My Hero Lives in Brooklyn

I know, two posts in one night? really? yeah really. The reason being however is that A) I just found my new fave wine in my hood and B) I just had a gourmet dinner at home and I'm a grad student. How did that happen you ask? (well you didn't ask, but I want to tell you).
I have a super-fantastic friend, Sarah B. Did I mention she's fantastic?! Not only is she beautiful, smart, witty, and a mom.. but she's extremely giving and takes such good care of me. Apparently she either had wayyyy toooo much left over food or she just wanted to treat me, regardless I had one heck of a 5pm treat today.

Sarah's hubby works for People magazine, which is across the street from my job, and they have two adorable gremlins Lily and Logan. Well, Lil and Lo get to play at day care one day a week while Sarah taps her creative ingenious mind to write for organic beauty products (ones that don't give you rashes or make your face peel off). So today on her way to pick up the little squeeges, she stopped by to say hello AND give me some really great home-cooked food.

I am the luckiest girl alive. SB brought me two perfectly portioned ramekins full of homemade mac-n-cheese with Parmesan cheese topping them and verbal instructions of how to cook it at home in order to make the cheese all crispy on the top (psst Sarah, it worked). Plus, I have a huge bowl of turkey chili waiting for me at work (Yay, lunch for mañana).
One of the mac-n-cheese ramekins is currently empty and soaking in the sink and the other one will probably only last until tomorrow night (the one pictured is the one I have left. I scarfed the first one so fast I forgot to take a picture of the crispy goodness). I feel so spoiled. I've said it several times but... I need a wife. They are so awesome. But for now--and until I decide to try "playing for the other team"--I am lucky to have such a great friend that cooks for me.

Oh, and to top it off--this is the real jem--she got me Cat Butt Stickers! And apparently from information on the world wide web there is a whole trend of cat butt propoganda (perhaps I'm in the wrong industry). Sarah is a girl after my own heart, she is make your bff mac-n-cheese then buy her cat butt stickers good.
Merci Beaucoup Sarah!

Le Wine Tuesday is Back and More "Barefoot" Than Ever

Okay, you might have guessed I'm not a wine connoisseur. I grew up in Wisconsin where--no kidding--my first taste of wine came from a box. But I know what I like and my taste gets better as I age. (hehe... a wine pun). Anyway, when I was in Hawaii, they had this really cheap yet very good wine brand. It. Was. Everywhere. and it was called Barefoot. I picked up a bottle of the Cabernet Sauvignon as a pre-marine-christmas-party treat to sip while I prepared some killer pigs-in-blankets. Anyway, I thought I said goodbye to my sweet cheap wine as a boarded that Delta flight to NY on Christmas Eve. *tear*

Well, well, well, luckily for me my local wine store has a plethora of wine. I hear abundance and variety is a thing New York has going for it and you won't hear me complaining BECAUSE... I found Barefoot at my wine store in Astoria, NY!

Actually two weeks ago the brand was there but they only had the white stuff. White is good for a warm summer day but I've been on a super red kick as of late (gotta get those antioxidants in if we're going to booze up right?). Anyway I waited... and voila... last night it appeared.

So here I am, about to start a Tuesday night conference call and I'm super happy to be sipping from my $9.99 um... super big bottle of Gold Medal Cabernet Sauvignon. Bring it on conference call, this puppy will last me a while!

Playing Catch-up 2008

The title of this post brought me back to being a kid in Wisconsin.
I have two older sisters, Sarah and Alison and when we were young (me being the youngest girl) if we went on a bike ride, I always had to catch up. Part of that was because Sarah and Alison had ten-speed bikes and Kate had a awesome Schwinn pedal bike. On North Pole Road there was a big hill if you turned left out of our driveway and for some reason Sarah and Alison zipped up that hill while little Kate was still at the bottom playing catch-up... But anyway, back to present time. I realized I need to do some serious updates on this blog and have some catching-up to do. Here it goes:

9 to 5
Work is good. I guess I never posted this on here... huh. Well, I work for a cosmetics company which is a girls dream. The tom-boy on my left shoulder says.."uh, no way. I'm not girly, that's so lame... ha, makeup? really?" But the little princess on my right shoulder shouts "OMG... I get to play dress-up all day every day, it's like real life Barbie time!!!" Okay that was even a bit too girly for me, but yeah I like it. It could be worse.

I have one of those "cool non-specific media jobs" that is perfect for women. I'm a graphic designer so I get to make pictures all day. In reality it is a lot more work than that (for all of you who learned some photoshop or indesign and think you could do my job) but it's also a lot of fun.

So, when you smush together a creative job at a place that sells makeup to young women, work gets interesting and really fun. I actually was playing with twitter all day today to figure out what uses it could have for my company, and what our twitter would look and sound like. So, yay for work and yay for tweets.

