A Couple of Observations

Epic ride start in BK

2011-07-30T09:03:00.001-04:00

Followed by a waffel, LIC

2011-07-19T21:01:00.001-04:00

Kimchee TacoTruck in LIC

2011-07-19T20:30:00.000-04:00

tongue still burns. Pico de gallo was spicy!

Loving how ...

2011-03-31T18:02:00.001-04:00

My bus driver stops, lets on passengers , realize he's hungry, gets out, engine running, and gets something to eat.

He did come back a minute later.

-H

HOLY S**T - French Overload

2010-10-21T10:07:00.000-04:00

When you combine one French band with one pair of French DJs, I damn well lost my mind... Best surprise appearance EVER!!!!

Phoenix + Daft Punk = L'insanité française

Harder, better, faster, stronger indeed.

~H

If only

2010-09-05T17:01:00.000-04:00

A would want to be a brontosaurus if it meant instant French speaking and comprehension. :p

-H

Hmmm... lunch

2010-08-05T12:32:00.001-04:00

-H

F-in cabbies

2010-07-30T08:03:00.001-04:00

Sometimes you get good ones, sometimes bad ones. Then you get the a-holes.

Like the guy this morning who didn't want to drop me off in front of the Metro north entrance in Harlem. Nope, it was too inconvenient for him. Decided to drop me off a quarter block from the entrance on the far side off the street.

Did I mention I'm on crutches?

F-in cabbies.

I was so mad i didn't get the medal number.... grrr.

-H

We're on a break

2010-07-19T16:15:00.001-04:00

Monitor said something to Computer. They had to be separated.

-H

Summer in Jouy!

2010-06-29T03:37:00.000-04:00

Just because I knew you'd want to know that the volleyball court was indeed being used... and I don't think I'd photographed the church from the back route angle... ~A

Discoveries of the Week

2010-06-13T07:17:00.000-04:00

Finally found the "fast train" (ie, non-stop) between Versailles and Montparnasse. Efficiency wins a round! Then discovered the editing features in Picasa... set and match, procrastination. And so the normal balance is restored... ~A

A Day with Sharon!

2010-06-13T07:08:00.001-04:00

Sharon et moi, nous avons défié les jongles pendant sa visite le dimanche dernier! D’abord les marches aux puces à Clignacourt… et puis la ville de Pontoise au nord-ouest de Paris. (Ne soyez pas dupé par de petits musées et de jolis jardins – ils cachent le vrai danger… quelque part…) Fatiguée par une longue journée excitant, nous avons passé le soir mangeant de la glace Berthillon derrière la Notre Dame.

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During Sharon's visit last Sunday, she and I braved the wild side of Paris! First the famed flea markets of Clignacourt, and then we took the train out to the town of Pontoise. (Don't be fooled by the peaceful gardens and cute museums such as the Tavet-Delacour and its annex Musée Pissarro - they obscure the real danger... somewhere...) Exhausted from day's exertions, we treated ourselves to Berthillon ice cream and rested our weary limbs on the Seine behind Notre Dame. ~A

Champagne

2010-06-06T04:24:00.000-04:00

Champagne: descendant, regardant, apprendant et buvant! (Maisons de Gonet-Sulcova et Vranken Pommery) ~A

Plateaued in Palaiseau

2010-06-06T04:09:00.000-04:00

Montant sur le plateau en Palaiseau, j’ai vu des belles nuages, des jolies fleurs... et un volleyball comme chateau d’eau?

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Hit the plateau in Palaiseau - lovely clouds, pretty flowers... and a volleyball-shaped water tower? ~A

Crawdads never knew it was coming

2010-06-05T19:39:00.001-04:00

Crawdad killer still on the loose; leaves trail of devastation.

Paris 1: Tuileries & Louvre

2010-06-03T04:20:00.000-04:00

J’ai finis mon tour du 1ere arrondissement où j’avais dû le commencer: aux Tuileries et au Louvre. Là, j’ai trouvé un arbre libre à grandir comme il veut (un événement rare en France) et un jardin fait comme il faut. J’ai admiré l‘imagination de I.M. Pei en mettant sa pyramide en verre à côté du Louvre. Et le changement du Café Etienne-Marcel en “Café Sex and the City” m’a fait rire…
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I ended my tour of the 1ere arrondissement right where it should have began: the Tuileries and the Louvre. There I found a tree allowed to grow as it liked (a rare occurrence in France) and a garden set up in traditional French fashion. I appreciated I.M. Pei's vision in setting up his glass pyramid to reflect the Louvre. And Cafe Etienne-Marcel's changeover to "Cafe Sex and the City" made me laugh... ~A

Les Halles

2010-06-02T08:50:00.000-04:00

Les Halles… on a l’impression que les Français veulent cacher une chose si grossier comme un mall au coeur de Paris. Premièrement, on le camoufle avec un joli jardin derrière une vieille église. Puis, on détourne l’attention avec des grands panneaus. Finalement, on appelle les couloirs “les rues” et les escaliers roulants “les ponts”. Mall? Quel mall?!?!

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Les Halles... one may think that the French are looking to hide away a mall so insolent as to be located at the heart of Paris. Hide it behind an old church, camouflage the entrance with some pretty gardens, rename the corridors "streets" and the escalators "bridges"... Mall? What mall?!?! ~A

Lonely

2010-06-01T09:07:00.001-04:00

When the world turns its back on you, and you have nowhere else to go.

Belleville: Portes Ouvertes

2010-05-31T07:23:00.000-04:00

Un quartier extrêmement diverse, Belleville est un petit morceau de Paris qui ne semble pas très parisien. Plein de graffiti et des artistes, c’est plutôt modern. Je m’amusait bien en regardant les petits ateliers d’artistes et en trouvant des ensembles sauf Heron peut aimer.

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Belleville is a neighborhood of immigrants and artistes, a bit of Paris which is quite un-Parisian. An imaginative place which appreciates graffiti and creative dressing, I amused myself during yesterday's "Open Doors" festival by peeking into artist workshops and furtively snapping pics of outfits only a Heron could love. ~A

Un Jour dans la Vie

2010-05-31T07:04:00.000-04:00

Un jour dans la vie... Je me lève à Palaiseau et prend le train RER à Paris, où je le change pour le metro. Me baladant dans les vieilles rues, je regarde des grands batîments (Square Samuel Rousseau et Notre Dame) et peut-être fait un peu de shopping. Après que la nuit tombe, je vois le Tour Eiffel étincelant. C’est pas mal comme vie, non?

