and some more

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NEW PICS FROM THE FARM

I am the happiest I have ever been. the only thing missing from these photos is Chris. Next time, he will hopefully be there too!

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DEXTER

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MY DARLING DEXTER

my darling Dexter is in heaven now.

Chris and I took Dexter to the vet this morning and after a long battle with Diabetes and kidney failure, decided it was time. Dexter decided as well. We had an agreement that he would tell me when he was ready. When I woke up this morning, he was staring at me. The past week was difficult for Dexter. He had trouble walking and lost all interest in food. He was not suffering, but his quality of life had declined rapidly enough that I have been sick with worry.

One of the most incredible things about Dexter is how regal he was. He was a proud cat. I placed his favorite blanket on the exam table and he walked out of his carry-case and snuggled down on it. He crossed his front paws and started to purr in a heavy and labored way. We cuddled and he let out a silent meow that told me, for certain, that he was ready. He wasn't scared, just tired and drained.

Dr. Pirotin (a wonderful cat specialist) gave him a tranquilizer and Dexter slipped into a deep sleep. I was nose to nose with Dexter as his tired little body let go. I was the last thing he saw.

We wrapped Dexter up in his blanket and sat with him for a few minutes before the vet gave him his final shot. Dexter has been getting 2 or 3 injections a day for the last 8 years. It was relief to know this was his final injection and I explained there would be no more shots in heaven.

Dexter's breathing slowly stopped. He was wrapped up snuggly. Chris commented on how regal he looked; like the mummified Egyptian cats at the Metropolitan Museum. Dexter would like that.

NEW YORK MOMENT

to further boost my thoughts on New York, I want to share something that happened to me earlier today...

I was late for work and in the car service I take every morning down Fifth Avenue. The traffic was unusually high and we were at a complete standstill. The weather was close to perfect Spring temperature and I chose to get out of the car and walk the rest of the way, down Fifth, to my office on 44th Street.

I had walked about a block when I noticed a very sweet, black labrador retriever inhis golden years. His face was turning white and I figured he was about 10 years old.

His owner, was bundled up like it was single digits on the thermometer. I didn't really care to look closely at the owner, as his dog caught my fancy, not him or his strange get-up. We stood on the corner and chatted about dogs and Central Park when the man produced an orange from his pocket, peeled it (putting the peels back in his pocket) and proceeded to eat one piece and share the next piece with his trusted friend. It was very sweet and the dog happily sat, shook hands and caught his orange slices in mid air. His owner was all too thrilled to show off his well trained, albeit spoiled, dog.

I had to get going and excused myself to continue my scurry down Fifth. I looked up, as I stepped off the curb and tripped. I recognized the hooded gentleman well. Upon witnessing my recognition of him, and my flubbed attempt to apologize for not doing so earlier, he raised his finger to his mouth and went "Sshhhhhh" .... I squinted as I didn't understand what he meant. He pointed to a small group of paparazzi-esque photographers hovered outside a green awning about 50 feet away.

He said, "see those guys over there? well they are waiting for me and they think I am still inside. I snuck out the service door. I am dressed like this so they won't recognize me .... clearly it worked. And now my dog loving friend, I am going to the park to share another orange with Sam and let him run around a bit."

I smiled and walked away.

I love New York.

New York

New York is the city I call home. When things seem rough and aren't going my way, this city is a kicker. It rolls you up, chews on you and spits you out with absolutely no thought or remorse about it. Those times are hideously painful and exhausting.

That being said, when things are grooving and going my way, this city is glorious. It is beautiful and I easily get caught in the wonderful web and coast through my days. Just when I think I couldn't love her more, I am reminded that my love for New York is a constant and growing thing. It doesn't cap out. It is endless.

I am in my groove. It is euphoric to walk these streets loving every inch of them. It makes all the less magical moments, even the awful moments, worth while.

----

“I love New York because we order pizza from the Italian place across the street and have our laundry delivered. We take a taxi to the gym. We know exactly what we want out of life and careers, but can’t decide where to eat brunch. We make plans and don’t keep any of them. We think a studio for $1,500 a month is a steal, but get pissed when the coffee guy raises his prices 25 cents. We fight with cabbies about their driving skills, but we are 35 and have never had a driver’s license.”
—Alexis DeSieno

from New York Magazine

BACK FROM PARADISE TO AN ENTIRELY NEW ONE...

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holiday

I AM OFF TO THE GRENADINES FOR 10 DAYS!!

MY PERSONAL DICTIONARY...

SNORGGLE: To kiss and breathe in puppy or kitty breath. To be a "snorggle" the kissing and breathing must be kept to the triangular snoot area of said animal

SNARF: To eat or drink quickly

SNARFLY: A general term for how good one feels after eating or drinking something craved

SANTA SACK: To hork (see below) a large parcel or group of parcels over a single shoulder

HORK: A general term for throwing, heaving or tossing something

THE WRAPPER: My bed. Other beds can gain the term of "wrapper" after serious investigation

NUGGIFY: The process of a puppy or kitty getting comfortable enough to take a nap

MY VOTE

I can't vote in this country, but if I could .... I would have voted for Hillary today!

