Movin, ya'all

View in the winter

View in the evening.
***

I'm moving tomorrow. I don't have a lot of pics of the inside of my spot, but a lot of you have been there and have been able to experience the magic and majesty of our pad. HUH, BABE?! I freaking love this apartment. It's the best spot, except for the big house, that I've ever lived in.

The rooms - so spacious! The view - so breathtaking! The kitchen - so rad!

We've had visitors: mom and dad, one sister, almost all the girls from college, many of the boys (some of you have spent too long away, that's for sure: Samoi, Derek), pals who used to live here and left (Jessicurl!!!!!, phillie folks), oldest friend & hubby, a few randoms, and a partridge in a pear tree.

The dia de los muertos party came to life in this spot, and will hopefully be a tradition I have from now on. We got the biggest Christmas tree we've ever had in this spot - no more Charlie Brown tree for us!

Two couches! A dining room table with real, matching chairs!

Our new spot will be dope, too. But this post is about the old spot! See ya, 6H! You've been rad.

Numbers - Moving Edition

Since we last talked (barring that post with those storm/sky photos, of course), I:

1. Drank several beers on the roof during a freak storm in NYC - twelve floors above the ground.
2. Packed about thirty boxes in the pad. Got rid of about eight bags of garbage. Got together about 5 boxes of stuff to give away. Anyone need a lava lamp?
3. Went to the Smoke Joint for dinner on Saturday and drank a six point sweet action.
4. Watched the Yankees win each of three games against the Mets. That's what they call a Sweep, kids.
5. Went to the Farmer's Market and spent about $25 dollars on: fresh beets, zucchini, cucumbers, squashes of all different sizes, tomatoes and strawberries. The beets were the most delicious food on earth.
   

NY Sky

Right above us.

Looking north to the Empire State Building. And where Zhoul lives, apparently.

After the storm.
***

Last night was one of the crazy sky nights in NYC. We were sitting on the terrace at my work, enjoying the view and a few post work beers when the sky turned a shade of dark gray that you really only see in movies. Snapped a few shots before going inside to wait out the storm. Then headed back up in time for sunset and those little cotton ball clouds. I'm not the only one who took pictures - have a look at these, too!

Haiku Friday

The king of pop, dead.
Michael Jackson - he gave us
many, many gifts.

Thriller, PYT,
repeat after me! I said
nah, nah, nah nah nah.

Liberian Girl -
click the link and watch it. It's
totally awesome.

The Circus

Yesterday, Babe and I and a few pals headed out to Coney Island for the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey circus! Dude, when's the last time you were at the circus? For me, it's been about I don't know, 25 years? My dad took us when we were really little and I don't remember much about it. Let me tell you, the circus is super fun! There were tigers and elephants (see above!) and ladies hanging from ropes on the ceiling, and motorcycles riding around inside of a big steel cage, and people riding tiny, tiny bicycles.

Then, we went for Ukrainian food at Cafe Glechick in Brighton Beach. We had about 125 dumplings - really - little bite sized morsels of deliciousness, and a ton of Ukrainian and Russian beer.

Nerd

Two things have made me even nerdier than usual:

1. Yankees Classics: Not last night but the night before, there was no Yankee game on so I started watching Yankee Classics on YES. That means I was watching an old Yankee game. It was awesome though, 1996 world series between the Braves and the Yankees, game six. All the players who are on the team now, like Jeter and Pettit and Gerrardi and Rivera, were all tiny young people and very cute. Nerdalicious.
2. Comic books: I've been ordering comic books on the interweb. You know, graphic novels. Next stop? Comic con.

Building Collapse

Went out to get a few groceries at Associated, on Myrtle Ave. yesterday. You know, some cascade, shredded Parmesan, a rolled up pizza crust and some tortillas. Your basics. And I had totally forgotten about this building collapse right across the street! Read about it here.

You don't see that every day. I mean, for awhile there, in NYC you definitely could see it nearly every day, but I didn't. They were tearing down the building next to it and people had no chance to take out their stuff before the building was demolished. Babe said he saw AC units, computers, clothing flying all over the place.

BTW: I took this picture with my phone. First camera phone, ever. So 2001.

Numbers - Summer Solstice Edition

Since we last chatted, I:

1. Had one of the first weekends at home in about six or seven weeks. It was glorious.
2. Hung out with two peeps from out of town and about 4 or 5 peeps from around town.
3. Went to Brooklyn Fish Camp for the first time, it was pretty delicious.
4. Drank several Six Point Sweet Action beers at various times throughout the weekend.
5. Went for a night cap with Babe, two times.
6. Went to Greenwich Connecticut for the first time, and hung out with a lot of lovely and fun people and three babies, who were also lovely and fun people.
   
