Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Whatcha Gonna Do with All that Brick?


Here's a blurry photo of our living room and its brick walls. So far we only have one adornment, a 52" flatscreen TV which hasn't been mounted yet.

M has a ton of paintings and artwork from his family and thrift store purchases. Those will easily take up the walls that aren't brick.

What to do with those? I can't imagine picture frames are going to be easy to tack into brick. My friend has this 'bird wall' in which every image is a bird in a different picture frame. I love the idea of pictures in frames as 'wallpaper.' The pic below is from Domino Magazine's website.

http://www.dominomag.com/galleries/objects/accessories/art/family_photos_04

I wouldn't necessarily do this in a bathroom as they have, but still worth investigating. This look is a bit cluttered for my taste, but trimming it down to a few choice images in huge frames would be right up my alley.


Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Gift Giving Made Simple?

Alls of a sudden it's wedding season again.

Though really, it seems everyone's getting engaged and setting dates these days.

I've been fairly busy lately and last Friday I got notice that the month of April will be booked with Bridal Showers. I didn't even realize there was such a thing. What a novice.

I think I get one weekend to myself that has nothing to do with a wedding. That being said, it's a good thing for bridal registries because what do you get someone you've known for 20 years on their special day? It's a lot of pressure I feel.

Lord knows the suggestions on the web don't do much to preserve one's sense of pride and dignity.

I think I'd get laughed out of the shower if I showed up with this suggested item from jcpenny.com:

Or, for a more modern twist on tacky gift items:
Personalized caketoppers! http://www.tybinc.com/cid-47-1/wedding_cake_toppers.html
Just what every couple needs from their nearest and dearest!

Things that make you go hmmmnnnn....


Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Boston Added to the M&M World Tour!

Thanks to the gracious hosting of pal, LG, BOSTON, MA has now been added to the M&M world tour.

Dates are May 22-24.

woot.woot.

Friday, February 6, 2009

M & M World Tour 2009

M and I just finished planning the first leg of our 2009 world tour.

Eggs-citing!

Mar 14-23- Costa Rica
Mar 27-30- Florida
May 13-17- San Francisco

We are more than happy to take requests on other locations that may need our services.

I anticipate adventure at every turn.

Coincidentally, two of the destinations require bathing suits. Hmnnn....getting back to my original birth weight in one month will be a challenge, but I am more than willing to try.

Holler.


'In This Economy'-an urban poem

'In This Economy'

You can't get no job
You can't get no satisfaction

It's just me and the tumbleweed
wondering where to go and what to do next

Scrounging around for pennies for those rainy days
Hot dang-
It's pouring.

It's all over your face.

Tell me, how does it taste?

Oh, Hi! ...O

Work sent me on a 5-day technology extravaganza to Ohio.

I will say I was less than thrilled at the notion of going to a freezing state in the beginning of February. Nonetheless, the constant buzz of people during the 3-day conference kept me energized.

During set up I got to get a real taste of Americana. The weekend before our conference coincided with a Anime convention for teens. Kids were dressed up as Rainbow Bright, Pichachu, and other characters I will never know nor care to know. Makes me nervous to think of the state of America's youth. In addition to the tween gaming expo, there was also a cheerleading tournament. Honestly, people watching during Saturday and Sunday was the most excitement I'd gotten the whole time.

I couldn't find a dang thing to do near my hotel, but at the same time, I was too tired after a whole day of chatting people up to explore.

It's perhaps sad, but there are definitely places in this world that are not on my radar to visit. Ohio was one of them. Can't say I disagree with that notion after I've been there.

Here are others:
Minnesota
Wisconsin
North and South Dakota
Missouri
Kansas
Nebraska

I could go on, but I think you get the picture.

I'm not trying to be a snot. I swear.




Wednesday, January 28, 2009

SNOW DAY

I was originally gonna post about my spin class yesterday. It had been the first time I'd been to the gym in months. I used to go to the gym at least 3-4 times a week in SF.

My girl B hooked me up with a free pass to her gym for a few days. While I think it's a smidge pricey for this pauper ($173/mo!), it is definitely what I needed. I can't say how energizing it was to work my way threw a whole class without having to take breaks.