I will be asleep before Super Tuesday is over, I hope tomorrow morning when I wake up and fetch the paper from my door that Hillary is on the front page! ...

in and out...

I am hard-wired to blog in and out accordingly...

my hardware wears down with my happy passing days. I grow softer. I can't help it. My need to blog grows dim

My mother always told me there is a certain gentleman out there and he has been looking for me.

Back then, I didn't really believe her. I wanted to think it and believe it and I did. She always knew; I was wrong. it just didn't fit. I was trying to fit in.

This certain gentleman and I found each other. it is easy to leave it at just that

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ME AGAIN ... in about

4 weeks (and counting)... The Grenadines




















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lights of my life...

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

CANADA CHRISTMAS

The Marchburn wild turkeys make their way across the icy drive way in Coldwater...















Sophie nests in her new shopping bag in Toronto...















Chris, Mum and I feast at The Four Seasons on Christmas Day...





















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MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

"Happiness resides not in posessions and not in gold; the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul."

- Democritus

2007

- I turned 34
- Edith died
- I was hired for the job I always wanted
- I am debt free and saving
- Dexter and I shared his 20th year
- I gained 10 pounds
- I have long hair
- I try not to swear
- a bad opinion does not matter
- a good opinion is sacred
- my great friends have incredible children
- a broken nose didn't stop me
- I wasn't ready to give up my 4 walls
- I drove around Mexico without power steering
- I snorggled snoots and snouts
- I love New York more
- I strive to be a lady and not a girl
- I don't receive paper statements anymore
- I welcome wrinkles
- and freckles

BEGIN

I was down south for the last couple of weeks on a photo shoot. Before that, I was able to sneak away for a long weekend in the Bahamas. I came home and feel happily overwhelmed with Christmas. Being in 85 degree weather and working weeks with no time off, I didn't feel festive until I got back to snowy NYC!

I feel festive now and I love it!

I am heading North next week for a few days in Canada so I didn't put my suitcase away. It has been a permanent fixture in my living room for the last couple of months. There is no point in putting away, when I will need it so soon.

Dexter turned 20 a couple of weeks ago! He is my true miracle kitty. I bought him some wheat grass today and he gnawed off a bunch of it and is now fast asleep on my bed. Last year at this time, his prognosis was not good. I am thrilled that he is doing so well and I shared another year with him.

It has been an incredible year for me. Many things that seemed far away in years past, are now a part of me. I am learning to balance everything and have found the groove I seemed to skip over in the past. There were many times that I thought things wouldn't groove, but I know now that everything has led me to where I am and who I am now

“I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and new”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

SICK ILL NESS

I have not been feeling well. I was home sick last week for 2 days. They were defunct days to my office, but most precious to my health

my well being

the office cared less. I did my job and cradled myslef to sleep with a huge cough

Today, I was feeling amazing, until side swiped

cough it up and snot down

CRASH TEST

I walked to Grand Central Station to get a taxi this evening. I got in and as soon as my driver hit the gas, he ripped the door off of a van. The driver of the van did not look to see if he was opening his door into traffic. The windows shattered all over me and I was immediately thankful that we weren't going faster.

The 2 drivers had it out and both realized a police report was necessary as the damage to both vehicles was significant. I wanted to get out and leave, but I remained at the scene as a witness. 45 minutes later, the police arrived to write a report. I am so happy I stayed because the cops wanted to pin the accident on my driver when it was clearly not his fault. It was a minor hiccup in a usual NY day. When all paperwork had been filled out and the yelling stopped, the driver of my taxi drove me home and refused any money from me. He was so thankful that I remained as a witness. He was so kind even when the police weren't being kind.

I struggle with the hassle of this city, but I love it enough to take it as it comes. If I had left the scene of this accident, the truth would not be known and I would be a bad New Yorker

PERFECT SNOOT FOR SNORGGLING

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today

every now and then a day presents itself with so many emotions that it gives me a headache. Today would be a good example of this.

The headache is a painful thing, but all of the emotions are good to feel; even the bad ones. In order to appreciate the good, I need to feel the not-so-good. I get that and am happy I get it. Otherwise, I wouldn't get headaches because everything would be beige. I wouldn't feel anything if I lacked the level of emotion that lives inside of me.

That being said, I tend to take things personally at work when things don't go my way. I remember my First Grade report card.... "Mandy doesn't take well to criticism..." I would pout and suck my thumb...

