he slipped into air guitar...and not just gentle strumming, he was doing doing the full arm swing, windmill, everything. Also, he needed constant affirmation from Andy and me about how good the show was. Every couple of minutes he would tap one of us and say "This is the best show ever, right?" or "this show kicks serious ass, right" I was starting to think he was one of the band member's Dads.
Labels: concert
