Some Bachelorette Party Photos

Kristie plays with Kate's Pippi Longstocking hairstyle.

Kristie, adorned with her tiara and hand-sewn army-green veil, reads the directions for BACHELORETTE BOOT CAMP.

Kristie reads one of her TOP SECRET clues.

Sweet pic of Kiera and Kristie at DeJohn's.

Kiera and Kate: Army twins!

Kiera and Niki drop and do 10 pushups for being bad and leaving a gear pack outside.

MISSION: BACHELORETTE BOOT CAMP

I LOVE her.

The bridal party: (l-r) Michelle (the sister and maid of honor), and Kate, Kristie, me, and Kathleen (Kristie's sister-in-law).

Temporary tattoos RULE!

Red Carpet Blitz

When I was in London, I happened to be in Leceister Square the night of the world premiere of Basic Instinct 2. Here's a pic I took of Sharon Stone on the red carpet (she's the blonde under all the spotlights, if you couldn't tell). All of the reporters were on the other side of the carpet, so she had her back turned for the majority of the five minutes I stood there, watching. Man is that movie being slammed! Poor, crazy, nutty Sharon Stone.

Very Busy Day

Today, I . . .

- woke up very early
- let Plumber Al in at 8:30 AM and chatted with him about my apartment's failing water pressure over morning tea
- took Asa (who was a very good boy) to the vet and just about fainted at the cost of it all
- took Asa to the park as a reward for being a man about getting shots
- attended a going-away lunch for Kathleen, who's moving to San Francisco
- met Plumber Al at my apartment yet again so he could install the parts necessary for me to have a working shower, bathroom faucet and kitchen faucet
- upon leaving to go back to work, discovered that the lock on the door to the building spontaneously broke, called Bob the landlord, and then the locksmith to come and fix it
- went to the gym and rushed a 45-minute workout (ouch)
- sat on my kitchen counter and ate a bowl of cereal for dinner
- was picked up by Michael and attended the Spectrum's 25th anniversary party
- went to Noche, where all were wearing pink because of a breast cancer fundraiser that occured there earier in the evening, schmoozed with various people
- went to DeJohn's, where I had a cran-apple cosmopolitan and three bites of Michael's yummy chocolate cake


. . . tired.

Bath

The ruins of the Roman Baths in Bath, England.

I Love This

Your eyes are not playing tricks on you. This is really a crooked house (well, actually, it's a tea room) across the street from Windsor Castle in Windsor, England. How fun! And across the street from that. . . .


. . . was this shorter-than-usual doorway. I had to take a picture because the cautionary sign is so precious!

Lyric of the Day

"You can plan a pretty picnic, but you can't predict the weather."

"Ms. Jackson" by Outkast

Annoying Day

My ass has been glued to my office chair for the majority of the day with the exception of lunch (thanks to the Republican for coming to Albany for lunch and letting me vent about my life) and I can't bring myself to go to the gym today, blah! And I've been procrastinating with my tedious-ass work and I was just blown off yet again by my brother and I'm SO ready to freeeeeak ouuuuuuuut.

!!!!!!!!!!!

Headline of the Day

Tom Cruise Jumping on Furniture Again

(courtesy CNN)

Back From London, Unfortunately

This is one of my favorite views of London. It's the Millenium Bridge, with St. Paul's Cathedral in the background (yes, the "Feed the Birds" church). St. Paul's looks like a water-color painting in real life. It's one of the most beautiful churches on earth, as far as I'm concerned.

On the other end of the Millenium Bridge sits the Tate Modern, the most beautiful museum ever. It's breathtaking inside--for one, it's HUGE. In 1995 the building was converted from a defunct power company into this amazing place. It's seven stories tall and it holds Duchamp's Fountain.

HoS Show in Lenox Last Night!

This is three-quarters of Hector on Stilts, who played at the Firefly in Lenox last night. There was much dancing, and much rocking. Here, the boys (left to right: Jeb, JBro and Roger) are caught between dinner and show. Jeb looks giddy--it must have been his brownie-and-vanilla-ice-cream sundae. Yum!

Lyric of the Day

With your feet in the air and your head on the ground

Try this trick and spin it, yeah

Your head will collapse

But there's nothing in it

And you'll ask yourself,

"Where is my mind?"

"Where is My Mind?" --the Pixies

I See London!

