All is "Lost"

So I think I may have made a really big mistake, or rather, Nien may have accidentally started something. I have successfully avoided the show "Lost" for the last three years, but last week we caught the end of an episode and it didn't seem to be on an island, which we thought it was, so we were intrigued. Last night we watched the two episodes that aired. Today I am on the show website. I really don't want to be sucked into another show, but I am feeling the itch. I hope I don't do something rash like buying all the DVDs and watching them in one weekend.

I went to a screening of "Volver" yesterday and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I had really liked Almodovar's film, "Talk to Her." The characters really stayed with me, and I am experiencing the same thing with "Volver." Both films take dark subjects and find a way to twist the stories so that you leave with a sense of well-being and forgiveness. I'm kind of surprised it only got a best actress nomination, and nothing more. I definitely recommend it.

I'm realizing that I never finished my thoughts on "Suite Francaise." Like I said, I recommend the book (along with everyone else at this point - it is pretty popular on the book club scene and was sold out when I tried to buy it at Barnes & Noble) and though it has flaws, it is a great record of the time and an interesting perspective. What was published were two sections of a planned 5-part novel along with two appendices.

One appendix had the author's notes regarding character development, her plans for the rest of the book and the general themes she was trying to bring forward. The two completed sections are enhanced by this appendix. The first section has so many characters and points-of-view that I feel pretty certain that if she had had the chance to edit it, Nemirovsky would have done so extensively so as to make her vision clearer. This first appendix suggests that the story going forward would focus more on the characters highlighted in the second section, a much more cohesive narrative. I don't want to suggest I didn't like the first part though. The writing was strong and the picture painted of the exodus from Paris is fascinating. I just had trouble keeping up with the characters and also felt that the author scorned the upper classes and only found goodness in the poorest characters. I would have liked a little more variation. Also, given Nemirovsky's situation, which I'll get to in a bit, I would have liked to hear about the experiences of the Jews in France.

The second appendix is a record of all the correspondence exchanged between Nemirovsky's circle (her husband, publishers, friends, government officials, etc.) as they attempted to free her after she was arrested and eventually sent to a concentration camp. These letters were heartbreaking; we learn that Nemirovsky and her husband both are killed in Auschwitz, but her daughters are kept hidden for years and it is the girls who eventually ensure the future of the book.

The very last section of the book is Nemirovsky's biography. Throughout her short life, Irene experienced persecution from all corners, and her writing, which she started at a young age, seems like it was a kind of escape. What an amazing woman - I'm so glad I was introduced to her.

Busy Bee

As often happens, the week before I am headed out for vacation it seems like my work load has tripled. I really hope everything gets done before we're off. I once made the mistake of going away and telling my co-workers that I was reachable by cell. Three time zones away in Seattle I kept getting 7am calls until I finally said no. I work in TV...this is not brain surgery, and since I am a pretty much a pion at that, there is certainly no need for anyone to be calling me on my precious vacay.

Other than the annoying calls, the Seattle trip was awesome. We stayed at this really cozy hotel on the waterfront called the Edgewater and they were having this Beatlemania fest because the Beatles had stayed there 25 years before. The bartenders wore Sgt. Pepper's uniforms and the muzak in the elevators was all Beatles all the time. I love that!

We went to the Music Experience Museum, had Starbucks at the top of the Space Needle (and practically everywhere else in the city), went to the botanical garden, tooled around Pike Place Market and took a ferry out to Bainbridge Island where we walked along the highway to this vineyard where a crazy woman tried to sell us wine. There were just a lot of weird, awkward pauses - can't really explain it much further. Ah, good times.

Then we drove along the coast of Washington down to Portland, Oregon so I could visit Powell's Books - my favorite book store! Along the way we visited Mount St. Helens, and when we unwittingly asked a park ranger if it was the tallest peak in Washington he pretty much looked at us like we were retarded. Oh well, we weren't from around there.

For some strange reason, we decided to hit up Las Vegas on the way back, but instead of staying for a day or two, we were there for three days. Let me tell you, that is WAY too long for anyone to be in Vegas. By day two I was spending half my time spotting fat people. If anyone ever questions whether America has an obesity problem he or she need only go to Vegas to see for themselves.

Did the groundhog see his shadow?

I know I keep harping on the weather, but Mom and I leave for our southern road trip in almost a week now and I want it to get a little warmer so we touristas are more comfortable wandering around. In my deluded brain I thought our trip might present the opportunity of dipping my feet into a pool, but I think I am jumping the gun just a bit. Sad, but we will have an awesome time nonetheless.

