Ventures in the Slipstream

The Chaible

2009-10-21T10:54:00.001-04:00

I LOVE autumn. I love wrapping my hands around a hot steaming cup to warm them in the crisp, beautiful clearness of a fall day.

But this past weekend when I headed 5 hours south to visit my sister during parents' weekend at Georgetown, the weather was not crisp or beautiful. It was almost brutally cold for this time of year, and the endless rain fell for two days straight in a fine, chilling, dampening mist. On Sunday, Mimi gave my parents and I a tour of the campus, and we ducked into the library to dry off and warm up at the artsy student-run in-library cafe called The Midnight Mug.

photos courtesy of The Midnight Mug

I wanted something to warm me up, but I didn't want a whole coffee since I'd already had one that morning. I wanted something autumnal. And then something perfect and original and unknown caught my eye: The Chaible. A chai tea latte with a shot of espresso and a bit of pumpkin spice, the Chaible sounded amazing. And it was. My sister and dad were both jealous of my smooth, rich drink and Mimi vowed to get the Chaible every time she goes to the Midnight Mug throughout the cold months.

I know a lot of people who look forward to all the pumpkin-flavored treats as the weather turns colder. A Starbucks pumpkin spice latte is smooth, delicious heaven ... but a 12 oz tall latte, the smallest size, is also 300 calories with 11g of fat, 7g of which are saturated fats.

Today, inspired by the Midnight Mug Chaible, I went to Starbucks to recreate it. I asked for a tall chai tea latte with a shot of espresso and a little pumpkin spice, and despite a weird look from the barista, I have to say the results were pretty damn good. Plus, this perfect autumn hot drink, a 12 oz tall is only 180 calories with 3g of fat. You save a lot compared to the pumpkin spice latte and get a better drink, in my opinion. Thanks Georgetown!

Mat Kearney & Diane Birch

2009-10-01T13:47:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday, KH and I went to go see Mat Kearney at the Fillmore at Irving Plaza, a small and relatively intimate venue. My sister Mimi actually introduced me to Mat many years ago, and I've enjoyed his tunes ever since. He's somewhat of a rhyming lyrical savant - for a white dude, if you don't mind me saying. He calls himself the hip hop kid and blends beautiful melodious choruses with the occasional lite rap verse.

One of my favorite songs that showcases this versatility has always been "Renaissance." It's chilling to actually listen to the fun rhymes of the first verse and realize he's talking about a horrible car crash. I was so happy when he performed "Renaissance" and many other favorites on Tuesday night. Give "Renaissance" a listen - you have to sign up for lala, but I highly recommend the free music service for one-time streaming full songs (unlike imeem which often only allows 30 second previews):

Renaissance - Mat Kearney

As much as I love Mat, I didn't expect him to be a great performer. He seemed like one of those guys that just sounds great on an album thanks to heavy production, but I am happy to say that he sounded incredible live. No gimmicks or tricks - he was pure and talented, and his voice sounded just like it does on his albums. He was backed by an awesome band, and all in all they gave a non-stop, high-energy performance. It was over too soon.

But to backtrack, before Mat took the stage at 9:15, there was an opening act that took me by storm. Diane Birch didn't keep the crowd waiting and walked onto the stage promptly at 8pm. I was immediately struck by how pretty she was, with a heavy fringe of bangs and long tumbling brown hair crowned with a flower headband, big doe-like eyes that were reminiscent of Twiggy, and a cool hipster outfit right down to the best Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony wedges that I have loved forever.

But it was her voice that would blow me out of the water.
She immediately sat down at her piano and began crooning the honey-, smokey-smooth "Forgiveness," overflowing with soulful Hallelujah's but hardly religious. It was the perfect set-up for her story: the daughter of a South African-born pastor father, Diane was born in Michigan but spent much of her childhood following her father's mission from Zimbabwe to South Africa to Australia, finally settling in Portland, Oregon when she was 10 years old. Here's a video of Diane performing "Forgiveness":

The more Diane played, the more she had me utterly riveted. As a master of the piano and with a timeless voice that sounds like it could have been from the 1970's belting out gospel-y sweet songs, Diane and her band injected the performance with the most concentrated fusion of passion, talent, and heart I have ever witnessed in live music. I became an uber-fan in a matter of an hour.

During Mat's encore set, he invited Diane and her band back out on stage to perform all together. But the entire crowd became part of the performance too, joining in with the chorus as soon as the musicians blasted into an energetic Bruce Springsteen classic, "Dancing in the Dark." It was a fantastic way to end the set, especially since I had shown up to see Mat but it was Diane who ended up knocking my socks off.

I have not stopped listening to Diane's album, Bible Belt, since I got home from the concert. And while I have fallen love with every song, you absolutely have to see this girl live to fully understand the power of her voice and the electric energy that can be only understood from live music. That's why I'm including a video of a recent performance on Craig Ferguson. The amped-up energy that went into Tuesday's performance isn’t even captured in this low-key Craig Ferguson appearance, but you do get the gist of her absolute talent:

Stream the whole album Bible Belt here:

Bible Belt - Diane Birch

...and then support this phenomenal artist by purchasing her debut album:

To wrap this post up, please enjoy some photos I took during the concert:

Billy the Kid

2009-09-22T17:47:00.000-04:00

I don't get to paint much these days, but I do try to make sure that I don't abandon it completely. This summer I managed to eek out one painting. It was completed in many short bursts during weekend mornings on my balcony in Bridgehampton, NY. It's entitled "Billy the Kid" and was referenced from a Katie Henry Photography original:

Billy the Kid, 2009
oil on canvas

The Master Cleanse

2009-09-09T16:43:00.014-04:00

No, I'm not actually doing the Master Cleanse again. This is a different sort of cleanse altogether, a much-needed one. I simply (or not so simply) have too much stuff, and it has started really bothering me lately. I feel distracted, smothered, choked on clutter, a total glutton of things in every facet of my life.

I have too much stuff in my purse (it seriously weighs like 20 pounds).
I have too much stuff in my Google Reader (unnecessary links I can't bear to skip over).
I have too much stuff in my closet (still).
I have too much stuff on/in my desk (my entire drawer of assorted teas, for example).
I have too much stuff on my computer (pictures, music, icons, downloads... ALL OF IT).

So my reform started digitally, with Minimal Mac. I love Tumblr more than anything, but it really is often a lot of clutter. And it was a breath of fresh air to see crisp, clean text posts from Minimal Mac in my dashboard every once in awhile inspiring me to clean up and pare down. So I did, on both work and home computers. Here's a screenshot of my cleaned-up work desktop (click for full-size):

I feel like I can breathe again. I also took the first step in eliminating distracting and unnecessary subscriptions from my Google Reader, Twitter, and Tumblr accounts so that I have less to feel obligated to look at or read online each day. I vow to do several follow-up comb-throughs to really pare these down to the amount I would like to be at.