Honestly tho, at the end of the day it's not where I work or the work that I do, it is the people I work with and I have the best co-workers ever.

After 9 to 5
I just finished another semester of Pratt Design Management!!! And we only have 4 more classes and 1 thesis to go. This will probably be the busiest time ever for me but, the light is there, I can see it. We (my classmates and I) are all so close and come May... I will be the happiest Wisconsin Girl in NY.The next few months, however, will consist of Tuesday and Thursday Conference call nights, and probably another one thrown in on Wednesday. Friday and Monday nights I'll be doing homework.... Huh, looks like I'm booked already. Oh well, I have that last day in May to look forward to and I have a great thesis group to help me get through it.

Getting out of town
Mom and Dad haven't expressed too much disappointment yet, but I didn't go home for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Instead, I was in Brooklyn for Thanksgiving and for Christmas I flew to Hawaii. Well, technically I spent Christmas in Minneapolis and New York but I consider the time I just spent in Hawaii my Christmas vacation. Besides, I did go to a Christmas party while in Oahu and there were Christmas presents all over the place so, I'm considering it a week-long Christmas.
In July of this year I visited Eric in Hawaii. I wanted to go back, so I did. Luckily Eric wanted me to come back too. We went Kayaking, made awesome guacamole and tacos, became slightly-versed in "Tropic Thunder" quotations, and braved wild sharks off the North Shore of Oahu (they made us stay in the cage tho). Then, Eric took me and his motorcycle over to Maui for a weekend adventure. We saw amazing sun rises, camped on a mountain, camped on the beach, and enjoyed every inch of coastline Maui had to offer from his BMW bike. It was pretty sweet.

Because I did not get to Wisconsin for the Holidays, I guess my next trip out of NY will be the good ol' home state. I might loose my "best-daughter-ever" status if I don't go there next and I really miss my family and friends. Dana is getting married in June so the current plan is to go home the week before the wedding, throw the best bachelorette party ever at my parents cabin on the lake, then stay on a lake for the week and visit with friends. I'll read some trashy novels and go to the wedding the following weekend. I'm not sure if I can afford that much time off of work yet but if I start saving now I think I can swing it.

For the end of 2009 I really want to travel to SE Asia. I had planned to do it right after graduation but Dana planned to get married at the same time. Friends win out over geographic Locations...SE Asia will just have to wait for me. Maybe I'll go right after I finish the ING Marathon in November but I really don't know what the year will bring. Maybe I'll get a travel companion but I'm also not the easiest person to travel with. I'm cheap, don't mind being dirty and I like to walk/hike a lot, most of my friends do not like any of that. And Maybe I don't really know the SE Asia plan yet.

(I do realize that I'm strange, at work I'm super-girly and wear a dress every day but outside of work I'm a tom-boy, I blame that on my Dad).

Extra Curricular Activities
Regardless of a busy schedule I'm still running. When I started at Pratt, the professor who interviewed me, told me that I should NOT stop running and keep it up even when my schedule got tight. She was so right and I thank her for that advice.

Since my Junior year at UWSP I've used running as an outlet. If I feel stressed, I go for a run. Tired, I go for a run. Pissed off? Yep, run. It's great therapy and I'm so glad I did not stop for Grad school it's gotten me through some really really tough times this year. It makes me happy.

It makes me SO happy I'm doing it to celebrate New Years. Yes, I will probably be running without any of my friends but there will be thousands of people to join me. Hey, maybe I'll even make a new friend or two, I guess we'll see what tomorrow night brings.
Also, I'm very excited to get to train for the marathon in 2009! I've foregone two qualified ING marathons for school and can not wait for those long Saturday runs. I know it's insane and most people never want to do it but I love it. The best parts are: making the pre-marathon run mix for my ipod and remembering the music I trained with; eating everything!; sleeping all day on Saturday after a long run without an ounch of guilt; eating everything!; hugging my friends on the marathon route; getting an overpriced massage after it's all over; finishing with thousands of people who have their own exciting stories.

So, that's the catch-up update for 2008, Sorry for the lack of pics but, my camera is out of commission and I just don't have anything new. hmmm... maybe I'll steal some from my other web presences.

A Wisconsin Thanksgiving in Bed Stuy

Recipe for a successful Thanksgiving in NYC:

1 Jedd & Kai

1 Jedd & Kai's Apartment

1 Jacci

1 Kate

2 or 3 groups of friends

1 dish to pass per person 

several forms of alcoholic beverages

2 cameras randomly placed in the apartment

1 itunes playlist

1 dj

Begin by preparing the Bloody Mary's before most people arrive. Jedd, Kai, Jacci and Kate consume the Bloodies. Scatter people around Jedd & Kai's apartment as needed, Add generous amounts of wine, spiked cider, and more Bloody Mary's. Once the 2 or 3 groups of friends have fully arrived, begin heating the dishes. Stir in some music from Jedd's itunes playlist and wait approximately 4 to 5 hours to serve. This will allow for all guest to become pleasantly intoxicated with the holiday season. 