7. Played one game of Wii tennis.
8. Read one book, for the third or fourth time.
9. Made one tiny chicken for dinner.
   

Haiku Friday

BWC
last night. Totally awesome.
Dance party, as well!

Lots of friends around.
Visitors in town and some
rolling through briefly.

Took the morning off.
For an egg and cheese with my
cute girlfriend sashie.

Yuckin Fankees!

Can I tell you guys, this is the first phone I've ever had with a camera on it. I know, how 1997, right? Even my last blackberry didn't have a camera. The new one does, though, and I'm incredibly impressed with the quality of my photographs. As well as my total awesomeness. Wait, where did I just go for a second there? Anyways, because of my awesome blackberry I was able to take pictures at last night's super fun Yankee game and post them immediately to facebook. My goodness.

The game was super fun, too bad the yankees lost to the worst team in baseball. Sigh. We sat in the bleachers and it was so fun and so rowdy, dudes!! I think I'll sit there from now on.

G*d Dammit, Bill Compton. I love you, too.

Dudes. Did you guys watch the season premiere of True Blood?? Holy mackerel. That was so sexy I blush when I think about it!! Good god, people. Everyone looks at least 10% thinner, 15% more buff, and all around super hot. Anna Paquin is a barbie doll. And believe me, we saw enough of her to know that for sure. That show is trashy AND amazing, just incredible. If you don't watch it, you probably ought to.

Unless you're too scared, which you should be.

conference

I am a conference all day in Long Island City. I'll tell you what I learn. Just kidding, I will never speak of what I learn here today.

Numbers - DC Edition

Since I last saw you, I:

1. Took two train rides, one to and one from DC. the one to DC left super early on Saturday morning but was so nice and relaxing.
   
2. Saw at least three monuments, including: Lincoln Memorial, World War II and the Vietnam Memorial.
3. Was asked by one police officer to get off the grass near the Vietnam Memorial; witnessed my friend asked by one police officer to get off the steps of the Department of Justice.
4. Went to brunch on Sunday where 32 mimosas were consumed. Bottomless, baby! Flavors: blueberry, peach ginger, blood orange, mango, pear.
5. Took no less than six cab rides. Six? One from Union Station to our hotel, one to Penn on Saturday morning, one home from Penn on Sunday night, one to Union Station from Georgetown, one out and about DC...maybe just five.
6. Received one free bottle of champagne for our stay at the Beacon Hotel.
7. Cried one time on the trip, while reading the Emancipation Proclamation. Go on, Abe Lincoln!
8. Saw four stories worth of my peeps at the National Museum of the American Indian. That museum was pretty awesome, you guys, and not just because it's about my people. I'll tell you more about that later in the week.
   
9. Spent a lot of time on numbered streets: 15th & Pennsylvania, 20th and M St to name a few.
10. Partook in three dozen buffalo wings, at .25 each.
11. Partook in an $8.00 pitcher. ($8.00 pitchers during Red Sox games - too bad the Sox lost. Not really, I'm glad they did.)
12. Hung out with at least five amazing people all weekend long. Sometimes a couple more, sometimes a couple less.
    

All the ladies

From my mom and dad's anniversary party!

Haiku Friday

Checked out Lucali
in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
Delicious pizza.

Pepperoni and
basil. (BFF hates that.)
I think its awesome.
***
Time for a meeting.
The second of several.
Yay working Friday.

Very Random

I took some super random pictures while I was away for two weeks. I've got to be honest with you guys, this is not my best vacation album. Could be because it wasn't really vacation? I don't know. Either way, here's a sample. I'm going to have to use other people's pictures to really be able to show you some nice shots of people and sights.

I took Babe to Yolanda's in Oxnard, which is the place we went to celebrate just about every occasion when I was growing up. They literally have the best chips and salsa on the planet. This was my breakfast on Sunday morning before we rolled back down to San Diego.

This is a key lime cupcake that I ate in Solana Beach.

This is Winnie the Pooh. Last seen at Disneyland.

This is my niece Nava.

Does anyone know why the speed limit at Disneyland is 14 miles an hour?

June

Shoot...I don't have my list of things to talk to you about up and running yet...Just like I don't have a list of things for the two people who ask me for work to do every day...Which is more important?...June is going well so far...Today is Lisa's birthday...Happy Birthday Tootsie Pie...
The Yankees are having a hard time defeating the Red Sox...Last night's game super sucked...I've started reading books other than vampire books...Don't worry, it won't last...I'm going to DC this weekend, maybe I'll take a few pictures...I'll try to holler again later when I have something more relevant to share.

Right up in yo face and dis you!

