Thankfully, January Is Now Over.

I am grateful January is over for the following reasons:

• We really only have one more ridiculously cold month to get through (March is slightly warmer).
  
• I had a good month at work, despite it ending. (Which, is actually a good thing.)
  
• The Academy Awards are in a few weeks, and I am actually excited about them this year.
  
• The Cardinals somehow miraculously made it to the Super Bowl, which I will watch tomorrow.
  
• I can finally use the "Eff" word again tomorrow.  HOORAY! (I only slipped a few times, while talking to The Husband.)

Thank you, January, for finally being over.

Here's to February.

Soda Commissar.

I wrote this short blurb over two years ago, when I spent five whole weeks at a digital agency in Downtown Crossing as a "Copywriter"... Where it was never requested I write any copy for clients.  So I sat at my desk each day and wrote my own shiz.  I thought it was worthwhile to post, and perhaps continue the story...

The first step towards recovery is to acknowledge you have a problem. And I, Georgie Bennett, do have a problem. A very serious problem. One that's a bit unnerving. One no one could possibly understand.

My problem is my job at a major media company. 

My job can be quite trying some days. I do things, and others cry out in pain. They beg, they plead for mercy. My job is to show them none. Absolutely none. There are rules, and I have to enforce them. Even if you are my very, very best gay boyfriend at work; I can show no favoritism towards you.

I know what you may be thinking... I must work in Human Resources, or perhaps am a high-level manager, where my main role is to manage and boss people around. And since I am saying I have a problem with it, I must not enjoy it. But you are wrong in this assumption.

I do not work in HR. And I am very, very far from being a manager here. (In fact, I have no idea if my career path here would ever even have the potential to lead me into a managerial position.) If anything, I am the company peon. (And this is a large company.) I am the lowest on the totem-pole. No one technically reports into me. But yet, I am here to enforce the rule.

Yep, just one rule.

What is this rule? Well, this is why I have a problem...

I am the "Office Associate." I help out the office managerial team in maintaining and running the company's day-to-day life. It sounds like a really sexy and important job. But it's not. It's merciless.

My specific job duties are to monitor the various company kitchenettes for contraband.

"What?" you may be thinking. But I am being most sincere. I have to patrol all 10 kitchenettes daily and make sure that they are stocked with what we do provide our 500+ employees for free. These things include the following:

• Individual oatmeal packets.
• Pretzel rods.
• Various coffees made in large, tall urns. (The "Hazelnut Cream" flavor seems to need restocking the most often.)
• Mini vegetable juice cans in the fridge.
• Mini cranberry juice cans in the fridge.
• Lemon-lime and plain seltzer in the fridge.
• And the bane of my bane of my existence... Diet Coke cans in the fridge.

Now, re-stocking the Diet Coke and various cans aren't my problem. It's the other part of my job that is the problem - the purging of things that aren't allowed in the fridge.

"What's not allowed in the fridge?" you ask...

Anything and everything that is NOT on the list above. And I am serious. The biggest offense you can commit, though, is store a can of regular Coke in that fridge. If I see it, I have to toss it immediately. It is not allowed. Nor is any other soda or beverage container. But the biggest offender would be regular Coke.

And you wouldn't believe the cries that I hear from people as they walk in seeing me open their can of Coke, pouring it out in the sink and throwing the can in a completely separate recycling bin from all the other cans. (Contraband sodas get their own recycling bin. This is, I am told, to allow us to see how many people are trying to store contraband soda in the company fridges.)

Why the tough stance on regular coke? That's what SHE wants. SHE hates Coke. SHE detests it. SHE will flip out if she sees it.

SHE is the CEO of this company. CEO and Founder. SHE is the head honcho, the number one banana, the leader. What SHE wants, she gets.

No one who works here knows shy SHE hates regular Coke. We just know she does. So if I don't make damn sure there is no Coke in the fridge, if SHE sees it, I will hear about it from my boss.

But this is where the dilemma is. I am "damned if I do, and damned if I don't." If I don't dump it, per SHE's specific instructions, SHE gets mad. If I do do it, others in the office hate me. 

They beg and plead for me to cut them some slack; especially when SHE isn't even in the office on a particular day. But I can't. There are cameras all over this place. I could get caught on camera not doing my job. It's not worth the risk.

So I go to work every day knowing I will likely royally piss someone off. But as long as it is not SHE, I still have a job. So is it really all that bad if I am hated 9.5 hours a day at work if I get a (minuscule) paycheck twice a month? Got to think "Bigger Picture" here people.  Spending a few years at this place will eventually net me a supremo position at an amazing media outlet in the future.

But it doesn't help that, for now, people at work have dubbed me the "Soda Commissar." 

Lost & Found At Equinox: A Thong.

While at the gym yesterday afternoon, I found myself alone in the locker room...  The wonderful, spa-like locker room that Equinox has.  And I was enjoying it, taking up the whole bench in my area by my full-sized locker I was able to score for once (the afternoons are quite quiet there during the weekdays).  

I was sauntering around the locker room barefooted, not having to worry about anyone else's shower puddles, or dirt from their shoes, when I stopped dead in my tracks...

I came across a random thong on the floor...

(Before I left the gym, I felt compelled to snap a picture of it. Maybe now that I have so much free time on my hands, I'll walk this city and take pictures of random panties I find?  I'll publish a book with all the pictures and call it "What You Wear On Your South End: A Collection Of Boston Thongs".)

I am pretty frightened of random underwear.  So I didn't feel compelled to touch it to throw it away, or turn it in to Lost & Found. But I feel really badly someone lost their underwear.

Though... Let's be honest... There isn't much to this pair of underwear... So the person who owns them probably isn't noticing that they are not wearing them.

okw: New To Tremont Street In Boston's South End.

A year and a half ago, my street was a mixture of restaurants and real estate offices. 

Too many real estate offices, in my opinion.

But some of those have closed, and new businesses have moved in to the 'hood.  Thank God! (Because, let's face it, too many local businesses are closing lately.) The latest addition to the neighborhood is the newly moved okw...

It recently moved to the South End from an area just off of Newbury Street in Back Bay.  I've never been in it, but I noticed it was all set up and ready to go in on of the old real estate office spaces.

I must check it out this week.  

Chanel Hair Comb.

Was reading the Styles section online this morning and saw this...

Exquisite!  So Spring-like and fun!

