The Vendy Awards

Last Saturday Nick and his family and I went to the Vendy Awards. You can read all about them here, but trust that I consumed nearly every food available. It was a delicious, delicious day. I believe I will be making this a yearly tradition.
Nick thinks its funny that the logo is a hot dog fighting a taco...he's a sick man.

That Teenage Feeling

"That Teenage Feeling"

Now that we've met
We can only laugh at these regrets
Common as a winter cold
They're telephone poles
They follow each other
One, after another, after another
But now my heart is green as weeds
Grown to outlive their season

And nothing comforts me the same
As my brave friend who says,
"I don't care if forever never comes
'Cause I'm holding out for that teenage feeling
I'm holding out for that teenage feeling"

All the loves we had
All we ever knew
Did they fill me with so many secrets
That keep me from loving you
'Cause it's hard, hard

(disclaimer--I couldn't find a video for this song where the sound was halfway decent besides this one)

Kimmy came to visit!

One day I ate until I puked...that was fun.

Recipes--catching up--Chocolate Peanut Butter Madness

Okay, I've made a lot of delicious things lately, but I haven't had time to post the pictures and recipes here--well, I'm doing it. That's it.

For Farihah's birthday I made her a Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cake
I'm wary of any recipe that calls for a boxed cake mix, but this turned out to be one of the most delicious cakes ever. I'll be making it again and again. The only challenge was putting the peanut butter cups on the outside, because when you first pour on the frosting it's very runny, so it was a watching and waiting and putting the cake in the fridge game until the frosting firmed up a bit.

Let's be honest, I'm no food photographer, but I was inspired by Bakerella and her (much better) pictures of the same cake.

Peanut Butter Fudge Cake

Ingredients

• 1 box (18.25 ounces) devil's food
• cake mix
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups chopped chocolate-covered peanut butter cups (about 8 ounces), plus more to garnish
• 8 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line with waxed paper; coat paper.

2. In a large bowl, beat cake mix, eggs, buttermilk and vegetable oil on low for 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium-high; beat for 2 minutes, scraping down side of the bowl after 1 minute. Fold in 2 cups of the chopped peanut butter cups.

3. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 34 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let layers cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Turn out cakes onto wire racks and cool completely.

4. Place chopped dark chocolate in a medium-size bowl. Bring cream just to a boil and pour over chocolate. Whisk until chocolate melts. Add peanut butter and whisk until smooth.

5. Trim top of cake layers flat with a serrated knife. Put 1 cake layer on cooling rack and place on a baking sheet. Pour 1 cup frosting on top; spread evenly with a spatula. Top with remaining cake layer. Pour remaining frosting over the top, allowing it to spill over the sides. Smooth top and sides with spatula. Refrigerate 1 hour to set. Transfer cake to serving plate and garnish with chopped candy, if desired.

Flight of the Conchords

Rachel Ray

Is a bitch! You can tell by looking at her.
And I recently got it on very good authority that she is indeed the worst woman in the world.
I just wanted to share that.

The 21 Club

We had our party for our latest big film at the 21 Club in NY.
You can read all about the history of the 21 Club here, but I've always wanted to go there.
Now, because it was a big event and they were serving tons of people, I won't judge the food from that experience. Don't get me wrong, the steak was great and really rare, but everything else was just okay.
Here's a picture of Danielle and I there and a picture of the profiterole I had for desert.

Donkey Punch

What's the only thing better than working on a movie called Donkey Punch???? Appearing in a scenario where you get to pretend to donkey punch the director. He doesn't look afraid enough.

He's got my vote.

Except for when Christmas time rolls around, cause then clearly there is some shiz going down in his life and he's too busy to run the country...but he is awesome at fighting terrorists.

Woman in Cowsuit Arrested for Disorderly Conduct

Read her story here. It's not funny, but it is.

Back From Austin!

I was in Austin, TX for Fantastic Fest, which is clearly the coolest film festival in the entire world. Wanted to share some pictures of BBQ and boots with y'all.
Ah, Big Red. Awesome.
This picture was taken at Sam's BBQ on 12th St. It was housed in the kind of building that looked like it was straight out of Texas Chainsaw, and I wasn't sure I would make it out alive.
These are my new boots! What better souvenir from Texas than boots. I've begun to wear them every day.