Off to London this weekend. Ah, London. The Parliament, the Queen, tea and crumpets, theater, and so much more. I'll be gone for a week. Don't come looking for me.

I'll be sure to post photos when I get back (the last time I was in London I was still using a camera that took film--gasp!--and I think I have yet to develop some of those pictures).

Lyric of the Day

I've overcome the blow.

--"Operator" by Jim Croce

Metroland Community Arts Project

the upstairs bathroom

March 2, Again

Thirteen years ago.

It's the saddest anniversary to recognize, but it's the

only
one
I
never
have
trouble
remembering.

Lyric of the Day

I thought my love was enough to make you smile for all your life.

-- "I Wonder" by Gomo

It's the Little Things in Life

On the occasions that I drive my car to work, it gives me a jolt of triumph every time I park in the ad director's self-appointed parking spot.

This Sucks

It's so cold here. In my city and in my heart.

Cecelli and Me...

. . . at the Lark Tavern. Seriously, where else?

Tonight...

Thai food and then off to see Paddy play!!

Lyric of the Day

When we were strangers, I watched you from afar; when we were lovers, I loved you with all my heart.

--"Harvest Moon," Neil Young

*Sigh*

Ken turned metro.

What the Hell is Going on Here???

My office stinks like garbage! I can't work like this.

This Blog Entry is Blatantly About Jan Thomas

Poor Jan. He's a bit tired. Of his life, of his job, of Baton Rouge. Tired of replacing stolen items, tired of searching for a car, a love, a passion. Tired of being accused of awkwardness and pretentiousness. He says so in his blog. Jan, your friends in the Capital Region miss you! Come home. I'll help you find a job, a car, and whatever else you need. ;-)

Kristie's Surprise Proposal

sweet.

Happy Happy

Happy 21st birthday to my brother Mitch! (Took you long enough, geez!)

Oh My Gosh . . .

Kristie's getting MARRIED!

Congratulations, Tony and Kristie!

Has Anyone Noticed. . .

. . . how many birthdays there are to celebrate around the holidays? Next up: my dad on Jan. 24, and then Mitch on Jan. 27. Crazy.

You Say it's Your Birthday!

Happy 23rd Birthday to my dear brother, Dylan, who looks most unhappy in this shot. But it was the only one I could find at the moment. I will post a better one as soon as I can. :-)

I LOVE YOU!

My Date Tonight. . .

will involve delicious Indian food and gay cowboys.

Can't wait!

This is . . .

my 100th post.

eh.

Photo No. 30,001

So. . . When you go to openings, parties, concerts, dinners, fundraisers and events, and you always go with the same one or two people, you end up with about, oh, 30,000 versions of the same photo. This is Kristie and me enjoying a couple glasses of red at the opening of Matt Baumgartner's new club, Noche. The building that houses it is an old fire station. It's a great spot--very classy. We are standing in front of the centerpiece work of art, by Albany's own Tommy Watkins.


*Note to Kristie: I'm really going to count and see exactly how many pics like this we have. I don't know how, but I think we generally end up on the same sides in most of them. Odd.

More Birthdays

Kristie turns 26 today!

(Here she is with her dog Sage.)

Everyone be sure to call and say hello.

She's in icky Staten Island.

Goddamn...

I'm tense.

Rough Time for Kristie

Kristie's birthday is on Thursday (Dec. 22--she'll be 26), but she can't be in Albany to celebrate with her friends because she's taking care of unpleasant family issues in Staten Island. If any of you want to call to wish her a happy birthday or happy holidays, or to let her know that your thoughts are with her, e-mail me and I'll pass along contact info.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KATE!

Kate P.

turns

26

today!

Happy

birthday!

Another 20-Something Bites the Dust

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY, BRODEUR!

This Just In . . .

We are expecting the first major snowstorm of the season tonight--they're saying 4-12 inches!
Now's your chance to stock up on hot chocolate and marshmallows.

Guys, Pay Attention.

This is a bit sad, but surprisingly brilliant.

Borrowed Post

My sweet, sweet friend Jan wrote the following post on his blog last night, and it's such a beautiful little piece of writing that I could not resist but to post it here as well (with his permission, of course--thanks, Jan!). Enjoy.

"It's funny how something so mundane can become so much more. For example, when I was with my last girlfriend we went to the grocery store. A simple mundane event. But when we went, we spent a lot of time there, we joked, argued about what to buy. These little things take on meanings, sort of rituals.