These days, I don't get criticized, but my work does and I take it personally. I was a big mouth today and didn't accept that I was not given the opportunity to explain .... It worked in my favor. I am not 6 any more, but life-lessons have a way of following me around. It is personal, non-beige, feeling and hurting and it all happened today

MOON RIVER

I am always scared of swimming in a river because it is open-ended towards the sea. I much prefer to swim in a lake where I can see the shore from all sides.

A river just glides into the sea and that scares me

I BROKE THE CARDINAL RULE...

I broke the cardinal rule this evening when I got home and plopped my coat and scarf on top of the Gazelle. The Gazelle is not a clothes hanging solution! I just forced myself to hang my coat up properly and fold my scarf and put it in my scarf and glove drawer. I can be a creature of habit and must focus on not getting into habits that might be hard or impossible to break. I am certainly not the only Gazelle owner who subconsciously sees the device as a perfect garment rack; especially in the tight quarters of an apartment. That being said, I will be more aware tomorrow night when I get home and do everything in my power to avoid the plop of the coat and scarf on the Gazelle. I like the Gazelle, but it is currently on hiatus as it squeaks so loudly that I can't bare to work out on it. It sounds like nails on a chalk-board. WD40 is on my list of things to purchase this weekend. Perhaps when it is back in working order, I will be less prone to plopping things on it.

BOO

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WINTERIZATION of the WRAPPER and other stories...

... I received the new 5 inch feather-bed to put on top of my already delicious wrapper. It weighs 16 pounds and I stumbled trying to get it out of the box and into the cotton over-cover. I ricocheted off the gazelle and bounced over my laundry pile. I landed on a 15 pound pumpkin. This was just after getting home from standing in the rain for 30 minutes, with no umbrella, and a 45 minute cab ride. I peeled my wool sweater off; it smells like wet dog and is in my tub right now. I don't know what to do with it.

The end-all, be-all of adoptathon's is tomorrow at the ASPCA. I am supposed to be there right now setting up. I have to stuff Kongs and toilet-paper rolls with kitten treats... I may not make it there tonight, but will be there tomorrow.

TOOTHY SMILE

I went to the dentist yesterday. I have 2 dying roots, which will need disconnection in the future, but not yet.

Other than that, my smile is intact and according to my DDS, toothy. He said I have a toothy smile. Am I toothy? Have I been toothy all along? Apparently, each individual tooth in my mouth is a bit over-sized.

I am inventing a new definition for toothy tonight... I am "toothy", but it doesn't have to do with the size of each of my individual tooths. teeth. I much prefer to believe that "toothy" is an attitude; a way of life. more of a philosophy and less about a cosmetic definition of a smile. my smile

that is all I have to say about it

WILD FIRE

I am watching the coverage of the wild fires, which happen to burn south of the California border, but the US media doesn't cover that portion of the fires....

and I am sad about it. I am amazed at the swift spread of the fire. The images are haunting and impending, yet they are also beautiful. Nature is beautiful even when it burns.

I am on-call with several disaster relief organizations and I regret tonight that my new full-time status keeps me from heading west. This is one of those iffy times when I wonder if I have made the right decisions. I called to voluntarily check myself out of deployment. After years of training and preparing to help during disaster, I scratched.

I don't really know what to feel right now; except that I might be on the wrong side of what is truly important

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APPLES and PUMPKINS... and today

I went through Central Park this morning and was shocked to see how green it still is! There were a few hints of Autumn, but nothing like I expected or wanted to see. No vibrant red's and yellow's. It looked very much like summer; which isn't a bad thing, but unexpected due to the date. It has been extremely warm, with only a couple of days of cool temperatures so far this season. I am not up-to-date on my tree expertise, but I think it is frost that prompts a tree to change color. NYC has had no frost. not even close. In fact, I have my AC on right now because it is so warm.

I have wanted to go apple and pumpkin picking, but my schedule has been so tight. I like the idea of picking with wool socks on and wearing a cozy sweater. In the last week, when I wear a sweater, I end up shedding it quickly.

I miss the crisp Autumn days in Canada. We would go picking as early as my birthday when I was a kid. It was colder in Los Angeles than it is here.

I love this picture of me, my sister, my dad and Tiffany! I miss Tiff so much when I see her in photographs. I can still see her in my mind bounding around that orchard. She enjoyed it more than any one of us!


















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and me at the studio today with Leopold!
















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SISTERS...

... in frocks

My sister is coming to NYC for business and I can't wait to see her.

In this photo it looks like she is ready to swoop up behind my head (and I am clueless). par for the course as the little sister...



















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THE VENTI SCHLEPP

It isn't Tall or Grande, it is VENTI....

I am constantly shuffling paper, computers, hard drives, cables to go with them etc. all over the place. I upgraded my LL Bean Boat-and-Tote from a Medium (Grande) to a Large (Venti) to facilitate my constant schlepp of things to and from the office and to and from photo shoots. and back again all over.

