Leaning Stone House of Princeton?

So, the following discussion occurred over the weekend while working on the bathroom.

The husband is putting together the half-wall. He has measured and even has a level working in the process-- the half wall stud structure looks terrific.

The husband has cut a piece of drywall to go on the outside of the half-wall.... he lines it up and it is mysteriously not plumb. In the middle of joint compounding, I look over and see that the top of the cut piece of drywall is the finished edge.

I say, with much authority, "well the finish edge on the top-- it should go on the bottom, maybe your cut isn't straight...."

then looking at it for another minute (the college degree wasn't kicking in very fast...) I realize that regardless of whether the cut edge is straight or not the top of the piece of drywall is aligned perfectly with the stud that frames out the top of the half-wall. The drywall meets the edge of the house at floor level, but then is about an inch and a half or two inches off plumb half way up the exterior wall.

For those of you who don't know, our house is *very* close to the road, but we have a large backyard.

I see this and say-- "Oh, the floor must be sagging-- look at it, its not straight."

The husband looks at this discrepancy and says: "The house is leaning." --our house is made of stone--

My response: "Like the Leaning tower of Pisa?" followed by, "at least its leaning away from the road."

Finally, once the level is actually used the husband concedes-- "I guess you're right, the floor is sagging."

Can't wait to see what happens when we bring in the 350 pound cast iron tub!

And the progress continues...

So, here's a further follow up on our progress...



Yes this means I was doing mudwork.



But Robert built our lovely little half wall, or as the industry calls it, a "knee wall".... this is where we hid the reproduction of the Declaration of Independence!

Project Runway

Okay, so last night was the big Project Runway finale. I think it is a complete travesty that Santino didn't win!! Sure, Chloe had potential and throughout the process she made some nice outfits but that show she put on was horrible. The fabrics she used all looked like the bad interior of a Thai restaurant circa 1984. Even Daniel's collection was better and he had those horrendous handbags. So-- our thought is since crazy Jay McCaroll didn't take the prize money or the Banana Republic design mentorship last year, we figure the sponsors put pressure on the judges to pick the person who they figured would most likely play ball. All I have to say about this is: "Where's Andrae?"

Update on the World's Smallest Bathroom

Here we are with new floor and some walls... why cover that new floor while working on it??? :)

Strawberry Hat!!

Here it is-- the Strawberry Hat!!

Core Temperature

All I have to say right now is that my office is like a fricking oven. Sure, it was supposed to have a low of like 16 degrees today so I'm here in a cashmere turtleneck, with long sleeve shirt underneath and a pair of fully lined wool pants and I'm roasting. Usually it's freezing cold in here, like an ice box, like they're trying to keep cadavers from decomposing, but today? Today I feel like I'm going through menopause on the surface of the sun.

Mayoral Sighting

So, last night on our way to a last minute dinner at the Rock Center Cafe (yes, for a 7:30 dinner on Valentine's Day we made our reservation at 7:18pm).... we ran in to Mayor Bloomberg. Literally. We were walking on 50th right by the entrance to The Rainbow Room and I notice this nicely dressed woman in my path and a black SUV on the street awaiting her. We move to the left, Husband puts us right in between this woman and a large body guard and BOOM! Right there, right in front of us, staring right at us is Mike Bloomberg. He's rather short in person so I hadn't seen that he was standing there until we were right in front of him (his date hid him well). Based on the timing it would seem like he had taken his Valentine date to get the early bird special.

Guy and Madge, Spills in Torino

So, is Madonna really headed for divorce?

And, why is NBC not replaying any Olympic falls/crashes/false footings, etc.? Sure it is awful and mean, and surely you don't want anyone to get hurt, but come on there's at least a part of each winter olympic viewer that is watching it for the falls. It proves that even the Wheatie box people are imperfect like the rest of us!

Blizzard Baking

So, we've supposedly had a blizzard. "A Blizzard of Historic proportions", according to Brian Williams of NBC. After Cornell I can say I have certainly seen more blizzardly weather behavior, but all in all we do have a lot of snow and I certainly wasn't leaving the house today.

So, we started out the day right-- I made scones, thanks to a mix from the King Arthur Flour people. Not bad, if I may say so myself-- the mix provided the all previously too confusing bit of baking power, baking soda and flour-- those have proved difficult to master before, this time I just had to dump the mix, some salt and cold butter into the 'uisinart and then add in whisked milk and egg!

So, not feeling like I had done enough random blizzard baking, I am now in the midst of making "artisanal" bread, thanks again to the 'uise. My dough ball is rising as we speak. To accompany this I will be making Pasta Fagoli. Usually I do this with the assistance of a mix from Alessi, for some odd reason I happen to have all of the other ingredients needed for the soup-- chicken broth, cannelini beans, chopped tomatoes, chopped spinach, cream, ditalini/wagon wheels (Husband's pasta preference), spices, etc. but no soup mix. Now it's just a question of whether there is some mysterious spice in the Alessi package which I will be missing.... wish me luck and we'll save a piece of bread for you!

ps. I randomly purchased a tomatillo the other day, any recipe suggestions are welcome!