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A day in the life... Waking in Palaiseau, I take the RER train to the Parisian metro. I wander the streets, gazing up at the ornate buildings or perhaps stopping to shop a bit. After night falls, I linger near the river to catch a glimpse of the sparkling Eiffel Tower. Not a bad life, huh? ~A

Musings from Paris

2010-05-30T10:37:00.001-04:00

Things to take away from the trip; from one island city to another.

1. Paris is gorgeous, but a lot like new York: amidst all the glamor and hype it can get a little dirty.

2. With that said, people here also don't pick up after their dogs. Along the same vein, they must own massive dogs.

3. Onto real thoughts, Paris is gorgeous, on a scale that borders on grand. if you took downtown new York (city hall and all that area) and then made an entire city out of it, that would be Paris. I'm a huge fan.

4. I love how it's a truly walkable city. Well. At least the ile de la cite. I suspect that if I lived there the hype might subside but I spent an entire day walking and I loved it.

5. Worse comes to worse, if the feet get tired the metro is quite a good system. Although they really need to get away from the billet system. It's a bit annoying to have to remember the damned thing on the way out.

6. There is something to be said of French fashion and style. Everybody and their mother is impeccably dressed. I haven't seen anybody out of sorts with regards to going to work, going to the marche, going to the brasserie. That's not to say that everyone is dressed great. A lot of the young ones look like they are transplants from the lower east side. I'm sure it changes as I go from neighborhood to neighborhood but invariably everyone is well put together. With that said, I'm buying a pair of French shoes.

7. you know there always seems to he a pervasive stereotype of the French but really they're no different than your typical new yorker. They party like everybody else, get drunk like everyone else, are aloof when they don't know someone , are just as helpful when they try... plus they always say good day. Always. Way cool. In fact super cool.

8. Yes in fact they do say things like "super cool" ... said "soop-pair kewl"

9. Food: you really can't go wrong. although quite expensive, eating out in France is pretty awesome. Had an unbelievable hamburger patty, steak tartare, crepes and ridiculous amounts of baguettes and cheese. Need to find cheap eats though.

Sidebar: Pilot had to go further north to avoid the Iceland volcano ,and with perfect visibility we came across the mountains and glaciers of Greenland. It was really cool! Like something out of the Planet Earth series. Huge mountains covered with snow jutting out of the earth, with perfectly flat snow plains surrounding it. Sadly was not able to snap a picture of it as the announcement came after it had passed my window. But still incredible, makes me want to watch that segment on the dvd.

Kids are so creative now a days

2010-05-28T07:31:00.001-04:00

I don't think I ever dreamed of doing something like this in high school.

Sunset on 34th

2010-05-26T11:54:00.001-04:00

Incredibly sent

Passage du Grand Cerf

2010-05-20T15:12:00.000-04:00

J'aime me balader dans ces petits passages qui sont plein des magasins intéressants. Mon nouvel découvert est le Passage du Grand Cerf, dans lequel j'ai trouvé des jolies boucles d'oreille et de centaines de poignées pour inspirer ma mère qui les voulait pour embellir la salle de bain.

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I love wandering the little hidden passageways of Paris - it makes shopping feel like a treasure hunt. In my latest discovery, le Passage du Grand Cerf, I stumbled upon a huge display of pretty drawer pulls. ~A

Paris 1: Order with a Hint of (Pricey) Whimsy

2010-05-19T03:24:00.000-04:00

Paris' opulent first arrondissement is the very essence of Parisian order and propriety, but I loved its lighter bits: a lacy metal wrap for an imposing ministry building, a cheeky take on the royalty theme at the metro stop, and of course the whimsical window displays for astronomically priced products. ~A

Palaiseau

2010-05-19T03:10:00.000-04:00

My teeny town outside of Paris, where the little Euro cars overwhelm even smaller ancient streets and tradition still dictates a two-hour brunch at the local brasserie. Even the train station is scenic... ~A

Creperies and Alliance Francaise

2010-05-18T02:36:00.001-04:00

Tasty creperies on my walk to French class. Also loving the open design of the Alliance Francaise building in Paris. ~A

Scenes of Money Well (?) Spent

2010-05-05T18:36:00.000-04:00

A display of Pakistani "Truck Art" outside the Alliance Francaise, where I finally bit the bullet and shelled out for formal French lessons. Later I stumbled across one of Paris' little alleyway shopping spots when searching for a nail salon - never got my pedicure but did find some cute shoes... ~A

Palaiseau to Paris and the Trains Inbetween

2010-05-02T17:17:00.000-04:00

Oh, how I love good public transportation! Ate breakfast in the lovely sunny kitchen, train-hopped to make a BBQ in Melun (the smudges were on the train window, not the sky), returned to meander a bit in central Paris, and then took the commuter rail back home. (Sadly, the train window and my limited camera failed to allow me to capture the pretty rainbow I saw from the train window - bottom right photo, top right corner?) ~A

Scenes by St. Michel

2010-04-30T18:23:00.000-04:00

A space age brass band plays to protest nuclear power near the St. Michel metro station. Down the road, bio-engineered fast food chicken is deemed tasty enough to grace one of the main boulevards. ~A

Eiffel Innards

2010-04-29T18:15:00.000-04:00

Very much enjoyed my first stroll in Paris proper... ~A

My morning view...

2010-04-29T05:11:00.000-04:00

So pretty! If only I could get the neighbor's big orange roof to quit hogging the shot... ~A

Arrived in France at last...

2010-04-28T16:30:00.000-04:00

... and unpacking in my little attic bedroom... ~A

Picture #4: Spring Flowers with Snow Showers

2010-01-28T10:05:00.000-05:00

I know, I know - I'm a little obsessed with these ceramic milk bottle vases. But how cute are these cheery yellow flowers against the snowy New York street? ~A

Picture #3: Best of Summer 2009

2010-01-24T14:24:00.001-05:00

This summer I rowed with a team in D.C., and had the chance to race with them at the Canadian Henley. The taxing workout schedule kept me too tired to record it properly, but it was amazing to have the chance to see the river change throughout the day, from sunrise to sunset. And of course, Niagara Falls is pretty incredible! ~A

Recipe #4: Chicken and Sweet Potatoes with Shallots

2010-01-24T14:14:00.000-05:00

Our second Real Simple recipe definitely lived up to the promise of being simple AND delicious. The salty pan-fried chicken and shallots is a tasty counterpoint to the creamy sweet potatoes, and though it always takes longer than the advertised 30 minutes (who ARE these speed cooks they base the time on?!), it certainly wasn't hard. A delightful companion to an evening of Mad Men episodes.

