The Misadventures of a Native New Yorker

I enjoyed the list format so much last time, even though I worried certain stories would be buried within it. However, thanks to the cool people on my f-list, this was not so.

• I had a wonderful Easter with j_bkl's family. Unfortunately, after a lovely afternoon, my stomach decided to rebel and I've been violently ill since about 8:30 last night. No idea what caused it (a bug, an allergic reaction, Zachariah the Evil Angel), but it laid me out so hard that when I woke up to attempt to go to work this morning, my entire body said no. I figure that if exhaustion, dehydration, vertigo, and all sorts of TMI ick I don't want to get into here are enough to keep the average starlet home from a premiere, they wouldn't mind me taking a day from the office. I'm 75% better, should be shipshape by morning.



• We also got to hang out with my folks on Saturday (which was rad as always), and replace the shopping cart I killed back in November? December? So we have a mega-cart again. This is happy-making.



• I am continually staggered, amazed, and disgusted by rampant consumerism encouraged by the wedding industry. No, really. It's disgusting. And, so much of it is swathed in this beautiful cloud of guilt that if you don't buy [thing] or [service] OMG UR WEDDING IS GOING TO BE A DISASTER I'M WARNING YOU IT'S JUST $900 FOR CHRIST SAKE ISN'T THE HAPPIEST DAY EVAR OF UR LIFE WORTH IT!! ISN'T IT? Blah. Thank goodness for Offbeat Bride and A Practical Wedding, as I'm sure these wonderful sites will keep me sane over the months leading up to the Marriaging. But seriously? $35 for a Pantone Guide to make sure everything is perfectly coordinated? $120 to have access to Evite on Steroids. It never ceases to amaze. (Mom thinks I need a break from this stuff. Maybe she's right?)



• I am now fully up-to-date on Supernatural(FLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIILLL), Ugly Betty (OY.), Life Unexpected (My crack!) and The Vampire Diaries (HOMG). And, In Plain Sight is also back, and watched (Mary, I missed you!!). TV is so good right now it's almost not even worth it to pay $13 to go see a movie.



• I just got this out of the library, and I'm looking forward to reading it. I'm a fan of Not Eating Out in New York, though I enjoy her recipes more than her ranting. Still, I've heard good things about the book, and I've loved the hell out of all of the other food-related memoirs I've read so far. Specifically A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg, Cooking for Mr. Latte by Amanda Hesser, and of course, Julie & Julia AND Cleaving by Julie Powell. (Oh, the screenplay I could write for Cleaving.)



• As previously mentioned on Facebook, this is some bullshit right here. I mean, what next? Are they going to add mortgage backed securities to Monopoly? Scrabble has been just fine for the last 62 years, thank you very much. It does not need updating. Stop it.



• Every day around the same time, I can hear someone playing the trumpet outside of my kitchen window. This person is a very good trumpet player, and I enjoy listening to his/her sessions. However, I am so frigging curious about who this might be, I'm tempted to post it as a missed connection or something. In the meantime, J and I have dubbed them "Trumpet Man" and will continue to enjoy the music so long as the windows remain open.



• 5 weeks remain in school. Just. Five. Somehow, I will get through this. I hope.

A text conversation with my dad about Torchwood: Children of Earth, about half an hour ago:

Dad: Watched Torchwood. Need a day before I can discuss it.

Me: Ok. I also recommend a scotch.

Dad: Maybe a quart or two.

Me: WE ARE DRINKING. WE ARE DRINKING.

I'm currently buried under a HUGE pile of well-wishes, thank you all so much!! :D

So I'm officially 29 now, and so far, it feels just like 28. It just sounds...impressive. At least to me. I'm twenty-nine. Gah. And, as hermionesviolin pointed out, close enough to REALLY start planning the bash for the big 3-0. But I won't do that until this year's is over and done.

I've been invited to a fabulous party this evening, involving fancy cocktails, a swing orchestra, and getting all gussied up. I couldn't very well say no to this grouping of my favorite things, so that's how I'll be celebrating. Oh, and J is treating me to lunch today, then I'll have a wee bit of time to kill before I have to start the gussying for later.

