I Love Thanksgiving!!

Really, I do. The most gluttonous of holidays – what’s not to love? Lots of food & drink w/ no holiday hype and nothing on television (unless you count football & the parade). Thanksgiving Eve really is the perfect night out as Thanksgiving is the perfect hangover day. My office (the stingiest holiday-giver) actually closes the day after Thanksgiving to allow a 4 day weekend. It's great having the next day off to sleep away the extra calories. The only thing missing was my Princess Simbalina. Hopefully, the house will be in working order at some point and I could host Thanksgiving dinner along w/ the Princess. Thank goodness that fabulously overpriced “Chic Petique” sells “Granny’s Homemade Thanksgiving Dinner”; it really does help alleviate the guilt. Speaking of the Princess, I’ve noticed that she has become even more attached to me the past w/e – undoubtedly b/c I paid entirely too much attention to her. She doesn’t care to play or run with the other dogs @ the park anymore – only w/ her mama. I do hope I haven’t created too large of a monster – especially since I am going away for 4 days (and the lavish HoJo on the beach in Ft Lauderdale has a “no pet” policy). I spent the remainder of the w/e scraping tile grout from the bathroom floor and painting a wall in the kitchen and the living room – both need yet another coat of paint. I also took Miss Brittney out for pizza, gelato and a movie. I was scheduled to read at Church Sunday but I couldn’t bear the thought of getting out of bed. It was raining so hard and it was cold – and it was early; entirely too early. I went back to sleep and slept ‘till 10AM. I awoke to find water dripping onto the 2nd and 3rd floors! A new roof is clearly not in the budget for FY2004-2005; I sure hope & pray it can be patched!

I Love New York!

I love New York! I know its cliché but I really do love NY. I still remember my 1st trip there (many moons ago) & I didn’t like it at all. I thought the sidewalks were tooooo crowded, the lines were tooo long, it was impossible to get a taxi, the humidity was horrid and our car was towed. Believe it or not, NYs bureaucratic red tape is even thicker than ours. I also remember driving in NYC for the 1st time and being so uptight about it. My friend Anthony told me “just drive like a New Yorker!”. Suddenly, I was a New Yorker & having the time of my life. Bobbing & weaving, disobeying traffic signals, honking my horn & speeding down the street. I LOVED it – once I let go. Last Thursday, Doreen and I drove to NYC after work to meet up with Steve. We freshened up in our room at the Waldorf (compliments of Steve’s corporate expense account) before heading over to a fabulous wine bar across from Rockefeller Center (Morrell’s Wine Bar – next to Dean & DeLuca). We forwent the difficult decision of choosing from their extensive wine list and opted for a bottle (2 bottles really) of Veuve Cliquot. We had a wonderful cheese plate, charcuterie, and a variety of tartar (steak, salmon and tuna) served with wonderful bread. After, we were about to head over to the Rainbow Room when I noticed there was no line for skating at Rockefeller Center. The weather was mild, we were modestly intoxicated, it was still "early" and there was no one that could talk me out of taking advantage of this opportunity. Doreen and Steve finally obliged as none of us had ever skated at the Center. After a few skates around the rink, we were again headed to the Rainbow Room when we learned they close at midnight (on a Thursday). MIDNIGHT – in Manhattan!! How terribly dissappointing. So, we decided on the Bull & the Bear bar at our hotel which, we later learned, also closes at Midnight - in the “city that never sleeps”. We finally settled into our hotel lobby bar which closes at a respectable 3AM. After a bottle of bubbly, Steve went to bed as he had to be in the office the next morning, and Doreen and I left for the Campbell Apartment (one of the few smoking bars in NYC) located at Grand Central Station. Much to our drunken chagrin, it was also closed for the night. We schlepped back to our hotel bar which appeared to be the only open bar in Midtown and stayed ‘till last call. We headed to the fire stairway to smoke an obligatory cigarette and then retired for the evening. The next morning, we visited a wonderful little market near the hotel. After a breakfast of pastrami sandwich, coffee and diet coke, we walked down 5th Avenue toward Central Park. Along the way, we saw the most gorgeous diamond in the window of Cartier. I seriously can not imagine how large the Hope diamond is because this stone was incredibly huge. It was truly magnificent. It made the 10 carat diamonds in the surrounding windows look like crumbs. I don’t believe that any one person should be the sole proprietor of this diamond (unless, of course, that person is me); I believe it should remain in the window of Cartier for all to see and enjoy. It really is a magnificent, museum-esque diamond. After Doreen pulled me away from Cartier to allow others the opportunity to admire the treasure, we found a new Pucci boutique. The prints are so great. We (I) inquired if there is / would be a pet line. Since I can’t really pull off mod patterns, I thought Princess Simbalina could indulge me. There was a large pillow that would work for her but I really should ensure that I have funds to install the shower and sink in my bathroom before I begin purchasing designer pillows for my Dog. We strolled through Central Park until we reached our final destination: Tavern on the Green. It was our first visit to this well known establishment. The restaurant is over-the-top garish but it somehow works. Our chilled seafood platter for two (lobster tails, shrimp, mussels, crab) was underwhelming with little taste (thank God for the champagne) - and I thought the lobster was water logged; nonetheless, the experience was a great one. After lunch, we headed home giggling about our extravagances. If I had millions of dollars, I think I could live in New York – provided, of course, Pucci does not decide to design a pet line.

