Buffy-the last season

Started Season 7 on Monday night. Wow is it good. For some reason I was expecting this season to suck. But of course I am blown away from show 1. But watching is bittersweet. Only 22 episodes until it's all over.

Then I'll start fresh from the beginning.

Tsunami

This news from Southeast Asia is too much to bare. I don't think anyone can fathom what they are going through over there. I finally watched CNN tonight and watched about an hr of footage. Just utter and complete devastation.

The worst was the headline in I think the NY Post today:

Toll hits 52,000. 12 Americans dead.

Are you kidding me?? A life is a life is a life.

And if I hear one more story of this damn model being stranded I'm going to throw up. She's alive. Ten of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands are not. American media sickens me.

Christmas in Miami

We had a great time during Christmas vacation. Not much Miami activities this time around. More family and friend time.

We spent Thursday with the triplets (one who just got engaged). Afterward we went to a holiday amusement park called "Santa's Enchanted Forest". When I lived there it was just a forest of lights. Now it's a forest of lights with a bunch of rides at the end and a hefty price tag. I realize now that I am old. Never did I think I would be the 'adult' standing and watching the kids on the rides. But there I was. I tried a couple of rides, but realized when the dizziness caught up with me that I just can't handle it anymore. Not the round and round rides. Roller coasters I could do all day.

Friday was spent preparing with Mom for our Christmas Eve dinner. I went with her to the market in Ft Lauderdale. They sell fresh turkey, duck, chicken and seafood. It was well organized chaos. My Mom had taken Tylenol PM the night before and when I realized she was still under it's spell I decided to drive home. Spent a couple of hours wrapping gifts and then collapsed into bed from exhaustion. Woke up. Ate a terrific roast duck dinner with all the fixings.

Christmas didn't begin until noon when my nephews arrived. Laptop computers in tow. Yes, they each got a laptop. Well deserved though. They had it coming. Ate our traditional french toast and mimosa brunch and tore into the gifts. Here's my catch of the day:

*$ to buy myself a PS2
*Grand Theft Auto-San Andreas-for my PS2
*beautiful gold chandelier earrings from David, with a little note attached that he designed. My other gift is a small trip with him to the destination of our choice. Husbands rock!
*Salvatore Ferragamo wristlet purse
*$100 Banana Republic Giftcard
*comfy, fuzzy socks
*bookmark and squishy pillow from my brother
*note cards from my nephews

The only problem now is finding a PS2. All stores are sold out. Hasn't this thing been around forever? I don't get it. But I will wait patiently. Because I know soon enough I will be performing drives by's, selling crack and pimpin' ho's on my GTA game.




nephews amongst their gifts



Ben and his new martini set


Brandon and his beloved new Nokia cellphone



Maria & I


Matt, Dave, Fred & my Mummy

A difference of 50 degrees

Ft Lauderdale Beach, 12/26/04, 4:30pm, 70 degrees


NYC. 12/27/04, 8:30am, 20 degrees

BAH!

I'm back at work. And it sucks. REALLY sucks. How is it that yesterday I was at Ft Lauderdale beach hanging out in 75 degree weather and now I'm here in NYC in 25 degree weather?

Christmas was great. More on that later. Right now I just want to complain about the fact that it seems our company is the only one open today. The trains were empty. David is home sleeping in our comfy bed. And I'm here. Typing.

Merry Christmas

I'm off to Miami in 2 hrs. Can't wait to get into the warm sunshine and relax. And of course eat my Mom's roast duck.

Merry Christmas to all!!!

Lost

Omigod. O.Mi.God. This show is so friggin' awesome. Luckily a co-worker taped the first two episodes which were repeated last Wednesday night. We watched them back to back last night and I can just say that I need more.

More. More. More!

This show is so addictive. Thrills. Suspense. Mystery. Hot actors. What more could you want? They are replaying episodes 4 & 5 this Wednesday at 8pm on ABC. I don't know why they are skipping 3 but I will take what I can get. If anyone wants to see it I suggest you start NOW! You can read about the first couple of episodes on the episode guide here.

Better than Buffy? Bite your tongue! But definitely the best show of 2004. So far.

Holiday Party 2004

We had our company holiday party Friday night at the beautiful Tavern on the Green. Same room as last year, with a convenient courtyard for cigar smoking and cooling off from dancing. But this year they added something new. I'm not sure what it's called but see picture below. Basically, you pour vodka down the top of the slide and it flows down to the waiting glass (or mouth) at the bottom. I must have had at least 4. Grey Goose Vanille rocks! Great fun. Just one step up from a funnel.

The party was awesome. Sushi, crab legs, jumbo shrimp, carving station, etc. Free flowing drinks, champagne and of course the ice sculpture/vodka shot maker. They started out the evening with a jazz trio and then the DJ got things really moving. The sax player stayed and ended up playing solos to the music. It was great. Everyone danced their asses off until midnight.

Last year we danced a little too hard and ended up breaking the chandelier above. This year they planned ahead and had it removed especially for our party. Good idea. Lots of swinging and flinging. My feet are still killing me!


ice sculpture with our "new" office drunk awaiting another shot


me and danny

dental visit

Went to the dentist today. I've been putting if off because I know I need a lot of work done. Bad news-as expected:

~2 cavities
~I need 2 bridges for the 2 canine baby teeth that are missing/about to be missing.
~I need to see an Oral Surgeon about getting an Apicoectomy. Aparently I have an infection waaaay down below my root canal that needs to be cleaned out. And the only way to do this is to go at it from the gum.

This is going to cost me a lot of dough. Damn damn damn.

