City Frogger

Walking through times square during rush hour in the middle of tourist season is like frogger - for the pedestrians and the cars.

PMS now a medical disorder?

Used to be, a woman could have excessive cramps and additional cranky-pants-ness and she'd pop a Midol and move on. Today, the hypochondriac-creating drug companies have created PMDD, which officially stands for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, but perhaps also refers to a condition in which the sufferers breasts swell to DD size during PMS.

Primary symptoms of PMDD, as listed on the info sheet I received from my prescription drug insurance company (no, I'm not kidding):

- Feelings of sadness, despair, or possibly suicidal thoughts
- Feelings of tension or anxiety
- Lasting irritability or anger that affects other people
- Mood swings and crying

That's right, one more excuse to prescribe mood stabilizers. Not long now before we're all popping a Soma and bowing down to Big Brother.

What's sexier than a guy with a guitar?

I don't normally watch American Idol. This season, I have probably followed it more so than the others. I don't remember all the names. There was an Irish chick with tattoos. There was a rocker chick. It's down to the final two guys (both named David), and I think I'm only watching because I've decided one of the front runners annoys me, and I want to see the other one kick his butt.

I could be biased because I've always, always swayed to the rock n' roll side of life. I love concerts. I love a good guitar riff. I'm really not much of a Josh Groban fan. But honestly, honestly, why don't more people realize that David Cook (the rocker) has a lot more chops than David Archuleta (Yanni in training). I'm not even sure what the teenager attraction to DA is - he's cute and all, but has a breathy speaking voice that makes me think of a pre-teen that just got caught masturbating. DC has more of a laid back attitude that is all around more appealing, though I think I've seen a couple eye rolls with mysterious meaning.

Round 1
DC did a great cover of a classic U2 song. DA was flat on a lot of a classic Elton John song. He also looked like he was about to forget the lyrics while watching the camera move. The judges praised DA as if he had just pooped a gold nugget.

Round 2
Both sang so-so songs written by contest entrants. Again, DA was praised by the judges for an "incredible" performance, but again he sounded flat in parts, and no one knew the song so we can't tell if he made up the words on the fly.

Round 3
DC picks a brand new (well, old - The World I Know by Collective Soul) song while DA goes with one he already sang this season (Imagine by John Lennon). One of the best versions The World I Know that I've heard, and I've never been a huge fan of that song. DA didn't forget the words, but I still really wasn't a fan of his rendition.

Let the rocker come victorious!!

2007 in review

In 2007, I:

• Spent New Year's Eve at the Desmond (12/31/06-1/1/07)
  
• Visited Tory in Austin! (3/3)
  
• Saw a comedy show with Megan in NY (3/16)
  
• Dressed up as a viking and went to Bay to Breaker's in SF with Jenny & Todd (5/20)
  
• Attended and threw my first bridal shower for Megan -- at the same time! (5/26)
  
• Turned 26 (6/14)
  
• Attended Megan's wedding reception in CT (6/16)
  
• Had my Bachelorette party in NYC! (7/7)
  
• Visited Tory in Miami! (7/28)
  
• Sat first row next to 3rd base at a Phillies game (8/11)
  
• Got married!!!! (8/25)
  
• Honeymooned in Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos in Greece (8/27-9/5)
  
• Ate breakfast with a Smashing Pumpkins' guitar technician (8/29)
  
• Visited Tory in Austin for a UT game (11/9)
  
• Spent New Years' Eve in Boston with Matt, Kevin & Paula (12/31)
  

It may be impossible to top 2007, but I'm going to give it a go in 2008. :)

In 2008, I resolve to:

• Keep in better touch with friends
• Finally finish setting up the apartment
• Kick butt at work
• Go to the gym regularly
• Go to happy hour equally regularly
• Procrastinate less
• Save money
• Read 50 books

Jenny and Emma Tag Team California!

One minute, a facetious "Wanna go to Bay to Breakers?", and next thing you know, we've got bananas in California!
 
We started off on Friday night at Mas Sake in the marina for sushi with jalapenos and sake bombs to wash them down before heading back to Todd's to crash and adjust to the time zone. On the way up his ginormous hill, we also saw an elderly woman with no pants, which was definitely foreshadowing of the day to come.

