Gin Stoned...a series of small disasters

OMG America! Part 2

2008-11-16T12:12:00.001-05:00

Except for that Prop 8 stuff. What the f*ck were you thinking?

OMG America!

2008-11-08T10:54:00.002-05:00

Let me just take a minute out from this to-all-appearances-suspended blog to say: America! I've never been prouder of you - of us - than I am this week. I could probably say more, but I'll probably start crying all over again.

Stop sending me crap!

2007-11-01T13:21:00.000-05:00

Dear Wonderful Charitable Organization,

You are. You really are. You do good work, work that this sorry old world needs doing. I believe in you.

I send you money. I send you money so you can continue doing the good work you do. I want you to end torture and genocide. I want you to rescue puppies and kittens. I want you to help those devastated by natural disasters, to feed the starving and house the homeless. I honestly, desperately do. That is the reason I send you money.

These are not the reasons I send you money: I don't send you money to get mailing labels with my name, address, and your logo printed on them. I don't send you money to receive minuscule fleecy blankets adorned with the images of puppies and kittens. I don't send you money so you can send me a letter every other week pleading for more money.

If I had more money, I'd send it.

If I wanted a minuscule fleecy blanket adorned with the images of puppies and kittens, I'd sew one myself.

If I wanted mailing labels, I'd buy my own. Oh. Wait. I do.

If I wanted more unopened envelopes to toss into the recycling bin, I'd send myself homemade minuscule fleecy blankets adorned with the images of puppies and kittens in envelopes with mailing labels embossed with my name, address, and my own frickin' logo.

Dear wonderful, charitable organization, I don't want any of the crap you send me. I don't need the gratitude. I don't need another piece of junk to toss out. I don't like suspecting that the money I've sent you over the years goes not into your cause in which I believe and want to help advance, but into the stuff you send me.

For that reason, and for that reason alone, I will probably not be sending you more money this year. Or, possibly, ever again. And that's a shame, if, in fact, the money actually goes to the people who need it and isn't simply, cynically being recycled back to me and other sincere, well-meaning donors in the form of fleecy blankets, mailing labels, and biweekly bulk postage.

You may find this instructive, so I'll tell you about the two wonderful charitable organizations that will definitely be receiving my hard-earned money this year. Both are local, one a literacy program, the other a homeless shelter for women. They don't send mailing labels or blankets or monthly appeals for money. Once a year, the literacy program sends me a postcard written by an actual student describing in heart-stopping, broken-but-improved English just how the program has changed their life. I know, because I work with the program, that these postcards cost next to nothing to produce and mail and that the students are thrilled to trumpet their accomplishments. The homeless shelter - again, just once a year - sends out a newsletter informing me about what it's been up to, how many women its helped, and how.

They will get my money this year. You will not. Unless you just. Stop. Sending. Me. Crap.

Thanks for listening and good luck to you,

Tequila Fog

It's not enough that it's pouring outside

2007-10-27T15:45:00.000-05:00

I did something kinda stupid today. I googled Old Boyfriend.

We were 20-something the last time I saw him. He'd just gotten a graduate degree in a field he'd pretty much decided he hated, but he hadn't yet figured out how to break the news to his dad, who wanted OB to follow in his footsteps. OB admired me for being what he called a mutant. He thought I was oh so cool, but really I was just depressed. Encouraging him to stay in his band? To keep his mold-infested room in the group house he shared with four strung-out roommates and one bathroom? C'mon, dude. Live your art. Like a crazed pinball, he kept shooting back and forth between me and his overachieving college sweetheart. When I was finally willing to believe that he wasn't gonna stick around this time either, I told him he had to make a choice. So. He chose.

In all these years, I haven't thought of him. But this afternoon I was reading something that made me mildly curious about seeing if I could find him. Ah, the google, frightening in the length and breadth of its capability to seek, to find. I learned that OB is now the CEO of a small but stupendously innovative, loftily praised, fabulously successful software startup. Would you be surprised if I told you that he married College Sweetheart? Nah. Me either. She is, ironically, a writer. Published. Reviewed and interviewed. Busy with reading tours and in-store signings. Which she fits in between managing the many-million-dollar home in Old Money Suburb and raising the kids. Two. A boy. A girl.

