Mary's Lame Attempt at Fame

A New Post? This Can't Be!

2011-05-09T22:38:00.002-04:00

But it can be and is. Here is a new post. It has been so long since I've written on here but I started rereading my entries and it was fun and funny and allowed me to remember so many things I did and feelings I felt (even if I didn't write out every feeling on the page, it triggered the feelings I was having). And it is great to be able to check it all out!

In up-to-datey news, I'm pregnant with baby #2. Insanity. I can hardly believe it myself. Baby #1 was and is plenty of work. And another? I'm a lunatic ... well, a lunatic who in October will be having her last-ever-baby. Phew! Tha-tha-that's all folks! I look forward to my body being my own again and happily look to the day that I can go to the bathroom by myself.

We bought a new house that isn't new at all -- I think we're not sure when it was built b/c Ryan keeps say 120 years old and that's not right ... more like 108 years old. It is really old regardless. Here is the house blog: house blog link here. We're fixing it up and still living with Ryan's parents (9 months and counting so far).

And ... I've been coughing for 4 weeks. at night. all night. while pregnant. It is truly terrible and I'm so sleep deprived.

Over and out!

Expectations

2010-01-12T13:34:00.001-05:00

I think that if someone decides to remove the muffler from his or her vehicle (especially while living in a densely populated community) he or she should automatically assume that someone else will spray-paint his or her car in angry vandalism.

Penguin Humidifier

2010-01-06T23:07:00.002-05:00

I got a humidifier for my bedside and the cheapest and best humidifier I've encountered is the Crane animal one made for kids - my daughter has one in her room. So I got myself the penguin shaped humidifier. I was thinking I should name him. The first thing that popped into my mind was "Honky" so I googled it. Urban dictionary might have other ideas for dear old Honky.

Babies

2009-12-28T12:32:00.001-05:00

Why do people dress their babies like adults? I guess they think it's cute. Would it also be cute if I dressed myself up as a baby?

Stupidly Long Time

2009-12-11T12:35:00.003-05:00

It has been a stupidly long time since I've posted on this blog. I've been pretty all-consumed by Facebook and am starting to miss my blog. I actually find that the blog is more private than FB statuses are mostly because people have to seek out this page in order to read my mundane musings as opposed to being "forced" to look at them via their live FB feed. And so ... I'm thinking about keeping up with this rather than updating on FB.

My thought today? I am still totally in love with "Everlong" by Foo Fighters and the acoustic version of it is ... simply intoxicating.

Bachelor - For Real?

2009-10-14T19:17:00.001-04:00

Reasons why the season WON'T SUCK?

Five Reasons the New Bachelor WILL Suck: 1) Jake is a little whiney girl; 2) It will be impossible for him to play his "nice guy" role while dating 20 women simultaneously; 3) Jake is not Reid Rosenthal; 4 and 5) Rinse and repeat #1 twice.

What the Butt?

2009-07-23T22:12:00.003-04:00

"So You Think You Can Dance" has been stinking up the screen this season. I'm hoping beyond hope that they are saving their better material for the new fall season.

In related news, one of the "loser songs" is by Green River Ordinance. I didn't realize that the sister show is "So You Think You Can Sound Like Counting Crows (And Get Away With It)."

There Really Is No Excuse

2009-07-21T19:43:00.003-04:00

I pretty much do nothing after 7:30pm so I have no excuse for leaving this blog unattended. For a while, I was planning on removing it from the internet because of privacy reasons and I understand that I could change the settings and only allow people I invite to read it ... but that's not fun, is it? Isn't part of the fun thinking about the people I don't know who might be reading?

My daughter is now almost 10 months old. She's BIG and not at all a little blob of a baby anymore. And it is fun for me because she is so much more interactive and also can entertain herself.

Okay, now for the serious stuff: I'm watching the Bachelorette this season (the first one I've watched in entirety since Trista) and I am really enjoying it. My mom and I watch and call e/o during commercials (even though I have a DVR and would prefer not to be watching live TV). Next week is the season finale and it appears that Reid is coming back -- VERY EXCITING STUFF! I'm traveling into Brooklyn overnight for the finale so my mom and I can watch together.

This past weekend, Ryan and I went (baby-free) to DC for my friend Alyson's surprise 30th b-day. I drank like I thought I was a 19 (or should I be 21) year old rock star. I really lack star-quality now that I'm 31 and have the body of someone who has ungracefully recovered from pushing out a baby. Uggg... I guess I'd better get myself back in shape. For future drinking. Kidding.

Deep and Peep

2009-03-09T15:10:00.002-04:00

I haven't been here in a while mostly because my news has been so directly linked to my new baby that the blog about her has received any small amount of blogger attention I've given. But I think it is time for me to start up on me again!

In the deep news, the prior paragraph kicked it off well. Also, I've been officially terminated from my job after a painfully long stringing-along in which it appeared that they might allow me to resume work but part-time instead of full. Then I got a letter instructing me to appear for work full-time starting March 2nd and I wrote back that I would not be doing that ... etc etc. Basically, although I'm disappointed because I loved my job, I think it was the right decision. I don't regret it. I don't feel comfortable having a child and then leaving her with someone else for 40 hours a week at 5 months old.

The "peep?" I learned an important lesson 2 weeks ago. If you're going to do something stupid like leave a baby unattended on a bed, don't wander far and definitely don't commence urination. If you do so, you will risk rising up from the bowl mid-peep-stream to catch the aforementioned baby before she plummets to the ground. And you will peep yourself.

Purple Cauliflower & Motherhood

2008-11-29T12:01:00.003-05:00

We got purple cauliflower from the farm!!!! Yikes!!!!

And here is a picture of motherhood gone lazy -- beer for Mommy, tv on, baby in swing.

I HAD A BABY!!!!

2008-09-28T18:37:00.002-04:00

Gloria Louise was born this week!