I was up at the crack of California dawn (9am eastern). We headed down to San Mateo to see Gil and Anjanette's new house, check out some supposedly super BK Whoppers, and head to an NCA Reunion BBQ at MJs. Stuffed, we headed back to finish up our costumes. Jenny's friend Jassen came over to hang out for a while, and then it was time to sleep, since we had to be up at a very very ridiculously early 8am eastern time. (5am!!)

 
We woke up and made our way to Brian's bright and early. Runners and drinkers could be seen all over. The first men in bikinis passed by, and CT was soon down to the same. Highlights of the daily view: Sesame street including a life size snuffaluffagus, evangelicals skipping church and holding warning signs, naked old men, flying tortillas, salmon going the wrong way, public urination, our globe on the electric cables, bananas and monkeys fighting, dancing Elvi on a roof, and did I mention naked old men?

The weather was gorgeous and the trip went by so fast. It was great seeing everyone, even for such a short time. I hope to do this every year! :)

Check out more pics HERE.

Gotta Love the UC

There are many things to love about Union City... the cheap large apartment... cheap food... the cheap large apartment... OK so those things weigh pretty heavily on quality of life from the perspective of my wallet. So it's always a pleasure to experience the culture too.

This morning I was walking speedily to the bus stop, when a guy walking towards me in the opposite direction shouts "Mamasita, Senorita!" just as we pass, and, since I'm carrying around 12 bags like I normally do, I figured I dropped something, so I turned. Little am I prepared to be asked out by a greasy hobo who doesn't speak much English. He even promised to be a great lover as he reached for my hand. ew.

Now, it's not that this kind of thing hasn't happened in the city (and trust me, this is NO ego speaking) and with much nastier people, but there is a certain additional ookie-ness to being asked out in a foreign language by a really ugly individual. Who do these nasty people think they are anyway? Yech.

Tory and Emma Do Austin

 
Undeterred (ok, maybe slightly deterred) by my cancelled flight on Friday night, I caught my 6am flight to Austin as bright-eyed and bushy tailed as can possibly be at that hour. Arriving in Dallas to change planes, I was welcomed back to Texas by the sound of someone vomiting in the woman's bathroom. Ahh... good ol' Texas.

Enjoying my very first rental car not requiring an extra fee (I forgot to take a picture of it, but it was a Chevy Malibu FREE upgrade), I made my way over to Tory's FABULOUS apartment with her FABULOUS cat, Gizmo. We set off for David's Bridal to take care of bidniz, and re-discovered the magic of Texas highways - we thought we missed the exit we needed, only to find out the one 10 feet after went to the exact same place.

After taking care of business, we checked out the TX wine rack and picked up some Shiner beer for The Salt Lick, where we met up with several of Tory's UT Austin pals for some of the tastiest TX BBQ ever. Family style ribs, brisket, sausage, beans, potato salad, pickles, jalapenos, and beer and tastiness. Simply marvelous!

In the evening, we made our way over to the Broken Spoke to catch the scene over some Lone Stars, and headed out on 4th Street. First stop: the gay bar! After admiring some cute gay boys over some TX liquor - Tito and red bull, and some concoction with TX liquor the bartender made up (did I mention we limited ourselves entirely to Texas-made alcohol for the weekend? Glorious!)

We ran up to 6th street to meet up with some folks, and not finding the surroundings pleasant, we headed next door for some catch up time, admiring the dancing girls on the bar (including one with a cross-shaped slut stamp... isn't it ironic?) We scored some super-tasty late night tacos at Taco Cabana and headed home to crash.

Sunday we woke up surprisingly early intending to walk downtown for coffee & breakfast. (and to burn off the beer and tacos and bbq from Saturday) We came across a parking lot fair with free popcorn and spam samples (not combined) and checked out some funny hats, and also an art exhibit with bright yellow surgical tubing hanging from a 15 foot rectangular trellis. After a pleasant walk down Congress, we had these wonderfully tasty breakfast paninis and coffee at Halcyon on 4th street.

So sadly, by the time we walked back, it was time for me to head back to the airport to make the trek back north. Tory and Emma next take on Miami in July and UT FOOTBALL (and Matthew McConaughey) sometime this fall. STAY TUNED!! :)