Wednesday, January 25, 2006

How to scare your mother

1. Mention you're quitting your job "tomorrow" in your blog.

2. In another entry, post a photo of your cat .

3. Forward the link to the cat picture to your mother, who you haven't yet told about (a) quitting your job or (b) lining up a new job.

4. Have your mother check cat photo just before she goes out for the evening with your father, and the click on the other entries just to see...

Apparently, selling the house and buying a bigger place so that I could move in crossed her mind. As did the thought that I had lost my mind entirely.

Oopsie. Behold, the power of the internet.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

So, Sometimes Thing Really DO Just Work Out . . .

OK, so everything's in place for the next act of my life:

1. Quitting icky job...last day is tomorrow.

2. Start "survival" job (that pays as well as icky job) on Thursday. Found out that I got that job THIS MORNING, which is the main "thing working out" that the title of this post refers to.

3. Start evening classes at NYU's Hospitality School on 2/7.

Ready....Set....GO!

Monday, January 23, 2006

Suzy


Suzy
Originally uploaded by hawkwild.
Suzy makes a rare appearance out in the open, and the paparazzi are ready with their cameras.

Friday, January 20, 2006

The Big Plunge

This is it. I put in my notice and I'm leaving February 3. Actually, they said I could leave earlier if I wanted, so I think I'll be leaving next Friday.

I am very scared and very excited, all at once. But mostly excited. This is what I want to do...I want to have a job I love and that I am good at. I am so thrilled to be leaving the law it's sort of staggering. It's nice when your heart tells you that you've made the right choice (even when part of the choice was made for you!).

So, the adventure begins . . . .

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Project Runway/Nick Verreos


My favorite contestant on Bravo's Project Runway, Nick Verreos, has a blog.

(Photo from NickVerreos.com)

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Sick Day


Back Yard, Hell's Kitchen
Originally uploaded by hawkwild.
So, when one is on one's way out at work, one can take "sick days" for no good reason. I woke up exhausted and decided to take the day off. I think it was the "24" premiere that did me in, personally.

Anyway, the cats are a little confused as to why I'm still around, but that's ok. Going to get a lot of paperwork and pre-tax type record assembly done. Also hopefully will hit the gym.

It's been a more successful South Beach day so far today...no cupcakes. Or burritos. (I'm weak.)

Monday, January 16, 2006

24


24logo
Originally uploaded by long.


Holy cow! What a premiere!

I need a cigarette.

Damn you, cupcake!


cupcake
Originally uploaded by burnt sugar.
And I was doing so well, too, with the South Beach Diet. But of course someone in the office just had to have a birthday today, so there you go. CUPCAKES. In the OFFICE. Gah.

OK, now I feel the sugar (the first I've had since Wednesday) coursing into my system. It is not a pleasant feeling. I actually feel a little bit dizzy, even. I must remember this feeling.

Well, anyway, nothing to do about it now. Just have to make sure I get home in time to go to the gym and work this off!

Saturday, January 14, 2006

Loews Miami Beach Pool

*sigh*

One week ago, I was floating around in this lovely heated pool.

Today, I'm running around Manhattan in the cold and the rain running errands.

I really do need to win sweepstakes more often.

Friday, January 13, 2006

My friend Scott


DSCN1184
Originally uploaded by MojoScott.
Is a hottie. Gracious. I really must get to the gym.

Scott's the author of a great book on the cable news wars, Crazy Like a Fox. He just sent me a bunch of photos of himself, his lovely wife and his daughter on a trip to Hawaii.

Monday, January 09, 2006

South Beach Getaway


My friend Larry and I had an absolutely marvelous time at the South Beach Getaway weekend that I won in the sweepstakes sponsored by Kraft South Beach Diet foods.

It was a little colder than expected, but that didn't cramp our style at all. After being met at the airport, Larry and I shared a van with two of the other winners and their companions. It turns out that two of them were, respectively, a recent graduate of and a current undergraduate at Northwestern University School of Music, where she was a voice major (as was I) and he was in the 5 Year B.A./B.Mus. program (as was I). We had a delightful conversation all the way into South Beach, when we pulled up to our very impressive hotel, the Loews Miami Beach. After checking in, we discovered that we had an ocean view room, great service, and a killer swimming pool.

A few quick walks up and down Lincoln Road and we were ready for dinner. We chose Balans, where I enjoyed a beautifully prepared pork chop with adobo sauce, sweet potato mash and asparagus. Spectacular. Larry and I then went off our South Beach plans (the diet, that is) for dulce de leche crepes (we shared). Delicious.

We proceeded back to our room to find a palmetto leaf and box of fish shaped sweet-tarts on my pillow, and we settled in to watch The Book of Daniel on NBC. All I will say about that is I suspect the American Family Association will not have this show to kick around very long...it wasn't all that good. Or outrageous.

Anyway, a very good night's sleep ensued, followed by a breakfast (provided by the contest). The breakfast was decidedly not South Beach Diet friendly....I was with them through the scrambled eggs, and even through the (non-Canadian) bacon, but when I saw the hash browns (Kryptonite to South Beachers), I knew that this wasn't something they'd thought through. I did, however, enjoy a bowl of the South Beach Diet Whole Grain Crunch, which was tasty if a little over sweetened (with both sugar and sucralose).

Then it was off for a walk down Ocean Drive. There is so much development at the far south end of South Beach it is rather astonishing. Hi-rises going up everywhere. Apparently the boom just keeps booming, and it's becoming such that soon only the very rich will be able to afford to live out there (so same as it ever was in that respect, I guess).

We returned to the hotel and hit the pool. Despite the temperatures in the high 60's, this was absolutely delightful. They have poolside service there, so I enjoyed a nice salad while lying out in the sun. The shelter of the pool enclosure meant that it was perfectly pleasant and not at all chilly. We later went in the pool (which is heated) and I must say it was the most relaxed I've been in quite some time.

The event organizers threw a dinner buffet for us that night, and it was very nice. There was an enormous buffet, this time South Beach Diet friendly, including wonderful salads, vegetables, and meat and fish dishes. There was also an entirely nonSBD friendly dessert bar. To entertain us, the organizers had hired a marvelous Latin band, consisting of keyboards, a harp, drummer and bassist. In addition, a flemenco dancer entertained us on many of the numbers. The event took place in the hotel ballroom (I believe it would have been on the lawn outside had it been warmer) which was appropriately elegant and well appointed.

After dinner, Larry and I wandered back to Lincoln Road, eventually parking ourselves at a patio table at one of the many bars and restaurants lining the streets, where we just watched the vibrant parade of Miamians and tourists pass by until it was time to go home.

Sunday morning it was a walk on the beach, followed by Brunch with Larry's old college roommate Doug at the Front Porch Cafe. A quick walk through the neighborhood to see Doug's new place (adorable and wonderfully finished) followed, and then it was back to the hotel just in time to cath the shuttle to the airport. The airport, while chaotic, was uneventful, and we made it back to NYC without incident.

All in all a simply delightful trip. I will have to win things more often!!

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

From the makers of Bookcrossing.com

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