Dunkin D

No one who lives on the West Coast can understand the beauty of Dunkin Donuts. It's just great. I recommend the large french vanilla iced coffee, or if you are way uptown, like above 116th st, cafe frio.
People here take their Dunkin' D seriously too. Like, reall seriously.

No sissies.

Mission Statement

I got to the part in The 7 Habits last night about writing your personal mission statement. I really like this idea, not instead of, but in addition to writing down your goals. For me, goals are something that change all the time. I mean, there's a few that remain like eat healthier, exercise, spend more time with my family, be more patient and loving with everyone, etc....but the mission statement focuses more on values. What are the things that define who you are, what do you want to define you, what do you want to bring to all your interactions in your business life and in your personal life? Steven Covey says that you will revise your mission statement many times, but I'm guessing it won't change nearly as often as your goals. Let's be real, I'm still in my twenties. Knowing what I want is like trying to figure out what kind of meat I'm actually being served at a NY street cart. Some things I know, other things I'm clueless, and some things, just when I think I know, it changes...or I change, or the wind blows, or who the hell knows what...but the core values of who you are, those don't change often. You can try to hide them or ignore them, but you know what's important to you, and if you live life from a value driven center (says Mr. Covey) you aren't affected (well, not as much) as when you live life from other more changeable center, like work, marriage, friends, etc.
I started my personal mission statement, which I don't think is ready for public consumption now, or maybe ever...but here are some steps to making your own:
Your Personal Mission Statement should answer three questions:

1. What is my life about (Purpose)?
2. What do I stand for (Values)?
3. What actions do I take to manifest my Purpose and my Values?

Stephen Covey says "an empowering Mission Statement…
• Represents the deepest and best within you. It comes out of a solid connection with your deep inner life.
• Is the fulfillment of your own unique gifts. It's the expression of your unique capacity to contribute.
• Addresses and integrates the four fundamental human needs and capacities in the physical, social/emotional, mental and spiritual dimensions.
• Deals with all the significant roles in your life. It represents a lifetime balance of personal, family, work, community-whatever roles you feel are yours to fill.
• Is written to inspire you-not to impress anyone else. It communicates to you and inspires you on the most essential level."

“Creating a Personal Mission Statement will be, without question, one of the most powerful and significant things you will ever do to take leadership of you life. In it you will identify the most important roles, relationships, and things in your life – who you want to be, what you want to do, to whom and what you want of give your life, the principles you want to anchor your life to, the legacy you want to leave. All the goals and decisions you will make in the future will be based upon it. It’s like deciding first which wall you want to lean your ladder of life against, and then beginning to climb. It will compass – a strong source of guidance amid the stormy seas and pressing, pulling currents of you life.”
Stephen Covey, author or The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Sugar High Fridays

Not sure if anyone knows this, but my last blog before this was a food blog. I love food blogs. It's like a whole community of people who love good food. For a good recap of the latest fantastic recipes going up on food blogs everywhere, I like to visit Food Gawker...oh, about once a day. There are all kinds of challenges and monthly baking themes that a lot of food bloggers participate in, like The Daring Baker's Challenge, Tuesdays with Dorie, etc...but my favorite is Sugar High Fridays. They pick a dessert theme, and then everyone gets to do their own variation on that. Whoever is hosting that month receives all the entries and then posts pictures and links to the various recipes. Well, this month's theme for Sugar High Friday is Cupcakes: The Final Chapter. It's being hosted by Foodbeam (who is totally awesome) and it's all about coming up with new and interesting cupcakes. Since my boyfriend is kind of in love with cupcakes I think I shall be participating. Hmmm, something different to do with cupcakes. This is going to be a little tough, but I think I can do it.
And if I'm making cupcakes I'll also have to be buying myself one of these bad boys: (red of course)

Lyrics Person

There are lyrics people and there are music people. I am undoubtedly a lyrics person, and when you're a lyrics person, a song is never just a song. Even when sometimes you think it might be, it isn't.

Sir, why must you sully my good name?

It almost killed me.