I also moved apartments for the first time since moving to New York City after graduation. The move was a huge change for me - I moved from a 24-hour doorman high rise building in midtown with brand new appliances, a full gym with pool/sauna/squash courts/machines, and a full laundry room to a third-floor walk-up on the Upper East Side with a little more character and, well, a lot less closet space. So to prep for the move, I decided to be really ruthless when it came to paring down my wardrobe, and my possessions in general. Five or six huge garbage bags of donated clothes later, and I thought I'd done a fantastic job.

But whereas I thought my new bedroom (huge by comparison to the old one) would be spacious and airy and open, once I had settled in with all my stuff and my new IKEA wardrobe, I found it unbelievably cramped and cluttered - still.

Now my personal style never was exactly minimalist - I decorated my room after being inspired by this Keira Knightley Vogue Editorial after all. I will post pictures of my new (still unminimalist) room for those that are interested in a little while. I do still love the style of the room, and I don't want to toss out my old furniture and buy a whole new set of sleek, thin, spare Apple-esque furniture in the name of minimalism. Sometimes the minimalist aesthetic can seem so cold and impersonal to me, and that is not what I strive for. I still want comfort, character, a personal touch. I don't aim for minimalism as just an aesthetic; more than anything I simply want to to consolidate and have less. That word - simple - I want to live by it.

And so I've decided to continue weeding out my wardrobe and collection of personal effects. My absolute new favorite blog (one of the few that remain in my Google Reader) is mnmlist, a blog on life with the bare essentials. It's inspiring and refreshing from layout to content. The author is challenging himself to list out all of his personal things and keep everything under 100 things total. I find this an absolutely crazy and probably impossible challenge for myself, but the idea itself is very inspiring and liberating. I really am hoping to be ruthlessly disciplined about tossing out anything and everything that is just serving as glut. Other posts more generally talk about how to declutter your wardrobe, let go of possessions, how minimalism eliminates the need for and time spent organizing.

In trying to understand why I've gotten so fed up with myself and why I can't shake this desire to streamline my life, I've realized that it stems from one main problem. My mom helped clarify this underlying problem when we were walking around town this weekend and passed a toy store that my siblings and I used to frequent when we were younger. She said she used to HATE that store because we would never leave until we found something, no matter how small.

Ok, put being spoiled/fortunate aside. This still applies to me now, though it happens more often in clothing stores than in toy stores these days. If I find myself in a store, I realize I don't feel comfortable or satisfied if I leave without a new purchase in hand. This applies to clothing, but also to food and knick-knacks, and even to the way I work on the computer - I always NEED to download that new application I read about on Twitter, or that new song I discover on Tumblr, or that cool new set of desktop icons that appear in a post in my Google Reader. Or rather, it's not that I NEED to get my hands on these things, but that I so badly WANT to and so easily give in to this WANT. I'm sick of WANTING things. The second I stop WANTING things, the better off I am on my way to a uncluttered life. I truly hope to discipline myself to allow myself almost only what I need, and only occasionally what I want. Wish me luck or send me a zen garden or something!

If you want to pare down any or all aspects of your life too, I highly recommend and will reiterate these two blogs:

mnmlist
Minimal Mac

Gobble Grade: Asiadog

2009-08-06T10:45:00.009-04:00

Oh man. Oh man oh man oh man. I haven't been this excited about something new in awhile. Probably because I haven't really experienced anything truly new in awhile.

Until last night.

I play on my company's kickball team, and last night headed down to the LES with Mike Chee of The Daily Chafe. After kicking ass at kicking balls while TD (the other half of The Daily Chafe) and KH, and after narrowly escaping a long night of flip cup with our teammates, we wandered a few blocks over to experience Asiadog.

Mike has been talking about Asiadog for as long as I've known him, and I don't know how my unfounded abhorrence to traveling to Brooklyn for hot dogs has, for this long, overtaken my stomach's uncanny ability to always supersede my mind. But as serendipity would have it, on this fine Wednesday night, Asiadog was not being hosted in Brooklyn, but rather, the LES just a few blocks away from our kickball game - wunderbar! So the four of us headed over to experience it -- it being the mind-blowingly awesome fusion of my favorite cuisines: Asian toppings bedecking a classic American hotdog.
Ok. First things first. It was the location of Asiadog on this particular night was the first truly new thing to astound me. We suddenly found ourselves on a beach. In the middle of Manhattan. Um, AWESOME! We had found ourselves standing atop 5000 lbs of sand in the outdoor space at the Suffolk Beach Bar, a former public school backyard, and immediately plopped down into a couple lounge chairs under the cabana while the smokey smell of Asiadogs firing up on the grill wafted over us.

The Suffolk Beach Bar in daylight (photo via heartexplosion)

Ok, great company - check. Great setting - check. Beer in hand - check (there's a makeshift bar inside that sells beer, wine, and sangria - no liquor). But I was there for the food, and it's the food that truly ended blowing my mind. I had joked on the way over that I was going to order 5 Asiadogs, one of every item on the menu. I kid you not - I came close. I wolfed down 4 Asiadogs by the time we left, I kid you not. (By the way, there were actually 6 dogs on the menu that night, plus one burger option). I had a hard time making my first selection - I really did want them all. The way it works is this: You pick your selection of hot dogs - beef or chicken are $3, and vegetarian and organic beef are $4 - and then you choose your topping. For my first two dogs, I finally settled on:

THE VINH, Vietnamese banh-mi style: aioli + pate + cucumbers + pickled carrot and daikon + cilantro + jalapeno. With fresh toppings and a spicy kick, it was absolutely delicious. A great first choice.
THE SIDNEY, Thai style: relish with mango + cucumber + red onion + cilantro + crushed peanuts + fish sauce. Crunchy peanuts and sweet mango give this great Thai flavor. I definitely enjoyed it, but the Vinh won out for me.

I had enough room for a third, and settled on:

THE ITO, Japanese curry + homemade kimchi apples. The piping hot creamy toppings were a delicious addition to my hotdog. The only complaint I had is that the wet toppings quickly ate through my soft bun, and made for messy (but still delicious) eating. Mike told me that at their normal digs, The Trophy Bar in Brooklyn, owners Mel and Steve normally grill the buns to prevent that from happening.

Speaking of Mel and Steve, KH ordered only a single chicken hot dog (girl has superhuman restraint or something because I don't know how she held out), and it was:

THE MEL & STEVE, Asian sesame slaw. Seems like it's a classic, and she said she loved it.

TD also only ordered a single dog. After tasting Mike's, she decided on:
THE MASH, Spicy ketchup + jalapeno mustard + crushed salt and pepper potato chips. Mike described this one as "trashy good."

In addition to the Mash, Mike ordered the only burger on the menu:

THE BULGOGI BURGER, Korean BBQ style topped with your choice of asian slaw or kimchi. He got it with slaw, and it looked great.

