Need Some Hope

Life's been to insanely busy to really write anything these days. I've seen a couple of great shows. A few CDs that have been on repeat include Delta Spirit's Ode To Sunshine, which is an AWESOME CD! And Josh Rouse's Subtitulo ..both of which I'm psyched that they are so good because it's been such a long time since I've been able to listen to a whole CD from start to end over and over (and over). I saw Delta Spirit open for Dr. Dogg at the Maxwell's a few weeks ago and they brought down the house so to speak. It was amazing. When I was at the show I couldn't help but comment how I felt like I was in a room full of mountain people; but I don't want to bucket the whole room into one category because I do admit that I think I also saw a fisherman, a hunter, and a blacksmith in the mix. So it was to no surprise that the liner notes in the CD said:

Recorded in a cabin.

So I've been addicted to this wine from Australia - Hope. I've had a lot of Hope these past few weeks. A new wine store down my block was sampling a few bottles and this was one of them. So what if I have a problem? I'm beginning to think I need help. What ever happened to the corporate limit? Wasn't it 2 drinks?

My boss came to town a few weeks ago and after a dinner with the team [after a few drinks] I vaguely remember dessert. In fact, the next day my boss commented to me that we went over what the average per person rate was, as to which I responded:

Me: How did we go over? Didn't we only do the $22/person package?
Boss: You forgot the incidentals.
Me: What incidentals?
Boss: The Merlot?
Me: The Merlot??
Boss: You DON'T remember the Merlot??
Me: OOOH! The Merlot? Yeah...(I did remember, it was pretty good...)
Boss: Yeah! After your second glass you started talking to Matt in Spanish!
Me: I don't even know Spanish.
Boss: Well you were also to the waiter in Spanish and you two were having a conversation.

So folks, looks like I know Spanish. There's Hope for me yet.

So a new favorite restaurant as of recent is the much admired and respected Cuba, where we ate more than we should but, nevertheless, the Oxtail was excellent as well as the Sangria. Think of a home cooked meal. Think Martino's up a few notches and less heavy (i.e. not an evident amount of oil and butter).

I also saw a reunion tour of Superdrag a few weeks ago at the Filmore (formerly known as our beloved Irving Plaza). That was a way awesome show as well and was one of those shows that got me listening to all their songs again.

Another satisfying meal was on a biz trip up to the evar-exciting Rochester where I stayed at the Marriott. By the time we got there (we drove) we were so drained that we ate at the hotel restaurant, which is not a bad thing since it is known for being really good anyway.

I has some filet - medium rare and boy did they do me right!

Somewhere along the hustle and bustle, we also paid some guy on the street $5 to write us a poem. Can't say you do that everyday, but if he ever published it into a book, at least we can say we have an original!

Other than all that, nothing too new and nothing too exciting. I'll leave you with a picture that I really like. The kids were really hyper at this shoot. I would wear these socks to work if it wouldn't be such a career killer. Maybe I could use the cold weather as an excuse...I'm not a fan of the 80s fashion comeback, but I'd do these legwarmers...

New York Underground

This is pretty cool - I always wondered what was under the streets of Manhattan.

Life Explained

Life explained.

Ron Paul Rocks

Just like the radio, tv controls what they want you to hear, like, and buy [into]:

http://www.freewebs.com/ronpaulwinsdebate/

http://ronpauldaily.blogspot.com/2007/09/fox-lies-you-cant-vote-twice.html

Hallowig

Can someone knit me one of these?

Vacation Starters

It's not everyday where you get to enjoy your home and where you live. Especially when you spend so much time working....so, anyways...

I finally took a ride out on Saturday to check out and photograph some parts of New Jersey. I visted a very pretty neighborhood by the beach with some of the most beautiful houses I've ever seen!




It was SUCH a nice day! Picture perfect! (Too cold for beach weather though.) Some kid who said he was going to be famous one day asked if I was a photographer and asked that I take his picture because he almost signed a record deal but had to go do some time for something that happened. He's mixing again though so watch out world!

The evening brought about an early Weston show at Maxwell's. I've never seen them play before but it was one of the funnest concerts I've been to. It was actually the earlier show we saw because the late show was sold out.



