Collecting Moments One by One

Sage Advice From a Wise Prof

2008-10-16T22:50:00.001-05:00

Nothing is permanent.

So, when you are in distress, feel better knowing that your pain will soon go away.

If you're in good times, live them up, because they will be gone soon, too.

Kristie and Avery

2008-09-09T22:11:00.002-05:00

My beauties. :-)

Gems From Kristie Regarding the RNC, 2

2008-09-04T21:44:00.002-05:00

On the possibility of Cindy McCain as First Lady:

"Maybe she'll get Botox covered under health care."
.

Gems From Kristie Regarding the RNC

2008-09-04T21:36:00.005-05:00

McCain says: "I wear his [a dead soldier's] bracelet, and think about him every day."

Kristie says: "Mr. Support-Our-Troops should be wearing about 5,000 bracelets right now."
.

Trying To Wrap Our Brains Around Palin

2008-08-30T10:22:00.003-05:00

Me: Allison posted a pic of her wearing a FUR STOLE. Who wears fur these days? Especially when you're a politician!

Jego: Give her a break . . . she was, after all, mayor of a town that had less people than the building I'm living in.

This Is What Exhaustion Looks Like

2008-08-29T19:37:00.004-05:00

Here's Nate, after a night of playing at Brandy's on the Upper East Side, an awesome gig that is slowly making him nocturnal. Sometimes he doesn't get home until 6 or 7 AM. This photo was taken this morning at about 8. It's really typical of what I see through his doorway after a Brandy's night--exhaustion so complete that he doesn't even care he's hanging off the bed.

Back In The Swing

2008-08-29T19:22:00.003-05:00

School started again on Wednesday and it's pretty clear that this semester is going to be a pretty intense time. It's great to see everyone and hang out in the newsroom again--it really feels like home. I'm still interning a couple days a week and I will be working on a couple other projects unrelated to school over the next few months as well. So I will blog intermittently, but it's gonna be a busy few months. By the way, here's a photo of Hearst Tower, for those who don't know it. This is where I've been working (on the 34th floor) since the end of May.

We Heart Grad School

2008-08-12T22:35:00.002-05:00

Mike: I'm going with the one haircut a year approach.

Kate: It's worked so far.

Mike: Saves money for food and commodity costs.

Kate: Mike = recession-proof.

Mike: No job = recession proof.

Kate: YES that means I'M recession-proof too!
.

As Good A Reason As Any

2008-08-11T08:03:00.006-05:00

Kate: I was thinking about going to China for a while after graduation.

Mike: Ah, that's a good idea. You like being tall.
.

On Glasses as Optional Accessories

2008-08-07T22:44:00.007-05:00

According to Erin:

"I hate eyeglass fashion because I'm forced to wear glasses.

It's like wearing hearing aids as fashion."

Scary Junior High Fashions . . .

2008-08-07T21:41:00.004-05:00

ARE BACK!

Run, run for your lives!!

Best Concert Ever

2008-08-05T09:57:00.004-05:00

In May, I went with a friend to see Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard (of Once fame) perform for their first time at Radio City Music Hall. The concert was nothing short of incredible. They performed for two and a half hours without a break, and Hansard opened the show with a gorgeous rendition of "Say It To Me Now," acoustic, without a mic. It was beautiful. A friend pointed me to a YouTube video that captured the moment.

If My Life Were a Movie

2008-07-25T20:54:00.011-05:00

I never get tired of this game. Friends and I have been known to wile away hours over cocktails discussing which actor would represent which person if all of a sudden our lives were to be turned into a movie with a Hollywood casting call to end all casting calls. So, I present here who would play the people in my life. There's little consistency in my choices--some actors are chosen because of looks, some are chosen because of mannerisms/character. But, click on the name of the actor/celebrity to see a photo if you're curious. Some will be left blank, because this game is far from finished. If anyone has anyone to add, or you think I have assigned you the wrong representative, or you have a better suggestion, please let me know. Also, these are subject to change with no warning.

Mom: Amy Madigan as Annie in Field of Dreams, particularly.
Dad: Harrison Ford because dad always liked Indiana Jones so much and they are now both completely gray.
Dylan: What's Eating Gilbert Grape-era Leonardo DiCaprio
Mitch: Elijah Wood not as Frodo Baggins.
Kathy: the lovely Kirsten Dunst
Kate: Chloe Sevigny--It's her vibe. Or something.
Kristie: Liv Tyler (complete with baby these days)
Amie:
Aaron: Lawrence Fishburne as Morpheus
Terry: Joe Pesci
Jan: Seth Rogen--the funny factor plays a big role here
Travis: Cold Mountain-era Jude Law
Nate: a young Tom Stoppard
Robin: Vanessa Ferlito
Erin: Laura Prepon. The voice. The Jersey. Can't deny it.
Fritzie: Natalie Merchant
Mike Hurley: Michael C. Hall as Dexter
Michael C.:
Justin:
Heather: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Duy: a young, Asian John Cusack. Or so he says.

As for me, I will cast the person I get compared to the most: Uma Thurman (from what I hear, especially in the Tagheuer ads).

Jan-isms

2008-07-13T16:26:00.005-05:00

On being friends with an ex:

"There are millions of people in this world who you haven't dated, and they make great friends."

