Life: Chapter 8

2010 post

2010-06-14T11:23:00.003-04:00

It's been quite a while, but I think I am ready to begin writing again.

Updated posts coming quite soon. Just after I finish this design for the wonderful and talented Kathy Reilly-Repass' upcoming cabaret performance and take care of the pile of dishes on our countertop(s) in the kitchen.

Which will most likely mean during naptime.

summer 2009 thus far

2009-07-17T10:13:00.002-04:00

most recent happenings/endeavours off of the top of my head are as follows (in random order):

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wednesday the 15th: got dressed up and headed to the upper east side for the half-blood prince. met my awesome husband and fantastic friend cassie (or does she prefer to spell it with a y at the end?) for the 8:30 pm showing. part of the hardcore fan inside me wanted to go to the midnight showing, but that would have absolutely thrown our schedules out of whack--something which i'm finding is harder and harder to recover from the older i get (only noticed it after becoming a mother, so maybe it's only the motherhood thing.)

don't want to go on and on about what i thought about it, but i will say that it was my favorite film of the books thus far. i have high expectations for the next ones and will most likely make it to a midnight showing for the deathly hallows part B.

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got back from idaho via a bumped flight and night at the airport radisson in denver. it was awesome. we also got dinner and the next day's breakfast courtesy of frontier airlines. plus three $100 vouchers. there was a significant amount of lameness on the part of frontier, but we're hoping that we can use our vouchers for a super awesome trip before the airline folds.

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still adjusting to the massive two hour time difference. can't understand why i had an easier time adjusting to/back from tokyo.

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finally got the house pseudo clean once again. am tired of being in a constant war with myself in regards to housework. i make far more of a mess than veda and patrick combined, and yet i can't seem to stop myself! though i must give myself some credit. i no longer find moldy coffee cups under pillows and hardly ever find old food in my purse. i still find forgotten cups of rewarmed coffee in the microwave quite frequently, but i am okay with that.

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and now, the TRIP(S)!!!:

first, june 10-19. florida. veda & me.

my aunt and mom were incredibly kind in springing for our roundtrip tickets to florida so that i could make my high school reunion on the 13th, so we flew on jetblue to orlando. jetblue is great. especially if you have kids who don't necessarily want to be buckled into a confined space for more than a little while. veda was able to nap and watch dora the entire time. as we don't have television here, i thoroughly enjoyed getting my fill of bad mtv/vh1 reality programming. i finally got to see brooke knows best, and i have to say i'm okay with it. i must admit that i am still a bit sad about the hogan marriage ending and am not ready for hulk to be dating again.

florida was pretty much the same florida i remember. a few more stip malls where there used to be orange groves, a few more target/best buy/michael's/ross complexes. definitely more starbucks than i've ever seen. actually, florida didn't really catch on to this trend until very recently. but it was nice to be in the hot sunshine as it had been raining for nearly a month straight and hovering at around 55 degrees in nyc when we left.

my mom and i spent time shopping in some of the new upscale outdoor shopping town-type places that have also begun to spring up with a vengeance. she was preparing for her upcoming cruise to alaska, so much time was spent finding the perfect capri pants (which are apparently what you need if you're going on a cruise), jeans (for the rugged cruise excursions), etc. much time was spent in chico's. i personally cannot be inside a chico's for more than about 10 minutes before feeling physically ill, so veda and i walked around kohl's. i marveled at the sheer amount of stuff crammed into the store. i marveled at the lack of people. where are the people?! aside from the themeparks, no one seems to be anywhere! stores and restaurants are empty for the most part, aside from the occasional friday or saturday night perhaps. the only pedestrians seem to be homeless or near homeless. i suppose everyone is just in their car or at home or in wal-mart. i suppose that's where i was when i lived there.

i wanted to make the most of my florida experience, however, so i did what i could.

had lunch at the olive garden. consumed part of a create-a-sampler, breadsticks with alfredo, a bowl of zuppa toscana with nearly an entire block of romano cheese grated into it (my friend holly was working that day, so she let me keep the cheese grater at the table), an entire tour of italy, two glasses of wine (almost) and a slice of lemon cream cake which i brought home. sadly though, i didn't remember to eat the lemon cream cake. and it still gets to me sometimes.

went to disney. my friend marie's mom works in one disney's retail areas and she got us all in for free! we went into the gift shop first, of course, and veda went nuts. she couldn't seem to stop running around hugging every animal, character, etc. picking stuff up, putting it down. i was cleaning up after a human tornado and it was awesome. marie's mom bought her her first pair of mouse ears, a baby tinkerbell stuffed doll and some mini-mouse flip-out sunglasses. so awesome.

we didn't stay all day, and veda was very confused about the concept of waiting in line. she didn't understand why she couldn't go under the ropes and play with the kids on the other side. i didn't really understand either. it was all very confusing.

i don't think i've ever seen her so excited before. she kept saying hi and bye to the it's a small world characters. she seemed a little sad that they didn't say hello/goodbye back, but she's strong and she was able to move past it. she was super brave on the snow white ride (i FREAKED out as a kid and still remember it!). but she liked it and if the witch jumped out, she just said, "oh no. what happened?")

after dumbo, a ride on the carosaul, veda napping for an hour or so in her stroller while marie and i caught up and she told me that they're going to try to save up and move to nyc (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) , and the monsters, inc. show (which was totally rad, and i must know how they get the animated characters to move with the live actors improving their roles backstage....must be some sort of electrode suit?...), we came home and i got ready for my 10 year high school reunion.

it ended up being a pretty fun night.

no one could get it together enough to have anything resembling an official reunion (with nametags, catered food, etc.), so we collectively decided to meet at tanner's pub--winter haven's ultimate hotspot.

marie and her boyfriend mike were late arriving, so i had to venture in alone. i got randomly nervous before entering, but made it in nonetheless.

there were only a handful of people, none of whom i would say i knew more than having perhaps been in a class or two with them. i vaguely recognized a few faces, and we made small talk, which is always super exciting.

