Dear Insane Suicidal Shooter,
Please refrain from shooting others. If you are crazy and want to kill yourself, please feel free to do that in a private setting of your choosing. There is no need for others to join you on your trip to the big nowhere. There is no reason to scare the hell out of an entire campus and their families who have a family member attending that school, as well as students and families of students around the country. And there is absolutely no call to take the lives of six kids who have barely even set off in life.
Worst Regards,
NIU Alumna
February 14, 2008
Valentine's Day = NYC Condoms
NYC loves condoms on Valentine's Day. I still think it's great. No sappy love crap, just go out and "get some." So New York. They've changed the packaging, although it's still not all it could be. I still like the design concept I co-developed with Jerry last year to have different skyscrapers on the packages. I've got to make a call to the city and get that design out for next year.
February 04, 2008
January 31, 2008
Oh come on!
Did you know experts have long linked heart trouble to sports fans? I don't think anyone would be surprised to hear that fact. Let's see, what could be the cause? Perhaps consuming beer, chicken wings, potato chips, beer, chili cheese fries, little hot dogs wrapped in croissant and more beer while sitting on your ass instead of walking around out in the world has something to do with it. Nah, couldn't be all that stuff. Must be something else.
That's right, it's the stress of the game. Feeling that your team could lose can cause you so much distress your heart gives out. Call me cruel (go ahead), but if a dude is so wrapped up in sports that he can experience stress on a level that causes a grabber during the big game, that person kind of sucks. Now, if it's caused by all the beer guzzling and fried food-eating, that's fine. That's a real reason. Especially in Chicago.
That's right, it's the stress of the game. Feeling that your team could lose can cause you so much distress your heart gives out. Call me cruel (go ahead), but if a dude is so wrapped up in sports that he can experience stress on a level that causes a grabber during the big game, that person kind of sucks. Now, if it's caused by all the beer guzzling and fried food-eating, that's fine. That's a real reason. Especially in Chicago.
January 30, 2008
Easy street
I was pretty excited two weeks ago when I got my interest check from my apartment security deposit escrow account. $2.48 richer, I went out and splurged. Let me tell you, the only thing that tastes better than a McDonald's cheeseburger and small fry is a free McDonald's cheeseburger and small fry. Just when I thought life couldn't get any better, I get this puppy in the mail:
This second check was accompanied by a letter telling me that due to a bank error the original check I received was for an incorrect amount and I was owed more money. And just like that I was nine cents richer. Sweet!
But how to spend my newfound wealth? I can give one cent to nine of the guys on the street asking for "just a penny" for the homeless. I can call my step-sister in Bonaire for 5 minutes on Skype. I can buy 4 two-cent rate change stamps and leave the last penny on the ground for someone to find for good luck. I can go back in time to 1970, borrow a penny from someone and buy a Hershey Bar.
Hmmmm, all of these sound good. How would you spend nine cents?
This second check was accompanied by a letter telling me that due to a bank error the original check I received was for an incorrect amount and I was owed more money. And just like that I was nine cents richer. Sweet!
But how to spend my newfound wealth? I can give one cent to nine of the guys on the street asking for "just a penny" for the homeless. I can call my step-sister in Bonaire for 5 minutes on Skype. I can buy 4 two-cent rate change stamps and leave the last penny on the ground for someone to find for good luck. I can go back in time to 1970, borrow a penny from someone and buy a Hershey Bar.
Hmmmm, all of these sound good. How would you spend nine cents?
January 06, 2008
Yo
I'm still here. Just been a little busy/sick/full from work/winter/holidays. I'll be back soon with new tales of NYC. Until then, enjoy this picture of the women's restroom in a Macy's in the suburbs of Chicago.
Not the way to win hearts in a city that hates you, Macy's.