Sunday I had an awesome bran muffin at Malibu that made we want to drink a gallon of Lacas. (I was just impressed to see that they had a web site just now...). I can't even remember the last time I had Lacas coffee or where it was I use to go to to drink it. It may have been Felix #9. I digress, but I'd buy Lacas coffee by the pound. Anyway, the day turned out pretty dreary but I managed to get in about half of a photoshoot that I had planned as well as get my jeans soaked up to my knees. I didn't really mind it so much though because the temperature wasn't too cold or hot.

On Monday Loren stopped by! Lana is SO CUTE! :)

She couldn't stay for too long because she had a few other things going on, but I was so glad I was around to see them! So cute Loren!!!

We walked all the way down to Hoboken and split ways at 23rd Street. I went to Adorama to get some supplies (*sigh* => ) followed by a 5:30 meeting at Union Square to get to THE BEST PIZZA EVAR (L&B Spumoni Gardens)!!!!

Yes, no doubt that the CitySearch reviews caught my eye with so much feedback while maintaining a five star average. The long haul was worth it! I've never had such a good slice of Sicilian pizza, chicken parm (which came with the best knish evar!), a bottle of Riesling, coffee, and tiramisu. I think this was the only meal of our day. And make no mistake that when i bit into the lady finger at the end, I almost fell off my chair.

Highly, seriously, highly recommended. You can thank me later or just bring me with you and buy me a slice. hehe... and just for the record, a picture of us in Brooklyn's own Ave. V.



Getting off at Canal to run around some more, we stopped by a place called Cachaca to catch some jazz show that we saw an ad for at Maxwell's.

I forget how much I miss riding the Subway. It's such a different frame of mind and it's more relaxing because you have more time to think and, if you're brave enough, nap.

You know you've done it.

Seriously though, you don't need to spend a lot of money going to far away places, although it's awesome, when you live near NYC. You can go into any neighborhood and find some of the best food, music, shopping, and culture that you can't find anywhere else.

Also, my hand still hurts...should I be charging a claim against the building insurance since it was the door that hurt me?

Low Impact Woodland Home

So, are you guys really not that into The Dome Home? How about a Low Impact Woodland Home. I think I found the home I'd never want to move out of. Unless flooding became a problem.

I'd need to revisit this idea in a few months and decide if I like it as much as I'm digging it right now...

cookingbynumbers.com

so I stumble on this site called cookingbynumbers.com and you indicate all the items in your fridge and cupboard, and it gives you all the recipes you can make.

how psyched was i - not only can i make cheese toast, but I can make a cheese sandwich:

Needing A Hand Here

So about a month ago, I was walking out of my buliding and I put my hand out behind me to catch the door so I could bring it to controlled close. Not knowing that someone tightened the screw on the spring, the door tossed my hand aside to close on my hand and the frame. If I lost you there, it looked something like this.

This is my hand before:


This is the position my hand was in when the door closed on me:



I was in such pain that I stood there for a few seconds with my hand still in the door trying to understand what just happened and how to make the pain stop. I pushed the door open and went to my car and sat there for several minutes until the pain subsided. It hurt to drive and I had to use my left hand to control the shift.

Basically, ice was applied until my hand almost had frost bite and then it was bruised for several days afterwards. That was about a month ago. About 2 weeks ago when there was heavy rain and high humidity, my hand started to hurt when I was using it in different ways. I thought it may have been caused by what had happened with the door but thought I was just being paranoid about it. I would bend my left hand in the same angles I would my right to see if it caused the same feeling and for a day or two I thought that it was just that. Then one day while driving I realized, no, this hurts and it's not normal. So the question is do I see a hand doctor or just let it heel? I got concerned when some people were telling me their ACLs disappeared and I don't want something similar to happen to my hand. And when I was meeting a vendor and he had a stent on one of his fingers and mentioned that his doctor wouldn't comment on whether or not he broke his ligament and that he's have to go to the hospital to see a hand specialist.

So let's spend some time looking into this. I hate to waste my time because the last time I've been to a doctor, there wasn't anything he could do for me but write me a prescription for Vioxx. I think I got one 2 or 3 times from the same guy. When I told my mom that they gave me Vioxx she was concerned and told me not to take it if it's pain that I can handle. It was. Apparently, it's a strong pain killer used in the ICU for people needing to handle serious pain (i.e. surgery) and she didn't agree with the mg prescribed for me. I wasn't even there to complain about the pain, I just wanted to make sure there wasn't something wrong that I was ignoring. I will keep my opinion as to why he gave me this to myself for now. Anyway, I digress and my hand is starting to hurt again, so let's continue the research.