What I Did Today

2008-09-22T16:00:00.002-04:00

I watched 2 movies. "Interiors" which is a Woody Allen drama from 1978. It was very austere and haunting and also so unusual because it was still obviously Woody Allen style featuring self-indulgent philosophically verbose characters but without the comedy. And the other movie was "For Your Consideration" which I've seen before and was disappointed by but I thought I would give it another whirl. Still just okay for me.

Next, I'm going to sit outside and read "Eragon."

What I've Been Up To

2008-09-17T11:34:00.002-04:00

While I'm waiting for this baby to be born I've been watching movies and reading books.

The most recent book I finished was "Ice Land" by Betsy Tobin. It was gorgeous and mysterious. I also read up to book 3 from the "Chronicles of Blood and Stone" series by Robert Newcomb. It was terrible. I don't recommend them mostly because the writing style is so poor. I also read the last Harry Potter which was great.

Yesterday, I watched "The More the Merrier" and "The Lady is Willing" both on Turner Classic Movies. They were both cute.

Awesome Website!

2008-07-30T21:32:00.001-04:00

Polyvore is the coolest website in the world!!!! Here is what I created:

Are you picking up what I'm putting down?

So LONG!

2008-07-26T11:42:00.004-04:00

It has been so long since I updated this blog but I have been mostly focused on the baby-blog since most of my news is baby related ... including this post ...

We are wildly getting the house ready for baby. Ryan completed the powder room remodel and now we're onto the kitchen, which is a total redo! We ordered the cabinets last weekend and they will be delivered in 2 weeks! Fast turn-over, which is great since baby is scheduled to arrive in a little over 7 weeks.

And today, I bought a lamp, as if I have the money for it, that I have wanted for a long while. We even registered for it for our wedding with no resulting lamp! But it is on sale now for $125 less than the original price! It is from Design Within Reach and called the Portable Luau Lamp:

Oh hurray!!! It dims so I can use it in our room when the baby first comes for all those late-night feedings and changes.

Sigur Ros Album!

2008-07-02T12:17:00.001-04:00

I just got "Med sud I eyrum vid spilum endalaust" Sigur Ros's new album and it is AWESOME!!!!

What's the Freakin' Difference?

2008-06-30T18:14:00.003-04:00

What's the freakin' difference between Coldplay and Travis? How is it possible that Coldplay, with their mediocre lyrics as compared to Travis, got so famous?

What a Lunch! aka Man, Am I Boring!

2008-05-28T12:59:00.002-04:00

Today for lunch I'm having cinnamon raisin toast with low-sugar/low salt peanut butter and unsalted hulled organic sunflower seeds sprinkled on top and apple slices on the side! Eat up, baby!

I forgot to mention

2008-05-20T17:03:00.001-04:00

That our dog Franklin is the best nurse. Last night I spent (in stomach pain) laying on the guest bed and Franklin stayed curled against my stomach like my doggie heating pad.

Home Sick Today

2008-05-20T09:45:00.003-04:00

I was up all night with a terrible stomach ache! And I think the baby thought it would fun because there was a lot of kicking going on. What a funny baby.

This morning while sitting on the couch, I saw an American Goldfinch nibbling on some dandelions right outside our patio!

30th Surprise!

2008-04-29T08:34:00.003-04:00

Ryan and my mom threw me a surprise 30th birthday party this past Saturday! So many old and new friends and family were there and it was awesome. Check out the cake that my sister, Louise, and Justin made!

Hi Friends! Hi Family!

2008-04-25T19:51:00.001-04:00

So, I finally turned 30 after years of planning ahead for it.

More belly pics to be posted this weekend for your pregnancy pleasure.

Sorry No Update

2008-04-22T12:19:00.002-04:00

Sorry there has been no recent update on any of my blogs. My grandmother passed away last week. Oh and today is my 30th birthday, which I totally forgot about, that I will spend at the funeral home.

Where Have I Been?

2008-04-03T08:31:00.002-04:00

I've been making a baby. You can follow my progress here: Baby Kennedy on the Way!

I HATE DAVID COOK

2008-03-18T21:08:00.002-04:00

Anyone watch American Idol? I hate David Cook. He's a complete douchebag.

I'm Not Missing

2008-01-12T15:14:00.001-05:00

It has been about 2 weeks. I'm not missing, I'm just busy... Here is a little taste of my life:

Today we went to IKEA to buy a new vanity for our powder room!!!

Isn't it pretty?

2008-01-02T21:03:00.000-05:00

This weekend I went to my friend Katie's 30th Bowling Birthday! Her adorable son, Jack, was there too.

Here is what I look like when I hold a baby:

Here is what I look like when I feed Katie cupcakes like a baby:

Happy Birthday, Katie!!!

Wintuk

2007-12-31T09:53:00.001-05:00

Wow - Wintuk SUCKED. Can you believe it? I was so excited and so optimistic but it really wasn't that good. The show was loosely plot-driven yet somewhat random and featured a main character who had no particular talent other than whining like a little bitch that he wants to see some snow. We also went to Becco and that was merely "okay" ... the tomato sauce was really good but the pumpkin ravioli was terrible ... and I guess everything else was fine. I wouldn't go back, though.

I called out sick today and I'm going to hang out at home and prepare for some guests for tonight (Andrea & Jeremy, I'm finally cleaning my house!!!).

Check It Out

2007-12-30T12:53:00.000-05:00

Sew Mary has been udpated!

Also today we're going to see WINTUK!!!!!!

Movies

2007-12-27T19:13:00.000-05:00

I just watched "My Favorite Wife" which was cute but I liked Cary Grant and Irene Dunne together better in "The Awful Truth."

And now I am watching "In the Good Old Summertime" which is the same plot as "The Shop Around the Corner" which has been most recently redone as "You've Got Mail" -- how crazy is that????

