lovely, lovely, lovely

I caught the bug while helping Dr. P paint his condo and especially after seeing this sneak peek on design sponge. The paint color is Benjamin Moore - Norway Spruce and I am in love. So much so, that I'm planning on stopping by a paint store on my lunch break to pick up a chip. Before the new year, I would brought home a quart instead of a chip, but I'm trying to be a "better wife" and part of that is making decisions together. Ha!


So on Sunday, a bunch of us helped Dr. P paint his older-yet-new-to-him condo a brilliant shade of Oyster Pearl in exchange for many cans of sodas and Thai food. Bobby and AC inhaled too many primer fumes and started speaking with husky Italian accents the rest of the day, creating tales of the notorious Poopananni brothers. Don't ask.

It's amazing what a new coat of paint can do for a place. Now onto the toile wallpaper and the matching cranberry accent wall.

Dr. P has a love for roosters.

As does his cat Roobik (Rubik?), hence having to hang it on the wall.

alright, i can't keep this to myself


Norfolk folks: Remember the Hula Hoop lady we discussed last year (oddly enough - Jan. 22 of 07)? The Pilot did another story on her complete with video. I love my neighborhood!

silence

We received some very unfortunate news over the weekend and out of respect for the family and the circumstances, I'm taking a break from this blog for the next week.

a new look for a new year

Yes, you're at the right place.

I helped a friend make her banner last night and realized I had only spent a whopping 5 minutes on my own last year. I'm sure you grew tired of seeing the blurry picture of the quilt, right?

A clean slate for a new year.

mystery solved

Word of advice: don't ever look up tracking information at a friend's house without logging out of your account. Thanks, Mr. D. I changed all of my security information for your practical joke.

these are a few of my latest favorite things

Perhaps it's the spike in temperature or the calm after the holiday rush, but I've been enthusiastic about everything lately. So, I thought I'd share a few of the things that are making me so giddy.

BOOKS:
1. The New Kings of Non-Fiction
Ira Glass compiled a book of some of his favorite non-fiction articles and essays - ones in which the journalist plays a larger role in the telling of the story. This is one of those books that compels me to steal away during the lunch hour or attempt to balance while riding a stationary bike at the gym just so I can get a few more pages read. Actually right now, I'm wasting precious book-reading time - erg.

2. Taking Things Seriously
A great little book exhibiting ordinary objects we hold dear. Each spread has a photo of the object or collection and the owner's description and its emotional/historical significance. I especially can identify with one collection, which will remain nameless, but is found in between pages 85 and 100. It's entertaining, touching, and conveniently petite to fit on the top of your toilet.

3. Chris Ware's recently published work
I'm so glad it's not another Rusty Brown book, but is the heartbreaking Building Stories. I was a subscriber to the NY Times during its run in the funny page of the magazine and was so sad to see it replaced. It was the first thing I looked for when I retrieved that 20 lb blue bag from our porch on Sundays...or gutter every other Sunday, if at all.

Also, the second volume of his sketchbook, wherein Bobby discovered that Jimmy Corrigan's grandfather was born in 1888. Although a fictional character, it's another one for the list.

Though somewhat unrelated, I finally framed this guy:
The signed dust jacket had been sitting in a tube for the past couple years.


TELEVISION:
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
This is the best reason for subscribing to cable TV. I called a few people last night to let them know the new season was starting. My mom was too busy watching the lame-ass new Dance Wars to turn the channel and poor Thom & Beth don't have cable, which is a shame since last night's episodes showed Singapore and Malaysia (they just returned from those locations). So, now I'm telling you, dear internet friends. Please watch this show on the Travel Channel (locals: channel 62). It reminds me of Dirty Jobs, but far more interesting and educational. Yeah, Mike Rowe is witty and ruggedly handsome, but Anthony Bourdain is far more hilarious. Perhaps snarky would be a better description.

STUFF:
Rainbow Maker

My dad picked this out for me, which is unusual because he usually gives me books. It's a crystal attached to a motor which is powered by a small solar panel. When receiving direct light, the crystal projects countless prisms of light around the room. They are constantly moving, which makes the room come to life and at the same time provides hours of entertainment for the cats.

That's all...for now.

i've been hacked!

While gathering pics from Amazon for an upcoming post, I happened to glance down at the items listed in my shopping cart.

Call me crazy, but I don't remember adding the pair of 5 inch clear plastic stripper heels to my cart, or the year's supply of condoms, the huge box of diarrhea caplets, and especially the biography of Satan. I mean why would I want to spend $50 for a book on Satan? Geez.

I interrogated all of my coworkers, thinking someone had used my naive password-saved account to play a practical joke, but no one admitted the deed. Someone from the outside hacked into my account. I'm just glad they didn't one-click send them to my work address - I would have had alot of explaining to do.

happy 31st birthday, chinky bean!


I didn't make it up - it's his self-proclaimed rapper name.

I need to make his cake this evening. Let's hope it goes better than last year's.

happy 2008!

So far, it's been a great year.


1888 & Rylo welcomed in the new year with a Mad Dog toast at a packed Taphouse. The guys in 1888 were all on point and played one of their most successful shows to date. (More photos here.)


A surprise visit from my second cousin and friend Britta made the night even better. And since it was warmer than usual, Bobby invited everyone to the house to gather around the fire pit. Our poor, poor neighbors.

We slept for what seemed like an obscene amount of time and woke up just in time to attend Amber & Mary's vegan brunch. Tofu scramber, pumpkin waffles, rosemary potatoes...I tested them all. And then retested and drank about two gallons of orange juice. The food was delicious, the company entertaining (that Max is a funny little boy), and the perfect start to the new year.

We left there, met Dr. Pter for a cup of coffee and a revolting medical conversation (I tend to discuss poo way too often). A quick drive to VB and we got to spend some quality time with some friends visiting from NYC. Spent the rest of the night with them shooting marbles, playing Jenga, observing the inventory and discussing the NYC art scene (oh...the stories they tell).

Hope you guys enjoyed your New Year's holiday, too. Here's to actually keeping your resolutions in 2008!