But all these rituals, whether you realize or perceive their roles within yourself, make up bits of you. Parts of your intimacy. They are your world. They are the places you frequent and slowly you share it with someone. Let them into the places you go and do the things that you do.

And when that intimacy isn't there anymore, then those trips, those small baubles turn back into the ordinary. Or even worse, they become a spot of pain, a reminder of rejection or a shot of indifference where there was once more.

Because you can't go home again. Things change, people change, evolve, regress, adapt or fall behind. Everyone takes bits and pieces of us, changes us around, turns us on our heads, makes us feel happy, sick and desperate. Even if you can't see it, or don't notice it, it's there. The minute I met the world, it altered me.

All that you can do is accept change. But sometimes you have the wind knocked out of you and you have to gasp for a little while. Find your bearings, straighten up and cop to your emotions. And sometimes people can ease your transistions through love and life, like a crutch.

Sometimes I feel really winded and other times I think that I'm really good at rolling with the constant flood of it all.

The truth is I'm probably somewhere in between."

--Jan Thomas

Yum!

We'll call this one

Photographic Evidence of My Re-Entry Into the Burger-Eating World.

Photo taken by Mr. Travis Durfee.

Expanding My Online Presence, Sorta

Visit my MySpace site. Become my friend! It's fun. Really.

Nate

This is my dear friend Nate, driving on the Palisades to New York for his weekly gig at the Stonewall Bistro in the village. Don't worry, he kept his eyes open for the majority of the ride.

My New Hat (Wink!)

Getting Ready For the Family Ambush

I'm getting ready to leave town tomorrow for a few days to spend Thanksgiving with the family. Before I do, I have to:

1. pack
2. take Asa to be boarded for the weekend
3. go to my dentist appointment in the morning
4. bribe Kristie to watch my cats
5. get my oil changed
6. come up with some sort of gift to bring to the dinner/household
7. pay rent
8. go to the bank
9. make my apartment somewhat liveable for when I return home
10. mentally prepare for inevitable ex-boyfriend sighting


I'm wasting precious time. . .

Happy Birthday to Me. . .

Today I am 26. And that is that.

Lyric of the Day

"That deaf dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball."

--the Who's Tommy

Feeling Homicidal. . .

. . .

A Couple More Cancun Pics

Click on 'em to see 'em full size.

Line Dancing, Cancun-Style

Cancun, Mexico

OK, I know I went a little backwards here--Cancun was before the fashion show--but here's a pic of me and the ladies (Kristie and Kate) at one of the many hotel bars at the resort at which we stayed for about a week in mid-September. The beer was cheap, the weather was great, the ocean was like bath water, and all the Mexican waiters we came across showered us with attention.

Eyeliner is a Guy's Best Friend

Here's Mitch in hair and make-up for the fashion show at the Lark Tavern on Saturday night. He modeled clothes for Tommy Watkins' line, called Liability.

Here's Sam

Sam thinks she's cute. She's a smart kitty.

Freakin' Out.

You would think that as you got older, the people around you who you now have to deal with would reflect some sort of relative maturity. You would think. I am realizing more and more these days that people much older than me have no problem acting like infantile morons. And I'm not talking specifically about a class of people, or coworkers, or politicians, or whatever. I am talking about every-frickin'-body. I can definitely delve into fits of regression as well, don't get me wrong, but I try to be as professional and upbeat as possible when dealing with, well. . . work, and when dealing with anyone I should just be frickin' polite to, just because.

I am completely unmotivated. And I feel an extraordinary sense of sorrow.

To Be Honest. . .

This was a secret posted on Postsecret.com. I think it's hysterical.

Has Katrina Saved US Media?

Thanks to Rick for the link to this story.

Look Here...

Here's the Jackson Free Press' Katrina blog.

Heartbreaker

Please read the transcript or listen to the interview with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin on WWL-AM.

A Better List of Resources to Help Victims of Hurricane Katrina

. . . Can be found here.

WAY TO GO, Ted Koppel

Ted Koppel interviews head of FEMA, Michael Brown.

