Tonight the dog figured out how to put on my sweatshirt. I think she looks like an inmate.
Tonight I realized I really like running while watching basketball. I love the game and I especially love how it makes the time fly while I’m running.
However…
There are a few drawbacks:
- I get really REALLY emotionally invested in sports. Always have. Convinced this will be what kills me. This investment makes me want to scream and yell and jump and go crazy about everything. This is hard to do while running on a treadmill in public.
- While I can make small hand motions, I cannot yell at the TV mounted to the treadmill, nor can I make large, demonstrative movements because then…I almost fall off the treadmill.
- Speaking of almost falling off of the treadmill…I used to play basketball. And while I haven’t played in probably ten years, muscle memory is strong. I almost felloff the treadmill about four times while reacting to a play. Totally involuntarily, simply because of muscle memory. Whoops.
Maybe I should just stick to watching the Kardashians.
If you have to run inside, what’s your favorite thing to run to?
Being a dog owner has been so much more fun than I thought it would. I wouldn’t say I was taking the dog on a “trial” basis, but I was a little wary when she first moved to NYC from Chicago. None of that matters anymore because I am completely obsessed with the dog. Bailey’s favorite treat are made by Milk-Bone, so I was obviously excited when I learned that a portion of the proceeds of each box o’ crunchy treats I buy goes to Canine Assistants. Canine Assistants is an organization that trains and provides service dogs to children and adults. I have always been completely awestruck by how service animals work – there were always some in my classes at U of I. In addition to fundraising via Milk-Bone and other donors, Canine Assistants enlists local (in ATL) and national volunteers. I would love to volunteer with a group like this someday – when I don’t live in a tiny NYC apartment surrounded by concrete! Pet owners: Do you know of other pet product companies that participate in charity? I’d love to hear about them!
P.S. My dog is really cute.
This weekend, my BFF was in town. O. M. G.
We’ve known each other for 21 years. We’ve had ups. We’ve had downs. We’ve been through near death (literally) experiences. And just to be appropriately dramatic, she’s like a part of me.
So we partied. Like we should. To celebrate our awesomeness. 
A little recap for those of you who weren’t lucky enough to attend/A weekend o’ fun review for you NYCers:
Wednesday night:
Harry’s Italian. I love this place. Their food is ridiculously awesome, even without the seven pitchers of sangria. I’m particularly partial to their Caesar salad and lasagna. Mmmm…lasagna.
Friday night:
Red. I had a steak quesadilla. I will almost always order enchiladas at a Mexican joint, but I was feeling boring. I think I made a good choice. Frankly, I don’t know if you can make a bad choice here – all of the food was delicious, and their chips and salsa were exceptional. However. Their service. Was. Awful. You know those delicious chips and salsa? You better not want a refill. I ordered a margarita with a salted rim. I specifically mentioned the salted rim 3 times. The waiter even repeated “salted”? Yes, salted. No. Salt. After about half of that margarita it didn’t matter anymore – I’ve never had a stronger drink in my life and Julie and I were quickly getting…silly. When our food came out, not only did the server have no idea what food belonged to which seat, but he could not identify what was on each plate. He asked who had the quesadilla. I said it was me, and he handed me a plate with one taco and one enchilada. Uhm, ok. Then, when he was holding my quesadilla and Julie’s tostada, he insisted that I had ordered the toastada. No, jerkface, I didn’t. All of the other food was mixed up, too, and when someone in our party asked for his rice and beans, the clueless server actually got rude about it. We decided to stick around for a while after dinner and still had problems getting more drinks. All in all the food and drinks were amazing, but it was close to the worst service I’ve ever had.
Killarney Rose. If I’m at a bar, it’s almost always here. While I like to give E a hard time about being on a first-name basis with the bartender, it is convenient. This is definitely a happy hour joint, so by the time we got there it was late and pretty empty. Which was awesome. The night started off cringing/laughing at this poor woman who we basically confirmed was a hooker and possibly formerly/still a man. Ick. But it was chill and not crowded and loud so we could all chat and the girls and I could have our “moments”. We also watched the LA/HOU soccer game and I actually enjoyed it. Gasp.
Saturday day:
Sleep.
Go to class.
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Sleep.
Saturday night:
Brandy Library. This is my favorite bar in NYC. Make sure you make a reservation and bring lots of money. But trust me, it’s worth it. We enjoyed the five cheese selection (with hot, fresh, baked on premise bread), gourgeres (OMG!!!), lambs in a blanket, filet mignon, and a complimentary dessert. Oh, and some drinks. I had a few of my FAVORITE, the salty dog: vodka, grapefruit juice, SALTED RIM (see Red above), and delicious. I also had a Kir Imperial (I can’t NOT have raspberry champagne at least once when I’m here). ALWAYS have a GREAT time at this place. Plus, it makes me feel like a grown-up.
Naked Lunch. I wasn’t sure about this one, but we gave it a shot anyway. First impressions: cover (ok, just $5), loud, crowded. Oh. Crap. Got a drink and headed to the back of the building. Surprisingly, things opened up and there was another bar (with a fantastic bartender) in the back , with plenty of room to hang out. Their drinks were super delicious, the music was crazy good, and we had a great time. Even at 330AM no one was obnoxious, violent, other awful drunken things. Seemed like the clientele really just wanted to hang out and listen to good music. We even saw some people who weren’t drinking at all. I’d go back.
McDonald’s. We took the dog. E almost fought some drunk d-bags. All in all a good time. Oh yah, and I got a burger so…I was happy.
Hopefully I can scrounge up some pictures, but I was having too much fun to take any. Even with all the eating, drinking, and not-sleeping, I feel refreshed. Sometimes seeing your BFFs can recharge you like nothing else.
I LOVIES YOU, LADIES!
I think I take living in NYC for granted. I decided yesterday I should stop. So I took some pictures (click for full size):
Battery Park City at Sunrise
Ellis Island
Lady Liberty
And just a shout out to our vets, thanks for all you do.
This was me a child. Except for the black cat part.
I used to carve pumpkins wearing plastic gloves and using a spoon because the texture would make me gag. I probably still would.
I have issues.
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
If you don’t watch It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, you should (warning, it is definitely rated MA). In the season finale of season 4, the gang puts on Charlie’s play: “The Nightman Cometh”. Before the season 5 premiere, the cast took the play live to six US cities, and of course E and I were there. That night, we had the brilliant idea that we would dress up as characters from the play. Yes, it’s true, E was The Nightman (he has cat eyes and does karate), and I would play the coffeeshop waitress princess. E got to wear a sweet costume with crazy makeup and contacts and fake tatoos. I wore quite possibly the UGLIEST DRESS EVER. I mean ever. But all in all, I think the costumes were a success:
PS – these are E’s co-worker’s ridiculously great front row seats from the play. Hard core.
I went for a run this morning. It was beautiful. I thought I’d share.
Statue of Liberty
Jersey City
So you know how there are just some smells that trigger a memory?
My parents’ basement.
The old red Buick (Graeffmobile) that smelled like crayons for 20 years.
The subway.
And one of my favorites in NYC lies behind these doors:
I don’t really know what the story is, but I think it’s some sort of laundry facility – I see the white towels going in and out. But the smell gives it away – there is always very warm air coming from some exhaust fans and the distinctive smell of clean hotel towels. Every time I walk by this place I want to go on vacation. And I need a vacation.
Le sigh.
…is really depressing.