after marie & mike, showed up, so did my friend zoie, and everything got awesomer. zoie and i were pretty much best friends during senior year, and she is one of my only friends that i'd managed somehow to COMPLETELY lose touch with up until this year. it was as if no time had gone by, and it was fantastic.

my friends alicia and duane showed up. we used to get into a lot of trouble together during 9th and 10th grade, and we hadn't really seen eachother since, as i was barred from associating with "that group" of friends back in 10th grade. my friend george showed up and we all hung out. he insisted on buying my drinks b/c of our hospitality to him when he and holly came to nyc a few months back. i didn't argue.

marie, mike, and i made it down the street to jesse's bar (another up-and-coming hotspot), and hung out with holly there. it was much fun, but it was close to midnight, and i am now a sleepy lightweight, so we all decided to go to denny's. it was pretty much a repeat of the night that i met patrick. denny's in the middle of the night is always fun. it was home and to bed after that.

the whole thing was a strange experience. great to see everyone, wierd to see everyone, strange to reconnect with people now who you didn't really know back then.

all in all, i probably will not make it to the 20th, but i'm glad i went to this one.

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veda just woke up! time to head OUT!

omg

2009-05-30T13:35:00.001-04:00

Watch My So-Called Life in Entertainment | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

being productive on a saturday morning, of course

2009-05-30T11:04:00.003-04:00

patrick's at the men's brunch for our fantastic church.

veda is watching charlie and lola.

i am in the middle of drinking coffee, organizing clothes and our laundry pile of insanity, and of course, being absolutely and totally productive before heading to union square, to matta's birthday party @ maria hernandez park, and then back home again for d & d with husband, rebekah, and jon. (so excited.)

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1. Choose a band/artist: alanis morissette (obviously, right?)

2. Answer ONLY using titles of their songs.

3. Are you male or female: you oughta know

4. Describe yourself: citizen of the planet

5. How do some people feel about you: precious illusions

6. How do you feel about yourself: so-called chaos

7. Describe your ex boyfriend/girlfriend: forgiven (though i also considered spineless & straightjacket)

8. Describe current boyfriend/girlfriend: bees of my knees

9. Describe where you want to be: utopia

10. Describe how you live: no pressure over cappuccino

11. Describe how you love: you owe me nothing in return

12. What would you ask for if you had just one wish: utopia (again) OR everything

13. Share a few words of Wisdom: eight easy steps

14. What do you do for a living?: purgatorying

15. Now say goodbye: thank you

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now to post on alanis/myspace/facebook....

pennsylvania on memorial day, cakes, trains, moving, rainbow Jesus, and whatnot....

2009-05-29T16:06:00.001-04:00

Click here to view these pictures larger

our apartment in LA in a winona ryder film!

2009-05-29T15:21:00.000-04:00

if you have netflix and can access their online database, you can play this movie and see our the hallway, elevator, front lobby, front of our building/courtyard, street, and parking lot in LA starting at 1:15:00! pretty cool! (it's a new winona ryder movie & it's called "the last word" in case you can't access it online.)

http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Last_Word/70084150?trkid=226871

super awesome veda awesomeness

2009-05-27T10:31:00.001-04:00

...so veda is sitting beside me and drawing. she says to me, "mamma. look here." then she proceeds to study my face and draw and study my face and draw some more. she's already practicing life drawing!!! coolest start of the day ever!!! ^_^ had to share. now i'm off.

WHHS REUION - seriously people. what is up.

2009-05-27T09:17:00.002-04:00

i inadvertently ended up sort of helping to organize our 10 year high school reunion. odd, right? i thought so. anyway, here's my latest official reunion post from the renegade reunion myspace site.

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as you may or may not have heard, we didn't have enough people pre-pay for the reunion at tanner's. so i suppose instead of having something "formal," we're just showing up from 6:00-9:00 on the 13th.

i've heard that some people are mad that it's at tanner's b/c they always hang out there anyway.

so if you or one of your friends is one of these people, you need to (in the words of britney spears) DO something! don't just bitch about it at home and randomly go somewhere else in rebellion to the idea of tanner's. what's your idea? seriously? we want to know!

i'm all for tanner's b/c it's the ghetto-FABULOUS jewel of winter haven. and it's so completely fitting that our reunion would be there.

i have no idea how we'd go about moving it to nora mayo hall or to the high school gym or something, so for now, tanner's it is.

BUT as i said, if you have some amazingly better solution, you'd better speak up b/c the date is set and it's less than a month away.

and if you're a hater, have an awesome time not at the reunion (that is not an official reunion comment--just a personal comment from yours truly). i can't wait to see everyone who wants to be there--not for the location, but for the PEOPLE! it's all about the people, PEOPLE. (!!!)

see you on the 13th!

(please respond with page comments to this.)

liz repass hollida

---

PS--i think there should be karaoke or rock band. am i the only one who thinks this???

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SARAH REED IS THE OFFICIAL REUNION ORGANIZER (I THINK). You can email her at sreed12@hotmail.com

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can't start my day unless i've done something productive like this...

2009-05-27T08:20:00.003-04:00

or perhaps this is counter productive...

hmm.

one or the other, i'd say.

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1.You can ONLY answer Yes or No.

2. You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone messages or comments you and asks. -- and believe me, the temptation to explain some of these will be overwhelming nothing is exactly as it seems now, here's what you're supposed to do. . . Copy and paste this into your notes, delete my answers, type in your answers and tag as many of your friends as you'd like to.

