Oh crap

Seven words you never want to hear from the guy driving your train:

"I just got on the wrong track."

And of course we're in the first car (which is why I even heard him say it in the first place). Thankfully we were the next stop. Cripes.

How to keep from staring at the person across from you

Every day as I ride to and from work, I see many people reading books on the train. I have not yet attempted it because I know it would drive me absolutely bonkers to read a book three pages at a time. I'm the kind of person that when I do read a book (which is not as often as I'd like), I'll sit down and either read the whole thing at once or maybe two settings. But generally not much more than that. So the idea of reading one 3 or 4 pages at a time while on the way to work or back does not appeal to me. At all.

But I have found a solution: magazines. Each page has its own story to tell, so it's quite easy to just flip through a few pages on the train and put it away as the train pulls into the station. And with my job, there are always plenty of free handout magazines. I'm currently working on the September edition of Everyday with Rachael Ray and I think I also have a Domino home magazine.

It's funny, for all the dreaming I've done about running my own magazine someday, I really haven't read or even looked at them much in the past. The habit can get a little expensive, and I just couldn't afford it. So I'm enjoying this little foray into my dreams (for free) on the train. Now if only Rachael Ray would hire me.

Four's a crowd?

Many of you know American Idol is one of my guilty pleasures. I can't help it. I love watching the terrible auditions and then I just get roped in. But I was reading this article earlier today that the show is adding a fourth judge. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Apparently this — hang on let me look up her name — Kara DioGuardi has done some neat stuff. But her name, to me at least, is fairly unrecognizable. And why, as my oh-so-smart husband pointed out, are they adding a SONGWRITER as a judge on a show where all they do is sing covers?

Oh, and does this mean we get to do the judge-picked songs for finalists in the fourth-to-last week instead of the third? I love that part.

The Furball

So, surprisingly, I haven't really posted much about our dog. So I'd like to take this time to introduce you to Thunder, our German Shepherd. Or rather, our German Shedder. As my sister noted when she was here recently, he sheds a LOT. So she sent us this handy little brush called a Furbuster. Here's the damage.

Note: I would just like to say our carpet/floors aren't usually THAT hairy. It's just the brushing. Note II. He has been brushed in the last year. Seriously.

This is the second brushing...the first and major one got thrown away before I got a pic.


For size comparison

Note that I already have the new Ikea catalog! One of the perks of my job.

Tonight I brushed him some more



Here he is showing off his shiny coat



I think I could've stuffed a small child's coat by now.

Scandalous

I'm having an affair. With my husband.

I learned this at work today. Let me just preface this with a little about our weekend. While Scott and and I were out and about on Saturday, we ran into someone at Grand Central Station who works in our office. I recognized the person and smiled. Scott didn't and so was fairly oblivious until I told him we just walked past this person.

So apparently this person today goes to my boss and tells him there may be a situation. The person says he/she saw two of the editorial employees together over the weekend, and they were holding hands, and the guy wouldn't make eye contact. He thinks they're having an affair. And so my boss asks who? And the person says that guy that sits at that desk and the redhead.

At which point my boss bursts into fits of laughter and replies, "They're married!"

Why this person would assume we are having an affair, and that we were not, in fact, in a normal relationship, I have no idea. Maybe it's that office policy on no family members working together (which we manage to circumvent because Scott is freelance).

But I'm glad that after 4+ years of marriage, we still appear that smitten with each other that someone would think we're having an affair together. That's amore.

Helloooo Autumn

In general, I like New York. But I am discovering something I like about it a lot: Summer is already over!

Well, I think it's over. It was hot and humid for all of July. Then August came, and so did the storms, and the upper-70-degree days and 60-degree nights. Maybe we'll get another little heat wave, but the next week doesn't have high temps forecast above 83 degrees. I can live with that.

Just another reason to love New York. I can't wait to pull out my jackets and sweaters :)

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One person hit the nail on the head in yesterday's haircut quiz. And that person is...Kristin! It costs $500 dollars to have a haircut from Nick Arrojo, according to his Web site. The least expensive haircut there (from the not so Arrojo) starts at $73. I think I'll pass for now.

Take a wild guess

NO CHEATING!

You've all seen What Not to Wear on TLC, right? You know Nick Arrojo, the hair guy? Well, I've been thinking again about a new style, but I'm afraid to let anyone remotely close to my curly locks. But him I'd trust. So I thought I'd check it out online to see how much it costs.

Any guesses how much a haircut from the man himself would cost you? I'll post the answer tomorrow.

Staycation

I stayed. They came.

On Tuesday, Mom and Laura got in around 2:30. We dropped off their stuff at the apartment and went over to Greenwich Village to have some real New York pizza for dinner. And it was REALLY good. After that, we hiked "just a few more blocks" to Crumbs, the place with the huge cupcakes I got for my birthday.

On Wednesday, we met Angi near her office for lunch, then strolled through Central Park and along 5th Avenue.

Views from Central Park



Mom and Laura







Shopping on 5th Avenue



Random people on the piano


Mom bought a potato gun!



On Thursday, it was supposed to rain (although it didn't) so we scheduled that as our museum day.


Metropolitan Museum of Art
Arms and Armor exhibit








I apparently didn't take any pictures on Friday. We did some shopping on 34th Street and checked out the flagship Macy's before heading over to pick up Dad from Newark Penn Station. Later on, we wound up in Hoboken, N.J., a nearby city known for its bars and nightlife.

Saturday at noon we had reservations for lunch at Lupa. We got a little wet on the way.


Storm clouds over Greenwich Village












Saturday night we saw Young Frankenstein on Broadway, which was a lot of fun. After the show, we had a miracle wait time of 15 minutes at Hard Rock before being seated for dinner.


Hard Rock guitar wall





The 'rents commemorating their 30-year anniversary (which was yesterday, Aug. 5)






Me and my baby



Thunder really enjoyed the air mattress and was sad to see it go. Here he is sharing it with Laura.



Overall, it was a really great time. I'm always sad to leave my family (or in this case, get left behind) but I'm taking comfort in the fact that, since we're already into August and I plan to go home in September/October, it's not that far away!

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And because I know you are wondering, the answer is...C! Who puts a C on an I heart NY T-shirt! It's defective!

It's like Highlights

First off, sorry I haven't posted in a while. After my last post, I was busy cleaning up and planning for my family to be here. Then they were here and I was busy being hostess (mmm cupcake) and tour guide. But I'll try to do better. Last month was a little lackluster. I think I only posted four times.

Remember those pictures in Highlights magazine where you had to find objects hidden within the pictures?

This is a T-shirt bought in a batch of 5.

Who can tell me what is wrong with this picture?



More vacation pictures on the way...