Just got back from the Bronx - took the long way to get where I needed to go in more ways than one. It was also total thunder and lightning in the morning. Wild. I walked the wrong way, took the wrong train, all that jazz.

Anyways. I'm back at my desk now. Ready to roll and work it. Ethiopian food for lunchie - SO DELICIOUS.

Numbers

Since we last chatted, I:

1. Went down to Villanova, PA, a two hour drive or three in traffic, to attend and bridesmaid in a wedding.
2. Drove back to Brooklyn in scorchingly beautiful June weather. It was absolutely gorgeous on the ole NJ Turnpike. Shit, I need a number. We spent about $20 in tolls for a two hour drive.
3. Lost $13 in a poker game.
4. Had one rehearsal dinner, one wedding, and one breakfast at a diner in Wayne, Pennsylvania.
5. Went out to dinner at OTTO, which means EIGHT in Italian.
6. Tried the wine bar 8th St. Wine Bar, on 8th St.
7. Did not read one book.
   
8. Did not watch one TV show, or any number of movies.
9. Danced my bootie off in three and a half inch heels, all night long!
   

Haiku First Week Back Friday

Another week done,
after today anyways.
Not the easiest.

But, my Dad is fine.
Cancer free says the doctor.
That's all that matters.

Now he has to heal,
Which will take plenty of time,
But at least it's done.

Cod & Babe

The Andrea is really an amazing photographer. She took this picture of me and Babe post BFF's boda and I thought we looked so famous that you might enjoy it, too. Lucky for me, Ang left her shades at the wedding so I was able to use them as props at the after party. At the Whale's Tail in Oxnard, California.

Flores rellenos de la calabaza

Yum! Yesterday, Babe and I met with the co-op board so we could move into our new apartment on July 1st. Babe loves his traditions, and so the first time we did this, two years ago, to move into the same co-op, but different apartment, we went to dinner at Bonita on DeKalb. So this time, we went to the same place.

The food there is pretty good for east coast Mexican, their burritos are kind of awesome. Their Sangria sucks a bunch, but I can forgive them that. Anyways, you know all of this, I'm sure, because I've talked about Bonita before and I know you remember everything I write about. What you don't know, though, is that they had this special yesterday called Flores Rellenos de la Calabaza and what this is tiny bits of heaven. Lightly fried squash blossoms with a cilantro salsa. YUM. Want one? Let's go!

Eskimo Pies

I'm making a list of things to talk to you about so I don't run out. Eskimo Pies is on my list. These delicious chocolate-y treats taste exactly the same as they did in my youth. I had one (two, okay) when I was home in San Diego. Love them! Is the packaging somewhat racist? Did it used to be worse? Are you allowed to say eskimo? All questions I have. Either way, delicious.

Reminds me of that guy, that one time, who got on the subway and started handing out ice cream bars. Member him? Me and Babe were on the way home from a Yankee game, I think, (*by the way - go Yanks!) and this fella sat down in his muscle tee and hard core looks. Proceeded to pull out a box of ice cream sandwiches, the old skool delicious kind, and handed one to the guy sitting next to him. The guy was like, really?? He then handed one to the guy on his other side. Yay for sharing.

June

May certainly was one of the busiest months on record - let's see what June has in store for us. The wedding marathon continues next weekend in Pennsylvania. I will be loaning out my mad bridesmaid skills out one last time before I hang up the bouquet for the year. Unless of course someone decides to have a shotgun wedding that needs me to be there. Shotgun! Bang. Going to DC the weekend after to see Ruby & Joaquin, and visit with Hung and Liz. I hope we go to the Smithsonian with all my Native American brothers and sisters but if not that is okay too. After that, peeps will be heading to Brooklyn to enjoy our 2 bedroom before we are downgraded to a one bedroom. After they split, then we move. To a one bedroom. Yikes! It's going to be big, though. A big one bedroom.
***
Last night, I didn't have anything to do. Nothing wedding related to do, nothing to make, no craft project. Just me, the Yankees and a Vampire romance novel.
Amen.

Numbers

Since we last chatted, I:

1. Got home! Back to Brooklyn for the first time in two weeks. That's the longest I've been away since my honeymoon, six years ago.
2. Slept a lot of hours, til noon on Saturday and eleven on Sunday.
3. Went to two neighborhood restaurants - cooking? Not me, apparently.
4. Didn't do much, really. Spent basically two full days hiding out in my apartment. Walked around Manhattan some on Saturday, bought one gift and tried a new bar, called The Pony Bar in Hells Kitchen. It was a pretty nice spot, really nice bartenders, good beers all for five dollars each.
   
5. Unpacked three suitcases.
   
6. Did two loads of laundry.
7. Ordered one week's worth of groceries from Fresh Direct.