Whistle While You Work in Cubicles

2007-12-26T19:02:00.000-05:00

Today I went to work and was very tired and unmotivated but I got home and was Mrs. Clean and did laundry and dusted and vacuumed and cooked. Now I'm more tired but my sheets are soooo fresh.

Santa brought me some cool stuff this year including a Tivoli radio:

Now I can listen to XPN and NPR in my house!!!

And also Santa brought some sweaters and other goodies for a chilly baby like myself.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T21:34:00.000-05:00

I'm SICK

2007-12-22T09:57:00.000-05:00

I have a cold! I've been sore throaty for a week or so... but now I have a cold

I already started making the butter cookies this morning. Now, a nap might be in order.

LALALALALA

2007-12-21T17:56:00.000-05:00

lalalalallallalla - this was the part where I complained about something that hurt my feelings and then decided to keep it to myself -- but only * like * sort of.

Tomorrow, I think I'm going to bake cookies - I'm going to make "H" and "O" butter cookie... Oh, and Andrea and Jeremy, I'm sorry that I gave you a set of alphabet cookie cutters without an "S" -- it fell out and I found it in my car this week.

Tonight, we're going to Target to get some more prezzies.

And Santa comes MONDAY NIGHT!!!!

a little holiday blues

2007-12-20T20:26:00.000-05:00

i have a little case of the blues. is it the holidays? high expectations? shortened days? snoozlefarts? i was thinking that if i get a pair of christmas antlers, i would feel better.

Married Life and Mundane News

2007-12-19T17:34:00.000-05:00

Okay, I actually have nothing to report regarding married life. It is pretty much the same except you can be more strange and potentially (but hopefully not) more gross. I find it an adjustment to be a "we" ... I'm used to saying whether I can go somewhere or how long it took ME to get there or MY level of enjoyment or appreciation -- instead of we will be attending the party or we thank you or we drove for 4 hours in traffic or we prefer something or something (not creative enough to make up something right now). All of a sudden we're a team. Team activities. Team decisions. Team feelings. Very strange.

There is a weird rustling in our outdoor closet (no garage - just an attached closet that functions as a shed). I hope that my neighbor is getting something out of her adjoining closet. I imagine (as a worst case scenario) that someone is tunneling through the inside of our closet to break into our house. I am wondering whether I should have the portable phone right next to me to call for help.

Monday was my work holiday party. We had it at a local firehall and it was potluck with christmas karaoke. I was not looking forward to it except when I got there I surprised myself by having a few lemonade w/ vodka drinks! Yum.

Christmas is coming up so quickly. We (note the team) are not as prepared as we (note again) usually are. Tonight we're (note once again -- should I stop) are going to Market Fair to pick up some gifties and maybe go eat at either Big Fish (where we have a gift certificate from Ryan's dad) or TGI Fridays (where we have a gift card from one of my co-workers as a shower gift -- I love to be showered with gifts that result in food).

Why are the holidays a little depressing even when you're not alone?

The Weekend!

2007-12-09T20:12:00.000-05:00

This weekend we went to Olivebridge (in the Catskills) with my family. Nothing exciting to report about it. Snow. Trees. Grandparents. Dogs.

I Don't Trust Men in Capes

2007-12-03T18:53:00.000-05:00

With Superman being the exception.

We started rewatching Seinfeld. I love taking a break and coming back to it again.

After months of complaining and once contacting the cable company, I found out that we actually HAVE Turner Classic Movies! And the best best best news -- there will be a bunch of Marx Brothers movies aired on Wednesday! Prepare your DVRs!

Party Night and Upcoming Events

2007-11-16T08:08:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I was slightly blue so Ryan and I decided to have a "party night" which really just consisted of getting take-out Indian food and having a fire in the fireplace along with the usual plans of watching television. Although last night I did have kahlua and baileys for dessert! Woah, right?

This weekend we are celebrating Simon's 6th birthday! For those of you who don't know or don't remember, Simon is my mom's wheaten terrier. I wonder if I have to bring a gift... probably....

Fit to Print

2007-11-13T17:32:00.000-05:00

I don't think enough people to read this blog to notice but the template got all jacked up a couple of months ago when I thought I would revamp it and failed to follow through. Oh follow through. If I can figure out how to fix it, I will. Eventually.

Work is getting super busy. I got my official assignment and I am covering 9 out of the 21 counties in NJ. Count 'em, 9. That's a lot. If only I ate meat, I could sample all of the many delicious hot dogs.

This weekend we got a new piece of furniture to store all of our new china:

Here are pictures of Ryan and me as Simpsons:

Aren't we cute? And here is a "just married" picture:

Now, that's an eyefull.

Got Married!

2007-11-12T10:44:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends and Others, I got married!

Here is a picture of me in all my bridely splendor:

The wedding was gorgeous and the honeymoon was awesome. And married life? It is pretty great so far. I think I'm a lot more relaxed now that I'm married... but I'm not going to get too philosophical today.

So I think I might start updating this badboyblog again ... afterall, I'm pretty freakin' awesome.

Little Miss Sunshine

2007-08-19T22:43:00.001-04:00

Tonight we saw Little Miss Sunshine! It was pretty great.

New Blog!

2007-08-18T21:53:00.001-04:00

I started a new blog to track my new hobby!

New Blog Here

Also, I watched Mr. and Mrs. Smith. That was pretty entertaining.

I remember...

2007-06-05T18:12:00.000-04:00

I remember why I kept a blog.... I have a terrible memory. It is important for me to log things so I can remember them by reading them if I want.

I am watching Everything is Illuminated today. I love it. I would classify it as one of my favorite films.

I'm BACK!

2007-06-01T18:36:00.000-04:00

I thought I would post a little just because I miss it. I stopped because I'm so boring that I couldn't even bare to write my own posts and could not imagine anyone reading them. I am writing now because I don't care!