--Jan Thomas

Things That Make You Go Hmm

2008-07-13T08:20:00.002-05:00

This guy sat across from me from 14th Street to Church Ave in Brooklyn, a Q-tip sticking out of his ear the entire way. Toward the end of the trip, he rummaged through his bag, shook a couple pills out of a few different bottles, and gulped them all at once with a swig of water. I have come to no conclusions about this guy other than he must have had quite a headache.

Collected Thoughts

2008-07-12T22:11:00.002-05:00

1. The other night, Nate and I were shocked by a new Verizon commercial that featured an interracial couple. I can't find this commercial on YouTube, but I swear we saw it. So, go Verizon!

2. Watched the Mets win today from the upper deck.

3. Jonah is exhibiting behavioral issues again and it is breaking my heart. If he keeps it up he's gonna be sent upstate.

4. Finished In Cold Blood--what a terrific book! Loved it, want to see the movie, and also want to see Capote.

5. I am 6 months away from getting my Master's Degree.

Meme

2008-07-09T23:38:00.005-05:00

Where is the next place you will travel to?
South Florida.

Do you have any gay friends?
Ha! Um, a couple..

Do you want to get married & have children one day?
The jury is still out on that one.

Do you like to have long hair or short hair?
Long hair for the look; short hair for the maintenance. Sooo I'm screwed.

What is your favorite color?
Pink, with black at a close second.

Last vacation destination you went to?
Greece, I think.

Do you like sushi?
It's my favorite!

What was the best movie you have seen in the past two weeks?
WALL-E.

Do you like your first name?
Wouldn't change it for anything. Last name, too.

Name something great that happened today?
Literally watched a storm roll in, open up, and then roll on. From the 34th floor. It was beautiful.

Do you like your life as of now?
Yes, there are a couple things I would change given my druthers, but all in all I am a happy gal.

Regret doing anything in the past week?
Not getting to the river in time to nab an unobstructed view of the fireworks.

Does anyone call you baby?
Nate calls me Bobo. Does that count?

Have you ever slapped someone?
Once, in the seventh grade. I remember it to this day because I felt so bad about it.

Have you ever been suspended or expelled from school?
No, I was a good girl.

Do you want someone back in your life?
I go back and forth.

Rent a movie or go to a movie?
Go to a movie. It's getting to be a bit much though. $12? C'mon.

Has anyone told you they missed you lately?
Yep, that's what happens when the majority of people you love and who love you live far away.

Did you talk to anyone on the phone before bed last night, who?
Yep, Kate.

How many cousins total do you have?
We just figured this out the other day. 18, I believe, was the number.

Where were you born, and how old were your parents?
Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. Mom was 26; dad was 30.

What were you doing at 12 this afternoon?
Sitting in the Marie Claire office, researching how much it would cost to take a private jet somewhere. I am not even kidding.

Kathleen the Campaigner

2008-07-09T23:24:00.003-05:00

Last week I had dinner with my brother Mitch and his girlfriend Kathy--they were in town to see Kathy's sister Liz and her family, who were also in town, on vacay from Cali. Over dinner, 2-year-old Kathleen (Kathy's namesake) revealed who she would vote for this election year if, you know, the voting age were changed from 18 to 2.

Love, Love, Love

2008-06-27T21:11:00.010-05:00

My best gal-pal from undergrad, Amie, got married last weekend, and I was one of her bridesmaids. Ame and her new husband are hippies. And their wedding reflected that. Everything from the cake (see below) to the flowers to the music (she walked down the aisle to "Something in the Way" by the Beatles; they were announced at the reception to "Truckin'" by the Dead; their first dance was some Phish song) to the dresses (all of them, even Amie's, were 100 percent hemp) had Ame and Denny written all over it. But the best part? It all felt really organic and natural. The ceremony was beautiful--it was outdoors, and the girls all walked in bare feet. Our bouquets were simple daisies and sunflowers. Also, the pair have been together for eight years, so it felt really wonderful to watch them get married--like it was just the natural thing to do. The couple wrote their own vows, and they were just beautiful. Though I originally protested the dress (hello--is there anything in the world that's more the opposite-of-me?), I eventually got over it, because the dresses really worked. And, I was really happy to be a part of the whole thing.They had a photo booth at the reception. This is possibly the best thing I have ever seen at a wedding. Everyone loved it. They had dress-up bins with all sorts of costumes, and there was a glue stick on a nearby table for guests to glue a photo in the guest book and sign their names. Here I am with the other bridesmaid, Amanda.

The wedding cake. That's a little Denny-and-Amie figurine sitting on the side of the cake. Thankfully, it tasted as good as it looked.

The girls: me, Amanda, Amie, and Amie's sister Cindy.

Obsession Confession

2008-06-26T23:46:00.004-05:00

So, it's been more than a month--but now I have a TEENY bit more time on my hands so I will be updating more frequently, because, truth be told, I really love my blog.

Some of you may know about a little obsession I have with dance. I go to as many performances as possible; I go to see all the cheesy dance movies; I rewind and watch dance scenes dozens of times (I'm looking at you, Dirty Dancing finale), and I watch So You Think You Can Dance loyally. My favorite styles are hip-hop, lyrical hip-hop, contemporary, krump, swing and ballet.

Here are my favorite two dances of the So You Think You Can Dance season so far. I just needed to have them in one place so I can watch them, obsessively, over and over again. The first is hip-hop with Chelsea and Mark; the second is hip-hop with Katee and Joshua. Both routines are choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon.

