August 16, 2008

My Manga alter ego. Does it look like me?

Do you want one?

Dev has some green and gold specks in his eyes! They are really subtle right now, but maybe he is getting my hazel eyes? Weird. I thought that stuff happened in the first six months.

Slightly obsessed with this Method baby wash. Although, the packaging of it kind of bums me out. Why so much plastic?

I had a realization when I read this, that the Daily Show is my main news source. While I could be ashamed of this fact, I think I am fine with it. Anderson Cooper is my second favorite. See footage of him bash Living Lohan. That shit was so bad even I didn't watch it.

August 11, 2008

Hey kids, have I ever showed you where I live?

I forgot to thank Auntie Lisa for taking all those beautiful photos in the Catskills. I decided to not pick up my camera once. I feel, recently, that I am too busy wrangling Devlin to relax enough to take pictures.

I read some motherfucking books! Whoo hooo! Now that's a vacation. Ok, number one - Easter Rising by the author of All Souls. Most likely if you liked the latter you will like the former. Irish, punk and Bostonian. Oh, that's all things me, right?

Then I read Hardcore Zen by some dude. Wasn't really my type of book, but if you are looking to be bashed over the head with some Buddhism, be my guest.

Oh, then I read this kinda eh one - Gone to the Crazies by Alison Weaver. I'll admit, I read it primarily because she was in many of the same places at the same times as me (ie, LES, in the 90's) and I thought it might be fun. But actually that was the least interesting part of the book.The interesting stuff was about one of those lock-the-teenage-druggies-up programs that used to be popular in the 90's called Cascade. Therapy communities run by non-therapists who aren't quite well themselves...scary.

And I finished it off with Slash...yup, that would be the autobiography of Slash from GnR. Good times, people, good times.

And to put the cherry on the cake - we did a girls day at a fancy-pants spa. Followed by a dinner at a very yummy (and slow) restaurant Peek a Moose.

August 10, 2008

My son can string two words together now. Of course, most people still don't understand what he is saying, cos it sounds something like, "Baba peas." Which means, "Bottle, please."

Anyway, its a fun game to go, "Dev say _____" and get his interpretation of the word. He says "turtle" really well. And I taught him to say "asshole" which he pronounces "azhoo". I admit, that last one proved to be a mistake. I realized it when he turned to his Auntie Lisa and said, "Upa azhoo." Which means "Pick me up, asshole." Not so cute. No more swears. He's got enough of an attitude without me adding in cussing as well.

August 6, 2008

Still in the Catskills...don't wanna leave...

July 27, 2008

So sad we forgot to bring the camera today. Liz & Angela set up a stall at the Brooklyn Flea, so we had a great reason to go and check out the scene. And I actually ended up buying a t-shirt off of Liz. It was semi-raining all day, so I hope they did well and will think of doing it again. Devlin loved the rain, and the puddles, and being wet in general. We took a bath when he got home so he could have the full wet experience.

We also did brunch with A & E over at the Park Luncheonette. I'm also sad to report their service has been a disaster recently. And the friggin people lined up all the way to the Warsaw to go to the pool party? Crazier every weekend. So today it was MGMT, Black Moth Super Rainbow and the Ting Tings. So I hear MGMT is big. I had no idea. I also thought they were called "management" not M G M T. But I have no friggin clue of what I speak so....there ya go. I do like the Ting Tings (see, not 100% living in babyland yet) but alas, as I said before, there's just no getting near that park with the crowds that are turning out.

Ok, I need some money. I need to pay off a bunch of thugs at Avon who are leaning on me to raise $1,800 for the Avon breast cancer walk on October 4th and 5th. The deal is, I agree to walk 39 miles and you all agree to pay me. I am REQUIRED to make the money...or...and I'm not even kidding... I owe them $1,800. So c'mon guys, PONY UP THE GODDAMN MONEY! Don't you want random acts of kindness? Aren't you looking for some good karma? PAY ME BITCHES!!!

Does anyone think this approach will work? Others are opting for the "I'm doing a good deed, let's all get together," kumbaya thing. That'll be my next angle.

Oh, and A keeps asking me for the link to the WB gang the Trinitarios on youtube. Lotsa weird random violence that has been happening on the southside has been attributed to gangs recently. Another sign of armageddon.

July 20, 2008

Dev loves his godfather Ro, maracas and his skateboard.

