But Baby It's Cold Outside...

Well finally, finally, the Winter Man has come to stay... this past week has been perfectly COLD. Not just chilly mind you, but COLD. Raw, blustery, loverly COLD. Just as January should be. I love it. I get to bundle cutely, in my fab new purply scarf and gloves and cute cute hat and I get to shiver and long for a hot coffee or tea because its so COLD and I get to scream "Holy Shit!" as I run from the movie theater to Ollie's as I did on Saturday night. I went with the Chia Pet to see "Volver" with the gorgeous Penelope Cruz - she really is amazing don't you think? - and we had wonton soup with duck at Ollie's to warm us up. Friday: I finally got my couch fixed - finally! I can sit on it like a normal human being ... and I was only supposed to wait until the fixers came and then go in to work, but I woke up with a terrible migraine so I just stayed put and rested and reread The Alchemist instead.

OOOH and Thursday, The Office!!! Jim finally admitted he still has feelings for Pam - BYE BYE KAREN! One of the better episodes lately, right Snow White? I'll be calling you to discuss all the Office events in the next day or two and also to say a happy belated birthday to my Jacob O because I'm a crappy auntie who didn't get a chance to call yet.

And I would be remiss if I did not mention that this Saturday was my parents 39th wedding anniversary...does this mean that next year I can hold a ruby wedding party for them and run into Mark Darcy, a la Bridget Jones? And stick my foot in mouth just like her of course but end up with the guy anyway ... stranger things have happened...(see I watched that movie for the millioneth time on Friday so I'm just reliving all those lovely Colin Firth moments, although he makes your toes curl the best in Pride and Prejudice - much more sullen and dour in an appealing way).

Bushism of the Day

I got this calendar for my birthday and I finally get to use it...one on my faves is today's quote from that Braniac George W.:

"Will the highways on the Internet become more few?" Concord, New Hampshire, January 29, 2000

It's really so embarassing, isn't it? It's just pathetic...someone wake me when its over...

P.S. NEW OBSESSION: Thai Chili Sauce - steam or stir fry veggies and glop this on top - OMG - it's out of this world yummy...

Also, I forgot to mention: while Floating Head and I were in Philadelphia, A Mug Was Purchased. Yippee!!

In the Ladies Room...

Someone posted a big sign in the ladies room here at work (after adding some flowers and lotions and other girlie items):

"Ladies!
Let's keep it real,
Let's keep it clean."

This will now replace the previous Ladies Room sign which made me giggle:

"If you sprinkle when you tinkle
Please be neat and wipe the seat!"

Colonial Good Times!

So here are some pix of my day-long adventure in Philly! We were enjoying a hot beverage and a trolley tour by 12:30 and after 90 minutes, we walked all over the city - from the Liberty Bell to Ben Franklin's grave to the Old City and Betsy Ross' house - turns out SHE was an incredible lady - she did a lot more than just create our flag - all the way to Penn's Landing and South Street and then back to the very tavern where Ben Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams used to hang out and discuss things - wouldn't Vox like to have been privy to their conversation? I'm sure he would have had a lot in common...hee hee, I'm picturing Vox in stockings and short pants and a powdered wig right now...

Floating Head was "powered up" and ready to fight crime...or just get on the bus to Philadelphia

Elfreth's Alley, the oldest residential block in the country - this was super cool and very quaint and we both decided that we should live there because of its super cuteness

this is a "busybody" and it was invented by the Dutch in the 17th century to see who was at the front door - mostly they were scared of the taxman, since the Brits taxed them on everything - the number of windows, the number of exposed walls, etc...

aw! a purple house on Elfreth's Alley for ME!!!

Just thought this was funny - this space not yet dedicated - maybe someday!
The Liberty Bell, complete with noted crack

Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was discussed and signed
Ben Franklin's grave (along with wife Deborah); people throw pennies on it in honor of his saying "a penny earned is a penny saved" and also for luck; also, the historical society collects it and makes several thousands which go to the preservation of the cemetary

You can't really see this, but this is the tavern we ate a very yummy dinner in - I had Lobster Pie and the staff all wears authentic colonial clothing and you are served with pewter goblets and old-fashioned utensils..needless to say, we were stuffed after this treat so we decided to nix the cheesesteak and come back another time because we have a whole list of things we didn't have time to check out. Turns out 2 days in Philly would just about do it...

Cheers to you, Floating Head! It was a wonderful adventure and I look forward to our next journey (even if it's just doing the NYC history stuff)!

