Picture time

Taken on my way back from lunch. No matter where I go I can't escape the sci fi.


UNRELATED
Quote of the day: I happen to share an office with one of my best friends. We were just working on a math related problem and her answer was incorrect. So she says, "Sweetie, I'm an engineer. I don't do math"

What I am reading: Apple website instructions on how to fix my iPod. I think I might have lost it for good.
What I am listening to: Got 2 Be Down - Thicke

Reality Check

Ok, folks. It is 64 degrees out today (SIXTY FUCKING FOUR) and I am erecting the mother of all Christmas trees in my living room. It does not feel right to be doing this. I need cold weather. Also, some snow. Snow would be helpful.

Its just too hot for a tree or cookie baking or any other XMAS related activity. It is also too hot to ice skate (I was just there and the Zamboni is crusing by every 15 minutes).

Bring on the cold! Except maybe not until after my office XMAS party because I am wearing these shoes:



Clearly, they are not meant for cold weather. And yes, the toenails will be bright red.

What I am reading: The McSweeney's Book of Lists
What I am listening to: Jackson Waters - Center of Attention

The Eccentric Neighbor

I have this neighbor that most of my other neighbors consider a bit eccentric. He lives in his sister's basement and never really make eye contact with anyone. He also says things that most people would consider unwarranted and rude.

The first couple of times he spoke to me I made a mental note to keep my child really far away from him. Now that I have known him for a while I have become convinced that he has Aspberger's Syndrome. He is way too socially inappropriate not to.

For example:
This morning I was walking up my driveway and he gave a little wave from across the street and yelled, "Hey Nadine, you are getting fat again".

Seriously people, who says that? I laughed (because A. it's true and, B. it was funny because it was so unexpected) but the other people out on the street did not. He is a very nice man once you get over the fact that he is wayyyyyy different from anyone else you know.

What I am reading: Maya Angelou - The Welcome Table.
What I am listening to: Flamenco Sketches - Miles Davis

Extra Yummy

Now that the cool weather is upon us I have taken to spending all of my time in the kitchen. In the last 3 days I have made:

lasagna
butternut squash ravioli(with my very own homemade pasta)
pomegranate jelly
Maultaschen (that just means extra yummy in German)
pasta sauces (red and alfredo)

None of this food is for Thanksgiving. I am stocking up my freezer because we are always on the go during the winter and I don't have time to cook everyday the way I want to. This way we can spend the entire afternoon away from home and still have a great meal for dinner. Also, when I say "we" I really mean me.

Stop by, I'll throw something in the oven for you.

What I am reading: The Joy of Cooking.
What I am listening to: A mash-up of Gwen Stefani and Lady Sovereign set to Yummy.

Ask me about my STD

I spent my lunch hour at the grocery store today. I finally got around to planning my Thanksgiving Day menu and, more importantly, I finally got around to shopping.

There was a woman who stalked me through the produce section. She had on a t-shirt that said, "Ask me about my STD". Now, at first I laughed because I thought it was kind of funny. Then, I started to wonder if maybe she was wearing it in an effort to start dialogue about her specific STD. Did she have HIV and think that by wearing the t-shirt she could engage strangers in round table discussions about the importance of safe sex? Was she wearing the tee in place of a scarlet letter? In an effort to repel the majority of the population?

I asked her (have I mentioned my complete lack of social filter?). She said it was her daughter's tee and that she just thought it was funny; which it kind of is. If you can get over the STD part. Then she gave me her number and told me to call her. I am now left wondering if a (possibly disease ridden) woman wants me.

What I am reading: Martha Stewart Living - the cookie issue
What I am listening to: We're Still Friends - Donny Hathaway

Two of a Kind

JL is my oldest friend. We went to elementary school together in Germany and my father (to this day) still refers to her as my partner in crime. That statement should tell you everything you need to know about the two of us together.

JL is also the only other person I know that is as neurotic as I am. She will overanalyze everything just like me. She has a strategy for every situation....much like me she has a well thought out escape plan for most situations(that never quite lives up to expectations).