Not the way to win hearts in a city that hates you, Macy's.December 11, 2007
The Hornet knows all
I received a postcard in the mail today from my high school in Illinois requesting my biographical information for a graduate directory. It brought up a question I've thought of from time to time when people get notices for reunions and such; How did they find me? Since graduating from college I have moved nine times. Nine times between three states. I only keep in touch with one person from high school, and she lives in the middle of Australia with her husband, a new baby and emus. She's got better things to do than rat me out. I have no registered phone number. I'm pretty sure most of my friends and family lost the e-mail I sent with my address. The only people who know I'm here are the ones who send me bills every month, and they shouldn't be giving my info to a high school (maybe they do). On top of this, the printed postcard is addressed as 'Lori', which is not my given name, and not how I am ever registered anywhere. So I wonder, how the hell did they find me?Perhaps our mascot, the Fighting Hornet, is omniscient.
November 20, 2007
"Yooouuuu cannot say 'f$&*' on your show!"
So last night I was invited by my friend Natasha at work to go to a swanky party. A while back, before I worked there, Iomedia did the visualization for a condo building at the top of Central Park in lower Harlem. Esquire magazine bought the penthouse and had different designers create the individual rooms. They are using it as a party venue. Because we did the work, occasionally the developers can get us on the list for these parties. I was lucky enough to tag along with Natasha and the rest of the crew to this even with Bill Cosby as a special guest.
When we got to the entrance we weren't on the list! Devastating! Didn't they know who we were? They didn't, but took our names down and let us in anyway. Man, is it easy to crash a party. We listened to the shpeal from Bill and others about helping kids in disadvantaged neighborhoods, and then the bar opened. As I was waiting for my drink Bill made his way through the crowd and was 3 feet away from me. I freaked out, there was nothing I could say. Mom told me I should have just said "Hi." Greg said I should have asked if he wanted any pudding. I always have felt that celebrities are just people, but when you are standing next to someone who has influenced multiple generations of comedians and who really seems like a good guy, its hard to think of what to say that won't sound retarded. So I just smiled and let him go.
When we finally got our drinks we toured the apartment, hung out in front of the fireplace on the bi-level terrace and gave a very nice man who works for Esquire a hard time for not giving red velvet cupcakes to Eugene's pregnant wife Allison. Alright, it was Eugene giving him a hard time, and it was funny. Or we were drunk. Maybe both.
As we left the red carpet downstairs was still lit but abandoned, so we took a few red carpet pictures... cause we are such big shots. Here's me making fun of the red carpet poses...
Oh yeah, I could totally be someone, if you didn't already know I was no one.
When we got to the entrance we weren't on the list! Devastating! Didn't they know who we were? They didn't, but took our names down and let us in anyway. Man, is it easy to crash a party. We listened to the shpeal from Bill and others about helping kids in disadvantaged neighborhoods, and then the bar opened. As I was waiting for my drink Bill made his way through the crowd and was 3 feet away from me. I freaked out, there was nothing I could say. Mom told me I should have just said "Hi." Greg said I should have asked if he wanted any pudding. I always have felt that celebrities are just people, but when you are standing next to someone who has influenced multiple generations of comedians and who really seems like a good guy, its hard to think of what to say that won't sound retarded. So I just smiled and let him go.
When we finally got our drinks we toured the apartment, hung out in front of the fireplace on the bi-level terrace and gave a very nice man who works for Esquire a hard time for not giving red velvet cupcakes to Eugene's pregnant wife Allison. Alright, it was Eugene giving him a hard time, and it was funny. Or we were drunk. Maybe both.
As we left the red carpet downstairs was still lit but abandoned, so we took a few red carpet pictures... cause we are such big shots. Here's me making fun of the red carpet poses...
Oh yeah, I could totally be someone, if you didn't already know I was no one.
October 29, 2007
"Is she like an Egyptian Wonder Woman?"
On Saturday night I went out with some friends to a Halloween party on the Lower East Side. I was so excited because I put a TON of time into my costume this year. I was committed to going as She-ra, and since you can't buy a costume, I had to make mine. With the help of my very crafty friend Natasha, I pulled it off perfectly.
Here's a picture of Shannon and me, she's a Freudian Slip (there's a slip under that jacket).
On the way to meet Shannon a few girls on the street asked if I was Wonder Woman. I said no, I was She-ra. They asked, "Is she like and Egyptian Wonder Woman?" I replied, "No, she's a super hero from the 80s, you guys probably weren't even born yet." To which I was curtly corrected, "Hey, I was born in 89!" Touche.