So I go to webMD to do some research into what I should be concerned about and it tells me that the conditions associated with my selected symptoms are:

• Broken (fractured) hand
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Cervical (neck) spinal stenosis
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• MS
• Shingles (herpers zoster)

Let's go with the first one because with the reaction to the humidity I was thinking I may have a hairline fracture. Apparently, from their Broken Hand Overview, a broken hand could take "months" of rehab.

The hand is composed of 27 bones, including those in the wrist. Broken bones most commonly result from a direct blow to the hand [*check*] or a fall onto the hand. Common injuries include fractures of the fingertip, or of the pinkie side of the palm, or of the thumb.

Now let's list all the parts of my hand that may be involved here:

• Carpals -the 8 bones in the wrist
• Metacarpals - the 5 bones that form the palm of the hand.
• Phalanges - the 14 small bones that, when strung together, form the thumb and fingers.
  -The thumb has 2 phalanges.
  -The other 4 fingers are made of 3 phalanges each.
• PIP and DIP joints - the joints in the fingers.
  -The PIP (proximal interphalangeal) joint - the joint closest to the palm.
  -The DIP (distal interphalangeal) joint- the joint closest to the fingertip.

So I guess my self-diagnosis is that there is a lot involved here. Time to call a doctor. If you see me walking around with some cast around my hand sometime in the near future, you will know why. I'm hoping that I didn't tear/injure a ligament - I think I'd be very upset. Is a hairline fracture a lesser evil? Was/am I being neglectful by not seeing a doctor in the first place?

SABOTAGE!

Walking in Lambertville, I suddenly felt the strange sensation of being in a Beastie Boys video...

Links

http://www.bugmenot.com
http://www.anysoldier.com

I really like this one:
http://soundwalk.com/

Blue Ribbon Sushi

Blue Ribbon Sushi
119 Sullivan Street
212-343-0404

nuff said.

700167

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Originally uploaded by shaman8933.

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Kabalarian Philosophy

So this web site apparently tells you "the real meaning of your name based on the Mathematical Principle as explained by the Kabalarian Philosophy."

It is dedicated to creating mental freedom in the world by teaching the universally applicable principles of the Kabalarian Philosophy to help individuals live a more progressive, constructive and healthy life through the knowledge and application of the Mathematical Principle as it applies to language, name, mind and cycles.

So, if you're looking to choose a baby name (*ahem ahem*), this maybe a fun thing to poke at...

I looked my my name's meaning:

• Although the name Sandra creates the urge to understand others, we point out that it causes you to be emotional and temperamental.
• This name, when combined with the last name, can frustrate happiness, contentment, and success, as well as cause health weaknesses in the fluid systems, liver and the bloodstream.
• Your first name of Sandra has given you a quick-minded, sensitive nature.
• It gives you a clever, creative ability in art, music, singing, or drama and an appreciation for refined surroundings.
• Your sociable nature expresses affection, kindness, and thoughtfulness to the extent that it is difficult for you not to be affected by others and governed by your emotions, rather than by logic and reason.
• As you respond to love and encouragement from others, your romantic and dreamy nature can easily lead you into love affairs.

I don't really agree with all of this, but Ivan's was WAY more accurate...

Ode to Sandra Bullock

Over the weekend I removed the shrink-wrap from my Two Weeks Notice DVD. It was a movie that I believe I caught in the theater when it was released. I bought it because I liked it

I have to admit that Sandra Bullock is my favorite actresses! That explains why I have so many of her movies at home. Actually, I'm not sure how many of hers I have. It really may only be two...(let's see...Two Weeks Notice, 28 Days (never finished watching this), While You Were Sleeping, In Love and War (haven't watched this either)...) Ivan said he likes it that she's my favorite actress. Hmmm...what does that mean?

Anyway, Two Weeks Notice is such a funny movie! It was well written and the actors all did a great job and worked well together. It really was funny and witty, an all around young, sexy comedy without being too sappy....hahaha...

Of all the well-known actresses out there, I don't really pay attention or pick favorites. I like her because all the characters she plays reminds me of myself. How I trip over everything, do dorky things, and am pretty much a big dork in general. I am reminded of her this week as all the salt in the parking lots at work act like rosin to my shoes. As soon as I set foot on the shiney floors, I'm walking on egg shells. Like I did today, and yesterday, and on Monday. It is a matter of time before I wipe out one of these days.