You're the Funny Little Frog in My Throat

Tonight I'm off to Spain - the restaurant, not the country - to have some sangria and paella and then tomorrow I shall meet up with the Stanley's who are no longer of Jackson Heights but will be in the neighborhood for a visit...and then Sunday, it's up bright and early to have a "good breakfast" with Floating Head before we head down to Chinatown to catch the bus to....

PHILADELPHIA!

Yes, I'm taking a super cool daytrip where I can guarantee there will be yet another shot of Floating Head in Colonial Pose - perhaps near the Liberty Bell? We are taking a Historic Trolley Tour and want to walk around all the historical spots and share a REAL Philly Cheese Steak... I used to go to Philly all the time in my old job, but I never got to sightsee much - we went to the Big Market there and would walk around a bit but that's it... so I'm excited...I always feel a bit let down on long weekends when I have nothing to do, so I'm happy that Floating Head is always up for an adventure with me - she's good like that.

Now: I was sitting here listening to my radio at work and a Belle and Sebastian song was on - "Another Sunny Day" - when Vox emails me " Have you ever heard the song "Funny Little Frog", by Belle & Sebastian? I just heard the song, thought it was cute." - and that song is from the very album I'm listening to!!! So I immediately started the song and looked up the lyrics and guess what? It's an awesome song - isn't it?:

Honey lovin you is the greatest thing
I get to be myself and I get to sing
I get to play at being irresponsible
I come home late at night and I love your soul
I never forget you in my prayers
I never have a bad thing to report
You’re my picture on the wall
You’re my vision in the hall
You’re the one I’m talking to
When I get in from my work
You are my girl, and you don’t even know it
I am livin out the life of a poet
I am the jester in the ancient court
You’re the funny little frog in my throat

I had a conversation with you at night
It’s a little one sided but that’s allright
I tell you in the kitchen about my day
You sit on the bed in the dark changing places
With the ghost that was there before you came
You’ve come to save my life again
I don’t dare to touch your hand
I don’t dare to think of youIn a physical way
And I don’t know how you smell
You are the cover of my magazine
You’re my fashion tip, a living museum
I’d pay to visit you on rainy Sundays
I’ll maybe tell you all about it someday

I love little quirky incidents like these that happen for no reason but that seem to be a sign of synchonicity - because the other thing that Vox doesn't know is that I had just said in my head "right now a song is going to come on the radio that is going to make me smile" - and lo and behold, he sends me an email instructing me to play this song - ha!

The Cemetary

While the 3 Sisters were all together, we decided to go to the cemetary while I was home so that we could bury some of the ashes of my Uncle Jeff, who passed away last year, by the grave of my grandmother (his mother) and some of my grandfather is there as well.

Some Pics

Is this Kevin Federline and Britney Spears or My Mom and Aunt Judy? You Decide!

Steady, steady, steady, steady going nowhere...

"My method is uncertain, it's a mess, but it's working..."

In my head, the whole day long, has been the Fiona Apple song "Please Please Please".... why? Because I like it - the plea to keep things the same just because you are used to it and it's easy and familar. Well, that is the ANTI-sentiment for 2007...so I'm singing it in my head over and over to remind myself to not keep things steady, to wish for rocky moments at sea, to not let Life Stuff scare you...and here are the lyrics just in case you are wondering what in the heck I'm talking about:

No more maladies
I'm so tired of crying
You'd think I was a siren
But me and everybody's on the sad same team and
You can hear our sad brain screaming
Give us something familiar
Something similar
To what we know already
That will keep us steady
Steady, steady, steady, steady
Steady going nowhere

Please please please
No apologies
At best they buy you time
Until you next step out of line
Please please please
No more remedies
My method is uncertain
It's a mess but it's working
And maybe if you want to try it out
You won't like it when you're crying out
Give me something familiar
Somethin' similar
To what we know already
That will keep us steady
Steady, steady
Steady going nowhere

Hurrah for Chuckles!

So I'm back from vacation as of yesterday and before I post anything else, let me share something really cool that happened to my Dad. While I was home, he retired (well semi - he plans to start working a bit later on this year so he doesn't get murdered by my mother due to annoyance factors - hee hee). So we in the family pretty much think he's an awesome guy, but for people not related to him to think highly enough of him to call the newspaper and tell them to do a story on the guy, that's pretty cool!

So my dad gave an interview to the reporter, then the reporter and a photographer came to the "good-bye" party at the bar and VOILA! Front page of the Nevada section of the Las Vegas Review-Journal!! Check out the "consumate storyteller" here:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Dec-27-Wed-2006/news/11640866.html