1203

Last night was a bit scary. It started out intentionally frightening: Jesse, Jaime, the legendary Jon Cheese, and I went to a haunted house in Manhattan based on serial killers. We had no idea what to expect, so before we entered we thought it would probably be a good idea to go to the bar across the street to take a tequila shot. I think this course of action certainly calmed my nerves. Also, Jon Cheese.

As we were waiting in line, one of the haunted house employees asked if anyone would like to be "marked with blood," meaning the actors could interact with you more than most. Jon, of course, really wanted the red X's on his forehead. And he made great use of them -- I don't think I will ever go to a haunted house again unless Jon Cheese is in attendance!

At one point clown-faced Gacy was shoving Jon into a wall and then a future murder victim wearing only underwear popped up from a cellar-like door and dragged Jon down with him while we were told to move on to the next room. I turned to Jesse and Jaime and said, "Okay, so we've lost Jon!"

Next up was Ed Gein who was yelling for a volunteer to help him 'feed his crocodiles' and for some reason those jerks Jesse and Jaime decided to push me forward even though I did NOT want to touch that guy's hand. I was given something to hold over a gate and then BAM! Jon Cheese emerged growling and crawling, attacking me! I screamed and then started laughing hysterically as we fell to the ground.

Throughout the house Jon would talk back to the likes of Charles Manson and Patrick Bateman. At one point some weird Cookie Monster-looking killer came out of the wall and Jon screamed, "My wife would hate you!" We had a great time and though I was scared for a lot of it, I mostly just laughed.

Above, our tourist photo of the excursion.

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And then the other scary bit of the night: the Red Sox. The World Series is now 1-1 and that's all I will say about that except for: GO SOX!

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Oh okay, I have one more kind of "scary" thing to go with the theme -- I get scared to wash my hair after a new cut because I'm wondering whether my hair will look as good styled by me. Surprise, surprise I can't seem to look as polished when I style it by myself. However, it didn't turn out bad. Right? (Above, my hair as blown out and styled by yours truly.)

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Something not scary: the remake of Carrie. Skip it! I probably didn't even need to tell you that, but I saw it last weekend on a whim and true to what I thought previously, Chloe Grace Moretz has no range beyond playing an eye-rolling sarcastic girl. As I said in my brief review, her line delivery was abysmal. And you don't have a solid movie if your titular character can't act the part.

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On a related note, DO see 12 Years a Slave. It's brutal, but one of the best films of the year.

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One shouldn't be pushed to write, but I did have a goal of writing more often in this space this year. Since I don't think another NaNoWriMo is in me at the moment, perhaps I'll make November a month of attempting to update every day...

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And finally, this weekend Jiscilla is hosting a Halloween party so I'm excited to play dress-up and have some fun with friends! Photos shall ensue, I'm sure.

Do whatever that it takes, he got a winner's mind.

My view on Saturday from Chelsea Brewery.

I tend to look forward to weekends not only for the time away from work but also to refresh me for another week. I aim to relax for the most part, but this weekend proved too busy with fun to reenergize. Not that I minded in the slightest.

On Friday evening a few people gathered at a delicious Thai restaurant in Williamsburg for a send-off to our lovely friend Jess who is moving to San Francisco. I arrived in the area early (I'm always early, to everything), but luckily another friend was nearby to catch up with over a glass of wine at the Brooklyn Winery--one of my favorite places in Brooklyn.

The dinner was joyous and the opposite of how sad goodbyes can be. Jess is moving on to another coast with positive vibes emenating; I am sad that SF is capturing a neighbor, friend, book club member, and writer's colony founder, but I am so happy for her.

Afterwards, another friend was in need of a social partner after having done the 'trading our stuff back' deed post-getting dumped. I met her at a nearby bar and we proceeded to clink our glasses to good riddance. Liars: not worth a damn.

I was most excited for Saturday when two of my favorite people, the pinnacle 'Good People' were in town. This couple, Bob and Erica, are so loved that no less than 15 people gathered for a brunch to enjoy their presence. Many college-era stories were rehashed and newly remembered with laughter. (If you were nearby you may have heard some phrases like: "And then he walked out of my apartment at dawn with my sheet wrapped around him to drive back to D.C.," "[Redacted] was in the hallway in her underwear because nobody was around to see her," or "Her mom walked into our apartment and blasted John Denver at 7am when everybody was still sleeping.")

The day was as long as it was fun: a great margarita-fueled brunch, a walk to Chelsea Piers to embarass our friend Dan who was playing hockey (hooting and hollering commenced), a stop in at Chelsea Brewery to enjoy the sunny day, and then a moment of respite and take-out at Kells' and Jon's apartment.

It was a moment needed since by 10pm we had to gather our second wind. This was also fueled by my latest collection of pump-up songs. Kells, Erica, and I proceeded to dance around the living room with Riggins jumping in unison. Riggins, a fun-loving French bulldog that you can see all over Kelly's blog is the best jump dancer.

We went to a nearby bar to meet more friends and as I am wont to do as of late, I entered in a long conversation about Game of Thrones in terms of the books and television show. I promised myself I wouldn't stay out late, but then, you know, a discussion of Book 3 happened.

On Sunday after leisurely getting up from bed, I met my friend Amy for lunch at Momofuku. We discussed our favorite movies and tv shows and books and then went to her apartment to watch a foreign film called A Royal Affair. We are both avid Hannibal fans and equally creeped out by the actor who plays the titular character, Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen. You may remember him as the 'leaky-eye villain' from Casino Royale. Anyway, I saw something on the internet about this Oscar-nominated film had a romantic storyline and in my astonishment told Amy we had to watch our old friend 'Mads,' (how great is that name?) in this period drama. And so we did. And it was GREAT; Mads is superb and I must admit he made me weep. Review here on Letterboxd.

