Greek Food & Family

Lauren and I went to Irvine to see the new Cerno space and meet Aaron, mom and JR for a Mediterranean smorgasbord.

I introduced everyone to my favorite - Greek fries with feta, lemon and oregono. I also had a Greek salad with a chicken kebab and it was served with a bit of pita. When the salad was finished, I took some feta, chopped a red onion and made a Greek style White Castle. Ended up being a fun joke.

Like We're Twelve, Again

It was a big reunion, of sorts, being together with the Krinskys, their families, and friends from old and new walks of Lauren's life. We had a great time and the event and Tara and I spoke a while reminiscing about our younger days together.

We took several photos talking about reliving our youths... Just like we were twelve, again. 

SB Surprise & Twigg Gig

Unexpectedly, auntie Viv, uncle Dave & I were able to drive up and meet my cousin Lindsey, friend Cathy & her boyfriend Nathan for lunch in Santa Barbara before heading south for Jasper's band's first gig.

I spent the morning sitting in the sun and enjoying the roses in my aunt's yard. At lunch we sat in the patio, near a fountain full of turtles (where the drunks at the table next to use thought there were turtles "giving birth" until we reminded them that they aren't mammals).

Lauren joined us for the gig. Jasper drums like a maniac and enjoys his music, it was fun to see.

Then we had a great dinner and chit chat with uncle Lemmie and Rai at the cafe.

This trip has been filled of unexpected twists and fun surprises!

Strange Day

I was served a plate of pickles that I instagrammed for my pregnant former roommate, I met my aunt and uncle for sushi and had a Kirin light, there was a tiny piano (compare to the size of the socket) and have a fossilized mosquito hawk in my room.

Pudding, Parfait, Plane Food

I started my day with chia seed pudding, then headed to our team building parfait party, on the plane we were randomly served a scoop of ice cream with a cherry on top.

Fortunately I had fish at a Brazilian restaurant when I arrived in LA tonight, otherwise it would have been a full day of goo in bowls/cups. 

Speed Packing

I didn't get home from work until 10:30. I hadn't packed. Needed to clean up & take out the trash to make sure critters don't invade. 

Talk about speed packing!! Complicated further by starting in warm weather for vacation and going to cold weather for work. Empty to full in 12 minutes! 

Cadbury Indulgence

Easter candy is my all time favorite. I

absolutely love it. I wait for the season to arrive so I can get Cadbury MiniEggs! But an extra special indulgence are the actual Cadbury eggs... The yolk looks so yucky!

Magnet Overflow

All of the metal space on my desk is full. My Matilda magnet put me over the edge and I had to decide which one to take down. I was having a bit of a panic attack where to put the new one.

I decided to move the ones I like the least as overflow to the fridge... Imagine that, magnets on the fridge. Duh.

Spotted & Stalked

Shawn and I met up for the Aladdin box office rush, failed. Went over to Pippin's rush, long line. Went to brunch... Spotted & photo stalked Matthew Morrison. He was in my line of sight directly to the right & in a mirror to the left. I got 3 terrible, blurry photos... But was happy to have evidence. We played the Book of Mormon lottery, failed. But Shawn was the first winner drawn at Matilda, success!

Speakeasy Dollhouse

Murder mystery show with no conclusion. Cannoli, annisette coffee, cocktails in coffee mugs. Prohibition era costume. It was certainly interesting, but not especially entertaining. I left feeling disappointed and dissatisfied with the experience.

Can't win them all!

Bowtie Can

I joined the fellas at the international bar in the east village. My first drink was the 11.3 ounce bow tie Budweiser can.

I'd never seen one before, nor can I remember the last time I drank a beer directly from a can. It may have been never before.

The Art of the Brick

I joined the PMO for the team activity. We went to the discovery center in Times Square for The Art of the Brick. Brick artist, Nathan Sawaya created works of art using Legos.

Pap & Marg

It's always a tradition to photograph Dr. Papanicolaou, on the day when I utilize his discovery. Heh.

Also my enjoyable marg at the bar with Scott while waiting on Laura and Aimee for dinner. Interesting day!

Recycling Day!

Our building only allows recycling to be brought out on recycling day. I've missed it for months. Between going out, being out of town and running late, I haven't taken the recycling out since egg nog containers were in it!

Happy to have it all gone now!

Celebrating St. Pat

Funny socks, tacky earrings that didn't match my shirt and lunch for me & the fellas... Happy St. Patrick's Day!

5 Steps to Irish Food

Crockpot preparation of corned beef and cabbage for lunch tomorrow. 

Prep and layer root veggies. Add meat & water. Cook for 6 hours. Remove root veggies. Cook cabbage with meat for another hour.

So excited to eat lunch tomorrow!

Selfies with CD & JRo

Jonathan is in town on business. Christine and met him for dinner at Pil Pil, saw all of the crew and had a lot of tapas!

Before we left we took some photos out front ... Complete fools!

Pi Day Pie

After lunch we went to a diner in the neighborhood (of the office) and had slices of pie for Pi day. 

I chose lemon meringue. It was good. I was full. I didn't finish. 

Wine, wine, wine

2014 of drinking is going well.