I thought myself savvy when I began FedExing boxes of stuff to myself at hotels, studios and locations. I was certain this would cut down on the need to Venti Schlepp. I was wrong. The need increased once I began FedExing to myself. This once remarkable find, only cleared more room in my boat-and-tote for more stuff; stuff that ended up in a shopping bag because it wouldn't fit in the tote. The schlepp now includes shopping bags and the tote. all of this is after Fedexing boxes (plural) to myself.

I am a bit of a pack rat and like to be prepared. I admit it. However, will there ever be a time when I can simply carry a wee tote and a wee pocket book with no additional stuff? is it in me?

BACK HOME

I am not a fan of LA. the city freaks me out; and not much freaks me out. I managed it all, but might sleep until Sunday

It's a wrap from LA...

heading home tomorrow a day early.












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LA

Whenever I am in Los Angeles, I wonder if I could live here. I find it to be a strange city. The weather is amazing right now .... warm and sunny during the day and cool (jacket cool) at night. I have the fireplace going in my hotel room, but I got a bit of a sunburn from shooting outside all day. It is a strange mix. I think I would really miss the magic of the changing of the seasons. LA feels like it is stuck between seasons and I am stuck between neighborhoods. I am in West Hollywood, but shooting in Pasadena for the next few days, before moving to a new location in Malibu. There is much going on in a single city. It might stress me out if I lived here.

THUMP THUMP THUMP

Thumper is one of my favorite Disney characters. He is the thumping Hare from Bambi. I have many Disney favorites. Watching Bambi always makes me cry so I don't watch very often.

I have a small dental issue. It feels like Thumper is thump, thump, thumping in my gums. I am dentist bound tomorrow morning before leaving for Los Angeles on Thursday.

working and packing is rough when you have Thumper in your teeth

LUNA-BELLE

I just received word that Luna is not doing well. She is with the team of Marine Biologists who know her best and who she knows best. She stopped feeding on her own and is under constant watch. My hope is for her full recovery so I can swim with her again. She is such an amazing creature. I don't speak Dolphin, but she certainly speaks Homo Sapien.











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DANA at....

the new family lake house. I haven't been yet, but am looking for Waldo when I do make it there. Only my sister would go boating in a mini skirt! notice the Indian Summer, Northern Ontario moon in the sky... there is nothing like the light in Canada in September. How I wish there was a way to do photo shoots up North. days are short, but the light is spectacular.















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DAY

I had one of those days that didn't stop. I couldn't get everything I needed to get done because each passing minute brought a new dilemma that needed to be addressed immediately. Meetings overlapped and the hours ticked by. I drank soup like it was cold water. I missed the meetings that had been scheduled for weeks. I didn't have the chance to re-schedule those meetings. I hate to hear disappointment in the voice of a colleague, but there is absolutely no way I could give more. I crawled home, amongst the traffic blocks because the UN is in session. I am tired and hungry and have a sore throat. I have knots in my neck. I love what I do, but realize it does take its toll on me. I love this city, but it takes a toll on me. I am vexed by the people who work like I do, and still find time for their personal lives. the gym, friends, cooking, cleaning etc. let alone, those who have families; babies, husbands etc. how do they manage it all?

are they my heroes or the very thing I never want to be or even could be because I don't have enough time?

after a hectic day where I didn't feel all that well, I question things

THE GAZELLE

The Gazelle is an info-mercial special. It is an exercise machine that I have wanted for many years. It looks like fun and its for a good cause, my body, so I finally ordered the damn thing. It arrived today in a huge box that weighs a ton. It took 2 strong men to get the box into my apartment. I cut off the tape and tore the box open to find The Gazelle in 6 thousand pieces. I had NO IDEA that I needed to put the bugger together! I quite enjoy do-it-yourself projects, but this is daunting. If my assembled Gazelle ends up looking anything like this picture, I will be surprised. Talk about exercise! brain exercise.


















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HORRIFIED

You learn something new every day ....

My electrician and my dad, were HORRIFIED to learn that I stuffed tin-foil all around my electric box to keep any water bugs from crawling in. I suppose I should have known that tin-foil would conduct electricity. In true Mandy-Klutz fashion, I was lucky to say the least. lucky indeed

34

my Birthday weekend is just half over... I love every moment of it












































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TIME LINE

It is an interesting exercise to document your life in years. It was difficult, to say the least! I started with High School graduation and worked up until now. At first, there were gaps of time that I couldn't totally recall what I was doing. where I lived. what I did for my birthday that year. I respond best to visuals, so I started to gather photos. I inked a graph and started filling in significant land marks in my time line. pets, jobs, hair-color, relationships etc.

It started to come together and then I would remember something totally forgotten about and I would have to start over. and then over again. and go back again.

The most important thing about doing this is I realized how colorful and interesting my life has been. It is a good time line and I am the only person who needs to feel that way about it. Many parts of it weren't easy, weren't even pleasant, but those times were the hardest to recall. Once I did remember the bits and pieces, it made it so great to ink in all the amazing things. the unique things. the once in a life-time things. the good and the uneasy things.