Where I'll be in 2025

2008-05-22T11:48:00.003-05:00

...as written by one of my professors. Not even kidding.

Lurie, a precocious Albany-based editor and regular Facebook correspondent, was one of a very few New York City residents who in early spring 2008 knew that surprise-governor David Paterson’s surname had only one “t” letter in it. Lurie also knew just how profane an environment the state capital could be. Said Lurie: “Every third word I heard in Albany was the f word.” This shocked Lurie’s Craft II professor, who until that moment had not realized journalists cursed. Said Lurie: “The guy had an odd way of looking at things sometimes.”
Lurie was an accomplished student of business while at CUNY J and continued to achieve great things within the world of economics and finance after she left. Much to the surprise of those who knew her, Lurie in midlife took a break from heavy-duty business reporting and in early 2025 moved to Iowa where she joined with classmate Fritzie Andrade to open a successful salon that brought together artists and readers of 10-K financial reports.
Lurie is also remembered as Professor Wayne Svoboda’s first—and, so it seems, only—friend on Facebook. Said Lurie: “Somebody had to do it. Otherwise the whole situation seemed so sad.”

One Word Free Association, Part Deux

2008-05-03T10:07:00.003-05:00

1. Yourself: girl
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend (spouse): nada
3. Your hair: long
4. Your mother: kind
5. Your father: unpredictable
6. Your favorite item: passport
7. Your dream last night: questionable
8. Your favorite drink: tea
9. Your dream car: Jaguar
10. The room you are in: bedroom
11. Your ex: moving
12. Your fear: death
13. What you want to be in 10 years? fulfilled
14. Who did you hang out with last night? cats
15. What you’re not? bored
16. Muffins: chocolate
17. One of your wish list items: gym
18. Time: fast
19. The last thing you did: showered
20. What you are wearing: flats (!)
21. Your favorite weather: fall
22. Your favorite book: Milne
23. The last thing you ate: oatmeal
24. Your life: challenging
25. Your mood: calm
26. Your best friend: many
27. What are you thinking about right now? stories
28. Your car: silver
29. What are you doing at the moment? sitting
30. Your summer: exciting
31. Your relationship status: free
32. What is on your TV? nothing
33. What is the weather like? drizzly
34. When is the last time you laughed? school

Reason Why I Love Kate No. 4,682

2008-05-03T08:52:00.003-05:00

Me: Hey!
Kate: Hi, I have a question and I can't seem to do this by myself.
Me (growing worried): Why? What? What's wrong?
Kate: (sighs) I have been searching for the perfect bathrobe. Which has been like a month-long journey so far.
Me: A . . . bathrobe?
Kate: Yes, a bathrobe. And I think I found one but now I can't decide which color to get.
Me: You're telling me the sole reason for this phone call is to help you decide what color bathrobe to buy?
Kate: . . . Yes.

Most Annoying Trivia Competitors Ever

2008-05-01T10:20:00.003-05:00

Here's the scene: Trivia night at the Lighthouse in Park Slope. Fritzie, Erin, Eliot and I are in two teams participating in the game. Sitting on the next two bar stools were a man-and-woman team who really could not have been bigger douchebags if they tried. Between shouting in our ears and making ridiculous comments and just being generally douche-y, these two were riding our nerves. However, the following comment proved to be the one to beat.

Fritzie, who is Mexican and fluent in Spanish and French, is arguing a point with the trivia host on a question about a translation of the song "La Cucaracha."

Fritzie: I'm Mexican, and this is the translation I learned growing up.

Woman Douchebag: You're in AMERICA NOW. You're in AMERICA.

Reporting in the Bronx

2008-04-03T10:30:00.004-05:00

Erin: i am going to be in the bronx all day tomorrow, from 4 to like 9

Me: oh my god, what? are you serious?

Erin: kill me!

Erin: oh wait I'm a young, white girl in the Bronx - someone else will probably take care of that.

Sweet Asa

2008-03-30T21:32:00.002-05:00

Fun!

2008-03-28T23:51:00.003-05:00

This is such a great idea. I want to remember to do this on all future trips. Very reminiscent of my London jumping photos, some of which I will post once I find them.

Kate's Survey About Katie

2008-03-28T21:05:00.004-05:00

Had to post this on my blog so I would have it always. Kate posted this survey on MySpace:

Can YOU answer 22 questions about YOUR number 1? DON’T change your top friends, and answer 22 questions about the 1st person in your top friends.

1) Who is it?
Kathryn Lurie

2) Where did you meet them?
I met her in Albany years ago.

3) What was your age when you first met?
22

4) Is this person one of your friends?
My best

5) How long have you know them?
5

6) Is this person older than you?
A few weeks.

7) When was the last time you saw this person?
December

8) Do you miss them?
Always, always always.

9) Are you related to this person?
not so much.

10) Do you have nicknames for each other?
Um, not really. We call her Katie, instead of Kathryn, maybe that is a nickname.

12) Do you think this person will repost this?
Not likely.
She is busy, busy, busy!

13) Why is this person #1 on your top friends?
Because she is always in the trenches with me, no matter what.

14) Have you seen this person cry?
yes.

15) Do you know this person’s last name?
Lurie!

16) Do you tell them a lot about your life?
She knows many, many details.

17) Doing anything with them tonight?
Sadly, no.