She's got publicity shots online. Today was the first time I ever saw what she looked like. I was hoping to see someone I'd like, but the warmth is in her pose, not her eyes. It's impossible to know whether the photo doesn't capture it or it's just not there to capture.

I can't imagine living the kind of life they seem to have together. It's so obvious OB and I were never meant to be.

Though the summer home on Vacation Island? In the divorce negotiations, I really would've fought for that.

You win, Luckybuzz. You win.

2007-08-29T13:58:00.000-05:00

Four Jobs I've Had
1. ESL/EFL teacher
2. VW repair manual proofreader (pretty close to porn :)
3. waitress in a Chinese restaurant
4. patent goddess

Four places I've lived
1. an attic in Newton
2. a cabin in Vermont
3. twice with various housemates from hell, both times, oddly enough, in Cambridge
4. a tiny room with poetry scrawled on hot pink walls in Barcelona

Four favorite foods
1. just about anything Thai
2. fried clams, bellies and all
3. anything Indian with spinach and cream
4. slivers of manchego cheese topped with green apple slices

Four places I'd rather be
1. in the shade in Spain
2. in the sun in Sweden
3. in a bank counting my lottery winnings
4. here, but with air conditioning

Four movies I can watch over and over
1. Head On
2. Grand Canyon
3. The African Queen
4. Dr. Zhivago

Four TV shows I like to watch
1. America's Next Top Model (hey. It's ART. OK, art-like. OK, it's crazy girls with lipstick.)
2. Lost
3. Mystery
4. Six Feet Under

Four websites I view daily
1. crossword puzzles (can you hear that sucking sound? that's my day...)
2. blogs,
3. blogs, and
4. you, of course!

Four computers I've owned
1. some piece of crap from Radio Shack
2. Compaq
3. IBM Thinkpad
4. Dell laptop

Your turn, DM.

-TF

Just one more....

2007-01-26T16:37:00.000-05:00

Let's impeach the President for lying
And misleading our country into war
Abusing all the power that we gave him
And shipping all our money out the door

Who's the man who hired all the criminals
The White House shadows who hide behind closed doors
They bend the facts to fit with their new stories
Of why we have to send our men to war

Let's impeach the President for spying
On citizens inside their own homes
Breaking every law in the country
By tapping our computers and telephones

What if Al Qaeda blew up the levees
Would New Orleans have been safer that way
Sheltered by our government's protection
Or was someone just not home that day?

Flip - Flop
Flip - Flop
Flip - Flop
Flip - Flop

Let's impeach the president for hijacking
Our religion and using it to get elected
Dividing our country into colors
And still leaving black people neglected

Thank god he's cracking down on steroids
Since he sold his old baseball team
There's lots of people looking at big trouble
But of course our president is clean.

Thank God

Okay. Who's next? I mean, really. Who can follow that?

One of my favorites

2007-01-26T16:13:00.000-05:00

"I want to live,
I want to give
I've been a miner for a heart of gold.
It's these expressions I never give
That keep me searching for a heart of gold
And I'm getting old.
Keeps me searching for a heart of gold
And I'm getting old.

I've been to Hollywood
I've been to Redwood
I crossed the ocean for a heart of gold
I've been in my mind, it's such a fine line
That keeps me searching for a heart of gold
And I'm getting old.
Keeps me searching for a heart of gold
And I'm getting old.

Keep me searching for a heart of gold
You keep me searching for a heart of gold
And I'm getting old.
I've been a miner for a heart of gold."

Shall we change artists, TF? :)

-DM

Dueling Neil Youngs

2007-01-26T15:26:00.000-05:00

My favorite Neil Young song of all time:

I wanna live
with a cinnamon girl
I could be happy
the rest of my life
With a cinnamon girl.

A dreamer of pictures
I run in the night
You see us together,
chasing the moonlight,
My cinnamon girl.

Ten silver saxes,
a bass with a bow
The drummer relaxes
and waits between shows
For his cinnamon girl.

A dreamer of pictures
I run in the night
You see us together,
chasing the moonlight,
My cinnamon girl.