------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
1. Kissed any one of your Facebook friends?---yes
2. Kissed someone you didn't like? --- yes
3. Slept in until 5 PM? --- yes
4. Fallen asleep at work/school? ---yes
5. Held a snake? --yes
6. Ran a red light? --- yes
7. Been suspended from school? --- no
8. Experienced love at first sight? --- yes
9. Totaled your car in an accident? --- no
10. Been fired from a job? --- no
11. Fired somebody? --- no
12. Sang karaoke? ---yes!
13. Pointed a gun at someone? ---no
14. Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? --- yes!
15. Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? --- yes
16. Caught a snowflake on your tongue? --- yes
17. Kissed in the rain? --- yes
18. Had a close brush with death (your own)? ---yes
19. Seen someone die? --- no
20. Played spin-the-bottle? --- yes (i think...hmm.... i have a vague recollection...oops--am i explaining??)
21. Sang in the shower? --- yes
22. Smoked a cigar? ---yes
23. Sat on a rooftop? --- yes
24. Smuggled something into another country? --- yes
25. Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes? ---yes
26. Broken a bone? --- no
27. Skipped school? --- yes
28. Eaten a bug? --- yes
29. Sleepwalked? --- yes
30.Walked a moonlit beach? --- yes
31. Rode a motorcycle? --- yes
32. Dumped someone? --- yes
33. Forgotten your anniversary? --- yes
34 Lied to avoid a ticket? --- no
35 Ridden on a helicopter? --- no
36. Shaved your head? --- no
37. Blacked out from drinking? ---yes
38. Played a prank on someone? --- yes
39. Hit a home run? -- yes (again, it's vague, but i THINK it's a yes...)
40. Felt like killing someone? --- yes
41. Cross-dressed? --- yes (does this mean being a tomboy?)
42. Been falling-down drunk? --- yes
43. Made your girlfriend/boyfriend cry? --- yes
44. Eaten snake? --- yes (i'm pretty sure, at least...)
45. Marched/Protested? --- yes
46. Had Mexican jumping beans for pets? --- no
47. Puked on amusement ride? --- no
48. Seriously & intentionally boycotted something? --- yes
49. Been in a band? --- yes
50. Knitted? --- yes
51. Been on TV? --- yes
52. Shot a gun? --- yes
53. Skinny-dipped? --- yes
54. Gave someone stitches? --- no
55. Eaten a whole habenero pepper? --- no
56. Ridden a surfboard? --- yes
57. Drank straight from a liquor bottle? --- yes
58. Had surgery? --- yes
59. Streaked? --- no
60. Taken by ambulance to hospital? --- yes
61. Tripped on mushrooms? --- yes
62. Passed out when not drinking? --- yes
63. Peed on a bush? --- yes
64. Donated Blood? --- yes
65. Grabbed electric fence? --- no
66. Eaten alligator meat? --- yes
67. Eaten cheesecake? --- yes
68. Eaten your kids' Halloween candy? --- yes
69. Killed an animal when not hunting? --- yes
70 Peed your pants in public? --- yes (probably at least)
71. Snuck into a movie without paying? --- yes
72. Written graffiti? --- yes
73. Still love someone you shouldn't? --- no
74. Think about the future? --- yes
75. Been in handcuffs? --- yes
76. Believe in love? --- yes!
77. Sleep on a certain side of the bed? --- yes
78. Cheated on someone?---- yes
79. Eaten till your stomach hurts? ---yes
80. Had a cavity?---yes
81. Been search?--- huh?
82. Been so happy you cried?---yes
83. So mad that you laughed?---yes
84. Played strip poker?--- yes
85. Eaten Liver or Kidney? ---yes
86. Driven a car over 100 mph? ---no
87. Gambled? ---yes
88. Rode an elephant? --- yes
89. Touched a wild animal?-- yes
90. Use a telescope? --- yes
91. Done double dutch? --- yes
92. Gotten a New Year's kiss? ---yes
93. Been to Spain? ---yes
94. Pulled a muscle before? ---yes
95. Hired a private detective? ---no
96. Went into a public bathroom barefoot? ---yes
97. Watched a marathon of TV shows? --yes
98. Questioned yourself? ---yes
99. Wished you were famous? ---yes
100. Been dumped?--- yes

random guerrilla artwork/ists...

2009-05-26T19:40:00.002-04:00

got this notice in an email from an acquaintance from one of my life drawing meetup groups and thought i'd spread the word. haven't fully read it through, so hopefully it's not lame!

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Trespass

the guerilla gallery

What we do:

Our goal is to expose the art of new, exciting and innovative artists working in all mediums to the demographics of people, which might never see them without our unique intervention. Based in Boston, we put on exhibitions of varying length depending on the location we choose for each show. Some will last a month while others will only run for the duration of the opening. Even though we originally started out with the intention of putting on these shows illegally, we came to our senses and now rent all locations.

Where we show:

We scout out alternative locations depending on the collection of work we compile for an individual show. We choose them in order to compliment, emphasize or contradict the collection as we see fit, always with the intentions of the artist in mind. Abandoned buildings, retired subway stations, warehouses, industrial buildings, private residences, public spaces both inside and out, burned out store fronts, college campuses, downtown offices and even other galleries that allow us to commandeer their spaces for short engagements. The first question most people ask is how we get people to come to these peculiar venues. Well its simple, we tell them about it. As curiosity has grown so has our mailing list.

What we are looking for:

We are seeking undiscovered, untapped and uninhibited creators with truly unique artistic vision. You are the reason we do this. If you’re a well-known artist, congratulations, but we want the next ones, not the last ones. We discourage works that have electrical components unless they are battery powered as many exhibitions are powered by generator. Apart from very rare instances we will consider almost all mediums as long as the work is exceptionally intentioned and executed.

We are now accepting applications for our fall season starting November 2009.

Application Details (Eligibility & Media):

Open to all contemporary artists, both domestic and international. Any media and genre are acceptable. Eligible Media includes, but is not limited to, drawings, paintings, printmaking, photography, digital art, ceramics, fiber art, wood sculpture, metal sculpture and mixed media. All works submitted must be original in design and concept. Artwork must not be copied, in part or wholly, from any published or copyrighted work. Work needs to have been created within the last two years.

Acceptance:

All work accepted for exhibitions must arrive suitably framed, wired and ready for hanging. Sculpture must be clean and have display instructions. Installations pieces must be hung on location by the artist and with curatorial oversight. Works not gallery-ready, or not exhibiting good craftsmanship, may be omitted from exhibitions. All work must arrive at the given address of exhibition by given deadlines. Accepted work may be refused if it does not conform to the images presented for consideration, at the curators discretion. No substitutions of accepted works will be allowed. All accepted work must remain in the gallery for the duration of the exhibition. Artists will be responsible for deliver and return shipping of all their artwork. All work must be picked up, or mailing arrangements made for return of work.