18) If yes, What?
Refer to #17

19) Would you have them at/in your wedding?
yes! of course.
She will be the one holding onto my train as I try to escape!

20) Would they date you?
if we were lesbians, we would be life partners.

21) What’s something this person is obsessed with?
pink? the cat fur accumulating in her apartment? Where all time in her day goes?

22) Does this person make you laugh?
always.

Mitch and Kathy Come to Visit

2008-03-17T20:02:00.007-05:00

So my brother Mitch and his girlfriend Kathy came to visit me for the weekend. I was thrilled to see them, and thrilled for an excuse to have some fun.

Here are some of the things we did:

walked through Central Park
went to the Museum of Natural History to see the butterflies and the H2O exhibit
had lunch in the Upper West Side
went to Union Square, where a hungry squirrel ate peanuts out of Mitchell's hand
toured my school
went to the Build-A-Bear store on 5th where Mitch and Kathy added two to their collection
took a pedi-cab ride down 5th
ate BBQ in Times Square
went to see Horton Hears a Who at the AMC on 42nd Street
on Sunday, spent the morning at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, where we bought cactuses

Looking at some of the awesome plants at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

OK, It's Time to Give Up the Dream and Go to Bed

2008-03-04T23:08:00.002-05:00

I will dream about Obama getting the nom.

Good night.

Damn. Clinton Wins Ohio.

2008-03-04T22:56:00.002-05:00

AND she's pulling ahead in Texas. WTF is going on here?

If Wolf says that Texas is "a nail-biter" one more time, I will flip. That is all.

Texas is Going to Rock & Roll All Night

2008-03-04T22:17:00.003-05:00

Texas will likely not be called until the wee hours what with their caucuses and all.

The race is Texas between the Dems is thisclose and the gap is closing a bit in Ohio.

CNN is all high-tech with Apple technology--their big flat screen may as well be a giant iPhone. The political analyst who is laying out the nuts and bolts of how this election is actually working is using the "pinch" element to zoom in and zoom out of maps and graphs.

Holy Teleprompter, Batman

2008-03-04T21:51:00.002-05:00

Can McCain make it any more obvious that he's reading off a teleprompter? I mean, really.

And if you're gonna run for president, try pronouncing Taliban correctly. It's not Talley-ban.

Thank Goodness Mike Huckabee is Officially Out

2008-03-04T21:27:00.002-05:00

. . . considering he's the most boring speaker I've ever heard.

CLINTON WINS RHODE ISLAND breaking Obama's winning streak.

Clinton's also gaining in Texas, but only 4 % of polls are reporting so far.

"It's Like Marrying a Girl You Didn't Want to Date!"

2008-03-04T21:12:00.002-05:00

So said a political commentator on CNN in regards to McCain joining forces with the president in terms of now supporting Bush's tax cuts, which he initially opposed, and he will go to the capitol tomorrow to get his all-important (and when I say important, I mean notsomuch) endorsement from the president.

Mike Huckabee is giving his concession speech.

Didn't See That One Coming

2008-03-04T20:50:00.003-05:00

Texas polls are closed and it's official: McCain won the Republican nomination. Wolf Blitzer has been holding court on CNN and just congratulated John McCain on his nomination. Hip hip hooray.

Blitzer says that McCain's locking up of the GOP nomination is "historic." OK, sucky campaign and political scandals aside, what the hell is so historic about this? Another old, white, balding, Republican guy has earned the GOP nom. WTF?

Hillary is going to have to do some heavy thinking if she loses Texas--she needs to take it like a man and bow out gracefully. And then there will be two. Obama v. McCain. As it should be.

Just One More Reason to Hate Texas

2008-03-04T20:17:00.004-05:00

Texas will begin their caucuses as soon as the polls close, which will be very shortly. Why is this state voting twice? I DON'T KNOW. Obama is still ahead in Texas. . . hopefully that remains the case.

CNN is reporting that Bush is preparing to endorse McCain. If I were McCain, I'd run as far away as possible.

Obama Ahead in Texas; Clinton Ahead in Ohio

2008-03-04T20:08:00.002-05:00

We'll see how this goes--there are only a a fraction of polls reporting in.

Why Vote? It's Raining!

2008-03-04T19:47:00.002-05:00

Officials from Obama's campaign have gone to a federal judge to appeal to have the polls open later at some polling stations in Ohio, reports Fox News. Apparently the weather has been keeping people from rockin' the vote.

McCain Wins Vermont and Ohio

2008-03-04T19:38:00.002-05:00

MSNBC is reporting that John McCain won Ohio and Vermont--this is pretty much clinching his nomination for the Republican candidacy for president.

Texas polls close in about an hour and 15 minutes. It's so exciting! I'm on the edge of my seat!

It's the Economy, Stupid

2008-03-04T19:29:00.003-05:00

CNBC is reporting that in exit polls, the economy was the biggest concern for Democratic voters. Lord knows that will sway their vote one way or the other, depending on who they deem more capable of leading the economy out of recession.

All Eyes On Ohio

2008-03-04T19:22:00.003-05:00

The Ohio polls are about to close--there are quickly diminishing counters on every major news channel. In a day of voting that could determine who becomes the Democratic candidate for the presidency, Vermont, Rhode Island, Texas and Ohio are the states that are casting the votes.

Obama already won Vermont.

On CNBC, they are reporting that the liberals are voting for Obama. Surprise, surprise.

