You Better Work!

Won't Back Down

2009-05-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

I'm such a sap this made me cry. Thanks to Brian at the The Life of BMW.

I mean, seriously, I lose things all the time

2009-05-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

Today I just want to share one of my favorite poems, both as a permanent place to keep it, and to share it with you, my friends. Without further adieu, the great Elizabeth Bishop:

One Art
by Elizabeth Bishop

The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.


--Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied.  It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.

From The Complete Poems 1927-1979 by Elizabeth Bishop, published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Inc. Copyright © 1979, 1983 by Alice Helen Methfessel. Used with permission of Farrar, Straus & Giroux, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Ideal Spring Dinner Party

2009-04-06T19:37:00.000-07:00

So I'm on the twitter. But I can't figure out how to add it to my blog. Everytime I try, I hit a wall. Which is why I think I need to marry a big nerd. So he can just swoop in and fix my life (all aspects would be nice but just internet-wise is more than sufficient). ANYWAY, I was browsing through my friends and I saw this from my old pal, Martha Stewart:

A direct link to photos of the dinner party at my house http://bit.ly/1NosPy

How could I resist? And the first photo was stunning. (See above)

Suffice it to say: My table has NEVER looked like that. And my next party is late-20's themed, so it still won't. But my GOD, what I could do with a staff of 150.

It's Okay to be Gay...

2009-03-16T11:52:00.001-07:00

My homegurl Peter introduced me to this video over the weekend, and I just had to share it with my three faithful blog friends.

Intervention with Kristin Chenoweth from Kristin Chenoweth

And We Fell

2009-03-12T18:24:00.000-07:00

I stole this from Kay Hanley and thought it's be fun. I don't know the rules exactly but I assumed that it was put your iTunes on Shuffle and put the answers in the order of your iTunes. Meh. Let's see if it's funny/true/revealing.

IF SOMEONE SAYS ‘ARE YOU OKAY’ YOU SAY? Just Missed the Train (Kelly Clarkson)

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Rudderless (Lemonheads)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? Ultimate (Lindsay Lohan)

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY? I'm Outta Love (Anastacia)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE? Say (Cat Power)

WHAT’S YOUR MOTTO? You Wanna Get Me High (the Donnas)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? Galapagos (Kay Hanley)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? Alice Springs (Liz Phair)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN? What Love (Moby)

WHAT IS 2 + 2? Stop the Wedding (Etta James)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? Inner Strength (Hilary Duff)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? Call Me Irresponsible (Bobby Darin) *wow.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? Don't Mug Yourself (The Streets)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? Stomp (Steps)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? I Think That I Would Die (Hole)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? What It Feels Like for A Girl (Madonna) *am I going to transistion? This quiz can tell my (tranny) future!

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? Something Stupid (Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR? Benjamin (Veruca Salt)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? Lost and Saved (Juliana Hatfield)

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW? Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (Eartha Kitt)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? Kick Start (Lisa Loeb)

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS? And We Fell (Lucero)

Don't Divorce Them, courtesy of Caity

2009-03-04T15:56:00.000-08:00

I got this in an e-mail from Caity and of course it made me cry.

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

Saturdays are for Mimes and Stinky Cheeses

2009-01-28T11:57:00.001-08:00

So this is what I did on my saturday night. I sat in an audience of a beautiful theatre and watched a man in a striped black and white costume dance around to Mika's "Love Today".

This clown's name is Weego.

Fierce lipsynching!

If there's one thing about Cirque Le Masque that I know it's that "that sh*t is fucked up". Seriously, I saw a woman flip her body completely over her head, and then pull herself off the ground just using her TEETH! It was zaniness that kept me both riveted and anxious the whole time. A good time was had by all!