I am getting this

My new iPod Photo should be arriving in a day or two. When it was first announced I was so excited that I immeditely asked around at work if anyone wanted to buy my old one that I got for my birthday. My friend JP jumped at the opportunity so we made a deal. After a couple of weeks the novelty of the color wore off, but JP wasn't going to let me back out of our deal. So on Wednesday we will make the sale complete.

I hope it's as pretty as it looks. Now I just have to find out how to get the album art onto all my songs.

Meowy-Christmas

Happy Hannukah!

Tonight is the first night of Hannukah. I went with Celvyn to a free screening of Life Aquatic. It was alright. I give it 2 stars out of 4. Definitely my least fav of the 3 Wes Anderson films I've seen. But the art direction was great and I love Bill Murray so I enjoyed myself. Security was tight. No picture cell phones. But I managed to sneak by security with my stealthy moves.

When I got home David had celebrated the first night by himself. I felt bad. He made himself latkes and lit 2 candles (we have no menorah). He also wrapped a gift for me and put it under the tree. Luckily I had one too so I quickly wrapped it up and we exchanged gifts. I got the beautiful Illustrated Da Vinci Code. The book weighs a ton but looks great. It just won't be a subway book.

I gave him a new black leather messenger bag. The Kmart bag he's been carrying around just doesn't cut it anymore.

Happy Birthday Tom Waits

Tom is 55 today. Years ago after hearing Innocent When You Dream from Frank's Wild Years I swore up and down that I could never, ever like his music. Now I am a fan. His lyrics have such depth and feeling and are nice n' rough around the edges. I can thank David for forcing his music upon me until I finally realized how talented he is.

back to work

Today was my last day of jury duty. I was so close to getting on a case. But in the end I was denied. Why? I don't know. David thinks it's because I'm white. I thought it was because of my age (everyone there seemed older). But I think Dave is right as the jurors I saw selected were all Hispanic, Black or Asian. Damn. I really wanted a trial. And this one was to last 7-12 days. Damn damn damn.

We were told as we left that we wouldn't be called back for 6 years. This disturbed me. But luckily you can volunteer to be called every 2 years so I promptly signed up. I don't know why people don't like jury duty. I get there at 10am. Break for lunch at 1, and usually get out no later than 3:30. Today we were released at 12:30! It's in Chinatown so lunch is always yummy. I can read all day and relax. What's not to like?

I finished Dry and started Me Talk Pretty One Day. Great so far. I need a break from Augusten. While I love his writing, sometimes you need to switch things up a bit. Dry was great but I found myself wishing he'd drink again to make it more exciting. But overall a great read. Highly recommended.

Went shopping at Century 21 afterwards. Damn I could buy that whole store. Bought a nice dress for the work Christmas party and some gifts for the hubby. And of course socks for myself. I can never seem to leave a store without buying at least one pair of socks. Knee high socks of course.

And best of all I hear that American Idol is coming back next month. Woo-hoo!!

One more item for my Christmas wish list...

The Cure has released a new digitally remastered Three Imaginary Boys 2 CD set with 14 previously unreleased tracks.

I.

Must.

Have.

It.

Martha Stewart & Frosty

We were let out of jury duty early so I headed over to start my Christmas shopping. Bought a bunch of stuff for David at a certain store which will go unnamed for now. Then headed over to Kmart. I knew this would be dangerous. Me. Alone. Kmart. Debit card. Bad.

Let me just say that she rocks. I said it earlier and it's true. Her stuff is the shit. Bought nifty 50's style wrapping paper. Ribbons to tie them all up and pretty. Cute little ornaments. Great Christmas tree balls that look like glass but are really plastic and therefore unbreakable. Brilliant! Also got the cutest tree skirt and of course a nice cinnamon candle to spice up the place.

Best of all when I got home I see on my corner that the bodega has finally stocked the Christmas trees. So tomorrow night is the night. I will get the egg nog. Light the candle. Put on the Charlie Brown Christmas CD and start trimming.

I love Christmas.



Oh, and for all you who need to know...

Frosty the Snowman will be on Friday night at 8pm on CBS. Followed by that crap Frosty Retuns. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Jury Duty

Today was my first day of Jury Duty. I really want to be chosen for a trial. Really really want to be chosen. I was feeling lucky. I had to get there at 8:45am. Not loving the early time. But any day off of work is a good day. Arrived. Sat. Read. Watched the video. Laughed at people trying desperately to get excused.

I was finally called into a trial around 11am. We waited. And waited. Then we were called into the courtroom. We sat as they explained the fine points of a trial to us. It was so cool. Just like on TV and the movies. I felt like I was part of Law & Order! They threw all the name cards into a tumbler and I was called within 1 minute. How excited I was! This is my chance. My day to finally contribute to our judicial system! Or so I thought.

We sat in the jury box. A microphone was passed around as the judge asked us questions. I was so nervous. My heart beating fast, palms sweaty. What the hell was I so nervous about? I felt like I was on trial. Simple questions: Where do you live? Marital status? Occupation? We all gave our answers. Broke for lunch (Sweet n' Tart w/ Eugene!). When we returned we filed in again. The defense lawyer asked us questions. Not directly, just to the group as a whole, which I thought was odd. Then they dismissed us. Called us back in 10 minutes later and then called out names of who was chosen as juror. I quickly realized they were selecting all the jurors in a row. I was number 6. 1.2.3.4.5.9. Damn. I couldn't believe it. THEY DIDN'T CHOOSE ME!!! WHAT DID I DO WRONG??? TOO OLD? TOO YOUNG? TOO WHITE? TOO FEMALE? WHAT??? I failed. I don't know how, but my chance is up. Well, there's always tomorrow.

And if you ever saw it...

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is on tonight at 8pm on CBS. It's the 40th Anniversary of televisions longest running Holiday show.