This is What You Call a LiveBlog

2008-03-04T19:18:00.004-05:00

So for an assignment for my Interactive class, I am live-blogging the primary election returns this evening.

I decided to use this blog to do this instead of my school blog, because I'm far more comfortable with Blogspot as a vehicle than Wordpress.

I'm already a bit behind, because Vermont already closed their polls.

Anniversary

2008-03-02T10:16:00.002-05:00

15 years.

I Like Hot Cocoa

2008-02-23T19:33:00.003-05:00

My Sickbed

2008-02-23T17:48:00.004-05:00

Don't let the smile fool you--I was feeling like crap, just getting over the worst of my week-long illness. All I could bring myself to do was sit on the couch and watch hours upon hours of Law & Order. Really--it's my healing regimen. I guess the cats thought that what I really needed was to be smothered to death. (There are four here. . . Sam's hiding by my feet under the blanket.) Shortly after this was taken I began flinging them around the room in fear for my life.

Convo Between Two Procrastinators on Deadline

2008-02-18T21:04:00.003-05:00

Me: goddamnit i have had all day to write this article and i still have ONE line on the page. what the eff is WRONG with me??
Me: I'm gonna pout now.
Erin: I'm also pouting.
Me: good! we can have a pouting party. where we sit around and pout.
Erin: sounds like a great time! I'll bring the beer!
Me: sweet! I'll bring the melancholy!
Erin: mmm melancholy and alcohol. nothing tastes sweeter.

And Now for Observations Made in the Last Five Minutes

2008-02-18T20:26:00.004-05:00

Drinking hot beverages is the only way to not die in pain from my throat feeling like I swallowed a porcupine followed by sandpaper followed by nail-polish remover followed by fire.
I can always tell when Frank's home because Cheese Doodles magically appear in the pantry.
Sitting in my desk chair staring at the wall is ten times more interesting than writing my article.
I am the worst procrastinator in the history of the world.

A Random Synopsis of the Last Few Weeks

2008-02-18T19:11:00.005-05:00

I've been super busy lately and therefore I am not maintaining my personal blog (i.e. this one) nearly as often as I'd like. Here are a few updates in bullet-point fashion if any of my loyal readership is at all interested:

I covered Super Tuesday by speaking with like, 30 Obama supporters, when all I needed was ONE Hillary supporter. (Read story here.)
Last Saturday I went to New Jersey to spend the afternoon with my Gram. That was good. Sometimes it feels really good to get out of the city. Though the suburbs do scare me. A lot.
Mitch moved into a new apartment over the weekend and out of the rathole he got stuck with after the fire. Thank goodness.
My internship at ABC rocks. And I can't say anything more about it or Disney will sue the pants off me.
I registered a Web site. . . . Soon, you'll be able to check out this blog, and everything else on earth I have any control over, on www.kathrynlurie.com. But not yet. I have to make it first. Funny how that works.
Leonard Nimoy was at school on Thursday to observe the Journalistic Judgment class, which I am not in. I did see him wandering around the school a bit afterward though. He's one of the founding benefactors of my school. Which makes him super cool in my book.
Just in time for the Oscars next weekend, I have finally completed the viewing of the last of the films that are nominated for Best Picture (a personal tradition going back years and years). I will write my own little one-line predictions in another post.
I have been pretty ill all weekend and I'm currently trying to will myself into writing my Craft piece for tomorrow. I can't exactly talk because my throat is raw from this crazy severe coughing and near-retching for the past 48 hours. Fun times.

Will.i.am Rocks Too.

2008-02-06T17:24:00.000-05:00

This is the original song/video that Michael covered below. Simply love it. I was curious about the almost 40 people in the video and managed to identify a few.. here are the ones I was able to figure out (if you know the names of the people I'm missing please let me know): John Legend, Kate Walsh, Aisha Tyler, Amber Valletta, Taryn Manning, Nicole Scherzinger, Common, Scarlett Johansson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Herbie Hancock and Nick Cannon, Adam Rodriguez, Alfonso Ribeiro, Austin Nichols, Ed Kowalczyk, Eric Balfour, Esthero, Harold Perrineau, Johnathon Schaech, Kelly Hu, Maya Rubin, Tatyana Ali and Tracee Ellis Ross.

Michael Campion Pretty Much Rocks

2008-02-05T19:41:00.000-05:00

My friend Michael covering the Will.I.Am song. (FYI if you don't know about this, Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas was inspired by the "Yes We Can" Obama speech and wrote this song.)

Eeeasy, Marc Jacobs

2008-01-30T21:33:00.001-05:00

with your crazy ass shoes.

Free PB&J!

2008-01-26T13:12:00.000-05:00

Found this as I was perusing the "free" section of Craigslist (click to enlarge):

I Swear I'll Do It

2008-01-23T17:19:00.000-05:00

I'm having one of those can-I-get-away-with-killing-all-my-cats-without-
PETA-hunting-me-down? moments.

Prozac Nation

2008-01-23T15:09:00.000-05:00

So, the United States scored 23 on a weird, vague list of the World's Happiest Countries. Number One on the list? Denmark. I'm sure it has something to do with the Little Mermaid statue.

Curious about how happy YOU really are?? Take ABC.com's happiness quiz.

Don't Know Why

2008-01-22T17:18:00.000-05:00

...the passing of Heath Ledger is bothering me so much. But it is.