In the meantime, it's time for some banana bread, and possibly pants. We'll see!

It's either fitting or bizarre that two of the most important people in my life have birthdays one day apart.

Yesterday, redesigner had his natal anniversary. (He is far away visiting family, so our [observed] celebration will be coming soon.)

Today? It's quasisonic's birthday!!

So far, she and I have plans to get pedicures somewhere in Park Slope. (As soon as I decide where, pretty much. I have it narrowed down to about 2 or 3 places.) Hit me up via text or cell if you'd like to join us!

And, Christmas was awesome. I got seasons 2 and 3 of Supernatural, The Last Waltz and Enchanted on dvd. \o/ I am pleased by this. I also got plenty of sleep, lots of lasagna (and other delicious foods), and had a good old-fashioned blast with the family. No, seriously. We had a FANTASTIC time. It was very nice.

I am also 4 episodes away from being completely caught up on The L Word. And yes, Season 5 is PAINFUL, pretty much. But I am taking my medicine, remembering how awesome seasons 3 and 4 were, and getting psyched about season 6.

Also, if there are any Burn Notice fans out there, TNT is doing an all-day marathon this Tuesday. Set your tivo or your butt in front of the couch. I for one hope to be somewhat caught up by the season premiere.

And now, I have to decide between a shower, and then breakfast, or breakfast, and then a shower.

My sister eloped.

This is not a drill.

She's in San Diego getting married about right now.

She and Puck decided to do it this way because of skyrocketing wedding costs. And I can't say I blame them. The Wedding Industrial Complex(tm) has made it nigh impossible to have a wedding that doesn't cost ridiculous amounts of money. Plus, this is more romantic and private and all that. Both my parents and I are extremely happy for them, and hope they're having a wonderful time.

Best of luck to the happy couple. I'll just be over here with my head between my knees, trying to process all of this.

While watching yesterday's Yankee game, my dad got so pissed off at the announcers on Fox that he muted it. I can more than understand the impulse, as the announcers on Fox are biased asshats who Yankee bash whenever they get an opportunity (fair and balanced my ass). He was happier with this, but since my mom was crocheting, she said to him that she'd miss out on the game without any kind of announcing. So she told my dad to do it. She said he was great at it, and it made the game much more enjoyable.

Lucky for me, he's agreed to do the same tonight. The game is on ESPN, and since the announcers on there are enough to drive a saint to murder, I'm thrilled and relieved to be listening to this very special secondary audio presentation.

Apparently in times gone by, announcers really didn't spend inning after inning talking out of their ass about nonsense that makes no sense. Usually? They'd just tell you what was going on with the game, and the occasional fact, like the guy at home plate has had a 4-game hitting streak or that it's the third baseman's birthday. They understood that the less said, the better. That's the school my dad's sort of operating from, except that he's not limited by the FCC or broadcast regulations. Which makes his color commentary all the more...colorful. I only wish I had a recording of this.

In other Ain't-My-Parents-Cool-News, today, when we left the beach early due to a combination of bad weather and a bad band on the patio, we decided to watch a movie. I'd told my dad about Boondock Saints (my latest Netflix selection), and since we had some extra time, he said sure, let's watch it. Both he and my mom enjoyed the hell out of it. And frankly, so did I. Thanks to all who clutched their chest and fainted when I said I hadn't seen it, it made me get around to it all the faster.

So, the last few days have been a collection of peaks and valleys, with very little in between.

Good parts:
Time with J. Thursday we went out to dinner, Saturday we hung with his friends at one of my favorite local coffee spots, and a fine time was had by all, despite the rain.

A more successful second test and tryout for a show that inquires whether or not you'd like to be in possession of a particular sum of money on Saturday. Taking the test for this was improved by the presence of valjean615. (And, incidentally, sir, had I known it was your birthday the following day, I would have insisted on doing something to mark the occasion. Seriously. Happy belated, just the same!) The testing went much better than last time. I passed the test for "Movie Buff Week," and I made it through a couple of rounds of auditions. I made both of the interviewers laugh and acted like an utter spaz, but we shall see if this worked to my benefit or not.