Mads be smilin'!

Afterwards I came home and prepared myself some dinner and cleaned around the house. I was washing the dishes when I heard the key slip in the lock. I held my wet hands dripping over the kitchen sink while I leaned over to see who it might be.

It was Jesse. OF COURSE.

He was supposed to arrive Tuesday night but surprised me like he almost always does. It was wonderful to see him walk in the door and kiss him and pull at his ever-growing beard. The usual friends came over for Game of Thrones and Mad Men and then Jesse and I settled into bed as Pee Wee lay between us, purring loudly. We were both out within minutes of hitting the pillow; such a fun weekend it had been.

One month later.

What a wonderful weekend... I can hardly remember what I did before yesterday - my mind is circling. On Friday? Oh right, I went to see El Sportivo and The Blooz play in Brooklyn, and it was my favorite kind of show: relaxed and small and everybody smiling. On Saturday I had a brunch with the one I call The Writer who has Written a Book. We went over my thoughts and her thoughts and everything in between and this too had me smiling -- maybe that's why the waiter brought me a free mimosa with our bill? We set off then for the cinemas and saw Park Chan-Wook's Stoker with my friend Amber. It was beautiful, but the story left me bitter. Matthew Goode? Also beautiful.

Perhaps I was smiling so much because I knew what laid at the end of my weekend: Jesse's return. He'd sent me an itinerary that foretold his arrival at approximately 7pm at JFK. Yesterday, however, he seemed oddly out of contact during his supposed layover and like the boy who cried wolf, I expected him to walk in the door earlier. And he did! At around 5pm Pee Wee leapt off my lap on the couch and trotted towards the door (we were watching the terrific documentary How to Survive a Plague) and in wheeled his bags and he with his (much longer than before) beard. He's surprised me so many times (to my delight) that I now watch for signs.

My happiness must have been electric then because I even cooked dinner. I made steak, sweet potato wedges, and green beans. It was largely successful though I have to admit my journey to the final product was decidedly inelegant and full of CLANGS! and hasty curses. I've decided practice makes perfect so hopefully my clumsiness in the kitchen also improves. After dinner, Jesse doled out some gifts from his travels, and then we settled on the couch for this weekend's Saturday Night Live and Jesse dozed off. After moving him up to bed in the evening, he kept sleeping even as I left this morning. The man was tired after nearly 24 hours of airports and flights. And so, I am happy.

Vacation starts now, kinda.

The weekend in the Catskills could not have come at a better time! Hanging out with nine other lovely, great friends was definitely needed while Jesse was in a time zone difference of 14 hours. Here are some things that happened:

• "Why is everybody going to the Catskills this weekend?" - traffic talk in the girls car made up of Kells, Jen, and myself.
• I didn't know that going to the Catskills entailed going through New Jersey. Guess where we hit traffic?
• Sometimes when you start out tagging things on Instagram and Twitter with #vacationstartsnow it kind of just sticks for the entire weekend.
• Oh, this is where we hung out all weekend, it was PRETTY OKAY:

[Photo by Lyndsay]

• Driving up the winding mountain roads and taking in the beautiful but sometimes horror-movie-esque surroundings, it was no surprise when the nearest location tag at the cabin was "Abduction Barn." Makes sense.
• Our party consisted of four couples and Gaby and me. Gaby and I bunked in the 'kids room,' it was cool.
• Also, two dogs. Pegs and Riggins, both adorable with various sweaters worn throughout the weekend:

[Photo by Kells]

• Everyone was delegated a meal to prepare. Since I don't prepare many meals and certainly not for ten people and was one of the non-couples, I pitched in with what I knew: chips, salsa, dip, meats and cheeses, and six bottles of champagne with which to make mimosas in the morning. Plus, I'm really good at doing the dishes.
• Most everyone went skiing on Saturday. I lack any talent in skiing or general coordination so I cozied up with the other three left behind for a day of pure relaxation -- painting nails, 21 Jump Street, general true crime shows on cable, cleaning the kitchen, and sporadic napping.
• GAMES! We all played many, many games as the snow fell near constantly outside. From psychological games like Mafia to old classics like Celebrities (aka Notables aka Characters aka Inside Jokes aka Benjamin Netanyahu Smoke Signals) -- all were fun in this group. If anyone can find a game to play, it's Jon Cheese.

[Lyndsay and Gaby playing Mafia]

• A lot of people know how to cook really well, and it was a delectable weekend when it came to the meals and I'm thinking of trying to kickstart cooking at home... maybe a weekly recipe or something. Props to Dan, Lyndsay's husband, for spending more than an hour cooking the most elaborate and delicious meal (the first photo in the post, Dan is at the far head of the table).
• I found out what an NBA all-star dunk contest entailed.
• Since only one bottle of champagne was used the first morning, I think you can guess as to how we really went for it with the mimosas on the second morning.
• I finally learned what the heck the 'Harlem Shake' phenomena was -- video doesn't work at work, and I'm too impatient after work on my computer...honestly, I started watching two different Harlem Shake videos last week and stopped them five seconds in. Obviously this was the wrong tactic if I really wanted to figure out what they were all about. Good thing Erica filled me (and some others) in.
• The weather was bitter cold on Sunday; too cold for the adventurers to go ski. Thus, after a long and lingering brunch with all those mimosas and bloody marys, we played more games.

[Never NOT a good time.]