I've been out of work for a long time. Really, the last real job I had was my clerkship and that ended at the end of last August. It is now June. I took my time in 2006 finding a job because we just moved to a new town and a new house and I was working on a temporary project so it didn't much matter .... But I have been actively searching and interviewing since January. It has been crazy out there. I've been on 11 interviews. I have gotten only one job offer and it is likely that I will be taking it unless something else comes along. We'll see!

In the meantime, I wasn't enjoying myself because I was so worried about not having a job and now I'm not happy because I am such a weird homebody who would much rather iron all day watching Law & Order with her dog. Oh well. It is time to be a LAWYER.

We've been doing our wedding planning and that is coming along fine. I've got my dress, the girls have their dresses (or should!), I've picked the flowers, we've picked the invitations, we have a DJ, a caterer, the menu, the location, the rental order list, the priest, the photographer (we had her before anything else! www.anncoen.com -- check her out -- she's very GOOD!)...

Speaking of weddings, we went to about a billion since the last time I wrote INCLUDING MY SISTER'S!!!!

And that's the news. Peace out.

Retirement

2007-03-22T12:09:00.000-04:00

I am choosing to retire this blog for the present time. I think I prefer to be more private and introspective. Plus, there is nothing going on anyway. The possibility of updates will occur around the time of the wedding (in October) and any major events thereafter.
Thanks for being cool.

What Have I Been Doing?

2007-02-15T16:37:00.000-05:00

I've been "wedding planning!" It requires a LOT of decisions and coordination and ... vision. So, that's what's been going on. Oh and job hunting. Nothing like that either.

So friends, are you looking forward to our wedding? Its going to be fun!

There's Like Nothing New Lately

2007-02-04T21:16:00.000-05:00

Hi there my peeps.

Things here are pretty stable. This weekend my dad came to visit and today Ryan and I went out to Linens N Things just to play with a Dyson vacuum and pretend we could afford it. Then we went and looked at more wedding invitations (and pretend we could afford those?). The never ending search for the perfect invitations. Tonight I cooked dinner and Ryan went out to watch the game with friends and I watched The Good Girl on Lifetime which was really very good (not watching the super bowl and the movie).

I have an interview on Valentines Day at a law firm very near my house. It is a great firm and a great location (5 miles from my house, next to a gym, across from a mall, 2 minutes from Wegmans -- all the bases would be covered!) so FINGERS CROSSED, friends. Fingers crossed!

Other than that... Franklin got a great haircut this week... and umm... yeah that's it.

PS We watched King Kong (the recent one) and I sobbed uncontrollably to the point where I almost puked. I was that sad. I love monkeys.

The Weekend

2007-01-26T15:28:00.000-05:00

This weekend was a wedding planning weekend. Wedding planning can get very involved and.... I'm not sure I'm 100% interested in very detail. We looked at invitations on Saturday and found only ONE that we could be satisfied with. And then yesterday we went to a bridal show at the Princeton Marriott which was awful. Bridal shows are scams to collect personal information in order to solicit and to sell the information for others to solicit. They wanted me to go to every table to get vendors' signatures so that I can get into the "FASHION SHOW" like it was a REAL FASHION SHOW. I can see those same dresses online. Then we went into Princeton to look at more invitations.

Other things we did: we watched "Catch Me if You Can" and "Titanic" both of which I probablly have seen and remembered little about. And Ryan let me end "Titanic" right after Rose says that she is going to get off the ship with Jack that way it had a happy ending. Sick right?

What a New Day Brings

2007-01-24T17:56:00.000-05:00

A new day brings: finishing the box of peach honey bunches of oats even though we bought that cereal for Ryan to satisfy his need for sweet cereals, catching up with old episodes of Frasier and the Nanny, working out on the eliptical at the gym for a half an hour and following it up with weights (leg-day), watching Martha with Jennifer Garner who was charming as heck, bathing our dog, Franklin, and then bathing myself, washing all the towels used for drying up the wet creatures (including myself) after the bathing, eating lunch which consisted of left-overs, incessant job searching online, working on the outline for that book that i can't seem to finish, possibly detecting critters in the wall... i heard something but it stopped, watching Family Feud and Tyra, waiting for Ryan to get home.

Admissions: I enjoy Tyra and think she would make a good friend; I watch "Girlfriends" and *love* it

Sidenote: I heard a coyote last weekend!!!!!

Another Success

2007-01-23T15:45:00.000-05:00

I lost another 1.4 pounds which brings my total to 3.6 in 2 weeks!

Another Few Thoughts

2007-01-19T22:09:00.000-05:00

I forgot to mention that I decided to walk to the post office today since I had the time and I could spare the universe just a little by shimmying my butt rather than driving my car.

Also, tonight Ryan and I watched "Brokeback Mountain" for the first time ... and woah. Woah. That movie was incredible. I cried so much my shirt got wet.

My Late Take on the Golden Globes

2007-01-19T16:35:00.000-05:00

I actually didn't see ANY (okay a few) of the movies that were nominated so I have no opinion on that subject. But, if any of you know me know this, I *love* television and in loving television I have developed distinct preferences. Specifically, for the category of "Best Comedy Television Series," I cannot fathom that The Office would not win... Ugly Betty is AT BEST mildly amusing and AT WORST insipid and trite. Yeah, I said it -- insipid and trite. I was watching Ugly Betty when it first came out just because I like to sample new shows but after about 3 episodes I had seen enough. It is like a pleasant never-ending TV movie. Another thing is that Steve Carell is much better in The Office than Alec Baldwin is in 30 Rock ... unless you think that he should finally be recognized for his uni-dimensional acting.

Here's the News

2007-01-19T09:16:00.000-05:00

First, I started washing my hair in really cold water and wow it is soft.
Second, I joined weighwatchers last week and already lost 2.2 lbs! I will keep a record of my weight loss in case anyone wants to cheer me on.

Idol

2007-01-17T20:46:00.000-05:00

I can't believe how upsetting and sad the first few weeks of Idol are. These people really think they can sing. And they are so misguided. I just think that they have mental health problems and it is really unfair for people to be laughing. There should be a table set up there offering people help.

