Circus!

On Saturday, after the garage sale, Miss B. and I headed into the city to join our friends David, Emily and Max at the Big Apple Circus!!

Maclaren Recall

FYI Moms and Dads out there: Maclaren is recalling all of its umbrella-style strollers that it has sold in the US since 1990. Click here for the MSNBC article with details. Apparently, you will receive some sort of cover for the side hinges in the umbrella mechanism which can cause harm to children's fingers... this is with reference to the Triumph, Volo, Quest, etc.

Garage Sale!!

Today we had a garage sale! Which basically meant that we wanted to try and get rid of a lot of moldy crap that had been filling up the storage room off the garage. (Let's not also forget the multiple boxes of stuff left over from our kitchen remodel)...

My ad had said 9-1pm so I headed out a few minutes before 9 to get set up. As I open the garage door, two women barge right in! (This is, after all, the nature of the "early bird-ers" who get up at the crack of dawn to be the first people at the sale)... I barely had the chance to move my car off to the side out of the driveway and begin moving goodies out of the garage onto the driveway before I started making sales.

Ovwerall I only netted about $70 but, it was $70 in exchange for pure crap, so I'm happy. The best victory of the day? The man who paid me fifty cents for five gallons of paint (previously opened) which was at least 4 years old. I was going to have to wait for County Haz-Mat disposal day to get rid of them, but instead, this guy hauled them off and gave me money for it! How cool is that?

I also met my neighbor from down the street (and his Puggle, Enzo). Yes, Virginia, there are Puggles.

I had three women visit (one was a repeat customer from last year's garage sale) who bought a bunch of things and also had a fun conversation with me about our Ghost, Anna.

Then there was the Filipino woman from down the street who just kept buying things (much to her Husband's dismay). Just when she would close up her change purse and put her latest finds in a tote bag, she would look in another box and find something else she liked.

Then there was the Mexican gentleman who not only bought an old remote control (for a quarter).... god knows what it was for, and really, does he have the same item at home? Probably not... but he also went away with a Martha Stewart Entertaining book. Random!

Finally, towards the end of the day, the Husband had to go to the office and Miss B. and I had to get ready for our trip to the circus. So, I closed up the garage door and put up the following sign:



Ironically, later on in the day I did find a quarter on our front stoop! (Who knows what was taken, but apparently, the honor system can work!

Finally, before Miss B. and I left for the circus I sorted out the remaining items into the (x) Lupus Foundation donation pile and (y) the curb. The Husband got home a few minutes after we left and someone actually pulled something off of the curb and paid him $1 for it.

Then, today, much to our shock and dismay the garbage men actually took away the rest of the stuff that we had put out as trash (this is a big deal because usually they give us an attitude about actually taking garbage in bags in our cans, let alone loose stuff in cardboard boxes!)

Overall? Success!

I Just Have To Say

I love TV5 Monde. We're watching On N'est pas Couche and there was this guy on for like 30 second who looked so familiar.... who is he? A French Comedian... where had we seen him? He's one of the Gendarmes from National Treasure: Book of Secrets. How random is that?

What to Watch...

Today's New York Times had the following headlines: "What to Watch Thursday:
Housewives and an IKEA Field Trip". I have to say I was a bit disappointed when I realized that it wasn't the Housewives who were going to IKEA.

The Shore, Storm King and the Yanks

So we've had a few adventures over the past two days....



















Yesterday, after lunch, Miss B. announced that she wanted to go to the Beach. So to the beach we went.
















We event went so far as to visit Sandy Hook!




















Then, today we ventured beyond Jersey up to the Hudson Valley to visit the Storm King Arts Center with Melanie and Andrew!










It's a really impressive facility, however, like most things in Upstate, the weather isn't always cooperative.


As soon as we started picnic-ing, the sun went behind the clouds and stayed there until closing time.


But Miss B. had fun anyway.... and got an Alexander Calder stickerbook too boot. How cool is that?





After Storm King we also hit up the Woodbury Commons outlet mall. I mean, after all, we were in the neighborhood!




Finally, congrats to the Yankees! Sure, this is something like their 5 billionth world series win, but regardless that just never gets old!

Governor-Schmovernor

So, to quote a fellow New Jerseyan from this MSNBC article: "I voted for Chris Christie because he isn't Jon Corzine."

Let the revitalization of New Jersey's economy via trips to Dunkin Donuts and IHOP begin!