All flights, transportation and hotels are booked. Spots of interest are researched - there are a lot to choose from, but as long as I get a few good meals, see some ocean, experience a little Mardi Gras (don't expect me or Mom to come back with any beads, we are ladies) and have at least one mint julep, all will be well. Things I could probably live without but would really be super fun include the F. Scott Fitgerald house in Alabama (I'm a fan), Coca-Cola Headquarters (oh the kitch) and the Margaret Mitchell House (love me some Scarlett and Rhett). I think Mom found a place where we can ride horses on Hilton Head too!

I forgot that the Oscar's are on the 25th, the day I am getting back, so I've got to decide whether we should have people over or not. I had so much fun watching with my friends last year and definitely kicked some butt in the pool (if we do it again you guys are going down) so I hope we can work it out. DVR may have to come into play.

I don't think I've mentioned it previously, but I've been wanting to join a book club, and as luck would have it, I just joined 2! The first one meets this Sunday, and we've been reading a book called "Suite Francaise" by Irene Nemirovsky, and I highly recommend it. Though it was one of the first books written about World War II (particularly about the German occupation of France), it wasn't published until recently because it's author was arrested during the war and died in a concentration camp. Her children safeguarded the novel for many years. Nemirovsky had planned it to be a 5-part epic, but only 2 sections were completed, though there are notes on the other parts. I still have about 30 pages to go so I'll hold my comments until I finish.

The other book club already had it's first meeting so I'm joining in on the second book "Heat" by Bill Buford. I am psyched about that one (about his time in the kitchen of Mario Batali's Babbo) because I had been wanting to read it for a while. I love food, and though I am a little over the whole "celebrity chef" worship, I've had a few memorable meals at Batali restaurants (Babbo, Otto Enoteca, Esca).

Winter Fun

Nien and I headed up to Vermont for the weekend. We haven't gone on vacation where it was just the two of us for a while, so it was a really nice time. The drive up was crazy long (5.5 hours from New York to Sugarbush) and we didn't get in until 3 a.m. because our rented Garmin GPS system doesn't account for roads that are closed for the winter. They might want to look into that.

I skied and Nien snowboarded, as per usual. Of course, when I say "usual" I mean since we started going last year. Though I am pretty much a brand new skier, I am getting the hang of it and it no longer makes me feel ill when I approach the lift. I actually thought "this is fun" a few times.

We stayed at the Sugarbush Inn (which has a great free breakfast, but sadly no hot tub on the premises), went to the Ben & Jerry's factory (yummy) and saw "Dreamgirls" at a cute little movie theater. All in all, we had a great time!

It definitely beats our first ski trip last year. we went to Okemo, VT. Not a bad place, but very little to do after the skiing. Plus, our motel, Happy Trails, was a little more ghetto and the weather was rainy one day and frigid the next. We did get to see the Budweiser Clydesdales on that trip though...it was a big moment in my life.

A few random thoughts on Vermont - It is cool how everyone seems to know each other and is very friendly, the names of places are very quaint, I saw tons of gazebos in town squares just like on "Gilmore Girls," people seem to really care about the environment and quality of life and the cheese is truly awesome.

A Case of the Mondays

We're deep into winter on the East Coast, folks, and I don't want to do anything but hibernate. Of course, in NY that would be considered shameful behavior, so I keep piling on the layers and venturing out.

Friday night was the lowest of the low temp-wise, but it was my birthday and had to be celebrated. I had lots of fun, even though the restaurant kept us waiting for an hour and then turned off the heat! Doesn't that seem like it should be illegal? The food was delish and the company even better, thankfully.

Afterwards, a few brave souls went to a bar for some drinks, but the chill walking over there nearly did me in. I was happy to come home and steal heat from my dog, Emma. She got a cuddle out of it, so don't think I was completely taking advantage.

On Saturday, Nien was off in Brooklyn participating in the Idiotarod, a three stage shopping cart race with teams of 5. He came back covered in all kinds of nastiness...apparently the teams throw stuff at each other like fish oil, mayonnaise, eggs, chocolate, etc. Not really for me, but hilarious.

It was a little warmer, so Emma and I went to the dog run, and then I took my fat ass to the gym. I'm eating a little too well lately. Of course, we went out to eat AGAIN Saturday night and I had popcorn when we went to the movies (saw Letters from Iwo Jima to help with my Oscar ballot).

On Sunday, dinner AGAIN (I'm never eating again I swear) with Mom and Barry who came into NY that night to help celebrate the b-day. Can I just say apple crumble with cinnamon ice cream? I salivate even now. I overheard a funny conversation at the next table where a father was trying to explain what Swiss chard was to his two very young kids. I love living in the city.