Recipe

2007-01-16T18:23:00.000-05:00

I made a banana bread / cake tonight that I think came out pretty good so I thought I would share it with you all. It is VERY LOW FAT too!

3 mashed bananas
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup of flour (it should be whole wheat but i am still trying to get rid of my regular flour)
1 package of flavored instant oatmeal
1-2 cups chocolate soy milk (i just eyeball it)
1/2 cup of fat free vanilla yogurt
1 teaspoon baking power
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon olive oil
pinches of spices listed in order from most to least - cinnamon, nutmeg, clove
sea salt to taste

And that's it!!! Other than the yogurt, there's NO dairy... so you could probably substitute the yogurt for soy yogurt and be fine! Oh, and I put semi-sweet baking chips on top to make it more like a cake.

After a lot of calculations and research the following is my estimate on the nutritional information (the things necessary to know for weight watchers):

Cut this is 10 pieces:
148 g calories
2.3 g fat
2.1 g fiber

i really was away!

2007-01-07T20:30:00.000-05:00

I went to Port St. Lucie Florida for about 2 weeks and just got back last night. My mom and I drove down the day after Christmas with our two dogs to meet up with her parents (my grandparents, duh!) who have a house there. We had a pretty good time .... although ....

My dog Franklin bit my mom's dog Simon on the ear. They got into a fight and Franklin was definitely winning and I had to whack him with a couch pillow to get him off of Simon. When they were separated, we saw that Simon's ear was bleeding ... like really really bleeding and he had shaken his head so there was blood all over the wall and the lamp and carpet like a crime scene ... and I basically had a break down and started shaking and sobbing and was no help to stop the blood. Luckily, Ryan came down to Florida for a few days (including New Years) and was there was it happened so he helped my mom as I did the only thing I was capable of doing -- finding an animal hospital. Then Ryan drove me, my mom, and Simon to the animal hospital in Fort Pierce where they admitted Simon immediately. It turns out that no stitches were needed and they just used a little "tissue glue" to glue up the little snag in his ear.

It probably sounds like I'm making light of it but it was scary and we didn't see how the fight started so we don't know whether it was totally unprovoked and Franklin just snapped. I wish Cesar Milan would help.

was away for a few days

2006-12-18T15:50:00.000-05:00

actually, i wasn't. i was here all along. i was just feeling boring. i'm really freaked out about the weather. why aren't they freaked out on television? why does the weatherman keep saying how "nice and warm" it is??? it isn't NICE. it is SCARY. i'm really really freaked out. i know i said that but... damn! double damn.

in personal news, one of my best friends, Alyson, is coming to visit this week! yay, Alyson! we're going to watch television and movies and maybe go to the mall and cook meat-free / dairy-free food and maybe go to the gym! then christmas comes and then i go to florida for almost 2 weeks.

a few notes

2006-12-05T16:25:00.000-05:00

i cannot see an inconvenient truth. i spend my of my day deliberating in what ways i can make less of an impact on the earth -- paper or plastic? i know i should bring a bag with me to the market but i use the plastic grocery bags for garbage bags. should i bring a bag to the grocery store and buy biodegradable garbage bags? i buy biodegradable products as often as i can (laundry detergent, dish soap, cleaning products) but that doesn't mean that the chemicals in the products are not harmful so i make an all-purpose cleaner out of white vinegar and i try to buy organic white vinegar and am not sure if i should buy vinegar in glass or plastic -- which has less impact considering that i recycle both? anyway, i saw al gore (for maybe 4 minutes) on oprah but he talked about how the polar bears are drowning and i started crying. seriously, if i see that film i will be sent over the edge because the edge is near anyway.

Pretty Okay Day

2006-12-03T21:44:00.000-05:00

Today was a pretty okay day. We went to mass at the parish where our wedding is going to be. It is probably going to be OUR parish too but we're trying to figure out where we want to go. We went out for brunch and then Lowes to get blinds and Pier 1 just to browse at the crap and then Whole Foods. Home again to get Franklin so he can spend some CAR TIME while we went to Penny's to get more drapes (obsessed with covering windows? yes - we just got that awesome new tv.) At church, we picked up a name of a little boy to get gifts for and went to a toy store to get him a few things. We had some cozy time and then to Ryan's parents' for dinner.

Oh and last night we saw For Your Consideration which sadly did not live up to my expectations. But I probably need to see it again. Personally, I think that Waiting for Guffman was the best of the bunch.

Also Friday night I hosted dinner for Ryan's family which was REALLY FUN and I got to fuss and cook all day and clean and stuff. (I'm not being sarcastic -- I really like it!)

PS I'm so boring!

did you want honesty?

2006-11-30T11:39:00.000-05:00

i went to the doctor yesterday and had some blood work done and she put me on provera to ... regulate... some female stuff. when the blood work comes back, then we'll see what is wrong. it might be polycystic ovarian syndrome. let's hope not! to add to the suffering, this provera is making me dizzy and depressed and giving me headaches and a metallic taste in my mouth. its basically awesome, is what i'm saying.

Exactly What I Don't Want to Do

2006-11-29T09:56:00.000-05:00

Exactly What I Don't Want to Do
Originally uploaded by lambgarden.

Woops!

2006-11-27T15:18:00.000-05:00

I'm in such a funk today. It is one of those days when you realize that your life has run away without you actually getting to catch up to it.
Luckily, the new television came and it is great.

New Television from Gimme-Gimme Friday

2006-11-25T16:40:00.000-05:00

Yesterday morning, Ryan and I participated in the black friday madness. My dad had given us the gift of purchasing an awesome television so Ryan had been tracking the prices of awesome televisions and we realized that if we didn't take advantage of a post-thanksgiving sale, we probably wouldn't be able to get the tv until after Christmas. We got up at 415am and went to Circuit City and got a 40" Sony Bravia for $1000 less than the original price and about $600 less than the sale price. Holy moly! It will be delivered MONDAY and my Dad (go Dad!) got us an early Christmas gift of this!