On the subway a whole car of people again thought I was Wonder Woman. I'm still puzzled by the WW confusion.
Also on the subway one woman recognized the costume and asked to take my picture. That was pretty funny. Oh yeah, I'm somebody now.
Once at the bar there were a bunch of people that recognized She-ra, and they all loved the costume. There were two guys who were dressed as the Dick in a Box guys, and that was pretty good. I stopped to compliment and chat with them but they didn't know who I was. One of them though I was some kind of Grecian superhero... I guess I can see that. But since I decided before going out that I wouldn't entertain any boys who didn't know who I was (because they would be too young), I had to move on.
I had a funny short conversation with a pirate guy as I was waiting for my drink at the bar:
Guy: You're cute!
Me: Thanks.
Guy: So what are you? Other than cute?
Me: She-ra.
Guy: Is that from Chronicles of Narnia?
Me: Um, no.
Guy: Well, you look really cute.
Me: Thanks. *smirk* Bye.
When I turned with my drink there was a guy dressed as a Ghostbuster. He recognized She-ra and we had a little "We love the 80s because we were born before the decade started" moment.
It was a lot of fun seeing all the costumes people had on. There were lots of pirates, Wonder Women, and slutty whatevers. I was pretty slutty too, but that's not my fault... that's just how She-ra rolls.
Here's a picture of Shannon and me, she's a Freudian Slip (there's a slip under that jacket).
On the way to meet Shannon a few girls on the street asked if I was Wonder Woman. I said no, I was She-ra. They asked, "Is she like and Egyptian Wonder Woman?" I replied, "No, she's a super hero from the 80s, you guys probably weren't even born yet." To which I was curtly corrected, "Hey, I was born in 89!" Touche.On the subway a whole car of people again thought I was Wonder Woman. I'm still puzzled by the WW confusion.
Also on the subway one woman recognized the costume and asked to take my picture. That was pretty funny. Oh yeah, I'm somebody now.
Once at the bar there were a bunch of people that recognized She-ra, and they all loved the costume. There were two guys who were dressed as the Dick in a Box guys, and that was pretty good. I stopped to compliment and chat with them but they didn't know who I was. One of them though I was some kind of Grecian superhero... I guess I can see that. But since I decided before going out that I wouldn't entertain any boys who didn't know who I was (because they would be too young), I had to move on.
I had a funny short conversation with a pirate guy as I was waiting for my drink at the bar:
Guy: You're cute!
Me: Thanks.
Guy: So what are you? Other than cute?
Me: She-ra.
Guy: Is that from Chronicles of Narnia?
Me: Um, no.
Guy: Well, you look really cute.
Me: Thanks. *smirk* Bye.
When I turned with my drink there was a guy dressed as a Ghostbuster. He recognized She-ra and we had a little "We love the 80s because we were born before the decade started" moment.
It was a lot of fun seeing all the costumes people had on. There were lots of pirates, Wonder Women, and slutty whatevers. I was pretty slutty too, but that's not my fault... that's just how She-ra rolls.
October 23, 2007
He's got my vote
I saw a presidential candidate on the street today across the street from my office. He has no shot at winning, but I would vote for him. I walked right past Stephen Colbert. I wish I had stopped to say something, but I never do. I figure that I don't like being bugged out on the street, a celeb must hate it. So I left him alone to continue his conversation.
I must be getting more "New York"... I'm finally starting to recognize celebrities out in the world. Sweet.
I must be getting more "New York"... I'm finally starting to recognize celebrities out in the world. Sweet.
October 17, 2007
Choose Your Own Adventure: Death Edition
I hate science. Just when the science guys convince you that your drinking habit is helping your cholesterol it turns out it's also giving you cancer. Want lower blood pressure? Have some dark chocolate... but you had also better head to the gym to burn off the extra calories. What these dichotomies are basically saying (to me) is that you should choose your vices based on what you would like to die of. Because, let's face it, a life without a few vices is a life not worth living. So you'd be healthy and prolong a really boring existence. Not for me. I'm off to buy some chocolate with liquor in the middle.