Yesterday I saw a giant roach under my desk, and ran and screamed like a little girl. Anna-Lo the Swede came in with her shoulders puffed and acted like I was a wuss. “I’ll get it….jeez, it’s just a roach.” This was no roach. I have roaches, and this was a street roach. This roach was so big it knew no fear. It was one of the roaches you see in the subway and think it’s a rat at first, but it’s not. Anna went and got a paper towel, and proceeded to just lightly throw the towel on top of the roach. I don't know if they have paper thin roaches in Sweden that die when the smallest amount of pressure is applied, but that's not how we kill them here and you, my friend, are no bad-ass. Thanks for the help Anna, but no thanks….plus, this wasn’t just any roach. This roach was in a gang, this roach had a tear tattoo for every person he had scared to death.
Alex, who is from the Bronx and understands this scary sub-culture of freakin’ huge roaches that don’t die when you just THROW A PAPER TOWEL ON IT came in and smushed it to death.
Matt thinks it my fault, cause of all the snacks I eat. “but I need the snacks!!!” “for what?” “for the journey!” “what journey?” “LIFE!”
Now I'm trying to keep my feet off the floor, but the arms of my chair are prohibiting me from sitting yoga style.
gross Magnolia, gross.

More Pics from Philly/Jersey

Rachel can't hold her wine....no, literally, she can't hold it. wow, this background is priceless.
Three hot ladies at the beach!

New York, I Love You

Ocean City

Yesterday Robin, Rachel and I went to Ocean City NJ. It was a beautiful beach. We were just laying there, minding our own business when a runaway beach umbrella impaled Robin in the arm. Okay, impaled might be a strong word, but there was blood drawn, and today there's a pretty raw bruise. I had a macaroon, that I might call the best of my life. Robin got macaroon ice cream from the same place, and when I went to take a bit of it, I dropped a big chunk of it on the ground. If I was her, I would have hit me. I mean, dropping ice cream, especially delicious, delicious ice cream is serious business, not to be taken lightly.

The 7 Habits

I am re-reading the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It's a great book, that I find it easy to relate to and really enjoy reading. It's one of those ones that every morning when I get off the subway and I'm walking to work I can really reflect on what I just read and I look forward to trying to implement one or more mindset or idea.
Yesterday's idea was your circle of influence vs. your circle of concern. Your circle of concern might be huge, but there are only so many of those things that you can actually do something about, and if you don't work in that circle, you're overwhelmed by the circle of concern and less effective in the circumstances/things where you actually do have influence....the most important of these being your mind, your emotions, your reactions. That's definitely something I need to focus more on---only trying to control or worry about the things I can do something about.

Here's a summary of the 7 Habits:

habit 1 - be proactive

This is the ability to control one's environment, rather thanhave it control you, as is so often the case. Self determination, choice, and the power to decide response to stimulus, conditions and curcumstances

habit 2 - begin with the end in mind

Covey calls this the habit of personal leadership - leading oneself that is, towards what you consider your aims. By developing the habit of concentrating on relevant activities you will build a platform to avoid distractions and become more productive and successful.

habit 3 - put first things first

Covey calls this the habit of personal management. This is about organising and implementing activities in line with the aims established in habit 2. Covey says that habit 2 is the first, or mental creation; habit 3 is the second, or physical creation. (See the section on time management.)

habit 4 - think win-win

Covey calls this the habit of interpersonal leadership, necessary because achievements are largely dependent on co-operative efforts with others. He says that win-win is based on the assumption that there is plenty for everyone, and that success follows a co-operative approach more naturally than the confrontation of win-or-lose.

habit 5 - seek first to understand and then to be understood

One of the great maxims of the modern age. This is Covey's habit of communication, and it's extremely powerful. Covey helps to explain this in his simple analogy 'diagnose before you prescribe'. Simple and effective, and essential for developing and maintaining positive relationships in all aspects of life. (See the associated sections on Empathy, Transactional Analysis, and the Johari Window.)

habit 6 - synergize

Covey says this is the habit of creative co-operation - the principle that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, which implicitly lays down the challenge to see the good and potential in the other person's contribution.

habit 7 - sharpen the saw

This is the habit of self renewal, says Covey, and it necessarily surrounds all the other habits, enabling and encouraging them to happen and grow. Covey interprets the self into four parts: the spiritual, mental, physical and the social/emotional, which all need feeding and developing.

Get Better

Man, I love the Mates of State album Re-Arrange Us.
Especially this song. "everythings gonna get lighter, even if it never gets better." I'm not totally sure why, but I find that thought very uplifting.

Love the Little Burgers

Yummy! This place on Water St. is super yummy. I read about it on CheapAssFood, and I knew we should go.
It was delicious. We had little burgers and a Guiness Shake, and a cream soda, and lots of fries and onion rings.
Against my wishes Nick "dropped" the rest of my burger in ketchup. To me that's just blasphemy, dipping a great burger in ketchup. It's unholy and I will never condone it.
Mmmm, Guiness shake!