It is the eve of the eve of my 34th Birthday. I was born on a Friday. 34 years ago = 12,417 days = 297,840 hours = 17,870,400 minutes = 1,072,831,234 seconds.

my time line so far ....

AIR

I have my windows open and the loveliest air is wafting through my apartment. It is the perfect temperature. I turned off the ceiling fan and am enjoying the natural breeze. I feel a little bit congested and achey, but I will not fall ill without a fight. I have fresh sheets and army corners and can't wait to burrow into the wrapper for the night.

LIFE...

... continues to inspire me and startle me.

Today will always be a sad day for me and I fumbled through it. The thunder and lightning were so severe this afternoon that I am certain heaven was crying. The rain was so thick at one point that I couldn't see clearly out my windows. I didn't feel clear about anything and then, just like that, the storm passed and the sun came out. This morning seems far away. I haven't forgotten it, but it faded a bit.

the eve of

I always loved the eve of something. a holiday. a new year. graduation. moving on. stop

Tonight will always be the eve of something sad and tragic. I have yet to grasp hold of it because I don't think I know how to grasp something like this. it is and it was. it will be; a part of me. I let the faces go. I let the bodies go. I thought there was a way to let it go, but it still hurts

SATURDAY

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MINI ME

The purchase of my new Ipod prompted me to organize the thousands of files I have on my Mac's. There are thousands and thousands of files to sort through. I came across this picture of me... it is me, but mini.

I think, perhaps, I am two? if so, this was taken 32 years ago.




















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WEE MISS

I have a new Ipod! She is itty bitty and silver. She arrived just as Steve Jobs announced the launch of an entirely new line of Ipods. go figure.

go Apple

THE UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL

For years, perhaps over a decade, I have struggled with my remote control situation. Each component has its own remote control. I even needed a remote control, separate from all the rest, to switch over to watch a DVD and in the past, to play video games. At any given time, I had upwards from 4 remote controls, sitting on my bed side table collecting dust and crumbs of stuff.

I took a big plunge yesterday and invested in my first Universal Remote Control. I struggled with the price tag, but figured if I could get the bugger to work, my life would be better. Simpler. Easier.

I inserted the batteries and unfolded, fold after fold after fold of the instruction manual and sat on my bed with it open like a big road map. It was daunting.

There were codes about codes. Codes for different components, made in different countries, with different languages. Codes for different companies, in different countries. There were codes about things I never thought code-worthy. I got out my highlighter and my sharp-ee marker and read the road map start to finish. I made notes about codes and highlighted the notes in color and component specific colors.

I am not the type of person to read the instructions. I much prefer to figure it out along the way; but in this instance, if I didn't get it correct out of the gate, I wasn't going to try again.

I punched in numbers and symbols and the appropriate codes. I followed the directions for each component and made sure I didn't punch in anything that wasn't required.

You can imagine my surprise and jubilant joy when I tested my coding and every single thing turned on and functioned with functions I didn't think were possible!

I placed all 5 of my old remote controls in my drawer last night. I slid into bed and turned on the cable box, my TV, my DVD and my speakers all at once. I bounced between the US Open, surround-sound and Old School on DVD. I played with the volume, the contrast, and the bass. AWESOME!

ELECTRICITY

I am spoiled with it. I am a grump without it. Half of my apartment lost power yesterday. My super, who had the weekend off, was here yesterday to investigate. he fixed it, a bit, and this morning, I was back to no power. I had an emergency electrician come in this afternoon. he firmed up my belief that I have a serious electric issue. He was unable to do anything about it on the sunday of a long weekend. he ripped off my electric panel and said I shouldn't be too concerned with fire.

shouldn't be concerned????

I bought a new fire extinguisher today as a precaution. I am going to sleep with it.

I just spent the last hour stuffing holes and niches with tin-foil. I don't want a water bug or the family of a water bug to move in because they suddenly have open access to my apartment. considering fire as the worst scenario, water bugs might be welcome.















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UPDATE

I am writing to report that I did not win the mega millions jackpot as planned.

HAPPY LONG WEEKEND!

12.6 pounds

Dexter weighs 12.6 pounds. At one time, I called him The Quarter Pounder because he was almost 24 pounds. His swinging, bowling-ball stomach is no more. He is no longer chunky, but he is perfectly beautiful.

Tomorrow begins a long weekend for me. I opted out of tickets for the US Open. I opted out of the beach. I just want to be home within this city and my few walls. My new passport has yet to show, so I can't go to Canada. I might want to go, but opt out because every time I do go, I wonder more and more and more if I should move there and call it a day



















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2 years

it seems like longer.

my life changed 2 years ago. i was at the US Open and not thinking much about anything. it was another US Open and the courts were blue instead of the green from years before.

then I saw this photo ....














and my life changed itself.