So not cheap though...  Almost $3k for a single hair comb.  YIKES! 

Hello High Wycombe!

Just wanted to say, "Hello" to the person who visited my blog in wee early morning hours today from High Wycombe...  An area just outside of London in the U.K.

Thanks for reading my blog!

I Was Redundant.

A few things happened today, which have now stimulated me feeling the need to do this post.

The first (and meanest) is a comment someone tried to leave on this post.  They wrote:

Maybe your husband should try leaving you brochures on how to keep a job, instead (of money)!

I didn't publish the comment.  I felt it deserved a "prime time" spot on the blog, with "prime time" response.

The second was thing that happened was during conversations I had with some people I worked with until this past Monday.  The general response to my lay-off was:

"Well, shit... If they laid off you - someone who was doing a very good job and bringing in lots of valuable Internet traffic - what does that mean for the rest of us???  Are we trouble too?"

Here's the truth, people...

I loved the people I worked with... Very, very much.  I gained some incredible best friends from the job... And I was challenged in a way that I had never been challenged in a job before.  I was also rewarded more than I had ever been rewarded at a job before in my life.  And I had tremendous success there withe the work I produced.

But, me being the honest person that I am, I shared with people early on that I would be eventually moving to Canada.  In fact, I started working their in February 2007, and that month I told Mr. Sports, "You only have me for two years from now.  I move to Canada in 2009."

So, in mid-2008, there was a bit of a "freak-out." I was running both paid search and organic search... And the business was reliant on the traffic I was bringing in to the website. But I was one person.  If I got hit by a bus, they would be screwed.  So they forced me to hire one person.  Then they requested I hire a team of junior people.

So, by early October, I had a team of five reporting in to me.  

To help put things in perspective... Back when I was running things on my own, I was busy... But I still had time during the day to a blog post or two.  Now that I had a team... I had plenty of time to research stuff and post blogs and read stories online.

By early November of 2008, I was redundant.  So very, very redundant.  I had hired my replacements.  And I had trained them very well.

I honestly thought that a lay-off wouldn't happen till about early March, if it happened at all. I mean, the US business is very strong.  But cuts had to be made...  And I agree 100% with the decision to have me go ahead and leave.

No one who works there now (in the US) needs to worry about things going badly.  Things are very strong.  I am sorry things were announced in the shit-tastic way they were announced.  I backed this decision very much - just not the way it went down, as I deserved a better "send-off" then I got.

So, bottom line: I was doing a kick ass job, but I had already hired my replacements because of my move to another country.  And "fat" needed to be trimmed.  And when you can spare a six-figure salary... You do it.  In this economic environment, you do it.

Seriously, Vessel, I Am Ready To Report You!

Oh come on!

I don't want to be the "bad guy"... But when every other business on the street is able to clear the sidewalk in front of their business, then you have to assume it's just plain laziness on your part. This is the second day in a row!

Come on, Vessel!  Clean up this ice!!!!  Please!

How Kids Interpret Things...

Oh kids...  They really do say and draw the darnedest things.

For example, someone was telling me recently about one of their acquaintances.  the acquaintance has a young daughter.  And he and his daughter were at the store, where they used the bathroom in addition to shopping.  The little girl went first, and then the father went in to go. 

A few minutes later, they were in line, paying for some stuff.  That's when the little girl decided to tell the cashier, "Daddy put his pee-pee in my pee-pee!"

What the little girl was trying to tell the cashier was, "I peed here. And then Daddy peed in the toilet after me."  But of course, that's not how it came out.

The father had a heck of a time explaining it to the cashier, and then just decided to leave - quickly.

Then, today, Frogger sent me a link to a website about a picture a little girl drew for her class assignment.  It was about what she wants to be when she grows up...

The mother made sure to send a note to the teacher explaining that she works at Home Depot, and that she recently made a lot of money selling shovels after a snowstorm.  She wanted to make it clear to the teacher that she was not a stripper.

Oh kids... Sometimes, I think it's worth it, just for the humor factor.

Healthy Dish For The Weak: Egg-White Omelet.

I find myself really enjoying "easing" into each day this week.  The past two days, I have gotten up after 9am.  And I have plenty of time to make myself a more nutritious breakfast than I would have been able to get near my work.   

Today, once I got up, I made myself a really healthy breakfast... 

 

An egg-white omelet with onions, mushrooms, goat cheese and sprouted grain bread with soy butter.

It was so good!

Normally, I would never go for an egg-white omelet. But I had two whites left after using only the yokes in the pasta I made last night.  This was an easy and quick breakfast to make.  And all this was less than 300 calories and had over 22 grams of protein.

Now, I need my coffee...

Podcasting?

Okay...

So, now that I have so much free time on my hands... (Though, let's be honest, even when I was working, I had plenty of free time too... I just didn't have my Mac at work with me...) I am thinking about starting to podcast.

However, in order to podcast, one has to have something to podcast.  So, I am taking suggestions. Please leave your suggestions for podcasts you would like to see me do in the comments.  

Many thanks!

...Night Time Is The Right Time, For Making Gnocchi.

While cleaning out the pantry shelves the other day, I found an issue of Food & Wine magazine that featured a homemade Meyer lemon gnocchi recipe on the cover.

"Hmm..." I noted.  "I like gnocchi."

Flipping to the recipe, I figured it would be difficult to make.  It required potatoes.  And egg yolks.  And flour.  And the ability to roll out strings of dough, and cut them precisely into 1/2 inch lengths.

"Screw it!" I said to the intimidation.  And I did it anyway.

Here's me making the dough.

Here's me finishing the dough.

Here's a picture of the dough once it has been rolled out and cut.

And here's a picture of the finished product, with some grilled lemon chicken.

They weren't perfectly shaped like the gnocchi you get a restaurants... But they tasted great and didn't look that bad.

How I Spend My Afternoons Now.

Since becoming a lady of leisure on Monday, I have now begun an afternoon ritual...

Just before 1pm each day, I go to Starbucks on Tremont Street.  I site for two hours, using my allotted free WiFi time to write.  

While there, I drink a soy caramel machiatto...

(I just can't bring myself to drink real milk.  And the soy milk isn't so bad if it is mixed into something sugary.)

Then I get an Americano.

The few days I have been going to Starbucks, I have noticed:

• The neighborhood mailmen (they are all men) sit and gather for Venti drinks with whipped cream.
  