More from the Annals of People With Too Much Time on Their Hands

The Wagon was finally returned to us today, from it's exile in Levittown, PA where BMW had sent it (unbeknownst to me) to be fixed. Thankfully, they flat-bedded it there and back (or so they said), but it did arrive, in front of our house, this afternoon on a flatbed. Then, seemingly as an attempt to make-up for the fact that they had taken the Wagon to Pennsylvania, it appeared that it had been detailed while it was gone. HOORAY!!!!!!! While the detailing was not a 100% job (Why does there appear to be some sort of coffee-grind-ish substance in one of my cupholders? and they didn't even attempt to clean out the cargo space....) it was thoroughly and completely vacuumed, dashboard wiped down, exterior detailed and tires shined. That's a $199 value to you and me. (or at least a $99 savings since that was what I had planned to pay them to detail the interior anyway).

After the wagon was returned Miss B. and I went to the Crate and Barrel outlet looking for an end table for the family room. Instead we left with a Type A personality's dream: A plastic storage box (and we also got three Christmas ornaments and two Christmas box/basket-y things for gift giving). Yes, I'm always in all my glory when I get to put things in plastic storage tubs and today's tub has been filled with Halloween decorations (to hopefully be reused again at a Halloween Fete next year).

After that we hit up McCaffrey's (only because it was on the way home) and got some foodstuffs in preparation for the Junior Leaguers who were coming over to discuss potential ideas for our provisional class project.

Upon making it home, I made Pizza Bagels for Miss B., participated in a conference call for my pro bono case, made two quiches and a dozen blueberry muffins. I also managed to repurpose an end table that we had bought years ago at Pottery Barn. It had been sitting, sullenly, behind the piano for no good reason. (Mostly because it was really too tall to properly sit adjacent to any of our sofas.... that is until I realized it was just the right height for our PB sectional!) It fit there, and I was hopeful that our small table lamp would fit (which it did) but then sadly, it turns out the lightbulb that I bought was the wrong size so it blew out immediately. Who knew there was more than one size of just "regular" light bulb. If it's that standard bulb shape with a standard (i.e. Type "A" base) I just figured they were all the same size. Apparently, I was wrong.

The ladies arrived at 7:15 and Miss B. helped to entertain us all (and she handed out left-over Halloween candy) until the Husband got home a short while later. Our meeting wrapped up at 8:30 and then the Husband and I tag-teamed Miss B. at sleepytime. Once our sleepytime events were completed it was on to making burgers and fries because nothing says healthy living like seared cow flesh after 9pm.

Then we cleaned up the kitchen (during the process of which I uncovered one of my decoupaging books which will of course, likely spur another fit of useless crafting). Just hopefully that fit of useless crafting won't be tonight.

Opera!

Happy Halloween! And an anniversary shout-out to the Mom and Dad! Happy (gasp!) 39th Anniversary!

Today our family celebrated Halloween by going to a matinee performance at the Metropolitan Opera!

What can I say, I'm a geek. Back in college I would listen to the Saturday afternoon Opera simulcasts while doing schoolwork... (nothing says brain food like bad take out from the Ivy Room followed by opera!)...

So we headed out first to brunch at the Grand Tier Restaurant (how cool is it that you get to cut ahead of the ticket holders and go up the Grand Staircase before the auditorium opens!). It was really good-- we got a prix fixe menu including butternut squash soup (with truffle oil and toasted pumpkin seeds) followed by fancy eggs florentine/benedict for me and a scrambled eggs with salmon and salmon roe tower for the Husband. We also got asiago and rosemary roasted potatoes and Miss Sophie shared!

Since it was Halloween, and since we were opera-going Miss B. had to have a sophisticated costume. Earlier this summer I had found this very cool very faux-Chanel jacket at the Gap. I made a hand knit/felted camelia flower pin and scored some great costume jewlery at the Monmouth County ASPCA Thrift Shop. Finishing off the look was black sailor type pants from Old Navy that I sewed gold buttons onto. Miss B. looked fab as a lady who lunches and she got *tons* of compliments!

On to the opera itself! We sat in a box in the dress circle which was really cool-- there are four chairs in the box, so we got room to spread out and you can move your seats around. It was a great space to have with Miss B.

The performance was great (especially since many of the movements of the opera are standard Looney-Tunes fare so they're not only entertaining but also familiar!) and we had a really nice time.