October 01, 2007
I see you, famous dood!
I've been in NY for a year, and I keep missing celebrity sightings (Derek Jeter doesn't count, I was there to see him, it's only a sighting if they are out on the street with the real people). Celebs pass me by, and people tell me, "Hey, that was what's-his-name!" But poof, they are gone. In my second week here Mark Ruffalo sat down right next to me at lunch and I didn't even notice. Michael Kors walked right past Jose and I on the street... didn't see him. But today I finally saw someone. It was someone most people probably wouldn't recognize, but I sure did. As I was buying Halloween candy at Duane Reade I was watching Michael Patrick King direct his people on how to set up the store for an upcoming movie shoot. A Big movie that everyone (at least all the women) in New York are talking about. A movie that is leading to celeb sightings all over town because the city is one of the characters and it would never be filmed anywhere else. Do you know which movie? Michael Patrick King is the producer, writer and sometimes director of Sex and the City, and he was setting up a shot for Friday. For me, he's a big celebrity. Maybe I'll go back on Friday and see if they need any extras!
September 30, 2007
The fussy litterbug
I was riding the subway the other day, sitting across from a woman and her child, who looked to be around ten years old. They were eating something, not sure what. When the train pulled into the station I watched her unapologetically toss their garbage in the bag outside the door and onto the station platform. I couldn't believe it. I looked right at her. She saw me and just looked away, but not in any way that conveyed she felt badly about what she had done. Then, a few stops later her kid was halfway through a lollipop that he decided he was finished with and she told him to wait until the doors open and toss it out. He got up, waited for the doors to open, and aimed the lollipop right through the gap and dropped it onto the tracks. She praised him for making the shot. I was absolutely amazed.
Now, I get why people litter; they are lazy, they don't care, they don't respect shared space or the city they live in, they have no sense of human decency, etc, etc. But what I don't understand is this: How did she come to the conclusion that it is wrong to litter on the train, but perfectly acceptable on the platform? I continue to be baffled.
Now, I get why people litter; they are lazy, they don't care, they don't respect shared space or the city they live in, they have no sense of human decency, etc, etc. But what I don't understand is this: How did she come to the conclusion that it is wrong to litter on the train, but perfectly acceptable on the platform? I continue to be baffled.
September 25, 2007
Did she, or didn't she?
In fact, I did... meet Derek Jeter. And shared a little giggle with A-Rod. And saw all the other players, coaches, trainers, keepers and security people for the Yankees, and the Toronto Blue Jays for that matter (including Frank Thomas, who used to play for my hometown White Sox). We were camped out for two hours before the game directly outside the door to the Yankees clubhouse, waiting to get the shot of Jeter. The weight room and batting cages happen to be down the hall from there for both teams, so just about everyone walked past. And if I might just make one comment to all of Major League Baseball... nice ass.
Even though I'm not a big sports fan, I have to admit it was pretty cool to be down there before the game... even if I did have to get up early-ish after another night of staying out late drinking. What? It's the New York lifestyle, or something like that. Yeah, I totally turned my brain off again.
As promised, I've posted some new photos to my Out and About in NY album. Some are from when I went walking around with Jerry and Jenna a few weeks ago, but after that are some choice helicopter shots. Enjoy!
Even though I'm not a big sports fan, I have to admit it was pretty cool to be down there before the game... even if I did have to get up early-ish after another night of staying out late drinking. What? It's the New York lifestyle, or something like that. Yeah, I totally turned my brain off again.
As promised, I've posted some new photos to my Out and About in NY album. Some are from when I went walking around with Jerry and Jenna a few weeks ago, but after that are some choice helicopter shots. Enjoy!
September 20, 2007
Helicopters ARE as cool as you think
I work a lot, but there are a few pretty sweet perks that go along with it. Being the project manager on the Yankee monstrosity has afforded me quite a few. Second row seats to a game, private tour of the stadium, meetings in Steinbrenner's private box. Tonight I got to go up in a helicopter to capture aerial photography. It was pretty awesome. Here I am, with my fancy helicopter headset, having an swell time in really good lighting.