• We also watched 21 Jump Street -- again. 
• We may or may not have filmed a Harlem Shake video.
• Writing down stuff legibly in your journal becomes proportionally more difficult the more mimosas you've had.
• I snuck off for a clandestine nap.
• When I woke up I decided to put on The Avengers and explained to everyone who Tom Hiddleston was since nobody knew when we had played Celebrities earlier.
• David had an announcement: it was Joseph Gordon-Levitt's birthday. He was happy to declare this, but I was still miffed that nobody knew to guess Joseph Gordon-Levitt during Celebrities previously. Instead there was a lot of Jordan Levi guesses when I listed off his filmography. Like, on the real?
• Kells had packed s'mores for everyone and this led The Men to make sure the firepit was workable for marshmallow-cooking purposes. Of course, this occurred on the evening of the mimosa day (Sunday) and nobody made a s'more outside, instead utilizing the microwave.
• All the guys went "outside firepit" and all the ladies went "inside dance party" on Sunday night. There was so much fun had and I fear incriminating photos and video of all of us dancing to N'Sync, TLC, R. Kelly, Save Ferris, etc., will surface soon. One of us may have been wearing flared jeans.
• We vacated in style the next morning at 10am -- sunglasses positioned, GPS' pointing back to civilization, and with Jen's delicious migas breakfast in our tummies.
• I rode back with Robb and Jen who needed to catch a flight back to California that day, and New Jersey did not fail us with the inevitable traffic. However, after they dropped me off in Brooklyn, they were to the airport just in time!

Jesse and I e-mailed back and forth the whole weekend, and while I wish he had been there with us, I'm glad I have these friends when he can't be around.

Last weekend.

The time has come again. Jesse has been home for a good two months, and tomorrow he leaves for a whole one. It's probably the reason I've been slacking on updating -- spending my downtime with Jesse was priority the past couple of weeks. (And updating will most likely take up as a distraction upon his departure.)

It's been some time since he was out of the country on tour, and we've haven't been apart for an entire month since the very beginning of our relationship. In fact, the beginning of our relationship started February 27th, 2007 -- a six-year anniversary coming up! He will be in Sydney, Australia that day. But I don't dwell on these things; it's corny but we do have the rest of time to hang out... which he takes care to remind me of every now and then.

We spent his last weekend in town like real hardcore cool people by going to a backgammon meet-up. Yeah, you read me right. Jesse loves the game backgammon, and while I find it frustrating to play him because he is simply streets ahead of me in the game, I like it too. Jesse heard about a meet-up at SPiN, the Susan Sarandon-owned ping-pong bar in Manhattan. Backgammon aficianado Jaime also joined us and we descended into the back room a bit nervous for what type of crowd backgammon brings around. Turns out it wasn't only octogenarians, but a pretty diverse crowd of young, old, foreign, etc.

Jaime remarked at one point, "dang, if I was single I would totally come here to pick up guys." You heard it, ladies: BACKGAMMMON MEET-UPS! Better start learning the game!

On Sunday, Jesse and I had a double date brunch with Kells and Jon, to La Palapa where brunch is $15 for a coffee, a delicious margarita, and the best huevos rancheros I've ever eaten. It's our favorite Manhattan brunch spot - at least the most frequented. After having a laugh as we always do with those two, Jesse asked me if I wanted to see a movie since we had no plans for the afternoon.

Me, see a movie?

Sometimes it's hard to get Jesse to go to the theater with me, especially since I go so often. My Letterboxd is telling me that I saw 40 films in the theaters last year. That's...a lot. I like going with Jesse because he is highly opinionated about films. Even when he's not with me I leave the theater wondering if it would be something Jesse would enjoy. I'm getting better at predicting his love/hate levels!

Anyway, I checked my phone and the new Williamsburg Cinema was playing Soderbergh's latest (and last?) feature film, Side Effects. Soderbergh can really go either way with me, and I wasn't sure if this was something that would be any good. I thought it might tread a little too political (for a movie starring Channing Tatum, if you know what I mean), but it ended up being something entirely different than what I expected. I really liked it, and Jesse did too!

That evening we went to a new restaurant in our neighborhood that had been getting good reviews and is up for a 'Best New Restaurant' award. It was delicious food! And had great cocktail to boot. It was a fitting ending to a great last weekend.

Escape to Massachusetts.

The father and I in Massachusetts

The extended weekend in Massachusetts rejuvenated my growing weariness. Work ragged on my nerves and I worked late many days last week. As soon as my father pulled up to the train station to carry us to the 'country,' I instantly calmed. My mother had flown to Panama earlier in the week and so I figured my dad may want some company for Superbowl weekend.

We ate well (and by well I mean lots of ice cream cake) and watched many, MANY movies. Like father, like daughter I suppose. We saw the surprisingly adorable Warm Bodies on Saturday and ventured to get scared but really only disappointed by Mama on Sunday. There were also several DVDs watched on his new 70-inch HD television. I laughed along though I was bit underwhelmed by Seven Psychopaths, but I was shocked to find that I really loved End of Watch - a lot. It wasn't perfect, but I'd venture to say it was the best movie we watched over the weekend.

Since I've had a mild obsession with Kevin Spacey since high school, and one of my favorite directors is David Fincher, I've been anticipating Netflix's first original series House of Cards for some time. Good thing Netflix released all the episodes this weekend! The three of us knocked out six episodes, and I can't wait to continue - Spacey's always so good! I've been saying it for decades now! I also love any show that features a newspaper newsroom.

On Sunday my brother joined us, and his friend arrived to haul out my dad's huge, old tv. It was a mighty journey to behold these four guys get the tv from the house to the truck bed.

My aunt and uncle from Rhode Island arrived for the spectacle of the Superbowl on the giant television! It was truly beautiful to behold football on that tv. And yet, I didn't care too much either way who won. I was mostly enjoying the wonderful company and doing a lot of math to weight the chances of my pool numbers winning me $1000 (spoiler alert: they didn't).