That is, right up until the very, very end when Cynthia, "Usher 11" literally ushered us out of the auditorium-- even going so far as to get extremely rude with the handicapped woman who was sitting next to us in Box 9! The woman needed two canes to move around and here's Cynthia yelling that "you must leave the auditorium immediately!" Geesh! It's not like the place is on fire, we were taking our time, not setting up camp!

ANYWAY. After that we headed out to the fountain at Lincoln Center to wrap up our day!

Real Time at the Met

The opera that is. So far, we're doing great!

Crafts.... end results

Here is the "Boo!" Banner that I made the other night (out of four hideous orange napkins that I got at the VNA Rummage Sale.... )







And lots of ghosts made out of left over fleece!

Tonight's Craft

Because we can't even go one frickin evening without crafting.

Tonight we're sewing on gold buttons to embellish a pair of black pants for Miss B. to wear tomorrow to the Opera. Pictures to follow!

What Did We Do Today?

8am-- physical therapy. (I was a bit loopy from lack of sleep... what else is new). Forgot my wallet, had to sneak back into the house (so as not to wake the baby) by emailing the Husband (who luckily for me... unluckily for him) was awake and on the computer doing work.

11am-- Music Class!

12pm-- Post Office

12:15pm Leave Post Office, realizing wallet is in car.

Then we went to Panera and met up with the Husband for lunch (note: Miss B.'s bagel sailed off our tray and hit the deck. Husband had to come to the rescue when he arrived and buy second bagel-- couldn't risk having to carry tray around anymore to go back and get it myself (i.e. try balancing a drink, sippy cup, salad, soup and hand-holding toddler... you get the picture).

Then we went to the Post Office. Again. (This time, with money). Helped older woman figure out how to use the APC while awaiting Postal Employee to come and empty the APC Receptacle.

Then: Whole Foods. Pumpkins. Need we say more?

Then: Wegman's. Party Food. Pigs in Blankets, apples with caramel dip, yada, yada, yada.

Then: Home and trying to reorganize shelving unit while simultaneously keeping Miss B. occupied and making Tuscan White Bean Soup.

Then: Bathe baby, shower, eat dinner.

Then: Make a midnight run (okay, an 8pm run) to Party Fair to get helium for party balloons. Party Fair is your Halloween Headquarters.

Then: Home to get baby ready for sleepy time.

Then: make cupcakes, straighten lower level/party level, decorate (who knew one needs a talent for using fake spider webbing?) How often is it that you find yourself tieing fleece ghosts to trees in your front yard at 11pm?

Yeah. I need sleep.

New Bumper, Get My Car Fixed, It's Your Birthday!

So, I've been driving around town (somewhat stealthily to not be noticed) in the bright cherry red HHR for the past two days. Ugh. I called up BMW this morning and left a message for John in the Body Shop to check on the status of the wagon.

I got a call back this afternoon and what ho! $300.99 from Geico to "repair" my bumper? Yeah. Let's call in a supplement people. Turns out that once BMW got the bumper cover off of the car they realized that it was too damaged to be repaired. (YES!) So much for that "adjuster" who basically tried to tell me that my car was a) a piece of crap and b) I shouldn't be bothered by the "scratch" that was on the bumper cover. And let's not forget about her supervisor who wanted to convince me that bumpers serve no actual purpose-- they're purely decorative.

ANYWAY. Thanks to the folks at BMW who took the time to actually look at my car and make a reasonable determination. Even bigger kudos to them for dealing directly with Geico, so I didn't have to get into an argument with anyone!

They think that the wagon may be ready tomorrow, or if not then, Friday. Then it's on to take it into the actual service department to confirm that there was no other actual damage from the accident (i.e. alignment, etc.)

Oh, and further on the complaint front, can I just say? The top speed of the HHR is totally like 60. Anything above that and I swear it starts to shimmy.

Rosa Mexicano!

Love it! Miss B. and I went to Rosa Mexicano in Hackensack the other night for dinner-- it was really cool and we had a great time!

Then we hit up The Shops at Riverside Square. While their vacancy rate seemed disturbingly high, the mix of remaining shops was really nice. There's a Bloomingdale's and a Saks as anchors and then there's Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Wolford, J. Crew, Gap/GapKids/BabyGap, Hannah Andersson, Petite Bateau, etc., etc. and great restaurants including a Houston's!