OH MY GOSH! SLACKER!

2006-11-21T21:15:00.000-05:00

We were living with Ryan's parents last week so (even though I had internet access) I didn't update the blog. I guess it was because I actually interacted with people... and was busy! Anyway, we lived there because we were having wood floors installed in our house which took 2 days and then the fumes from the glue took a few days to dissipate. Then on Friday night, we went up to Olivebridge NY for the weekend with my family. We did some awesome hiking! It was great! Sunday night we started to reassemble our lives by putting back the furniture. Tomorrow, the carpet on the stairs and in the hallway is being installed and then all flooring is DONE! Yeah!

This week is my favorite holiday! Ryan's parents are hosting Thanksgiving again this year and including my mom, sis, Marty, and my grandparents (like last year)!

And that's it!

Goals And Stuff

2006-11-10T11:47:00.000-05:00

In November 2004, two years ago, this was my goal. And now I'm a lawyer - I guess I'm done! Although I still want a classy suit.

Yesterday Today Tomorrow

2006-11-10T07:48:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I arranged with Lowes the removal / delivery / install time for the replacement washer. Even after all of this ridiculousness, the Lowes employees were very nice, professional, and accommodating. I also did some cleaning, went to the gym, and did some more finishing touches on the hallway which is painted what I call "hallway grey" but is actually granite grey whereas the living room is called "squirrel." Granite meets the squirrel in the corner above the door.

Anyway, today I'm waiting around for the plumber and the flooring delivery guys and I'm finishing up the painting in the guest bedroom which is painted "grass cloth" and I swear is the same color as a paint sample I picked up a few years ago called "avacado."

Tomorrow, we're finishing up the floor molding, pulling up the carpet in the bedroom, and going to my mom's house for Simon's surprise 5th birthday party! (He is her dog.)

It isn't all bad news!

2006-11-09T12:23:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow's the plumber who is moving the drain for the washer and putting in a new hot water heater, Saturday morning the washer is being replaced, Sunday we're finishing ripping up the carpet and moving the furniture off the floors, and then we're off to Ryan's parents' house for a few days while the floors get put in.

We put in our deposit for the wedding and that's pretty exciting!!!!!!! We're going to have a happy fall wedding next October!

I can't believe what a bum I am. I am dressed in gym clothes but I'm watching Maury. I guess I should be at the gym watching this.

I Had a Drain...

2006-11-08T15:03:00.000-05:00

Today, the plumber came to give his estimate on moving the drain over to the other side of the closet near the gas line. $500. So we bought more expensive appliances reasoning that it was worth the extra closet space we would gain only to have to pay $500 MORE in order to MOVE THE FREAKIN' DRAIN. Would I do it again? No. I would buy the side-by-side GE energy star washer / dryer and call it a day. We're also having our hot water heater replaced on Friday (about $800) so that we don't damage the $8000 floors that are being installed on Monday. This kind of thing makes me feel like smoking again -- although at this rate, I wouldn't be able to afford it anyway.

Our Washitty Washer / AKA "When You Have Lemon (Washer) What Should You Make?"

2006-11-07T20:58:00.000-05:00

The install / delivery guys came back today. I waited between 10-2 and they got here at 2:30 only to tell me that the washer is not working. Hmph. I knew that already. But the guys couldn't take the lemon-washer back to Lowes with them because they didn't have paperwork that would authorize that. I had to call my "friend" Charlie at Lowes who said they don't have the washer in stock but it is coming in tomorrow or the next day and then the guys will come install a new one. In the meantime, I called a plumber to come give us an estimate for moving the drain under the washer to the other side of the closet closer to the gas line. Fun times!

In other un-washer related news, I bought a new cereal, Ezekiel 4:9, today that I LOVE! It is like Grape Nuts' super-powered more honest and thoughtful fraternal twin. Go twins! Also, my neighbor and I, when we went to the plumber, stopped off at a bakery in Princeton that was AWESOME. It is the Witherspoon Bread Co. and my neighbor treated me to an organic loaf of ciabatta with green olives!!!!!!! WOW!

Wash, You Freakin' Washer!

2006-11-07T10:42:00.000-05:00

Yup, there is no water going into the washer. So, Lowes is sending my best friends, the install guys, back so they could do the job right this time. Update to follow. Waiting between 10-2 again. Good thing I don't have to go to work.

Lesson of the Day: Things are Never What You Expect Even When You Pay For It

2006-11-06T11:17:00.000-05:00

Ryan and I purchased a brand new washer and dryer two weeks ago. We had searched extensively for affordable energy star appliances and thought we found a set of GE appliances that met the criteria but when we got to the store we found out that they were mislabeled on the website. The GE set that was energy star was a few hundred dollars more expensive and just as ugly, if not more so. We looked further and found a stackable, energy star, front loading Frigidaire set. It was a little more expensive but the least expensive of all the front-loaders. We figured that if we stacked them, that would effectively buy us a half of a closet! Wow. Major storage space. So we bought it.

Unfortunately, we accidentally bought an electric dryer because our home inspection says that our existing dryer was electric. Not so. The night before it was supposed to be delivered, we pulled the dryer away from the wall and saw that it was a gas dryer. Great. So we called Lowes at 6 am an hour before the scheduled delivery and cancelled the delivery. I went to the store and "returned" the electric dryer and exchanged it for the gas dryer which was more expensive and also there was an install fee. I paid up and then rescheduled the delivery.

The delivery-men were supposed to come between 10-2. They showed up at 4. With only the washer. I had to reschedule.