Start serving the food but only after Kate and Will attempt to start eating without permission.

After several servings of dinner and dessert all guest should but ready for the entertainment. Put the DJ in the other room and have him whip up hours of entertainment by giving him access to Jedd's itunes account.

Top off Thanksgiving with a few more bottles of wine & cider. Finally, finish with each guest taking a turn behind the make-shift "stage door" of Jedd & Kai's parlor. 

Apple is the new Wine

There has been a change in menu for conference call nights. I am laying down the bottle for a nice juicy apple. Yeah-- I know-- wtf?
It started 2 weeks ago, I was in class and had a whole conversation about apples with Leigh. Leigh is very into living natural and eating organic/vegan. But anyway, she mentioned how she really believes in the "apple a day will keep the dr. away." So, I thought that was cool and I'd rather not go to the doctor. And then she added that—duh it's fall—apples are in season right now and really amazing. That did it for me. I craved apples all that day and picked up a 1/2 peck as soon as I got to Whole Foods that night. I've been eating at least 1 a day since.

(Leigh, being shy in class)

So, I have kicked the wine for a bit and substituted apples in its place. I prefer Gala or Golden apples but will settle for any kind and yes they are in season and very good. There is only one problem. I just got off my 2nd or 3rd "apple" conference call... and I could really use a glass of wine right now.

my island

Just when I'm totally sick of this place it goes and does something amazing like this. :-)
oh NY.

Random acts of guy-ness

No offense to my male friends, and Im' not trying to be snotty but some men are strange. I just don't get it sometimes. Perhaps it's the blond-hair and blue eyes that drives them to temporary moments of insanity... Oh Wait, one guy actually told me it was indeed my blond hair and blue eyes.

Anyway, some men are just absolutely strange and I have the stories to prove it. Liz and I were talking about this and I decided I had enough stories for the "Random Acts of Guy-ness blog." I'll use pseudonyms to protect any identity. However, if one of the stories sounds a bit too familiar... take a hint and consider some new dating tactics please.

Maybe some of you guys can explain these behaviors to me but for now I'm just confused. Again I'm starting as far back as I can remember and working my way to present day. Just some examples of what NOT to do....

DONT:
1) Hit on a 14 year old in the mall when she is with her mom.
I was 13, maybe 14 and with my mom. Okay, so right there any normal person knows that you do not hit on the young girl who is with her mother. Well, I guess the blue eyes caused some temporary insanity for the first time. As I started, I was with my mom in McDonald's in the mall. This guy turns around stops... and stands 2 feet in front of me, looks at me in the eyes for 30 seconds, . I'm thinking "wtf is this guy looking at?" and he says "Do you wear contacts?" I reply "no" and (here it comes the worst pickup line ever) right in front of my mom he says "Good, because it would be a real shame if your eyes weren't real." Thank god mom still remembers that cuz she'll never let me forget. Thanks random McDonald's guy.

tip: don't hit on 14 year-olds when they are with their mother.

2) Follow her around the Met until she has to fake a friends phone call
When I was 20 I thought it would be so nice to enjoy a day alone at the Met. So on a day off from my internship I trekked over to the Met, made my nominal donation and started my solitary tour. Unfortunately—just as I was passing the Kiki Smith sculpture on the 2nd floor—I was spotted and from there on I was unable to dodge an unwanted companion. I did repeatedly say "I would like to just enjoy this by myself" and "I'll be going this way now." But it was like he just didn't hear me or something and I could not get rid of him. So, I decided I needed to leave for the day. (Sorry, Frederich Church I'll be back again soon). I faked a phone call and ran for the subway! Well the story does not end there. A few months later I was at the Virgin Mega store in Union Sq. looking for a friends CD. I looked up and on the other side of the CD rack was my Met friend staring back at me. He proceeded to yell at me over the CD rack for not calling him and giving him a wrong phone number. I ran away again. I guess in this case I'm just annoyed that I didn't get to finish my museum day or my cd shopping.

tip: learn to take a hint or learn to take a blatant NO. I think No means no in every language?

3) Chase after her, begging for her phone number
This one was pretty all around a lame move. I guess if you think you'll never see someone again and that solely based on looks—as she passes you by on her way to well anywhere—that you might be soul mates, go for it.

However, I was 20 (apparently that was the year to get random acts of guy-ness inflicted on me) and I was walking to the laundry mat and I hear someone running behind me. So I kinda duck like "OMG someone is coming up behind me in Brooklyn NY. Jesus am I about to get mugged for my laundry quarters?!"