• There are almost no tables available near outlets, unless you get there seriously early. So you need to go in with a fully charged laptop.
  
• There is a mid-afternoon rush, usually around 2pm.  Mummies with strollers and people from local businesses come in for their coffee breaks.

Tomorrow afternoon, though, I may be a little late getting to my regularly scheduled ritual... I have to go to an early Bikram class, instead of the 4:30pm.

Oh the woes of those leading a life of leisure.

Shame On You, Vessel!

Now, I really didn't want to do this post.  But the irresponsibility of the shop downstairs really disappoints me.

I left my apartment a little after noon today.  As I was walking down the side walk just past our brownstone, I nearly slipped and fell.

Now, the neighboring brownstone RARELY ever shovels the sidewalk in front of their part of the building.  And they NEVER de-ice the sidewalk.  So I always know to step carefully in front of it. But normally, once I get past their steps, I am in the clear.

Not today.

The space I nearly fell at was in front of Vessel, the odd little home goods store.

The sidewalk, in front of their business - which I would think they are responsible for clearing up, was completely iced over.  

At first I thought maybe the business was closed, and that they just weren't around to clean it up...  But I was wrong.  They were totally around and open for business.

And I found it really irritating that they managed to de-ice the few feet in front of their door, but not the sidewalk around it.

What the hell?

And it's not like I took these pictures and encountered the ice just at mid-day, when I left the apartment.  I took these pictures just before 4pm today, when I was on my way back home.

This is just an irresponsible business practice!  Make it safe for people to walk near your business! 

Uggs: I Am So Over You.

I used to love Uggs.  But only when it was cold out.  Never in warm temperatures.  And never with mini-skirts or shorts.

Now, though, I am over Uggs.  So over them.

Why?  Well, if you lived in Massachusetts and had to deal with the snowy, icy mess we have had repeatedly over the past month, you would understand.

UGGS AREN'T WATER-PROOF!

You have to waterproof them yourself, after you buy them.  And you have to do it repeatedly, because the water-proofing wears off after a short while.  And with all the watery mess we've had, my feet end up SOAKED after walking around in the snow and slush for a few minutes.

And trust me, in this near arctic chill, you don't want to be walking around with wet feet.

So I am over Uggs.  And it is time to be more practical with my Winter shoes... Especially since I am moving to Canada in a few months.  Sure, it will be Springtime, but Winter will be coming eventually... And it'll be useful to choose boots more wisely.

That's why I am taking an idea from K2 (who I worked with until recently) and ordering the Bromley Boots from J. Crew.

These suckers are weather proof.  And even better, they are on sale.  Not just "sale", but MASSIVE sale!  I scored an extra 30% off of the sale price because J. Crew is super-duper desperate to get rid of them.

So they were $35, before the $8 shipping fee.

And it looks like I was one of the last people to score some, as they are now out of stock.  Or, at least, I hope they ran out after I purchased mine.

Hooray for sales!  And "boo-ray" for Uggs!

Women & Men Are Equal? The Prez Says It Is So.

It's a very good day for America today.

Dear Mr. President,

I like you. I always have. I was skeptical of you during the campaign. You were not my choice for the Democratic ticket, but you were a strong choice.  For all Americans.  And I am more than proud of you today sir.

Thank you, President Barack Hussein Obama, for signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

And sir, this isn't just a "thank you" for signing the act.  It's a HUGE "thank you" for making it the FIRST PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT YOU SIGNED.

Part of my preference for Hilary Clinton as the Democratic Presidential nominee was because she was a woman and a champion of women's causes.  But you, sir, have shown all Americans that you care about the equality between women and men.  And I thank you for that.

Your wife daughters... And hell, all Americans... Are very lucky.

Kind regards,

The Missus 

Botkier Gladiator Clutch.

Oh the Gilt!

I love Gilt.com...  So much!!! (Seriously, if any of you don't have invites to this site, send me an email and I will send you one.)  

This afternoon I was perusing the site and saw in the latest sale that Botkier had some delicious things... Most which had already been gobbled up...  But one that was still available...

The Gladiator Clutch!

Yum!

I would love to see some actual Gladiator sandals made out of the same snaked cowhide.  Very cool.  Very boho.

Photo Tag: The Pantheon.

Yummy Mummy tagged me for a photo tagging thing.  Here are the requirements...

1. Go to the 4th folder in your computer, where you store your photos.
   
2. Pick the 4th picture in that folder.
   
3. Explain the picture.
   
4. Tag 4 people to do the same.

I love being tagged... But I refuse to do the same to others. So I won't be doing the last step.

Here is my 4th photo, from the 4th folder...

It's the Pantheon in Rome!

This us from my trip to Rome last June with Frogger.  We had just finished up at a spa, and were walking through the area by the Pantheon when we came across a crowd of people.  They were standing around, watching the filming for Angels and Demons.  

No More Domino???

Oh no!

The plug is being pulled on one of my favorite magazines, Domino.

Out of all the decorating magazines, this was the one I found to be the most fun and easy to read for those of us who are complete novices at decorating.  March will be the last issue.

What a bummer!

McQueen Skull Pashmina.

Oh how I am pashionate about the McQueen pashminas!

I am LOVING this new soft dove grey skull pashmina from Alexander McQueen...

I am NOT, however, loving the price... $345. But maybe some of you out there might love it enough to justify buying it for yourselves. That's just too much money for me right now.

I can continue to dream though, can't I?

The Caring Logic Of The Husband.

Dear The Husband,

You are very kind.  Very kind.  But really... This isn't necessary.

When I told you I was laid-off the other day, you didn't have to start leaving money on the coffee table in the living room each morning, as you walked out the door to work.  I have money. Quite a bit of it from the severance check I got.  I can cover my expenses for the next seven months. Possibly longer, if I give up shopping.  (But hey - who am I kidding?)

Thank you for being very supportive... As this is was somewhat of an ego-blow, even though I knew it was happening.  I really appreciate the sensitivity and understanding, as you know I (unfortunately) identify a lot of my value in my career and job... Even though I shouldn't.

So, again, thank you for everything... Including the money you leave me each morning...  But you don't have to do that.  I am more than okay in every way possible.

I love you.

Love,

The Missus

Dream: "Spaceships."

I slept very soundly last night.  