Speaking of shopping, am I the only one who is totally excited about the upcoming Stella McCartney line for GapKids? I saw giant ads for it above the Lincoln Tunnel last week and am counting down the days until it unveils!

Transformers 2

Okay, this is like one of the worst movies we've seen in a while. So many technical inconsistencies it's amazing. But the
Obama swipe was pretty unexpected (and funny). Ps. the Husband just exclaimed: "That's not Orion's Belt!" (ah, the technical inaccuracies continue).... to quote Husband again: "WTF?"

Let's all brush up on our Graham Hancock, shall we?

No One Expects The Spanish Inquisition!

So, I've twice caught parts of "Almost the Truth" the Monty Python documentary that's been airing this week on IFC. In addition to that, I was watching part of Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl the other night and tonight's feature is Life of Brian. I want to like the Pythons and certainly many of their sketches are very funny, but I just can't get into this movie.

More From the "Why?" Files

While on our way to Music Class the other day we were walking in the plaza by the Library. It was a beautiful day, with a blue sky and high, wispy clouds.

Miss B. says: "What happened to the clouds?"

I say: "Sometimes the clouds are different shapes depending on where they are located in the atmosphere, and based on their density."

Miss B.: "Oh, right, right." (As if to say, very authoritatively, "of course!" As if she was a student of meteorology who had only momentarily forgotten the answer to her own question.)

It was cute. I guess you had to be there.

Why Not?

Many toddlers go through the "why" stage. For us we've hit the "why not" stage.

So, yesterday Miss B. and I were in the car and she was accompanied in the back seat by her life-sized Ernie doll. Ernie's got on his usual horizontal striped shirt, crazy hair, jeans and shoes.

Miss B. states: "I want take off Ernie's Shoes!"

Me: "You can't take off Ernie's shoes."

Miss B.: "Why not?"

Me: "They're sewn on!"

Miss B.: "I need scissors."

Yes, she wanted to cut off Ernie's shoes. Clearly, she's a determined problem solver.

Go Blow Your Nose!

Check this out! While the Mom and Dad were visiting, the Dad got me some really neat books at B&N, including Lexie Barnes' Sew What Bags. So, tonight, after repairing one of our sectional cushions (to paraphrase Charlton Heston: "Damn, you, Pottery Barn! Damn you to Hell!!!"....**), I used some really neat fabric scraps that I had from the quilt shop and made this:



A tissue pack holder!
It's perfect for cold and flu season, and a nice way to keep tissues in your purse or briefcase!













And it was totally simple to make!! Woo-hoo! This has "stocking stuffer" written all over it. Beware friends and relatives, you may be getting a tissue holder this holiday season.




















** Re: our Pottery Barn Issue... god forbid one washes the cushion covers, lest the zippers may come dis-attached to the actual cushion. I guess I should have known to have the cushion cover zipped during the washing process? Who knew. But, it was an easy enough repair, though I would have preferred to have spent the same fifteen minutes not repairing my couch cusions and instead doing something more fun!

A Lot of Activity!

So, sorry for the delay in posting and just lack of posts in general. Turns out October has been one busy month!

I finally joined my local Junior League and am really excited about all of the fun things to come on that front. Each year the "provisional" class of new members gets to select a provisional class project (in past years projects have included building a garden next to a local school, doing improvement work at another school, creating an annual holiday party event for local underprivileged families, etc.). At our next meeting we're going to begin the process of researching project ideas with the plan of implementing and completing our project by April. In April and May the League hosts a designer show house (which is their largest fundraising event) so there looks like there will be a lot of work to do to prepare for that-- all of which should be a lot of fun!) So far everyone I've met has been super friendly and very excited about what is in store. In addition to that, I've started taking guitar lessons through our local Music Together program. You may recall that some years ago the Husband bought me a guitar for my birthday and after a failed attempt at previous lessons said guitar had been sitting in Miss B.'s closet, falling out of tune. I had seen that Music Together has a new class for parents and though it would be fun, especially since the teacher is one that we know from when Miss B. was enrolled in the babies class. I figure start small-- I may have absolutely no talent for musical instruments whatsoever, but I figure if I can at least master children's songs I'll have some hope. (Not to mention that after my 8 week course, I can take a stab at doing birthday parties! Woo-hoo! ;) Just kidding.