Prior to this, we dined at the Rustic Kitchen, whose menu I found to have really gone down hill. When they first opened, they had a branch at Faneuil Hall which I thought was very fun. They were supposed to serve the greatest hits of Todd English's other restaurants and some rustic adaptations of classic Italian dishes (or at least that's how I perceived them). It was...good. In fact, everyone else at the table had better dishes than me (which might be why I am a bitter bitch about it). I noticed that since Todd has no input, the menu is straight up suburban restaurant fare. Baked Rigatoni (I have no idea if this was on before or not). They kept the mac 'n cheese (good call) but whatever. Who doesn't do a gourmet mac 'n cheese now? Anyway, Grilled Pears Filled with Gorgonzola? Might be the best thing I've had this year.
+= Yum!

And for good measure a picture of where I will one day sit and watch the opera at the Cutler Majestic:

Love

Things I Did in Upstate New York

2009-01-27T09:25:00.000-08:00

So, the past two weekends have been a blur of family activities. I have been meaning to be a better poster to my blog (what up New Year's Resolution: it's January 27th!)and so comes today's installment in my life.

MLK weekend I went to visit my brother in the Bronx with my parents. We left early on Sunday (around 7 a.m.) and got there around 11. First up, a tour of the Bartow-Pell Mansion right around the corner from his house in the Bronx. It was a beautiful spread. The house was built in the 1830's in a Federal style. Though they don't have any original furniture the pieces they do have are all period on loan from the Met and other reputable museums and they are just gorgeous.

The Double Living Room

The only picture they allowed me to take was in this Garden room which was originally a greenhouse attached to the house (no need to go outside to garden!) and is now used for parties.

It was mad fun. Immediately following this tour we went up to Tarrytown which is a sleepy and ritzy little hamlet 10 minutes north from Pat's house. It was where the Rockefellers and other New York rich families had their country homes. We visited the home of the Bernie Madoff of his day, Jay Gould.

Lyndhurst

I think I was the only real fan of Lyndhurst in my group. It is a completely Gothic revival manse/castle situated right on the Hudson. I thought it would be a great place to have a weekend murder-mystery weekend a la the Golden Girls!

There was also a beautiful gallery upstairs that had a very church-y stained glass window. Which had a cute little frame in it from which to view the Hudson.

For dinner that night my parents, brother and I took out my friend Diane to a cute little bistro in the Murray Hill area called Artisinal. It was so so so good! I had 4 martini's so you know I was loving it. It was great french fare and it was 1/2 way for us and Diane. It was perf!

The Dining Room

And Sunday we returned so I could so my reading. All in all, It was a fun way to spend a weekend, and I encourage any of you out reading out there to do a weekend away in the Hudson River Valley!

A New Day: A New Fierce

2009-01-20T12:12:00.000-08:00

I don't know if it's chartreuse or not, but My GOD that is an Inauguration outfit!

(courtesy of nationalpost.com)

Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself...

2009-01-13T07:48:00.000-08:00

From Gmail today:

Funny Quote of the Day - Diogenes - "What I like to drink most is wine that belongs to others."

Taking a cue from Pink Shoes...

2009-01-03T11:03:00.000-08:00

And I'm sure she's already done this before, but I am so obsessed I had to bring it up.
The similarities are striking.

1. The Main Character:

2. The one who tells it like it is, no holds barred. (This bitch can read)

3. The Pollyanna

Am I right?

Most Important Thing I leanred this Weekend...

2008-12-28T07:15:00.000-08:00

If you can connect Andie MacDowell to Kevin Bacon- you can rule at Six Degrees.

Why I can Never talk to my friends about Law & Order

2008-08-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

Taken from a New York Magazine review:
The hydra-headed Law & Order franchise encourages an impatience with those very scruples that distinguish our legal system from, say, Zimbabwe’s, as if pettifogging barristers, hair-splitting judges, bleeding-heart social workers, do-gooder civil libertarians and other professional tear ducts sought deliberately to thwart rude justice. Bring on the secret tribunals and the lynch mobs!
-John Leonard
More Lawyers With Libidos

Is it awful...

2008-01-08T18:41:00.000-08:00

That I want this?

I'll always love you Britney Jean. We'll always have "Oops!"

The one thing I wanted for Christmas...