3 bottles of red wine between 3 of us (though I only drank from 2, truth be told) on a Thursday night... Fun girls night!

311 Worthy?

Do we share this with 311? I know you report pot holes and graffiti... But how about sidewalk holes and fire hydrants that have an empty diet coke instead of the cap?

Pretty weird, it looked like a sink hole in the side walk.

No Mobile Coupons

I went to Duane Reade to pick up a prescription and use my coupon that was soon to expire.

I checked out at the manager's station, he just happened to ask for the next customer when I was at the front of the line. 

He asked if I had a rewards card, I said, yes... And also a coupon. And set my phone on the counter. 

He proudly announced that they couldn't accept mobile coupons because they can be used over and over. If you notice, it states on the coupon, beside the bar code, print or show it on your phone. 

Scan it pal! 

Carpet Sale

The amount of things you can buy on the streets of New York City always astounds me.

Today, I walked out of the grocery store at nearly 9PM and found a carpet sale. Rugs displayed on tarps along the side walk. 

So weird! Gotta love NY!

Wine Bar

I've been saying 2014 is the year of drinking ... Today I had a few glasses of Pinot Grigio in the middle of the day. After brunch and before dinner, we dropped into Bocca for a glass of wine. 

We debated, more coffee, something else, but settled on a glass of wine... The bartender saw our glasses were empty and topped us off, with an entire new glass of wine.

Ahhhh, day drinking... 2014 of drinking is on its way!

Wings are Messy

Post hot wing carnage made me giggle. Nothing else noteworthy except my single junk food meal. My messy hands with a fresh manicure...

Queen of the Night

Shawn, Ben and I went to an event called Queen of the Night. A performance art dinner theater burlesque cirque de soliel type thing. Gala attire required.

When we first arrived a transsexual took Shawn and me out of line and asked us to follow him. Leaving Ben behind in the line.

He brought us down a hall. Handed us shots and said... Everything is free. I took these from the bartender for you.

Then used a butt plug to rub down the front of Shawn's chest and grabbed hand cuffs. I was a bit scared he would hand cuff us together, but he didn't.

Said the key to an amazing evening is to be nice. To the performers. To each other. And to yourself. He handed us a bowl of candy... One each. And adorned our faces with a jewel.

He took us down a hall. And left us to look at the queen. And another guy handed us cocktails.

So 3 minutes in, I was already on the way to buzzed! My cocktail was tomato and basil ... Like pizza vodka, Bloody Mary-ish, but clear and infused. Also had some sips of lemon rosemary, sage and blood orange. Wine with dinner. 

We found Ben having a dance from a woman while looking into a mirror. Later Shawn was taken away to have a pole dance. And Ben was stolen again and electrocuted on the wrist, with the guy who ended up being our host... Who I swear I've met before. Maybe a friend of Bernard's?

Dinner was fascinating. The performers each came with a tray or cage. Each table was served a different thing. We had standing rib roast and au grautin potatoes. Other tables had lobsters, paella, suckling pigs. You were meant to trade what you had with other tables to create the feast. We tried almost everything we could find. 

The performance was quite cool... A burlesque circus meets performance art, with a story like of a new queen being groomed for the crown, or something. 

Dessert was a chocolate layer cake. Each performer had a cake and a bowl of soup spoons. You walked up to them and they served you a spoonful. It was delicious and a fun way to end.

Doggydog

Yes, I know it's actually dog eat dog, as someone who volunteered with a lot of ESL language students, so I follow idioms quite well... But twice today I heard "it's a doggydog world" and had to bite my tongue to avoid explaining to strangers that isn't the saying.

It followed nicely to walk by the puppy shop to see super cute doggydogs.

Bresaola is not Pig

I had an argument with the Italian man who ran the Italian sandwich shop about Italian meat... 

He told Dan that bresaola was like prosciutto with less fat, a little smoked. I asked, are you sure? I don't think bresaola is pig. He said, of course it's pig. 

When we got back to the office, we googled...No, Italian man in the Italian sandwich shop, discussing Italian meat... Bresaola is air dried beef. It's not smoked nor is it pig, it's cow. 

Idina is Adele

Oscar night blunder by John Travolta calling Idina Menzel by her Travoltified name, Adele Dazeem, sparked all sorts of fun meme and apps.

There's a travoltizer name app that shows what your name is after it's been Travoltified... Victoria Blork!

I also loved the elementary school band version of "Let It Go" with Idina, Jimmy Fallon and the Roots. http://youtu.be/17QQcK4l6Yw

Creepy Photo Discovery

Andrea said, You want to see?

And sent the photo on the left...

I said, "haha".

She replied, "Not funny! Can you see the creepiness???"

I lightened it up in photoshop & sent it back to her.

She said, Why you send it back to me!!!! 

I laughed for 20 minutes. Hilarious Kian!

Creepy Oscar Statues

I am not a fan if award shows. I had no intention of watching the Oscars, tonight. But when I turned on the tv I was faced with large, weirdly lit, super creepy Oscar statues. Bleh...

 

Service with a Smile

We had a fun time at the soup kitchen today. Garlic butter and apple salad... Smiles... Delicious food... It was like a well oiled machine, mostly.