Monday morning found my dad driving us back to the train station, which is always no fun! I wish we could have stayed in the relaxing atmosphere (with a rambunctious dog, though - the infamous Buddy), but alas we had to get back to New York. I had to stop into work for an hour, but I was soon back at home with Pee Wee.

And because this is New York, we already had a friend asking us to hang out. I met up with friends Jaime and Lisa at the Bowery Electric for a Bronx show and ran into many other friends, which always happens. We didn't stay for much of the show since I was tired, but it was fun to catch up and Jaime also had that thing that is somewhat of a holy grail in the city: a car. She drove me to Manhattan and back to Brooklyn in the warm heat, which ruled in comparison to the chilling walk to the subway I would have had.

Last night I caught up with Beca at a local neighborhood eatery and then Jaime invited Jesse and I to a fancy cocktail place called Apotheke in Chinatown. And woah! That's a great place for a fancy cocktail! Great atmosphere, live music, and the craziest cocktail menu I've ever seen. I opted for something called the Bees Knees which was listed under the health and beauty section and mentioned 'immunity,' so y'know, drinking a cocktail and thinking I'm not only being healthy but preventing disease really appealed to my senses. GOOD THING IT WAS ALSO THE MOST DELICIOUS THING I'VE EVER TASTED.

Also, in Chinatown it's located on the corner of the street where the final stand-off in last summer's Premium Rush takes place. Yes, I recognized that. Yes, I saw that movie in the theaters. You try to keep me away from Joseph Gordon-Levitt!

Tonight, finally: respite. And perhaps some more Kevin Spacey...

Movie goal achieved!

I have seen all nine Best Picture nominees! Hurrah! Jesse and I went to see Lincoln last night, and it was good, just as I expected it to be. It was quite moving, and Daniel Day-Lewis was undoubtedly awe-inspiring. But, it was not Spielberg's best. There were some odd moments. And while I don't wholly agree with one of my favorite movie reviewers, I do in part. Sometimes the sentimentality grated. Also, I'm not sure why Tommy Lee Jones is the frontrunner for Best Supporting Actor? Hm. Overall, still a good film.

I was asked today by Erica how I would rank them. I think so far out of all nine, Zero Dark Thirty is still my favorite. And behind that Amour. After that, it depends on my mood. Sometimes I look back at my Top Ten list and want to rearrange; some days I think Beasts was definitely better than Silver. But, you know, lists are made in a moment in time. But these are all great movies -- well, except for Les Miserables. I think, if I were to rank them from favorite in descending order, it would look like this:

Zero Dark Thirty
Amour
Life of Pi
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Silver Linings Playbook
Argo
Django Unchained
Lincoln
...
...
...
oh right, Les Miserables. (Pah-tooh!)

At this point, I think Argo will win Best Picture. However, that could all change in the next month!

And you guys, this weekend is not only the Superbowl, it's the DGA! You know, best director's guild award? I really hope Ben Affleck sucks it and this goes to Kathryn Bigelow. Or Ang Lee.

In other news, Jesse and I met up after work tonight for a delicious, DELICIOUS meal at a place called Tommy Lasagna. Tommy. Lasagna. You may, as I first did, think this would be a joke place, a place that wouldn't even harbor anything worth eating. But I had delectable truffle lasagna! A wonderful, full-bodied red wine! Non-adjective needing creme brulee because it was THAT GOOD. If you are ever in the Union Square area of Manhattan, I suggest you check it out. It's nice to find a good restaurant that isn't overcrowded or too loud. It was nice, peaceful, and Jesse and I had a relaxing time catching up on our days.

I just watched last night's episode of Downton Abbey and I cried myself sick, so I had to go to the internet. Next up, the time suck that is Letterboxd.

My Mom, the Panamanians & the City.

Courtesy of Jesse

On Wednesday morning, Jesse and I woke up and headed to Grand Central Station to pick up my mother who was arriving to visit with some of our Panamanian family - my Tia Belinda, cousin Cheli, her daughter Sofia, their friend Milly, and my mother's friend Judy. Most of them had never been to New York, so my mom thought a two day trip would be fun while they were visiting from their paradise-like country.

Unfortunately, they picked the two coldest days of the year so far. When I woke up on Wednesday it was 12 degrees, but supposedly felt like -1 degrees. Hooray!

Jesse being the good guy watching the bags at Grand Central

My Tia Belinda and Mom, so sassy. 

Bundled Mom & Jesse

They came fully prepared and bundled up, and after dropping off their things at the hotel I brought them to Brooklyn in order to enjoy some of my favorite Venezuelan food at Caracas. Venezuelan food is similar to Panamanian cuisine - plantains, white cheese, arepas, etc. We had a fun time catching up, and as usual with me, my Spanish started off slow and as the day progressed so did the velocity of my conversation.

I was born in Panama and my first language was Spanish. Since my father was in the U.S. military and we moved from base to base growing up, I also learned English almost simultaneously. I consider myself lucky to have visited Panama almost every other year of my life -- all of my mother's side of the family resides there. I don't use Spanish nearly as much as I do when I'm at home or in Panama, of course, but it always comes back. Especially with such a fun group like these ladies. Sometimes Jesse was a little lost, but he's learning!

The ladies and Brooklyn graffiti

After showing them Brooklyn and our apartment, we trekked back to Times Square, which everyone wanted to see. Too bad the wind was cutting everybody's cheeks! We walked briskly to the TKTS booth and picked up evening tickets to see Phantom of the Opera. Rather than shop at the souvenir stores as they are wont to do, they wanted to take a break and go back to the hotel. I had no objection, as my cheeks were bright red without wearing any blush.

We rested while everyone readied themselves for dinner and the show, and then we headed out bundled up as much as possible. After a delicious dinner in the theater district and a few glasses of wine, we were ready for PHANTOM! Before, though, I explained the plot of Phantom for the Spanish-only folk, and I felt pretty, pretty proud of myself (this was after the wine, of course, who knows how it all came out).