After my three dogs, I still wasn't terribly full ... and I was craving that Vinh that had set of the sparks of love earlier in the evening. So, I capped it all off with a repeat Vinh, which I made Mike order for me because I was too embarrassed to be the girl that ordered 4 times.

Between the four of us, we came close to covering the whole menu. Check out the ones we missed here.

The whole experience made for a mini-vacation from Manhattan. On our subway ride to the kickball game only a few hours earlier, Mike and I were exchanging stories of annoying and rude people, admitting that New York City has made us bitter. It's amazing how such little injustices infuriate me so easily. Asiadog and the Beach Bar provided the most relaxation I've had on a weeknight since my last Jamaican vacation. It was a balmy night and the scene was not overly crowded and relatively quiet. Lights dripped from the cabana and music wafted softly outside, as we lounged in the chairs with beers and hot dogs in hand. I didn't want to leave.

View facing inside

Asiadog is most frequently hosted at Trophy Bar in Brooklyn, but makes appearances throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan. Follow Asiadog on Twitter or Facebook for schedule updates. I know I'll be hungrily awaiting the next Beach Bar appearance!

Gobble Grade: A

BREAKING: Cure for Depression - Laughing Babies!

2009-07-17T10:30:00.007-04:00

Laughing baby videos.

We've all seen the most popular:

You can't NOT smile. Really. Babies laughing are an instant pick-me-up. Here are a few more:

But the best, in my opinion, are those that my friend Katie takes of her nephew, Billy. He is probably THE cutest baby I've ever seen - his face is so perfect it's almost like he's a cartoon baby, with the brightest eyes, an adorable button nose, and the most infectious smile you've ever seen. And his laugh, oh his laugh! I think I've watched this one several times a day for the last week; if at any time you're feeling a little down, watch this and I guarantee it'll make you instantly happy:

The Flies that Lie

2009-07-14T15:15:00.001-04:00

The flies that lie
Maddeningly uncertain
on gossamer curtains
Sunstreaming plump
in linoleum bumps
That mountainous highest high
Safe 'til summer slips by

The lies that fly
Quivering spasms
in clavicle chasms
Sunstreaming ooze
Coats cherubic curlicues
In that ravine lowest low
Entangled white (f)lies so easily denied

The Last '0 to Go

2009-06-26T12:19:00.009-04:00

The last of the clan finally did it; with her head already ahead of her actual physical presence at Georgetown, my little sister graduated from high school last weekend in the middle of the rainiest June I think we've ever experienced.

The smiling honor student

Funnily enough, rain seems to be in the family. When I graduated from RHS six years ago, my ceremony was the first RHS ceremony to be forced out of the stadium and into the gymnasium due to rain in 30-some-odd years, ruining a running streak that our principal had always made a point to announce at each commencement ceremony. I managed to twist what seemed to be a mar on the class of 2003 into my Salutatorian speech to my peers celebrating the power of rain and how we were going to take the world by storm. Cheesetastic, yes. But then, that's me - a cheeseball.

Anyway, for Mimi's class the rain held out until the final fifteen minutes or so, allowing the class to graduate in the stadium. But for my parents, they somehow are 2/3 for attending rainy graduations at a school with an otherwise high success rate for sunny ones.
Here are some photos I took of, in Mimi's own words, the last '0 to go (being that they are the class of '09, RHS's final single-digit class of the 21st century). Congrats to all graduates, and best of luck at college and beyond!

The last '0 to go

Garnet & Black '09

Airborn cap

Mimi and boyfriend Eric

Brown Haired Girls

Brown hair, white gowns

Gobble Grade: Just Salad, Just Opened

2009-06-24T14:34:00.005-04:00

I work, like many New Yorkers, in Midtown East. Lunchtime in our sector consists of picking one of several standard lunch places around the block, whether it be a chain like Pret a Manger or Cosi, one of billions of salad/sandwich/soup shops, or a local buffet-style lunch establishment that offers anything and evertyhing. Lines are always long with fellow coworkers and midtown suits, especially at the buffet-type places, where everybody is crammed grumpily into narrow aisles trying to get a scoop of chicken salad or fruit or one of the hot entrees. Buying lunch in midtown is generally not a pleasant experience, and it gets tired very quickly.

Thankfully, a refreshing new establishment opened just around the corner from my office. One of several New York locations and a Hong Kong spot, this Just Salad location is bright, clean, and spacious, and it is energized by a vibrant color palette of green and orange.

As it is new and hip, it does draw a lot of lunch-goers, but yet I have never seen it crowded or slow. Part of the reason I love it so much is its efficiency. As you wait in line, an employee takes your name and order on a slip of paper. When you get to the top of the line, you hand your paper to another employee, who puts all of your ingredients together, and passes it on to yet another employee who tosses or chops and dresses your salad for you. Then, you move quickly onto another part of the store where you are checked out. The sheer number of employees and the divvying up of tasks makes for a highly-efficient flow of customers. There are no long lines or waits, and it is fun to move from step to step as you watch your salad made.

Just Salad also earns points for encouraging its customers to go green. Instead of pushing those clear disposable salad containers, Just Salad rewards customers who pay the one-time $1 cost for a reusable salad bowl in one of their signature colors of green, orange, and white. The reward? Every time you bring your bowl back you can choose up to two free additional toppings to your salad. You also get a loyalty card which, once activated, grants you 5% all purchases before 2pm and 10% after 2pm. I picked up a bowl in bright orange. It's Princeton's color after all - I definitely couldn't pass it up!
But I haven't even gotten to the best part, which is, of course, the SALADS. So far I have been three times, and each time I have been amazed at how delicious these concoctions are. There are some traditional salads everyone knows and loves - Caesar and Waldorf to name two. What's fantastic about the Just Salad chef designed salads is that they make for unique and interesting combinations of ingredients.

For example, the first salad I ever purchased was the Immunity Bowl Salad, which was comprised of mesclun, salmon, butternut squash, dried cranberries, wheatberries, and cucumbers, and dressed in a lemon vinaigrette. I never thought half those ingredients would complement each other so well, but it was one of my favorite salads I had ever had in my life. So healthy too! Fantastic, fresh ingredients and dressed lightly and perfectly.

Immunity Bowl Salad ingredients

I then returned and, not very hungry, got the Hudson Valley Mix, which sounded very light. It's a mix of spinach, butternut squash, broccoli, apples, feta, beets, pumpkin seeds, and multigrain croutons, dressed in an awesome low fat horseradish chive dressing. It was incredibly fresh, light, and satisfying. And because I wasn't overly hungry, the salad even lasted for two meals - I had it for dinner as well!