This isn't that different from normal... But I only got up once to pee all night.  Usually I have to get up about three times.  So that was different. I crawled back into bed, and the next time I woke up, it was morning.  It was 8:45am in the morning.  And The Husband was kissing me good-bye for the day.

Despite the heavy sleeping, I was able to recall a little bit of my dream activity from last night. I did quite a bit of dreaming.  But I could only recall one thing from my dreams...

Spaceships.

I dreamed about spaceships again.  They were shaped like little cards, and they would hover above the ground a few feet, before shooting off an disappearing instantly.

Here's what the dream dictionary says about Spaceships:

To see a spaceship in your dream symbolizes your creative mind. It denotes a spiritual journey to the unknown and signal self-development and self-awareness. Alternative, the dream suggests that you may need to take on a different perspective, no matter how bizarre or unusual it may be.

I've dreamed about spaceships and planes and space a lot over the past six months.  I'm not sure which side of the meaning to find relevant... The side about it representing a "journey of the mind," or the side of "looking at things from a different point of view."

I am thinking that my subconscious has been telling me something for a while now, and I've been too comfortable with where I was at...  And I wasn't ready to move on yet.  And because of yesterday, it is pushing me forward.

I think it is time to do something more creative with my time.

The Parallels Between My Office & Star Wars.

Well, it's not a surprise.  

After spending a few hours this weekend dissecting the similarities between the company I work(ed) for and the Star Wars series, it's not a shock to me that I was laid off today.  In fact, if anything, "congratulations" should really be in order.  

Why?  Well, first let me explain why I was laid off...

I was laid off because I made a nice salary and was a KEY part of the business (meaning: I made the company lots of money doing SEO and PPC), but because I let them know I would be moving to Toronto in Q2 of this year, they hired a team (yes, that's right, a TEAM of people) to replace me.  Well, to be fair, I hired them.  And they are all very good hires. Junior to me, but very good at their jobs.  And I let it be known a few months ago that if there were to be lay-offs in the upcoming quarters, it made more sense for me to go than anyone else.

So, no, I'm not at all mad about the lay-offs. I will write more about all of that, though, as soon as it is possible to do so.

So, "Why are 'congratulations' in order?"

• It will be nice to have a consistent Internet connection during the day. Despite working for an Internet company, my Internet connection would "crap out" at least five times a day. Talk about "frustrating" when you're trying to change bids or do other necessary job things that require the Internet.
  
• It will be nice to be able to view sites, like Google.com and FitSugar.com, again.  Because of the new filter they added to the Internet in our office, I couldn't (sometimes) log in to necessary websites.  (For work and for fun!) Yet, accessing PerezHilton.com was never a problem...  Or Twitter.  Or Facebook.
  
• I don't have to listen to (what I feel are) moronic views on paid search strategy and SEO strategy.
  
• I can sleep in every day.
  
• I will have time to write those memoirs now for the writing project.
  
• Yoga and gym? Every dang day!
  
• Movies... Finally have time to see them all.
  
• And more...

What does suck about it?

• Well, to be honest... Daytime TV blows.  But at least that will keep me motivated.
  
• I will have to cancel the European Vacation with Frogger.  Even though I had the money for the trip, I don't want to spend it on the trip now.  And Frogger really won't be able to take the time off work now as easily.
  
• And, I left the office quite quietly.  I wasn't walked out or anything. Kind of disappointed that it ended that way.  Actually, not "kind of"... I am "very disappointed" that it ended that way. There were people I looked up to there.

Now I have plenty of time to figure out what my next career will be once I move up North.

Oh, and in case you were wondering...  In the dissection of Star Wars and my office, I was Princess Leah.  I was "leading the rebellion."  Personally, I wanted to be Yoda.  But Frogger and Bail said I was the Princess.

Met Opera: Orfeo ed Euridice.

What a treat!

Frogger and I took Bail (for her upcoming b-day) to the Metroplitan Opera house yesterday afternoon to see "Orfeo ed Euridice."

I had never been to the opera before, and getting to see a relatively short opera (only about an hour and a half) at the Met in NYC was great for a first-timer.  The set was amazing...

It was a tall three-story structure that rotated.  And on each tier was the chorus, dressed as the dead spirits of many famous historical figures.  Including...

• Babe Ruth
  
• Abe Lincoln
  
• William Shakespeare
  
• Mussolini
  
• Queen Victoria
  
• Jimmy Hendrix

We had "partial view" seats in a balcony box... Which meant we had to move our chairs around to peer over the ledge to catch the action.  But it was worth it.  I never thought I would like the opera.  But I really enjoyed the story of these two lovers.

Rye, Mini Burgers & Carbonara Pizza.

Another great dinner in NYC this evening...  Only this time, we didn't take advantage of Restaurant Week prices.  We went to Eleven Madison Park.

As soon as we walked into the place and sat down in the bar-area, I recognized it.  A scene from season 2 of Sex and the City was filmed there... It was the scene where Big tells Carrie he is engaged to Natasha.  After I noticed this, I turned my attention to the cocktail and bar menu...  

The cocktail list was fantastic... As was the wine list.  We each ordered a few things to nibble on, along with some cocktails.

I started with a cocktail of rye, creme de mure and some other stuff...

Then I munched on two little mini lamb burgers...

And I followed that up with a snack of Carbonara and frisee pizza...

It was a pricey place, but very good.  It is a place you should check out if you're in NYC and looking for an innovative dinner place.

Rosa Mexicano: I Heart Restaurant Week.

I am SHOCKED by how easy it is to get a table in this town right now!

When I lived here six years ago, I was too intimidated by the restaurant scene that I stuck to small and hidden/cheap places in the village, Upper East Side (Second Avenue) and Williamsburg (Brooklyn).  But in the past two evenings, I have eaten at great places...  And tonight was all about the Mexican food in Union Square.

Since I left the city, my favorite Mexican place, Rosa Mexicano, opened a joint near Union Square.  And it has the same, fabulous pomegranate margaritas and amazing guacamole.  In addition to discovering the new space, though, Frogger, Bail and I (along with Frogger's two wonderful cousins) were treated to a fantastic Restaurant Week menu...  Three courses for $35.

THAT IS AN AMAZING DEAL!!!!!

We all started with the guacamole, made table-side... And then, I moved on to the Carne Asada Tacos...

And finished with the Coconut Flan.

YUMMY!!!!!