Sale of Work:

All work must be available for sale during exhibitions (reasonable pricing encouraged). Trespass gallery will retain a commission of 35% on all artwork sold during exhibitions.

Application Fee:

$15(US) for up to 10 submitted images for consideration. $2(US) for each additional work submitted for consideration. Maximum number of submissions per application: 30. Checks, POSTAL Money Orders, or for artists outside the U.S., send an International POSTAL Money Order or a Cashier's Check in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. Bank, payable to: Trespass Gallery.

Submitting:

In an effort to conserve resources Trespass Gallery accepts only digital images for consideration. (see details below). The Gallery will retain the submitted images of accepted artwork and reserves the right to use the images in publications and gallery publicity (artists will be credited). CD's of works not selected will only be returned if accompanied by a SASE.

Images:

The images must meet the following specifications: File names = artist's last name followed by title of work, dimensions and medium (i.e. LastNameTitle10x10x10Media.

jpg). The image files should be in HIGH QUALITY JPEG format or better, images should be no smaller than 1000 pixels in any direction and 72dpi. Images must be oriented properly (i.e. top of image is top of artwork). PLEASE follow these specifications carefully.

Application Checklist:

-Artist’s statement (as word file on image CD)

-Short bio (as word file on image CD)

-Resume of previous exhibitions (as word file on image CD)

-CD of images clearly labeled with Name and contact information

-Application fee

-SASE (only if you wish your materials returned)

Mail applications to:

Trespass Gallery

111 Hillside Street

Boston, MA 02120

USA.

You may contact us with any questions you may have or join our mailing list by writing to us at:

TrespassGallery@yahoo.com

good morning crazy email spam scam!

2009-05-26T08:05:00.001-04:00

got this in my inbox today. it's far more effective when read out loud with an ambiguously middle-eastern/mediterranean accent.

-------

Your Payment Notification
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
HEAD OFFICE NO: 23 ADEBOYE ST,
APAPA LAGOS.
Tell: +234-7066027753
REF:-XVGNN8809

Attention Beneficiary

BE CAREFUL OF HOODLUMS /SECURITY WATCH OUT

This is to intimate you of a very important information which will be of a great help to redeem you from all the difficulties you have been experiencing in getting your long over due payment due to excessive demand for money from you by both corrupt Bank officials and Courier Companies after which your fund remain unpaid to you.

I am Mr. Rochers Daniel a highly placed official of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It may interest you to know that reports have reached our office by so many correspondences on the uneasy way which people like you are treated by Various Banks and Courier Companies/ Diplomat across Europe to Africa and Asia /London Uk and we have decided to put a stop to that and that is why I was appointed to handle your transaction here in Nigeria.

All Governmental and Non-Governmental prostates, NGOs, Finance Companies, Banks, Security Companies and Courier companies which have been in contact with you of late have been instructed to back up from your transaction and you have been advised NOT to respond to them anymore since the IMF is now directly in charge of your payment.

You are hereby advised NOT to remit further payment to any institutions with respect to your transaction as your fund will be transferred to you directly from our source.I hope this is clear. Any action contrary to this instruction is at your own risk. Respond to this e-mail on ( imf.office2009@gmail.com ) with immediate effect and we shall give you further details on how your fund will be released.
Also call me as soon as you send the e-mail so that you will be given an immediate response:
Direct Hotline: CALL: +234-7066027753
Regards,
Mr. Rochers Daniel.

random quizzes for no apparent reason other than i'm compelled...

2009-05-21T09:03:00.002-04:00

you're supposed to tag people and whatnot, but i'm just going to write, and if anyone else wants to do the same, that's swell.

A - Age: 27 going on 28

B - Bed size: queen--tempurpedic awesomeness from freecycle.org (and bedbug free!!!)

C - Chore you hate: starting cleaning the house when the whole place is a disaster. also: dishes.

D - Dog's name: used to have a dog named Kya

E - Essential start your day item: coffee or green tea (green tea is a new thing)

F - Favorite color(s): magenta, chartreuse, pea green, and royal blue

G - Gold or Silver: silver

H - Height: 5' 7.5"

I - Instruments you play: (mastering mediocrity with....) piano, guitar, and accordian (i also can play the flute, though i no longer own one)

J - Job title: mom/wife, artist, designer, photographer, illustrator, videographer, editor... freelancer might put it better...

K - Kids: veda-sprout!!! (she turned 2 in march)

L - Living arrangements: in a railroad apartment with my awesomely fantastic husband and ridiculously wonderful daughter (and various couch-sleeping friends from time to time)

M - Mom's name: diane

N - Nicknames: liz, lov-ah, fonta.... i tried to go by paprike when i was in middle school, but that didn't catch on. though i was elisabetta while living in italy, which rocked.

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: veda's birth! (and sleeping in the waiting room last summer when patrick had guilliam-barre.)

P - Pet Peeve: changes from time to time. right now, it's missing the train by a fraction of a second. grrr.

Q - Quote from a movie: one of my favorites is from 'i heart huckabees'...

Vivian Jaffe: Have you ever transcended space and time?
Albert Markovski: Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about.

R - Right or left handed: right (though i secretly wish to be ambidexterous)

S - Siblings: none by blood, but i now have three sets of sisters-in-law and their respective husbands!

T - Time you wake up: anywhere between 5:45 and 7:30 (but usually around 6:30)

U - Underwear: love boy shorts made out of super soft material, but that too changes.

V - Vegetable you dislike: not sure.... not a huge fan of random beets and roots and such....

W - Workout style: love love love being a member at a gym and doing ALL of their classes!!! (or doing cardio and watching tv)

X - X-rays you've had: many many dental/orthodontic xrays, and i got paid to get my brain scanned back when i live near the NIH. i was a "normal" candidate being compared to a drug-abusing candidate! (i was about 11 years old.)

