It's Leap Day - so let us go a-leaping...

According to tradition (and Wikipedia, about which Michael Scott declares, " Wikipedia is the best thing ever. Anyone in the world can write anything they want about any subject, so you know you are getting the best possible information"), this is the day for all the ladies to get their "fine specimen":

In the English speaking world, it is a tradition that women may propose marriage only on leap years. Supposedly, a 1288 law by Queen Margaret of Scotland (then age five and living in Norway), required that fines be levied if a marriage proposal was refused by the man; compensation ranged from a kiss to £1 to a silk gown, in order to soften the blow. Because men felt that put them at too great a risk, the tradition was in some places tightened to restricting female proposals to the modern leap day,29 February or to the medieval leap day, 24 February. According to Felten: "A play from the turn of the 17th century, 'The Maydes Metamorphosis,' has it that 'this is leape year/women wear breeches.' A few hundred years later, breeches wouldn't do at all: Women looking to take advantage of their opportunity to pitch woo were expected to wear a scarlet petticoat -- fair warning, if you will."

So, lets all put on our metaphorical scarlet petticoats (And Mammy," his tone was stern but his eyes twinkled, "what's that rustling noise I hear?" "Lawd, Mist' Rhett, dat ain' nuthin but mah red silk petticoat!" Mammy giggled. "Nothing but your petticoat! I don't believe it. You sound like a peck of dried leaves rubbing together. Let me see. Pull up your skirt." "Mist' Rhett, you is bad! Yeah-O, Lawd!" ) and pitch woo!!!!

Winter Wonderland

After yoga yesterday, I walked and walked and walked and here are some pics from my walk and walk and walk...I went from 13th and 7th Ave up to Madison Square Park where they had these funky silver trees that looked liked electricity... then I hopped on the train up to Central Park, bought a turkey sandwich and some coffee and walked around the park until it was time for me to head over to Floating Head's pad where we played The Settler's Game, watched the Oscars, and drank sparkling cider with pizza. Fun times, fun times :-D

This little snow of mine, oh I'm going let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

YAY!!! It's been snowing since like 4 am and it's almost a foot already ... YAY!!! My snowfall has finally arrived - just for me - yes that's right, all this snow is for my enjoyment, although I share the joy with you all ... unfortunately I'm at work, but I have two huge windows so I have the blinds pulled back all the way and I can just watch the lovely winter scene as it unfolds...I woke up at 4:56 am this morning and listened to WFUV since I couldn't get back to sleep and when they told me the flakes had started to fall, I leapt up and out to the kitchen window to sit for awhile and watch it come down in that early morning blue light...thank you, Dear Weather Gods, for this treat ... even though now its more like sleeting, I may just go walk around in the Winter Wonderland ... so can I repeat it again? ... say it with me now, and jump up and down excitedly ...

YAY!!

The Bloody Full Moon of February...

Did you see the full lunar eclipse last night? I did, I could see it right outside my living room window; during each commercial break of Ghost Hunters International I would check to see the different stage it was at - very cool, I have to say! It was sort of cloudy so the viewing wasn't perfect and I didn't really see the "blood" red color it got for some people because of it - I got more of a hazy heather grey color... but bella luna nonetheless!

Culture Club Has Reformed Without Boy George!

And I'm now the lead singer...ha ha... just joshing, y'all..since my recent weekends seem to have involved museums or "culture" of some sort and a food or coffee or beverage component, we - meaning myself, Floating Head and Jany - decided it would be prudent to form an association of sorts to promote the betterment of ourselves via learning about other cultures, societies, eras, religions, etc, either through food or any other means available to us. For instance: we went to the Merchant House Museum which is New York City's only family home preserved intact — inside and out — from the 19th century - this was super cool and I highly recommend it - they are also one the most "haunted" NYC locations and we tried doing EVP work (give me a sign of your presence?) but alas, the spirits were not active. I did smell wood smoke the whole time I was there and Floating Head did not - later on, I read the little book I bought there about the hauntings in the house and that was one of the things that was reported when spirit activity occurred...so maybe something was with us after all.....