Seriously, people...  There are amazing hotel deals, flight deals and restaurant deals (ON TOP OF ALL THE SHOPPING DEALS!) in this city right now!  This is an amazing time to get down here.  

"Save A Plane, Eat A Bird."

Frogger, Bail and I were just watching the evening news here in NYC.  There was an amusing story about a bird sanctuary near LaGuardia airport, and how it may have played a role in the US Airways flight landing in the Hudson River last week.

As I was staring at the TV, watching this amusing story (their facts and logic were STRETCHING to create the story - there is no clean evidence that shows these bird sanctuaries are a threat), I found myself say out loud...

"Save a plane!  Eat a bird!"

Frogger and Bail found this funny.  I think I may have this printed up on a T shirt for each of them.

Sample Sales & Discounted Saks - Oh My!

I have been pretty good since coming to NYC yesterday.  Let me tell you just HOW good I have been...

Frogger, Bail and I started our day off today by getting in line for the J. Crew Sample Sale.  It was pretty intense.  We showed up at 9:30am, and we were with in the first 10 people in line.  Once we were allowed into the building, we had to file in a single line to check our coats and bigger bags.  Then we were allowed to go where the clothes were.

I didn't see much that I liked for myself in the women's section... But I did see a bunch of cook vests and cashmere cardigans in the men's section. And I was so tempted to purchase some... But I just didn't "love" anything.  I ended up walking out of the sample sale with a black top and a black cashmere v-neck (from the women's section).  So, just "basics."

Frogger and Bail both scored well... Bail picked up a few blazers and Frogger found a very cool patent leather coat that was major-ly discounted.

Afterwards, we walked up Fifth Avenue to Saks.  I had to visit the shoe floor.  Once we got up there, we saw that they still had a pretty good selection of shoes discounted at 80% off the original price. 

The three of us immediately began pilfering through the shoes.  I only found a pair of knee-high flat boots two sizes too large that I liked.  (They would have only been $100 - I am crushed they didn't fit.)  Bail found a pair of black ballet Ferragamos for about $90...  BUT they only had one shoe in a size 8 1/2 and one shoe in a size 6.  They had no idea why the pairs weren't matching.  But Frogger...  She scored big time...

She found a pair of cute black short boots with a wedge heel, by Stuart Weitzman.  They were marked down to $78.  THAT IS INSANE!!!!

THEN, after we left the shoe floor (Bail and I empty-handed), we noticed they were having a HUGE denim sale on the 4th floor.  HUGE! 

Now, I don't need anymore jeans.  And I am very loyal to Jean Therapy and ONLY buy there.  So I looked for Frogger and Bail, and refused to look for myself, even though there were incredible prices on the jeans.

"I CAN NOT buy any from here," I kept telling the two girls.  "If "Elle" from Jean Therapy ever found out, I would be crushed by her disappointment!"

We had a whole stack for Bail to try on... But the sizes weren't right on her.  We did, however, find a pair of really killer Paige Denim jeans for Frogger that made her ass look incredible! 

The best part?  THE JEANS WERE ONLY $37!!!!

Seriously... For Paige Denim.  Pricing for those jeans normally has an extra $140 attached to that price.

So, for the day Frogger scored HUGE.  Though, I did walk out of another store with my dream suitcase.  So I can't be disappointed.

Help The Missus With A Canadian Career Choice.

So, in case you don't read my blog often...  (And why don't you???)  You may not know that for the past four years, a move to Toronto has been on the horizon for me.

I am currently in the final phases of acquiring all the approval I need to move to Toronto with my Canadian husband.  The moving date is not set yet...  Because in the event that I don't get everything I need, I can't move.  But things look very positive, and it should be Summer when I move up north. And that's only a few months off...

So now, I need to start thinking about what I want to do when I move up.  My company made it clear that they have no desire to work with me when I am up living in Canada.  And while I have had a few other search marketing avenues reach out to me to discuss possibilities... I just don't think I want to continue doing search marketing.

"Go work at an engine!" one person suggested to me.  Great idea... It certainly has a "sexiness" to it...  But I have read the online message boards...  It's "long hours and low pay."  I don't mind the low pay much... But I do mind the long hours.

"Go work at an agency!" another person suggested.  But I have already done that.  I just don't know if I could be useful at the agency-level.  I've already been an Assistant Director and headed up a search group at an agency.  "Been there, done that."  And also, this is long hours... Though the pay is better.

I am committed to my current job till the moment I step on the plane to Canada in the future... But, I think it's time to (again - because I did this before) open myself up to new career ideas suggested by my readers.  

Anyone have any ideas?  What do you think I could be good at? Outside of search marketing... Leave your ideas in the comments, pretty please!

Stage Deli.

After a morning of J. Crew Sample Sale shopping, us three girls (or, as the homeless man on the street called us, "Charlie's Angels" - I GET TO BE KATE JACKSON!) hit up one of Frogger's family's favorites in the city...

The Stage Deli.

I had matzo ball soup (which I had never tried before)... 

And a half a turkey sandwich.

I had to take most of the turkey off just to eat the thing.

Definitely a place you should hit in NYC sometime.  It's not cheap, but it's very good.

Alexander McQueen Skull Suitcase.

Well... I did it, people. I finally purchased the Alexander McQueen Skull suitcase I have been coveting for nearly two years.

Aww!!!!!

I couldn't bring myself to purchase it before now because of the price. But while out this afternoon in NYC (which is where I am this weekend, with Frogger and Bail), we went to Takashimaya on Fifth Avenue (it's a Japanese department store) to peek at what was on sale. (Seriously, there are some AMAZING sales going on in this city.) We walked down the floors, peeking at everything...

When we got down to the second floor (the Travel floor) Frogger spotted the suitcase. And it was on the sales rack. And it was (in total) about 55% off the original price. And, it came with a few garment sacks inside it...

SCORE!

Though, as Frogger noted, this is the THIRD time I have gone away with her somewhere and come back with a new piece of luggage. But, as she noted, "You have blogged about this piece many times."

It was simply meant to be.

Periodic Table Of "Awesomements."

Thanks to Soxy Lady for posting this on Twitter...



The Periodic Table of Awesoments!

I like how Bacon is number 1. And it's pretty cool that Ninja is number 2.

One complaint though, Taco Bell is at 32... I really feel that should be higher.