Today, the delivery-men came to deliver both the washer and dryer. They discovered there was a hole in the floor under where the dryer was. They couldn't put both units where the washer had been because the gas line didn't reach but couldn't put them both where the dryer was because the drain was on the other side. So we bought STACKABLE washer / dryer just to have them side-by-side. And to boot -- we can't open the tray where the laundry detergent is supposed to be poured because we have bi-folding doors and the detergent drawer doesn't clear the doors.

martha's blunders

2006-10-27T12:10:00.000-04:00

today begins the first installment of 'martha's blunders' and was inspired by martha's question to emmy rossum. emmy was explaining that she is studying french in college and that she knows enough for the essentials in france: shopping and ordering food. and martha says.... 'what about making love?' wow. that was uncomfortable. emmy said: isn't this a daytime show?

tasting

2006-10-26T10:07:00.000-04:00

Last night, Ryan and I went for our first tasting for the wedding! Wow - it was delectable but so rich that I was up for part of the night with a stomachache. Is that a bad sign? I think it was just a visit from the anti-dairy fairy after having the pumpkin ravioli in cream sauce ....wow.... Are you guys looking forward to it?

back attack

2006-10-23T18:36:00.000-04:00

On Thursday, at the gym, I worked out on the elliptical machine which indicated that I had "run" for a mile and a half so I felt happy with myself. On Friday, I decided that I should kick that "running" into high-geer by actually running so Ryan and I went for a run. I felt awesome until Saturday when my back started hurting to the point that on Saturday night I was unable to lift myself out of a chair. I am only starting to regain my mobility this evening!

You Were Never Lovelier

2006-10-18T19:04:00.000-04:00

Today I watched one of my favorite types of movies... a Fred Astaire movie! I saw "You Were Never Lovelier." It was great - Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth - how could anything be lovelier?

Crimes and Misdemeanors

2006-10-17T21:44:00.000-04:00

This is a good one too.

My Movie Journey

2006-10-17T20:32:00.000-04:00

Rope and King Creole

2006-10-17T17:10:00.000-04:00

Too many movies. I really shouldn't be recording these ahead of time because then I watch them.

Rope is a Hitchcock movie about two thinly veiled (at best) gay guys who choke a friend to death and then throw a party over the trunk they placed him in. It is known for an early example of homosexual characters in film and also for very few film cuts.

King Creole is an Elvis movie with Dolores Hart as his co-star. It is pretty good. An interesting fact is that Dolores Hart is a nun now in Connecticut.

Here Comes Mr. Jordan

2006-10-17T11:16:00.000-04:00

Today the movie is "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" (1941). Pretty Good.

Good Weekend!

2006-10-17T09:55:00.000-04:00

We had a great weekend! We drove out to Tinton Falls to buy a little retro 70's mid century modern type dresser from someone who posted on craigslist - for 20 bucks! Saturday we went apple picking with my sister and her fiance and then I made an awesome veggie stew w/ dumplings. Sunday we went to start registering.

Watched the Whole Thing!

2006-10-13T11:25:00.000-04:00

Wow - that was a weird movie. Marilyn Monroe plays a woman who definitely has some psychological problems who is deeply haunted by the memory of her sweetheart who was killed in war. Her uncle, who operates the elevator of a hotel, refers her as a babysitter for the evening. She meets a man who has been hardened for unexplained reasons and has had a falling out with his woman just that evening. Marilyn Monroe's character invites this man into the hotel room and begins to mistake this man for her dead sweetheart, Phillip. She gets so obsessed with him that she thinks that the child she is babysitting is trying to get in between her and "Phillip" so she gags and binds the child in the adjacent bedroom. She also bashes her uncle over the head with a brass umbrella stand.... and then she gets carted off and the man finds love with his woman. Just so you know, the child is fine.

Don't Bother to Knock

2006-10-13T10:07:00.000-04:00

I keep trying to watching this movie but... it is kind of uncomfortable and creepy so I just watch it in 5 minute increments. It is going to take me just as long to watch the movie as it would take me to read the book... if there was one.

Other than that, I might drive out to Tinton Falls to buy a little 3-drawer telephone table. That's an hour. I'm very torn because I want to buy already existing furniture because it is better for the environment (and I prefer it) but when I drive an hour to buy it that kind of defeats the purpose.

Speaking of things good for the environment, I tried to use a homemade house cleaner I made out of white vinegar, water, and essential oil (tea tree oil) but it STINKS. I smells like I'm making an old moldy salad. And then I had the bright idea (because I didn't have any other essential oils) to put cloves in it to spice up the smell. Unfortunately, I only had the powder for so it jammed up the spray bottle. I had to abandon ship after that and I just picked up my "Method" cleaner instead. I think I might need more essential oils to mask that vinegar smell... pee-yew!

Flippin' Bavarian Preztels!

2006-10-12T17:40:00.000-04:00

I ate pretzels over my keyboard and now the R key is jammy...

More Movies

2006-10-12T16:26:00.000-04:00

I don't know if you have noticed but I've been watching old(er) movies. Probably the biggest fascination for me is the way the world looked then. Not only the buildings but also the design. Like in Beauty and the Beast yesterday, it was supposed to be a timeless fairy tale but the interior design was 60's meets the Dark Ages. Actually, I was reading that the director was Edward Cahn who directed all these cool b-movies like "Invasion of the Saucer Men" and "Creature with the Atom Brain." Awesome! I wish AMC would show those... maybe for Halloween.

I just watched "The Only Game in Town" with Liz Taylor and Warren Beatty from 1970. I found it really sweet but there was a little too much gambling in it -- a lot of close up on the dice. Most of the movie was set in the apartment which had a lot of funky mid-century modern furniture that she so didn't care about that she was putting her high heals on the ottoman.

Next I'm watching "Don't Bother to Knock" with Marilyn Monroe. That was filmed in 1952. Update to follow.

Does anyone know if Netflix or something like that has old movies? I think they have a few but I'm looking for a huge almost unlimited selection.

Bad Freakin' News!