Hudson Valley Mix ingredients

Today, the Sesame Grain Salad was calling to me. A tangy sesame roasted onion dressing tops this blend of mesclun, sesame Asian chicken, wheatberries, barley, string beans, and crunchy onions. I still have some leftover for a midafternoon snack or dinner as well - these bowls are LARGE! Which makes the $6.95-9.75 price range on these bad boys very worth it. Getting two healthy, scrumptious meals for $10 is a deal in my book.

Sesame Grain Salad ingredients

If you don't want to try one of their chef designed salads and want to throw together your personal favorite combination of ingredients, you're free to do so. A custom salad is $6.95 and comes with 4 free toppings (plus 2 more if you use your bowl); additional toppings are only 50 cents each. You have a VERY extensive list of healthy, incredibly tasty options so choose carefully and don't go overboard. But might I recommend some of the crunchy accents and whole grains that give a delightful texture to your salad? If you notice, the three salads I tried all had a crispy element - wheatberries, croutons, barley, crunchy onions.

And, though the name is Just Salad, they do offer some other things. Try a chef designed or custom-made wrap if you want a little tortilla in your life, warm up with a cup of soup, cool down with a Pinkberry-like frozen yogurt with fresh fruit, grab a pre-made grab-n-go salad if you're in a hurry, or add a healthy snack or drink to your lunch.

I truly recommend Just Salad if you're nearby, for a crisp, healthy, filling, flavorful lunch. Summer makes me crave salads more often, so I'm sure my reusable bowl and loyalty card will be put to good use.

Gobble Grade: A

Gobble Grade: The House

2009-06-22T16:05:00.009-04:00

For KH's birthday a few weeks ago, we went to go see UP in 3D. For fear that the three-dimensionality might induce a very expensive post-dinner upchuck, we decided to eat AFTER the movie. The film was great, and we did NOT suffer from nausea. We laughed hysterically and got choked up on this adorable, adventurous ride. Highly recommended. (P.S. I did end up ordering that shirt after all. I totally fell in love with Russell during the movie!)

After the showing, we walked a few blocks from Union Square to The House in Gramercy. We picked it because of the rave reviews on NYMag ("...probably the best date restaurant in Manhattan hands down," "I love how small, simple, pretty, quaint, romantic it is!" Self-described as "a magnificently restored 1854 carriage house," The House is small, simple, pretty, quaint, and romantic indeed.

It was adorable as we walked up to it:

Exterior (photo via The House)

It was strikingly gorgeous as we entered the first floor parlor:

Parlor (photo via NYMag)

And I think it actually stole my breath for a second as we were lead up the staircase to be seated on the second floor:

Second Floor View (photo via The House)

An elderly couple had entered The House just prior to our arrival, and we followed them to the second floor, where we saw them seated at a beautiful, intimate two-person table framed in the middle of that gorgeous crescent window. If only we had gotten there 30 seconds earlier!

Nevertheless, we were happily seated at an equally intimate table. In fact, what was so surprising was that the entire restaurant was so intimate. When you live in New York, you don't expect to find any place that offers true peace and quiet and intimacy. Even the smallest city restaurants tend to resonate with the ever-present din of chatter or overly loud "background" music. So when you find a are noiseless respite, it is incredibly refreshing.

The restaurant was small yet absolutely uncrowded, and I truly cannot remember even background music playing. The sounds were only those that you would want - the easily comprehended conversation at your dinner table, the pleasant, unobtrusive suggestions by the friendly waitstaff, and the ambient clinks and clanks for a meal well-enjoyed. Plus, taking in the beauty of the Antebellum decor and details was a great experience - there was always something new to discover, like the wonderful bushed-steel telephone and beautiful latticework accents seen below. It was truly the best dining atmosphere I have come across in New York so far.

Adornments (photo via NYMag)

For our meal, KH and I split a half bottle of the Pinot Noir 3 Vineyards, Chehalem. The House boasts an extensive (and expensive!) wine bar with 4 full pages of options, so if you wanted to splurge on a great wine, I'm sure a fantastic bottle could be recommended to you. KH knew what she wanted immediately, the seared rack of lamb, which came with sunchoke puree, sweat peas, and mint oil. I debated for a bit but settled on the Szechuan Peppercorn Crusted Yellowfin Tuna, accompanied by bok choy (my favorite!), long bean, choy sum, ginger, and yuzu soy. The service was incredible, and I do have to say that our waiter was incredibly easy on the eyes, and very friendly. When he learned it was KH's birthday, he couldn't stop smiling and saying happy birthday to her.

Our food was very good, though not mind-blowingly fantastic. We both cleaned our plates, if that says anything. I'd say the vegetables that came with my Yellowfin outdid the Yellowfin itself. I guess seared tuna is seared tuna to me. KH enjoyed the lamb, though some pieces were a little too rare for her liking. Portion size was Goldilocks perfect - not too big, not too small. Afterwards we had just enough room to split a small key lime pie that came served with a raspberry reduction and fresh berries. All in all it was a good meal, but it was the experience and atmosphere that made for a fantastic dinner. I would return to The House and recommend it to others for the atmosphere alone.

Gobble Grade: A

Where's Your Favorite Place in the United States?

2009-06-09T14:09:00.003-04:00

My company needs your help. We're looking to gather some information on people's favorite places across the USA. This can be anything from your favorite local boutiques to the best place to get a cheap lunch downtown, even to your favorite bench in the park to the best tree to read under! Tell us anything and everything. Thanks for your help! Read on to fill out the survey.

Loading...

Pixar's UP

2009-06-05T14:29:00.006-04:00

I'm totally excited to see the new Pixar film, UP, in 3D on Monday. It's gotten absolute rave reviews. One guy at our office gave Star Trek a glowing review, adding that he was NOT the Trekky nerd type at all, but still loved it. I, in fact, had heard similar things said by many friends. But this guy then added that 20 minutes into UP, the Pixar film blew Star Trek out of the water. That's how incredible it is.

So, me being a fan of kitsch and toys and whatnot, I immediately (even before seeing the film) was drawn to this adorable kid's tee in the Disney store, modeled after the attire worn by the pudgy 8-year-old character Russell in the movie. "Suit up for adventure in our Up Wilderness Explorer Tee from Pixar's latest animated film, Up. Eight-year-old Russell is a Wilderness Explorer who has earned every badge except one for ''Assisting the Elderly.'' He sets out to help a senior citizen sporting a uniform that looks just like this Wilderness Explorer t-shirt! Wear it to do your own good deeds!"

I kind of need it. And when a certain somebody warned me not to get it because it's ugly, and I said "it's cuuuute," this person retorted with, "for a 5 year old." Which might very well be true. Does it count that I'm a 5-year-old at heart? What do you think of the shirt?