A Lesson In Taking Meds...

I learned a little lesson today...

If the directions on the prescription say "Medication Must Be Taken With Food," you really should obey the recommendation.

I was took my skin pill at about 7am today. But I didn't eat anything till after 9:30am... And only because I was really feeling sick. I figured some gluten-free toast and peanut butter would make me feel all better.

It did not. It only agitated the sitution. And I got just a "smidge" sick in the ladies room shortly after. I was so afraid someone would hear me hacking and think I have an ana/bulie problem.

Now I am sitting at my desk, recovering with some lemongrass and ginger tea. I will need to go get something to eat again soon though. Something without dairy. I think that would only hurt my belly more.

Roberto Cavalli Halter Dress.

"OMG!"

Those were my instant message words to Frogger this morning...

"OMG! I have found the PERFECT LBD for you!" I screamed at her over AIM.

Let me back-track for a moment though...

See, Froggerand I spent a good part of the afternoon on Sunday at wandering through the mall for a little black dress (LBD) for her. We couldn't find anything that was really good... And Frogger had her heart set on a good LBD.

"I want something that I can just go to and wear if I ever need a dress," she said.

And that really is what the LBD is all about... But we couldn't find anything for Frogger. So we gave up and went home.

This caused me to wonder, "How hard is it to find a good LBD? Something black, in a fine material, with a halter-cut... So it is sexy, but not obscene?"

Well, God heard my pain... And he answered the desire, sort of... See, God sent me an email from Net-A-Porter this morning, and in it was this...

The Roberto Cavalli Crystal Embellished Halter Dress.

However, I forgot to ask God that the LBD be a reasonable price. This dress is $3,680. That's more than ten times what I would recommend someone pay for their LBD.

Frogger, of course, loved the dress. Just not the price. And even if this went on "super-duper-ridiculous" sale, it would still be more than either one of us would spend.

Frogger did note, however, that the Christian Louboutin Petal Sandals would go excellently with this dress.

Starbucks New Soy Milk: It's Definitely Not Silk!

I took the advice of one of my readers today... I poured a small amount of Silk's "Very Vanilla" Soy Milk into my kick ass OXO coffee thermos (this thing spills NOTHING) and took it with me to Starbucks. I ordered a Grande Americano (two shots of espresso mixed with hot water) and combined it with my soy milk from home.

And this is quite good. I am liking it very much.

But, while at Starbucks, they had the new soy milk they are using out on the counter... And I decided to snap a picture of the offending newcomer for you...

This is definitely not Silk Soy Milk, despite what the Starbucks website says. this is some generic container of nastiness. Eww!!!!!

As long as they keep serving this crap... They will not get my $0.40 extra I am willing to pay for

it.

Free Make-Up!

I recalled hearing about how cosmetic companies were going to be giving away some free stuff as part of a lawsuit settlement... I mean, Legally Brunette wrote about it earlier today.

Well, I didn't have time to head over to Macy's in Downtown Crossing during the day. But then I was super surprised when I was walking home through the Copley part of the mall today to see a line outside of Neiman Marcus.

"What's the line for?" I asked one of the many security guards surrounding the area.

"They're giving away free cosmetics," he said.

I figured out immediately what it was all about, and hopped in line myself.

The line moved quickly... But by the time I got to the front, there were only four choices left:

• A Guerlain perfume spray
• A Clinique Super Moisture something-or-rather
• An Estee Lauder Night Cream
• A tube of Coco Chanel Body Lotion

I went with the body lotion.



Yay! Free make-up!

Obama Inauguration: Live Blogging.

At Frogger's apartment in the North End, watching the festivities on CNN.  We tried watching at the office, but the CNN feed wasn't working.

• 11:25 am - Watching the coverage of the Inauguration on CNN.  Malia and Sasha just walked by!!!!  Gorgeous girls!
  
• 11:26 am - What the hell is that bow on Aretha's head???  Girl!  NO!
  
• 11:27 am - Malia and Sasha walk on stage with Granny!  YAY!!!!!!!!!!
  
• 11:28 am - The current first and second ladies walk out.  Frogger says, "Okay Laura! Time to go back to the library."
  
• 11:29 am - Things are behind schedule because of George W.?  What the hell!  You have to vacate bitch!
  
• 11:30 am - Frogger and I hear the crowd cheer... And we wonder out loud, "What if they boo Bush?"
  
• 11:32 am - Michelle Obama and Jill Biden are on the screen, getting ready to walk out.  SQUEE!!!!
  
• 11:32 am - Not sure about Michelle's outfit for the inauguration...  Should have worn blue or red.  Or purple.  Frogger wonders, "Who is that scary dude in the background with the white scarf?"
  
• 11:35 am - Cheney is being wheeled by...  He has a cane in his hand and is seated in a wheel chair.  He looks like a mean old man.
  
• 11:35 am - George and and Cheney walk out.  So far, I can't hear any "boos." (Come on people! You're not trying hard enough!)
  
• 11:36 am - Michelle Obama has the Lincoln bible in her hands!  SQUEE!!!!
  
• 11:38 am - We get our first shot of Barack!  YAY!
  
• 11:39 am - Joseph R. Biden Jr. comes out!  Yay!!!!
  
• 11:39 am - Another shot of Barack... I am loving the tie... (I think I bought The Husband the same one at Brooks Brothers for Christmas this year!)
  
• 11:40 am - "The crowds are stretch two miles," Cooper Anderson, CNN.
  
• 11:41 am - I take a moment to reflect, "This is in fact the first inauguration I have ever actually watched."
  
• 11:43  am - The music is beautiful that they are playing for Obama...
  
• 11:43 am - Barack H. (Hussein) Obama is welcomed out!  The crowd is going CRIZZAZY with the little flag waving!
  
• 11:44 am - The crowd is cheering, "O-BA-MA!" over and over again.
  
• 11:45 am - Diane Feinstein is at the mic.  She is welcoming everyone to the 44th inauguration of the POTUS.
  
• 11:46 am - "The freedom of the people to choose its leaders is the root of liberty."
  
• 11:47 am - The look on G.W. Bush's face when he hears Feinstein's "this is the day of necessary change"... It was priceless.  :)
  
• 11:48 am - Pastor Rick Warren asks us to pray.  Obama's eyes are closed tight. The crowd cheers at the "First African-America President" part.
  