My mom and I before the show

Phantom of the Opera was the first Broadway show I ever saw (but, you know, "Broadway" in Kansas City with my family and grandmother when I was 10). I still love it. I unashamedly love the Joel Schumacher movie starring Emmy Rossum as Christine and a surprisingly good Gerard Butler as the Phantom (he should have played Javert in Les Mis, just sayin'). It was great seeing it live again, and I tell you, those songs still give me goosebumps! "The Phantom of the Opera," "Music of the Night," and "All I Ask of You" are tremendous songs.

Afterwards, Jesse met up with us at a bar near their hotel and we warmed ourselves from the four-block walk with - what else?? - wine! It was a great close to a long and awesome day with family. They weren't able to see much of the beauty of the city from Central Park to the Highline to the Statue of Liberty to exploring the different neighborhood, but it was great to spend time with family I hadn't seen in a long time.

My mom and I ending the night with one more glass of wine!

The view of my desk today.

Usually three days of meetings produces a huge mess of my desk. However, I'm pretty proud of this today. Not too messy (though I'm only showing you a portion of my desk--the papers continue beyond). Pretty boring, but now you know what my space looks like. I've worked at the company for six years, but last year I got this sweet desk in a room with three other people next to a WINDOW. Do you know how important a window is at work?! A window that overlooks Madison Avenue?! It's important.

Her cat was clawing the floorboards.

Yesterday the clouds hung low over Manhattan.

My friend Jess and I decided to embark on a New York Saturday on the west side of Manhattan. We took advantage of the cloudy, cool weather conditions and walked the Highline to various galleries in Chelsea. It's a popular destination on clear days and warm days--we rather enjoyed the dead plants and the chilled urban vista.

We stopped by an exhibit entitled 'Suburbia Hamburg 1983' by Nils Karsten, which featured woodcuts of album covers and facts from that old era of punk rock. Then we wandered over to the Jonathan LeVine gallery intending to see Haroshi's repurposed skateboard decks, but it wouldn't open until later that night. We decided to seek out art in other venues of the 529 Arts Building to fill our afternoon.

We climbed back up to the Highline and headed south towards the west village to the IFC Center. We bought tickets to the next showing of the French movie Holy Motors and then looked for an eatery to kill the hour we had before the film. Luckily--another reason to love New York--a nearby restaurant was still serving brunch and limitless mimosas at four in the afternoon.

Why not see a strange, weird, Lynch-ian French film with a couple of mimosas in you?

Jess and I were swept into the world of Monsieur Oscar and his 'appointments.' He dressed in different costumes in the back of a limousine, and proceeded to act as these different characters in different situations--sometimes murdering or kidnapping or consoling his daughter or dying as an old man or simulating for video games, etc. We were never always sure what was really happening during the film, but we talked about it the entire way home on the walk and the subway ride. Was it a treatise on technology? The film business? Reality television? I enjoy films that leave their insinuations to the viewer.

How we perceived reality after Holy Motors:

When I arrived home, I sat on my bed for a few minutes, still thinking about the movie.

Then Jaime texted me and I headed out to Williamsburg to meet up with her, our friend Jenni who was visiting from Boston, Dave, Amber, Mike, and the cantankerous Granville (a profile for another day). It was great fun and ended with attempted dance floor antics. I arrived home only a few minutes past midnight, and fell asleep waiting for Jesse to return home from his own adventurous day in Philadelphia.

I do love New York. I love waking up and not knowing what I'm going to do for that day, but being assured that here, there is always something to do. It's just a matter of seeking it out. And having the right friends around to spend it with always helps.

Back then our bones wouldn't break.

A myriad of activities kept me busy the past few weeks. Really, I thought when summer winded down I would have a great lot of time to spend writing. However, plans are just a list of things that don't happen, right?

Now I can divulge in a few of the details; the changes in life that have brought me to where I stand today. I'm happy, slightly more scatterbrained than usual, and constantly trying to organize my surroundings even when it seems there's not enough time in the world. New York continues to take hold of my life every day - no, it never slows down. And I enjoy every minute of it. The friends that fill my life are the best, and I'm finding that I wouldn't trade a slowed-down life for them any day of the year. I'm now 27, and I see no reason why aging seemingly relates to having any less fun.

Surely, my life when I first moved to New York was different - I lived at 120 miles per hour, so to speak. I reveled in watching the dawn break over the skyscrapers and dancing for hours though my feet protested. Since then things have evolved as time makes us do. I got a fabulous job, married the man who surprised me over and over again, and I tend to see the dawn in the hours when I wake up and not when I go to sleep. The pace remains high, but with different avenues to race down. I assume it's what living in New York is for everyone, and though my rent is higher than other places, I understand I pay extra for living in the greatest city in the world. And I'm surrounded by the best people in my world, right here in this little island and its burroughs.

Back in September, the girl I drove a u-haul with in 2006 moved from our apartment in Brooklyn to a new, beautiful neighborhood in Queens. Erica, my virtual sister and companion in exploring the city, the nightlife, the shows, the stores, the subway... has moved away - no longer a whisper-yell of "hermana" across our rooms (whether we had walls or not) - but still a ventricle in my heart that beats across the burroughs. New York connects us all, with places easily traveled, and "activities" that keep us together. Though locations have changed, nothing in our friendship has deteriorated, in fact probably just the opposite has happened.