Russell's Wilderness Explorer Tee from the movie UP (which I am seeing on Monday!)(surveys)

Princeton Reunions: The Second

2009-05-28T20:51:00.030-04:00

Tomorrow, Friday, I am going back. Back to the place that infected me with the tendency to knee jerk towards anything garishly orange or, even better, orange and black. Back to Old Nassau. Back for my second Princeton Reunions.

Princeton Reunions are not like other college reunions. Instead of only going back for "big" milestones (5 year, 10 year, etc.), most alumni with the means to go back to campus go back every year. Wikipedia claims that each annual 4-day Reunions celebration brings back "upwards of 20,000 alumni, and at least that many guests".

When I graduated in 2007 and I was explaining to my parents what to expect during the P-rade, the highlight of each Reunions weekend, words failed. I could not seem to make them understand the size of this alumni parade. "Oh yeah," they said, unimpressed. "Penn had an alumni parade too." It was only after they witnessed first-hand the 5-hour long, 20,000 person flow of orange and black that their awe was conveyed back to me.

The P-rade kicks off with the oldest visiting alumnus who carries a silver cane, and proceeds with each following class joining all the way down to the senior class teetering drunkenly on the very brink of graduation. Here's a photo of the oldest returning alum, class of 1925, leading the 2006 P-rade with cane in hand and waving to subsequent classes applauding as they sip beer and line the main thoroughfare to watch the procession.

Each class proudly sports its own Reunions jacket, a gaudy thing of orange and black tackiness that would otherwise be banished outside of Fitz-Randolph gates. You are out of place, however, if you show up to the P-rade wearing anything BUT those oh-so-eye-pleasing Halloween colors. Reunions jackets are sometimes relatively benign (relatively being the key word), such as the simple stripes to the left, or the slightly more understated mottled jackets of the class of 1960, seen here looking like quite a dapper group of fellows...

...Especially when classes celebrating those "big" reunions we talked about decide to show up in costume, like these spring chickens celebrating their 50th.

Thankfully, before your 5th year reunion you are only required to wear a much less formal, much less gaudy beer jacket, designed by one of your classmates. Here I am pictured with classmates at one of our 2007 graduation events, showing off our new (mostly black) beer jackets that we will wear through our first 5 reunions. Near the end of the P-rade when the youngest alumni join the march, the lawns lining Elm Drive become a sea of beer jackets:

(photo by eszter)

Okay, you say. Great. You have a giant parade. Now what happens for the rest of the four days? Well, contrary to popular belief Ivy Leaguers do, in fact, drink. Princeton Reunions has long been held as the single-largest order of Budweiser of the year throughout the country. Each night, the warm campus pulses with Reunions parties that thrive until 2 am, with white tents littering the campus's larger lawns, and beer cups and bodies littering the dancefloors and green areas around those white tents. Beer flows unendingly (and if it does end, new kegs are quickly tapped), bands reverberate under white tent tops, feet stop on wooden dance floors, old friends hug for the first time in a year or more.

And then it ends, quiet as the start was boisterous. Waking lazily to Sunday morning brunch at their former eating clubs, the sleepy alumni will say their farewells and retreat to cabs or cars or the Dinky train that will take them, hungover, back to New York City, where they will probably try to catch up on lost sleep in time for the impending and dreaded workweek, and they will slumber with visions of Tigers and next year's Reunions dancing in their heads.

I haven't been to Princeton since last Reunions, so I'm looking forward to going back and seeing my classmates and friends, especially my fellow '07ers, seen below at the end of the P-rade during our graduation year (thanks to EG for the picture). With that said, I leave you this weekend for New Jersey Transit, Budweiser beer, a lot of orange and black, and one beer and P-rade induced cheer:

HIP HIP
RAH RAH RAH
TIGER TIGER TIGER
SIS SIS SIS
BOOM BOOM BOOM
BAH
OH-SEVEN! OH-SEVEN! OH-SEVEN!

(all photos above, except when mine or where noted, by Joe Shlabotnik

New Look

2009-05-28T15:48:00.004-04:00

Ventures in the Slipstream has been overhauled! I hope the lighter, cleaner, simpler look is much easier on the eyes.

I've also truncated long posts by adding "Continue Reading..." links where necessary, so that loading times are faster - no more waiting for picture-heavy posts to load.

I hope you enjoy an easier, less cluttered experience.

Guide to New York Etiquette for New Yorkers and Tourists

2009-05-19T15:42:00.095-04:00

Today I was walking along the sidewalk, in a rush to get nowhere in particular as usual. Stuck behind a very large, slow man who could not have moved slower across the street, I startled myself with an intensely cynical thought: "I hate people."

Now, I had to correct myself, for I really don't hate all people. I just get really, really annoyed at a lot of them. And of those lot, I get severely annoyed at probably 99% of pedestrians in New York. And I can't just blame New Yorkers themselves, because a lot of the problem definitely comes from tourists too.

(photo by Bryan Bruchman)

After I escaped the large man in the crosswalk, I arrived at work, getting into an elevator which quickly filled up. Just as the doors were about to close on a full car, lo and behold yet another large, slow man decides to forcefully displace bodies so as to make room for his extra-large girth. Once inside, he proceeds to open up the newspaper, and has the audacity to get slightly irked at having to close the paper and only semi-move aside for others to squeeze past his bulge onto their floors.

Come on people. I do not want to hate you. Here is my official Guide to New York Etiquette for New Yorkers and Tourists. Obey, or suffer some good old fashioned New York wrath.

UMBRELLAS

Umbrellas shelter you from getting wet when it rains. Or, it could be argued, hot sun, even though I personally can't stand umbrellas on a beautiful sunny day. Anyway, like I said - umbrellas shelter you from the rain. This means that if it is cloudy but otherwise an un-rainy day, there is no rain to be sheltered from. So do NOT walk around with an open umbrella when there is not a drop of rain falling from the sky. You look like an idiot and take up too much room on the sidewalk for no reason. (photo by jdvc)
Umbrellas are pointy. This leads me to two sub-rules:
1. When you must use an umbrella, do not use the largest golf umbrella you can find. New York streets are crowded. Nobody appreciates you taking up half the sidewalk, and definitely nobody appreciates a poke in the eye. And you probably aren't going to prevent a few drops from dampening your shoes anyway. (photo by lorenzodom)
2. When it has ceased raining and you are walking around with your folded up umbrella, why do you feel it is okay to swing your umbrella pointed behind you? Let me repeat: New York streets are crowded. There is probably someone right behind you. You wouldn't want to accidentally stab that someone in the spleen, cause him or her to bleed uncontrollably, and end up an inadvertent murderer now would you? (photo by dev null)