Even more "Things you wish you hadn't heard"

So, twice today I have had those moments where singular words in other people's conversations pierce through the din of ambient noise and make a bold impression in my head.

The first was this morning on the train when the threatening looking youth sitting in the row behind me using his two way pager had the other participant in the conversation shout something to the effect of so-and-so being out on probation.

The second incident occurred at dinner at a hip french fusion place where the man at the next table suddenly elevated the level of his voice right when he started describing his current digestive troubles.

More from the Files of "Things You Wish You Hadn't Heard"

"I'm getting my nose done and my eyes done. I'm so excited!"

Annals of Fashion

Clearly I have hit some sort of bump in the road to living a fashionable life as I found myself last evening ordering a dress from the Isaac Mizrahi collection at Target.com

See Spot Save.

Lincoln Tunnel

So, I'm attempting to make my way back to New Jersey through the Lincoln Tunnel.

(Going was eventful as ever, getting stuck going through the two-way traffic tube)... and I manage to find myself behind what can only be described as the Rice-a-Roni streetcar. Yes it was some sort of Grayline tourist trolley "Hop-on, Hop-off" and it too was on its way to New Jersey. This would have been fine except I was in the right hand lane and the guy driving the Trolley is one of those people who *has* to go through the tunnel (and I'm sure bridges fall into this category too) on the left side.

Do you know one of these people? (Yes, Mom, you know you're one of them). Fine, so you have to drive on one side or another-- no problem, but can't you figure that out before you get to the tunnel/bridge/whatever??? Can't you adjust your route to the tunnel so that you approach it in the appropriate lane?? These are the same people who will pay their toll in the extreme left lane only to then have to cut across 37 lanes in order to go through the tube "on the right side". Advance planning folks-- it can save a lot of time.

Then, on top of it, the San Francisco Treat can't merge. He's made his way all the way from wherever and is now approximately one car length from the tunnel entrance and is STOPPED. Right there, trolley blinker on and making no effort to merge.

Meanwhile I have some psychopath from Pennsylvania in an old Jag trying to push my car into the traffic cones which seperate the lanes. Possibly the only people who drive worse than tourist trolley drivers are people from Pennsylvania.

Race to Dakar

Very sad to learn today that Charley Boorman has dropped out of the 6th stage of the Paris-to-Dakar Rally (which for some reason is the Lisbon-to-Dakar Rally this year). You can check out Charley's progress, or lack thereof, at Race to Dakar.

Personally, I'd like to see Lance Armstrong try his hand at this. Tour de France, Scmoor de France.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, MadLibs by iPod

Love don't live here anymore
Love don't love you
Love is here and now you're gone
Love is here to stay
Love is in the air
Love takes time

You're nobody till somebody loves you
You're okay
You're too good to be true
You've got to hide your love away
You always hurt the one you love
You can't always get what you want
You can't hurry love
You keep me hangin' on
You made me love you
You make lovin fun
You make me feel so young
You may be right
You only live twice

I'll be there
I'll fly away
I'll remember
I'll see you in my dreams
I'll tumble 4 ya
I'm forever blowing bubbles
I'm gonna make you love me
I'm in love again
I'm not here
I'm not waiting
I'm thru with love
I've got my love to keep me warm
I've got the world on a string
I've got you under my skin
I've heard that song before
I can't be with you
I can't get next to you
I could love a million girls
I could write a book
I get a kick out of you
I hear a symphony
I just called to say I love you
I just want to be your everything
I know where its at
I like it like that
I melt with you
I move on
I say a little prayer
I still haven't found what I'm looking for
I try
I want a new drug
I want it all
If I had $100000000
If I had you
If I were you
If it makes you happy
If you could read my mind
If you love someone set them free

Chicken Salad

So, I order chicken salad.

What does that mean to you?

To me it means shredded up chicken bits mixed up with mayonnaise, possibly some salt, a little pepper and (if you're lucky) grapes and/or raisins.

Apparently, to the person behind the sandwich counter at Cucina, "chicken salad" means a chicken caesar wrap sandwich.

Of course, much like the time I was at Taco Bell and ended up with a "carne asada" gordita instead of a far superior "beef" gordita, it meant not opening up the wrapped up package until I was back at my desk.

Sometimes there is little pleasure in life.

Today it was supposed to be in the form of chicken salad.

I think I'll take dinner into my own hands.

The Smallest Bathroom in Middlesex County

So this was the bathroom
before we moved in.