MODIFICATIONS: It should probably be clear by now that Heron and I view the given amounts of items like olive oil, salt and pepper as mere starting points - we usually increase them to taste. Definitely ignored the "hearty-healthy" suggestion of only using the sweet potato cooking water to mash and added butter and milk, as well as a tablespoon of brown sugar. We also cut up some baby mushrooms to add to the shallots.

MAKE AGAIN? Absolutely - eating the leftovers for lunch today and it's just as tasty as the night before. Click below for the recipe. ~A

Chicken and Sweet Potatoes with Shallots

1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
kosher salt and black pepper
4 tablespoons olive oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (each 6 ounces)
4 shallots, sliced into thin rings
2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh rosemary

1. Place the sweet potatoes in a large pot. Add enough cold water to cover and bring to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt, reduce heat, and simmer until tender, 14 to 16 minutes. Reserve ¼ cup of the cooking water, drain the sweet potatoes, and return them to the pot. Mash with the reserved cooking water.

2. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook until golden brown and cooked through, 7 to 8 minutes per side; transfer to plates.

3. Wipe out the skillet and heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat. Add the shallots, rosemary, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring, until the shallots are tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve the chicken with the potatoes and drizzle with the shallot mixture.

Tip ADD mushrooms to sauté, ADD butter, milk and brown sugar to sweet potatoes, POUND chicken breasts thinner, salt and pepper very generously

Nutritional Information: Calories 424; Calories From Fat 157; Protein 37g; Carbohydrate 29g; Sugar 9g; Fiber 4g; Fat 18g; Sat Fat 3g; Calcium 57mg; Iron 3mg; Sodium 718mg; Cholesterol 94mg

Recipe #3: Creamy Barley with Tomatoes and Greens

2010-01-24T13:44:00.001-05:00

This Real Simple recipe is the first of two this week, and I was interested to see if they really are as quick and tasty as advertised. This one was not bad, it's comforting and homey - and makes enough to easily feed a small army. Yay for easy leftovers!

MODIFICATIONS: None, really, though it's likely we exceeded the 2-oz recommendation for the Brie. (CHEESE!!) Also added a bit more barley than asked for to finish out the bag - probably made the cooking more difficult.

MAKE AGAIN? As we feel with all foods, this one could be easily improved with a strong dose of garlic added up front. But I think this could be a nice pasta substitution to feed a large group or provide several meals for a couple. Click below for the recipe. ~A

Creamy Barley With Tomatoes and Greens

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
kosher salt and black pepper
2 cups quick-cooking barley
28-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
1 cup dry white wine
8 cups torn mustard green leaves (from 1 small bunch) or spinach
2 ounces Taleggio or Brie (rind removed), cut into small pieces
1/2 cup grated Parmesan (2 ounces)

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 6 to 8 minutes.

2. Add the barley, tomatoes, wine, and 2½ cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the barley is tender, 12 to 15 minutes.

3. Add the mustard greens, Taleggio, and ¼ cup of the Parmesan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mustard greens are tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Divide among bowls and sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup of Parmesan.

Tip ADD Garlic!!

Nutritional Information: Calories 605; Calories From Fat 144; Protein 23g; Carbohydrate 91g; Sugar 7g; Fiber 21g; Fat 17g; Sat Fat 6g; Calcium 379mg; Iron 5mg; Sodium 917mg; Cholesterol 24mg

Picture #2: Juxtapositions on Broadway

2010-01-18T11:38:00.001-05:00

The mixture of architecture styles in New York highlights the interesting features of each building: the ornate spires of Grace Church stand out against the plain apartment building behind it; the details of an older redbrick structure are set off by the gleaming new glass tower beside it. ~A

Recipe #2: Martha's Perfect Mac 'n' Cheese

2010-01-17T12:31:00.001-05:00

The first right move we made on this dish was to invite over extra people to help us eat it - and take more home. This recipe is supposed to serve 12 and it is inordinately rich, so a little worried about the dietary consequences of trying to tackle this on our own. But Martha definitely makes a delicious cheesy indulgence perfect for a cold winter night.

MODIFICATIONS: We substituted a horseradish white cheddar for more spice and a bit of regular yellow cheddar for color. I think both worked well. We didn't have fresh nutmeg, however, which may make a difference.

MAKE AGAIN? A crowd-pleaser - and outside the insane amount of cheese grating, not too difficult - so I think this might be a good option for the next potluck or holiday dinner. Thinking about adding carmelized onions or bits of sausage... Click below for the recipe. ~A

Perfect Macaroni and Cheese

• 6 slices good-quality white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for dish
• 5 1/2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 4 1/2 cups (about 18 ounces) grated sharp white cheddar
• 2 cups (about 8 ounces) grated Gruyere or 1 1/4 cups (about 5 ounces) grated pecorino Romano
• 1 pound elbow macaroni

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish; set aside. Place bread pieces in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Pour butter into the bowl with bread, and toss. Set the breadcrumbs aside. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, heat milk. Melt remaining 6 tablespoons butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add flour. Cook, stirring, 1 minute.

2. Slowly pour hot milk into flour-butter mixture while whisking. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.

3. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups cheddar, and 1 1/2 cups Gruyere or 1 cup pecorino Romano. Set cheese sauce aside.

4. Fill a large saucepan with water. Bring to a boil. Add macaroni; cook 2 to 3 fewer minutes than manufacturer's directions, until outside of pasta is cooked and inside is underdone. (Different brands of macaroni cook at different rates; be sure to read the instructions.) Transfer the macaroni to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well. Stir macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce.

5. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cups cheddar and 1/2 cup Gruyere or 1/4 cup pecorino Romano; scatter breadcrumbs over the top. Bake until browned on top, about 30 minutes. Transfer dish to a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes; serve.

Source: marthastewart.com

Recipe #1: Soba Noodles in Broth with Spinach and Shiitakes

2010-01-14T12:15:00.001-05:00

Heron and I love all things with mushrooms and noodles, so this recipe from the NY Times seemed to be a winner. Turned out fair, though we did find spinach AND seaweed to be a bit overkill.