Then, as if those two things weren't enough, I'm also a team member providing pro bono legal assistance to a woman from Guinea who is seeking asylum status from the INS. Can I tell you, practicing in real estate I really don't usually have much call for doing research and writing persuasive legal memorandum. Working on this matter is really bringing me back to my law school days and I'm very happy to be working with a team of folks who are litigators and who have been through the asylum process before. We expect to file our paperwork next month, with the hope of obtaining an interview for our client early next year. I'll keep you posted as to whether we are successful!

Now we're also doing planning for a big Halloween Party for Miss B. and her friends! I'm looking forward to seeing everybody, especially in costume! As a funny aside to party planning I was telling the Husband about how I read in one of my magazines Halloween party tips from Tori Spelling. Tori (or her people) recommend buying one of those plastic cauldrons and filling it with juice boxes. I liked this idea, but the Husband said that we should take it one step further and put dry ice in the cauldron.** Actually, what he said was: "We should find some place that sells dry ice." Leave it to me: I was able to tell him exactly where on Route 1 you can buy dry ice. (Why do I know this? Because I have a knack for retaining stupid information and have been driving past the dry ice place since 2004 and have a visual image in my head of their sign that advertises "dry ice") Now, I'd really be my mother's daughter if not only did I know where to buy it, but I also had a coupon for it.

** Please note that we do know that you can't have the dry ice anywhere near where kids could possibly touch it. Don't worry. We're not complete idiots.

Fabulous Giveaway at Nouveau Stitch!

Our dear friend Ellen at Nouveau Stitch is having the neatest giveaway! She has handcrafted a whole galaxy of gorgeous throwpillows and is going to give away one of her beautiful creations! Do check it out and spend some time reviewing Ellen's past posts as well so you can see all of her lovely handiwork! You'll recall earlier this summer Ellen made an amazing dress and a selection of coordinating hairbows for Miss B.-- Thanks again, Ellen!!!

File Under "People Will Buy Anything"

there's a listing for 61 pounds of buttons at Shopgoodwill.com

Wowzer!

The Mom and I went out today to go to some Open Houses (because we're nosy). We had fun driving around and at one Open House we even got free apple cider donuts from Terhune Orchards. Then we went to Barnes and Noble and Whole Foods.... then when we're on the way from WF to Best Buy, I'm stopped at a traffic light, looking to see if I can make a right hand turn and BOOM! We're rear-ended. I had seen the person who hit us-- they had been driving erratically and I had made sure to pass them (as we were on a two lane road and I was concerned that they might veer into my lane or otherwise cause some sort of accident in front of me-- It didn't even cross my mind that they'd end up behind me and then hitting me!

Unfortunately, now I feel like this partner I used to work with who couldn't move his neck-- he would always have to move his whole body. Argh. Heading to the doctor tomorrow and sending the Wagon for a check-up too.

A Steady Rain!

What a fun night!

Things started once I met up with the Husband at Nobu 57. We picked out quite a few fun items off the menu, including the little Nobu tacos.... All I can say is that they were *good*!! We got one lobster and one king crab taco. Then came the Miso soup and salad that came with the sashimi dinner. Personally, I'm not a fan of miso soup... that was until I tried Nobu's miso soup. Now I understand why people eat this stuff! After that came our rock shrimp tempura with spicy sauce and grilled octopus. Then the sashimi dinner arrived, with spicy big eye tuna roll.
Here's a picture of what we left behind. (Aka little to nothing). It was terrific!

After dinner we headed over to the Schonfeld Theater for A Steady Rain with Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman. We got there at about 10 to 8pm and the line was two theaters past our own! We were lining up all the way to Shubert Alley!

As we headed in, the Husband spotted Frank Gifford, and of course, where there's Frank, there's Kathy Lee.
Once inside, the play started promptly and it was Fantastic!!!!!!! It was an hour and a half with no intermission and the guys did fabulously. As noted below, I am usually a theater figiter, but not tonight (let's not discuss that the also-aforementioned suede pants kind of stuck like velcro to the velour theater seats, so I really couldn't move much anyway...) but I was rivited! The dialogue had its funny moments, drama and at one point the audience even gasped.

This week's New York Magazine review of the show tagged it as standard police drama fare. While some of the twists and turns in the plot may have been a little over the top, I thought the staging of the play and the acting by far made up for any plot contrivances. If you have the chance to see it, I highly recommend it! Yay! Great birthday evening out!

