The Penrose

After Pastrami Queening, Frynn, Frichelle L and I decided we needed to quench our thirst by going to The Penrose.

Photo by me

Photo by me

We didn't eat. Just showing you the menu. 

Photo by me

Pretty water

Photo by me

My Lovage Pimm's Cup. 

Photo by me

Did I tell you I went to Wellesley College?

I got contacted by a fledgling Wellesley grad looking for advice in getting into healthcare PR. And coming from Wellesley which has an extremely strong alum network, I responded and gave her the truth- the good, the bad, the ugly, and the asking for more money at every opportunity truth. We Wellesley women have to help each other out. 

A long time ago, a Wellesley alum (did I mention I went to Wellesley?) helped me get into healthcare PR even after she told me the dark truth. I just wanted to jump in with both feet first so I did not heed her dire warnings. . Just like this recent grad from Wellesley (did I mention that I...). 

I also got her in contact with some of former colleagues. I did this not only because she is a Wellesley alum (did I mention...) but also because she's wicked smaht. So she got a job and I am very proud to have helped mentor her through the process. 

One day I got a package in the mail which included a thank you note and a tiny stuffed giraffe wearing a Wellesley t-shirt -- it's also a magnet! -- from said Wellesley alum (did I mention that I went to Wellesley?). 

I'm not sure who got the better side of the bargain on this one but I am glad to help a Wellesley sister out.  Because I went to Wellesley. 

Giant, privileged whiner says,

"Who schedules a conference call at 8:30 am?"

Red Carpet Down 42nd Street - All-Star Baseball Game

Midtown is jammed because of this giant red carpet down 42nd Street in celebration for the All-Star Baseball Game.  There will be a parade down this red carpet.  According to MLB.com, "The parade will move approximately 80,000 square feet on a red carpet, beginning at Bryant Park on 42nd Street and Sixth Ave., continuing past Grand Central Terminal and ending at 42nd Street and Third Ave."

I am not sure how I feel about this, but I have to say it is one helluva PR stunt.

Photo by M. Park

Photo by M. Park

Photo by M. Park

Monster the Frenchie

I was walking to my favorite Goodwill and I saw this dog in the window.  The dog was just chilling.  Not doing anything in particular.  Wasn't anxiously waiting for its hoomans.  Just staring at the scenary.  Even dogs on the street didn't phase him.

Photo by M. Park

Photo by M. Park

Photo by M. Park

Photo by M. Park

Then I noticed this sign above the dog's head.  He's Monster the Frenchie.  And he has a Facebook page. 

This has got to be the coolest French bulldog I have ever seen.

So nice to meet you, Monster, even if it was through a window.

Photo by M. Park

Kinkajous - adorable (but not appropriate house pets - but still adorable)

From cuteoverload.com

Me the last two days

Thanks, Frannie

remember this

http://pinterest.com/pin/61854194855178268

Contemplating Cat

From Tastefully Offensive via Cheezburger.com

Sleepy dwarf

I keep falling asleep on the bus on the way home. And yesterday was the second time I missed my stop. Luckily I got off at the next stop which was unfortunately nowhere my apartment. 

Right now I am trying everything to keep my eyes open.  So far this isn't working. 

I'm going to keep trying to keep my eyes stretched open. It might work. 

Survived

I survived my first day of work at my new job. Talk about information overload. Brain burst.

Cat lady strikes again

From icanhascheesberger.com:

"You're Very Interspecial To Me"

(C)ICANHASCHEEZBURGER.COM

head explosion

NOMI IS TWO!

Nomi's photo from the Humane Society

Nomi came into my life in August, after many cats.  Yes, too many.  There was Boo Radley, who was the best of the best.  Then Esme, and then Auggie.  And then I promised everyone to stop getting cats. And I immediately adopted another cat.  But this time, it was a great match.  Nomi is an incredibly sweet soul and I am so glad that she is in my life.

Now all I know is she was born around March; so I decided that today is her 2nd birthday.  She didn't get a cake, but she got some extra loving and even MORE playtime, if that is possible.

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NOMI!  (I still can't believe I own a cat)

Nomi's first couple of days were spent in the bathroom

But she soon got used to the apartment.

And she finally slept next to me. (I still can't get her
to sleep in my lap, but next to is a good enough).

She spent a lot of time the first week behind the
DVD player.  She was only 7 lbs so she could squeeze in.  She's now 8 lbs and can't fit in there :)

Television fascinates her.