Sometimes when she says things I wonder if I sound as crazy as she does and inevitably the answer is "yes". I have often wondered if there was something that happened in our youth that made us this way. We honestly did everything together; when my family went on vacation she came along.

During one fateful trip to Italy, JL fell and cut her knee open. She refused stiches, but the doctor insisted that she stay out of the water. That didn't work out so well because JL and I spent everyday at the beach. The vacation was cut short because my mother swore that there would be an infection due to the lack of stiches (there wasn't, but she does have a scar).

JL has recently developed a bit of a crush on a state trooper. Together we decided that it would in no way be advantagous to stalk a trooper (which is her usual method of telling a boy she likes him. Sometimes it is my method as well). This morning she called me and we had this exchange:

Me: What are you doing today?
JL: Driving the stretch of road in front of the trooper's station going 80 mph. The speed limit is 35.
Me: Are you hoping he'll pull you over?
JL: Yep

That sounds exactly like something I would do.

What I am reading: The Wonder Spot - Melissa Bank
What I am listening to: Say Say Say - The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Its beginning to look alot like Christmas

Generally, I hate hearing about Christmas until the day AFTER Thanksgiving, but I became inundated with catalogs of every kind about two weeks ago. Then, last week the commercials started. I was at my breaking point and then I saw the Tord Boontje for Target ad and now I am a wee bit excited (and not just because I covet all things Dutch).

I am starting to get excited at the prospect of decorating my house and putting up our tree, although, honestly, I still have my Halloween decorations up. The plan is to start decorating the day after Thanksgiving.

I'm also excited about holiday parties. Dressing up, drinking gluhwein, seeing people I only get to see occasionally (plus, soft lighting. Everybody looks better in soft lighting). I'm also taking Mr. Little Man to Slava's Snow Show, which we are both immensely excited about. AND! Keith and I are going to see the Nets / 76ers game. I sprung for really good seats....it was my Christmas gift to myself.

I am not excited about the prospect of shopping. I have shopped for most of my family, but the hard part is yet to come. Mr. Little Man gets help from a small army of people (I usually refer to them as my "support staff"): 1 occupational therapist, 1 adaptive physical education teacher, 1 speech therapist, 3 ABA therapists, 1 teach, 1 aide, 1 behaviorist.....the list goes on but, the final number is 13 people. What am I supposed to buy for these people? The are integral to our lives and they have made our lives so much better so I do want to acknowledge them somehow.

What I am reading: Strange Pilgrims - Gabriel Garcia Marquez. What? I'm feeling a little regretful and I could use a little magical realism in my life.
What I am listening to: Supersonic - JJ Fad. I'm blaming Fergie for this.

What else is there to say?

Ummm, yeah, that about sums it up!

What I am reading: Paperwork from my attorney. Urrrghhhh, my head hurts
What I am listening to: Scissor Sisters - I Can't Decide

Thank you God for the nice face but the fat ass has to go.

This post has nothing to do with the size of my ass, but I needed to deflect some attention away from the fact that I am 1 post behind the every other day thing.

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So, my father spent 4 glorious days with us. We actually had a really good time together. He and Mr. Little Man adore each other. Of course, it helps that my father takes him to a different toy store everyday. The "rule" according to my father is that whatever Mr. Little Man picks out he has to buy for him. Let's just refer to my father as Superwallet from now on, 'kay?

-

Our search for a new daycare is not doing as well as I'd hoped. I have had a headache for a week now and I am pretty sure the only thing that will make it go away is a drink, a massage or a man. Or perhaps a drunken massage by a man.

What I am reading: My Little Man keeps bringing me the Toys 'R' Us catalog. He already ows everything in it so I am not sure why.
What I am listening to: the Academy Is... - Slow Down

Musical Beds

But first...I know that I said I'd post ever other day in November and yes, I did miss yesterday, HOWEVER, I was at the Rutgers game. Clearly, attending a football game at my alma mater was way more important (GO RUTGERS!).

