Land of the Lost

Our offices underwent a massive redecoration a few years ago where they put in new conference rooms and beautiful new conference tables and new computer equipment and a beautiful lunchroom/diner and they added these flower arrangements too......aren't they hideous?! I have to look at them about 50 times a day as I walk back and forth to the bathroom and the kitchen and the elevator and I just stare and shake my head. Who ordered these? Did they really think this was a gorgeous flower arrangement? Doesn't it remind you of "Land of the Lost" or "Anaconda"? How much did we pay for these? I am guessing a lot. The money would have been better spent on a pizza party or bowl of M&M's.

Brooklyn Farted...Again

The update on the gas situation is that we still have a gas situation. This is a picture from my bedroom window this morning. Yes, that guy is wearing a hazmat suit. Yes, there are 5 giant holes in the street. I have no idea when the construction will end. I find it all very exciting!

Something Stinks in Brooklyn

This is the view from our street this week. The scene is brought to us by the keen nose of my friend Mindy.
During her visit to NYC in April for my wedding shower, she mentioned that the apartment building smelled like gas. I tend to ignore things like this because I hate anything that sounds like a hassle (going to the doctor, doing my laundry, calling the cable company, etc.). I also ignored it when another friend mentioned it a few days later. It wasn't until Dan opened the door for the UPS guy the other day, who exclaimed "man, it smells like gas in here, you better do something about this", that I decided to finally pick up the phone and make a call. An hour later, the gas company was knocking on the door and a few hours after that and a lot of men walking around with narculators and geek-er-counters, we found out we did indeed have a gas leak. A big thanks to Mindy for her perfect sniffer and for saving the borough of Brooklyn. I am thinking that she could go into the same line of work as Max the Bed Bug Sniffin Beagle, except she could moonlight for the gas company.

London Calling

We have been experiencing a string of the rainiest, dreariest days lately and it is really starting to get me down. How can I wear my new spring sandals and my summer tops when it is cold outside? It was so cold the other day that the heater in my apartment turned on. What? It's mid-June! I am ready for a sweaty day where they turn the fire hydrants on for the kids and the ice cream truck is a welcome respite. Bring on the heat!


In other news, did anyone see the preview for Glee? Dan and I did and we have never laughed so hard. The cast includes Jane Lynch from "Best in Show" fame and also Matthew Morrison, who is a total cutie and reminds me of the boy in the movie "Big". Dan and I love having people over to our apartment and Dan loves to cook, so we are thinking that a weekly Glee dinner party might be in order. If you live in the city, you are invited. Mosey over to Brooklyn and grab yourself a seat at the table.

Are you wondering about our little bed bug situation? The update is that they fumigated the offices last week and are fumigating the offices again this weekend and then they will bring Max the beagle back for one last check-up. The bed bugs might be gone....but now we will all have cancer from the chemicals.

Bugs and Other Important Updates

There have been so many exciting things going on these days, so I will try to update you in chronological order.


In first exciting news, we found out that my office has BED BUGS!! Well, not only my office, but the entire 4 floors that makes up our little haunt in the MetLife Building. One of my co-workers found an infestation in her desk chair, which grossed us all out and also explained the bites she has had on her legs for the past few months. The exterminator was called in, who confirmed the bed bugs and then they told us what they had to do next...this is the best part....they had to bring in Max, the bed bug sniffing beagle to go through the office to see which areas were infected. I got a call the next day saying that my office was on the "fumigate list", so I am guessing that Max did a little dance when he stepped into my office. It was either bed bugs, or he smelled my big stash of Godiva chocolates. I got to work from home for a few days while they fumigated. Gross and exciting. I told my co-worker it was also sort of funny...she said, "It won't be funny until next year". Amen!



Next on the list is our giant birthday bash! I turned 35 on June 3rd and Dan turned 36 on June 6th. That means we are the same age for 3 days, which I am not fond of at all. I like being younger. We gathered 16 of our friends at the beer garden in Brooklyn for a great party with sausages of all types, spicy sauerkraut, pickles, pretzels and peanut butter and jam cupcakes! We were also very impressed and super happy that our friends came with their new babies. Patricia and Rinout brought baby Oliver, who is 9 days old and David and Belinda brought baby Lulu, who is 5 days old (she is featured in the photo above). We were out with them a few weeks ago and they were both very pregnant. What a change a few days makes in our lives! We are thrilled to add these 2 beautiful lives to our lives.


Finally, I am excited to announce that Dan and I will be enjoying the smooth sounds of Fleetwood Mac tonight. I am a giant fan of the White Winged Dove (or in the photo above...a parakeet). I love Stevie Nicks for her rad style, her rough voice, her deep lyrics and amazing songwriting skills. We are gearing up for an exciting night!

Birthday Blues? No Way!

Tomorrow is my birthday. I will be 35. Am I depressed about getting older? No way! I love where I am in my life, I love that I have some years behind me where I have learned a lot, made many mistakes and hopefully have learned from them (picking Dan is proof of that). What have I done over the last 10 years? Here's a sampling:

1. Got divorced (best thing I ever did)
2. Finished grad school
3. Moved to New York City (also the best thing I ever did, which never would have happened if #1 didn't happen)
4. Moved 9 times
5. Dyed my hair blonde (they really do have more fun...oh yeah, and it covers the gray)
6. Learned flamenco
7. Started 5 new jobs
8. Ran a 1/2 marathon, a 10 mile race, a few 6 mile races and logged about a million miles running around Brooklyn. It's free therapy y'all.
9. Learned to knit and then promptly forgot how to knit after the Christmas scarf festival of 2004.
10. Married Dan

I hope the next 10 years are as full of adventure and fun as the last 10. My goal for the next 10 is to "crush it like Godzilla in Tokyo", which is what Dan's friend Chris says before doing just about anything. I think it's a good motto for life in general. If you are going to do it....DO IT...and CRUSH IT!