250,000 people are being evacuated. Jen and Alanna are just two of them. Carlos is staying behind for work. Jen and Peanut are heading out to Palm Springs with Yude and Molly. I feel better knowing they're going. Jamie is apparently far enough away that she's alright, but told me she had some ash on her car and could see the smoke in the sky. If it gets bad I know she'll go too.
San Diego has become one of my favorite places to visit, not just because the Archuletas have made their home there (and JSD too). I feel extremely relaxed each time I go out there-and that's tough to do with Alanna hitting the peak of the terrible two's (as I said to Jen last time I was out there, "You know what's going to be awesome? Three!"). It's just an amazing place to be, complete with zoos, wineries, and really great people. I've been lucky enough to become friends with Jen's friends (especially Yuderson, who when I said I might be coming back in the spring threatened me with bodily harm until I said that I would definitely be coming back in the spring). It feels like another home to me.
So as cheesy as it sounds, I'm thinking about the good people of San Diego right now, and hoping this gets under control as soon as possible. And I can't wait to be back out there in a few months.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
I'm Not Stalking Mary-Louise Parker
Really. I'm not. She just happens to live the next block over from me. And I tend to run into her as she's walking her children through the park. She's lovely. Tiny, pretty, and always wearing something I covet. Yet I'd never say a word to her. That's just the New York way. We see, we smile, we move on. My neighborhood is a hotspot for celebrity sightings. I see Philip Seymour Hoffman all the time. I saw Aida Tuturro and her adorable dog in the dog run. I've yet to see Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, however. Her I'm whatever about, but a Ferris sighting might be fun. And can I just take this opportunity to say that I must be the only woman in all of New York who couldn't give a shit less about the "Sex and The City" movie? I mean, was it really necessary? At this point, there's no reason to see it anyway because the press has printed about six million stills from the shoot everywhere. You know, I actually sort of didn't mind the show when it first came on, but by the end I was so sick of Carrie and her whining, and the only characters I really liked were Miranda and Steve.
But I digress.
In other news, it was a rather eventful weekend. Friday, after doing some store checks with Kim, we headed back to Hoboken to have some beers. I ended up getting rather sad and nostalgic for my Hoboken days. I really loved it out there. On the PATH back into the city I started to think about the fact that the person who lived there and the person I currently am are two different people, and there's a lot I miss about Hoboken-era Jen. Maybe I can work on finding that feeling again. Not sure. It might have left when D did.
Saturday, a large group of us made it out to Long Island for some pumpkin picking, pie eating and wine tasting. All-in-all it was a really fun day, and it was great to have the majority of my friends in one spot. Things are so different now. It's hard to get us all together these days. Everyone has their own lives....it all sounds so trite but I wish sometimes that we could be like we used to be. Just be able to pick up and go away for a weekend without any of the responsibilities of debt, marriages, relationships in general, big people jobs, and of course, children. Granted I probably wouldn't be saying that if I was in a relationship and spawning. I just think about how nice it would be to be able to call up some of my friends and say "come get a drink with me" and not have a litany of reasons why they can't. Just how life goes, I guess.
Which brings us to Sunday. I decided to call things off with G. It was a long time coming, since we've been involved for several months, and I've been bored for most of it. He's a really sweet guy, but there was no spark. I've had most of my friends tell me that I probably won't get butterflies everytime I start a new relationship. But I wanted something...anything at all! Put it this way: In most other relationships I've been in, at the end of a long day all I wanted to do was either call the guy up and tell him about the little details of my day or skip the phone call completely and go be with them. I cancelled plans with my friends to be with them. I was disappointed if the guy cancelled on me! With G, if he cancelled, I was anything but disappointed. Free night for me! I had plans with him on Friday, and about midway through my second drink with Kim I realized I had absolutely no desire to leave Hoboken and go see him-I wanted to stay with my friend. No offense to Kim, but I should have wanted to return to the city immediately to see him. It just wasn't there, and I tried, I really did, but the last thing I wanted to do was force it. There was also the fact that he seemed completely indifferent to me at times. I don't know if that was just his laid back/pseudo-stoner attitude, or maybe he just wasn't a PDA sort of guy. I just wanted some indication that he actually was into me. So when he called me on Sunday and I broke it to him that this wasn't working, I kind of hoped for something to indicate that maybe I was being hasty. A "I really liked hanging out with you." Or how about a simple "I like you!" Nothing. I think I regretted my choice for about a second. Now my attitude is, on to the next one. Maybe I should try double-dating with Mary-Louise Parker....