Seeing my folks on Father's day, and seeing my dad's face light up when he unwrapped the Giants Super Bowl dvd I got him. Then, while watching the dvd, I was again amazed at how fascinating NFL Films succeeds in making everything. (Seriously. If John Facenda had done a few films on advanced math, my high school GPA would have been a bit higher.) All of the elements - the cinematography, the narration, the editing, and of course, the music- all come together and make football a lot more exciting than it actually is most of the time. Still, they had a great story this year to work with - the Giants comeback from a slow start to their defeat of three of the strongest teams in the league was not going to be boring no matter what you did with it.

Finally getting to see The Magnificent Seven. Thanks to all who insisted I see it - that movie rocks!!

Bad parts:
Once again being denied Beach Club Time due to inclement weather. ::Shakes fist at sky::

Chien-Ming Wang spraining his foot during a COMPLETELY FUCKING USELESS INTERLEAGUE PLAY GAME. He will now be out for SIX WEEKS. As fun as it was to watch the Yankees absolutely destroy the Astros on Sunday, that certainly put a damper on things. :P He's one of our strongest starters, FFS! *siiiiigh* Long season, long season, long season...

Yesterday's father's day celebrations came to an abrupt halt after dinner. We'd ordered from a Chinese restaurant we've been going to and ordering from since I was at least 7 or 8, and dinner was pretty good. Not long after, Puck announced that he wasn't feeling very well. "That's funny," my dad said. "Me either." Then, my own stomach started to feel off. I'll spare you all the gory details, but what followed was a festival of Fun With Food Poisoning. It wiped the three of us out, and my mom came down with some of it this morning. I wound up staying home from work today because of it. Hell, I still don't feel so hot. It was why I got to finally watch the movie, though, so I can send it back to Netflix at long last.

Speaking of at long last, I'm going to bed now. I'd hoped to nap more during the day, but apparently someone had to do loud, screeching construction today, starting at around 11am and continuing until about 3 or 3:30. Ugh.

I don't know why people are so amazed when I can change the big bottle in the water cooler at work. Really, guys. I know I'm 5'4, but I'm of good, hearty peasant stock. My Maternal Grandmother and Paternal Great-Grandmother could totally kick your ass*. Maternal Grandmother carried huge metal bins of coal ash up from her basement to be disposed of several times a week. She was barely 5 feet, but all of my Uncle's friends (who were 6 feet tall or taller) were all scared of her bad side. (And from what I've heard, with good reason. She was a lovely, sweet woman, but you did not cross her.)

My Paternal Great-Grandmother was what you might call a problem-solver. A famous-in-the-family story that best illustrates it is one of my favorites. She was tired of her landlord jerking her around about replacing the cast-iron coal stove in their apartment, and finally got completely fed up. She yanked the stove out of the wall, carried it down several flights of stairs, kicked the landlord's door open, threw the stove at him, then PUNCHED HIM. And you know what she got in return, kids?

A new stove.

You do not fuck with us.

I think I can handle a few gallons of Poland Spring. I promise.


*My paternal grandma could whip the shit out of you verbally, so don't think for a second that she'd be easy to tangle with. The snark is genetic, and goes back generations.

It's been a busy week thus far.

Monday I got my hair trimmed by a stylist who did not butcher me. Thankfully my trip to the salon on Monday reminded me about everything that's awesome about my current salon, and why I'm going to stay with them for the time being. So, I took away two lessons from this experience, and the one before it:

1. See Megan, and only Megan.
2. Don't go on a Saturday unless you absolutely can't avoid it. (Dude, really.)

Tuesday I got to have dinner with the marvelous dotfic. We were both giddy about the ZOMGSPRING weather, which we enjoyed to the fullest (I think/hope) and had a fabulous Italian meal at this place. (Yes, I'm a Yelper now). And then we ranted about Torchwood, a lot. I still haven't seen the finale, but she was the 4th warning I've received about it so far.