Y - Yesterday's best moment(s): watching the office with patrick and jess, getting so much deep cleaning done that i actually feel a difference in our house!, starting sculpting a garden gnome and really liking what i've done thus far, finally hanging up some paintings/pictures that i've done and which i actually like and which actually inspire me to continue creating, laughing as veda does her dance to the theme song to the office.

Z - Zoo favorite: any zoo where you can pet and feed the animals--miniature horses are the coolest!

facebook notes hate me/tazer guns are funny

2009-05-13T15:05:00.002-04:00

for some reason, facebook does not want me to create anything. events, notes, whatever. it makes it virtually impossible for me to do so. luckily, i seem to have foiled it by importing my "notes" from my real blog.

this is a forward that i enjoyed (especially since i've done this, but my tazer had batteries which were almost dead, so it felt like a mild electrical shock).

----

(forwarded from dad)

Some lessons are learned the hard way.
Just try reading this without laughing till you cry!!!

Pocket Tazer Stun Gun, a great gift for the wife. A guy who purchased his lovely wife a pocket Tazer for their anniversary submitted this:

Last weekend I saw something at Larry's Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 15th anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Julie. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse- sized tazer. The effects of the tazer were supposed to be short lived, with no long-term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety.....??
WAY TOO COOL! Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home. I loaded two AAA batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button and pressed it against a metal surface at the same time; I'd get the blue arc of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs.

AWESOME!!!

Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Julie what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave.

Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn't be all that bad with only two triple-A batteries, right? There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target. I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised. Am I wrong?

So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, and tazer in another. The directions said that a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries.

All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5" long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference; pretty cute really and (loaded with two itsy, bitsy triple-A batteries) thinking to myself, 'no possible way!' What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best.. .?

I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side as if to say, 'don't do it dipshit,' reasoning that a one second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad. I decided to give myself a one second burst just for heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and . .
HOLY MOTHER OF GOD . . WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION . . . WHAT THE HELL!!!

I'm pretty sure Jessie Ventura ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs? The cat was making meowing sounds I had never heard before, clinging to a picture frame hanging above the fireplace, obviously in an attempt to avoid getting slammed by my body flopping all over the living room.

Note: If you ever feel compelled to 'mug' yourself with a tazer, one note of caution: there is no such thing as a one second burst when you zap yourself! You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor. A three second burst would be considered conservative?
IT HURT LIKE HELL!!!

A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), I collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape. My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace. The recliner was upside down and about 8 feet or so from where it originally was. My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching. My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs. I had no control over the drooling. Apparently I pooped on myself, but was too numb to know for sure and my sense of smell was gone. I saw a faint smoke cloud above my head which I believe came from my hair. I'm still looking for my nuts and I'm offering a significant reward for their safe return!

P.S. My wife, can't stop laughing about my experience, loved the gift, and now regularly threatens me with it!

If you think education is difficult, try being stupid.

chocolate calculator....???

2009-05-01T11:18:00.002-04:00

My cousin forwarded this to me. How do these things work? And who figures these things out in the first place?

Ahh well.... Here you go....

Chocolate Calculator:

Don't tell me your age; you probably would tell a falsehood anyway -but the Hershey Man will know!

YOUR AGE BY CHOCOLATE MATH

This is pretty neat.

DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!
It takes less than a minute .
Work this out as you read .
Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!
This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate (more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50 -- I'll wait while you get the calculator

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1759 ..
If you haven't, add 1758.

6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.

You should have a three digit number

The first digit of this was your original number
(i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each week).

The next two numbers are

YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)

THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2009) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS.

morning contemplations, et cetera, and so on...

2009-04-21T07:15:00.015-04:00

as veda lays asleep in our bed and the clouds hang over our ridgewood railroad, i sit here reading john. i know i've read it before, but i have decided to read the entire bible. and everyone tells me that i should not read it from start to finish. i've tried to take their advice and read it in a skipping around fashion--either as it was chronologically written or in some other manner.

that fashion, however, does not work for my brain. so i am reading the new testament first--from matthew through revelation. and when i am finished with that, i will start with genesis and read through the entire old testament and then again the new. that's the plan at this stage anyway. occasionally i skip around and read a proverb or two (i love the proverbs), but so far this "beginning to end" method is my favourite.

i realize that if i am going to have this faith (have only called myself a christian for just over one and one half years as of today), i want to know absolutely everything that i can about it. as the bible is the strongest physical foundation (i can hold it in my hands) for this faith, i want to know first hand what it says. i spent a lifetime being told by others what jesus said and did, what the bible told you to do, and that did me absolutely no good. the religion that i perceived made me never want to even remotely consider being a christian because it came across as a bunch of rules, regulations, condemnations, and hypocrisy.

thankfully, as i've been slowly discovering, christianity is absolutely nothing of the sort. but i wouldn't know that from what i've heard and seen of it through the mouths and words and actions of other people ("christian" america at large is primarily what i'm referring to here).

so as i read today, i am going to type whatever strikes a chord with me. as i said, today i'm starting with john. book 3. (i've already read through matthew, mark, luke, and the first part of john. my notes on those chapters are scattered about various journals, blogs, and random sheets of paper). not sure how much i'll read this morning, but that's where i'm starting today. (i've put in bold a few words which particularly stuck out to me today, for one reason or another.)

john 3:

12 - If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

19 - ...the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light...

21 - But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.

27 - John answered, A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.

john 4

1 - Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.

-------

and now, a long one....(all of it struck a chord with me, so i felt that i should just type out everything)...

-------

7 to 30 - A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock." Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water."

Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "you are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true." The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."

Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you seek?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" They went out of the town and were coming to him.

-------

ahh.... now for another cup of coffee and an hour before i head up to harlem.

^_^

quick summary, thoughts, whatnot....

2009-04-09T08:11:00.004-04:00

before i get more behind...i want to do a quick part II summary of our anniversary and of what i can remember off of the top of my head from the days since...

