12th street

She said he's like a drug and I believe her. She said I act abused and I agree. I just need to turn it off. I just need to meet someone new.

chillin'

As I lay in bed this morning, Soterios Johnson warned me that it was nine degrees outside and that the wind chill would be negative ten today.

Negative ten!

style wars

I may have another date tomorrow night. I say "may" because he emailed me this morning and has yet to confirm. This, of course, will be looked back upon as what-they-call-"a-red-flag".

Tomorrow night is a big night for someone I know. This someone may occasionally read these here musings. (Okay, that narrows it down to what? Two? Three people?) If you're reading, I'm thinking of you.

I may have another date next week. I say "may" because we've yet to confirm a date and time and location, but his emails have been long and winding and interesting and chock full o' questions about me. He said "I can't get over your smile" which I thought could be looked back upon as what-they-call-"a-red-flag", but I kinda dug it.

The wind is howling outside. The wind chill is zero. Old Man Winter has truly arrived.

My muscles ache from the multiple sessions of weight training at the gym and from once-a-week yoga and from once-a-week Pilates but I know that they ache in a very, very, very good way.

I'm makin' some grub for Kate Moss and Scarny on Saturday; after much thought, I've decided upon the menu: the best damn chili in Brooklyn, the best damn cornbread in my 'hood, and the best damn maple apple crisp to ever come out of my kitchen. They're supplying the booze.

Y'all jealous?

grapevine left

Picture this, if you will...

Me.

Taking my first step aerobics (yes, step aerobics) class since 1992.

That is some Dance Dance Revolution shit if I've ever experienced it.

(How the fuck did I used to do it?)

I ultimately just stood in the middle of the floor, arms crossed, in awe. Had to take an extra hour-long weight training class afterwards to make myself feel like I got a decent workout.

(Note to self: no more step aerobics. Ever.)

Now my limbs are stiff and aching and I'm in bed, listening to "Hissing Fauna" and wondering who Eva (of "Bunny Ain't No Kind of Rider" shame) is. Athenians? Please divulge.

sweet pleasure

At some point last night, I brazenly introduced myself to a stranger on the sidewalk. I invited Scarny, AW, and my bro to a dinner party next Saturday and then promptly forgot doing so. I spent $40 on two different cab rides, the first of which included driving around in circles as we made our way from the Lower East Side to the East Village. I shared my miniature bag of Mini Eggs with my second cab driver and had him drop me off so far from my apartment, I still needed to walk 18 minutes to get home. I woke up wearing only socks, underwear, and a hand-knitted scarf. I did two loads of laundry and 45 minutes of yoga before 10:00 am this morning.

Kate Moss fell asleep on the train and ended up in Queens.

We found a new favorite bar, where apparently the liquor comes with crazy pills.

2008

It's getting good, folks.

What with this...

and this morning, this!

reasons to move to brooklyn

The following are portions of emails sent to me from my old co-workers, whom I saw yesterday:

"Seriously, you were just radiating..."
"I can't tell you how nice it was to see you looking both confident and happy..."
"It was so good to see you... you look great and happy..."

Apparently, Brooklyn does wonders for your mood and looks!

go out on a limb

I have done my good deed for the week: I have officially set up the friend and the guy.

He's interested, she's interested, and he's contacting her soon to set something up.

Hopefully this helps with my romantic karmic balance.

everything old is new again

Remember this time last year?

I'm having lunch with J today.

(I can hear you groaning from here.)

hypothetically speaking

Let's just say you meet someone.

He's intelligent, nice, successful, ambitious, interesting, attractive, and attentive. Let's say you go on a few dates and enjoy yourself, but after the third date, you cannot shake the feeling that this person is just perfect...

...for your friend.

She, too, is intelligent, nice, successful, ambitious, interesting, attractive, and attentive. She's single and though has actively dated, hasn't really found anyone special. He and she would be great together, you think.

(You don't mind this at all -- you're pretty sure that you and he [in Caddy's WDE's words] don't have enough in common to sustain a relationship, but you're pretty sure that he and she might.)

Is it acceptable to play match-maker?

brutha man lends his two cents

"I'd suggest not dealing with rock 'n roll cats. They're all pretentious and shallow. From my experience, they're all assholes."

(I know he ain't talking about my friends, though.)

i can't be up to my eyeballs in tchotchkes

Is my snarkiness always a defense mechanism?

Does possessing a beard mean you're a hipster asshole?

Does possessing hot tattoos mean you can treat me like shit?

Why start a scarf for someone you've known for two weeks?

Why is Kate Moss always right?

Why can't I embrace the word "ciao"?

Why does my supervisor have such a sad face?

Can I eat trail mix for lunch every day?

Is it going to snow?

Can I bring up the war on a third date?

Why am I so trusting?

Why am I so guarded?

Was it ever possible for J to clone himself?

Will I grow my hair long?

Should I quit smoking?

Is Caribbean food sufficiently festive enough for my 30th birthday?

Will Bay Ridge Sunset Park ever feel like Rockefeller Center?

(Feel free to answer.)

note to self

a) Don't talk about the war on a second date.
b) Trust your instincts.
c) Leave your local coffee guy a big tip tomorrow.

my worst fear

I want to shake this man's hand.

thanks, emma

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Developed a love of spicy hot food; moved to Brooklyn.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more
for next year?
I have no idea what my resolutions were last year; this year they have
already been broken.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My former co-worker gave birth to baby Eden.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
Only the USA.

6. What would you like to have had in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
A more spacious apartment.

7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
December 3.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting a new job; getting a new apartment; getting a new life.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not continuing to run on a regular basis; trusting too much.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No.

11. What were the best things you bought?
My anchor necklace from an artists' fair in Soho; plane tickets to
Georgia; cast-iron panini press for my mom.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My own.

13. Whose behavior appalled you?
J's.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Food.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
A trip to Kiawah Island; moving out of my apartment; J.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
"Ride Like the Wind" by Christopher Cross (though actually an 80s gem).

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? the damn same!
iii. richer or poorer? richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Road tripping.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Waiting for someone to change their mind.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With family in New Jersey.

(21?)

22. Did you fall in love in 2006?
Not really.

23. How many one-night stands?
Two.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
"Lost"

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, I don't hate.

26. What was the best book you read?
"Candide" by Voltaire.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Yacht rock.

28. What did you want and get?
A gift certificate to an Institute of Culinary Education cooking class.

29. What did you want and not get?
An orange cast-iron Le Crueset saute pan.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
"The Science of Sleep"

31. What did you do on your birthday?
Had brunch in Tribeca with the Agent, visited Roosevelt Island, ate Thai
food with many friends, drank beer lattes at the Greenpoint Tavern in
W'burg.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
See 19.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Tight.

34. What kept you sane?
Kate Moss & SM.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Bill Clinton.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The war.

37. Who did you miss?
Coley, Caro, Z.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Monique.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
You create your own happiness.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I was a hero / early in the morning / I ain't no hero / in the night.