Turtleback Zoo w/Todd

Today I had a summer friday - so Sherri, myself & Todd ventured to the Turtleback Zoo. I'm not exactly sure what the symbolism with peacocks are, but the second I walk thru the front gate - check out what was there to great me. I just pray the symbolism is good!

Todd must be a HUGE fan of Meerkat Manor, cuz he needed to join the prairie dog's habitat as closely as possible!
and i've never seen so many parakeets flying free in one place in my entire life. Being fed birdseed on a peanut butter stick is really the life!
and the goats & sheep know exactly how to suck up to little kids....they got them eating right out of their hands!

R.I.P - Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson & Ed McMahon

this was a sad week in the celebrity world - we lost THREE powerhouses:

Ed McMahon (3/26/23 - 6/23/09

Michael Jackson ( 8/29/58 - 6/25/09)

and

Farrah Fawcett (2/2/47 - 6/25/09)

Back in the early 80's I was still in junior high school, but I thought Farrah Fawcett Majors was the luckiest woman in the world. She was a movie star (for all I know LOGAN'S RUN was the movie that got me hooked on SciFi), was married to the Six Million Dollar Man {sigh}, and had absolutely GORGEOUS hair! Here I am with my version (back in 1981) of the "Farrah Flip"

Coffee on the Express Bus

if you're gonna bring your own coffee on the express bus (which is a NO-NO according to my "what you can & cannot do on the express bus" manual), DON'T DRINK IT OVER SOMEONE'S HEAD! And definately DO NOT OPEN IT so you can blow on it cuz it's too hot....jeeez!

update on ankle

well, the ankle wasn't broken (thank goodness!), but it was sprained pretty bad - so I was fitted with a walking brace that I will have to wear for the next two weeks.

Walking cross town to my office is gonna be a pain!

...oh, and here I am 15 years ago in the same damn cast (although in a prettier color) on the same damn ankle! Back then I was so happy to wear the brace since I was stuck in a hip - toe cast for 6 LONG MONTHS!

Sprained Ankle & a Peacock

so this past weekend I went to help my parents with their garage sale. Considering it was a nice summery day - I wore Capri's & my flip-flops. Went we started to line stuff up out my parents garage, I noticed a jump rope that was mine from when I was about 10 y/o.

I HAD to play with it...unfortunately, I'm not very good at jumping rope anymore....

...and especially not good when I'm wearing wedged flip-flops!

so here I am leaving the hospital after getting my ankle splinted - and who is there to great me, but a PEACOCK! Totally wasn't expecting that!!!!

CEREAL on the EXPRESS BUS

Today I was just blown away when I noticed the lady sitting directly across from me EATING CEREAL WITH MILK on the 8:05am express bus!

I never even thought of putting "NO EATING FOOD IN LIQUID" in my "DONT YOU DARE DO THAT ON THE EXPRESS BUS" manual. It's going right under "NO STINKY SANDWICHES ALLOWED"

(btw: "stinky sandwiches" would be best described as a Whitefish Sandwich on a Bagel with Onions & Tomatoes. Super Yummy, but not on an enclosed capsule w/poor ventilation)

i met Dave Matthews!

today was a pretty damn good day for Shannon & myself. Around 3pm, Shannon got a message that Dave was filming his new video in Bryant Park (which is a block away from our office). Doesn't matter that it's drizzling out, we throw on our jackets & case the park. The band is nowhere to be found. Back to work we go. About an hour later Shannon gets ANOTHER message that the band is back in the Park. This time it takes us about 5 minutes to think it over...but we throw our jackets back on - and off to the park we go. I'm SOOOOOOOO GLAD we did, cuz look who we ran into:

I have to tell you that I was a bit nervous to go up to Dave, cuz I didnt want to seem like a groupie stalker. He wasnt surrounded by a ton of people, just a few - and he looked at us & smiled...so I went over & said hi.....and boy am I glad - he was the NICEST GUY! Didnt make either Shannon or myself feel goofy about coming over. Even offered to take our picture (which I'm so glad Shannon had her cell on her, cuz mine was dead).

Yup, today was a damn awesome day!

HIGH ROCK CHALLENGE

This past Saturday Randy & I competed in the annual HIGH ROCK CHALLENGE, which is a 10k run thru the S.I. Greenbelt. Along the way - all kinds of "obstacles" are thrown at us, such as: scaling up a rock mountain, climbing over a cargo net, pulling ourselves up a rope hill on a dolly, shimming along a 2 ft high drainage with rushing water, all while running along a muddy terrain (and let me tell you as the day progressed, it got muddier!)

Here we are at the starting line (team # 37) w/o a clue what we were getting ourselves into:

a little over 2 1/2 hrs later we arrived at the finish line & were BEYOND EXHAUSTED...but were damn proud of ourselves that we finished the course!
...and a minute later my legs called it quits & sitting in the shade seemed like a better plan :) I found out a few hrs later that the organizer added AN EXTRA 1.3 MILES TO THE COURSE, just to make it a bit more challenging (thx matt!)
click on the video below to get a glimpse of what we went thru. It was A LOT of fun, but man-oh-man was it tough!

High Rock Challenge

guitar for dummies...

...so NOW i know why all the guys brought guitars up to camp...and btw: BASS PLAYERS are HOT!

Watch Learning Guitar to Get Laid and more funny videos on CollegeHumor

derek's little piggie didn't go to market

so this is what happens when you decide to battle a deli slicer....and the deli slicer doesnt take any sh*t from you!