(i like to write the events more for my memory in years to come than anything else... as my memory is not so wonderful at times...)

okay... so... veda went to the bathroom of her own accord/suggestion at the cathedral of st. john the divine and it was AWESOME!!!

we then proceeded down to times square to wait in the winding line for phantom of the opera tickets. got them! 50% off and in the 12th row!!! i could practically TASTE the chandelier!

went home, hung out, brian came over to watch veda, and we went to phantom. saw the couple who we'd begun chatting with in line for tickets... married 1 year, in town from chicago, very cute (older couple...).

i'd always wanted to have wine at intermission but had never done so until that night. got a tiny glass of red vino at half off (b/c we didn't have enough cash and the bartender was generous!!!).

it was great! got to sport the 80s dress that belonged to one of my cousin john's girlfriends in the 80s that i found a while back in my grandmother's attic. did i sell the other one that i found at the same time??

great night. brian made the best veda video ever, which you have probably seen already, but should see again...

------

not sure about other days....they're already blurring together...

...oh yes!

the mates of state/black kids/sunbears show!

that was monday night. it was great. mates of state have been my favourite band for a few years now. we last saw them at coachella and they were great. now with two kids in tow and another album or two that are great, they're even better!

evita and adam (and their kids) so kindly offered to watch veda for the NIGHT, so we dropped our little tot off at their place in harlem around 6:00, headed down to union square and walked down to 11th to the bar where brian was already waiting. it was just around the corner from webster hall (where the show took place).

webster hall is amazing. see here.

we met up with jess and sonia before the show, had some wine and whatnot and headed over. i got my tshirt early (this one). it is awesome. patrick got the last MoS shirt at coachella b/c it looked way better on him than it did on me. but i've wanted one since, and i finally have one!!!

the show rocked my universe. live shows are one of the best things in life, i think. the sunbears and their super nerdy happy wonderful sound with excellent visuals rocked it! and the black kids?? AMAZING. and mates of state? i new every word to every song (but the encore, which was incredible, and i think was a cover of something i've heard before...very bluesy, folky sounding...).

anyway, it was one of the best shows i've been to in a while.

THEN, jess & patrick & i went out for burgers at blue 9 burger. they were the best burgers ever!!! (i was also starving...)

we parted ways and got stuck at the lorimer stop in williamsburg for quite some time, as the mta was running shuttle busses and there were none to be found for quite some time. i'm shocked that a fight did not break out on the bus that we were on. i've never been in a more crowded or humid bus in my life...not even in tokyo.

it was a great night.

OH! AND... my friend SIMI from ITALY was there! we randomly ran into eachother last year behind pearl paint (didn't even know she was in nyc!!!) and haven't seen eachother since! she happened to be at the show too! she works at the guggenheim & i can't wait to see her again! jess ate her friend's falafel like it was going out of style. it was awesome.

-----

we hung out with jessica and addison after picking up veda at adam & evitas and going to story time at the libary. i really want to attend their free yoga classes which start next thursday, but no kids allowed, so we'll have to see...

i fell asleep for a bit and we went shopping on 125th at old navy for a bit.

next time, we're hitting up H & M... did you know that they have a kids department?!?!?!??! this has really changed everything.... oh yes...

----

patrick and i had a great day trying to figure out our next steps, jobwise, to take. going to the park. having brian and jason over to watch saved!. always a good. we really need to suck it up and buy the dvd. i laugh every time.

---

now it's time to get ready for moms & tots! but before i go, a random proverb to start the day (because the Proverbs Rule):

Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
"How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?..."

best day/anniversary EVER!!!

2009-04-02T09:15:00.006-04:00

okay, so it'll be a bit before pics are posted, as i've started using my "non-digital" camera again. i'm not sure if you remember, but it uses "film," and you have to get it "developed."

anyway, i just have to write about yesterday while it's still fresh in my mind, as it was awesome.

april 1st is not our wedding anniversary, but the anniversary of the night we met. the night we became inseparable. we do celebrate our june 17th wedding anniversary as well, but this one is the real one. patrick asked me to marry him a week after we met (well, it was about a week and two days) and i said yes, and in my mind, we've been married since that day. i think i will post pics from the night we met at some point, because they're hilarious and totally worth seeing again.

so we decided to celebrate properly this year, as we've never really gone through the dating/romantic relationship phase. we were just together from the beginning, so we never really courted or dated or whatever it is that kids are doing these days.

we woke up late...(which is now defined as any time past 7:30 am).. i got out of bed at 8 and patrick at 8:30. we made our morning coffee/tea and watched "choke," the newest movie based off of one of chuch palsa.sdfasfdioajsdfkla;sf(?)'s novels. (the same guy who wrote fight club--one of my favorite movies of all time...)

we weren't sure how violent or sexual it was going to be, so we wanted to watch it before veda woke up. it turned out not to be visually disturbing (for the most part), so we kept it on after veda woke up and distracted her when questionable scenes arose.

jessica was going to watch veda during the day, but there was a planning mixup and she wasn't able to, so we decided to have a family day in the city. patrick did the planning and surprised me with an excursion first to the seinfeld diner on the upper west side and then to the cathedral of st. john the divine.

we got off at 125th and walked down st. nicholas avenue to the middle/top side of central park and took photos of harlem--a strange renaissance happening daily before everyone's eyes. can't wait to see how the photos turned out. i absolutely LOVE harlem architecture.

first off, the seinfeld restaurant is GREAT!!! awesome staff, super cozy, doesn't look like the set in the show, but it's great...and relatively cheap! anyway, i would totally work there if i lived in that area. i got a reuben with swiss cheese fries and a cup of cream of corn soup. patrick got a cheeseburger deluxe, and veda had crackers and snacks from our plates. we both had coffee. it was great. our server was super cheerful, and that was great (as you don't tend to get that here, for the most part).

we then took photos outside (of course) along with a group of high school tourists and walked a block east to the cathedral.

it's jaw-droppingly beautiful. the park is amazing and has the coolest faerie-tale-esque sculpture with a mishmash of animals and folklore... the cathedral itself is amazing, contains a corner devoted to american literary greats & has hints of eastern religion throughout (strange, right? for a cathedral?). i really want to go back with more film.