But I digress.
In other news, it was a rather eventful weekend. Friday, after doing some store checks with Kim, we headed back to Hoboken to have some beers. I ended up getting rather sad and nostalgic for my Hoboken days. I really loved it out there. On the PATH back into the city I started to think about the fact that the person who lived there and the person I currently am are two different people, and there's a lot I miss about Hoboken-era Jen. Maybe I can work on finding that feeling again. Not sure. It might have left when D did.
Saturday, a large group of us made it out to Long Island for some pumpkin picking, pie eating and wine tasting. All-in-all it was a really fun day, and it was great to have the majority of my friends in one spot. Things are so different now. It's hard to get us all together these days. Everyone has their own lives....it all sounds so trite but I wish sometimes that we could be like we used to be. Just be able to pick up and go away for a weekend without any of the responsibilities of debt, marriages, relationships in general, big people jobs, and of course, children. Granted I probably wouldn't be saying that if I was in a relationship and spawning. I just think about how nice it would be to be able to call up some of my friends and say "come get a drink with me" and not have a litany of reasons why they can't. Just how life goes, I guess.
Which brings us to Sunday. I decided to call things off with G. It was a long time coming, since we've been involved for several months, and I've been bored for most of it. He's a really sweet guy, but there was no spark. I've had most of my friends tell me that I probably won't get butterflies everytime I start a new relationship. But I wanted something...anything at all! Put it this way: In most other relationships I've been in, at the end of a long day all I wanted to do was either call the guy up and tell him about the little details of my day or skip the phone call completely and go be with them. I cancelled plans with my friends to be with them. I was disappointed if the guy cancelled on me! With G, if he cancelled, I was anything but disappointed. Free night for me! I had plans with him on Friday, and about midway through my second drink with Kim I realized I had absolutely no desire to leave Hoboken and go see him-I wanted to stay with my friend. No offense to Kim, but I should have wanted to return to the city immediately to see him. It just wasn't there, and I tried, I really did, but the last thing I wanted to do was force it. There was also the fact that he seemed completely indifferent to me at times. I don't know if that was just his laid back/pseudo-stoner attitude, or maybe he just wasn't a PDA sort of guy. I just wanted some indication that he actually was into me. So when he called me on Sunday and I broke it to him that this wasn't working, I kind of hoped for something to indicate that maybe I was being hasty. A "I really liked hanging out with you." Or how about a simple "I like you!" Nothing. I think I regretted my choice for about a second. Now my attitude is, on to the next one. Maybe I should try double-dating with Mary-Louise Parker....
Thursday, October 11, 2007
I Watch TV
It's not a lie. I do in fact watch TV. A lot of it. I'm not ashamed. At this point, it's a badge of honor. My vast amount of useless knowledge has to come from somewhere, right? And it's not like I'm a shut in and that's all I do. I read too! Apparently I also write.
So from time to time I'm going to write about what I'm currently watching on TV. Again, there's a lot. But I'll pick and choose.
There hasn't been all that much in the crop of new shows that have caught my eye. I probably would have watched "Chuck," except I was so beaten over the head with ads for it that I was completely turned off. Aaron informed me that it was a good thing I'm not a football fan, because when "House" was about to come on a few years ago, all sports fans were apparently inundated with the same ad for my favorite TV doctor. I'm not sure why the ad people think this is a good strategy, but I guess it works since I read this morning that "Chuck" was picked up by the network.