ELEVATORS

You're not the only person going somewhere, and no, you're not more important than everyone else around you. You're probably not the only one late and in a hurry either. Which means that you are not, in fact, entitled to weave in between the crowd in the lobby and snag the next free elevator despite the fact that all those people were waiting ahead of you. (photo by aLdo&mich)
Okay, so you didn't follow rule 1 and you made it into the elevator. Asshole. Now don't be even MORE of an asshole and frantically jam the "door close" button. Again, everybody is probably in just as much a rush as you. Is arriving maybe 4.2 seconds earlier than had you not repeatedly pressed the button really worth you looking like more of an obnoxious tool? Think about it. Oh, and if you see someone rushing towards the closing doors and there's room in your elevator, why not dig deep, find a little courtesy, and hit the "door open" button to let them in? I'm sure you'd appreciate if someone did that for you. You are in a rush after all, remember? It's really not that hard to be "elevator-friendly" as Real Housewife of NYC Jill Zarin calls it:

(photo by mag3737)

Okay, okay, so that dude just totally cut the crowd and weaseled his way into that elevator. And the doors are closing, and you're in a rush. And he's not making any effort to hold the door for you. We sympathize, trust me. But don't go and stick your hand in the crack at the last second please. Don't hold up everyone else just for your sake. Let it go, breathe deep. I promise another elevator is coming in just a few seconds. (photo via getty)

DOORS

Hold them. Regardless of whether you are a guy or a girl, and regardless of whether the person you are going to be holding the door for is a guy or a girl. Just hold the damn door.
And if some nice person does a rare thing and holds the door for you, be sure to say "thank you". (photo by gexydaf)

WALKING

Okay, so think of the sidewalk as a highway. Maybe the corner you're about to turn or the subway station you're about to exit is an on-ramp or an intersection. You wouldn't make a full-speed, blind left turn onto the highway now would you? Because you'd cross through dangerous oncoming traffic, right? Yeah. Exactly. Same thing with sidwalks. People currently on them are traveling fast and purposefully. Merge with existing pedestrian traffic carefully please - you'll avoid head-on collisions and road rage. Also, note to tourists: this is America - we drive so that oncoming traffic passes on our left. (photo by gaspi)
Do not stand/sit/chat/smoke/text/take photos in the middle of the sidewalk. I'm sorry, tourists. If you need to arch your neck, look up at the spectacular skyscrapers, and take a photo, do not do so from the middle of the sidewalk. Step aside, stat. Unfortunately I cannot guarantee that I will not accidentally walk brusquely into your shot. If you need to look at a map, step into a nook or doorway. If you are an obnoxious New Yorker on an obnoxious smoke break, get out of my effing way. Thank you. (photo by hotdogger13)
Do not, I repeat, do NOT text and walk. You slow down traffic, walk into people, and generally do not respect, nor or are aware of, your surroundings. This is one of the worst offenses you can commit, and if I see you doing this I will have to repress an all-consuming knee-jerk reaction to stab you in the spleen with my umbrella. Intentionally, not accidentally. (photo by obLiterated)

I'd spend my life in Silver Sands, Jamaica

2009-04-29T15:52:00.013-04:00

See that house with the bright blue roof, about halfway across the bottom of the map? That's Oh Boy Villa, a vacation home that my grandfather built. I've been going there at least once a year since I was born. And see my profile picture at the top of this page? That was taken on that jetty extending off from the upper left of the map.

They say home is where the heart is, but my heart isn't in Rye, NY ... the second I get off the plane and out the airport doors in Jamaica, my heart instantly swells and then settles, as if it is coming home. The place calms me, the balmy breathy winds soothe me, the Jamaican sun heals me.

family photo op during Feb '09 trip, minus my brother

Yasmin and Elaine make every stay at Oh Boy pure heaven. Yasmin's key lime pie is the best key lime pie on earth - I think I ask her to make it once or even twice during every visit! And both of them are wonderful cooks who inject a little local Jamaican spice into everything they whip up in the kitchen. I love when ackee, a local fruit, is in season and they prepare it with spices and maybe some saltfish for breakfast. When cooked, ackee tastes and looks similar to scrambled eggs!

Yasmin, me, and Elaine

ackee tree

When you hear the word "Jamaica," you probably think of Sandals resorts, Margaritaville, tacky sunburnt couples drinking tacky cocktails and decked out in tacky Jamaican souvenirs. I'm proud and grateful that my Jamaica is nothing like that; it's a small, quiet slice of the island that generally is undiscovered by those tacky tourists. Most of the visitors have been coming to Silver Sands for years and respect the island, the culture, and the people. Many are even full- or part-time residents of Silver Sands. Every vacation there is blissful and peaceful.

a quiet morning in Silver Sands

This is no Margaritaville party people, but by all means you can come down to the beach bar at night and enjoy a Flaming Bob Marley like my daring mother:

I'll leave you with a brief teaser photo tour of the 1-minute walk from Oh Boy Villa to the quiet private seashore, courtesy of Katie Henry Photography:

You can rent Oh Boy Villa (if I'm not staying there at the time!) - check out the website here: http://ohboyjamaica.com/

The villa is part of a gated vacation community called Silver Sands - feel free to poke around their website too: http://www.mysilversands.com

Gobble/Guzzle Grade: Beer Bar at Cafe Centro

2009-04-29T13:34:00.023-04:00

Being that yesterday hit the low 90s and we're still in April, you couldn't NOT find an outdoor space to saunter off to after work. KH, MF and I decided to meet up for drinks and dinner, and after reviewing a few candidates with outdoor seating, we settled on Beer Bar. After all, the name is right up our alley.

Beer Bar offers a pretty sprawling, covered patio in the heart of Manhattan at the MetLife building - a unique space that I had never seen before. It seems a great place for people-watching as it draws a crowd of businessmen and flirtatious women seeking businessmen, and also allows for idly watching passers-by along the sidewalk. The three of us sat down, initially exhilarated by the weather and the seemingly great space.

via yelp

We each ordered a beer off the fairly extensive menu, and it was served to us in a standard plastic cup by a waitress whose accent, we decided, was entirely concocted. While we sipped, we couldn't help but stare at a desperate girl sunburnt down her front-side only, in a green sundress over what seemed to be an atrocious sports bra and ridiculous heels, trying unsuccessfully to both flirt and look pretty.

Tearing our eyes away from her, we returned to the menu and discovered a very small selection of bar food that did not contain, as MF had thought, a decadent chocolate lava cake. We learned we had the option of ordering from the more sophisticated and expensive menu from the indoor French restaurant, but we passed that up for the bar food. KH and I ordered 3 mini sliders each, and MF settled on a chicken queadilla minus the sour cream. Our food arrived and her plate was laden with sour cream. The sliders were nothing special, but as I wasn't too hungry, they did the job of filling me up at $8 for 3.
When it came time for us to deposit MF at Grand Central, we were appalled to find that our bill was $100. We had each only ordered 3 beers and a small, cheap order from the bar food menu. The 12 oz. beers supposedly were $5.50 each, and a 23.5 oz beer was $7. We all assumed that we had been drinking 12 oz beers but the waitress insisted they only served the larger beers outside. I'm holding a Starbucks grande plastic cup right now, which apparently is 16 oz, and let me tell you, the beers we had last night were definitely not larger than this cup - we got gypped.

