Emily Post would agree

Dear girls who love fitness and gossip,

Welcome.   Isn't it nice that we have a small gym in our building?   I think so too.   You know what isn't nice?   When you come into the gym, see a lone girl on the treadmill trying to push through her thirty minutes (in an obviously painful way) and you decide to turn on the tv at FULL VOLUME, get on the treadmill next to her and then put your headphones on, thereby ignoring the tv.  Why, may I ask, was it necessary to have TMZ blaring so loudly that a girl can't even hear herself think?   Do us all a favor, annoying FIT girls, and either watch tv OR listen to your ipod.   Both are not necessary.

kisses and hugs,
me

P.S.  If you do it again, I will call in my slapping friend from jury duty.

P.P.S.  To make it up to me, you may purchase this for me.  

There, was that so hard?

Jury Duty - NY Style

Lawyer (while questioning potential jurors):  Sir, if you were deliberating and you had a disagreement with another juror about the evidence presented or about what a witness said, would you feel comfortable sending a note to the judge to ask a question?

Potential Juror:  No, I don't argue.  I just slap.

Lawyer:  I am sorry?

Potential Juror:  Talking is for girls.  I don't like to talk.  I just use my fists.

Apparently I looked like I needed booze

Seth and I had a lovely dinner on Wednesday night with our friends Jackie and Tim.  Under the impression that New York City would be vacant the night before Thanksgiving, we decided to brave the crowds at Ippudo, to eat the best ramen in town.   Sadly, our dreams were shattered by a whopping three hour wait.   So much for that genius plan.  

Dejected, we wandered around the East Village looking for another place to eat and drink.   We opted for a restaurant well known for its fried chicken and hour long waits.  Apparently fried chicken doesn't have the same draw as ramen because we walked in and sat down to eat in about 10 minutes. And yes, it was as good as ever.  Normally, I would share the name of this wondrous restaurant, however, at the end of the meal the waiter poured me a serious glass wine and made me promise not to tell anyone where this magical glass came from.   I don't know if I looked liked I need booze or the waiter was in the holiday spirit, but whatever it was, I left a very happy camper. 

must read

i have been accussed of being a fairly obsessive reader.

fine, at times, i am downright maniacal.  i can get so absorbed in a book that i have been known to miss my train stop, ignore seth without even realizing he is talking or walk into incoming traffic (ask my grandma betty about this story).  in fact, i jumped on the kindle bandwagon mainly because my apartment does not have room for any more books and seth was threatening to put my books into my closet and remove my shoes.  (don't ask me to pick between books and shoes.  i can't. i am sweating just thinking about it.)

right now, i am reading a book that anyone who grew up loving 80s music and pop culture must immediately buy.  rob sheffield's talking to girls about duran duran (buy it here) is a hilarious journey through his teen years from 1980 to 1989.  he narrates the story using 25 different songs that were popular throughout the decade.  some chapters are specific memories of what he was doing when he listened to a particular song and others are just general life lessons learned, such as his realization that girls prefer it when a guy actually places the toilet paper on the holder as opposed to leaving it loose on the sink.  while the author is 10 years older me, just about every song he writes about jogs my own memories of what kind of trouble i was getting into when i heard them.  it is well worth a trip to borders to get your own copy.   any guy who appreciates kenny roger's wisdom is a-okay in my book.  (you really do need to know when to hold them).

p.s.  while you are at it, buy his first book too - love is a mix tape - it is a different kind of memoir with much more serious subject matter but well worth the read for an example of some great writing.   he makes you want to be his friend.

p.p.s  seriously rob, call me.  we'll hang out. 

welcome to the party!

a very special welcome to lucy, the coolest baby ever to be born in midland, texas.  i haven't met her yet but i am fairly certain we are going to be the best of friends.  congrats and much love to mary ann and austin on their new addition.   december 23 cannot get here fast enough and likely, i will not let anyone else hold her when she is within 15 feet of me.  

aunt jamie is poised and ready to buy presents.   uncle seth is worried about our retirement funds.

honored

this morning, i was hand picked by the court security officers for the following exchange:

CSO:  good morning!  did you know that sunday is day light savings day?
me:  i did not know, it is a good thing you told me!
CSO:  don't forget that you "fall back" and get an extra hour of beauty sleep (insert dramatic pause here) 

.... not that you would need it!  (cue cheesy joke drum solo)

me:  flattery will get you everywhere (if i baked i would totally bring him cookies).

CSO to other CSOs: see, i told you it would work!

side note:  when getting coffee right after above exchange, pay attention to what you are doing instead of mentally writing this blog post.  coffee on a new, pretty dress defeats the whole purpose of the CSO's joke.

second side note:  these people totally rule

thank you peking duck house