I'm On My Way!

Tonight's big adventure is a pre-Birthday Birthday dinner at Nobu 57 and A Steady Rain on Broadway! I'm taking the train in (currently we're at Newark Liberty Airport) and I'm meeting up with the Husband. Thanks and a big shout out to the Mom and Dad who are spending the evening with Miss B!

I'm looking forward to seeing James Bond and Wolverine stretch their acting chops right before our eyes (even if Daniel Craig's mustache is a little too Chicago-cop-authentic for). But, on a side note I am a bit worried. I've heard all the cell-phone hullabaloo surrounding this particular production. I'm not so much concerned that I might ring mid show, but I am sporting a pair of Suede Prada pants whose lining has a tendency to make a crinkling sound when I move. I'm a natural theater fidgeter so who knows how loud my pants will be during moments of key drama....

Whatever happens, I'll try not to invoke levels of Ralph Fiennes-like rage (like I did when Ana and I saw "Faith Healer")... I promise, I won't take any pictures! (At least not while they're acting!)

Rummage!

On Sunday, Miss B., the Mom and Dad and I hit up the Visiting Nurse Service of Somerset County's Annual Fall Rummage Sale at the fairgrounds in Far Hills, NJ. The sale is held twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring and is billed as 75,000square feet of goodies. On Sunday the sale is only open from 12:30-3:30 and we got there about 2pm. When we arrived, there were lines outside many of the tents (such as the "Vintage" tent, the "Notions/Costumes" tent, etc., etc. The sale is organized into a number of different categories, though, many items seem to bridge the gap between categories. My favorite tent, by far, was "Dry Goods". The Dry Goods tent included knitting yarn, needlepoint and all sorts of yarn-based and needlepoint type crafts, fabric and then bedding/tablecloths/napkins, etc., etc. Friday and Saturday things are as marked, but on Sunday, many of the Tents are either "half-price" (as was the case in the Book tent) or, even better, $10 per grocery bag, or $25 per garbage bag. Let me tell you, you can get a *lot* of stuff into a grocery bag. I have to take pictures of all of the needlepoint that I got, and napkins, and yarn.

Then the Mom and I hit up the "housewares" tent and got a $10 bag which included multitudes of cool vintage sandwich-plate sized china, mugs, quiche pans, ceramic molds, a Homer Laughlin gravy boat, a salt cellar, two pitchers, two vintage dinner plates.

I got a bazillion great books (including a first edition copy of William Manchester's "The Death of a President"-- which was recently the subject of an article in Vanity Fair). Books were half price, but I got more than a $10 bag's worth for a whopping $9.

Then we hit up the "Vintage" tent. There Mom got a plaid Blazer, I got a vintage camel hair coat, I got two hats (including a 1950's Mink hat from Lord & Taylor, with the original sales slip and hat box), 1950's sunglasses, a Princeton University ashtray, an Aligator handbag (made in France), a beaded handbag (made in Italy), another vintage hat, etc., etc. Our finds in the Vintage tent (including a giant vintage Detecto Infant Scale) for a total of $29. (Yes, that included the Mink hat!)

The atmosphere was a bit crazy, but I think it was worth it. Adrenaline was high, but it was bargains galore!

Long Time. No Posts

So, sorry about the dearth of posts lately. It was a bit of a wacky week. On Monday, Miss B. fell off of the couch and bumped her head. As this was the same spot on her dome which had the previous week also gotten a bump, after a run-based fall in the hallway. That resulted in a trip to the Emergency Room. (No worries, though, all's well). Then, Wednesday we ventured into the city and had another whirwind day. We met with Dave, Em, Max and our friend Eric for lunch at 40 Carrots in Bloomingdale's. Eric was in town from California on business and he was quick to point out that it had been a long 14 years since our hijinks back in college... Dave, Eric and I all lived on the same floor (which was a very small floor) during college. I was equally quick to point out that we didn't need to remind ourselves that it was 14 years!?!

After lunch, Miss B. and I did some photo shoots for the up-coming Sophie 2010 calendar. We walked from Bloomies to the Calder at 57th and Madison (running across Joan Rivers along the way). The we walked from the Calder to the Met (stopping near Barney's for a hot dog, or two). Then we walked around the Met (having goldfish crackers, surreptitiously, while perusing the Modern Art wing). Then we walked from the Met to the Guggenheim. Then, after the Guggenheim we had an ice cream sandwich, while sitting on a bench out in front of the Gugg. Then we walked back down Madison (stopping at Serafina on 79th street for a panini and a biscotti). Then Miss B. finally fell asleep, during which time I went to Tiffany's to buy a birthday present for the Mom. Then finally, it was back to the garage and a drive home.