2008-01-07T19:23:00.001-08:00

Was THIS

I think Sarah & I tried to get it going at the Christmas party, but it's not the same without the Trimuverate (+1)!

And omg: remember nymphitup y'all?

Loving Martha

2007-10-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

So in my nasal haze, I have been perusing the internets for happy diversions for my brain. Tonight, I have been obsessed with Martha Stewart's goodbye to Turkey Hill.
I used to watch Martha's show when it first premiered in the early 90's with my grandmother. We just adored the way she hearkened back to another era, namely my grandmother's youth. Whatever people said about Martha, I always thought, "But the things she makes and shows you how to do: so brilliant." Whether or not she was a bitch to people behind-the-scenes ,we could never know, but to show people how to do something authentically, like make a terrarium? I appreciate that. I might never make that terrarium, but I appreciate that Martha is instructing me in case I ever do. (Hey- it might happen).

I think my feelings about Martha are much like Amy Sedaris'feelings about Martha: genuine admiration and affection, but i realize she's waaaaay different from me. And I love her for it.

Sick & Tired

2007-10-02T18:43:00.000-07:00

I am so sick. I feel like I want to die. And we all know what Mr. Elton thinks about sore throats: Here.

In other news, I feel like school is really kicking my ass. I haven't found that balance of being able to work on school and leave and work my (2) jobs.

And I totally agree with Dan: Men Suck.

And R.I.P. Avalon

You were good to us all.

2007-09-20T07:51:00.000-07:00

This article on Lower Back Tattoos is hilarious. I feel bad for the preggers women, but a little satire on a Thursday never hurt anyone.

So I haven't been posting since way back. School's just been crazy and since I've been single I've been partying it up (August is a blur) and being a big whore. But it's been fun to see my friends, go dancing every week at Avalon with Chris & Danny, and just generally turn off the Lit Crit section of my brain and give in to the part that's only concerned with gossip & drinking.

But now school's begun. And it's kicking my ass. Literary Satire is a great class- we read a lot of Onion articles. And British Writers of the 1920's? Modernism at its very best. My favorite class, however, is History of Furniture & Architecture I Ancient-18th Century. I can't wait to get to the Federal period (whihc apparently will eb the last week of class), but still the Roman baths and Greek temples are fascinating in their own right. Makes me miss Europe a little.

I guess there's not much else to report. This weekend I plan on seeing my friend amy tomorrow after work, getting beers at the 21st Amendment (anyone else want to join?) and Saturday is Diana's birthday. I need a break from Avalon for a least a week, cause GURl, it is too much DRAMA!

The Drunken NUH returns...

2007-05-22T18:37:00.000-07:00

So this weekend my oh-so-adorable boyfriend wanted me to meet one of his co-workers and his boyfriend for dinner. This way we would be including a gay couple into our mix (a la Miranda's boss with her and the lesbo, Sydney).
Anyways, I was amenable and the other couple decided to have us over for dinner at their insanely nice Marina Bay condo. I mean, this place was hooked up. Panoramic view of the city, beautiful appliances, bubbling jacuzzi tub, I mean The WORKS. So we go, and the gin flowed like wine. And you know me, I just love a G & T. Or twelve.

Long story short, I drink my body weight, make out with Stephen on the couch and take off my shirt (I remember none of this). So, Stephen's co-worker & his bf are none too pleased, considering that the boyfriend's kids are in the next room. I am out-of-line (if only he had really seen me out of line- mein gott in de himmel!). Anyways, I am totally inappropriate, Stephen's confused because he's never seen me like this and I decide to pull The Classic Andy Thing To Do While Drunk. I took the eff off. Not since the Manray debacle of '03 have I pulled this shizz. I mean I drank like it was Providence, people.

Then, I got lost in Marina Bay (?) and tried to jump a fence to get back to my destination. Mind you, the fence is topped with barbed wire and I decide that I'll just throw my jacket over the b.w. to continue my journey back to the building, and Stephen, who is waiting for me in the lobby, hoping he doesn't have to sleep there since I am not answering my phone. Suffice it to say, I have a scar on my hand that resembles the Stigmata, and I am still thanking the Christ Child that I have a boyfriend.