Pa sent me money now
I'm gonna make it somehow
I need another chance
You see your baby loves to dance
Yeah...yeah...yeah.

I'll see your Neil Young and raise you one

2007-01-26T15:08:00.000-05:00

Tequila Fog's post got a Neil Young song running through my mind:

"Think I'll pack it in and buy a pick-up
Take it down to l.a.
Find a place to call my own and try to fix up.
Start a brand new day.

The woman I'm thinking of, she loved me all up
But I'm so down today
She's so fine, she's in my mind.
I hear her callin'.

See the lonely boy, out on the weekend
Trying to make it pay.
Can't relate to joy, he tries to speak and
Can't begin to say.

She got pictures on the wall, they make me look up
From her big brass bed.
Now I'm running down the road trying to stay up
Somewhere in her head.

The woman I'm thinking of, she loved me all up
But I'm so down today
She's so fine she's in my mind.
I hear her callin'.

See the lonely boy, out on the weekend
Trying to make it pay.
Can't relate to joy, he tries to speak and
Can't begin to say."

More to come...

-Dirty Martini

I heard Neil Young

2007-01-26T14:58:00.000-05:00

on the radio the other night, driving home from work. And today, back at work, I can't get this song out of my head:

I think I'd like to go
back home
And take it easy
There's a woman that
I'd like to get to know
Living there

Everybody seems to wonder
What it's like down here
I gotta get away
from this day-to-day
running around,
Everybody knows
this is nowhere.

Everybody, everybody knows
Everybody knows.

Every time I think about
back home
It's cool and breezy
I wish that I could be there
right now
Just passing time.

Everybody seems to wonder
What it's like down here
I gotta get away
from this day-to-day
running around,
Everybody knows
this is nowhere.

Everybody, everybody knows
Everybody knows.

Barcelona rocks!

2006-07-20T12:34:00.000-05:00

Today Barcelona is hot, a bit muggy, and sunny. We got up early and had a splendidly cheap breakfast at Pans & Company. There are tables up on the second floor, so we went up there and sat at a window overlooking Plaza Urquinaona, where
tropical plants crowd the sidewalk. Afterwards, we set off to the beach, a mere 15 minute walk away. It's weird, but somehow I lost 30 pounds on the flight over, the
Little Martini became fluent overnight in both Spanish and Catalan, and Dirty Martini's backache cured itself.

Ah, the sun, the sea, the balmy air. More later!!!!

How can it be?

2006-06-16T10:22:00.000-05:00

How is it only 11:30 on a Friday morning and, already, I've had a rough day? First, I woke with a little bit of a wine hangover. Meant to have a glass last night, not a bottle. Second, I had to trek to the dentist to have a root canal at 8:15...not the most fun experience in the world to begin with, but excruciating following a night of wine-drinking. Now I'm at the office, exhausted, finishing up my week of covering for a co-worker who has the most painful job in the world, and hoping the pain medication will last me through the day...

At least I have a lunch date :)

Dream On

2006-06-15T09:31:00.000-05:00

I'm not a big Aerosmith fan. Actually, I'm not an Aerosmith fan at all. I didn't even know they did Dream On until I went googling around for a clever title for this post. I'd been thinking of Dream This Way or Janie's Got A Dream, because that's about all I knew of their discography. But I was wrong. Dream On was a big Aerosmith hit back in 1973.

All this is by way of saying that last night I had an Aerosmith dream. I've never had an Aerosmith dream before, though I'd be willing to bet that lots of people have. I did see Steven Tyler once in real life. He attended a lecture I was at and during intermission strutted around with his entourage. He'd tied a long, brightly-colored, flowing scarf around his neck, thereby making himself look just like you'd expect him to.

In my particular Aerosmith dream, I was with my friend Mandy O'Brien, the tinkly mandolin player. Steven Tyler and, I believe, the rest of Aerosmith were critiquing Mandy's performance. I don't know why, because in real life, Mandy O'Brien is a bluegrass/bluesy kind of guy, not a big rawk fan. But there Steven Tyler was, insisting Mandy's between-song banter was just not political enough.

"Uh huh," Mandy said.