• 11:50 am - A shot of people in the street in Harlem, watching the blessing from Rick Warren.
  
• 11:52 am - Rick Warren is still blessing...  Barack is probably thinking, "Man!  Let's get this show on the road!  Enough with the prayer! I only got 8 minutes to get sworn in!"
  
• 11:53 am - The crowd is silent. Very silent. 
  
• 11:53 am - Now Aretha is getting up to sing...  What is with the hat, woman??!!??
  
• 11:56 am - I am NOT impressed with Aretha. I am sorry.  It has to be said.
  
• 11:57 am - Biden is getting sworn in!  He swears he will "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic."
  
• 11:58 am - BIDEN IS SWORN IN!  NO MORE CHENEY!!!!!
  
• 11:59 am - The Obamas are standing up.  Yay!  
  
• 11:59 am - What the hell?!?  Another musical composition?
  
• 12:00 pm - It's officially noon. Bush's term is, by law over. But Barack has not been sworn in... Does this mean we are currently without a President, and reliant on Biden as Pres?
  
• 12:01 pm - CNN confirms that Barack Obama is officially the President of the United States of America! By law, he is automatically the President at noon!  Yay!!!!!!
  
• 12:04 pm - Yo Yo Ma is a P-I-M-P.  BEAUTIFUL!
  
• 12:04 pm - John G. Roberts is being called to the podium!  Everyone has to stand!  Even the girls! So exciting!
  
• 12:05 pm - Barack "solemnly swears" he will execute shit properly.  (He must be so nervous!!!)  
  
• 12:05 pm - YAY!!!!! "Hail To the Chief" is playing!
  
• 12:07 pm - Number 44 is introduced!!!!!!!!  (I think he gets to speak now.)
  
• 12:07 pm - The crowd cheers again, "O-BA-MA!"
  
• 12:08 pm - Barack gets his speech on...  (Why is he thanking Bush for his service?)
  
• 12:09 pm - Wow! A President who accepts that we are in a crisis?  AWESOME!  He lives in reality!
  
• 12:09 pm - Seems like Barack wants us to cut back on our energy usage.  ("Hear! Hear!")
  
• 12:12 pm - Barack reaffirms that, "all are equal and all are free to pursue their full measure of happiness..."
  
• 12:13 pm - Barack is giving us his "pep talk" that we can turn things around.  (This is what we needed.)
  
• 12:13 pm - Barack wants us to "remake America."
  
• 12:14 pm - Barack wants us to call upon the elements to power us... "The wind, the soil, the rain..."
  
• 12:15 pm - Barack says he will cut shit out if it isn't benefiting the country.  No more pork?  (Hmm... Pork...)
  
• 12:17 pm - I check my Twitter feed.. And see that The Grammar Vandal has noted that the official White House website has changed over.
  
• 12:18 pm - Barack says "We will not apologize for our way of life. Nor will we waiver in its defense." (Yeah! So screw all you people on Universal Hub who hated on me for spending $15 on a hot dog at The Butcher Shop on Friday!)
  
• 12:21 pm - Barack honors the "guardians of our liberty."
  
• 12:22 pm - Barack wants the spirit of "honoring something bigger than ourselves" to inhabit us all.
  
• 12:24 pm - Barack says "Let us part this day with remembrance of who we are and how far we've come."
  
• 12:26 pm - "We carried forth that great gift of freedom... Thank you.  And God bless the United States of America."
  
• 12:27 pm - Frogger asks, "When does Bush get in the helicopter and go away?"
  

The end.

I Had To Switch!!!!

I can't take the soy situation at Starbucks anymore.

They are not using SILK, as their website says. That's what they were using before... And it was delicious. According to the girl at Starbucks, it's a "no-name" brand.

It is only drinkable if I order a Caramel Machiatto, or something else sweet like that. So instead, I have now switched back to my original "Skim Capuccino."

Y'all, "If You Seek Amy"...

Oh Britney... I have to give you props for being clever.

Perez broke this story for me about how Brit-Brit was forced to rename her song "If You Seek Amy."

I actually think it's hilarious and think Britney Spears should have stood her ground and kept the name as-is.  But then...  I am devious.

Bravo, Britney!

Horoscope: "Money Is Coming Your Way..."

Wohoo!!!!

Read this morning's horoscope and got all shades of excited...

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Money is heading your way from an unexpected and unusual source. Your help will be recognized and rewarded by someone from whom you have been trying to earn respect. Don't be aggressive, just proactive.

Oh please, oh please, oh please let it be true!!!!

God Really Doesn't Want Me Swearing For The Rest Of January...

A few minutes left in the Cardinals-Eagles game, I posted this status message on my Facebook page...

You can barely read it.. But it reads:

"Oh please Lord in Heaven... If you let the Cardinals win this, I won't say the EFF word for the rest of January. That's 14 whole days."

Looks like I have to keep this space an "Eff-word-free" zone for the next two weeks.

Starbucks Soy Milk?

An uprising is about to take place, my friends... I can feel it.

See, I prefer to reserve any intake of dairy items I have to be for things that need it... Like cheese on my tacos or pizza. Or my Greek yogurt.  But my milk in lattes and ice cream? It's soy all the way, baby.  And up until about two weeks ago, I was LOVING my usual double-tall soy lattes from Starbucks.

That's right, I was. I no longer am loving them from Starbucks.  The soy milk now sucks ass.

I noticed it and dismissed it as just my taste buds changing.  If I added sweetener, it was suffer-able.  

But then, I realized I wasn't the only one who noticed how much the soy milk was sucking ass lately.  Yummy noticed too. And when I was at Starbucks at one point this week, I say that the box from which they pour the soy milk was no longer blue... It was yellow.

WTF, Starbucks?

Have you changed it for good?  Or is this just a temporary filler?  If it is a permanent change, fuck you.  

PLEASE BRING BACK MY ORGANIC SILK SOY MILK!!!!!  THE YELLOW BOX STUFF TASTES LIKE SHIT!

New Burberry Trench.

I met up with Yummy Mummy, Legally Blonde and Frogger for brunch this snowy morning. We hit Easter Standard in Kenmore Square. Afterwards, Frogger and I moseyed over to the Prudential and Copley in search of the perfect LBD.  

We did our best to find a legitimate LBD...  But had no luck.  But Frogger was able to convince me to go into the Burberry store in the Copley to "just look" at the trench coats.  (She knew I was missing the one I lost in San Francisco.)