And in the apartment, Jesse and I have welcomed two wonderful individuals, Samantha (Sam) and Jim. Yes, we live with another couple! Sam and Jim are two fantastic people we've met over the last few years that have become damn great friends. Sam may be the most positive, loving person I've ever met. She works at an animal hospital, and I think those assets just come naturally to people who decide to work with animals all day (see also: nurses). Speaking of, she also brings along her cocker spaniel pup Melly, who is adorable, and to which Pee Wee still casts a condescending eye, but for the most part they get along splendidly. I am currently working on a "Melly and Pee Wee" photoset to share soon. Jim takes improv classes and fights the good fight of a desk job through sarcasm and wit - you should probably read his tumblr and follow him so that he starts writing more funny stuff, because at this point he just thinks nobody reads! He's hilarious on stage at the Upright Citizen's Brigade theater and just as a friend to talk to. Sam and Jim have been great fun to have at #410, and I know I'll have more stories to share about the apartment in the future.

In more news updates, Jesse just recently left for his Best Tour Ever. I'll be meeting up with him a few times on the road, namely in Chicago, the East Coast, and Austin. I'm especially excited for Austin - not just because it's the last date of the tour and I get my husband back - but also because I am flying there with Jiscilla and we are visiting our best friend Christy. It's been a couple of years now since Christy left Manhattan for Austin, and I'm excited to visit her in her own personal Great City.

Finally, I should give you the last big update, and another reason I've been unable to really pay attention to this little spot on the internet lately: I got a promotion. I'm now a business manager as opposed to just an analyst (or "transponster" as my friends knew my previous title). It's something I'm quite proud to have accomplished, and it's reinvigorated my career-thinking.

And now, I'm just spewing it all out. Well, I'd tell you to expect more frequent updates, and I'd honestly mean it and intend to, but I never know where I'll end up tomorrow or next week or next month; what might spring up and take hold of me and bring me joy or sadness or something inbetween; the leaky faucet of my fingers today may get clogged with a writing (or sharing?) block next week. But for now, you should know that I'm happy in this fast-paced world of love I live in.

The years were flying by, they soared.

Got a few more questions sent to my formspring! -

I love the fact that you love to read, sorry if this has been asked. I've been searching for new books to read...what books would you recommend to read?

I am usually asked this by friends who want to know what to pick up next; I size up their tastes and favourite genres and base my recommendation on that. Since I don't know you, here are the best books I read this year and books I'd recommend  to anyone and everyone (i.e., 2666 simply isn't a book I'd recommend to everyone!) --

The Road, Cormac McCarthy
Fun Home, Alison Bechdel
Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro
The Sound of My Voice, Ron Butlin
Ender's Game, Orson Scott Card
Slouching Towards Bethlehem, Joan Didion
The House of the Spirits, Isabel Allende
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The World in Half, Cristina Henriquez

Hope that helps!


Also, New York is an amazing place! I'm here on vacation, it's wonderful. Love the vibe you get from here. Different from the west coast where I'm from. Anyways, what do you do during your free time in NY?

My free time in New York is mostly spent with friends. During the week I do a lot of running errands, grabbing after-work dinners or drinks with friends, and occasionally go to a bar if something is especially enticing. Lately, the weekends have been me trying to catch up on household stuff or relaxing due to my sickness (ugh!) but before the holidays I would try to fill my weekends up with stuff that really interests me - a bookstore I read about online, an independent movie getting good reviews and only playing in one theater, a small art gallery I heard about, a vintage store I eye on a walk through SoHo, any restaurant Kells wants to try out (that's been real fun!), and whatever else my friends suggest that interest me, etc. In any other season besides winter I love walking around with no aim, and just finding whatever the streets have in store.

And believe you me, I'm still not done exploring New York. I have future trips to certain museums and galleries and restaurants planned for upcoming winter weekends!

You probably hear this a lot but you are super pretty! I always love your hair and makeup!! :)

Aw, thanks! Secret: I legitimately can't do make-up. I try! I TRY! (And apparently succeed sometimes!) But I really have no idea about how to apply eye shadow, blush, etc. The only thing I really have down is liquid eyeliner and red lipstick. Otherwise, I beg my friend Jiscilla to let me in on her secrets.

I totally see the resemblance with both Lea and Idina. Can you say, Triplets? This isnt a question but I just want to tell you how much I love love love reading your blog and your tumblr. I've been reading your blog ever since you started and may have left you a comment or two on some of your posts. You've inspired me to read more and get my nails done more often (LOL). - Lurker from Seattle :)

Awesome! Thank you, lurker! Glad you're hitting the books. Ha. Also, I just started becoming obsessed with getting myself manicured since moving to New York. Only had had one professional manicure before moving here when I was 23. And ever since finding a couple of cheaper manicure salons, it's become quite a little ritual (especially with my friend Amber). I'm becoming accustomed to nail files - something I wouldn't let near me a year ago. (Seriously, they make me shudder.) Of course, I also spend a lot of time just doing it myself, too!

Question 43-56 (All the Rest of Them Edition)

I know you're a Pushing Daisies fan, but that might not make you biased towards this question. Cake or pie?

UNF. These questions can get real TOUGH. When I watched Pushing Daisies, I would crave pie SO MUCH. Ask Christy, we searched all of Brooklyn for a good slice after watching a couple of episodes and couldn't come up with one. And I've never done that with cake (hm, maybe ice cream cake?), so I will say PIE!

First off, your cats are adorable and your wedding looked amazing. What are some of your favorite tumblrs?

Thanks! Here's a list of some of my faves (I have all my tumblrs listed in my Google Reader bc I just can't deal with the tumblr dashboard sometimes, but these are the tumblrs I check pretty immediately when I sign into the reader because I love 'em):

Dance to the Radio
F--- Yeah Motion City Soundtrack!
Goldenfiddlr
Jordan Reid
Movies in Frames
Theo is Jonesing
The Vie Society
Alice in Tumblrland
Whiskey & Goats Milk

Also, my friends' tumblrs are rad (linked on my blogroll!)