The next thing I knew, Mandy and I were in his truck. In real life, Mandy doesn't own a truck. In fact, Mandy doesn't own a car. But, Dreaming On, we got in his truck and sped away. I was happy to be supporting my friend in his hour of total pissed-offedness, but I was also puzzled to be so supportive when I was so looking forward to singing for Steven Tyler.

Again, we're so obviously Dreaming On, because I can't sing, and if I could, the last thing in the world I'd want is anyone - and I mean Any. One. - to critique me. Unless they were deaf. Then it might be bearable. For them. For me.

Does this mean that I caught one too many episodes of So You Wannabe A Rock Star or whatever that show was that Dave Navarro sold his soul for? And I so used to like him.

Cosmically, I think I'm on to something here, though what it might be is elusive and mystical (as, apparently, am I, thanks to Luckybuzzz). Janie Has A Dream. Jane's got some kind of Addiction to dreams.

Oh yeah. Maybe I should just get back to work.

I have deemed today...

2006-06-13T13:05:00.000-05:00

Friend Appreciation Day.

Not that I don't appreciate my friends every day, they are all always totally amazing, but recently I've been feeling so much love and support from them that I felt the need to sit back and really think about how much I love them and how happy I am that they are a part of my life.

(Dirty Martini)

Whiny Tuesday

2006-06-13T09:29:00.000-05:00

I'm so bored I can't stand it. I just don't want to be here at Pleasant Valley Law today. I'd so much rather be home with the little cat, playing string. She loves her string above all her other toys: the little squishy balls, the tinfoil balls, the shiny purple fuzzy thing, the toucan on a wand, the real-live bug that limped across the floor last night.

Here's how we play string. Play close attention, because it's intricate and involved and there are many rules. Well, just one rule, which seems to be that if I'm home, I must play string. If I'm not playing string, the little cat sits with the string strewn by her paws. She looks at the string. She looks at me. Then she looks at the string again, meaningfully, longingly, just in case I didn't get it. So then I pick up the string and fling it up in the air so she can jump for it. Then I lay it on the ground and inch it past her so she can pounce on it. Then we fling and jump and inch and pounce for a while, until, finally, mercifully, she lunges for it, grabs it up in her teeth and walks around the house with string hanging out of her little mouth.

Within minutes, she's discovered wherever I've escaped to and sits down with the string at her feet and the game must start all over again. Did someone say cats have no attention span? She can do this for hours. She is obsessed with her string. Once I woke up in the middle of the night to pee and when I came out of the bathroom, she was waiting for me. With her string strewn at her paws. And even though it was 3 am and I couldn't even see straight, I played string because she's so little and furry and cute and, really, who needs to sleep.

So this is how bored and whiny I feel today. I'd rather be playing string. Hmmmph.

empty nest

2006-06-12T08:58:00.000-05:00

After a week of visiting family members and a little shindig for the 2-year-old b-day boy, the martini boys and I have finally reclaimed our space (and I've started to regain my sanity). Following the more-than-mini emotional breakdown I suffered yesterday (having nothing to do with the issue that triggered it), I FINALLY took a break from the crazy bender I've been on recently and was able to pretty much sleep away most of the day yesterday. Now I'm feeling somewhat refreshed and have realized that my world really isn't spinning totally out of control.

I'm not sure it has ever felt so good to be back on a schedule...even at W...hell. More on the work drama will follow.

still tipsy

2006-06-09T09:51:00.000-05:00

Since we currently have 4 generations of people all staying under one 600 sq. foot roof, Mr. Martini and I decided to escape last night for "a couple of drinks" (which turned out to be 3 dirty martini's-the last one not dirty at all, that particular bartender sucked, but it did have extra olives-plus, a beer or two that I don't really remember). The unfortunate thing is that I did this all on an empty stomach. The more unfortunate thing is that I had to drag my ass to work today after a nice 3-day hiatus...the work week really should only consist of Monday and Friday, not Monday through Friday. So, now I'm sitting here at work, still feeling a little drunk, totally unproductive, and counting the minutes until I can escape.

I see blog surfing in my future...

Okay, okay, okay

2006-06-02T09:25:00.000-05:00

After those two good posts by DM (aka IB), how can I not post . . . something?