This weekend, I went to yoga both days again - I'm so proud of myself for that, so I have to toot my own horn just a bit - toot toot...I have so little self discipline, so I'm pleased that two weeks in a row, I've been a good girl. On Saturday, I met Cousin Megan at Target where I bought super cute spring shoes for only 15 bucks and I can't wait to wear them...Mom, these are like Easter Shoes, remember when we used to buy special Easter Shoes and such? So cute, with ladybugs and flowers... Then we saw In Bruges which we both LOVED - hysterical and bloody and sad and so well acted and well written - we were amazed with Colin Farrell for the first time - normally I think of him as a smelly, STD-riddled icky party boy actor and in this he was so funny and so touching. So we gave it two thumbs up. Sunday was a Culture Club Day. From yoga, we went on to brunch at Agave and then went to the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian - which is free, FYI - and is near Wall Street and in the old US Custom House, which is a beautiful old building all by itself, without the cool exhibits inside. We had some fun sweeping down the spiral staircases pretending to be Scarlett O'Hara's making our debuts into society, to the amusement of the the security guard.

And on Monday, President's Day, I rested. All this culture can wear a person out so I needed to just be At Home for a bit.

What's upcoming, you ask? Why, this weekend, it looks to be Japanese Buddhist Art http://www.shinjoito.com/ - and then dinner at The Orchard. Exciting, non?!

Happy Valentine's Day to All

Though I don't "celebrate" this day in maybe the traditional way, I think I can use it as an excuse to say I love you to all my friends and family and all those who keep me in smiles each day...

this includes:

the Las Vegas and Idaho Contingent of Mommy and Daddy, My dear SS Judy, Snow White and the 3 dwarves,

the Russian mafia teenager in my apt building who rushed to open the door for me last night, despite having a cigarette in hand, when he saw me coming with four bags of groceries,

this includes the ID checker here at work who gave me extra flowers this morning - the other ladies only got ONE, ha ha!,

this is includes all my brunchers and dinnerbuddies and margaritalovers and fellow Colonial Times afficianados,

this includes Vronicle the Mervyllous,

this includes my yoga buddy and NYPS co-founder and the two favorite instructors Michael and Jai,

this includes the lady at the counter in the deli I always go to for lunch who calls me "sweetie"

this includes уверенное кто-то

so for all of these Valentines that I have today, I'm very grateful and lots of love to you all!!

Laissez les bon temps roulez!

So today is Ash Wednesday and that means yesterday was Fat Tuesday...and as they say in New Orleans, laissez les bon temps roulez! Well I already did that this weekend because on Sunday we watched the Giants TOTALLY surprise us with a Superbowl win...who knew Tom Brady would end up sacked or on the ground so much? There were lots of chicken wings and beer followed by jumping up and down and yelling - YAY! I'm not even into football so much, but when I was home at Xmas, I watched the Giants vs. the Patriots with Aunt Judy and got a little into it..and I always felt bad for Eli because so much pressure was on him being Peyton's little brother.On Monday we celebrated Ly's birthday in Colonial Style - keeping the theme from our trip to Historic Jamestown last year. We displayed Colonial Attitude by wearing paper pilgrim bonnets while playing The Settler's Game:

This was my first time playing and as the others predicted, I LOVED IT. It's sort of like Colonial Dungeons and Dragons although not really role playing - unless you'd like to I suppose. Maybe next time, I'll whip up a character. I did insist that we refer to each other as Goody Lozano, Goody Chung, Goody Swarts and Goodman Ngyuen though. Goody Chung won, her settlement turned into a few cities and roads that stretched from coast to coast ... and she had a port and so could acquire many goods. We topped it off with a wonderful baked ziti, courtesy of Goody Lozano and a tiramisu from Goody Chung and a promise to play the game again soon...

After these excesses, I believe that now is the time for being more disciplined and orderly and for giving things up and getting life on track - its also Chinese New Year on Thurday - the Year of the Rat - and a New Moon. So that being said, I think its time for the real New Year to start - a new beginning, a straightening up, all those good things. All those resolutions you made and gave up already - today is the day to begin again. At least for me anyhow.

Here's what I know about the Year of the Rat:

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2008 is a Year of the Rat (Earth), which begins on February 7, 2008 and ends on January 25, 2009. First in the cycle of 12 Animal signs, Rat Year begins the sequence and recurs every twelfth year. It is a time of renewal in so many ways. From New Year to Valentine's Day, to the arrival of spring, may all the blessings and delights of the New Year be yours.
A Rat Year is a time of hard work, activity, and renewal. This is a good year to begin a new job, get married, launch a product or make a fresh start. Ventures begun now may not yield fast returns, but opportunities will come for people who are well prepared and resourceful. The best way for you to succeed is to be patient, let things develop slowly, and make the most of every opening you can find.

Most auspicious! So Happy Year of the Rat, y'all and good luck with whatever you choose to "begin again" today!