Crumbs--Crummy!

The condo that Nick and I are staying in is dangeriously close to Crumbs Wall St....which happens to be a cupcake joint. Well, the other morning, wanting to be fabulous and fantastic, I went and got Nick a cupcake and a cup of coffee. There were so many cupcake choices that I asked the woman behind the counter to make a recommendation. She did, and without really even listening to what she said, I said, "sure, I'll take that one." Well, that one was the Elvis-something, which was red velvet cake with banana frosting. First of all, fake banana flavor should be outlawed. Second of all, why would you ruin red velvet with gross fake banana. This cupcake was a disaster...we didn't even finish eating it, which for us is really saying something, since on the inside we are little fat kids.
Oh, and I don't think he likes it when I take pictures of him first thing in the am...but look at his hair, its so cute!

The 20 Best Date Movies?

I beg to differ with this list...in fact, I don't even beg to differ, I just plain disagree.
This is the worst list of date movies, barring maybe 5 or 6 of the choices, that I have ever seen. Uh, common theme in a lot of these movies? Cheating. Hey, so, you know, the whole monogamy thing didn't really work out for these people, but let's give it a shot anyway. Are things that different in the UK?
20. House of Flying Daggers--um, cause kung fu really puts me in the mood for love. NOT.
19. An Officer and a Gentlemen--okay, maybe just for the carrying scene.
18. Shortbus--um, are you on a date or a "casual encounter"?
17. Dark Water--there are better horror films than this if you're trying to get a cuddle-up.
16. Jerry Maguire--if I was in the mood to have someone fall in love with my kid and not me, then yes, I guess I would consider this a romance.
15. Crazy/Beautiful--if I were 13.
14. Monsoon Wedding-okay.
13. Ghost--definitely.
12. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind--now we're talking.
11. Dirty Dancing--hells yeah, because nobody puts baby in the corner!
10. Scream--eh...again, not so much.
9. North by Northwest--not feeling it.
8. A bout de souffle--okay, I've never seen this.
7. In The Mood for Love--also, never seen this, the title is promising, but also about affairs.
6. Before Sunrise/Before Sunset-- maybe if Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke weren't annoying
5. Sideways--depressing!!! what, am I going to do, be depressed into romance.
4. Say Anything-- "I gave her my heart and she gave me a pen." sniff, I love you Lloyd.
3. Brokeback Mountain-- again with the cheating.
2. Annie Hall--way depressing. This movie makes me feel like nothing ever works out, ever.
1. The Philadelphia Story--good one.

Thanks Marianne!

I get these little thoughts for the day from Oprah/Marianne Williamson that are from A Course In Miracles. Today's thought is: "The ego is the choice for guilt; the Holy Spirit the choice for guiltlessness."
I just finished reading the 4 Agreements, and I have to say, I'm starting to get the impression that forgiveness really is the answer to happiness. Forgiveness of yourself and forgiveness of others.

The Four Agreements are:
1. Be Impeccable With Your Word Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
2. Don’t Take Anything Personally Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
3. Don’t Make Assumptions Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama.
4. Always Do Your Best Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

Here is the prayer for forgiveness in the back of the book:

Prayer for Forgiveness

Today, Creator, grant me the courage and the will to forgive the people I love the most. Help me to forgive every injustice I feel in my mind, and to love other people unconditionally. I know the only way to heal all the pain in my heart is through forgiveness.

Today, Creator, strengthen my will to forgive anyone who has hurt me, even if I believe the offense is unforgivable. I know that forgiveness is an act of self-love. Help me to love myself so much that I forgive every offense. Let me choose forgiveness because I don’t want to suffer every time I remember the offense.

Today, Creator, help me to heal all the guilt in my heart by accepting the forgiveness of everyone I have hurt in my life. Help me to sincerely recognize the mistakes I have made out of ignorance, and give me the wisdom and determination to refrain from making the same mistakes. I know that love and forgiveness will transform every relationship in the most positive way.

Thank you, Creator, for giving me the capacity to love and forgive. Today I open my heart to love and forgiveness, so that I can share my love without fear. Today I will enjoy a reunion with the people I love most. Amen.