My god, will I ever learn?

Looking through dead people's houses

2007-04-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

So this weekend I took off to go to Vermont and help my mom and her siblings with cleaning out my Gram's house. It was a long two days since I ended up going out boozing on Friday with my boyfriend(!). So I was hungover on Saturday morning and we got to South Royalton at about 11 a.m. and we worked. We basically cleared out my grandmother's whole house. There's very little left in terms of furniture, bric-a-bracs, books, kitchen supplies, and various sundry and assorted items. It was cathartic and quite emotional for all involved, and this is going on year two of the process. The point of this blog entry however was to say how much I like Vermont, and by extention, the country.

I feel as if I'm Samuel Taylor Coelridge when I go to Vermont. It's as if I'm some English gentleman who writes poetry and loves "town" but spends his leisure time in the country. It's so peaceful, so idyllic where my grandmother lives, it's as if I'm on vacation just 3 hours from Boston. I love going antiquing, and all the fun vacation things they have up there, but really I'm happiest when we're on my grandmother's property, walking around outside, checking out the forest and wildlife. I guess I'm just a damn dirty hippie at heart.

But when you stumble upon this on some no-name country road, how can you not be drawn there?

Finals and WHAT!

2006-12-14T19:06:00.000-08:00

Finals are done. So not cool. Right now I'm watching the Real World/Road Rules challenge. Too bad Road Rules got cancelled 3 years ago. Before this I watched the office and 30 rock. 30 rock might be the most underrated show on tv. Possibly ever. I'm not that familiar with television history so I'm not the one to say that, but the layers of the human condition that were revealed in one 30-minute episode from feminism to racism to economics to politics to romance and relationships was something I've never encountered in a TV show before (even my favorite SATC- it took them 6 seasons to conquer all those issues!)

Anyway, that commercial where the guy is asleep in bed and his phone rings and he answers it and he says "I was so high last night. You know that wasn't me, right?" That was me last saturday. I'm surprised my back didn't break multiple times. I am still ashamed and embarassed especially after meeting all of Sarah's great and intersting friends. Do you ever wonder: When am I ever going to grow up? I'm sure you do. But, I'm a bigger drunk than you (whoever is reading this). I just am. Face it.

Anyways thanks for reading this far. This was a real boring blog post. And I didn't even talk about how my mangager got fired from work and Christmas? Don't even get me started!!!

You Better BLOG!

2006-10-19T05:15:00.000-07:00

So I never blog. Right now I'm taking 5 classes and working an average of 20 hours a week. I'm up at 6, home at 9 I flop into bed at 11; there's really no time. This morning, however, I had to move mountains to borrow a car so I could attend Blogtoberfest tonight. Hence I am at work at 8:10 (I got here at 7:36) and have time to muse.

So I think the whole blog thing is great...until people take it seriously. I mean, how could you possibly think you're in an exclusve club of techies or intellectuals when Fred Durst has a blog? It's just so...ordinary. I think blogs are a great equalizer in terms of the way people discern information from the internet (i.e. search engines USED to treat them just like legit websites), but seriously if anyone comes at me tonight with "I blog therefore I am" it is on.

In other not-so-bitter musings, the whole work/school agenda is keeping me from my former social self. I realized last night when I couldn't sleep from excitement of the blogfest, that I hardly ever get to go anywhere nowadays. And when I do, I end up going for appetizers/drinks/lunch and overdrawing my account. Thereby negating the good time I had by throwing me into a poor mood (literally).

Seriously, I feel like I'm working just as hard if not harder at this job (granted I don't have to lift filing cabinets or move desks) but am paid less than half what I used to make and no benefits. I love all the people and everything, but I just kinda wish either the pay was better or the work was less. Maybe I am being a big baby. I need to pull the resume out. God I effin' hate looking for a job.