It turns out some guy just wanted my phone number. No, I never got this guys name but he sure did scare the crap outta me for a bit.

Tip: Don't run up behind a girl to get her phone number she might think you're about to mug her.

4) Declare utter contempt and hate for her occupation while you're holding her backpack hostage.
This one is a doosey!

So I'm 20, yet again. Maybe it was the "new to NYC syndrome." Anyway, I was waiting for Jedd after our internship jobs and I was sitting in Washington Sq. Park. It was a nice summer day and a film/photography student comes up to me to talk.

He was interesting enough so I agree to go have a glass of wine with him. We went to a place on MacDougal St. and got a glass of wine as we were leaving my backpack's zipper broke. (Okay here is one very dumb girl moment). Instead of just saying "bye, thanks for the drink I'm going home" I agreed to let him put my broken backpack in his apt. doh!!!!!

So, then we went for a walk and ended up like way down by battery park, from Washington Sq to battery park is quite the walk. I must note that he was normal until we headed back to NYU area. We started to talk about artists and he told me he "hated all artists of any kind!"

BTW I'm an artist. So that was kinda awkward.

finally!!! an hour later I had my backpack back in my possession and for some odd reason the guy thought I wouldn't call him even though he gave me his phone number so he basically begged me to call him for 15 min right outside the 8th St. NW train stop... I assured him I'd call. ;-)

tip: Don't tell her you hate her occupation... and NEVER beg her to call you (I deleted his # the second I got to the subway platform.. ewe)

5) Acquire a "Bandanna" do
I should have known from his pick-up line that he was not the sharpest crayola in the box.
Anyway, when I met Mr. Bandanna, he said "oh does your cell phone take pictures" yes that was the pickup line. Anyway, he got my attention and later that night won me over by cooking some really great after bar food.

I ended up dating Mr. Bandanna for 7 months and the whole time he wore either a hat or a bandanna... AT ALL TIMES!!!

Naturally, I tried to take his hat off once or twice and he told me that he had recently gotten a bad haircut from a drunken friend. mm hmmm.

Well I found out the truth after I broke it off. I was speaking with a guy friend and he said "Oh you broke up with that guy? Good. He used to lie to his ex-girlfriend about stuff." Intrigued, I said "like what kind of stuff?" he replied "oh, like he'd wear a toupee and lie about it, he told her it wasn't a toupee"

tip: don't hide baldness and tell her it's from a "bad haircut," we don't mind as long as you don't hide it.

6) Get caught sighing on her voice mail
oh dear oh dear. I actually liked this guy at one point. Oh well, I guess the longer I hold out the crazier they get.

If you are looking to impress a girl, do NOT repeatedly call her at the very last minute and try to visit her apartment. It's just not appropriate. But alas, some guy thought I would be down with it after just meeting him on the train. So, after telling him several times, I'd rather just meet at a bar or lounge or anywhere but my apartment, this guy still didn't give up. So I had to stop answering his phone calls.

Anyway, I may have even given him another chance except the last time he called he "accidentally" left a voice mail of him sighing... that's it just a "ughhhhh" over the fact I didn't answer. Sorry man.

tip: You can sigh when being rejected, just don't get caught.

7) Stop your vehicle in the middle of park avenue to acquire a phone number
First of all it's not very safe. Second of all it makes you look like a crazy person. Nonetheless, I guess age has no effect on who will and who won't do crazy things to get a girl's attention.

One cold NY day this older man (who had a very appropriate name actually) just needed to get my number so badly he almost ran over the median (and me) in his SUV. I mean c'mon I know blond hair is a little rare in NY but really I'm not that distracting. So please do not endanger the public or your safety in an attempt to get a girls number.

tip: Driving rules still apply even if a girl crosses the street in front of you.

8) Declare love for her hair and eye color in a voice mail
I was 26 in the park after a long long weekend of school. I didn't even have any makeup on. I was wearing torn jeans and a U.S.M.C. hooded sweatshirt. His pickup line was "Can I sit here?" I didn't care where he sat because I was just done with a long weekend of grad-school and enjoying having nothing to do (really I didn't know what to do with myself). I had a boyfriend and even mentioned my bf at the time but I guess he didn't care.

I never spoke with this guy again but I was duped into thinking he was normal and I did share my phone # with him after a few "normal" emails (shit). So, one night I got a voicemail that states... " I have feelings for you and 50% of it has to do with your hair color, another 20% of it is your eye color and the rest of it is your personality..."

tip: hair color and eye color are not good enough reasons to be head-over-heels.

So that is it. Perhaps one of you gentlemen can explain it all. Or not. either way it's kinda funny.
Na' night and I really hope girls are not this crazy but I have a feeling some are.