nature's candy!

folks, my vote for best new fruit would be the kumquat. now, it's not new to the plant kingdom, but rather new to my palate -- or i should say, new-ish. my grandparents had a kumquat tree in their backyard in monrovia, california and as a wee lass i would gather up the kumquats and pop 'em into my mouth. i hadn't had one in about 25 years until last night (and they're already out of season, sadly).

kumquats are a citrus fruit and have a tart, slightly-sour flesh but a sweet skin -- and you eat 'em whole, like a grape. you chew-chew-chew and they become sweeter as you do. they're delicious. they've got about 12-16 calories per fruit, for those of you who are watching your waistline.

hurrah! kumquats!

more on that-which-is-currently-blowing-my-mind here.

the eternal battle.

one of the most moving documentaries i've seen in quite some time is being released on friday -- and i highly recommend you see it when it comes 'round.

(thanks to a.w. for getting me in for free tonight.)

it's touching and tragic and inspiring and worthy of the accolades already being bestowed upon it. so go see it.

in other news...

remember this pic? an old friend may use it in his band's album artwork. it's still up in the air, but i was flattered that he asked.

contemplating part-time culinary school. one wednesday and one saturday per week for 10 months. $17 grand. worth it? you tell me.

despite my contemplating a career change, i'm enjoying my job again (amazing what an extra 15% will do for one's spirit).

walking to work more -- training to run a 5k in june may.

oh, and i went to trader joe's tonight and bought pitas, hummous, veggie chik nuggets, bananas, apples, beans, chili, soup, two boxes of cereal, a bag of baby spinach, diet root beer, soy cheese... and spent THIRTY DOLLARS. i felt like i had stolen the food. unbelievable.

almighty dollar.

i got a raise today. a fifteen percent raise. snaps for me.

perhaps now i can actually afford to live in new york. god only knows how i've been doing it up to this point.

that's all.

fuck, this blog is boring.

cute as all get out.

i wanna put it it my mouth and swallow it and keep it in my belly!

(thanks, cute overload, for bringing a smile to my face on a regular basis.)

huff and puff.

folks, i'm really cutting back on the smoking.

i ran this morning and after not having a cigarette in a few days, it felt great. the true test will be when i drink, though i've been pretty good at limiting my cigarettes to one a night, even while plastered.

(see my new quitmeter at the bottom of this page.)

i remember when i smoked a pack of marlboro menthols a day -- back in the summer of '95 -- because they were refreshing.

(oh, and if you're bored -- check out my updated daily reads to your right.)

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

i have really felt off my rocker lately. totally unbalanced.

i will perhaps win money at the craps table on friday, though i've never played craps in my life. or should i choose roulette? how do you play craps?

the agent better not be playing skee-ball tonight without me.

kate moss is a world traveler and invited to every wedding under the sun.

scarny and i sat across from each other tonight at dinner and he chowed down on a rice and pea pinata. delish, it looked. oh, and hummus is yummier than babaganoush.

i cannot get enough of "frontline" online.

work has tested my patience, but i convinced someone to stop smoking today and, lo and behold, i enjoyed it.

my mom is still hobbling around on one foot.

my brother was hit by a cab today and didn’t miss a beat – kept on running.

i need to do laundry. i need to go running.

my father gave me a $100 starbucks gift card for my birthday and i’m pretty sure i can burn through the rest of it in about five days. my blood is thick with coffee.

i bought another hair dryer because i’m tired of schlepping the only one i have back and forth to the agent’s place. it’s reminiscent of those times when i was 11 and inevitably the scrunchie i wanted was at the opposite parent’s house: must have two of everything.

a few weekends ago, i gazed at munch's "vampire" at the moma for what seemed like hours.

i need a pedicure. i need spring to arrive. i need patience.

i need a trip on the cyclone and i need to show the agent that roller coasters aren’t something to fear – except the cyclone, that is. that shit is scary.

me me me

my 29th year began this morning with a delicious breakfast in bed: pancakes with rum-soaked cherries and coffee, whipped up by the agent.

nothing better.