Flying over Yankee Stadium was cool, but the best was flying down to Coney Island to capture dusk shots for another job. It was a beautiful sunset that reflected amazing colors on the water. Even though it was hazy and I wasn't in the best spot for taking pictures I took a ton. A few actually turned out... here are a few of my favorites. I'll be posting more in my NY album over the weekend.
Upcoming perks: Meeting Derek Jeter this weekend to film him at the stadium and possibly meeting Billy Crystal in the near future for a similar reason. I'm sure DJ is a swell guy, but if I get to meet Billy Crystal I'll be a puddle of goo. It will take everything I have not to spout out every single line from my favorite movie of all time. It's bound to be embarrassing.
Flying over Yankee Stadium was cool, but the best was flying down to Coney Island to capture dusk shots for another job. It was a beautiful sunset that reflected amazing colors on the water. Even though it was hazy and I wasn't in the best spot for taking pictures I took a ton. A few actually turned out... here are a few of my favorites. I'll be posting more in my NY album over the weekend.
Upcoming perks: Meeting Derek Jeter this weekend to film him at the stadium and possibly meeting Billy Crystal in the near future for a similar reason. I'm sure DJ is a swell guy, but if I get to meet Billy Crystal I'll be a puddle of goo. It will take everything I have not to spout out every single line from my favorite movie of all time. It's bound to be embarrassing.
September 10, 2007
Brain off
I've been working a lot lately. Way too much. Most nights I'm in the office late, checking in at home, and then working at least a few hours each weekend day, if not for an entire day. Somehow its easier to work 10 hours if you can do it with Sex and the City on the TV. Of course you have to really like Sex and the City. (How could Carrie have cheated on Aidan? That bitch drives me crazy in season three.)
The reason behind my pseudo-complaining about work is this; while I definitely feel overworked, I also feel like I'm having a lot of fun (read: drinking a lot). I realized today I don't have a ton of the down time I used to when I would just kick it on the couch and watch my ex-TV Boyfriend. I'm either ramped up working or ramped up drinking, with not a lot in between. And I'm not having just a glass or two of wine like I used to. I'm drinking for mileage. It's like I'm trying to cram all the fun into the few hours I have, and I'm not making wise decisions.
Case in point: Jenna invited me to a BBQ at her friend Kathleen's on Saturday. I've been to another one and loved everyone there, so I shut down the computer for the afternoon and scheduled some fun time, fully expecting to be back home and working by 9pm. Um, yeah, that didn't happen. I was drinking sangria all day and was then very easily coerced into playing Flip Cup by a bunch of Aussies with cute accents. Freakin' foreigners. It doesn't really matter how you play, but it does involve way too much cheap beer. PBR and Bud Light to be exact (what is with me and drinking beer lately?). I was hammered, and I had absolutely turned my brain off at some point. Sometime before Flip Cup for sure.
Apparently this is how I've fallen into dealing with stress these days. Probably not the best solution, but it could be worse. I haven't completely fallen apart... I still eat well and make it to the gym to run and bike my ass off (literally; my skinny jeans from last year are now my "relaxed fit" jeans... sweet). My body used to remind me that I was stressed by creating painful stomach aches, in case I had forgotten for a second that the world was falling down on me. That sucked, so this is much better.
So, if you end up with strange text messages from me in the coming month, I haven't actually lost my mind, I've simply turned my brain off. It'll be back on the next morning when you are welcome to call and make fun of me. Just don't laugh too loudly into the phone.
The reason behind my pseudo-complaining about work is this; while I definitely feel overworked, I also feel like I'm having a lot of fun (read: drinking a lot). I realized today I don't have a ton of the down time I used to when I would just kick it on the couch and watch my ex-TV Boyfriend. I'm either ramped up working or ramped up drinking, with not a lot in between. And I'm not having just a glass or two of wine like I used to. I'm drinking for mileage. It's like I'm trying to cram all the fun into the few hours I have, and I'm not making wise decisions.