July 13, 2008

Highlights of this weekend include yesterday's lunch with Auntie Gigi at Papacitos. It was slightly awesome. All the things I want to call it like trailer-trashy and all kinds of mismatch-scrubby-like and how I always imagined Tiajuanna to be, make it sound like I am busting on the place. But I'm not. Fucking awesome fish tacos. Friendly and tatooed staff. Yay.

Today me & Dev (and his best friend Pip and her mom) dropped by the open painting session at The Painted Cloud. Another great place for massively different reasons. This was very pretty and orderly, stocked with tons of art materials and the painting teacher was a sweetheart. They have toddler classes from 12 months up. $10 for a Sunday afternoon of crafting. And I am not kidding when I say that Dev used at least $10 worth of glitter so we definitely got our money's worth.

On our way to paint class, Devlin and I had passed McCarren Park Pool where the Breeders were going to play later in the day. Crowded is some kind of understatement. I don't know where I came up with the idea that I would be the only person into a free summer Breeder's concert, but I did have that notion. So even though I brought Dev's new earmuffs with us to drop by, it clearly wasn't in the cards.

But we did stop in the park and sat on a bench to hear a few songs before we went on home tonight and IN A ROW we heard, Cannonball, I Just Wanna Get Along and Happiness is a Warm Gun. Wow. Nice play list. And they sounded amazing from where we were. I've seen the Breeders before and I gotta say, they weren't on my list of the great live acts of all times. But they were also completely messy drunk every time I saw them and word is they are sober now and it seems to do the music good.

I walked home with Dev, singing to him as I went, and thinking what a great neighborhood we live in.

My son loves animals. They just don't always love him.

July 11, 2008

Long absence, no excuse. Busy, busy, busy.

This will be quick.

This weekend there is tag sale down the street on N. 11th to raise money for the Woodstock Farm. Jim and I are gonna stop by and check it out. Also to check out...The Breeders! In McCarren park pool, and best of all FREE! I ordered Dev these earmuffs so he can join all the dirty hipsters at shows in the park this summer. Sadly they haven't arrived yet. Fingers crossed.

Interview with Craig Finn of the Hold Steady. I see him regularly at the D&D on Manhattan ave. Keeping it real, Craig, keeping it real.

This wallpaper is awesome. All of it.

Totally sick.

Sweet pregnancy slide show.

So cool - we walk.

I created a flickr page. It is an attempt to not bore regular humans with photos of my boy over and over and over & at the same time, its a much better place to direct my mom to see her grandson. This way she doesn't have to read tales of my lunatic life, random cursing & weirdo friends. There I said it, my friends are weirdos.

But here's two shots anyway. Uncle Kev and Little Dev watching the fireworks together...awwwwwwww. I finally have an excuse to use the word "gobsmacked." Isn't that the perfect word for Devlin's expression?!

June 24, 2008

Do you have a kid? Do you watch Jon and Kate Plus 8? You should. Every parent I know does. The Gosselins have eight kids. EIGHT. The show gives me hope that this one little guy of ours can't take us down, there's more of us than him. The show has also given me nightmares where I go to have another kid (in the singular form) and instead I am just packed full of triplets. Oy vey! I would not be able to pull that one off.

Oh speaking of kids - we got to visit Claudia & Phil in the hospital today and see little baby Jack who just entered the world. They're in for it. Don't tell them I said that.

Yuppie is the insult du jour. It really is the eighties all over again

And speaking of the eighties...I saw The Cure at Radio City Music Hall the other night. Oh yeah, was it ever the eighties, The Cure, the dancing, the craziness, the hijinks. I don't know that I am liberty to reveal the entirety of the night. I will just say it was very old school NY and may or may not have ended with a mugging. The only thing that made it clear that we were indeed in the '08 was the fact that some of the silliness was taped and up on youtube by the next day. FUNNY!

Has everyone seen the schedule for McCarren Pool this summer? Movies are free, and although I think I have seen everything they are screening, I am seriously tempted by 28 Days Later and Desperately Seeking Susan. You down?

June 18, 2008

I forgot to post this earlier. Satan Hates You, a new horror flick being shot in the hood, wants to hate you in person...if you happen to be in Greenpoint. The production takes place on Sunday, June 22 they will be doing a “Halloween Party” shoot. Costumes are encouraged. Then on Friday, June 27 the bar scenes will be shot at Coco 66. SATAN WANTS YOU! And in return he will give you beer and a screen credit. .Click here for details.