Let's Go To the Movies

2008-01-20T17:02:00.000-05:00

I've been going to see lots of movies lately (what with my break from school), which (if there's popcorn) may be my favorite activity of all time. Here are a few I've seen and my teensy-weensy review for each..

Enchanted
Love, love, love Amy Adams. It did a great job of spoofing the treacly Disney love stories. Plus, it had my husband, Dr. McDreamy in it. What more could a girl want?

No Country For Old Men
Subtle, terrific acting--I was a pretty big fan until the ending, which, frankly, I thought blew. According to friends who have read the book, the ending is a better fit in the book, and there was a subplot missing in the movie which would have qualified it a little better.

I Am Legend
As a good friend of mine said, "If the world's gonna end, I want to be in the same city as Will Smith." In Smith I trust to save us all. Seriously, though, thought he was fantastic. And seeing Manhattan in ruins was icing on the cake.

Sweeney Todd
Johnny Depp can do no wrong in my book. Though she had an endearingly high, mousy voice, Helena Bonham Carter was difficult to understand when she sang. Tim Burton is a genius. I've never seen London so dreary and otherworldly. It was really beautifully done all around.

The Orphanage
This is a Spanish film by a new director, but produced by Guillermo del Toro (who directed Pan's Labyrinth, one of the best movies out there). This movie was great--it was a scary movie but not in a gory way (well, with the exception of one scene). It took a more classic approach--it depended on a things-that-go-bump-in-the-night element, and it was really effective. Interesting story, too.

Juno
This has been getting rave reviews. I liked it, but didn't absolutely adore it like a lot of people seem to. I saw it with Mike who rightly said that it seemed like the Juno character was almost too witty. She was, after all, 16, and pregnant. I liked Ellen Page, though, and the rest of the cast was great. I especially liked the Jennifer Garner character--she was very sympathetic and believable. . . and the movie was fun and entertaining. I definitely enjoyed it.

Atonement
It's been winning all kinds of awards and I am not anti-Kiera Knightley, but this movie just didn't do it for me. That's all for this one.

Swiss Invasion

2008-01-19T17:02:00.000-05:00

My Swiss friends Mario and Martin came to New York to celebrate the beginning of the new year. When they weren't busy shopping (and oh how they shopped), here are some of the things we did..

We spent New Year's Eve on the Brooklyn Bridge with champagne.

The Swiss guys ate like Americans..

Cecilli and Mario had a very intense arm wrestling session.

The guys' first NYC cab ride.

On Fifth--heading toward the Apple store--AGAIN.

Went to see the tree at Rockefeller Plaza, of course..

And we spent some time in Central Park.

Updates to Come!

2008-01-11T18:34:00.000-05:00

In the meantime, enjoy this very cute clip.

Holidaze

2007-12-27T00:34:00.000-05:00

It's been an up-and-down few days. I'm glad to be home.

YES!

2007-12-19T12:54:00.001-05:00

I just got offered the internship at ABC News. As a few of you know, I have been keeping my fingers crossed for this for weeks. Sweeeeeeet.

Done!!

2007-12-18T18:19:00.000-05:00

One semester down . . . two more to go. Hooray!

And So It Goes

2007-12-17T17:59:00.000-05:00

The kids upstairs are roller skating again. AND they're, like, moving a dining room table from one side of the room to the other. Or something. Whatever it is it's FREAKING LOUD.

We're Not Crazy. Really.

2007-12-17T17:30:00.001-05:00

But we did shave the cats. When there are five, there are very few alternatives.

Holy Hell

2007-12-13T23:39:00.000-05:00

Please let me just get done with finals in one piece.

Dec. 13 Is. . .

2007-12-13T22:41:00.000-05:00

KATE'S BIRTHDAY!

Happy birthday doll. Can't wait to be with my girls next weekend.

So Photogenic

2007-12-12T21:04:00.000-05:00

Awesome pic I took of Pacer this afternoon.

Blog Address Change

2007-12-11T20:31:00.001-05:00

Sorry, I know--all your bookmark libraries were all settled and comfy and I had to go and muck it all up. But this title is more fitting and not quite as cheesy and it's a Feist lyric. So there.

These Papers and Their Web Sites

2007-12-11T19:18:00.000-05:00

Here's the latest article I wrote for Chelsea Now, if anyone's interested.

Who knew there could be a Web site worse than Metroland's?

I'm Obsessed. . .

2007-12-11T18:46:00.000-05:00

with this song.

J-School Holiday Party

2007-12-11T16:50:00.000-05:00

Steve, Dana, Ari, AbiTyler, Carl, Erin, FritzieFritzie throwing a hissy fit as we dragged her to Queens.

Bye-Bye Blonde

2007-12-06T16:20:00.001-05:00

(better pics to come--this post was done in a hurry..)

Kate's NYC Weekend

2007-12-04T00:27:00.000-05:00

I am a little late in blogging this, but Kate came to visit for the weekend of Nov. 16, and we packed the two days full of stuff. Here, proof in pics.

She's going to kill me for posting two pics of her eating, but that's ok. We went to a Malaysian restaurant for dinner in Chinatown. . .

We ate at the nothing-but-peanut-butter-sandwiches restaurant in the West Village for lunch--Kate had the Elvis, of course--a sandwich that consisted of peanut butter, bananas, honey, and bacon. Mmmmm. . .