After all of that, is it any wonder that Miss B. caught a cold? More specifically, croup. Yup, that night she awoke sounding really scary with a seal-like cough and wheezing. The next day we went to the doctor and croup was confirmed. Egads! But she is doing much better. Though of course, now I have a cold. (All of that after already having gotten my flu shot!) Geesh.

Anyhoo, now the Mom and Dad have arrived and will be visiting through the 14th. I'm sure we'll have adventures to tell.

Today we hit up the Princeton Library Book Sale and tomorrow we're going to the VNA Rummage Sale in Far Hills!

Green Market: "Cooking in the Moment" at the Institute for Culinary Education!

On Saturday I went with Mel and Leda to the ICE's class "Cooking in the Moment". First we started with a tour of the Union Square Green Market and then we finished by bringing all of our goodies back to the ICE and preparing lunch.


All of the different veggies, meats, cheese and bakery products at the Green Market are really amazing!
















They even have hand-dyed yarn!





















We used some of these mini eggplant in our meal...
Here is our instructor, Richard, picking out a sugar pumpkin. We used that for our dessert and for a pumpkin seed salsa which was served over fresh sea bass.

Ess-a-Bagel!

So we've just come from Max's birthday (great party!!! Thanks, Dave and Em!!!) And now we're in line at Ess-a-Bagel. It is PACKED! But worth it.

Real Time Blogging

So, I'm on the train heading in to the City to meet Leda and Mel for a course at the Institute for Culinary Education (Yay!)

I've got to be at Union Square by 9am, which means I'm on the train. A train that left P-town at 7:15 on the dot. (Well, make that shortly after 7:15, as I was semi-sprinting from the pay-parking machine while also attempting to hit the remote lock button on the wagon.) Thanfully, the conductor had a heart. I only had to run past two train cars and half-way down the stairs from the platform before I got the reassuring light blink and beep signifying a locked car. Note to BMW of America-- can't we get the blink and beep whenever one is in range, even if the car *is* locked? It turns out I had been locked, but I could only get a visual/auditory confirm by unlocking and re-locking.

Other note: the lighting is so much less harsh on Amtrak. I guess Amtrak figures the liklihood of a mugging on board is significantly less, so they can afford earlý morning mood lighting, but come on NJ Transit, its like a lightbulb testing facility in here, even with sunglasses on.
At least its a double-decker. Woo-hoo!

More to come later! Ps the next station stop is Metuchen.

Take a Little Time to Enjoy Your View

Today, while I was getting Miss B. dressed we had on The View.

The ladies were talking about "happiness" and some survey or other.

They kept saying "happy" and "happiness" and finally Miss B. shakes her hands at the TV and says: "Happy Day, People!"

You see, one of her favorite Caillou episodes includes a little song feature called "Happy Day" and Miss B. has been known to dance around saying: "It's a Happy Day, a Happy Day, it's a Happy Day".

Apparently, she wanted to add her own view to The View.

Not Another Craft!

Because I have so much free time.... I was at Michael's yesterday and I was looking through the bead aisle and saw these neat little cloisonne beads.

Now, mind you, I'm sure for people who really bead and jewelry make you will be mortified that I bought materials at Michaels... but it wasn't bad for a first start!

Not to mention that I finally found a good use for my Villeroy & Boch monkey trinket plate...

Not bad for a first try and even better that the materials can be stored in a small ziplock bag (because at this point I don't have room for crafts that take up more space!)

Really?

Today we went to Michael's to have a picture framed. I bring it over to the "framer" and ask to have it dry-mounted.

I'm advised that they "really don't like to drymount anything that's not replaceable."

I get their idea, but I know the artist and she can make these things all day.

In fact, she was right there with me.

It was a marker-drawn scribble on newsprint made by Miss B.

Something's telling me it will liklely last longer for posterity if it is dry mounted and framed, no?

I mean she's clearly talented, but it's not a Picasso, it's a Crayola!

Don't You Love It When

a contractor visits your home to give you an estimate and they are sporting a giant grim reaper tattoo?