MODIFICATIONS: Removed all seaweed before serving (not our fave). Added a drizzle of sesame oil to the spinach after cooking, as well as red pepper and bonito flakes to the sauce. No sake in the house, so omitted that as well.

MAKE AGAIN? Eh... Heron wants to perfect it, I'm perfectly happy to head to a local Japanese restaurant. Click below for the recipe.

Soba Noodles in Broth With Spinach and Shiitakes

By MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN

1 ounce kombu seaweed
4 dried shiitake mushrooms
3/4 pound dried soba noodles
12 ounces spinach, stemmed and washed thoroughly, or 1 6-ounce bag baby spinach, rinsed
2 green onions, chopped
1 tablespoon sake
2 tablespoons mirin
2 to 4 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce (to taste)

1. Place the kombu and shiitakes in a large bowl, and cover with 4 1/2 cups hot water. Soak for 30 minutes. Place a strainer over a bowl and drain. Squeeze the mushrooms over the strainer, then rinse. Remove the mushroom stems and discard. Slice the caps thinly.

2. Meanwhile, cook the soba noodles. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, add the soba. As the water comes back to a boil, add 1/2 cup of cold water to prevent it from boiling over. Allow to come back to a boil again, and add another 1/2 cup of cold water. Check for doneness, and if necessary bring back to a boil one more time and add another 1/2 cup of cold water. The soba should be tender all the way through but al dente -- slightly firm to the bite. Transfer immediately to the ice water, and allow to cool for a few minutes, then drain.

3. Bring the water back to a boil, salt generously and add the spinach. Blanch for one minute, and transfer to a bowl of ice water. Drain, squeeze out excess liquid, and cut the squeezed bundle of spinach into four pieces.

4. Divide the noodles, spinach, mushrooms and green onions among four large soup bowls. In a saucepan, combine the soaking water from the kombu and mushrooms, the sake, mirin and soy sauce. Bring to a simmer. Taste and adjust seasonings. Pour over the ingredients in the soup bowls, and serve at once.

Note: If you do not wish to include the sake in the broth, simply omit it.

Variations: You can add protein to this dish in the form of diced tofu or shredded chicken.

Yield: Four generous servings.

Advance preparation: You can make this recipe through step 3 several hours in advance. If the noodles stick together, rinse them briefly with cold water.

Picture #1: Baby Steps to Better Decor

2010-01-09T15:16:00.002-05:00

A less defined goal of mine is to steadily evolve our apartment decor from its current hot mess towards the cute looks of hip design blogs. Vases are a new territory for me, but I'm loving our quirky recent additions: recycled glasses and pottery cast from milk bottles. Here's hoping flower arrangement is one of those skills practice makes perfect. ~A

Coffee-Gate

2009-07-23T20:38:00.005-04:00

Heron firmly believes my frequent spills are my own personal superpower. This picture proves it's actually a LARGE CONSPIRACY by the sneaky food container companies. This is not by any means my first drippy coffee cup, people... THEY ARE OUT TO GET ME. ~A

Scenes from the Bolt

2009-07-12T20:52:00.002-04:00

loving the Boltbus. Phonecam to computer to blog. some excerpts BOS-NYC:

- H

America, For Spacious Malls...

2009-06-09T22:07:00.003-04:00

On a desperate quest to score a gym bag before tomorrow's morning practice, I hit up not one, but two malls... the second being the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. Apparently, it takes its location seriously, as the style inspiration seems to be "Fourth of July Bandstand". (Be sure to note the life-size cutout of Michelle Obama in the corner of the America! store...) ~A

Missing NYC...

2009-06-05T20:25:00.003-04:00

Shot from the window as I took the Vamoose back to Arlington... ~A

Summer in D.C.

2009-06-04T22:45:00.002-04:00

There are many good things about the nation's capital, including the tasty little Peruvian place where I had dinner last night. But for some reason, one of the first things I associate with D.C. is its crazy-tall escalators... ~A

NYC's a Pretty Town

2009-05-27T19:20:00.002-04:00

Let's face it. There are a lot of attractive people in this town. I haven't been to LA, but I imagine that people spend quite a bit of effort, time and money to spruce up their image... makeup, hairdresser, clothes etc....

But there has to be limits.

When your bobby pin drops onto the dog-pee and crap-infested sidewalk that is a NYC sidewalk, putting it into your mouth as you fix your hair is a no-no.

Ech... I almost gagged.

~H

Port Authority Poem

2009-05-21T12:27:00.005-04:00

Ah, the tiny rebellions of the cranky commuter... spotted in the Port Authority bus terminal. ~A

Oops, I did it again...

2009-05-21T11:36:00.003-04:00

My Etsy problem persists... but I really hope this fits. ~A

Chicago

2009-05-18T08:15:00.001-04:00

Chicken in the car, car won't go... that's how you spell Chicago! ~A

Aaahh NYC Public Transportation

2009-05-10T11:30:00.003-04:00

It's been a while since we've ridden the F-train to Brooklyn on a weekend. What better excuse than to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, check out Brooklyn Designs '09, and then head into the slope for a party to celebrate one of Ali's co-worker's finishing his MBA (part-time no less!)...

Needless to say, for those in the know, the F-train isn't exactly the most expedient form of transportation, esp on the weekends. So this gave me a chuckle as a a passenger realizes she gets cell service when the train pops aboveground:

"I'm sooo sorry I'm late. This whole F-train thing just isn't working out."

yeah. there's a reason it's called the F-train.... 'nuff said.

~H

I might have an Etsy problem...

2009-04-25T10:42:00.006-04:00

Recent buys (clockwise from top left): necklace from locallibrary, vintage-brooch-turned-ring from musarra and co, vintage-reworked, seriously bling earrings from Bel Canto Designs, nano case from QuietDoing, branch earrings from Nervous System and a gorgeous vinyl laptop sticker from Splendid Vinyl which allows me to pick out my own laptop from all the copycat Sternie Dells in the study lounge... ~A

The Things You Learn

2009-04-23T00:21:00.002-04:00

Several important things I learned today:

1) It is IMPERATIVE that the lid is SECURE on the coffee cup BEFORE drinking hot coffee. Thankfully, I was wearing a rain coat at the time. Unfortunately, while my jacket dried out relatively quickly, it thoroughly looked like I peed myself. well, heeello, cute checkout girl... it's not what you think. honestly.... it's coffee.