Well. So. It's another big food and drinks day here at Happy Valley Law. There's gonna be some kind of lunch meeting where, rumor has it, the firm is providing pizza, probably, or something equally inducive of rapid weight loss. Then, later this afternoon, they're hosting an hors d'oeuvre and champagne toast in honor of the anniversary of their founding, which wasn't so long ago.

Okay. So. You're probably wondering whatever happened to my fabulous job at Buymore Pharmaceuticals. Friends, I barely even lasted a year. In fact, I gave my notice the day before I marked my year anniversary of joyous and meaningful employment. After 54 weeks of pure unmitigated foolishness, Big Pharma and I finally parted ways. What did I learn in those 54 weeks, you ask. Two absolutely astounding things:

1. Law firms aren't such bad places to work after all (Really. That's how damn ridiculous it was), and

2. If Buymore is typical of how biiig-ass corporations "work," this country is in even more serious, fundamental trouble than the present administration is trying its hardest to bamboozle you into not believing.

So. There you go. I'm back at a law firm, which isn't anything like W...hell. At least not yet. It's better than W...hell. At least for now. I mean, I've only been here 5 weeks or something. So far, there's been 3 parties - with booze! On Staff Appreciation Day they gave us all (even me! the newbie!) iPod shuffles.

What's that old saying about bread and circuses? Something about iPods being the opiate of the staff? Or something?

Meanwhile, here's the best quote of the day:
Receptionist (moving files into the empty office across from me): I have to move because they're using my desk as a bar.

A little peace

2006-06-01T19:38:00.000-05:00

How lovely. All I can hear right now is the gentle hum of the air conditioner. It's such a welcome change from all of the crazy sounds made by a two-year-old boy (while I love many/most of those sounds, I really, really, really need a little quiet time once in a while). Mr. Martini is currently putting baby martini to bed. Mr. Martini is a superstar tonight.

That break in blogging was just silly

2006-06-01T13:37:00.000-05:00

(Dirty Martini)

I had the honor of the presence of luckybuzz and Tequila Fog last night as they met me for drinks at one of the many over-priced, trendy, but rather yummy local drinking establishments. Not so surprisingly, the topic of blogs came up very quickly in our conversation, and Tequila Fog and I were strongly encouraged to get this blog thing going again. So, I'm (we're) happy to be back and, this time, really will be posting the series of small disasters that is (are) my (our) life (lives).

nice thought

2006-04-08T05:59:00.000-05:00

"Make yourself so happy that when others look at you they become happy too"

-From a tea bag :)

The problem with a gin hangover…

2006-04-07T11:50:00.000-05:00

Is that I get mean...no headache, no nausea, just the worst irritability that one could ever experience. What makes it worse is that I truly believe I live in the rudest city ever. Really, people, have you ever heard of manners? Apparently not here. Anyway, my commute was hell. Yes, even with the hangover, I made it to work (and relatively close to on time), but that’s another rant for another time.

Okay, vent over (for now).

The gin hangover is a result of a nice little meeting with Tequila Fog last night. After a couple of martinis and a lot of laughing, we decided that it was time to start blogging again. So, we’re back!!

-Dirty Martini

Quote of the Day

2006-02-14T11:44:00.000-05:00

It's a pretty darn friendly planet, if you take your eyes off the news sometime.
(Bob Harris)

something about a wine expo...

2006-01-29T21:40:00.000-05:00

WOW...I never thought I could sample so much good wine in one night. Had a '67 and a '76 all in the same evening...and realized I know absolutely nothing about the fine art of tasting wine. Fortunately, I had a good coach by my side. I will post more about this expo and all of the fantastic wine (with links) that I sampled in due course, but now I'm off to bed...

drink recipe

2006-01-28T20:41:00.000-05:00

This one's for Luckybuzz...

POMEGRANATE COCKTAIL

I think this could go well with a little bumper pool :)

Tag, I'm it (Dirty Martini)

2006-01-27T06:06:00.000-05:00

From Luckybuzz...

Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot, like so.
1) doris
2) zerodoll
3) Overread
4) luckybuzz
5) dirty martini

Next select five people to tag:
1) Tequila Fog

Can only think of one (so far...)