The only two shows that even seemed remotely interesting to me were "Pushing Daisies" and "Dirty Sexy Money." "Pushing Daisies" was too colorful for me not to check out. The first episode, or the "Pie-lette" as it was so cleverly called, was fun. It's the story of a man who discovered as a child that he had an interesting gift-he could bring the dead back to life with one touch. There are several caveats, however (as there always are). They can only stay alive for one minute, or someone else has to die to take their place. And a second touch will kill them again, forever. It's very quirky-in fact, my first thought when watching it was that this was "Six Feet Under" on crack. My concern for this show is that it might be too cutesy for its own good, and the shtick might wear thin quickly. But I think I'll stick it out for a couple more episodes, if for no other reason that apparently Paul Reubens is going to be a guest star at some point.
"Dirty Sexy Money" was an instant draw based on the presence of both Peter Krause and Donald Sutherland. After loving Michael C. Hall as "Dexter" (one of my new favorites as well), I figured I should see what the other Fisher brother was up to. "Dirty Sexy Money" is a throwback to the nighttime soaps my parents used to watch: "Dynasty," "Dallas," etc. It's trashy, the performances are over the top, and I love it. I'd say my only issue is that I've been supremely spoiled by "Arrested Development." I'm comparing all of the characters to the Bluths. Two completely different shows, that's for sure.
So there you go, the first installment of what I'm sure will be a long running feature here at Binky the Doormat. I'm Jen, I Watch TV, and I'm proud of it.
So from time to time I'm going to write about what I'm currently watching on TV. Again, there's a lot. But I'll pick and choose.
There hasn't been all that much in the crop of new shows that have caught my eye. I probably would have watched "Chuck," except I was so beaten over the head with ads for it that I was completely turned off. Aaron informed me that it was a good thing I'm not a football fan, because when "House" was about to come on a few years ago, all sports fans were apparently inundated with the same ad for my favorite TV doctor. I'm not sure why the ad people think this is a good strategy, but I guess it works since I read this morning that "Chuck" was picked up by the network.
The only two shows that even seemed remotely interesting to me were "Pushing Daisies" and "Dirty Sexy Money." "Pushing Daisies" was too colorful for me not to check out. The first episode, or the "Pie-lette" as it was so cleverly called, was fun. It's the story of a man who discovered as a child that he had an interesting gift-he could bring the dead back to life with one touch. There are several caveats, however (as there always are). They can only stay alive for one minute, or someone else has to die to take their place. And a second touch will kill them again, forever. It's very quirky-in fact, my first thought when watching it was that this was "Six Feet Under" on crack. My concern for this show is that it might be too cutesy for its own good, and the shtick might wear thin quickly. But I think I'll stick it out for a couple more episodes, if for no other reason that apparently Paul Reubens is going to be a guest star at some point.
"Dirty Sexy Money" was an instant draw based on the presence of both Peter Krause and Donald Sutherland. After loving Michael C. Hall as "Dexter" (one of my new favorites as well), I figured I should see what the other Fisher brother was up to. "Dirty Sexy Money" is a throwback to the nighttime soaps my parents used to watch: "Dynasty," "Dallas," etc. It's trashy, the performances are over the top, and I love it. I'd say my only issue is that I've been supremely spoiled by "Arrested Development." I'm comparing all of the characters to the Bluths. Two completely different shows, that's for sure.
So there you go, the first installment of what I'm sure will be a long running feature here at Binky the Doormat. I'm Jen, I Watch TV, and I'm proud of it.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Taste
I started cooking again fairly recently. I wouldn't call myself a top notch chef by any stretch of the imagination. I'm great at following recipes, but I get nervous anytime I have to deviate from what's on the paper in front of me. Just last night I was trying to make chili using a recipe Nicole gave me, and I went into full panic mode when I couldn't find several of the ingredients listed on the page. But what I lack in flexibility I gain in enthusiasm. I consider any edible meal an achievement, as evidenced by my pure and utter joy when my chili came out quite well, thank you very much.
I stopped cooking a few years ago when my relationship ended, mostly because the memories were too painful. I absolutely loved cooking for D. I was a happy homemaker, pawing through recipe books, shopping for boxes of meats and vegetables from Fresh Direct, cooking extravagent meals and taking full delight in any compliment I received from him. I relished my hours in the kitchen. As far as I was concerned, a well cooked meal was an extension of how much I loved him.