and there, a miracle happened. i took veda into the restroom to check her diaper. she proceeded to tell me that she wanted to use the potty, and then proceeded to USE THE POTTY!!! it was amazing. i didn't even think to ask her, as i've been planning on potty training this summer. she's used the potty THREE TIMES since yesterday & does it correctly! diapers are soon to be a thing of the past!! and seeing as we spend about $40+ per month on them, it'll help our budget emensely! anyway, how COOL IS THAT???? i had no idea that she was so interested or able to do this!!!

so yeah, first potty experience at st. john the divine? awesome.

we celebrated the potty experience and left the cathedral. by that time it was way past her naptime and about time to head down to the TKTS booth (reduced cost--50% off or more ticket booth at times square).

we decided that we were going to see either phantom of the opera or rock of ages. patrick and veda went to the virgin megastore to get out of the rain, but it was closed (why were the lights out front on??) for good, so they came back to the line. by that time, i had made friends with an older couple in town from chicago who were also going to see phantom. they've been together for slightly less than a year. so cute!! i found shelter under their umbrella. ^_^

we got phantom tickets. they were only $10 more than rock of ages...and come on. phantom is one of my favorite plays of all time. i haven't seen it since high school and patrick had never seen a broadway show (aside from light in the piazza at the kennedy center, which was slightly lame in our opinions. definitely not memorable as phantom, etc. are.). only $62.50 for 12th row orchestra tickets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by that time, we were both having our midday crash and ready to head home and chill before our night on the town.

we came home and hung out. drank some coffee, pondered life, and got dressed up. i decided to wear my fantastically AMAZING 1980s dress that i found in my grandmother's attic, which belonged to one of my cousin john's girlfriends in high school (in the 80s). it is awesome. patrick dressed to match with a miami-vice inspired (we think) tie. he looked hot.

i LOVE MY NEW BANGS!!!

(to be continued...)

free hair color! pass it on!!!

2009-03-30T15:55:00.000-04:00

Hi,

When we moved downtown to 15 Mercer Street we lost some models due to the new location in Soho. We are having a special FREE color day at 565 5^th Avenue (our old location) on Friday, April 10^th. We need models that currently do not come to 15 Mercer Street and who have over 50% gray hair. The appointments are two hours in length and are at 9, 10, 11, 2, or 3pm. You must be available two days prior for about ten minutes, Wednesday, April 8^th, to come in to fill out paperwork and have a patch test at the midtown location. If available please e-mail me ASAP to set up a time.

We need quite a few models so please feel free to pass this alone to friends, family, or coworkers that might be able to come to the midtown location (46^th and 5^th). I am hoping that the midtown location might bring us a pool of models that work close by and would otherwise not be able to get their hair done due to the downtown location.

Thanks!

-Ashley

AMcGinnis@us.loreal.com

so much fun!

2009-03-30T10:26:00.002-04:00

i went out for brian's birthday party last night at the b-side bar on avenue b & it was awesome!!!! so sadly, patrick had to stay home and watch veda. we're totally going back together, soon, for rockband mondays!!!! that's right...play rockband at a bar!!!

anyway, it was much fun. how i LOVE TO DANCE!!

must go....patrick's saying i have a problem with internet...

^_^

morning stumblings/contemplations

2009-03-26T08:54:00.002-04:00

this stood out to me today:

-------

"Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

He saw through their duplicity and said to them, "Show me a denarius. Whose portrait nad inscription are on it?"

"Caesar's," they replied.

He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

-------

"Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."

-------

(from the book of Luke)

veda-beatles-dancealicious-mania

2008-07-24T08:55:00.000-04:00

a long blog to come. for now, the first of many (hopefully) vlogs:

much love to you all. patrick is home!

Check out this video: veda-beatle-manialicious

..

Add to My Profile | More Videos

updates will come as i can type them

2008-06-24T09:19:00.001-04:00

i've had to tell and retell this story so much that i cannot tell it again here.

just know that patrick is stable. he's breathing. he will recover.

much love.

photo bombardment, yet again

2007-09-28T17:00:00.000-04:00

still hesitant to post anything on the job front. today hasn't been the most productive of days. (having writer's block, somehow.)

anyway, enough of that.

now for some photo ridiculousness. i posted the photobucket link to these in my last entry, but i thought it would be nice to describe what is happening, add captions, and whatnot.

so, without further ado:

in line for the "psychadelic 60s" exhibit at the whitney (we all need to contemplate the bizarre overhead lighting, don't we?)

about to enter central park, we stop for a quiet family photo-op:

everyone needs to sport a gay sailor outfit from time to time, don't you think?

(especially when dining at the midtown mcdonald's on a sunday...
...and since when does mickey d's sport a live pianist?)

bean enjoys eating the camera from time to time:

nothing says sexy like mud masks and mom butt:

bathtime is fun for all (thanks, kelli!):

you knew it only had to be a matter of time before humpty made his debut...

(she actually prefers it this way, as being IN the chair is far too constricting.)

(notice how she slowly approaches the camera...)

it's almost stealth-like...

later that very same day (at central park again...but in the hidden section, near the screaming tree):

(i love leather jackets and babies)

i can't get enough of the super-close-up:

..uot; border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">

this is her...wtf? face...

i love the old-lady look on babies. it really is awesome.

NOW...the screaming tree. i think this would make a good painting or story, or both...

i was sleepy...

yummy........ camera cord....

patrick loves to contemplate:

(she's a little gangsta too...)