The waitress saw us complaining and came over and said she thought the bill was too high, that she'd take a round of beers off for us. Even though she charged us for the correct number of beers, we didn't say anything because we were pissed about the apparent beer size scam. The new bill being $21 less, KH and I gave MF cash, and MF offered up her credit card to get charged.

When the waitress returned with the receipt, MF found that she had been mistakenly charged much, much less than she should have. Whether it was moral or not for us to zipper the lips, sign the receipt, grab our bags, and go, it was the waitress's mistake, and we had had a bad experience. So that's exactly what we did, and I, for one, have no guilt here.

All in all we probably won out - in the end paying much less than we should have. However, the quality of food, beer, and service we received was completely unequal to the original amount on that bill, so we all agreed we would not revisit Beer Bar. We much prefer the happy hour deals and simultaneously escaping the horrors of midtown at Rue B - an adorable Parisian L.E.S. work favorite that offers $5 2-for-one beer and wine from 4-8pm, 7 days a week, and MUCH better food too. But a review for Rue B will come soon ... probably after our next happy hour that is spent there instead of the headachy Beer Bar.

Gobble Grade: C
Guzzle Grade: C-

Bronx Zoo 5k - What a Day!

2009-04-25T12:58:00.007-04:00

Wow, what a fantastic day. Woke up at 5:45 am to get up and meet Trish, Sam, Ansel, Ted, and Libby to cram into a mini-car and drive up to the Bronx Zoo. After getting heckled by a man who was impressed by my calves, we piled into the car and were on our way. I pounded some water and ate a banana, and Trish stank the car up with protein-rich hard boiled eggs.

Classic moment: as we pull into the zoo, "Welcome to the Jungle" is blasting from the speakers in the start area right as Axl starts to scream the title lyrics - Trish and I couldn't help but crack up. What a way to start the day.

We arrived wayyy too early but it was a good thing - closer to race time the registration lines were out of control. I drank so much water I had to pee three times beforehand, and needed to go a fourth time right before race time but the line was too long ... so I ended up running with a full bladder - not fun.

Also not fun was the fact that I had spent so much time reinstalling my Nike+ iPod kit onto my new sneakers last night (installing meaning sewing some velcro onto the part underneath my laces and attaching the Nike+ transmitter to it since I wear Asics, not Nikes) and finding out at the start of the race that my receiver wasn't connecting to the transmitter. That meant I couldn't have an encouraging voice periodically let me know how I was doing, how much I had run, etc.

The pleasantness of the course, however, made the run COMPLETELY fun. After I gave up with the Nike+ kit and relgated to just blasting the playlist I made last night, I fell into a great pace and totally enjoyed the perfectness of the temperature and the scenery around me. The mile 1 marker came up so quickly because I enjoyed myself so much. I found myself looking for the mile 2 marker as we started going up and down some inclines, which I wasn't used to. But the last mile was wonderful and I was high-fived by some men in gorilla suits as I crossed the finish line at about 26 minutes flat - a time that I was very, very happy with. Former NFL player Tiki Barber was running too, and I am proud to say I came in before he did!

Everyone felt great about themselves after the race. I believe everyone in our crew got a faster time than they expected. We meandered over to the gorilla exhibit which was absolutely incredible - they were out in full-force and so close to us behind the thin glass barrier. We watched some baby gorillas wrestle and play. We also watched a 26-year-old female devour a head of lettuce inches from us, then throw it up in her hands, and eat it again.

We passed by a giant grizzly bear swimming happily in his pool, a polar bear happily licking a bowl of something, some beautiful giraffes on the plains, and some tigers sunbathing lazily.

I would love to go back with my camera on a beautiful day like today and take some pictures. I went in the beginning of the month but it was still too cold for most of the animals to be outside like they were today. But today wasn't really about touring the zoo at a leisurely pace anyway; it was about running the 5k through it to raise money for the gorillas.

I'm so happy to say I did all of that and caught a train back to my parents' house all before noon - what a fantastic morning.

Bronx Zoo 5K Playlist

2009-04-24T20:30:00.008-04:00

So I already had all the songs from iTunes Nike+ Powersongs Mix in my library ... so I think I'll be running to this playlist bright and early tomorrow morning. Hopefully my time is good enough to be well short of making it through all 10 songs!

Gobble Grade: Penelope

2009-04-24T17:52:00.006-04:00

Last night I went out to dinner, something I don't do as much as I should living in New York City, where there's a fantastic gem to be found on every corner, whether it's a hole-in-the-wall café or an extravagant establishment with an extensive wait list.
KH and I went to Penelope, which I found via Murphy's New Law, the blog of an old college art history classmate of mine. (Hey Christine - we share similar taste in restaurants! LOVE Fig and Olive Uptown, Little Giant, Clinton Street Baking Co., and now Penelope too!)
At 6pm on a weekday, Penelope was gloriously uncrowded. We stepped in onto rustic wood flooring and were immediately warmed by the cozy country kitchen feel of the restaurant. I noticed lots of reclaimed wood painted in various shades of robin's egg blue. We were seated without hesitation at a little two-person table near a large recessed window that on a warm day I bet you'd want to throw open the shutters. In the window was a bright flower box.

via nymag

We both ordered a glass of their Bordeaux Rouge, which wasn't the best but was still enjoyable. KH ordered When Veggie Met Sally, a generous salad of "chopped greens with red onion, grilled veggie burger, and green apple tossed with goat cheese in a roasted garlic balsamic viniagrette" and a side of hand-made organic bread. I ordered an appetizer of mac & cheese (I can never pass it up) and an entrée sandwich made of "warm brie and green apple with grilled chicken and honey mustard on 7-grain toast" and a side of fresh greens.

The service was great - we had barely sipped our wine when my appetizer came out. The mac & cheese was okay - it's hard to make mac & cheese bad - but what I really loved was a thin layer of crunchy, crusty baked cheese on top. Soon afterwards our main dishes came out and they were wonderful. The portion size was just right - not too big, not too small - as Goldilocks would say, and I do supposed Goldilocks would feel very comfortable at Penelope. In fact, KH cleaned her entire plate - something that very rarely happens with her and pretty much always happens with me! I felt full all the way until bedtime which is an accomplishment, though I do think I would pass on getting an appetizer the next time (and there WILL be a next time!) A main dish washed down with a glass of wine was the perfect amount of food for me.

If you're willing to wait in line I hear they serve up a mean brunch, but for me, I am content to go for a cozy, quiet, weeknight dinner.