2006-10-11T18:33:00.000-04:00

So it turns out that the church is not available on 10/27/07. We either have to find another church, another ceremony location, or another date!

Beauty and the Beast

2006-10-11T17:17:00.000-04:00

I saw Beauty and the Beast from 1963. It was very... 60's... and I kind of liked it but it was definitely funny how Mark Damon couldn't speak very well because of all the beast-make-up...

obsessed with my dog

2006-10-11T12:23:00.000-04:00

I'm obsessed with my dog, Franklin. I spend almost every moment of the day with him and I dread plans that do not include him. He is such a great buddy. We are great friends.

What I Do With My Time

2006-10-10T16:30:00.000-04:00

I'm writing this book about procurement law and I don't know anything about it.

I'm also watching some movies on television -- like Silver Streak with Gene Wilder.

Do you like the new colors on the blog template? I made some changes.

The Bachelor

2006-10-09T22:03:00.000-04:00

that sucks that he didn't keep sarah. really sucks. and he should never have picked erica. it is clear that she is a moron.

The Ryan Dinner Review

2006-10-05T20:13:00.000-04:00

It appears, based on his subtle hints of inflection, that Ryan did not prefer the quinoa dinner. I think it might be because I did not have roasted pepper on hand so I just put some different types of squash in the dish instead. Squash just doesn't add that toasty flavor you might need. As for the creamy tofu pesto, he loved it. He wants to put it everything from fish to salad. He's taking the leftover for lunch tomorrow! Personally, I really think it needs to have the pine nuts that the recipe calls for and I think that some chopped scallions would be good on top.

Other than that, we met with a monsignor today and talked about the wedding. He was so nice and we're going to go to church at his parish on Sunday.

Awesome Dinner

2006-10-04T19:29:00.000-04:00

Tonight I made quinoa with shitake mushrooms and 2 types of squash and a salad with organic carrots! It was delicious! Tomorrow night we're going to have creamy silken tofu pesto with (probably) jasmine rice!

Wedding Plans

2006-10-03T13:49:00.000-04:00

It is looking likely that the wedding date is 10/27/07! That's a nice date right?

Bachelor Results - Episode 1

2006-10-02T22:56:00.000-04:00

Hmmm... there were definitely some of the ladies there that might have been good for him... I really liked Rosella...

WOAH - but the other episodes look GrEAT!

update!!!!

2006-10-02T22:14:00.000-04:00

lisa is very drunk and she should have stayed sober!

A Note

2006-10-02T21:46:00.000-04:00

Things here are going fine. We're putting together the house and making a lot of changes. We're going to be putting down wood floors (mahogany on the first floor and bamboo on the second) and completely gutting the kitchen (cherry cabinets and slate floors). But we've also been enjoying ourselves and sitting cozily by the fire. And I've been cooking some awesome meals and have been watching a great cooking show called Christina Cooks!. I am thinking about trying out quinoa.

Right now I am watching the Bachelor! YAY! I love this show! But oh gosh the first few weeks are very uncomfortable. So far I would narrow it down to Claudia, Sadie, Lisa, Meri, Rosella, and Sarah. I might have chosen some of them because those are pretty names... Speaking of names... here is a preview in the crazy-planning that is Mary... here are the female names selected for if I have a daughter:

alice
amelia
camille
eve
fern
frances
gina
gloria
grace
hazel
jane
joanna
judy / judith
martha
olive
sarah
ramona
rosanna
rose
ruth
sadie
sylvia

I've been working on the book and working out. And I've been enjoying the heck out of my sweet dog, Franklin.

Work-Out Girl - Day 2

2006-09-18T16:57:00.000-04:00

Hey this gym thing is pretty awesome. I watched tv the whole time I worked out on the eliptical and time flew by. I love that I can mix something I really really love (tv) with something that makes me feel good about myself (working out). The result is that a really really love feeling good about myself. Huh? Anyway, I'm going to some political fundraiser thing tonight at Ryan's parents' house. Unfortunately, our DVR doesn't work so I can't watch a recorded season premier of HIMYM (How I Met Your Mother) from bed. I will have to watch it from Ryan's parents' DVR... Wow. That is totally not a problem. Isn't my life great when that's my biggest problem? Cheers!

By the Way...

2006-09-15T10:18:00.000-04:00

I feel bad for Tony Danza. I mean, his show really was awful, but still....

"Slow Moving Thunderstorm is Dumping Heavy Rain" So Says ABC 6

2006-09-15T09:39:00.000-04:00

I really think that the use of the word "dumping" was not the right choice. It actually grosses me out. But hey, I guess it is pouring pretty hard but not in a dumping motion. Nope.

This morning I realized that I really like Kelly Ripa. She's a funny gal.

Those are all of my thoughts so far this morning. I can't believe how lazy I was yesterday. I laid around reading and was too lazy to cook so we got take out and Devin (Ryan's brother) came over to eat with us. Fun right???

Little Miss Idle Pants

2006-09-14T13:54:00.000-04:00

We successfully completed the closing and the move. I spend a few days in Olivebridge with my family. And now I'm back to my "real life" however I don't actually have a "job" (in quotes because I will be working from home editing that book starting Monday) so I have been a little miss idle pants. I've been spending my ENTIRE days watercolor painting the very same subject - the view out my back sliding doors of my yard from where I sit on the couch. I have been alternating this activity with reclining on the couch reading books. When I am not on the couch, I am in the kitchen preparing meals for me and Ryan like a good little house-fiance. Tomorrow, I'm joining the local gym. Yesterday, I ventured out to get a library card. Today, I have been so "busy" (in quotes because it is really sarcasm) starting and finishing "The Castle of Otranto" by Horace Walpole. I thought, for fun, I should read the novel that is purported to be the beginnings of gothic fiction. I mean, why not? I have not, however, gotten around to eating anything yet today because of my extreme "busyness." Aren't my priorities totally whacked?