Summing Up the Federal Response to Katrina

World stunned as US struggles with Katrina Sep 02 10:08 AM US/Eastern

By Andrew Gray
LONDON (Reuters) - The world has watched amazed as the planet's only superpower struggles with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, with some saying the chaos has exposed flaws and deep divisions in American society.
World leaders and ordinary citizens have expressed sympathy with the people of the southern United States whose lives were devastated by the hurricane and the flooding that followed.
But many have also been shocked by the images of disorder beamed around the world -- looters roaming the debris-strewn streets and thousands of people gathered in New Orleans waiting for the authorities to provide food, water and other aid.
"Anarchy in the USA" declared Britain's best-selling newspaper The Sun.
"Apocalypse Now" headlined Germany's Handelsblatt daily.
The pictures of the catastrophe -- which has killed hundreds and possibly thousands -- have evoked memories of crises in the world's poorest nations such as last year's tsunami in Asia, which left more than 230,000 people dead or missing.
But some view the response to those disasters more favorably than the lawless aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
"I am absolutely disgusted. After the tsunami our people, even the ones who lost everything, wanted to help the others who were suffering," said Sajeewa Chinthaka, 36, as he watched a cricket match in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
"Not a single tourist caught in the tsunami was mugged. Now with all this happening in the U.S. we can easily see where the civilized part of the world's population is."
SINKING INTO ANARCHY
Many newspapers highlighted criticism of local and state authorities and of President Bush. Some compared the sputtering relief effort with the massive amounts of money and resources poured into the war in Iraq.
"A modern metropolis sinking in water and into anarchy -- it is a really cruel spectacle for a champion of security like Bush," France's left-leaning Liberation newspaper said.
"(Al Qaeda leader Osama) bin Laden, nice and dry in his hideaway, must be killing himself laughing."
A female employee at a multinational firm in South Korea said it may have been no accident the U.S. was hit.
"Maybe it was punishment for what it did to Iraq, which has a man-made disaster, not a natural disaster," said the woman, who did not want to be named as she has an American manager.
"A lot of the people I work with think this way. We spoke about it just the other day," she said.
Commentators noted the victims of the hurricane were overwhelmingly African Americans, too poor to flee the region as the hurricane loomed unlike some of their white neighbors.
New Orleans ranks fifth in the United States in terms of African American population and 67 percent of the city's residents are black.
"In one of the poorest states in the country, where black people earn half as much as white people, this has taken on a racial dimension," said a report in Britain's Guardian daily.
Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, in a veiled criticism of U.S. political thought, said the disaster showed the need for a strong state that could help poor people.
"You see in this example that even in the 21st century you need the state, a good functioning state, and I hope that for all these people, these poor people, that the Americans will do their best," he told reporters at a European Union meeting in Newport, Wales.
David Fordham, 33, a hospital anesthetist speaking at a London underground rail station, said he had spent time in America and was not surprised the country had struggled to cope.
"Maybe they just thought they could sit it out and everything would be okay," he said.
"It's unbelievable though -- the TV images -- and your heart goes out to them."
(With reporting by Reuters bureaux around the world)

I Love Little Girls

. . . especially these little girls. Kristie's nieces, Fiona (top) and Maeve (bottom) Donnelly. They are my little Irish angels. My predictions for the teen Donnelly girls: Maeve will be the sweet, well-behaved, steady-boyfriend, straight-As (probably on the debate team or in the glee club) kind of girl, and Fiona will be the punk-rocker, restless, pierced, rebellious, creative, straight-Bs (and probably in detention at least once a month) type of girl. They are sweet as honey and I love hanging out with them.

Is It Just Me, Or. . .

. . . are the members of our government just not taking the devastation of Hurricane Katrina quite as seriously as they should be?

Also check out this study in photos. (Thanks to Rick for the link.)

Kristie's New Car

Help the Victims of Hurricane Katrina

. . . there are a bunch of different numbers to call in order to donate money, and in some cases, volunteer to help rescue, and there's going to be a huge need in terms of cleanup volunteers. CNN has compiled a pretty comprehensive list. I'm sure any little bit of help will be extremely appreciated.

I'm in Love With Harry (and Proud of It!)

For those of you who are big Harry Potter dorks like I am, check out the teaser and the trailer for the new movie, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

(By the way, thanks to Mr. Marshall for my "Republicans for Voldemort" sticker. I love it!)