Gobble Grade: B+

Run, Run as Fast as You Can

2009-04-22T12:02:00.011-04:00

So Spring is in the air, and it makes me want to be nowhere else but outside. Last weekend was absolutely beautiful, and I started it off by going to watch some friends run in a 5k event on Saturday morning. You can see pictures and a summary of the run here. I was very proud of and impressed with all the participants, and it only furthered my spring itch to be active.

I finished my burpees on April 10th and, wanting to keep up the fitness level, I began to run. Last week I ran on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for a little over 2 miles each day. Then, after being inspired to run further by the 5k race and having the privilege of being able to run outdoors around a track up in the Bronx, I ran 4.5 miles on Sunday in the spring air, taking a few short breaks in between.

On Monday, Trish sent me a link to the Run for the Wild, an untimed 5k through the Bronx Zoo this Saturday, April 25. I immediately got excited - what an amazing chance to run amongst the wild animal exhibits at a zoo! Just look at this great course:

Saturday is supposed to be a beautiful spring day that is supposed to reach the low 80's! I can't think of a better experience. And besides just feeling good about the day, about spring being here to stay, and about myself, the event is for a great cause. All pledges and donations go to the Wildlife Conservation Society. So if you feel like donating, you can pledge through my page by clicking the image below.

On Monday night I decided to go down to my gym and see if I could even run a 5k straight through, seeing as I've never been much of a long-distance/endurance runner and seeing as I've only just gotten back into running. I reached the 5k mark, but I did have to stop and walk a little bit along the way, finishing up at a little over 28 minutes total. Not bad for a first try. I'm going to rest up and not push myself and just try to run straight through on Saturday, but seeing as it's untimed and going to be pretty damn hot, I don't plan on killing myself. Plus, I'd like to enjoy the spectacles around me!

Weekend Project?

2009-04-20T23:50:00.003-04:00

I don't know why I'm dying to try these. They sound paradoxically appetizing and disgusting to me, but they definitely have been intriguing the back of my brain (and my empty stomach) ever since I stumbled on the recipe a few weeks ago here.

Beer Cheese Super Bowl Cupcakes

Beer and cheese dip show up at every Super Bowl party. These cupcakes are a new and unique twist on the same old thing.

Ingredients

1 cup beer Bud Select, Newcastle, etc.)
1.5 stick, plus 1 tbsp, unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups grated sharp cheddar
2 cups dark brown sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
2 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 8oz package cream cheese
3 cups powdered sugar
1 cup bacon bits

Directions

Grate 1 3/4 cups of cheddar from block. Separate into 1 cup and 3/4 cup. Put the 3/4 cup aside.
Chop 1 stick plus 1 tbsp of butter into 1 inch chunks. Set aside the remaining half stick of butter.
Combine beer and butter chunks in a large sauce pan, and heat to melt the butter.
Add 1 cup cheddar.
Remove from heat, and whisk in brown sugar.
In a bowl, whisk the sour cream with the eggs and vanilla, then add to the beer mixture.
Sift together the flour and baking soda, and fold into the batter.
Pour into cupcake wrappers and bake for 25 minutes, or until inserted cake tester comes out clean.
For frosting, make sure cream cheese and remaining butter are room temperature. Beat together until creamy.
Add grated cheddar.
Slowly mix in powdered sugar until desired sweetness.
Stir in bacon bits.
Frost baked cupcakes.

If Trish were an animal...

2009-04-20T16:24:00.002-04:00

In an exciting follow up to this post where Trish decided I'd be a squishy manatee, I am hereby writing that Trish has declared that she'd be this weird tickle-loving animal (I, for one, loathe being tickled):

Susan Boyle - Unlikely Inspiration

2009-04-14T15:23:00.009-04:00

Okay, sure - the video below is laced tightly up in the corset of all the drama and sap of a reality show, edited and designed specifically to pull at the heartstrings but, at its core root and if it is to be believed (I find this woman to actually be charmingly sweet and real), then there is something so truly, genuinely wonderful about it.

I realized I immediately passed criticism; I thought to myself - this frumpy, chubby, graying woman with eyebrows desperately in need of a good plucking can't taken seriously. She obviously must be a plant by the producers, like so many of the horrifyingly terrible contestants on shows like American Idol and Britain's Got Talent. But like so many people (though not Simon, because he has a sixth sense for talent), boy was I wrong.

It made me think about how proud I was that my little sister was voted "Friendliest" by her peers in her Senior yearbook. Thanks to the unique blend of Irish and Chinese heritages, my sister is stunningly and exotically beautiful - with auburn hair that is set afire in the sunlight, big chocolate eyes, and a face exploding with freckles. This makes her popular with her peers - she has a great boyfriend and a bevvy of friends. She's also incredibly athletic, having been the only freshman at the time to be brought up onto our town's impressive state champion field hockey team and rising to be both a key defensive player and team captain. And on top of it all, she's one of the smartest kids in her grade, earning consistent A's, taking an unthinkable 5 Advanced Place course load, and recently applying to some of the nation's top universities.

She could have easily been voted "Most likely to succeed" or "Prettiest" or even "Most Athletic." But out of all of her qualities, she was recognized most for her friendliness, which to me says so much about her. She's the exception to the "popular = bitch" rule. She always inspires me to be friendlier. To make the effort to get to know somebody. And to judge a person only AFTER that getting to know you phase.
Growing up, I used to be detrimentally shy. People I eventually got to know used to tell me that their first impression of me was that I was cold and bitchy, like I thought I was too cool to introduce myself or talk to them. I'd always feel so bad that they would mistake my shyness for bitchiness. For the most part, I've gotten over my shyness. However, in many situations I still find myself hesitating before opening up to people, and I've come to realize that keeping your mouth shut can indeed be cold and bitchy. Why is it so hard for me to glance up from my book and say "thank you" when the train conductor comes by to punch my ticket? And why was my first instinct to ignore the lady who came with her golden retriever and sat next to me at the field hockey game? I'm glad that instinct passed, because finally opening my mouth led to a wonderful hour of friendly conversation in the sunshine. Even some of the people closest to me now are people that I hesitated to talk to in the beginning and even prematurely judged.

I have overcome my shyness to a large degree, but I would love to shed any vestigial remnant of it, and I would love to obliterate any tendency to rashly pass judgment. Because my sister inspires me. And because this woman ended up inspiring me too:

Note - video can't be embedded, so click play and then click once more anywhere within the video frame. It'll take you directly to the youtube page.

And if for any reason the video ever gets removed from youtube, just search for "Susan Boyle - Britain's Got Talent" on your favorite video sharing website.

100 Day Burpee Challenge - now what?

2009-04-10T23:34:00.003-04:00

Just finished my 100th burpee for a total of 5050! www.100burpees.blogspot.com has been great fun!

Now what do I do? I've been doing, thinking about, dreaming about, talking about burpees for 100 days - there's no way I can stop cold turkey now. Maybe I'll wean myself off - tomorrow do 99, then 98, then 97...