2) I've heard this from many a person, but I do mghuabmle. I mean, mumble. I've got to learn to articulate my words, which leads me to the third great lesson the day:

3) It is apparently never too early for steak and cheese (colloquially known as cheesesteak) at the roach coach. I was a little early for a site visit, and decided I was hungry so stopped off at a roach coach to snag a bite to eat.

"Egg and cheese on a roll, please!" says I to the master chef.

"You want onions on that?"

"uuum, sure just a little bit," says I, somewhat thrown off but definitely looking forward to some extra flavor to the breakfast sandwich.

Five minutes later, I give him a $10 bill and receive $5 in change. Shit, that was the most expensive egg and cheese I've EVER had. Crack the bundle of aluminum foil open and lo, and behold: a steak and cheese sandwich. At 7:30 AM. The chef confused "egg" with "steak". Heck, he completely eliminated anything remotely close to eggs. I had in fact ordered a cheesesteak. At 7:30 AM.

Don't judge me, what do you think I did with it? Excuse my while I clear out my arteries...

Dilbert Moment 2 - And I wasn't even there

2009-04-17T13:58:00.002-04:00

I'm in and out of the office recently esp since I've been working from the NYC office in Queens (QNS) I have a sign up on my monitor that lists 3 locations, OUT, FIELD and QNS.

I put a post it with an arrow next to the location that I’m at when I’m not in White Plains. So it looks like this:

OUT

FIELD

QNS ß

Somebody rolls by my cube looking for me, and I get this report from my neighbor who sits next to me:

“he thought your note for Queens with the arrow (QNS->)

meant questions and pointed to me”

Dilbert worthy? Are am I just new York-centric?

Still out of breath laughing.

Dilbert moment - IT usefulness

2009-04-13T00:19:00.003-04:00

And there's a reason why Scott Adams writes some of the best cartoonery in the world. Cause the stuff really does happen. Case in point:

Laptop needed to be fixed Thursday afternoon.

Says IT Man 1 "leave it overnight, I'll have it ready for you at the Helpdesk first thing in the morning."

Friday morning: "Hey IT man 2, IT Man 1 said he'd have my computer ready for me."

IT Man 2, "We don't have your laptop here. maybe it's on IT Man 1's desk"

...Which it was.

IT Man 2, "Oh wait... you can't take it. IT Man 1 sent an email saying the computer's not done yet."

I proceeded to give IT Man 2 an incredulous look, "So IT Man 1 sent us an email telling me that the computer isn't ready yet, intending me to read my email on a computer that I haven't gotten back yet."

So Friday morning, I'm stuck doing "work" on a sh*ta*s loaner computer. Honestly, I often wonder about IT.

~H

PS. hmm... this blogging thing is harder than it seems. Been 4 months since the last post. Sorry!

In the new world order...

2009-01-04T23:00:00.003-05:00

Given the current state of the economy, we decided that it was time to cash in our small change jar and put it into our savings account. Mind you we've been adding (and taking) to this jar for the past 4-5 years and it was getting kinda heavy.

We had a latte bet to whoever could guess the closest: Ali = $50, Heron = $83.75

I thought that we were going to destroy the penny arcade machine at TD Bank but after finally feeding the thing, this is what we came up with:

My cameraphone sucks so let me tally that up:

4 Dollar coins
232 quarters
776 dimes
514 nickels and
1810 pennies.

Grand total = $183.40 and going straight into savings.... man alive that felt good. We were like giddy children...

-H

Crooked Still

2008-12-06T11:52:00.003-05:00

Went to a concert last night by a band called Crooked Still. We first saw them at Joe's Pub a year ago and have totally gotten into them. Since that last concert, their lineup has changed as their cello player left, to be filled in by a cello player AND a fiddle player.

Concert last night was at an East Village bar called Drom. Decent space but the bar is awkwardly placed so standing room had an awkward view esp with columns in the way. The Joe's Pub concert we went to was WAAY more awesome if only because the crowd then was so much more hyped. The crowd at Drom seemed to be more interested in catching up with friends rather than paying attention. I dunno... maybe I felt left out?

In any case, Crooked still was still an awesome live show. Maybe I was jaded by the atmosphere but I really didn't get into the music till halfway through. A lot of their new stuff seems mildly mainstream and mellow. All of a sudden, the energy by the band really picked up. Lead singer was pulling her own twists on the songs (phenomenal voice by the way), banjo was picking a storm, cello and fiddle were wailing, bass was solid as ever... it was a great show overall. Of course Ali couldn't stop dancing the entire time.

Yup, pretty much the only bluegrass I'll listen to.

-H

First Snow!!!!

2008-11-20T08:51:00.006-05:00

It is with much giddiness of a school child that I announce the first snow of the season! well, at least in the white plains area... well, at least for me!

For whatever reason I couldn't get a good shot of snow falling.... but here's a snapshot from the WHI train station. There's snow there I promise.
Giddy giddy giddy giddy...

-H

Lonely

2008-11-16T20:21:00.003-05:00

Job site at 11 PM and raining...

-H

mmmm....Pumpkins

2008-11-16T19:20:00.008-05:00

As I'm sure Ali has indicated, we've been complete slackers w/ posts. Finally worked through some of my apathy/sloth (and work) to provide a short post about the Smashing Pumpkins concert we went to: White Crosses at the United Palace Theater. Keep in mind that I've been a Pumpkins fan since Siamese Dream though I can't say that some of the later albums have been on my Top 10 playlist. As with every artist (e.g. Metallica), artistic evolution often leads to different sounds than what initially drew a listener, leading to much gripin' about how they "just don't sound like they used to." I'll admit I'm one of those listeners; I respect the evolution, I just don't have to like it. Point being, while the concert was really fun overall, I couldn't really appreciate a portion of the set. Each to their own....

Highlights: Soma, Disarm, Galapagos, Cherub Rock, Zero (pic below)...

BTW, design-wise, the theater was a really cool old-school building; ginormous and had a classic feel to it. Here's what it looks like from the outside. I love how Manhattan offers so much in the way of cool architecture. This one was a hell of a subway ride away.
- H

PS. What the hell is up with Dinosaur BBQ? It's one of my favorite BBQ joints, but at 11 PM on a Friday night, how the HELL is it a 1-hour wait for a table? The place closes at midnight damnit.

PPS. Concert audio courtesy archive.org via smashingpumpkins.com

But the shoes make it all better...

2008-11-11T13:07:00.003-05:00

Just received the Sigerson Morrison shoes I ordered from Target... A few strategically placed sequins will improve my mood any day... - A

You know you're in NYC when...