Goin' to the City

Here's Kristie's new tattoo, which she got last Thursday. It's a version of the Celtic Tree of Life. Miss Kristie also bought a brand-new Toyota Matrix yesterday! It's very very cute and fun. Congratulations, doll. You have been promoted to chaffeur. :-)

In other news, I'm outta here!! This weekend Mitch and I are going to the city and to visit our grandmother. We'll go to MoMA (I haven't been there since the renovations), we'll see Fiddler on the Roof (starring Harvey Fierstein, yay!), and we'll eat at my favorite comfort-food spot, the Second Ave. Deli. I can't wait, it'll be great! John, don't forget to feed Sam and Jonah tomorrow! (Thank you.) See y'all next week!

Pain In My Own Ass

It's a familiar situation as of late: a ton of work to do, and absolutely no motivation to get it done. Hence the post (I'm too unmotivated to even write a longer one, though). I'm either overtired or pissy or lazy. I really can't figure it out. I need to get some sleep, I think.

A Pic of the Spanish Steps

Here is the view from the top of the Spanish Steps at dusk. It really is a beautiful spot. The street that starts at the bottom of the Steps is lined with designer shops like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and other uber-expensive namebrands.

The German

I met a boy in Rome. Of course in Rome. But he's not from Rome, he's from Germany. Of course. He's very sweet and very handsome and he lives a hundred million miles away. And because we only spent two evenings together, and because he's such a mystery, I am very attracted to the idea of getting to know him better and (possibly?) visiting him. Or him visiting me. We've been emailing long letters and photos, but I have to wonder if any of it will amount to anything. Yes, it's nice to have him as a contact . . . a friend, even, but where will it go, if anywhere? And it's not like I am trying to take the spontaneity or impetuousness out of anything, I'm just wondering if it's worth all the thought I've already given it, which, for the record, has been too much. I guess we'll see. . .

Online Confessionals

They seem to be all the rage. Protected by the veil of anonymity, one can be fearless. Though a lot of these confessions/secrets are sometimes very disturbing, a lot of them are oddly comforting, and some are downright comical. No one I know (or so they say) has submitted a secret or confession to these sites. I have been tempted, but I will never, for fear of them being able to track my secret to my town, to my office, to my desk, to my computer, to my head. Really, I'm not paranoid. But there are a couple choice secrets that I will never commit to writing. Not in my journal, not on my blog, and not on an anonymous online abyss. They are just too secret. But I do enjoy reading them. It's the sensationalist in me.

Check out postsecret.com, grouphug.us, and notproud.com.

I'm Back! Damnit.

Well, August is already halfway over and autumn will be coming very shortly. I love autumn, so I'm not disappointed about the retreat of summer. I am, however, dreading yet another Northeast winter. I'll whine about that later, though. . . it's still warm and sunny out, thankfully.

Italy was fabulous; I visited Positano, Pompei, Sorrento, Capri and Rome. (The photo above is of Positano, where I spent the majority of my trip.) It was a beautiful vacation; to be on the West Coast of Italy was fantastically beneficial to my mental health. And, of course, Rome. . . quite the difference in security compared to the last time I was there in March of 2001. Instead of a few Swiss Guards here and there at the Vatican, there were many heavily armed police officers. Where you used to be able to walk right into San Pietro, there are now queues and metal detectors. But regardless, Rome is still stunning and wonderful and friendly and ancient. I spent most nighttime hours on the Spanish Steps, where I drank lots of chianti and met all sorts of people and watched fire throwers and guitarists perform for the crowds. It was so disappointing to leave. But, I threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain, which supposedly insures your safe return to Rome someday. So hopefully I'll get back there eventually.

Lyric of the Day

Sometimes you get what you want, sometimes you get what you get.
--Paddy Kilrain

One of Those Days

I'm very very sleepy--it's one of those days where I just can't completely wake up. I think I need another cup of coffee--and a catnap--before I try to go to work at the restaurant. *YAWN*

This is a pic of where I sit everyday: my desk. My bulletin board is more interesting than my desktop, so this is the angle I chose to blog.

I have a trip to Italy coming up in two weeks. Very exciting. I'll be traveling with my gram and we will hit fun cities like Naples, Pompeii, Rome, and Positano. Countdown commences: 13 days to go.

Best of the Best of the Best

Alright, people--we can't make this any easier for you. Go to the website and fill out this year's Readers' Poll! Here's your chance to give props to your favorite waitress, band, website, restaurant, reporter, and anything else you want. And, if you're not related to me or anyone else who works at the paper, you may win a prize (you can read about the prizes on the website). Don't forget to vote LOCAL! Thank you and goodnight.