This is the bathroom now.













Needless to say "work in progress" is an apt phrase. We got one quote for $41,125 to remodel. Geesh, for that kind of money you could buy a Porsche. Sure, it would be a small Porsche, but the bathroom isn't much bigger than a Porsche.

So far we've ordered:

Clawfoot Tub:
61", #811 with white feet

Faucets and Fixtures:

Leighton 27" Pedestal Sink, Fairfax Faucet, brushed chrome (hoping this matches the "vibrant brushed nickel", see below).

Rialto Toilet (a running joke, no pun intended... this is apparently billed as "the smallest toilet on the market" yet everyone but us seems to hate it)

And, for the tub, and approximately as much as the tub (okay, more than the tub as the husband keeps reminding me)....Finial Bath Faucet with handshower and metal lever handles in "vibrant brushed nickel"

"Vibrant brushed nickel" is just another way to say 30% more for no good reason other than you'll pay it. I'd take "dull, impersonal brushed nickel", if I could get it for 10% less, do you have that?

By the way, those attractive delft sea creature tiles shown in picture #1 above will be available for purchase on Ebay. Didn't have a chance to buy a piece of the Berlin Wall when communism fell? At least you can have a piece of our bathroom.

410e9th

So finally, we've had a new entry into the blogosphere. http://www.410e9th.blogspot.com I have very high expectations.

Miami

So, we went to Miami.

Took 1 valium at 2am night before flight, woke up at 4:45am to get to the airport. Arrive at airport at 6:15-- flight's at 7am. Forgot my ipod. Need the ipod to drown out frightening mechanical sounds of engines, etc. Get McDonald's, board the flight. Step on the plane and it smelled funny, was hot and children were screaming-- it was like a zoo. I said to myself, this is bad, very, very bad.

Get to our seats-- 18 E, F-- I'm in a window. I need the aisle. 18 is too far back in the plane, the seats were like the width of seats you'd sit in in elementary school. The seat in front of me was right in your face. I pack myself in to the seat with my bag, husband's bag, etc. Start to eat McDonalds-- take 2 more valium.

Did I mention it was hot? It was like Dante's inferno in there. For whatever reason I'm like a woman in menopause--- if the body temperature gets out of wack bad things happen. I strip off my jacket, scarf, cardigan. The place was dimly lit, there were the aforementioned screaming children, all it needed was chickens and goats to start walking up and down the aisle. It wasn't a 737-300, it was an decomissioned school bus you'd expect to be driven through the Andes in. Then the pilot announces that we'll be waiting at the gate for a few minutes because of a "maintenance" problem. He doesn't say they need to refuel, that they're moving bags or that they're refilling the peanuts and snacks. No, "maintenance". This coupled with the heat, humidity and screaming children made me say-- I'm getting OFF.

Yes, I got off the plane-- I'm crying hysterically and I gather my stuff and get off. Yes, I was that person causing a scene getting off of the airplane. Husband stays on the plane and I get off. I call my parents. Am told not to drive anywhere because of the 3 valium in the system-- sound advice, especially since I'm not driving a Pinto that's paid off.

Husband calls on the other line-- the fuel pump on the plane is broken, they are going to do a change of equipment. A-HA! Vindication! Fuel pump--- that's big, that's an issue, that's a "this thing is going down" kind of maintenance problem! Finally, they changed planes and Robert got on the new plane.

SO. I decided to suck it up and board-- I figured what are the odds of two crash worthy maintenance problems happening to the same group of passengers?? I make the gate agent promise that the plane won't crash. In the event it does, perhaps this, even being hearsay might be a great claim for liability. I miraculously got a seat at a window, but in an exit row so there was no seat in front of me. By the time we taxied the valium had started to take effect.

Then-- I decided this was a perfect time to knit. I'm making a baby hat which involves adding a color occasionally (it will be a strawberry when it's finished). So here I am on the valium and I'm trying to knit. So of course I read the pattern wrong and have to rip out 2 rows of work. Fine, except I'm using circular needles and this fricking really thin yarn, so I rip out the stitches but then some of them drop out-- which means now I'm trying to re-thread this yarn on to my circular needle and I have to actually pick up dropped stitches with a super thin little sewing needle. I'm going blind as it is and here I am valium-ed up and trying to do this-- it was truly idiotic.

Flight back, not much better, got in to a fight with the Continental gate agent about seats. But now I am ready to book a trip to Italy!

The London Underground Map

Reminiscing over the advent of the London Underground Map-- hailed as a modern marvel of graphic design and inspiration for subway maps the world over-- London Transports' Assistant Secretary and Works Officer, Paul E. Garbutt, unwittingly summed up the English mind:

"Christmas, I think Christmas 1963, I thought, 'I'd run out of crossword puzzles so I'll try and redesign the map...'"