(i do realize that i'm going a little overboard, but i don't care...)

when she won't go for the playpin, try putting her in a box!

good parening 101, i say.

okay...that's it until the next flood of cuteness...

veda update

2007-09-10T14:47:00.000-04:00

no pictures yet, but they are coming...

veda is wonderful.

she spends her days absorbing her surroundings, trying to make sense of what we're saying (or so i like to think), falling to sleep, and waking up with new skills, new abilities, new sounds that are closer to words than they were the day before.

we spend an amazing weekend in pennsylvania with joe and liz and the nyci people. i had an amazing time questioning my existence. but that is an understatement to say the least, and i haven't the time to write at this current moment in time.

veda spent the weekend babbling, discovering what other children are, and crawling everywhere. her army crawl is now closer to a standard crawl, but it's caught somewhere in between.

she has taken to waving her arms wildly and eating spoons. she is on to "solid" food now (stage 1 baby food) and loves squash and apples, but is not a fan of the peach. yet. i haven't had time to start making my own/her own baby food yet, so the tiny jars will have to do in the interim.

i'm thinking of continuing to pump and feed her breast milk until she is two (or around that), even if i only breastfeed her until she is one. that may be slightly ambitious of me though. we'll see.

veda has developed a laugh which will make your soul melt. it is also highly contagious.

she is now as large as most 9 month olds i've come across, though she is noticeably more lean.

she is going to test out her first chair...a bumbo chair to be exact...today, as soon as possible. it is a gift from a coworker whose children are out of the bumbo phase. i'm curious as to whether or not she'll enjoy it though, as she won't be able to crawl around.

oh, and she likes to say hello. we'll "haaaa," to be exact. but she says it when she sees people, so i'm sure she knows what it means. and that she's a genius. but that's a given.

i'm making jokes now, but seriously. i love her so much. i can't get enough of her, and i can't believe that someone so small can have such an enveloping, pure, immense spirit. she is already such a beautiful person, and while i appreciate every second that we have together, i can't wait to see what will be next. who she will become. where she'll go, and what she'll do in this life.

that's all. for now.

moulin rouge champagne celebration--you're invited!

2007-08-14T11:48:00.000-04:00

i'm turning 26! (on the 16th...)

Hosted By: Elizabeth Hollida
When: Friday Aug 17, 2007
at 8:00 PM
Where: Our Place (aka Joe & Liz's)
31-62 35th Street, Apartment 5
Astoria, NY 11106
United States
Description:
Elizabeth Hollida

Click Here To View Event

4.5-5 months bean, work, and life update!!! (PICS AND VIDS INCLUDED!)

2007-08-11T08:33:00.000-04:00

i realize that this is long, long overdue, but the last week or so has been insane.

in short, i got a job through gainor staffing (a temp/permanent staffing firm located just off of bryant park). brian, our awesome graphic designer friend who did the chocoholic youtube video that i was in (see here:)

...referred me to gainor and they have been amazing! i don't want to get my hopes too high, but i really like the company (www.ogilvy.com). they have a huge--and by huge i mean they practically rule the world in terms of what they own and/or design for--advertising division which ranges from packaging to print advertising to commercial production and everything in between. i am specifically working for ogilvy health world and i really like the office (in soho) and all of the people i've met so far.

patrick interviewed with the container store and was offered a part time position. however, it doesn't pay nearly as well as catering and is no where near as flexible. in addition, we're not sure we can coordinate veda pickups and drop offs or that it would be beneficial for him to work there long term. we're still not sure what is going to happen. either he will accept it and we'll see if it works out and if it does not, he'll quit, or he'll simply jump into catering in about 2 weeks when it's season.

temping is paying really well, and i'm pushing ogilvy to offer me a position. i plan to spend at least one day this weekend doing art. i need some new designs to show the creative team (who have asked to see my portfolio which i am not impressed with at the moment). i also need to get some new stuff added to curiouscabaret (www.curiouscabaret.com). i've been freelancing for the guerrilla girls on tour (www.guerrillagirlsontour) and have completed a spread for them to be published in an entertainment guide. i have also redone (and am going to be tweaking) their myspace page (www.myspace.com/guerrillagirlsontour) and hopefully redoing their website as soon as i get a minute. right now, i want to get my poster designs over to them. two of my friends have asked me to design tattoos for them, so i would like to have those done soon (what an honor!) as well as a 1950s-inspired and/or pinup photoshoot with a few of my friends and a local band (friend's band) who need new band photos taken and who are in love with 50s style as much as i am (www.themoodrocks.com).

so that's a bit of an update for you all. now, the pictures and the videos:

first, a video of the bean at central park last sunday. she's about to crawl, i think. though i could be wrong...

this was taken one day in central park as well (she's wearing the first article of clothing that i ever bought her and it's supposed to fit her at 12 months). it looks so dark, but it was really daylight. i promise.

i LOVE this one.

and this was on the night that harry potter was released (at midnight). she got to wear her black cherry dress, but she wasn't having any of the horns that lara and chad bought us in san fran--pics of those are being taken today!!!

patrick's amazing hat:

and my amazing horns:

our amazing pizza:

insanity at the union square barnes and noble:

veda deciding to sleep in her chair:

this shot is going to be converted into black and white as soon as i have the chance. serious bean:

back at the sheep's meadow in central park, last sunday. (just turned 5 months!)

this is the best expression i think i've captured so far:

veda and liz (bennett). aren't their expressions awesome?

that's it for now... more to come!

public blog.

2007-08-10T10:16:00.001-04:00

some people (i'm not naming any names) either cannot "do" myspace or don't want to create a myspace account simply in order to access various accounts of my life on a daily basis. i suppose creating a free profile, and then activating said profile, and then signing in, and then visiting my page post-sign-in is an extremely difficult and time consuming thing to do. so i have, out of the goodness of my heart, decided to start posting here. i fear that i will be abandoning my livejournal, however. because let's face it. this one is prettier.

i've been writing quite a lot, and i'm interested to see what, if any, response i receive on here.

and just to clarify a few things:

i know that i am not using capital letters. they really slow things down, and frankly, i don't like them. this is my blog, and i shall use or not use capitals as often as i please.

my grammar and/or punctuation may not be impeccable. i may use a comma or a semicolon at the wrong time. i do not care. i like commas a lot. and parenthesis. and whatever these things are --. i write how i talk. because it's a blog. perhaps when i am publishing my first book, i will change my ways. or just hire an editor (i.e. mike repass). his grammar skills are top notch.

so this is my first public blog. as long as no crazies or stalkers begin moseying around, it will stay as such.

more to come later in the day. for now, i must figure out what is going on with this conference call that is supposedly not happening.

much love and happy friday everyone!