So, my father is in town for a few days. Mr. Little Man has a short break from school and what with him no longer being welcome at any establishments that offer child care services we had to enlist some grandparent type help. You know how that goes, right? I digress.

What interests me here is the game of musical beds we three are currently playing. When it is just the two of us we battle every night at bedtime about Mr. Little Man sleeping in his own room. He requires much less sleep that I do so usually he creeps into my room once he is ready to "really" sleep as opposed to the faux sleeping he does to get me to stop badgering him about staying in his own room. I sleep like a dead person so I never notice that someone has crawled into bed with me. Until he does one of the following:

1. gets rid of ALL of the covers
2. steals all of my pillows (minimum of 3)
3. lays across the bed horizontally while I lay vertically
4. hangs around my neck like an albatross

The original sleeping scenario with our visitor was that Mr. Little Man would sleep in his room, my father would sleep in my room and I would sleep on the couch. I happen to know that Mr. Little Man changed sleeping locations 6 times, I changed locations 5 times and my Dad changed locations twice.

Tonight I am adding an air mattress in an effort to mix things up.

What I am reading: Cookbooks. I am getting ready for Thanksgiving (In my house we sarcastically refer to Thanksgiving as the "holiday during which we celebrate the slaughter of the indigenous peoples").
What I am listening to: Death Cab for Cutie - I will follow you into the dark.

I need to win the lottery. STAT!

I spent Sunday visiting Jules and the Gue in Philly. I love Philadelphia, I always have. If Pennsylvania had educational laws that favored special education students I would seriously consider moving there. I spend a fair amount of time in New York City, but Philly is completely different and I visit Jules as often as I can. It's quieter, cleaner, the folks are so much nicer (when I mentioned this to the Gue he looked at me like I had 2 heads), its easier to get around (and find parking). I would honestly love to live there.

So much in fact, that I started looking for a brownstone there a year ago.....I keep saying it is for "investment" purposes (I don't care what anybody says. It is soooooo much more affordable than New Jersey). Not actively or even too seriously, but I check the listings at least once a month and I drive around Fairmount whenever I am there.

There was a church for sale down the street from Jules and I jokingly told her a year ago that we should buy it and turn it into condos. Except that it took us about 1 nanosecond to realize that neither of us had any money, so there went that idea. Needless to say some other very enterprising people had the same idea. They also had an open house on Sunday and Jules had heard that the units were going for about $350,00.00, so we thought we'd take a look.

HOLY CRAP! The first couple of apartments we looked at we liked. They were spread out over several floors and they were very modern looking, which doesn't really suit my taste, but stil, very nice apartments. And then, the pi'ece de resistance, the last apartment I looked at I fell in love with (It was the Apse). Some highlights:
The church dome serves as the dining room ceiling (please note the living room is the balcony that looks down upon the dining room). All original woodwork, stained glass window encompassing all 3 floors, original lighting, wine storage (ya'll know I love me some wine); I could go on all day.

The place is completely impractical for me. It doesn't have a yard or even space for a basketball hoop (must have item). Also, there is the little matter about me not being able to afford it; it costs a mere $1,150,00.00. And I'm not even thinking about heating costs, cooling costs, maintenance, taxes or parking. The problem is that I can't stop thinking about this stupid apartment. My furniture is perfect for that apartment. I could make a life there, It is within walking distance of Whole Foods and (my) Starbucks (Callowhill & 20th), the Art Museum, Fairmount Park. All the stuff I do when I am in Philly. Therefore I am now making a lottery win for myself a top priority. I must have this apartment, as a second home, of course. If some already rich person hasn't bought it out from under me.

I'll solve the problem about where to get 20 foot curtains later.