2008-09-29T12:27:00.003-04:00

... you realize the sweet-looking, grandmotherly WHITE lady sitting next to you on the subway is in fact the one blasting Jay Z through her headphones. That woman must have some seriously bling-bling knitting patterns... -A

We're really not that different from....

2008-09-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

any other animal in the world... safety (and dryness) in numbers... Union Square during a ridiculous Saturday afternoon squall.
Love the man in the plastic bag... that's evolution for you.

-H

Strange Name for a Store

2008-09-11T09:03:00.000-04:00

We bought produce here the other day... and it LOOKS ok... but I keep staring at it wondering, WHAT DO I NOT KNOW?! -A

Summer Days

2008-09-02T18:29:00.003-04:00

Cape Cod, Summer 2008, me and a buddy enjoying the last twinges of summer. Nuff said. Hope y'all enjoyed the lazy days!

-H

South Indian Dosas

2008-09-02T18:25:00.005-04:00

Because it would be uncool for me not to put in a shameless plug, this man has the BEST dosas available in Manhattan. Go forth and support yer local foodie stall.

(see? I'm not anti-veg, just anti-stupid-ads-that-try-to-scare-people-into-veg) see previous 2 posts for context.

-H

Camera Blurb

2008-09-02T18:20:00.003-04:00

This picture came out pretty cool. Late night on 57th St with a slow shutter speed on a Panasonic point-and-shoot. Anybody know how to really dial in the manual settings on a Lumix FX-33?

-H

Global Warming Doomsday

2008-09-02T17:52:00.007-04:00

I may be somewhat ignorant of the actual hard numbers associated with this argument but, somehow the scientist and engineer (and the gastronomist) in me refuses to believe in the validity of the claim on the bus.

Keep in mind that I am certain that meat production contributes quite a bit to climate impacts (transportation, harvesting, processing) but there's absolutely no way that eating vegetarian or using animal-free products don't have similar impacts.

Chalk one up to the doomsday/fear approach. Cause that really worked in grade school.

BONUS: The website that they refer to is soooo legit-sounding. Click on the picture to zoom in; it's not even worth repeating here.

DOUBLE-BONUS: speaking of global warming, can the owner of the Chevy Cavalier that was parked outside of the Kips Bay Loews please stand up? I'm talking about the one that had 8 solar cells mounted to various surfaces of the car, and very likely was powering the 6-inch fan inside the car. That was awesome. Talk about grass-roots... (I had a picture that has since disappeared... boo)

-H

First Day of School

2008-09-02T08:07:00.000-04:00

Wish me luck... it's been quite awhile. :) -A

Getting Ready

2008-09-02T07:06:00.004-04:00

I would like to personally thank design undercover for posting this poster - as it will be my mantra for the next two years. :) -A

Back from a Hiatus

2008-08-29T20:54:00.002-04:00

So I am definitely enjoying the wonderous marvel of wireless internet.... using a cellphone company's wireless PC card... currently on the way to the Cape with some friends and looking forward to a wonderful long weekend. Just wanted to update you and let you know some more posts are coming your way since Ali has been dominant as of late...

-H

Where Did the Time Go?

2008-08-15T12:16:00.002-04:00

Orientation starts on Tuesday... I'm down to my last few days of freedom. But very, very excited... -A

Ah, The Dog Days of Summer...

2008-08-09T11:22:00.002-04:00

Which, in NYC, primarily affect the subway platforms... Three cheers for century-old air cooling methodology! -A

Holy Crap...

2008-08-09T11:13:00.004-04:00

If you didn't catch the opening ceremonies on TV last night, look for clips on YouTube - the Chinese seriously know how to put on a show! (Well, they did invent gunpowder...) My favorite was when the final torch bearer FLEW INTO THE AIR and "ran" around the top of the stadium to light the torch - HOW MUCH DO I WANT THAT JOB?!?! Impressive...

Of course, not sure if all those fireworks are helping the pollution problem. But they were pretty damn cool, that's for sure... -A

Who're You Gonna Call?

2008-08-06T10:01:00.003-04:00

Heron and I had the perfect mid-week date - with delicious takeout from our neighborhood gem Sushi Suki, we snuggled up on a blanket to watch Ghostbusters in Carl Schurz Park. The setting was perfect - a small neighborhood event in our cute little park, cooled by the river breezes. The organizers even provided free popcorn! -A

*Didn't have a picture of the movie event (held on the basketball court) - but here's the park! Isn't it pretty?

Pink Sequin Atrocity = High Style?

2008-08-05T10:10:00.004-04:00

I've been following The Sartorialist for a few years, inspired by his photos of New York and European street styles - and I admit to a secret fantasy where one day, if I dress really really well, he might just see me on the street and snap my picture. Seriously, this would pretty much be the highest style compliment ever, right up there with Stacey and Clinton surprising me with a $5000 BoA card to "just keep doing what you're doing". (A girl can dream, right?)

But one shouldn't mix up "boldness" with "total insanity"... I'm pretty sure Stacey and Clinton would tell this poor woman that even beyond the atrocious fabric, the juvenile style does her chest and waist NO FAVORS, and from now on, could she please save the toddler fashion for when her 2 year old is attending an Alice in Wonderland tea party... why this is even made in adult sizes boggles the mind. -A

Bulletin Board Redo

2008-07-29T08:35:00.005-04:00

Being unemployed has given me the time and energy to devote to those little home projects which normally get ignored - like a week ago when I spent 3 hours on a marathon filing session (strangely satisfying). Last weekend I finally attacked our bulletin board. Purchased to store all those potentially useful paper odds and ends, it got orphaned in our skinny, dark hallway and basically became the place where coupons went to expire. (Wish I'd thought to take a "before" picture, but just imagine vertical paper piles.) I decided to clear those off and given the location, go with a motif that lacked deadlines: postcards, baby pictures and other happy thoughts. Extra bonus - now those items are off of our fridge, where their main purpose seemed to be falling down and irritating me in the morning.

Now we have a welcoming collage to greet us when we enter the apartment or head into the bedroom - a much better use of the space. Way more fun than filling out all those school forms... -A

Carl Schurz Park: Clouds and Fences

2008-07-25T10:22:00.007-04:00

Yesterday was sunny and yet, still bearable - so I headed out to Carl Schurz Park to enjoy the river breezes.