Case in point: Jenna invited me to a BBQ at her friend Kathleen's on Saturday. I've been to another one and loved everyone there, so I shut down the computer for the afternoon and scheduled some fun time, fully expecting to be back home and working by 9pm. Um, yeah, that didn't happen. I was drinking sangria all day and was then very easily coerced into playing Flip Cup by a bunch of Aussies with cute accents. Freakin' foreigners. It doesn't really matter how you play, but it does involve way too much cheap beer. PBR and Bud Light to be exact (what is with me and drinking beer lately?). I was hammered, and I had absolutely turned my brain off at some point. Sometime before Flip Cup for sure.
Apparently this is how I've fallen into dealing with stress these days. Probably not the best solution, but it could be worse. I haven't completely fallen apart... I still eat well and make it to the gym to run and bike my ass off (literally; my skinny jeans from last year are now my "relaxed fit" jeans... sweet). My body used to remind me that I was stressed by creating painful stomach aches, in case I had forgotten for a second that the world was falling down on me. That sucked, so this is much better.
So, if you end up with strange text messages from me in the coming month, I haven't actually lost my mind, I've simply turned my brain off. It'll be back on the next morning when you are welcome to call and make fun of me. Just don't laugh too loudly into the phone.
September 01, 2007
Driven to drink
It's Saturday afternoon, and I'm taking a break from work to write this post. That's right, it's Labor Day weekend and I'll be working at least today, if not tomorrow as well. The Reason: The Yankees. Right now the project is flying wildly out of control, and I've got to pull it back together. The only time I actually have to do this is after work hours when people aren't constantly asking for stuff. So I'll be organizing like a mofo this weekend.
This project has quite a cast of characters, one of which is the interior designer, who is a very nice man... but couldn't take longer to make a point. Andy and I were on a conference call with him yesterday for an hour and a half that should have taken 45 minutes max. At this point in a very long week I was tired of working and Andy was just plain old tired. Delirium had set in and we were acting quite silly on our end of the line. He went and got a beer, ugh Corona, and was entranced by the bright green color it turned when he put it in front of the projector. I left shortly after and returned with an Amstel Light. That's right people, the Yankees have driven me to drink... beer. And I wasn't even drunk first. Armageddon is clearly upon us.
This project has quite a cast of characters, one of which is the interior designer, who is a very nice man... but couldn't take longer to make a point. Andy and I were on a conference call with him yesterday for an hour and a half that should have taken 45 minutes max. At this point in a very long week I was tired of working and Andy was just plain old tired. Delirium had set in and we were acting quite silly on our end of the line. He went and got a beer, ugh Corona, and was entranced by the bright green color it turned when he put it in front of the projector. I left shortly after and returned with an Amstel Light. That's right people, the Yankees have driven me to drink... beer. And I wasn't even drunk first. Armageddon is clearly upon us.
August 26, 2007
Best... Birthday... Ever
I'm exhausted, but I can't sleep. It's nearly 12:30 am Sunday night/Monday morning as I type this. I've spent the past hour going through pictures from the amazing birthday weekend I just had. I find I can't stop looking through the pictures. I turned 30 on Friday, but the fun began on Wednesday night when I treated myself to a new haircut and color. I have always wanted blue hair of some kind, and I finally mustered the courage to do it. I darkened most of my hair, and put in a panel just under the crown of very rich midnight blue. It looks amazing, I've never loved my hair more. Thursday was fun at work where I got many different reactions. People are staring at me on the subway. I didn't do it for the attention, but it is fun to watch.
Friday, the birthday, was a busy day at work and I wasn't even able to answer most of the birthday calls that came in. I was truly touched at all the heartfelt and funny messages people left. The day flew by and before I knew it I was in my apartment with Jenna, waiting for Kristen to arrive from Chicago. She was only an hour late, which is considered on time for air travel these days. Starving, we went to a very fun Turkish restaurant in Park Slope. I was so happy to be spending the night with one of my oldest friends and one of my newest, both of who mean the absolute world to me. It would turn out that the three of us would be together for much of the entire weekend to come.