Yesterday I saw my parents for dinner and we all marveled at why it is that all Red Sox vs. Yankee games have to be 9-hour, 40-run epics. Really, guys. You, too, can play a normal game. Le sigh. Pretty good game, though. And Go Rangers!

Otherwise, I've been busting my ass basically beta-reading redesigner's thesis and working my usual shifts here at Big International Publisher's Crazy Factory. Tomorrow night is missgyder's play and open bar gala, I'm spending Saturday with blergeatkitty, and Sunday is Comic-Con with redstapler (holla if you'll be there,too).

I really do love my life sometimes. For all my bitching and whining, it really is an eventful existence I lead (and I mean that in the fun way, and not the Chinese-curse way). In addition to what's mentioned above, I'm seeing She & Him with teany on Tuesday, and I have, at the very least, 3 parties in the next two weekends. I also now have tickets to see The Mountain Goats and The Daily Show's John Oliver at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple (how frigging cool is that, btw? It's a benefit for AIDS Walk NY, and also features a band called Rock Plaza Central) in May, and Feist at the Prospect Park Bandshell in July. I doubt sincerely that will be the end of it - it never is. I love this time of year - it's so exciting to see people emerge with the spring to throw parties and barbecues and the like. Also, the free concert lists are going to start revealing themselves, and I hope to hit up as many of those as I can this year. I'm still kicking myself for missing Camera Obscura at the Seaport last year, but whatcanyado.

And as if I wasn't busy enough: Bones was back this week, NCIS came back last week, and Ugly Betty, Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy and Supernatural come back next week.

Of course, now I have to get back to that which affords me this jet-setting existence.

So, it was a pretty good weekend.

Friday was pure insanity. After working late on my summer Friday (::grumble growl mumble grumble::) but getting paid time and a half for it (yaye!), I ran home after running some errands, to shower and get all prettified to meet up with blergeatkitty, newzlynn and my friend Maya for our semi-regular Friday ritual of McCabe's and Crif Dogs. Only to discover that my shower? In pieces. Because it was improperly installed, it was flooding the 3rd floor, so they had to re-do it. It was supposed to be done a few weeks prior, but was delayed for a few reasons. Then, Friday was the only day the work could be started, so. At least, my landlady allowed us to use her bathroom in her own unfinished apartment in the meanwhile. The problem? She had forgotten to unlock the door, so cut to me running around for half an hour, and explaining/complaining to her confused husband about why I needed a shower NOW and he needed to let me in NOW, etc. I spoke to my landlady after I had showered and calmed down, and she said not to worry about it, and apologized profusely about the scheduling snafu. But still? So not on. Give a sister a chance to plan, man. I mean, really. This should all be over and done with by tomorrow, thank the powers.

Then there was alcohol and fried things and hot dogs and friends, so the evening vastly improved. We were later joined by leopard_lady & Sir Shakenfist, antheia, and a delegation of fangirls that I sadly didn't get to talk to at all, really. But it was a good time, and it was awesome to get to see newzlynn again after so long, as she's all kinds of awesome.

Saturday morning, my body decided that 6:35 was an EXCELLENT time to wake up. And fully awake, too. I only realized how frigging early it was after I'd been to the bathroom and potched around some. Le sigh. So I took it as an opportunity to watch Hex and tackle the first drawer in what will be heretofore known as The Great Purge of '06. If I hate it, it goes. It's not practical to hang onto otherwise. I did my shirts, and it really felt amazing to just toss things. I'm eager to tackle the next bits.

Saturday and Sunday were spent at the beach. I was concerned that when we had that utterly crap weather a few weeks back that my money would be wasted, but after this weekend, I feel like I've been on vacation, so if the summer holds up its end, I have a feeling this will be money well spent. I swam, I walked on the beach, I sat in the sun by the pool (under my spiffy new chair umbrella), read my book, talked and talked and talked to my mom, and groaned in agony at the Yankees with my dad. Also, I'd like to take the opportunity to wish my dad a happy fathers day (belated only on LJ!), because he's truly a wonderful and terrific father, and someone I genuinely like and like spending time with. I love you, Dad. :D

And now, back to the working.