What I am reading: Don't make me say it.....I haven't cracked a book in DAYS. Mr. Little Man has been kicked out of daycare. I have searched for behaviorists to help with his biting issues (he also tried to lick someone in the Supermarket yesterday). A lottery win would look so good right now.
What I am listening to: Marin Gaye and Tammi Terrell - Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing

Stories I've Been Meaning to Tell, Pt. 1

Last winter, in preparation for my upcoming vacation, I decided to see a dermatologist for the first time since the teen years (when I had acne like no one else on Earth). I have some sun spots and they had been getting slightly larger so I figured I'd better get myself to the doctor before things got out of hand.

She looked at the spots and said, "It's not cancer. Yet." She advised me to check the spots occasionally and make sure that they were staying uniform in size and color. Then I asked her if I should be using anything particular on my skin. I often feel like I don't articulate things well enough because what I meant was what type of product should I be using, i.e., a particular moisturizer or cleanser?

The answer I got was "BOTOX". The woman did not miss a beat as she launched into this long tirade about how it would solve my problem with wrinkles. Up until this point I didn't even think I had wrinkles. Although, in all honesty, I hadn't even thought about aging, wrinkles or even eye cream.

The more I thought about it the more I realized she was just trying to pad her bottom line by feeding into insecurities that I didn't have (again, too lazy to care much about what I look like).

Now, of course, I have a whole other problem. I have developed a very unusual skin texture and my skin has become very blotchy (I swear my skin looks either extremely yellow or bright red). I have been ignoring it for about 3 months, but it just got to the point where I needed to go back to the dermatologist, albeit, a different dermatologist.

I asked around and several people kept directing me to a doctor that everyone descrbed as "great". She prescribed a cream for my skin issues and as she handed me the application directions she mentioned in passing that it would also help with my wrinkles.

I can not win. Apparently I do have wrinkles, or every dermatologist that I end up seeing is a complete ass.

What I am reading: I am drag assing here folks.....I still haven't finished Stardust.
What I am listening to: Miles Davis - Love Songs

NaBloPoMo

So, November is National Blog Posting Month......or NaBloPoMo as it is referred to. The challenge is post something on your blog every day for a month.

I have a 4 year old that has to get driven to swim class and soccer practice (SIDEBAR: Reality just sank in with the realization that I am a soccer mom. WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME? MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHY DIDN'T I NOTICE????). Unfortunately I do not have the time or energy to post something every day, so I am laying out an every other day challenge to myself.

Yes, I am counting this as a post.

What I am reading: Ummmm, it almost midnight and I feel like the living dead. My day started with (TMI alert!) girly hormones, picking someone up from jail (JAIL, folks!), getting a call from Mr. Little Man's school about his 104 degree fever, bailing at the last minute on my dear friend Alicja's birthday luncheon and a visit to the ER. All before 11:30 am.
What I am listening to: The dulcet tones of Mr. Little Man's snoring. Poor kid is all kinds of congested.

My new TV boyfriend

A couple of weeks ago NBC ran a Heroes marathon and (since it was a Sunday night) I got sucked in. I am now in love with Hiro Nakamura.

Let's examine the evidence; shall we?
Totally aDORKable? CHECK.
Science fiction geek? CHECK.
Makes appropriate Star Trek references at inappropriate times? CHECK.
Excited that his future self carries a sword? CHECK.
Equally geeky side kick? CHECK. (Sidebar: it doesn't matter that said sidekick is a big fan of watching women strip via the internet. Which of us hasn't enjoyed some internet porn at one point in their lives? EXACTLY.)
Likes comic books? CHECK.

He has all the makings of a TV boyfriend. Runners-up include:
1. Mohinder Suresh - also from Hereos
2. Chief Galen Tyrol - (DUH!) Battlestar Galactica (who was only ousted from the top stop because he couldn't figure out that Gaeta was the administration mole. Dude, who else could it have been). Also, I have a weekness for men that can fix things and this guy built a damn spaceship!
3. McSteamy - Grey's Anatomy. The consensus that he is hotter when he is not talking is correct.

What I am reading - Neil Gaiman - Stardust
What I am listening to - Amy Winehouse - Love Is Blind. I had kind of forgotten a bit about Amy and then I heard the song "Rehab" and my memory snapped back.