Saturday morning we went to brunch with Jerry and Jenna at this great diner called Tom's Restaurant. It's the kind of place where you actually wait in line to get in, but the entire time they are bringing food and drinks around. There was water, coffee, cookies, sausage and orange fourths. Once we got in the food was absolutely amazing. It is definitely a must visit brunch spot for all future visitors. And here are the girls, sharing a chocolate egg cream...
Saturday was a really hot day, but Kristen wanted to see the city so Jenna and I took her on a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge. We took lots of fun pictures, even though it was hazy. From there we walked to TKTS to get half price Sunday matinée tickets to see The Drowsy Chaperone. We planned to take the Staten Island Ferry just for the boat ride, but we missed it by two minutes and ended up in Battery Park. Which turned out to be really nice. Hot as we were, when we stumbled across a fountain a bunch of kids were playing in we couldn't help but join them. I would have been soaking wet if it weren't for my new blue hair, as it still runs blue when it gets wet!
Now as I write it's Monday night. That day went by fast, didn't it? I finally succumbed to the tired last night. Which leaves me to talk about the big party Saturday night. It was amazing. I was so incredibly happy to be surrounded by all my fabulous New York friends. The only one missing was Megan, but she was excused because she and her boyfriend Paul got engaged the night before out on Long Island. So it was perfectly acceptable that they were missing, although they certainly were missed.
We started the night at Wined Up, my favorite place for an after work bottle of wine and fondue. There's just no better way to erase a bad day than with a good Meritage and a vat of melted cheese. But that's another post. Back to the party. It was like my own little tasting. We ordered a bunch of different wines and I got a glass of each. I had three glasses in front of me at all times. And everyone else was doing the same. We closed the place down (I think) and went to another bar called Flatiron Lounge at 1am. We lost some people at this point. We closed Flatiron at 3am, or maybe 4am (I think) and at this point we were down to four revelers... me, Andy, Ashwan and Matt. Ashwan led the way to the next bar, which I couldn't name and couldn't find again if I had a gun to my head. I was just being led around by the boys. I'm pretty sure we closed this place down but I have no idea what time. I was hungry so we went to a diner, at which point we lost Ashwan very suddenly. So it was down to Andy, Matt and I having burgers at 5am. In the cab on the way home it was getting light outside and I can't remember the last time I was home at dawn.
The next morning, after three hours of sleep I woke up at 10am ready(ish) to show Kristen around Brooklyn. We walked to have a great brunch and then walked around Prospect Park. Afterwards we got ready and headed to see The Drowsy Chaperone with Jerry and Jenna in Times Square, which I despise with the passion of a thousand suns, but is a necessary evil if you like Broadway shows. The show was an absolute blast, and our seats were wonderful. Kristen even got me to pose in the middle of Times Square... this is how much I love her.
But the day wasn't done yet. We went out for dinner in Union Square, and unfortunately I had to stop into work for an hour while Kristen walked around exploring and taking a bunch of great quintessential New York City photos. Afterwards we went for ice cream in Brooklyn and our butts finally hit the couch around 8pm at which point we only had the energy to look at our pictures and watch some episodes of my TV boyfriend's show. We were so tired, but even then I was wired, which brings us to the beginning of this post last night.
Many thanks to everyone who made my 30th birthday weekend the super-duper amazing technicolor party that it was (especially Kristen and Jenna, I love you both so much). This includes all my amazing friends and family from Chi Town who couldn't be here but still gave a phone shout out. My weekend could have only been better if all of you were able to be here in New York!
So, yeah, awesome birthday... and a weekend I'll never forget... at least what I remember of it.
Friday, the birthday, was a busy day at work and I wasn't even able to answer most of the birthday calls that came in. I was truly touched at all the heartfelt and funny messages people left. The day flew by and before I knew it I was in my apartment with Jenna, waiting for Kristen to arrive from Chicago. She was only an hour late, which is considered on time for air travel these days. Starving, we went to a very fun Turkish restaurant in Park Slope. I was so happy to be spending the night with one of my oldest friends and one of my newest, both of who mean the absolute world to me. It would turn out that the three of us would be together for much of the entire weekend to come.