We went to the Museum of Natural History to check out the always-amazing butterfly exhibit. . .

Kate buys a souvenir for Matt from the museum gift shop. . .

And we saw a jovial Bob Saget in Times Square in front of the Drowsy Chaperone (in which he's starring right now) theater, supporting the striking stagehands.

A good was time had by all. :-)

Meeting Avery for the First Time

2007-12-03T00:19:00.001-05:00

Went to Albany this weekend to meet my newest love--Miss Avery. Kristie came home from Texas to spend the winter months with her family in New York while Tony's deployed. Avery gets to hang out with her cousins and Kristie gets a hand from her mom and sister. This little girl is the sweetest baby. I don't even think she minded that I thought her pacifier was for teething though she's only 8 weeks old. But seriously, how do you know that kind of stuff if you don't have kids? I could've held her in my arms forever.

The New Faces of J-School, Oh Yeah!

2007-11-29T15:48:00.000-05:00

An ad in the New York Post yesterday.

This Guy is a Genius

2007-11-27T23:46:00.000-05:00

There is no better way to get me to donate a WHOLE DOLLAR than by having a kitten as your mascot. It helped that when I bent to pet her, she climbed into my lap and purred. SO sweet.

The Apartment

2007-11-19T22:23:00.000-05:00

Sorry it took me so long to get photos up. Here are some views of our place. . . Click on them for a closer look.

Studio:

Bathroom:

Nate's Room:

Guest Room:

Hallway Leading to (clockwise from bottom left) Linen Closet, Bathroom, Studio, Nate's Room, and Guest Room: Living Room looking toward the hallway to the front door:

Living Room looking toward the back of the apartment (and brick wall out the window):

Front Hallway looking toward door:

Kitchen:My Room:

A Funny

2007-11-19T19:33:00.000-05:00

This is one of the most hysterical things I have seen in a long long time. Dog owners especially will enjoy it.

Feeding Time

2007-11-15T19:20:00.001-05:00

The five monsters, a.k.a. the Thunder Cat Army.

Update

2007-11-15T19:07:00.000-05:00

My brother seems to be doing ok, and I have taken up a collection to get him a new computer since he lost a brand-new one in the fire. It's likely that most of you who read this blog have gotten the email. (If you didn't, just let me know.) Thanks so, so much to those of you who have already donated. We are eternally grateful for your generosity and support.

Mitch is now looking for places to live in Troy so he can be closer to school. If anyone in the area knows of anything available, please let me know.

Fire

2007-11-11T22:00:00.000-05:00

My brother's house burned down today. He and his girlfriend and his dog got out. Everything is lost. More later when I can see straight.

3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .

2007-11-09T00:01:00.000-05:00

Holy shit, I'm 28.

Shmutzy

2007-11-08T16:16:00.000-05:00

This made me giggle.

Deluge of Fall Birthdays

2007-11-06T20:44:00.000-05:00

Sept. 25: Happy birthday NATE!!!!
Oct. 10: Happy birthday MOM!!!!!!
Oct. 25: Happy birthday ROBIN!!!!!
Oct. 28: Happy 30th birthday MIKE!!!!!
Nov. 4: Happy birthday KATHY!!!!!
Nov. 6: Happy birthday KEN!!!!
Nov. 9: Happy birthday ME!!!!
Nov. 15: Happy birthday HEATHER!!!!

alright, now everyone stop getting older. ready? ok... go!

Today's Assignment

2007-11-06T13:59:00.000-05:00

Abi, Erin and I are about to walk the half-block to Port Authority to profile it for our afternoon drill. Upon hearing about our assignment, Dana says, "Ew.. You guys have to go inhale dried piss??"

Port Authority, here we come.

Sometimes Lectures Just Need to END

2007-11-05T14:41:00.000-05:00

Over-read on my classmate Steve's computer during lecture today (which, by the way, is closing in on three hours right about now):

"Dear Sister,
I am in class and I want to die."

Gotta love laptops--for visual eavesdropping alone. ;-)

Our Humble Abode

2007-11-01T21:09:00.000-05:00

Nate's selling a keyboard on Craigslist and a girl came to look at it this evening. She was pleasant and took her time playing the keyboard in the foyer while Nate and I chatted in the kitchen. She talked to Nate for a minute about the instrument and then proceeded to gush about our apartment. Among other things, she said, "I've never seen an apartment this put together in New York." We thought that was cute, and it made us feel even more proud of our very cool apartment.

Oh the Trauma

2007-10-31T21:16:00.000-05:00

Augh. We had a vet emergency today. An expensive one. So yeah we have five cats (I know, I know) and the (three) boys fight once in a while. We usually let them duke it out, our logic being that maybe one day they'll realize just how silly they've been putting so much energy into being enemies and they'll start loving each other, as cats should. Well. Apparently Jonah was bitten on his back by one of the evil boys the other day and last night, Nate discovered that a huge lump had developed in the area of the wound. After a bit of Internet research I discover that it's an abscess, and that yeah, we should probably go to the vet (DAMNIT). So we go to a vet's office in Park Slope, one that Nate researched out when he got a couple of his cats' shots updated, and learn from our vet that the abscess has to be lanced. So lance it they did and poor Jonah had to be drained. Poor thing. He was so terrified and in so much pain that he peed in the cat carrier on the way home, so Nate tried his best to clean him up in the tub before we gave him his first round of pain meds and antibiotics. This was extremely difficult, you know, what with the large gaping wound that we weren't supposed to touch on his back. We were instructed to place him in solitary confinement for a few days, so he's in the guest room with his own litter, food, and bed. I feel awful for Jonah, but ohmygod, what a pain in the ass.Jonah in his sickbed. The wound is on the other side. Believe me, you don't want to see it.