Note: The forst week of school, they had a spread in Donahue (Work Suffolk!) of coffee, donuts, and delixious things one morning. I stopped by and was asked to take a survey of about 20min. in duration, for which I would receive a $10 gift card to the bookstore. The test was psychological and I was found to have mild suicidal tendencies. I was offered counseling and everything, but none of the times fit into my schedule (one of the things that was "stressing me out" was my hectic schedule). Reading this blog entry I now see what the psychologist was talking about. Clearly, I need to just grow up, do my work, and shaddup about it. Oh well. As for the giftcard? I bought the latest Laura Weisenberger chicklit novel, "Everyone worth Knowing" and read it on the train ride home. I felt morally superior to most of the characters which helped with my self-esteem, and called it a day.

2006-09-24T13:52:00.000-07:00

Dinah Shore Buttons & Bows

This weirdo version of B&B is dedicated to the one & only Sarah Stewart. A song one can hob-knob with politicos too!

An Oldie but Goodie

2006-08-17T18:36:00.000-07:00

CanYouLaceMe?
Leave and Up
2002-02-22 / 5:19 p.m.

I love it furious! The platform at Lupo's = our jam back in the day! "I'd rather be alone than unhappy!"-sang by me to Mark across the dancefloor on behalf of Sarah.

So many good times. We'll ahve to see if this whole 21 thing we waited our whole lives for is going to add up. If anyone starts dropping N-bombs like it be Hiroshima up in this piece, I know it will.

Stirring it up with Danny and droppin' N-bombs like it be Hiroshima. Providence, I miss thee. Where is the club you can jump into a pool with your pager on? Where is the ghetto music thursday night at Lupo's? Oh well. New haunts are required for this crew.

Bienvenido a Providence

Watching Laguna Beach

2006-08-12T22:41:00.000-07:00

So I'm drizzy and watching LB. Some of my good friends will never understand my obsession with these priveleged Whiter-than_White California Teens. They are who I always wanted to be minus their brain cell content.
I mean how many Merit Scholars could there be in there? I know, I know, I was no merit scholar BUT I think sometimes that Kristin embodies some of my primitive high-school emotions. In all honestly I watch this show not for the prom proposals, the realtaionship battles or the clique in-fights (though such an added bonus); I watch for the renewal and affirmation of female friendships (only b/c the tv show excludes the gay friends and their role in high school, which is vital and pivotal to many girls in h.s.).

The way the boys treat the girls on the show is so totally disgusting and the fact that the boys won't even dress up for Prom? Deplorable. But I love it when Kristin, Lex and Jess wlll hug and take a picture together, signifiying the friendship between them. [I was drunk live-blogging this from MTV On Demand saturday night. word - Ed.]

When US weekly featured the trio together, I knew I wasn't alone. Because someone else out ther remeembered what it was like to be 17 and going to Prom. It wasn't just a great feeling. It was like your deb ball, your adult night out. That's what adults do, right? Get dressed up for dinner and dancing? Well, they used to anyways, and I still do.

My sophomore year I was asked to junior prom and I was so honored. Maybe it is blaze. Maybe I am out of touch with the Prom's role in H.S. today. But I loved every minute of the proms I attended. They were times I will always cherish (BIg Ups to Lisa Van Rompay)!!!!

Anywas. LB- the girls are so "us" at 19. And by us I mean triumveratre+1. And if you're already drunk and realzing your power at 17, what hope do you have for 21?

Maybe then you don't get cream in your face from your oldest friend at the Hard Rock on your 21st. And that's where these girls fail. Not one of them are still friends. I love how Kristin realizes the high schoolness of it all (in the way I reaized it). It's your innocence squelched. blotted.

But if innocence is relegated to "i better get some D" then I support. Because Third-Wave feminism is what I'm into. THe sunny shores of LB never realized the feminist or pragmatic impiications of my homegirl Kristin. And she is a Sarah S. kind of girl. and that makes me love her forever.