I Love My Church

Simbalina last night, mom took me to lowes for miscellaneous house needs. I was very excited to find the “50’s Cadillac Blue” paint for the (yet-to-be-installed) kitchen cabinets and the shiny metallic silver for the hardware. I realized that my house is nothing more than one huge arts & crafts project! I get to paint, prime, tile, mosaic, etc, etc, etc. I haven’t been to the arts & craft store in months. this w/e, chris & I had yummy take out from lee how fook; it was my first experience w/ LHF & I was super impressed. we rented videos & curled up in bed. it was great. Saturday, after learning that the majority of (no reservation) center city BYOBs had a 1.5 hour wait, we headed over to Bliss (on broad st) in the freezing cold & were relieved to find a heated venue with a bar. dinner was way better than anticipated & I subsequently became way more intoxicated than anticipated. we headed over to nicola’s b-day bash @ el vez (after i paused to p/u the first of my new collection of stray playing cards) & somehow made it home safely by 1:30AM – way later than anticipated. chris had lots of studying / writing to complete for class the next day & I had to read at the 9AM church service! I arrived on time still feeling a little tipsy w/ a tinge of headache. God bless tequila. I was relieved when, upon removal of my coat, I found that I had not forgotten any relevant articles of clothing. i ran into ["church"] lori who is now the new wife of our minister. lori, the minister's wife (!!!) proceeded to pop her birth control pill while sitting in the pew (next to the intoxicated reader). i almost fell over laughing - if the "real church people" (in the back) only knew. our ministers arrived shortly thereafter looking quite disheveled themselves. openly gay michael was also there as charming and perky as ever. what a bunch of misfits are we? I love my church! on the way home, I picked up a coffee & had huge plans to curl up in bed & knit & relax. but there was Simba looking so stinking cute & guilt set in as i realized she hadn’t had much fun (or exercise) for the past several days b/c of the cold, rainy weather. so, off into the cold we went & then I remembered Penn Treaty park - a much needed change of venue. Simba & I were super impressed w/ the park, its cleanliness, the grounds, the trees, the swings, the leaves, the water trough in which Simba "fished" for sticks (created by a 3wheeler after / during a hard rain), the view, etc. Growing up in this city, i passed the park thousands of times but had never stopped there or realized it's significance. it is the actual place where William Penn (in 1694-or somewhere thereabouts) signed the treaty with the native American Indians!! (hence, the name!) right there – on Delaware avenue – in Fishtown. I was sooo impressed. I love my neighborhood!

Dear Blog

Simbalina dear blog: it’s been awhile; I’ve been busy collecting estimates for construction work and repairs at the house as well as getting evidence and paperwork in order for small claims court (to sue original contractor jerk for non-performance). this w/e, I took miss Brittney to the 76ers home opener (a BBBS sponsored event whereby she was permitted on the court & able to ‘high-five’ the players), rented a cargo van & picked up kitchen cabinets and sink @ restore (thank you lori & george!), went to lisa’s 30th bday party (an extra special bday for her as she is newly pregnant), went to Fairmount park w/ steve & Simba and to chris’ mom’s for Sunday dinner. overall, a great w/e; but I seem to be eternally tired. the other day, my boss kindly requested that I arrive by 9AM (our official start time is 8:30 AM) as I have been consistently late (i.e. 9:30-10AM) for the past several weeks (months?). definitely can not afford to be on bossman’s bad side!

My Dog Loves Fall !!

Simbalina The Princess and I stopped by a community garden this morning in lieu of daily trip to the park. Unlike the park, the garden hadn’t been tended to since the leaves started falling from the trees. Simba had the time of her life jogging thru and rolling around in the leaves; she rolled & rolled & rolled. It was the cutest thing – really!! The leaves were beautiful and she looked so stinking cute rolling around in them. Hopefully, I will figure out how to upload a digiphoto for posterity. I happen to think Fall is THE most depressing season of the year – much to the chagrin of Fall fans (who appear to be everywhere). I hate seeing all of the leaves and beautiful flowers die; it makes me sad. I hate the darkness (I’ll forgo the diatribe on why Daylight Savings Time needs to be abolished) and cold / dreary weather - it’s just a horrid and slow precursor to dreaded winter. Anyway, today’s weather was fairly mild AND the leaves are beautiful AND Simba seems to be such a happy camper AND I found an unpacked bag of fabulous fall clothes - which thankfully fit - so maybe Fall isn't so bad afterall!

Halloween

Simbalina Last night was Halloween. Lori & I had a howl. Not sure if George and Simba enjoyed themselves as much. Lori & I were dressed as (friendly) witches and Simbalina was dressed as our proverbial black cat. Not many people got it but Lori & I thought it was funny. We drank champagne & smoked cigarettes (in homage of the great role models we are) in our witchey costumes w/ our black cat - all lit up w/ glow-in-the-dark jewelry, light up pendants and candle-lit lanterns. Lori did a bang up job decorating my stoop (and tree) as I was exhausted from 7+ hours of spackling & priming the 1st floor of my house (aka: my nightmare). Once the innocents retired for the evening and we finished our 2nd bottle of bubbly, we visited the spookiest "haunted alley". I lost my hat (twice) and Simba lost her light-up cat pendant. Lori remained fully intact until she got home and had some rather racy dreams which led to an episode of sleep-walking. How cool is that? I slept like a rock and can't wait to go home and sleep more. Daylight savings time be gone!