What were you doing 10 years ago?
Getting my BA in VA, enjoying turning 21 way too much, walking around town with a backpack full of beer.

What were you doing 1 year ago?
Still adjusting to becoming a new mom.

Five snacks you enjoy:
1) sweet potato chips
2) mozzerella sticks
3) cheese and crackers
4) chocolate
5) beer

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics:
1) Lots of Indigo Girls
2) Lots of Tom Petty
3) Pretty much all of the songs on "Moondance"
4) Me and Bobby McGee
5) Honky Tonk Women (although I mix up the verses most of the time)

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1) Buy (at least) a two-bedroom place
2) Pay off Mr. Martini's school loans
3) Go back to school myself
4) Save for baby Martini's college education
5) Take my friends on a huge trip

Five bad habits:
1) Procrastination (look how long it took me to start this blog)
2) Too much swearing (but really only a bad habit around the little fella)
3) Drinking that last "one too many"
4) Watching way too much television
5) Driving like a maniac when late

Five things you like doing:
1) Spending time doing just about anything with my guys
2) Hanging out, listening to music, and indulging in a few adult beverages with good friends
3) Camping, hiking, and other outdoorsy stuff
4) Playing with the kitties
5) Relaxing with a good book

Five things you would never wear again:
1) Crazy Pants
2) Anything neon
3) Heels over 2 inches (especially when drinking is involved)
4) Tube tops
5) Eyeliner (mainly because I have no clue how to apply it correctly)

Five favorite toys:
1) Laptop
2) Digital camera
3) iPod
4) little pink
5) BIG PINK

25 questions-As answered by Dirty Martini

2006-01-23T13:11:00.000-05:00

From Luckybuzz...

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
Looking a little under the weather...I should call in sick

2. How much cash do you have on you?
$7 and a ton of change

3. What's a word that rhymes with TEST?
jest

4. planet?
Venus

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list?
actually, it's Luckybuzz

6. What is your favorite ring on your phone?
I'm a bore that always goes with the generic "ringing" ring

7. What shirt are you wearing?
Big ol' grey long-sleeved t-shirt (I did actually decide to stay home sick)

8. What do you label yourself?
a functioning small disaster

9. Name the brand of shoes you've recently worn.
converse (chucks)

10. Bright or Dark Room?
somewhere in-between

11. What were you doing at midnight last night?
sleeping (knocked out by Theraflu nighttime)

12. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?
"call me"

13. Where is your nearest 7-11?
about 6 blocks away

14. What's a saying that you say a lot?
Fabulous!

15. Who told you they loved you last?
Mr. Martini

16. Last furry thing you touched?
Moosehead kitty

17. How Many Drugs Have You Done In The Past three Days?
Nyquil and Theraflu (trying to figure out which works best for the awful ick I've been experiencing-maybe half and half?)

18. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed?
zero-but quite a few digital pics to print

19. Favorite age you have been so far?
I've enjoyed any over 30

20. your worst enemy?
Currently, the alarm clock

21. What is your current desktop picture?
some black and white that came with the Mac-cliffs and fog

22. What was the last thing you said to someone?
"see you tonight"

23. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly, which would you choose?
I'd like to be a romantic and say flying, but I could really use the $ at this point

24. Do you like someone?
You betcha!

25. The last song you listened to?
"Fame" David Bowie (radio-currently playing)

Foggy Weekend Update

2006-01-23T10:21:00.000-05:00

My friend Ceci lives a charmed life. She's late to everything - a 15 minute delay only means she's on time. And yet, somehow, everything always works out for her.

A case in point. Saturday night we had plans to see Syriana, showing only at 6:15 in a nearby town, about a 20-minute drive from my house. We were meeting our friend Piano Man there at 6:00. Ceci was warned to get to my house by 5:30.

"So," she said, "I should leave my house by 5?"

"Absolutely," I said. "No later."

Even though I've made it to her house in waaaaay under 30 minutes, somehow time does weird and bendy things when Cee's involved.