My absolute favourite because she's hilarious and AWESOME: Sparkle Neely Sparkle!!!

Traveling - where did you go so far?

Where I've lived: Panama, Georgia, Virginia, D.C., Rhode Island, Kansas, Hawaii, Kentucky/Tennessee, Massachusetts, New Hampshire (summers), New York, Pennsylvania (and some of these places I've lived in more than once, years apart)

Where I've only visited: Orlando, Coconut Beach FL, Minneapolis, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Austin, Houston, Des Moines, Kansas City, Madison, St. Louis, Maine, Rochester, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, ARUBA...I'm probably missing some places, but that's the gist!

And there's a big international trip coming up here in March. You'll hear about it soon. I've been waiting and hoping and wishing for this trip for quite some time!! I want to squeal just thinking about it!!

Whats your most silly thing to do?

This blog? Just kidding. If you want to see me at my silliest, just see me with my best friend Amber. Seriously, the amount of shenanigans we get into is ridiculous from playing dead at parties or the faces we make at each other.

Who is the final boss of the internet, and, did you beat him or her?

I'm not sure, but I know I haven't beaten that person.

Your husband has a ton of tattoos - do you have any of your own?

I'm surprised I don't get asked this more often; I don't have any tattoos. Yet. I have one planned, and I'm pretty sure I know where (as in what shop) and when I'll be getting it.

To the one question that was asked and I cannot reprint here - yes.


Did you picture yourself to be where you are at this age? Married to a musician, living in New York, writing this blog, and working in fashion?
 
Absolutely not. When I was in middle school I was pretty sure I'd be living in New York, acting, and definitely single. When I was in high school, I thought I'd be living in New York, working as a forensic pathologist, and definitely single. For a time, my parents thought I would never get married. At least not until I was 40. When I hit college, I knew I wanted to live in New York (theme!), and I thought I'd be working at a magazine. And married by now? Pfft. No way. But I am where I am now, and I wouldn't change it for anything. I'm very much a "no regrets" person.

Do you fight the crowds and jump around in the pit at MCS shows or watch from backstage?

I was never a pit-jumper. (Okay, only once at Warped Tour in like 2002!) I would jump around and dance at the outer edges of the crowd. I still do. Being backstage/sidestage is kind of a bumout when you're watching somebody you really want to see because it doesn't sound that great and it's a little conspicious -it's harder to jump around by yourself! So, I find a spot where it sounds good, looks good, and I have room to have fun. In Chicago, that was on the balcony. At the Blender Theater in New York, I was at the back of the crowd with all my friends. Ocassionally when I'm visiting Jesse on tour and I don't know anybody at the show, I'll be sidestage rather than traverse a crowd and stand around by myself.

I am moving to New York City in a few days. I graduated college in May and all of my friends friends from school moved back to their respective hometowns and I'm a little worried it will be hard to make new friends in New York. Any suggestions on non-creepy ways to meet people?

New York is all about meeting people! I had some built in friends when I moved here, but from moving around all over the place, I can tell you making friends is usually tied to going out to places you like or finding people with similar interests and striking up conversation. I mean, that's just how I do it. What's the worst that can happen? A brush-off? Not that bad! If you see someone (who's around your age) on the subway reading a book you've read and loved, tell them that. (It's happened to me!) Check out indie movie screenings or book readings or art gallery parties or open bar parties, if that's your thing. There's always something happening in New York! Strike up a conversation with somebody you think you might get along with. Meet friends of friends or acquaintances and keep going. I knew maybe five people when I moved to New York, but now I know a zillion because I met friends of friends at social gatherings.

There's also meeting people at work who you common interests with, or taking up a class (like cooking or art or yoga) and meeting people through that venue. I hope you find some awesome friends!

I'm moving to Brooklyn in January. What's one of your favourite local hidden gems?

Hm, I don't know if it's exactly hidden, but Life Cafe off the L is great food and fun. Battleship Tuesdays = they have a giant battleship board, you guess a number with your drink, and if you hit a battleship, the second drink is on the house. Also, great (& cheap) brunch!

Others off the L: The Levee (bar), Alligator Lounge (A FREE PIZZA with every beer you order), Brooklyn Bowl (best on-the-rocks margarita I've had in this area - great food, bowling, and also a live music VENUE), and Wild Ginger (delicious vegetarian).

I lovee your blog. I read both your Tumblr and your Blogspot. What do you think about moving to New York? Is it amazing? I really want to move there one day.

Thank you! The first time I came to visit New York in middle school I knew, I just KNEW, I had to live here someday. Sometimes when I get an idea, I really can't let it go. I knew I had to move to a place that wouldn't bore me as easily as some other places did growing up. There's just always something to do!

Do you track who visits your blog on google analytics? Does your map look crazy because of lurkers?

Yes, I use Google Analytics, but mainly just to have stats ready if needed. Like, when the Brand About Town sponsor reached out to me about the Gap opportunity, I needed to have those stats on hand to be considered - like how many unique visitors I have a month and whatnot. I don't use the blog for any reasons than my own; I never want to use visual ads and I've never had the ambition to make money off this personal site - but getting a free pair of jeans and getting to spread that around to my friends and blog readers is pretty damn fun!

My visitor map does surprise me sometimes when I see a bunch of people here internationally! (Hola! Bonjour! Konichiwa!) And I suppose lurkers are simply those that have never left a comment: no big deal. My readers are awesome, just the same. Plus, I got this sent to my formspring and it's nice to know there are lurkers out there thinking as such -

Just wanted to say you are so inspiring in so many ways. Thank you for your blog. From, A Lurker

That makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, and I'm happy to have my own little spot on the internet that other people can read if they want to.

