mommy...I am SO happy you are coming home for a few days!!!

Fun pass

Clare, here is the story I was telling you today: Brooklyn's forgotten subway, the world's first. How's this for an opening:

"Unbeknownst to the thousands of people who walk and drive along the busy streets of downtown Brooklyn every day, they are treading on a 170 year old secret. At 17 feet high, 21 feet wide and 1,611 feet long, it is a big secret indeed, and one filled with greed, murder and corruption. Not long ago, M and I had the chance to go down a manhole in the middle of Atlantic Avenue and find out more. What we found was truly unbelievable."

And

"Using the cut and cover method, the street was dug up for roughly 12 blocks, a wooden frame was built, a barrel vaulted brick roof put in, and the street relayed, all in the astonishingly short time of seven months. The work was done almost entirely by Irish immigrants. When the Irish workers were told by a British contractor they would have to miss church and work on Sundays, according to an 1844 Brooklyn Eagle article, an Irishman pulled a gun, shot the Brit, and the group buried him behind the wall of the tunnel-where presumably his body still resides today."

Try and beat THAT fare, Clare.

For more about the tunnel's history, how it was rediscovered and what secrets lie within it, follow this link right.......here.

Tea, plez?

Well, Baby Leo/Sheila will be making his/her big entrance toute suite! (I don't care if that's the right spelling.) I know from plentizy of experience that we will be needing help. To that end, I thought I'd end your suspense, and let you rest again at night by answering your burning question: "In lieu of bringing another onesie, how can I REALLY help?"

Visits, of course:
Frank will be home for two very tired, though I'm sure very wonderful weeks. But I know from the many surgeries and of course Luca's birth that while we won't have the energy for entertaining, fresh faces like a good shower are always helpful when you're stringing blurry days together. And then of course when he leaves, I would love company.

Fresh Food:
We're doing our best to keep the fridge stocked with fresh foods. But of course that has it's limits. So, fruits (esp oranges, grapes, bananas) and veggies (esp broccoli, spinach, and veggie-platter-type-veggies that are easy for us to snack on), organic full-fat yogurt, cold cuts + iceberg lettuce (our substitute for bread), orange juice... just some ideas of what would all be very welcome. Basically things that make eating healthy on the go easier. Maybe some Fudgecicles..... maybe...

Meal Prep:
I've cooked and frozen as much as I can, and am done partly b/c I have no more room, partly b/c I have no more energy. Many are partial meals (the sauces, or the parts that can freeze and thaw and not be nasty.) Any help finishing the prep/bringing the needed ingredients of these meals would be heavenly:

- Lasagna: Missing the dairy (from store) -- 2 cups full-fat Cottage Cheese, 15 oz carton full-fat Ricotta cheese, & Parsley

- Chicken Marsala: Missing a container of Sliced Mushrooms (from store)

- Chicken Pot Pie: Missing buscuits (ingredients here at home)

- Chicken Parm: Missing, well, the fried chicken tenders (ingredients most likely here at home waiting quick breading and frying, unless I go into labor tonight before I have a chance to get more chicken...)

- Falafel: Missing Scallions & Cilantro (from store)

Um, that's all I can think of now......
In advance, I say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
We love you all, and can't wait to meet this little Baba Ganoush!!

Introducing...

Since I spend 9+ hours a day wasting away in a vomit-colored cubicle, I have done a great deal of blogging (browsing, not commenting). Most blogs are pretty narcissistic: "I'm a poet, mother, wife, lover of animals, and ardent liberal." A lot of blogs are celebrity driven: "Jennifer's turmoil over Brangelina's ever-growing baby bump!" And then there are the poor souls that just want to keep in touch with their family members: "Look! Chuck turned one and Mexican Hat Dancers came to serenade him! GO STAGS!"

However, if you search hard enough in the blogosphere, you'll find some gems. My gem? Design*Sponge. Man alive, this site makes me salivate with the great interior design examples, and if anyone else is bored at work (oh, you all like your jobs? Whoops.) I highly suggest this blog for window shopping. My fav is the "before and afters" and the "sneak peeks" into other rich interior designers homes.


Example #1:

Yowzaz! Ok, so this isn't the inside of a home, but I still think it's G-R-E-A-T. I'd probably offer up my first-born to own this bookstore in Denmark. I'd even break-up with Mike.. he's pretty dispensable.

Example #2:

I didn't even know there was such a thing as phone-stands. Thank you Design*Sponge!!! I'm on my way to replicate this lime-green dream RIGHT NOW!!