JUST FROCKS

today was weird. Perhaps the lunar eclipse had something to do with it.

The beginning of my day started with a bunch of obstacles that had my stomach in knots. I fully anticipated the day to continue with what, at the time, seemed like insurmountable odds. My day then unfolded in a good way. high-grade problems

A person who I respect very much, put the day into words that worked ..... "it's just frocks, dear. it's just frocks"

Tomorrow will present another slew of obstacles, I am sure, but tonight is my own

CALL TIME

I am in full jammies. My call time tomorrow is crack of dawn early. I am waiting for it to get dark before crawling ino the wrapper for the night. I have an issue with going to bed before the sun sets. I'll disagree with myself when the alarm goes off tomorrow morning.

ANOTHER YEAR

I like to anniversary last years (and the year before that) questions and answers. I have 730 days of more experience.... MY LATEST ANSWERS start with a * ....

2006 entry:
1 YEAR
I think it is important to address last years questions a year later. I may not have any answers, but I have an extra 365 days of life knowledge to direct towards them. I have had an incredible year so here they are.... my current answers are ALL-CAPS ...

Tuesday, August 23, 2005
CURRENT QUESTIONS
- do plants have a life expectancy?
- THEY ABSOLUTELY DO; I LOST AN IVY PLANT 4 MONTHS AGO TO OLD AGE.
* I planted a sprout from that original Ivy plant and I have a gorgeous mass of Ivy now. I was wrong.

- how do hemopheliacs survive cat scratches?
- ONLY WITH MEDICATION AND MONITORING.
* the medication must include large doses of antibiotics.

- why can't my employer match my 401K contributions?
- I DON'T WORK THERE ANYMORE.
* roll over IRA

- why does my tan fade, but not my freckles?
- I STOPPED LYING IN THE SUN. I WEAR SUNBLOCK EVERY DAY AND MY FRECKLES HAVE FADED.
* not really. they are a part of me.

- why is the new paint on my walls already cracking?
- IT ISN'T NEW ANYMORE, BUT IT STILL CRACKS. OLD BUILDING=DRY WALL BREAK DOWN. I LOVE THE IMPERFECTIONS NOW.
* the cracks get deeper and I love them more and more.

- why do i sometimes get homesick when i am home?
- I STILL DO. I ALWAYS WILL.
* always will. however, my homesickness no longer roots from the past. it just roots and hovers.

- why do i sneeze when i use a highlighter?
- NOW THAT I USE AN INHALER, I DON'T SNEEZE LIKE THAT ANYMORE.
* highlighters still make me sneeze; i am off the inhaler.

- how does my wireless keyboard keep up with my fingers?
- BLUETOOTH !
* and a really kick-ass wireless connection.

- where are all my stuffed animals from childhood?
- I SPENT A WEEK AT MY DAD'S FARM GOING THROUGH BOXES THAT HAD BEEN IN STORAGE FOR 26 YEARS. THEY ARE PACKED UP, NEAT AND SNUGLY, IN AIR TIGHT RUBBERMAID BINS.
* they are in the bins, at the farm and i visit with them every 6 months or so.

- why does the printer always jam 5 minutes before my big presentation?
- A WATCHED PRINTER WILL NEVER PRINT.
* work up to a position that allows you an assistant or 2 who will take responsibility for it.

- why does my ipod keep updating the song "pop goes the weasel" when it isn't in my itunes folder? (and never has been)
- I RE-CONFIGURED MY IPOD TO THE ORIGINAL FACTORY SETTINGS. NO MORE WEASEL.
* Little Miss died last week. no more weasel; ever.

- why does bleaching my white tee-shirts make them more yellow?
- SWEAT WHEN MIXED WITH BLEACH TURNS YELLOW.
* every 6 months I buy a new batch of white tee-shirts and use the old ones for cleaning.

- who keeps taking my Architectural Digest magazine from my mailbox?
- MY SUBSCRIPTION RAN OUT.
* I now receive AD at home and the office for free. go figure.

- who was the first mad cow?
- THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN OPINION ON THIS ISSUE.
* I did some research and think I know. I did much reading and made charts, but opt out of my answer on the www.

- why am i always the chosen wing-man?
- WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET. I WON'T EMBARASS YOU. I THINK.
* I'll embarass myself before I embarass you. I have basic manners and won't talk about politics.

- am i becoming "Debbie Downer"?
- ONLY WHEN I AM BLUE.
* I still get blue, but I will stay home if there is risk of me bringing anyone else down.

- what is solar reflex?
- NO IDEA.
* nope. no idea.

- should i buy a panini maker?
- I DID AND IT BROKE. TALK TO YOU NEVER.
* I bought the GT Xpress 101 with high hopes of fabulous panini's ... right out of the gate, it caught on fire. talk to you never.