She even traveled with me to Florida,
where she spent the most of her time
under the bed.  Or in front of the window
 staring at totally different stuff from New York

She's gotten a little chunky but she is quite regal.

And she plays fetch.  But sometimes she purposely
 tosses her paper ball under things just to get at them.

And I still love her.

Sleeping on the MTA

Last night coming back on the A train I fell asleep. Which actually is normal. I however normally wake up a couple of stops before mine. This time I didn't. Now my stop is the absolutely last stop on the A. So luckily it wasn't that big deal. However what was disturbing is that the subway cop had to wake me up. Thankfully he just lightly touched my shoulder. The other people sleeping in my car were men and he woke them by banging his baton against the poles.

Now today on the express bus to the UES I fell asleep in the bus. Which is pretty normal. However this time if it wasn't for a a quick eye peek I almost missed my stop.

I guess the moral of this story is I am f***ing tired.

Addendum
Fell asleep on the express bus coming back and missed my stop entirely and am now touring Riverdale and Yonkers. I'll get home in about another hour...

Art is up

Finally got three pieces of art up. Only took a year. Not bad time really.

First one is in kitchen. Second in bathroom. Third in hallway. Really it took me about 10 yrs. I've been holding onto these things for years.

I feel defined.

I really like A Word A Day. It's a great site.  Today's word really hit home for some reason.

http://wordsmith.org/words/today.html

Xanthippe or Xantippe

PRONUNCIATION:

(zan-THIP-ee, -TIP-) 

MEANING:

noun: A nagging, ill-tempered woman.

ETYMOLOGY:

After Xanthippe, wife of Socrates (c. 5 BCE) who has been portrayed as a nagging, quarrelsome woman. The name Xanthippe is from xanthos (yellow) + hippos (horse). Also see xanthodontous. Earliest documented use: 1691.

NOTES:

Socrates is said to have advised, "By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher." It's not known what Socrates thought would happen if the roles were reversed. Also, there's the question of which came first: philosophizing or being ill-tempered. Would being married to a philosopher turn a woman into a shrew?

USAGE:

Mistress Foster is a grasping shrew, a Xanthippe, who bosses her husband about."
Jean Howard; Theater of a City: The Places of London Comedy; University of Pennsylvania Press; 2009.

(c) 2013 Wordsmith.org

Where did Jersey go?

fun weekend in nyc

My friend Fren came to visit last weekend and we started off the weekend with dinner with Frike and Fraul at one of my favorite restaurants, Marseille.  It's a part of the Tour de France restaurant chains, and is solid in my book.

Then Saturday morning, we decided to start the day off right with breakfast at Sylvia's.  We both had the breakfast of champions, fried chicken and grits.

Then we walked our way down to the Met with Frussell, Frob and their friend Frarry.  We saw lots of interesting things:

Then, Frynn suggested a great exhibit to go to:  Ann Hamilton's Event of A Thread.  It was closing last weekend so we of course got in line to see it.

Me and Fren

Frynn who refuses to be photographed

For more information about this exhibit go here:  Ann Hamilton's Event of A Thread

I don't want to go into the details, but will just show you the videos and photos:

 It was an excellent exhibit and a great weekend.  Thanks for visiting, Fren!

And of course, what post isn't complete without a photo of Nomi.

I may be sick...

but my feet are happy

FOUR YEARS SMOKE-FREE!

I can't believe it's been four years.  Actually I thought last year was four years, but one of my smoke-free rehab partners reminded us all that it was in 2009 that we were holed up at Kripalu in the first week of January, snow all around us.  I had joined this smoke-free workshop that included talk therapy, hypnosis, acupuncture and meditation.  Well, our group wandered around together like a bunch of rehabers, dragging ourselves around in sweats, in a nicotine-withdrawal fog.  It was hard, but there was something about being isolated in the snowy Massachusetts woods, going through this with a bunch of other people that pulled me through.  That and I was seriously determined to stop.  I was driven to do it.

It was the most difficult thing I have ever had to do and I struggle with it still.  I think once an addict, always an addict.  I still have my moments when I think, I want a cigarette, but I have to remind myself why I quit.  I will always be smoke-free.

Ye Olde PSAs from the 80s

PSA - Time for Timer - Breakfast

PSA - Time For Timer - Hanker For A Hunk O Cheese