Example #3

Alright, maybe this one isn't that crazy-cool, but I had to add it for Dad. He's thinking about getting a dog but refuses my request that it be a wiener-dog. Dad, if, say, you ever change your mind, I'll certainly go to the Salve, get an old suitcase, and turn it into a doggie bed for you -- free of charge!

So, in conclusion, I recommend this site: http://www.designspongeonline.com/

You all can thank me later for finding it. And for those of you who actually do things with your life and don't waste hours upon hours browsing the net -- congratulations, you're life is that much better than mine.

What’s the Story?

Here’s a contest into which one can sink one’s teeth. Below I’ve written a list of fictional movie titles. Your job is to select a title and write a brief but rich movie plot/summary. You can get bonus points by assigning real-life actors and actresses (perhaps ones that have been in similar roles??) to star in your show. Please note (Stormin): I said brief – if you plan on writing more than a paragraph or so you must first mail me a query and a SASE. I will respond in 1-2 months depending on volume. Seasonal material must be sent 6 months in advance.

Also, one of these titles has an actual “answer” in that I’ve thought of a story for it that I like a whole lot. More points if you pick that title and do a good job. Come close to matching my plot and you will almost certainly win. But, if you pick my title and I hate your entry, I say woe unto you. It would be better that you never blogged.

The standard caveats, provisos and conditions apply. Yes, you may submit more than one story (kbb). No, you will not necessarily have a better chance for it. Yes there is a deadline (mars). No, I will not tell you what it is. Get your submissions in and you won’t have to worry (shmaltzy). Yes (and unlike certain recent contests) there will most definitely be a winner. No, there will not be any prizes since no one ever delivers (Frank). Yes, participation is mandatory even if you’re not entirely excited about this idea or busy with other things (Maureen). No, you will not get off easy for not participating – there will be swift reprisals (the usual suspects).

Don’t be afraid to lower yourself to my level (clare), or grace us with your rare beauty (lisette) [hey, she offered to baby-sit. You want the nice-nice treatment, come on over and take care of the pooch]. Be creative (Annie), obsessively immerse yourself in the project (captain), but be careful! The competition is vicious (martha) so you’d better write to impress. Plus, I’m as fickle as a gherkin pickle and can be twice as sour (sorry).

Surprise me! Innovate! Now, go out there and nail it!


Pitch Black
How Sweet It Was
The Sound of Running Water
Learning to Like Again
Frozen Stakes
Suburban Samurai
Gentle Whispers
Stretching Credulity
Mon premier amor
They Call Me Melancholy
Commander Salamander and the Pirate Wizards of Tomorrow
The Aunts Go Marching
Nitroglycerin Nights
Playaz Be Whack, Yo!

Where Are They Now? A Dialogue Towards a Deeper Understanding

We're just shy of 11 months of Brewsters MIllions. We've laughed, we've cried, we've shared at a lot of baby pictures. A LOT.

And we've wondered: Where the heck are Catherine, Cy, Cathy and Brent?

Yes folks, below we have the remaining lineup of the non-participants:






Now, lest we get offended that in 11 months none of the above have done so much as COMMENT on our dear blog, I propose we put ourselves in their shoes. After all, there are MANY things that could keep any one of us from even clicking on the Brewsters Millions link on our bookmarks -- what! you don't have it bookmarked??

But I digress. In a spirit of charity, I propose that we explore the many reasons our beloved sisters and brothers have ignored, nay spurned this joint effort to stay in touch.

And thus, the challenge to YOU dear fellow blogger is to tell us: 

What are they doing that is keeping them from partaking???

Yours in an effort to understand, 

Annie

Catherine and the Cheesecake

Catherine's new Cheesecake Factory Restaurant has opened in West Hartford, and Jim and I ate there for free as part of a 2-day mock trial for the staff. Mom and Dad dined there last nite as well.
I urge all of you to check it out when you can. We were equally impressed by not only the place itself (stunning!) and the food (OMG!) but by Cat as well. It was so neat for us to witness her so in charge and in her element. Jim's quote..."Catherine really knows her shit and gets it done, doesn't she?"
I'm so proud of our sister, from dealing with crappy Boise for nine months, so that she could come home to us, to what a great manager she really is. Her bosses were all introduced to us, and it's obvious how they love and depend on her.
So go visit the Cheesecake if you can. We give them 5 stars!!!