- do coffee beans go bad if you keep them in the freezer?
- NOPE. THEY GO STALE WHEREVER YOU STORE THEM .... EVENTUALLY.
* coffee beans, in a perfect world, should never be stored. they should be purchased on a need to drink basis.

- why don't i understand Mark Rothko?
- HE PAINTED SO I LIKE HIM, BUT I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND.
* I like him because he painted and I stared inside. I might be starting to begin understanding. or not.

- why did Natalee Holloway's family wait 6 weeks to offer a reward?
- THEY NEVER FOUND HER. MY HEART HURTS FOR HER AND HER FAMILY.
* my heart still hurts. there was no closure. no nothing. I have a feeling she died the night she went missing.

- why do horseshoe crabs frighten me so much?
- THEY STILL SCARE ME A BIT, BUT I HAVE SPENT SOME TIME WITH THEM AND THEY ARE KIND OF CUTE. THEY DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH ME.
* hello fleas and ticks. I rescue animals that are embedded with bugs and i have yet to bring a single one home.

- would i be happy living in a small town?
- HA HA .... IS THIS A TRICK QUESTION?
* I would be happy living in a small town as long as I had the means to visit the city. A garden and veranda rocking chairs and a BBQ ....... Soooooo peaceful.

- should i buy an old Triumph convertible?
- ZIP-CAR
* I want an old Triumph convertible. they are so pretty.

- do the guys i like really prefer high-maintenance and stupid?
- I DON'T LIKE THAT TYPE OF GUY ANYMORE. AND YES, THEY DO.
* trick question?

- why is cold pizza better than hot?
- YOU DON'T BURN THE ROOF OF YOUR MOUTH WITH BOILING CHEESE.
* cold pizza has way better qualities than hot pizza.

- who is the stranger who keeps emailing me from Zurich?
- I GOT HIS NUMBER.
* we are no longer friends.

- is there really a way to keep the ozone hole from getting bigger?
- AL GORE MADE A MOVIE ABOUT IT AND I HAVE A BETTER IDEA.
* I do my best to reduce my carbon footprint. I pay more each month on my electric bill and I unplug my alarm clock every day.

- ...and if so, why is it getting bigger?
- BUSH.
* Hillary in '08 !!!!!!!!!!!!

- are 50 happy years better than 75 mediocre ones?
- STILL NO WAY TO TELL, BUT I THINK SO.
* I still agree with myself.

- if i was a mother named Enola Gay, how would i have felt having my name painted on that plane?
- I'D HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT MY CHILD MADE THE RIGHT DECISION; EVEN IF I DISAGREED.
* exactly. I don't have children. The men who flew a plane with the name Enola Gay didn't know and neither did their mothers.

- why is someone else's silence so painfully quiet?
- YOU WILL NEVER HEAR WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR.
* you can only learn from someone else's silence and take it with you. rest assured that their silence has nothing to do with you.

...as always, to be continued
AS ALWAYS.... SEE YOU IN 365....
* as always .... see you in 365


HAPPY 730!

SOCKS

I should have worn socks. It is damp and cool in NYC today. The AC in my office was cranking and I froze. The weather is going to turn back to summer in the next couple of days so I am not willing to get my sock drawer organized. It is a heap of tangles from the last cool days of spring. I enjoy organizing my socks, but not until September. Come September, I will take inventory and do damage control to see what type of sock needs a re-fill.

A FORREST GUMP FEATHER

I am in the midst of emailing with friends about a visit to New Orleans 2 years later. I just shuffled my feet and sat back down and a large, white feather face-planted on my key-board. I picked it up and put it on my my fridge under a magnent.

Hurricane Dean gained the required stength today to be named a Category 5 Hurricane. shit. The Yucatan Peninsula is going to get hit hard. I am on call, but wish I was there to help already

DRAFT MANAGEMENT

I have a new paper weight.

She is lovely and white with a fun clicking wheel. She holds 102 days of music. It is a nice collection forever ensconced in resin I can no longer access.

LITTLE MISS, the loyal companion to BIG MAC, BIGGER MAC and MAC DADDY, has died. She makes a pretty weight on top of all the drafts of stuff I need to file.

She was a good Ipod.

CHAIR

for the past few weeks, my computer chair has been making noise. It heeps and yips and then shuffles down to 1 side. I just turned it over and it is missing 3 of 4 screws. I now know what clanked so loudly when I vacuumed last. I thought it was pennies or dimes that made such noise. nope. I vacuumed up 3 important screws. I can do 1 of 3 things ...

- rip open the sure-to-be disgusting vacuum bag and fish for the screws
- special-order 3 new screws from the obscure manufacturer in France
- use 3 basic screws and dental floss to make it work

I'll sit on it for the night before choosing an option

SPECTACULAR

the weather in NYC is spectacular. It is warm and sunny, but with a cool breeze. no humidity. clear. love it! I walked in it until my feets didn't want to anymore. I came home and took advantage of my Saturday afternoon and napped until just now when Dexter woke me up by licking my eye lashes with his stinky kitty breath and sand-paper tongue.