Movie Recommendations

Since seeing The Last Picture Show, I started thinking about all those other great movies that I've never gotten around to seeing, like The Conversation, Midnight Cowboy, The French Connection, The Sting, Chinatown, The Elephant Man....I'm forgetting a ton. Help me fill in the gaps and make some recommendations. Since I've never had a comment on this blog, I almost assume that no one reads it, so feel free to prove me wrong.

Accents

You know, I always thought I had a good ear for accents, but this test has proven me wrong. I totally sucked at it. CLICK HERE to see how well you know accents.

Comic Con recap

This is me and Iron Man.
















And here is Nick with two lovely ladies. I don't even care what they were promoting, its just fun to make him uncomfortable.

















And our cross country search for the best cupcakes continued at Cupcakes Squared. The shape was fun, but I'm not sure I would go back.














I fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting the Hotel Del Coronado where they filmed Some Like it Hot...aka the best movie ever.







My trip to LA ended with me having blue hair...but oh, well.

I get that Goonies never say die, but this is ridiculous

why would they do this to me? don't they know that the goonies are sacred?Read more about the conitnuing rape of my childhood here.

The Dark Knight has nothing on me....I work on superhero movies too!

The Last Picture Show

Comic Con

Yep, I leave for Comic Con this Wednesday.
I think this outfit should do.

Self-Help

Well, we all could have guess this would happen, being the child of a couple who met at a cybiotics (sp?) class. I would offer you all a definition of what that is, but I can't find one online, so either I'm totally off on my spelling, which would be par for the course for me, or its so underground that no one knows about it...or at least they aren't writing about it on the internet. My guess is that the former is true. I am the self-help queen! You got a problem? I've read a book about it. I got a philosophy about it. Mind you, I'm not always great, or even good, at living these philosophies, but I have them, I've read about them, and I'll certainly be happy to share them with you. And when my PMA fails me, what do I do? Read a particularly helpful book over again, or buy a new book, listen to a new tape, etc. I started meditating, but it's hard to be zen when you are constantly afraid that a roach might crawl on you...so, more books please!
I am re-reading The Power of Now, and I just ordered the Tao Teh Ching and The Power of Positive Thinking.
Man, some day I'm gonna be so zen.

Inspirational thought for the day:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
-Marianne Williamson

Pulp...the best band I had never heard of before

What I'm working on now

Bastille Day

On Sunday Rachel, Robin and I celebrated Bastille Day in Brooklyn. They closed off a good portion of Smith St. and set up sand courts in the street to play petanque.
I ate a ham and swiss crepe. It was quite delicious.

Motley Crue and other fun things

This is a little band that I like to call Motley Crue.



And here is a picture of Rachel and I rocking out at Motley Crue.

Besides the fun concert shenanigans, I also got to explore Philadelphia, which is a big city with a much smaller price tag than NY. That always baffles me when I go to get coffee or lunch somewhere else, expecting to pay a bundle, and then its actually reasonably priced...you know, LIKE THINGS SHOULD BE. I don't know what it is about bringing it over that bridge from Jersey, but instantly the price on everything goes up $2-$100, depending on the item.

The Liberty Bell was fun, and I was surprised at how close you can get, until Rachel's mom told me that you used to be able to touch it.

We went to an awesome indoor market in Philly and there were Amish people!!! And guess what? Their ice cream is way better than anyone else's. Their pie ain't bad either, and neither is their gingerbread...and I vowed not to turn this into an eating adventure! HA!

Philly, here I come!

Hello city of brotherly love! How goes it? I am here to eat cheesesteaks and go see Motley Crue, but I'd like to throw a little history into my trip.
Let's see, I think I shall go to Independence Hall and see the Liberty Bell. Then I will reenact some National Treasure 2 shenanigans and see if I can find Benjamin Franklin's glasses.
At night, after the concert, I was thinking Rachel and I could walk around singing this, you know, sans the AIDS undertones:

TravelSkoot

Well, this is pretty darn awesom, in that "gee, I wish I'd though of this" kind of way.

The hottest adventure in your city starts here! TravelSkoot can help you plan out your day, week or just plot your favorite spots on a map!

Start with a theme for you skoot; add in locations and a quick description! TravelSkoot will generate your directions and allow you to send to your cell or email!

I am especially excited about the Sugar Rush Trip they have planned in NY. It takes you to Dylan's Candy Bar, Billy's Bakery, Serendipity, Magnolia Baker, The Chintown Ice Cream Factory....that day ends in death, or vommit. They have awesome trips for tons of cities, not just NY, although those day trips will clearly be the awesomest.