On a side note, I'm hooked on this Lemongrass Lotion Bar that I got from some new store in hoboen called Lhea Skincare. I originally went in there to get change because I went to this class and was $2 short and they couldn't break my bill and this was the first place I found on Sunday morning that had change. I decided to buy something to support my local businesses...this was one of the products I bought and I'm addicted to it. I've never seen a lotoin bar before, it looks like a small bar of soap and it smells SO good...

Annie Leibovitz

On Sunday my Father had planned on stopping by to help install some things for me, but he ended up cancelling. This gave me the perfect opportunity to catch the Annie Leibovitz exhibit Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer's Life, 1990–2005, which has a book of the same title, at the Brooklyn Museum.

By the time I got there, it was a little past 3pm, but the line was out the door and around the premisis. After an hour and a half, we reached the ticket counter and finally made our way in. Annie Leibovitz is probably my favorite photographer because she does it all and she doesn't conform herself to one style, they say "her pictures are almost as varied as her subjects." She mostly does portraits and I love taking people's portraits.

Anyway, her exhibit was awesome! I can't remember a time where I went to an exhibit and had to stop and read all the signs. I don't know what it is.

Afterwards we went into Tribeca and found the best Latin Bistro EVAR, Ideya! They bring you out a basket of banana chips that were awesome and salsa that was awesome. I ordered the Costillas de Reyes (braised beef short ribs, roasted sweet potato, beet salad, orange gravy) and that was the best beef short ribs EVAR! (Although the one I had at Knickerbocker was awesome too!) Ivan had the Chuleta Rellena, which is
cornbread & chorizo stuffed grilled pork chop, apple-tomato slaw, sherry wine sauce. How can you go wrong with that combo! I found my new favorite restaurant! You have to try this place!

We also tried the Sangria Blanco and the Sangria Roja, and thee Banana Tres Leches Cake (Latin sponge cake made with three milks, banana cream sauce) and the Ideya Flan.

I need to plan a trip back here....EGW dinner? Brunch of the month?

My camera battery failed to recharge (*grrr*) and I didn't get any pictures except those I posted to my mobile blog, but better than nothing! :)

Gemini Profile

Saw this one someone's blog. I don't know if this really matches me though, but whatever. I feel as if I'm in such a rut and have such a blase attitude towards everything. Is this my quarter life crisis?

Gemini - Your Love Profile

Your positive traits: Your lively, outgoing attitude attracts people to you everywhere you go. You can talk your way into - and out of - any situation you desire. You're adaptable enough to flirt with anyone - and people tend to fight over you. Your negative traits: You get easily bored in relationships, and tend to jump from person to person. You tend to be a bit of a player - and have a high tolerance for drama in relationships. Not the most empathetic person, you tend to tell lovers to "get over" their problems. Your ideal partner: Is intelligent and quick witted enough to keep you interested. Is a bit of a shape shifter, providing you with the variety you crave. An open minded person, who's willing to have a non-traditional relationship. Your dating style: Exciting. If your date shows you a new experience (like Egyptian food or scuba diving), you're very happy. Your seduction style: Experimental: it's rare that you try the same thing twice. Ultra kinky - you do stuff that's not even in books yet. Hot and cold... sometimes you're just not into the whole sex thing. Tips for the future: Settle down a little. Sometimes good things come with time - so don't let people go so fast. Acknowledge that you're a player and flirt. If your mate can't live with this, find someone who can. Give your partner a little more attention. You don't have to be a social butterfly all the time. Best color to attract mate: Sunny yellow Best day for a date: Wednesday

What's Your Love Profile?

My Mobile Blog

By the way, right before New Year's I set up a Mobile Blog...my last post (took a picture of the biscuits), never posted though.

Garbage!

Bisquick

Today I found a cookie cutter in the kitchen and used it to make pancakes! Guess what's the cookie cutter shape?

I used Bisquick Heart-Healthy mix which I bought earlier in the week while I was on a Cheese-Garlic-Biscuit-making frenzy...

Bob Dylan Exhibit

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Originally uploaded by shaman8933.

Went to the Bob Dylan exhibit at the Pierpont Morgan Library on Saturday. They had all these sound rooms where you could listen to his music from different albums, watch clips of him being interviewed and from other films. There was also a lot of other paraphernalia on display.

There are other albums of his that I now want to get...