The city feels very empty. Most people living on my floor are away. I have my choice of newspapers to pilfer. Every single person I know is away. Connecticut, Hamptons, New Jersey etc. I am thinking that maybe I should have headed East for a weekend by the shore. or not. hmmm.... indecision.

FLOWER POWER!

I am happy it is raining and chilly. It gives me a great excuse to stay home and watch the season premiere of MEERKAT MANOR on Animal Planet!!!

ahhhhh, after a long week, I am so satisfied to be home to cook and watch tv. I should be heading to East Hampton right about now, but I am going to pass on the excursion.

I just put on my glow-in-the-dark pajamas and am sauteeing garlic and shallots for my award-worthy sun dried tomato sauce. I am listening to a jazz feed from Denmark. I also have the ingredients to bake a cherry pie. so random, but I am craving cherry pie!

yup... life is good.

A BIT OF FUN...

... on the HOTTEST of days!

A BIT OF FUN

I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN...

I should have known today was going to be a weird day this morning when I turned on my kitchen light and a giant waterbug scurried across my kitchen counter. yuck. Nothing disturbs me more than the once or twice annual visit I get from these grossest of gross insects. This was my first encounter with a waterbug since last summer. They are doing construction on my building (still) and it has been hot and humid. These are perfect conditions for a stray waterbug do make its way into my home via pipes or drains. All waterbugs should be warned that my apartment is NOT worth entering. I am fastidious and there are no food containers or dirty dishes for them to crawl over. As the bug from this morning could have told you, I have no problem saturating any surface with RAID. In fact, I stand back and take such liberal spray motion that the bastard didn't feel a thing. yuck. The clearing of the carcass is another thing entirely. I wear gloves and used an entire roll of paper towels so I wouldn't feel the girth of this mouse-sized bug. yuck. It disturbed me all day and coming home was with much trepidation that the bug from this morning may have brought a friend. bugs be warned! I feel so violated. My kitchen is no longer a happy zone.

With the bug dead and my heart racing, I made it to the office. My day was neither here nor there, but I had a sense of something on the horizon. My sense was solidified upon returning home and finding a letter from the IRS in my mail box. yuck. I paid my taxes early in January, but apparently I did something really wrong. I will spend my evening pulling my paperwork and back-tracking to find my error. yuck.

Also in my mailbox, was a letter from the CDN passport office explaining that I left out crucial information on my passport renewal application. Because I let my passport expire, I have to start from scratch. yuck. I try to be on top of all my documents and paperwork, but it seems the more organized I think I am, the more problems I encounter.

AUGUSTA

Introducing Augusta. born 8/1/2007.

Augusta's proud mother is the cow I was running after when I fractured my nose on an electric fence.

Both mother and calf are doing well.


















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BREAK IT DOWN...

... and start again

the cycle of my work is this

there is no way to live in the past when directing moments in the future

christmas is over and it is next year

fast forward and it is already summer

next year

...

in 50 days I will be 34; my new year

the cycle of my life is this

on my birthday, what i was then

now i am not

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

tomorrow it will be CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST!

I have been on location and I love the work, but the days are long. I am up before the sun for call-time and I get home about now to put on my PJ's and check email. I realized today that when I am shooting, I am a workaholic. I get home and think about all the things I could have done differently and plan what I will do tomorrow. Radar, an amazing Lab, was on set today and I was able to sneak a snorggle with him!




















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NO MORE ANIMAL FIGHTING

I want to share a photo of a bait dog I got to know in Louisiana after the hurricanes ....

This dog had been neglected and abused and had the sweetest of hearts. The night she arrived for triage was a busy night. I sat with her for about 5 minutes. Her rescuer had already decided to take her home if her owner never came to claim her. I have a strong feeling that this darling was never claimed and that she went home with her rescuer.

It was a busy night. it was hot and humid. I remember sitting down on the barn floor with her so I could wrap my feet with bandages and bug repellant. It was difficult to do so because I was getting kissed and licked and slobbered on with pup breath! She wore scars of battle, but was pure love.

I am thinking about her tonight
















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FAMILY

my family is funny; uncanny almost.

I speak to my mum, dad and sister about once a week; individually.

I called my mum and she said she would call me back. I asked her to wait an hour as I was going to call my sister. Which I did and she did not answer.

My dad then called me and said he had been on the phone with my sister and that is why she didn't answer when I was calling. He told me to wait an hour to call her back as she was going to call my mum.

I knew my mum couldn't talk to my sister, so I called my sister and she answered to make sure I had spoken to my dad.

Within the hour, my mum and my sister will call me and it won't be surprising at all if they call in the same 60 seconds.

it is an uncanny family thing

KITTEN BREATH

kitten sniffs

and wee little paw pads...





















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