When we broke up, that excitement for cooking shrivled up along with several other things I used to take simple pleasure in. Certain songs became too difficult to listen too (I still can't hear The Cure or Weezer without thinking of him), movies, TV shows, even restaurants...they were all him, and our relationship. Cooking represented something that I had done for us, and to do it for only me just seemed pathetic.
I made a half-assed effort to start cooking again in my old apartment, but Jay is a natural in the kitchen. I'd watch wide-eyed as he'd cook from scratch, throwing random spices into a pan in between pulls off his bowl, blasting his Ipod off the little travel speakers he has. Milo would wait patiently on the floor for Uncle Jay to drop anything, anything at all. He inspired me, but my attempts to contribute to the meals of our apartment just paled in comparison.
About a month or so ago, I was sitting in Aaron and Nicole's house and I noticed-don't laugh-a Kraft recipe magazine. It's some free thing she gets, but for whatever reason, just thumbing through the recipes, I got strangely inspired. Nicole signed me up for my own free Kraft magazine (which actually hasn't come yet) but for whatever reason, that got me going.
So, in the last few weeks I've started pawing through the recipe books again, buying boxes of food from Fresh Direct, and reveling in the pleasure it's giving me. Yes, I have Abby to sample my wares as well, but, no offense to her, this is for me. This is to show me I am allowed to love doing these things, that yes, I cooked for D, but hopefully someday I'll cook for someone else. And for now, I'm loving my time in the kitchen.
I stopped cooking a few years ago when my relationship ended, mostly because the memories were too painful. I absolutely loved cooking for D. I was a happy homemaker, pawing through recipe books, shopping for boxes of meats and vegetables from Fresh Direct, cooking extravagent meals and taking full delight in any compliment I received from him. I relished my hours in the kitchen. As far as I was concerned, a well cooked meal was an extension of how much I loved him.
When we broke up, that excitement for cooking shrivled up along with several other things I used to take simple pleasure in. Certain songs became too difficult to listen too (I still can't hear The Cure or Weezer without thinking of him), movies, TV shows, even restaurants...they were all him, and our relationship. Cooking represented something that I had done for us, and to do it for only me just seemed pathetic.
I made a half-assed effort to start cooking again in my old apartment, but Jay is a natural in the kitchen. I'd watch wide-eyed as he'd cook from scratch, throwing random spices into a pan in between pulls off his bowl, blasting his Ipod off the little travel speakers he has. Milo would wait patiently on the floor for Uncle Jay to drop anything, anything at all. He inspired me, but my attempts to contribute to the meals of our apartment just paled in comparison.
About a month or so ago, I was sitting in Aaron and Nicole's house and I noticed-don't laugh-a Kraft recipe magazine. It's some free thing she gets, but for whatever reason, just thumbing through the recipes, I got strangely inspired. Nicole signed me up for my own free Kraft magazine (which actually hasn't come yet) but for whatever reason, that got me going.
So, in the last few weeks I've started pawing through the recipe books again, buying boxes of food from Fresh Direct, and reveling in the pleasure it's giving me. Yes, I have Abby to sample my wares as well, but, no offense to her, this is for me. This is to show me I am allowed to love doing these things, that yes, I cooked for D, but hopefully someday I'll cook for someone else. And for now, I'm loving my time in the kitchen.
Welcome to Binky the Doormat
So after having my MySpace account hacked twice, I decided to take this elsewhere. Maybe I'll have a little more freedom to write here as well. All I know is that I should be doing more writing (everyone tells me as much), so here I am, and here it is.
Why the title? Well, for starters, it's the title of an REM song. Look it up, listen to it, love it. It comes from my favorite REM album, the very underrated "New Adventures in Hi-fi." Dennis and I used to talk about having a "soundtrack to your life," and almost every song on New Adventures would be on my soundtrack. (Actually, "So Fast So Numb"=Dennis, so there you go).
Ok, I started it. More to come....
Why the title? Well, for starters, it's the title of an REM song. Look it up, listen to it, love it. It comes from my favorite REM album, the very underrated "New Adventures in Hi-fi." Dennis and I used to talk about having a "soundtrack to your life," and almost every song on New Adventures would be on my soundtrack. (Actually, "So Fast So Numb"=Dennis, so there you go).
Ok, I started it. More to come....
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