Turn Around...what the????

I have always loved this song. I've even been known to spaz out a little if people get the words wrong (although I, myself, have been accused recently of "improving" on songs)...but this song is different. This song is special. This song has the most insane music video I have ever seen.

This video makes me happy

Welcome to NY! AKA my unsafe living and working conditions

Ya know, when you tell people in NY that you have roaches or mice most of them just shrug and act like its no big deal and then regail you with their own stories about having various vermen infest their homes. Is is the Californian in me that expects to live rodent free? Were conditions there just too sanitary.
On Monday we all came in to work to find little mouse "surprises" on our desks...that's right, poopies. So gross! I mean, not where I put my hands and my paper and my pens. Clearly I'm going to get some sort of awful disease and die of a black lung in some secret hospital they have in NY and aren't telling anyone about because they don't want word to get out that they are basically harboring the next black plague. Today? More poopies! Now I have to clean everything before I can touch anything. Gross.
And last night I got up to go to the bathroom and there was a huge cockroach hanging out on my closet door like "Hey, what up?"
Why NY, why are you like this?
When it was just roaches it was almost okay, but now I'm being assaulted at home and at work.
Lame.

YOU LITTLE BASTARD!!!!!

Starbucks

I would like to let you all in on a little secret that you may not know...and by you all, I mean mom, dad, and probably Nick.....that Starbucks used to have 54cent refills on all normal coffee and tea beverages, not the fancy stuff, but if you save your cup for a few days, the savings are pretty phenomenal. Well, now if you get a Starbucks card and register it online refills are FREE!!!!! And the best part is that every so ofter after you register your card they send you a voucher in the mail for a free beverage of your choice, and the voucher doesn't list any size or drink type restrictions. Yep, life is pretty good when you are caffeinated, for free!!!!!!

Verbal Genius

there are some people in this world who have a magical way with words. I aspire to be one of them someday, but until then, I am content to bask in the glow of other's verbal genius.
Yesterday my plan was delayed quite a bit and the dude next to me said, "well, this turned out to be a real shit-tastrophe." Wow, that is an amazing combination of words that perfectly sums up what last night's plane trip was, a shit-tastrophe. He said he had never used that word before, and that it was just the combination of frustration and exhaustion that made him combine the two in his mind. I was there for the creation....I witnessed genius.
There are only a few times in life when you get to be there for something like that. I wasn't there for "mangarines" but it still makes me happy.

Motley Crue!!!!

Guess where I will be on July 12th??????????????? I'll be in Philly watching one of the greatest bands of all time.



Hopefully I'll look something like this.
Well, hopefully way more hardcore than her, but you get the idea with the big hair. Yep, I'll have some ripped jeans, hopefully some leather. Awesome.

Rod Stewart

There is a man that waits on my subway platform with me some mornings. He has Rod Stewart hair. It's kind of amazing. He's always in a suite, and there it is, the perfect blond quaff that he's inevitably spent hours on. I think his ear might even be pierced. Every time I see him this song pops into my head.

Where Brooklyn at?

I like to go to this spinning class on Saturdays, and my white-mc-white teacher likes to start off class sometimes with this little ditty.
Okay, I couldn't find the actual music video for this song, but this is pretty funny.

this made me laugh and laugh

My job is funny

What did I do this weekend for work? Oh, yeah, I hung out with the man who holds the world record for the world's largest biceps. That's what I did.
He's really nice, and he loves the Yankees, which is an admirable trait.
We went to a deli together and I asked for extra pickles...the guy behind the counter gave me a ton of extra pickles and then said, "With a boyfriend like that, do people ever say no to you." I laughed, "No, that's not my boyfriend, my boyfriend is just a tiny bit smaller than that."

R.M. Rilke from “Letters to a Young Poet’”...

“You are so young, so much before all beginning, and I would like to beg you, dear Sir, as well as I can, to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.”

Great, great commercial

American Teen

Last night Robin, Anna Lo and I went to the screening of American Teen at BAM. It was followed by a prom party. Hi-lar-ious! It was totally better than my prom, cause I didn't have to ask 5 people before I found a date, and my date didn't leave a note on the table when I went to the bathroom saying "had a nice time, here are your keys." Stupid prom. How did he even get home? What did he do, call a cab? That seems a little extreme. How bad of a time could he really have been having? Maybe a slightly worse time than Robin looks like she is having in this picture. Well, last night was fun, but it made me decide that I needed a prom re-do, so Nick and I are crashing a prom one of these days. We're just going to find a high-school prom and crash it.