(Incidentally, I had been calling this Carl Schultz Park up until 5min ago when I googled it for the link. Not that I haven't passed the sign about a thousand times... And now that I can spell it, I find there are all kinds of events going on - movies, music, knitting! Who knew?)

This tiny green oasis on the Upper East Side contains a surprising number of recreation options for such a small park (as well as Gracie Mansion), but we mostly love sitting along the East River and watching the DEP barges chug by. It's a small neighborhood-y getaway from our massive city...

On my way to the 6 train, there were some gorgeous sunbeams peaking around the buildings - I shot blindly due to the brightness but was fairly pleased with the results... -A

That's nice

2008-07-25T07:53:00.002-04:00

So great to hear from you! Things have been a bit busy round here with work. The City's been pretty good, everybody's out in the Hamptons so there aren't that many people in the city. I'd go to the beaches if they weren't so packed. Plus there was a heat wave last week which was brutal. Be glad that you're farther north in the latitudes.

So what else is new? Oh right...

REPLY does not equal REPLY TO ALL!! I don't care that you miss New York pizza. Who the hell are you anyways? -H

Why bother with it at all?

2008-07-24T23:15:00.002-04:00

In all honesty, why? I'm coming home from work the other day, and it's stupendously hot. Some guy is on the platform. I get the baggy polo, requisite wifebeater, and baggy shorts. I do, really I do. But WHY, is it even remotely

a) practical
b) comfortable
c) fashionable

to have your shorts hanging on your person any lower than the lower waist? The dude had his shorts just above his knees. I can barely function and dress in the morning. How does anyone have the mental capacity to put on a matching outfit, head to toe, that INCLUDES your boxers, and then have the coordination to physically walk out of the house with a belt strapped around your knees?

Seriously man. Why bother at all? -H

Pretty Pee Protectors

2008-07-23T10:07:00.002-04:00

For those urban plants suffering from the scourge of dog urine, an inventive solution - plastic tulips serve both decorative and protective purposes, by giving Fido something indestructible to aim at. -A

In Glorious High Def

2008-07-22T07:03:00.002-04:00

With the acquisition of a sweet flat screen capable of high definition, my trumpeting of the new wave of technological wonder has led to the inevitable line of conversation with friends ending in an increduluous, "you DON'T have CABLE?!"

Ranting about the cable company's evil empire is a post in of itself. I WILL however discuss the readily available and FREE over the air digital HD signals. After thoroughly ignoring the manual and twiddling with the remote, I was able to store all manner of basic network signals using my $14 radioshack bunny ears.

Wow. Wow. Granted I only get NBC and Univision clearly, with occasional bursts of Fox and CBS (depending on the direction and strength of the wind that night). But wow.

Let's put it this way. While sucking down a protein shake after hitting the gym, I switched on said TV. Field hockey Olympic qualifiers were nice. But not HD. Switch to NBC-HD. And Nashville Star was on. I am not a fan of country. Nope.

And yet I couldn't change the channel.

HD baby. Jewel was on the show. In glorious HD. Bonus. Finally switched to CBS to catch CSI-Miami. Yeah, there are some hotties on that show. In glorious HD.

In glorious HD we trust. -H

Waterfalls, Water Taxis and the Brooklyn Ikea

2008-07-17T11:57:00.004-04:00

After getting my butt handed to me last night by a certain boxing instructor at my gym, I've decided rest up today, with plenty of fluids and balanced meals. (And when I say balanced, I mean I balanced out my lunchtime salad with several mini peanut butter cups.)

So let's talk about wanderings from a time when I could walk without pain... On the last day of my parents' visit, we headed downtown to the South Street Seaport to check out the Waterfalls in the harbor. Interesting, but not as impressive as The Gates in Central Park a few years back... More entertaining was the yogi performing in the Seaport - I missed his better tricks with my camera, but they included stuffing himself into a 17-inch box, and putting his legs behind his head, propping himself on his hands and swinging like a pendulum. Wild...

Afterwards, my mother was intrigued by the free water taxi to the new Ikea in Brooklyn and convinced us to take a ride. Good times - the ride across the harbor was great, and Red Hook's waterfront lovely. Even if they weren't, the gorgeous new Ikea and a fabulous outpost of Fairway, our favorite NYC grocery store, were well worth a visit. Just remember: no Ikea receipt, no ride back for you... we ended up buying lingonberry sauce and a hotdog just to get back to Manhattan. -A

Ode to a Dead Tree

2008-07-13T11:22:00.004-04:00

One of my favorite things about living in NYC is the incredible creativity of my fellow residents. Display found near York Avenue... -A

No means no

2008-07-13T10:38:00.003-04:00

Dear Craigslist,

I understand that you are a bastion of frugality. I do. I really do. But in the end basic economics really does win the day. When you're absolutely in a tight budget, and you tell me so, you can't tell me the second email around that you've managed to scrape together an extra 5 Washingtons as your best offer.

Especially when the somebody else had already agreed to pay my asking price. Supply and demand. It works.

I know you weren't aware of the other bidder... but you really should get your Caps Lock fixed.

Sincerely,

Three-One-One, Over and Out

2008-07-12T11:31:00.009-04:00

Yesterday was my last day at the city call center - I'm taking a few weeks off before business school starts in the fall.

I'm proud to have played a part in building an iconic NYC institution, working with an amazing group of dedicated civil servants. I miss them already. -A

Customer Service Through Dance

2008-07-12T11:06:00.006-04:00

This week Risa Jaroslow & Dancers were performing a piece in front of the Municipal Building, inspired by NYC’s own citywide call center. After 18 years of dance class and 4 years in the call center, I cannot express the joy this idea brought me – it was like a personal going away gift.

In execution, I admit a tiny bit of disappointment that they were so, well, serious about it (obviously the troupe does not share my irreverent sense of humor), but it was still fun to see art composed about my place of business. I even got picked to share my thoughts on city government (a little nerve-wracking), and they seemed delighted to have call center employees in attendance. I chatted a bit with Risa Jaroslow afterwards and while she expresses some strong views (one portion showed a dancer being relentlessly excluded from the group, which she referred to as “government giving the cold shoulder” – in another part dancers seemed to falling without a “safety net”), I liked how her work looked to gently engage the lunchtime crowd in examining their relationship with city government. -A

Absolut Kanye

2008-07-12T09:08:00.005-04:00

On Friday's commute, I stared at this ad for at least three dumbstruck minutes - until I noticed tiny lettering on the side marked this as an ad for Absolut Vodka. And then I freaked out my fellow riders by snapping a picture. -A

Waiting for the M31

2008-07-11T07:21:00.004-04:00

Shot this while waiting for the M31 bus - a somewhat mythical creature, which conveniently runs from West 57th Street to the east side near our apartment, though not always when we wish to take it. (It came eventually, this time.) Right before a summer rainstorm... -A

Fashion Epiphany

2008-07-09T07:36:00.005-04:00

One day, it was like a lightbulb went off in my head as I gazed into my closet - hey, I love cardigans! Also, I work in an office which insists on being 55 degrees year-round... so why do I not own more of this fabulous layering item?