June 16, 2008

Nana and Dev and I made our way over to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens last Friday. Oh, the horror that is the B43 bus. Whatever you do, don't get on that bus. But the gardens...ahhh, the gardens. Just lovely.

So Nana came from Boston to visit for Daddy's day weekend. We hung around the house a lot, plagued by crazy torrential downpours and sudden hurricane-like winds. We got out for brunch. We made it to the Renegade Craft Fair in the park... besides for the trip to the flower garden, that was it.

Jesus Christ, it is about time that someone, anyone, starts taking on the healthcare industry. The AMA? Ok, not what I would call an activist group, but at least they claim to want to make health insurers accountable for something. Anything. Sometimes I just sit around and make myself psycho over the state of affairs in this country. Healthcare, daycare, inflation, decrepit social services, beauracratic bullshit, of course I could go on and on. Give me a few drinks and I will. I'm all "viva la revolucion!" when I've had four or five. Seven or eight, I'm just slurring and trying to order a pizza. So catch me at the beginning of an evening and I'll give you an earful.

Mexican in Greenpoint. Oh, Pio Pio Riko is on that list and they are not Mexican, they are Peruvian. And one of the best kept secrets in the neighborhood. Of course, I keep telling everyone about them (I even spent 10 minutes with my cab driver going over their menu) so inevitably they will start charging lotsa money and take forever to deliver... but for now they are cheap cheap cheap and FAST. And believe me, I am one impatient bitch. So that says a lot. Oh, and Pio Pio Riko is so much fun to say!

Look at him! Such a soulful little guy.

I wanted a girl and I got a boy, and how. I remember how I cried at my sonnagram when they showed me Devlin's penis. They were not tears of joy. But now, wow, do I love my son. So funny how all parents say lame things like that and that they are all true.

June 13, 2008

Dev likes his daddy's glasses.

June 10, 2008

I met A. over at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art...yeah, I went to LA and went to a museum and a book fair. Ironic, no? The elevators at the museum are cool. So is the permanent lamppost exhibit out front, as demonstrated in these shots:

The trip was fun but I am more convinced then ever that I would never live in LA. Nice weather? Check. Um...what else is there? The last time I got jealous about lifestyles or even questioned what I am doing in Brooklyn, was when I was visiting a house out in Berkely, CA. A lovely little house, with a backyard and frontyard. A frontyard with trees and hummingbirds for christ sakes! HUMMINGBIRDS. There were no hummingbirds (at least not ones that I saw) in LA.

Anyhoo, A. was a good tour guide and took me out in Silver Lake one night for mexican food. Which actually ended up pretty beat. We decided to have mojitos to start with. Admittedly, it was my second time ever having mojitos and I am not sure what propelled us to make this selection but whatever. They came and I said "These aren't like I remember them...they're more minty?" And then we got our salads...holy mint. Spinach, avacado, shrimp and oh-so-much mint. Washed down by minty rum. We both ended up with aching stomachs that night.

So we met up at this other place later in the week, The Luna Park Restaurant, and had a delicious normal meal...I think tuna and cous cous or something like that. We ate there cos it was close to the el rey theatre we were stopping at next.

Update for Brooklyn locals: At the corner of Eckford & Norman there is a sandwich place called Forest Natural. Jim plays pinball there. They serve delicious sandwiches. I would give it an overwhelming thumbs up but they are just tiny bit slow...you can't be in any kind of rush when you go through those doors. Time stands still in Forest Natural.

Oh, goodness, did I get a chance to show you how cute and funny my kid is?

June 3, 2008

Ok, I'm back from LA. I'm still collecting myself and working off the jet-lag, but in the meantime, let me entertain you with this shot of Alec Baldwin.

Jim found out he was gonna be at the book show I was at and wanted me to go get his autograph. I was super busy at the show and ran by the signing to see what was up. There was Alec in all his six-pack a day bloated glory, signing what seemed to be one-color pamphet excerpts of whatever book he is going to be publishing. What a rip-off. Heads should roll at his publishing company.

Anyway, the line was way to long for me to get in, due to the fact that I was needed at an appointment STAT so I just jumped in the front and snagged this shot of him, then ran off. Am I a good wife or what?

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