new reading obsession

As I mentioned in August, the new book on my reading list included The Hunger Games. After the busiest month of the year, I was only able to reread The Help on a flight and Faulkner's Light in August during the evenings. 

Everything I had read or heard about The Hunger Games included words like, addicting, exciting, entertaining. More than anything, I was told that I would not want to put the book down. Since August got away from me and last Wednesday I was summoned to jury duty, I decided it was the right time to download the book and get started. Last Wednesday, September 14, I started and finished the first of the trilogy. The following day I was assigned to a trial so I didn't have as much time to read but I started the second book, Catching Fire. 

So basically with over a thousand pages to read between three novels, I can clearly use this as an excuse to explain my lack of blogging, well that, and I've been on jury duty. But I served on a trial, came to a verdict, and finished yesterday. That is all I can say about that. 

This past weekend I was dog sitting, enjoying the 35th Annual Columbus Avenue Festival. I didn't find as much fabulous handmade jewelry as I would have liked, but I did stock up on veggies at the farmer's market. In the mean time I started the third book, Mockingjay. Beginning was a little slow, but each book did have a couple slow parts, but the anticipation to get past the slow part was enough to pull me through. 

Instead of an old, new, and re-read for the month, I'm finishing The Hunger Games Trilogy and working my way through a new CSS web design book that came out. I know, not so interesting to most, but just because I'm not in school anymore doesn't mean I don't need to keep my skill level high. So between books for knowledge and books for pleasure, I've actually been flying through this month's book list. 

PS -- I have totally surpassed my New Year's resolution to read more than seven books. Maybe next year I'll triple that goal. 

scratch it off the bucket list

Last Friday, I had the amazing opportunity to go to the US Open. Being an avid tennis player and fan since I was about five-years-old, I've always wanted to see a real match (not an exhibition match). I have always been obsessed with Sampras, Agassi, even before my time -- Connors and Borg. When I started playing competitively in my early tween years, I became very fond of Andy Roddick.

Guess who I saw win at the US Open last week? Andy Roddick. I also had the pleasure of seeing Christina McHale (USA) play Maria Kirilenko (RUS) play. Unfortunately McHale, who I was rooting for did not win, it was still a great match! It's always been a dream of mine to go to the US Open, especially since, ya know, I LIVE IN NYC, and thanks a good friend, Lynn, I made it this year! Thanks for taking me Lynn. It was an awesome experience. Unforgettable!

Anna and I completely stoked to be at the Open! 

She really was excited, despite the smirk on her face

Roddick after his victory

McHale trying to come back and win, but unfortunately, our cheers weren't enough. 

post wedding

Well, I can honestly say it will be a wedding that no one will ever forget. From all the parties leading up to the big day, to the last minute video slideshows, speech preparations, water bottle labeling, and the 25+ trips to the country club for final details. Everything came together and turned out beautifully. I think I've exhausted the subject of Mickey's wedding over the past 9 months, so here is an overview of the weekend soiree's via photography. 

Kicking off the wedding weekend with the wedding party and entire family. 

Thanks for a great bbq!

Friday morning we started with the Bridesmaids Luncheon at Brave New Restaurant.

 Thank you to the fabulous group of hostesses! It was a major success. 

The Bride and her Bridesmaids. Such a wonderful day with absolutely beautiful weather! 

The great yellow chevron table runners and bright gerber daisies. 

The Bride and Mother of the Bride. Pretty in Pink!

Rehearsal Dinner - BEST date ever. 

Thank you for all your help and AV skills James David! 

Thanks for staying by my side all weekend. 

The last picture of "the four of us."

  

 Mickey and Cory, now known as Mr. and Mrs. Willett at their rehearsal dinner. 

Great job Cory, the evening was wonderful.

The Bride and her Bridesmaids at the end of the night. Ready for Wedding Day! 

The limo bus taking the wedding party to the reception. My camera didn't make it back out of my purse the rest of the night, but at least I got a picture of that FABULOUS bouquet!

to have and to hold

The wedding is less than two weeks away. Thank goodness it isn't mine, as I would be the next "runaway bride." But my sister, she is so ready, so excited and always put together. After the engagement, December 23, 2010, I was beside myself. Ecstatic for my sister and the reality of finally having a "brother." After being home for the holidays, I made my way back tot he city on December 31. Shortly after, I began writing my Maid of Honor speech. Yet almost every week I have opened the word doc and deleted something, rewrote something, changed a number of things, etc. Now, as you can tell, time is quickly becoming nonexistent.

I'll only be a Maid of Honor once, and in my heart I know like mother like daughter, my sister will have only one wedding. She will be married till the end of time. So clearly there is pressure on this "speech." I'm known for being sarcastic and funny and poke fun at the most inappropriate times, but not here, not with this event. I get one chance and I don't want to screw it up. Can we talk about PRESSURE?