That concludes all the questions I have in my in inbox! If you have any more, I promise to answer them in a far more timely manner now that all the holidays and craziness are over! Thanks for all the people who reached out to me!

Ask my anything!

Question 15-20 (Travel Edition)

Okay, the questions I'm getting are awesome - for real. I get excited when I see one pop up in my inbox! I'm still making my way through the questions, trying to group them as best I can. Keep tuning in for more posts - I'll try to finish them out by the end of the weekend! The questions have really inspired me - letting me know that people actually read this little corner of the internet and it reignited my fervor for blogging!

So, now, I take on questions regarding places, locations and travels! This is fitting as I am in the midst of planning perhaps the biggest trip of my life so far for next year - details to come as they're all firmed up!

What should I check out in Williamsburg?

I don't hang out in Williamsburg regularly, but there are some fun things I like to do there, such as - see shows at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (I've seen OkGo and Against Me! there), eat at delicious places like Wild Ginger or Sea, have crazy late night times at a bar called The Levee (board games + beer = Jesse's favourite bar), drinking at the Brooklyn Brewery, and my new favourite place: Brooklyn Bowl. Oddly enough, this alley-slash-restaurant-slash-venue has the best margaritas I've had in New York. No lie!

What do you think of Manhattan, in general, as the metropolitan human being you are?

Like every city, there's something to love and something to hate. For now, I focus on the love: you're never bored here. If you say you are, it's because you've decided to stay indoors. There's a million things going on in this city every night. Also, I love love love that there's always something new opening or an undiscovered secret restaurant or bar. The food is amazing; there are so many great places to eat. And I would eat out more often if I could afford it!

Where is your favorite place that you have traveled to?

Definitely Panama. You can't beat seing your family and staying in the tropics where $200 will usually last you a month. My favourite place was a secluded beach where my family, Jesse, and I rented cabanas for $10/night. We stayed outside all day, swam in the warm but refreshing Pacific Ocean, bodysurfed, grilled, made a fire, watched the sun set, watched the moon rise, watched the tide go low...at least half a mile out, where we walked with the brightest full moon I've ever seen as our guide. It was, quite simply, our own little paradise for the time. I think about those days often.

Other notes, now that I'm on it:

In the United States, the three cities I've visited when Jesse was on tour and really love - Portland, San Diego, and Austin! I'm planning a trip to Austin in 2010, too.

City I was suprised to not like: San Francisco.

City I was surprised to like: Detroit.

If I were coming to New York for a long weekend...say Thursday-Mondayish...with C, what are some of the top things we need to see/do, eat, watch, etc??

Secret: I am the worst tourist. I have yet to visit the Statue of Liberty. I've seen it...once...from a moving car. When people come visit, I try to show them the nightlife and the people - I'm not exactly one for bus tours. Here's what I would do: 1) See a show - any kind of show - there's always one going on! - whether it be an indie band at a dive bar, Ricky Gervais at Carnegie Hall, a broadway play (you know Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig are doing that, right?) or an independent film at the Angelika Theater. The venues, to me, are part of the show, and are part of the New York experience. 2) Hit up a museum - right now there's a Tim Burton retrospective at the MoMA and I desperately want to go sometime soon (it runs through April I believe). 3) Eat, eat, eat. DON'T GO TO A CHAIN IN NEW YORK! Though we all enjoy a Chipotle here or there, if you're coming to New York, the food is part of the experience, and the city has LOTS of choices. 4) Walk around a lot - everywhere. New York streets are a grid; it's nearly impossible to get lost. You'll find so many interesting stores, see a lot of people, and if you look up, you'll see some neat architecture. (Neat? Hahaha)

That's all I've got for right now. I wouldn't be the best at writing a straight-up travel guide. My favourite thing about being somewhere else with another person is experiencing it together. I'm not one to experience a city with a checklist of must-see places: let's get there and see what happens.

Where did you originate from, and if it wasn't New York how did you end up there?

I was born in Panama City, Panama. My father is from New Hampshire and he met my mother in Panama, where she grew up. My father was military, so I grew up moving around, oh, every two years. It was more fun than it sounds like and I wouldn't give it up for anything: I don't have a hometown and I don't care! It's easy for me to make myself home wherever I go; that's what I learned to do. So for now: New York is home. After going to college in Boston, I spent a year in Rhode Island saving up to move to New York where my best friend Kelly was already living. I've been in love with New York since some trips growing up; I also spent my sophomore year of high school's spring break traveling from Kentucky to see Kevin Spacey in the broadway run of The Iceman Cometh. That trip pretty much solidfied the fact that I someday HAD to live in this city. And so, when the time was right, I did it.

What inspired you to move to New York? Did it start out just you and Erica or did all of your friends move at the same time?

I've been itching to move to New York since high school. I'd been inspired by the many trips I'd taken there; I knew I was attracted to cities more than suburbia and I also thought that because of all my moving around growing up that I would need to live somewhere that didn't bore me, somewhere that I wouldn't want to move away from after a year. Like I said, New York is not boring. I applied to a college in New York, but decided I liked Boston University's campus better. However, I spent most of my college Spring Breaks in New York with Kelly and Amber. (We did stuff like wait outside of SNL and meet Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey, measure the width of our tiny hotel room which was the length of my arm span, and eat the $1 hot dogs for every meal because we were poor, poor college students.) My friends and I had always planned to all live in New York at some point; Kelly, Christy, and Jiscilla were already living here. (Though Curbside's first gathering was in Rhode Island!) Erica was living in Rhode Island at the same time as me, and we had both separate plans to move to NY at some point, but as our friendship grew, our plans converged and we did it together!

Got any more questions?!

What are your plans for the weekend? Tonight I'm seeing DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL acoustic at Highline Ballroom! I am ultra-emo excited.