City Livin' 2

2007-10-30T19:14:00.000-05:00

I just figured it out. The kids are rollerskating up there. I am so serious. Rollerskating! Or rollerblading, whatever it is they do these days. You've GOT to be kidding me.

City Livin'

2007-10-30T18:55:00.000-05:00

A very nice family moved into the apartment directly above us about three weeks ago. Until then the apartment had been blissfully empty, and we enjoyed the uninterrupted silence for a good month and a half. The new family has three very cute, very bouncy children. They bounce a lot. Like, all evening long sometimes. And apparently the family rearranges their furniture almost every evening as well. At least, that's what it sounds like. All of a sudden something will roll from one side of my ceiling to the other. I don't know quite what to do about it. All I know is that I'm on deadline. And they're moving furniture. Again.

Post-script: By the way--though really annoying, mostly because I have to write right now--this isn't as bad as it was in my bedroom in Albany. I'm sure some of you remember me telling you about the morning when the guy who lived upstairs from me there threw a chair through the window, which was located directly above my bed, at about 4:30 AM. That was fun.

Politics as Usual

2007-10-29T23:39:00.000-05:00

Mike shows me a Web site that is designed to help you choose who you're going to vote for.

Me: it tells me i should vote for kucinich
Me: wasn't expecting that
Me: 95.92%
Mike: uh oh. you better change your mind to start better suiting the band wagon
Me: oh? which bandwagon am i supposedly on?
Mike: knowing you? well. i'd say obama for you....let's see...
Mike: young?
Mike: yes
Mike: female?
Mike: yes
Mike: jewish?
Mike: yes
Mike: NYC?
Mike: yes
Mike: works next to the times? mouth piece of the left?
Mike: yes
Me: lol
Mike: that's an obama supporter.

Midterms DONE

2007-10-29T23:04:00.000-05:00

Ugh let's not do that again soon, shall we?

I got some awesome feedback from school peeps (like professors and such) tonight, and I am riding high. That is, until I pass out. Which will be in 3... 2... 1.

Oh God

2007-10-28T20:59:00.001-05:00

Two midterms tomorrow. HELP!

Week in Review

2007-10-26T14:47:00.000-05:00

The week, in highlights:

--Wednesday, I went on a ride-along with a couple of NYPD cops to check out what they do every day (hence the bulletproof vest a couple posts down). I went to Precinct 107, which is in Queens, where apparently they don't have cabs. I had a mile-and-a-half walk (run) from the subway stop. Other then that, it was fun--I got paired with a couple of young cops who were very sweet and chatted openly about the force and about public perception of policepeeps. Very informational.
--Wednesday night I attended Stephen Colbert's reading/signing of his book, I Am America (and So Can You) at the Union Square Barnes & Noble. The guy is good.
--Yesterday, I attended a study session for the Legal & Ethics midterm that's looming in my immediate future. AKA Monday. I am, in a word, terrified. Also Monday: Research Methods midterm. Here's hoping I survive the day.
--This morning in Interactive, we made our first audio slideshows public, and got our first video assignments. We made mini-docs about making PB sandwiches as practice. I have to say--so far, video is seeming like a lot more fun than straight audio. We'll see.

Cranberry Cap

2007-10-25T22:09:00.001-05:00

Bullet Proof

2007-10-23T22:09:00.000-05:00

I will be wearing one of these tomorrow.

Nate's Random Pearls of Wisdom

2007-10-20T14:11:00.000-05:00

"I feel like in other countries, the only thing that excuses you from being American is being from New York."

Girls

2007-10-20T11:28:00.000-05:00

Me: I want to come to Switzerland.

Mario: You can come whenever you want, but it's cold here.

Me: I want cold! I want autumn! I'm sick of this heat.

Mario: You're crazy. As soon as it's cold you will change your mind!

Me: I know, but for now my mind's made up.

Mario: . . . girls.

Firewalls Be Damned

2007-10-17T22:25:00.001-05:00

Mike and I are able to video chat, finally!

Busy Busy

2007-10-16T21:02:00.000-05:00

SOOOO-freakin'-BUSY!!!!

A lot has been going on, needless to say. Grad school has me going mach 3 at all times. Very little sleep going on over here. It's beginning to pay off, I think. I got my first freelance story published in Chelsea Now. Hooray! Hopefully there will be many more clips to come. I'm working on a story now that I hope will end up in a paper somewhere. I will link it if it does.

Gram came into the city yesterday and we had dinner at Carnegie Deli, which was appropriate, as we went to Carnegie Hall for a show after. Brian Stokes Mitchell, Mr. King-O-Broadway himself, gave a concert to benefit the Actors Fund. There were a bunch of guests, including Reba McEntire and Phylicia Rashad, who were both great.

In the midst of my grad-school busy-ness, Mike came to visit for the weekend, which was a blast. We went to see Chicago (which is now starring Brian McKnight, who knew?), ran into some Albany peeps in the Village, chilled in Central Park, etc.

Mike and I had Ethiopian for lunch on Sunday.