So here's another state for you. Since I grew up in PA near Philly, I of course went "down the shore" a lot (to the uninitiated that means to the beaches in New Jersey). My parents' best friends live in Jersey near Atlantic City, my cousins on my Dad's side live in Cherry Hill and my cousins on my Mom's side had a place there at one point too. My Grandpop Ed lived in Jersey as well, and I remember one time when we got together with him he took my brother and I to this hot dog stand on the boardwalk that sold lemons and oranges with candy straws for you to suck the juice out with. If you haven't figured out by now that I love food, the fact that most of my memories have to do with it should tip you off. This was really the best treat ever, the perfect combo of sweet and tart, and I have never been able to find it again.

One New Year's Eve we went down the shore with my cousins, and while our parents went out for the evening they dropped us off at a bowling alley in one of the casinos. Unfortunately, they miscalculated how much money we'd need to hang out there for the night, so after two games we were broke and had nothing to do. This of course was before everyone had a cell phone. It would have been the most boring night ever (and it was close) except that around 11pm Liza Minnelli came in with a huge bouquet of roses for the manager. It was such an odd, sweet thing and it at least gave us something to talk about.

Another time, we were down over Christmas and staying at my Uncle Rick's place. I was really upset because I thought Santa wasn't going to be able to find us (good Jewish girl that I am), but my parents explained that Santa would just leave my presents at our home for when we came back. When we did go home, they made Eric and I wait in the car a few minutes while they put the packages out by the fireplace. I think they made some kind of exscuse about making sure no one had broken in or something. I really should have figured it all out, but I guess I was pretty dense because I was so relieved when I saw that "Santa" hadn't forgotten us, and wasn't even mad that we hadn't left milk and cookies.

The Big 2-9!

It's my birthday, it's my birthday, oh yeah, it's my birthday!

And of course, as often happens on my birthday, it is the coldest day of the year. No matter, we will bundle up and go ahead with the festivities.

I got awesome gifts from the parentals and the beef - Dad gave me a cool ring with interchangeable stones, Mom gave me the New Balance sneaks I so desperately needed to replace my 4 year-old, ratty ones and Nien, my techie boyfriend, gave me a speaker system for my ipod so I can blast the tunes when I'm at the office. He also gave me this incredible electronic picture frame that works like a slideshow so my ADD/TV addict brain will always be entertained with a new picture. How much does that rock?

My mother also sent me pretty roses, and I can't tell you what a difference they make in my tiny little office (former closet). All in all, a successful birthday haul.

So, I have very little to report on the travel front, but I promise there will be more to come in the next few weeks.

Yummy Ethiopian

Well, it has been a few days since I last wrote and the birthday approaches. I actually love my birthday...it is a great excuse to see the people I enjoy and a chance to do something I like to do. Some years I keep it more low key. Last year I went with a few friends for mussels and frites at my favorite Beligian bar, BXL. I always hesitate to tell people that I love it because I don't want it getting too crowded, but it has an odd location near Times Square so I don't think there is any cause for worry.

This year I will be celebrating with Ethiopian on the lower east side. I LOVE Ethiopian because I am somewhat of a vegetarian (clarification - I don't eat meat, but I won't freak out if anything I eat touches meat or I smell meat...It's really more of a health choice than a statement on society for me...I also eat fish and eggs so I don't really qualify for the veg label. I am something like an ova-pesca-lactotarian, but that sounds just as obnoxious as a double-decaf-soy-latte so let's just not go there) and Ethiopian food gives me tons of options. Plus they have a "meal." I appreciate any culture that will present me with a multidish option, and if I get courses, that is beyond great.

So I am supposed to be writing about the states I've already been to as well as the ones I am going to this year so I guess I will start with Pennsylvania where I grew up. I lived in a suburb of Philadelphia on the cusp of two towns, Lansdale and North Wales. My friend Rachel and I both had North Wales mailing addresses, but we were really in Lansdale. Not that we're North Wales haters or anything.

Anyway, I lived with my parents, older brother and three dogs. The story I will tell concerns my brother, Eric. We were buddies as kids, but he got way to cool for me by the time we hit middle school. He was also "bad," so since I was only one grade behind him in school, I always had the difficult task of getting teachers to realize that I wasn't going to be a repeat of the terror from the year before.

I was on the phone and he wanted to use it, but I wouldn't get off, so he tried to grab it from me, but I hit him in the head with it instead. He was so mad, and wanted to hit me back, but probably realized he would get in trouble if he did, so he grabbed a bagged loaf of sandwich bread and came running after me with it. Even though he was angry and his eyes were popping out of his head, the sight of him lunging at me with that bread was hysterical! The more I laughed the madder he got, and he eventually slammed down the hall to his room to make his call. I will never forget how funny he looked swinging that bread around!