Back to the screening, the movie was good, and I highly recommend it. Some things seemed a little staged, but all and all I really got into the kids and liked them.

What is this???

Click on this:
thingsididlastnight.com

Genius.

LA

There have been a lot more LA shenanigans lately than NY shenanigans. I just got back from going out there for the Bigger, Stronger, Faster premiere.
Among other shenanigans Nick and I went wine tasting in Malibu, to the Gospell Brunch at the House of Blues with my parents, to an embarrassing dinner with his family and to the Stinking Rose...after which you stink like garlic for days.
It was good, good fun. Now I miss LA...okay, mostly Nick and my parents...and his parents, and darn it all, just when you think you're settled.
This is a picture from the plane when Jeff and I were landing yesterday.

This movie is awesome!

Our premiere for Bigger, Stronger, Faster in on Tuesday in LA and I can't wait. This movie is great. I just hung out with the director this morning when he did an interview for KROQ with Opie and Anthony, and he's great. You couldn't ask for a nicer person.
The movie opens in NY/LA on the 30th and rolls out in more cities after that.
You should go see it. It's about steroids.
All the work on this movie has made me think a lot about my time on "the juice." Back in the day when I was 6% body fat. Ah, juice.

Hello Blog!

It has been so long! Did you miss me?
A couple nights ago I saw one homeless man spraying another one down with lysol. It was awesome.
I walked to work today.
I also fit into my skinny jeans. This is probably only a big deal to me, but they haven't fit since I moved to NY, and this morning I weighed, and I had lost some weight so I though, "what the heck, let's give 'em a shot!" and they fit!!!!!!! Yay!
I am leaving for LA this Friday, for my first visit since the law went into effect that limits where taco trucks can park, how long they can stay in each location, etc. I'm very sad. LA may be totally different now.

Subtle, very subtle

I got to work this morning and nothing worked. Not my log-in, not my password, nothing. As far as the server at Magnolia is concerned, I don't exist. Is this a hint? This is not very subtle.
IT said they "accidentally" deleted me from the system, but they won't be in for another two hours to fix it.

cookies, pudding, and basic overeating in general

This is what the inside of one of the hospitality suites at the Regency Hotel looks like. We go there to do our press days. They have the best cookies in the world. I love them. Actually, I don't know if they are really the best in the world, or if I get so bored during the down time on press days that I love them because they are a delicious distraction from my boredom. Either way they are pretty damn delicious. Yesterday, at the press day for Life Before Her Eyes, I ate 5. I felt pretty sick after, which would have made a normal person stop eating, but I decided to eat some delicious meats and cheeses at the premiere to balance out the sugar intake, but then of course after something salty you want something sweet, so I had some creme brulee rice pudding....and that was delicious. When I woke up this morning I felt sick. I decided not to eat....but then my boss told me that we were going to lunch with one of our vendors, and not just any lunch, lunch at Momofuku Ssam...the home of all thinks porky and fatty.
We had delicious pork buns and thinly sliced pork with mustard and a bowl full of rice and shredded pork. I almost died. On top of yesterdays debacle I am the sickest girl ever.

Great Brooklyn Day!

I have a list of things I want to in NY and I'm crossing stuff off, one thing at a time, and sometimes three things at a time.
Saturday Robin, Rachel and I rode bikes over the Brooklyn Bridge (check), ate at Grimaldi's Pizza (rumored to be the best in NY, check), and ate at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory (check).
Yep, it was a very productive day...and I have to say that Grimaldi's and The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory were all they were rumored to be. I think I might prefer walking over the Brooklyn Bridge to riding bikes over it....walking is slightly less treacherous. There were lots of tourists who didn't understand the division between bike lane and walking lane.
Oh, and Robin challenged me to not take my bike helmet off all day, so I didn't, until I think it got embarrassing for all three of us, then I finally did...but I just wanted to explain why I have a helmet on in most of these pics, and why I look a little re-re.
Mmmmmmm, delicious pizza.
Here is Robin and I waiting in line at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. Again with the Helmet. I got butter pecan, and she got a coffee and vanilla sundae. They only have about 6 flavors, but I feel safe in saying that they are probably all amazing.