So I bought the first one from the Gap - comfy AND affordable. (In fact, I may soon own it in multiple colors...) And I'm eyeing the second at JCrew... loving the orange, but may need to head to the store for a little in-person reality check on whether that color and my pale skin play together nicely. And people, who knows WHAT craziness will ensue come fall... -A

Ikea Knappa Tulpan Lamp

2008-07-08T07:35:00.005-04:00

It's a little unreasonable how much I love our new lamp. But Heron understands.

I think.

-A

Be Kind Rewind

2008-07-07T07:39:00.008-04:00

Rent Be Kind Rewind - this movie made us laugh out loud harder than any we've seen in awhile. It's perfectly cast, and showcases Jack Black's talents without the strained ZANINESS seen in his more commercial movies... Mos Def and Danny Glover are also fantastic.

If you saw it in the theatres, rent it for the mini-documentary on filming in Passaic, NJ... incredibly sweet. -A

Map-tastic Tiles

2008-07-05T15:28:00.005-04:00

When we finally own a bathroom, these will be going up in the shower. And then I will finally be able to learn all the world capitals and kick butt in car trip games.

Wall tiles by digitile, seen on the style files... -A

Sad Realities

2008-07-05T13:36:00.006-04:00

I found the perfect wedding shoes on east side bride. They match my ivory-and-champagne dress. They are flat, befitting our plans to be married outside on a grass lawn. They are sequined, as are all things in my perfect world.

Given all that, should it really matter they cost as much as my dress?

I mean, it's not like I haven't ever paid significantly more for shoes than the outfit they went with. Of course, that was when I wore an $8 dress to the high school prom... slightly different circumstances. -A

TV-gasm

2008-07-05T13:06:00.005-04:00

Flat. Screen. TV. Dilated pupils. Increased heart rate. Repetitive motion for continuous button pushing. Stupid smirk on face.

Yes, I am a tech geek. Hear me roar. -H

Dynamic is not Static

2008-07-05T13:02:00.005-04:00

It's a funny thing how some things never change. In such a fast-paced world, where everything is super dynamic, information feeds through the pipeline, and you're forced to anticipate and react instantaneously, change is inevitable.

Today, your portfolio is riding high. Tomorrow, you could be bottoming out.
This morning, your project is on track. One hour later, you're putting out fires for a client.
Now, you feel like taking the subway downtown. A second later, the sheer number of people at the station forces you to cab it.

Change is inevitable. Things don't remain static. They can't. It's the nature of the beast.

Except for the BQE.

For those who are fortunate enough to NOT have to deal with THAT beast, the BQE is the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The BQE is, essentially, a fossil. Unchanged, constant, trapped in its own world.

I refer not to its physical nature, but to its temperament. Simply put, the BQE is a bitch.

It doesn't matter what you do, when you decide to drive on it, how you decided to get there, the BQE will find a way to be a parking lot. Holiday weekend? Jammed. Everyone driving smoothly? Jammed. 3 AM and no DOT road work? Jammed. You sit there looking for a reason why the road is packed, and when you inevitably hit 30 mph, when you think, "Here's why traffic's been stoopid" you get nothing. Nada. Zip. Traffic just picks up.

Maybe it's tired of being a highway. Maybe it aspired to be a parking lot when it was younger. Maybe it just gets incredible happiness from essentially turning a 13-mile stretch of 6-lane highway into a veritable source of global warming.

Me and the BQE have been on a break for a couple years, and now I remember why... When driving from Brooklyn, traffic was at a maximum speed limit of 10 mph. With no let up after 5 miles, I hopped on to the Manhattan Bridge. No doubt the parking lot extended up to at least the LIE. This was of course, at 11 PM.

BQE, I hate you. Don't call. I'm not answering. -H

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-03T20:58:00.003-04:00

Dear Craiglist

2008-06-22T00:14:00.001-04:00

You are an integral part of life as an urban twenty-something. We find apartments, furniture and even love (or a mid-afternoon sexual tryst)... in fact, one of my friends made her living on your odd jobs list for months at a time.

But while I do thank you profusely for leading me to my last three not-too-overpriced apartments, one thing still bothers me. While we're buddies and all - and that's cool - at the heart of it, this is still a business relationship and as such it comes with a few expectations. You're just not very dependable, Craiglist. I mean, in the beginning while the post is new, the interest is hot and heavy... but then when it comes time to clinch the deal, all the anxious emails turn into no-shows. Why, Craiglist? What's with your fear of commitment?

For example, we recently bought new shelves, and turned to you to sell the old ones. A tall bookcase and matching media shelves of the popular Ikea Billy line, great condition, priced to move at $30 for the pair. (Seriously, that's an incredible deal, right?) We were inundated with emails and yet... no matter how ardently they expressed their interest, not one showed to pick up the damn shelves. After several missed appointments I finally called the most recent (for whose benefit we'd missed kickboxing at the gym, thank you very much) and demanded an explanation. His excuse was that he got drunk after work... and forgot. While I should have probably seen the warning signs - his brilliant plan would have been to carry the shelves 20 blocks home and btw, were they heavy? - still, this was kind of the last straw.

We did eventually sell the shelves to some guy from Jersey. Who had the gall to ask us to reduce the price by $10 "for gas and tolls". (We said no.) Then he wanted us to carry them down to his car. (Yeah, right.) But while we are glad the shelves are finally gone, we're not entirely satisfied, Craiglist. Selling perfectly good shelves for practically nothing should not be this painful! Please do try harder to be a little more reliable the next time, ok? We have this extra lamp we really need to get rid of...

Yours truly,

Ali & Heron

Upper East Side Gripe

2008-06-21T22:15:00.006-04:00

A little bit harder to hate the new high-rise in the pink evening light. But dammit, you're still bringing down the neighborhood. -A