At 10 of 5 I thought, I should give Cee a call, make sure she's awake. (She got back from a 3-week trip to India a few days ago and is still on Indian time. Which is somehow 12-1/2 hours ahead of us. Where does that extra half hour come from? Does it explain Cee's magical disregard of the clock?)

But I didn't call. And when she hadn't shown up by 20 of 6 I thought, confidently, she'll be here any minute. But then it was 5:45 . . . and 6 . . . and now I was muttering and cursing my way through the house . . . and by 6:10, when my doorbell rang, I had small tufts of my own hair clenched in my hands . . . .

But Ceece, you can't stay mad at her, because she doesn't mean it and she feels terrible and she's so, so sorry and she had a whole bag of cool and colorful stuff from Mumbai for me. She was still jet-lagged and half an hour behind in everything. She thought the movie started at 6:45, we were meeting Piano Man at 6:30, she had to be at my house at 6, etc. Considering that extra Indian half hour, it really only makes sense. In an international dateline, this is Cee's life kind of way.

So we got in her car and raced to the theater, laughing and chattering all the way. There was no space in either of the two parking lots we tried. We drove by the theater to see if Piano Man might still be out there waiting and - Ceci's luck - we found the only empty parking space in town two doors from the theater.

The girl at the ticket office told us that, although the movie had already started, there were still 14 open seats scattered throughout the theater. Cee and I found two seats together in the front row. We hunched there, our necks at frightening angles, the screen looming up before us, everything on it huge and misshapen.

Afterwards, outside, we waited for Piano Man to emerge amidst the sea of white people. We thought he'd be easy to spot, given that he's African American (and, as Cee said, he'd be the only black person here - but he wasn't, I began to notice - he'd be one of three). We waited and waited and waited, and to make a long story just a bit shorter, we never found him.

Turns out that he'd gotten there a few minutes before 6, but by the time he'd found a place to park it was way past our scheduled meeting time. Not seeing us, he thought we'd already gone in, or left without him. (But Piano Man, really, we never, never would have left without you.). The girl at the ticket counter told him the show was sold out. So he went to the restaurant we'd talked about going to afterwards. When he didn't find us there, he went home.

Ten minutes later, Cee and I show up at the theater and waltz right in. And here is the moral of this overly long tale: whatever Cee touches, no matter how frickin' late she is, it all, always, turns golden.

Me, I'm just happy to be riding her coattails.

2006-01-22T01:04:00.000-05:00

this kitty knows how to party

...and for the very observant, yes, the moosehead box really is on a highchair with Elmo in the background...scandalous

2006-01-21T22:52:00.000-05:00

(DM) Just got back from a dinner party thrown by a classmate of Scotch on the Rocks (aka Mr. Martini). Aside from the tiny disaster of being close to an hour late due to getting lost on our way there (thanks to a very confusing city to drive in and Mapquest's ridiculously terrible directions), we had a blast. Food was fabulous and classmate's wife is a riot...plus, had a glass of obscenely expensive dessert wine (good, but not the "orgasm in a glass" that I was hoping it would be). Getting ready to hunker down with a martini, so there may be more posting to come tonight...

And, thank you to Luckybuzz, Clare, and Jesse for visiting. We'll stop by to see you soon :)

2006-01-20T20:03:00.001-05:00

You Are a Martini

There's no other way to say it: you're a total lush.
You hold your liquor well, and you hold a lot of it!

What Mixed Drink Are You?

How very appropriate (Dirty Martini)

We Were Born

2006-01-20T10:15:00.000-05:00

Birth: The first and direst of all disasters. (Ambrose Bierce)

Hello blog world!!

2006-01-09T12:58:00.000-05:00

Dirty Martini (known in other parts as Iron Buttercup) and Tequila Fog here to report on our series of small disasters.

I (Dirty Martini) am a mother, wife, and slave to the administrative world (all of which should provide ample material for this little online journal, as my good buddy and fellow blogger luckybuzz assures me). Hope you enjoy the little glimpse into our lives (and hope future posts will come much more easily than this one) :)

I (Tequila Fog) am a currently catless cat person, an ex-wife, struggling writer, Spainophile, and increasingly-unwilling participant in and unwitting observer of corporate madness. That should provide some comic hijinx.