I figure at this point, whatever is going on with my knee is going to get handled eventually. Might at well fuck all, deal with the pain, and go back to my regular routine until I can see a real doctor about it. No sense staying in this fat bod any longer than necessary.

So I woke up this morning thinking what a nightmare it's going to be to get to work during the mess of a snow storm we are having in NYC.

Lo and behold, I checked my phone and the office manager had sent us a text: Stay home. Snow Day!

What a marvelous treat! I haven't had a snow day since 8th grade...AND I went to college in Syracuse.

Today I will get to my errands, hit the gym, and check out the Knicks at MSG!

We have an extra ticket so if anyone wants to go, lemme know!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Hassan/Closer to the Earth

When I was a kid, my brother had a friend who lived across the street. His name was Hassan and he would come over to play video games.

Every time he'd come through the door, he'd take off his shoes which I thought was kinda funny because we never required him to do that. He'd always insisted he take off his shoes as soon as he came in.

The basis for feet symbolism goes back to the Vedic conception of the universe as the body of God. Just like a body has high and low parts so this universe has high and low, pure and impure places. Up is high, down is low. Feet touch the ground, which is low, and so when you enter a temple you leave your low part at the door. We take off our impure part, our feet, symbolized by leaving our shoes at the door as we enter sacred space. You might say we leave our materialistic side at the door when we enter spiritual space.
http://www.sanskrit.org/www/Hindu%20Primer/feetsymbolism.html

Saturday, I went to meet up with my friend N who had just come back from a 7 week stint in his native India. He told me about all his adventures and I couldn't help but kick myself. He'd been planning this trip since before I left San Francisco. He was going back for the occasion of his cousin's wedding and I offered myself up as a cheap date.

I can't believe I didn't book my ticket right then and there. Where is my sense of adventure these days? Lost in the midst of watching other people's failed risk? Who knows!

He told me about taking a 6 hour hike at the base of the river that feeds into the Himalayas. (I could be entirely making up that last sentence as he was telling me these stories over vodka tonics.) Point is, he's walking on this hike with this little boy who is describing defense mechanisms in the event that they run into a tiger. A TIGER. Can you imagine?

I'd prolly piss myself and get eaten up on the spot.

Back to tigers and other animals. Then N narrated another time he met up with his artist pal who is there working on, what else, art. Again, details evade me. I'm not sure what part of India they were during this adventure. All I remember is they are making their way through miles of wildlife when they get to a clearing. Artist Pal who is ahead gasps with what N described as fear. N catches up and sees a fresh hyena corpse!

Do you know anything about hyenas? From The African Wildlife Federation website:
The spotted hyena is a skillful hunter but also an opportunistic scavenger. It consumes animals of various types and sizes, carrion, bones, vegetable matter and other animals' droppings. The powerful jaws and digestive tract of the hyena allow it to process and obtain nutrients from skin and bones. The only parts of prey not fully digested are hair, horns and hooves; these are regurgitated in the form of pellets.

They eat everything but hair and horns! SICK, DUDE!

So the moral of all this is: drop your plans. Live life! Take adventures when you can! Don't get eaten by hyenas! Be thankful for the spirituality of your being!

Also, our president is Barack Obama. Officially.


Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Passport Photo

Someone's confused my passport photo order.

Someone gave me the wrong pictures back! Who's that fat fuck with the unruly hair and jowels?

Oh, wait. What? That IS...me?

Ay Chihuahuas.

Remember that time I said I could stand to lose like 5 lbs or so? Make that 30.

Mama mia, this baby beluga bit is not becoming of me. Everyone warned me about living with a boy and following their habits. I've fallen prey! I've fallen prey!

No, but really, I have to give up my bad habits. This morning my boss caught me with a hot chocolate and a half a cupcake. He asked what my mother would say if she saw me eating such an unbalanced meal.

I'm not sure, really. I don't think she knows that I eat utter crap if left to my own devices.

So I'm back on my 'no solids' diet. Let's see how long this one lasts.