Goodness gracious, I hope I don't get tongue tied, lose my words, or make a fool of myself. The good news is, I'm steering clear of inside jokes, embarrassing memories and well, I'm totally taking my sensitive side through the ringer. More so than not, seems that there are no words to describe the love I have for my sister and that I could not be happier that she has found her soul mate. What says more than love?

Our family might be changing, as we add a little more testosterone to the mix, but the memories of our childhood, of our sisterhood and of the "four of us" will never disappear. There are only greater things to come and more memories to make, and if we have to add a new member to the family, I'm glad is Cory. He is an upstanding man and in two weeks, I will be very proud to call him my brother-in-law.

To the future Mr. and Mrs. Willett. xoxo

pro ipad

My top reads for August

NEW BOOK: The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

OLD BOOK: Light in August, William Faulkner

REREAD: The Help, Kathryn Sockett

Whether it is an iPad, Nook, Kindle, Kobo Touch... probably the best technology thus far in the 21st century. I, myself have an iPad. Reason being that not only can I play a million games, check the weather, shop online, check my e-mail, but I can show my digital portfolio including more than pieces viewable on my Web site. Whereas that is a professional benefit, my favorite use of the iPad is reading. I am not a very fast reader and never have been. Mostly, because if I tried to read fast I would really miss the point. But e-readers have changed everything. I have been flying through books, novels, scripture. Making notes, highlighting, learning so much.

Top reason I like the iPad for reading. There is a free Nook app and a free Kindle app. So basically it's the best of ALL e-readers. I know this is kind of contradictory to my love of print and the amount of magazines and books I own, but my rational is if I want to read a no brainer, young adult fiction book, I can and not spend $20 on it. But I can carry around Homer's Odyssey and Iliad and not break my back. And since those are two of my favorite novels, I own them, in print and digital. There is no reason you can't have both.

Why do I bring this up now, when e-readers have been around for a few years now? Well, my head has felt like a balloon for two days, my nose is running, my eyes are itching, and it doesn't take a medical degree to know that I have a sinus infection and head cold. This in turn is a perk and the downside of working from home. I might be sick, but I can't take off work, but I can still lay in my PJs, sit in my comfy chair, drinking tea and reading on my iPad, when I'm not working on the laptop.

getaway weekend

What an amazing weekend. After planning my sister's bachelorette weekend since February, it finally happened. And everything went marvelously. The girls arrived on Thursday, four in the afternoon and one later in the evening. After having lunch at Alice's Tea Cup, we swung by my apartment so I could change into my softball clothes. Thursday was the final game of the P&G Ballbuster's season. We didn't win, but boy did we have a great time!

These gals were my best fans of the season. I played first and had a good game.

At the start of the game we were short one girl, so Mickey volunteered to play catcher until the final girl arrived. What a trooper! Mickey's favorite picture of her finance, Cory, is him playing catcher in high school, so it was only fitting that she played catcher. What a sight!

The plans were a surprise, but the hint for this was "see the best view." We ventured to the roof exhibit at the Met and had summer proscecco cocktails and frozen delights!

The line to the McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibit was at least three hours long, so we decided to head back first thing on Saturday morning. Mollie and I were first in line at 8:00 a.m. and the other three girls made it just before the doors opened at 9:30. We didn't have to wait in line at all and it is beyond words, A-mazing!

We stumbled upon a limo Friday evening and had the best driver, Fabian, who drove us to and fro both Friday and Saturday nights. Such a nice surprise!

The weekend wouldn't be complete without a Bride and Maid of Honor picture. The weekend wrapped up Saturday evening with dinner at The Stanton Social and a night of lounging as VIP and dancing the night away at Marquee. Our club days might be over now, but Mickey didn't stop smiling all night. She danced the night away!

I can't thank the girls enough who traveled to New York to celebrate with Mickey and for everyone who sent gifts for the lingerie shower. My sister has the best friends a girl could ask for. It was by far an unforgettable weekend.

to move or not to move

. . . that is the question.

I know, I know, all I have blogged about for the past six plus months has been about moving. And believe me, I want to, but as the search began a couple of weeks ago, each apartment has been worse the previous.

And guess what I found when I bumped up my price range? A 4-burner stove, which is an improvement from the current 2-burners/hot plates I have. But when you imagine a 4-burner stove, what do you assume is beneath it? An oven? One would think. But in a certain prime Upper West Side apartment for rent, an oven was not to be found, instead, a mini fridge. Thinking logically this doesn't make a lot of sense to me. If your using a gas stove, heat will radiate. And if you are trying to keep things cool beneath it, isn't that like a catch-22? I'm no scientist, but that situation seems silly. Don't believe me? See this pretty picture.

Yes, those are stains on the fridge. And that microwave -- straight from the 70's.

My apartment might be overflowing, but if this is what the market has to show. . . then I might just stay put. I have a couple more weeks to decide. I'll keep you updated.