Saturday morning we went to brunch with Jerry and Jenna at this great diner called Tom's Restaurant. It's the kind of place where you actually wait in line to get in, but the entire time they are bringing food and drinks around. There was water, coffee, cookies, sausage and orange fourths. Once we got in the food was absolutely amazing. It is definitely a must visit brunch spot for all future visitors. And here are the girls, sharing a chocolate egg cream...
Saturday was a really hot day, but Kristen wanted to see the city so Jenna and I took her on a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge. We took lots of fun pictures, even though it was hazy. From there we walked to TKTS to get half price Sunday matinée tickets to see The Drowsy Chaperone. We planned to take the Staten Island Ferry just for the boat ride, but we missed it by two minutes and ended up in Battery Park. Which turned out to be really nice. Hot as we were, when we stumbled across a fountain a bunch of kids were playing in we couldn't help but join them. I would have been soaking wet if it weren't for my new blue hair, as it still runs blue when it gets wet!
Now as I write it's Monday night. That day went by fast, didn't it? I finally succumbed to the tired last night. Which leaves me to talk about the big party Saturday night. It was amazing. I was so incredibly happy to be surrounded by all my fabulous New York friends. The only one missing was Megan, but she was excused because she and her boyfriend Paul got engaged the night before out on Long Island. So it was perfectly acceptable that they were missing, although they certainly were missed.
We started the night at Wined Up, my favorite place for an after work bottle of wine and fondue. There's just no better way to erase a bad day than with a good Meritage and a vat of melted cheese. But that's another post. Back to the party. It was like my own little tasting. We ordered a bunch of different wines and I got a glass of each. I had three glasses in front of me at all times. And everyone else was doing the same. We closed the place down (I think) and went to another bar called Flatiron Lounge at 1am. We lost some people at this point. We closed Flatiron at 3am, or maybe 4am (I think) and at this point we were down to four revelers... me, Andy, Ashwan and Matt. Ashwan led the way to the next bar, which I couldn't name and couldn't find again if I had a gun to my head. I was just being led around by the boys. I'm pretty sure we closed this place down but I have no idea what time. I was hungry so we went to a diner, at which point we lost Ashwan very suddenly. So it was down to Andy, Matt and I having burgers at 5am. In the cab on the way home it was getting light outside and I can't remember the last time I was home at dawn.
The next morning, after three hours of sleep I woke up at 10am ready(ish) to show Kristen around Brooklyn. We walked to have a great brunch and then walked around Prospect Park. Afterwards we got ready and headed to see The Drowsy Chaperone with Jerry and Jenna in Times Square, which I despise with the passion of a thousand suns, but is a necessary evil if you like Broadway shows. The show was an absolute blast, and our seats were wonderful. Kristen even got me to pose in the middle of Times Square... this is how much I love her.
But the day wasn't done yet. We went out for dinner in Union Square, and unfortunately I had to stop into work for an hour while Kristen walked around exploring and taking a bunch of great quintessential New York City photos. Afterwards we went for ice cream in Brooklyn and our butts finally hit the couch around 8pm at which point we only had the energy to look at our pictures and watch some episodes of my TV boyfriend's show. We were so tired, but even then I was wired, which brings us to the beginning of this post last night.
Many thanks to everyone who made my 30th birthday weekend the super-duper amazing technicolor party that it was (especially Kristen and Jenna, I love you both so much). This includes all my amazing friends and family from Chi Town who couldn't be here but still gave a phone shout out. My weekend could have only been better if all of you were able to be here in New York!
So, yeah, awesome birthday... and a weekend I'll never forget... at least what I remember of it.
August 24, 2007
Turns out, 30, not so old
I've been 30 for nearly 8 hours now, and I've got to tell you, doesn't feel much different. Granted, I've been sleeping for 7 of those hours, but still. I will say that there is a general feeling of awesomeness, but I felt that way yesterday, and a few days before, and pretty much since I moved to New York and found my job and a slew of amazing friends. I guess this is what it feels like to be happy with your life. Sweet.
The birthday well wishes may commence.
The birthday well wishes may commence.
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