We went in and walked directly to the sales rack in the back.  I was surprised to see a pretty good selection on their... Including one that a friend of ours had recently bought at full price.  I picked up a black one that was a size too small, but on a good discount... About 35% off.  I loved the length of it, and the color was perfect (black.)

"In order to have this fit properly," I said, "I'll have to lose 10 to 15 pounds in the ass."

Frogger, being the solid friend she is, agreed.

So I decided it was a "go" in terms of purchasing it.  And a few minutes later I walked out with a new trench coat. 

 

It will stay in the garment bag it came in until we head to Europe for our Spring trip.  It should be easy enough to finally commit to losing 15 pounds over almost three months.  Normally I wouldn't buy something that didn't fit completely...  But I think this is motivation enough to drop a few pounds in order to have something I love fit.

Gladiator Sandals - A "Must Have" For Spring.

I am in love.

True love...

While in Melbourne, one fashion trend I saw over and over again was the Gladiator sandal. Bohemian tops, cut-off jean shorts...  And on the feet were Gladiator sandals.  Flat ones.

I loved the look, and since coming back state-side I am infatuated and dreaming of warmer weather to style this look. I am still looking for the perfect flat Gladiators that I am dreaming of... But I have found high-heeled ones that are so licorice-y and divine!

Pour La Victoire "Sacha" Gladiator Bootie.

Oh! I am in love.

Lately, I have stayed away from the high heels, as they are very wearing on my feet.  But, plat-formed high heels are actually very comfortable. Your foot isn't as close to the ground, so when you are pounding your feet while walking on the cement, there is "cushioning" effect, which makes it waaaay more comfortable.

I think these would be fantastic for Spring and Summer this year.  And the price isn't too devastating.

Things I Need To Buy...

1. Humidifier - I am waking up with dry skin. Would be a good idea to keep one running at night.
   
2. New Gym Bag - I really want the Anthro bag. Not ready to commit to the price yet. Wish they actually had it in the store.
   
3. Food for Dinner - Need to decide what to make for dinner tonight and pick it up.
   
4. Iron - The Husband killed the not-too-old one.
   

Need Bath Oil? Just Use Olive Oil.

Desperation was enveloping me this evening.  Dry, itchy desperation.

See, I love baths.  Bubbles... Salts...  Essential oils...  I take a bath at least every other night, in addition to at least one, if not two showers a day.  Summer, Fall, Winter or Spring...  Doesn't matter the season.  I love HOT baths.

What I don't love?  The dry dehydrated skin I get from them.  And it's only worse now that the bitter cold Winter chill is here. (Global warming my ASS!)

So I spent a good part of my afternoon today going from shop to shop to find bath oil.  Not bubble bath.  As bubble bath is drying.  (Even though it can smell incredible!)  

I used to use Jo Malone's bath oil... But, it's so expensive.  And I go through it in about two months.  I needed something more economical.  And my trip to the shops turned up nothing of use.

Back at home, I was bummed.  My skin was itchy under my sweater.  And with it being so cold out (and some of it seeping in through the cracks of our windows) I knew it wouldn't be long before I would be craving a hot bath.

That's when I decided to call upon the almighty Google to help me out.  

I have heard many stories about how you can use olive oil on your body... Like to condition your hair, or soften your feet... But I was wondering if you could use it in your bath.  Sure enough, you can!

I tried it tonight.  And it was really good.  I only added two teaspoons to my bath, along with my usual Epsom salts.  It felt great.  And so far, I haven't had to dump on any lotion after the bath.

I may start trying to formulate my own recipes...  This is way cheaper than the Jo Malone stuff! (Though, if I'm ever able to get a good deal on the JM stuff, I will totally snatch it up!)

The $15 Hotdog From The Butcher Shop.

I tell everyone, as it was told to me before I ever went, "The best thing to get if you ever eat at Barbara Lynch's Butcher Shop is the $14 hotdog."

Well, the hotdog is now $15...  And instead of being served with potato salad (YUCK!) it is now served with homemade crispy chips...  But it is still very delicious. 

I had it last night for dinner while meeting up with Frogger and the Undercover Blonde...

Frogger, who had never seen the hotdog, was very impressed that I was able to eat the whole thing.  And as Undercover Blonde pointed out...

"When you get the hotdog, you have to commit to eating the whole thing. You can't really eat anything else."

And she is so very right.  I ate a few chips, but focused my attention on the hotdog.  the wonderful, savory, snappy $15 hotdog.

Yuuuuuuummmmm...

Anthropologie "Side-By-Side" Tunic.

There are a ton of sales out there, people.  I spend about an hour at Anthropologie this afternoon, just meandering through the stacks and racks looking at all the goodies.

I didn't walk out of the store with a sale item, though.  But I did walk out with something...

The "Side-By-Side" Tunic.

I liked that it was a V-neck and that the buttons go all the way down the front.  The only thing I don't like about the piece is the tie strings in the back... But those can easily be seam-ripped off the piece.

It'll look great over jeans, shorts and leggings.

I Have A (Chanel) Vendetta...

Well...  Not an actual feud.  But I do have a Vendetta.  A bottle of Chanel's Vendetta polish.

An inky violet...  And I love it.  I didn't even know Chanel had come out with a new color.  I am so behind the times.  

I'm gonna get around to painting my toenails later tonight.

Spring 2009 Vacation.

Yay!

Frogger and I threw ourselves into researching an affordable trip to Cape Town, South Africa in the Fall.  We priced out different options and found some really reasonable prices...  But, in order to make the trip really worthwhile, we would need to take off two weeks.

Problem!

We have other things booked this year that wouldn't allow for 14 days of travel in the Fall, all at one time.  So back to the Internet to research new options...

• Chile?
  
• Peru?
  
• Vienna-Prague train ride?
  
• Galapagos Islands?

No...  We found something perfect for us, and that we could do this Spring...  A multi-city trip to Europe!

We start in Amsterdam, which neither Frogger or I have been to.  After two days, we go to Brussels.  We'll take a day trip to Bruges, and then spend a full day in Brussels. Then we go to Paris for three and a half days. 

So that's THREE countries that I get to visit.  My goal for 2009 was to visit TWO countries outside of Australia, the U.S., U.K., and Canada.  

Yay!  We leave April 8th.