DO-RE-ME Dance, Antwerpen Central Station

Here is another cool train station group dance (like the T-MOBILE one in Liverpool or the GRAND CENTRAL STATION one)...this one took place in Antwerpen Central Station, Belgium to the Sound of Music's song, DO-RE-ME

click on the "HQ" button to watch it in High Def

DMB - MSG opening night

Last nights show was a MUST ATTEND! Orig 04.14.09 was going to be the release of Dave Matthews's new album "Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King", but that has been pushed off until June. In the meantime, the start of the 2009 tour began & Dave and the boys played, danced & sang their hearts out (and so did I). The energy was insane in the Garden ....I couldn't believe that every seat was taken - and I mean every single seat behind the stage!!!
Here is the set list (the ones in yellow I caught on tape)...unfor my battery died mid song of Sweet Melissa, or I would def I have taped WHY I AM, which is my new fav song:

- Don't Drink the Water
- Cornbread
- Funny the Way It Is (new!)
- Raven
- You Might Die Trying
- Spaceman (new!)
- Dancing Nancies
- Pig
- Sweet Melissa (w/Gregg Allman)
- Recently
- So Damn Lucky
- #27
- Why I Am (new!)
- Ants Marching
- #41
- Two Step
------encore----------
- Sister
- Tripping Billies

(view from my seat)

In Like a LION....

Guess how annoyed I am that it started to snow again less then an hour after I finish shoveling!...VERY!

how friends communicate

when shopping is done, what's next?

How about checking our work emails?

No prob...us talented folk can do that while relaxing on my comfy couch (and reading a magazine at the same time no less!)

Thanks for the visit Amie!

Happy 2nd B-day Todd!

Time really really does fly...my awesome nephew just turned TWO this week - his birthday party was on Saturday at one of those funzone places where there are a million balls to climb in, rope thingy things to climb on, and jungle gymy things to climb thru...
...and slidy things to slip on down...
not only did Todd get a YO GABBA GABBA cake to share with all his friends, but he got his very own BROBEE cake too!
something tells me Todd likes his own cake....mmmhmmm!

Superbowl XLIII

Truthfully, I dont care that much who wins - I really just watch the game for the commericals...so this year I will be glued to the set cuz MILLER BEER bought up 30 ONE SECOND slots instead of 1 THIRTY SECOND slot.

(click HERE for a sneak peak)

Anderson Cooper Messes Up - wonder what the distraction was?

T-Mobile Dance / Frozen Grand Central

if only this T-MOBILE DANCE happend while I was waiting for a bus at the Port Authority instead of in the UK at the Liverpool Street Station!

KUDOS T-MOBILE!

now this isn't to say that there have not been other massive productions staged in arenas such as the UK train station. Almost a year ago, ImprovEverywhere staged a FROZEN GRAND CENTAL event that was very cool. I just wish I viewed it in person instead of on youtube!

SAVE G-ROCK

There is now a protest set up for this saturday (Jan 24th) to try & save my fav radio station:

oh, and in the meantime, PLEASE sign the petition:

http://www.petitiononline.com/grock/petition.html

R.I.P. G-ROCK

sad, sad day in my world of internet radio. The BEST RADIO STATION to listen to while at work via the internet (106.3 FM central NJ) changed it's format yesterday at noon to....iccccccck: TOP 40

why, why, why, why would they do that?
anyone who lives in that area can already tune into Z100 and WPLJ which already play the TOP 40 format.
I was only able to tune into the station on the radio while I was driving down the GSP, which was maybe once or twice a mth....BUT, I listened EVERY DAY/ALL DAY M-F via the internet at work!
G-ROCK was perfect. Period. Every song they played I liked. Every one. All the DJ's had a great sense of humor, the station had awesome tix giveaways (I won D2 tix there last summer & was trying my darnedest to win DMB tix to the upcoming IZOD show this weekend while I was home). And to top it off....they had a killer RETRO REQUEST HOUR (btwn 12-1pm) every day that played rockin music from the 80's. I cant tell you how many times I clicked in & requested old motley crue, or frankie goes to hollywood or old bon jovi!
I was so upset when I switched over at 10:01am this morning (I'm a diehard Elvis Duran & the morning zoo fan that I listen to from 6:30am-10am & I was off yesterday due to the MLK holiday) - I called GROCK's main line to complain to the program director.

Fond Farewell G-ROCK! I'll miss you!

Mocha routes for Arsenal

Today was MLK day & so Derek was home from school - but that doesnt mean that Mocha is letting him slack off on his studies one bit!

what a smart(a$$) kittycat!

baby, it's COLD outside

There is something about it snowing overnight so you need to shovel in the morning just so that it can snow again in the evening.

Chewie knows it!

I know it too...but i have to say, it sure is pretty looking before we clean it up!

on a super lazy note: I sure do love that tomorrow is a federal holiday, and for once in my career of being an accountant - I can actually take the day off!

US Airways crashes into the Hudson River

Well, today we had a scary incident happen - a commercial airliner with 155 passengers & crew members (US AIRWAYS, flight 1549 ) crashed approx 6 minutes after taking off from LaGuardia Airport (on route to Charlotte, NC) into the Hudson River. After streaming the news all afternoon - I think the main reason was due to a flock of geese. OH GEEEZ! The VERY GOOD NEWS is that there were NO FATALITIES. In fact, most people didn't even get wet! Huge kudos to the pilot thinking quickly & landing the plane safely...yes in the water, but safely netherless.....oh, and a HUGE THANK YOU to NY Waterway for being first to the scene & helping passengers get off the wing quickly & safely!
What a day I've had - first I had a 3 hr commute into work due to the middle tube being shut in the Lincoln Tunnel. When I heard all of the sirens going off around 3:30pm today, I knew something bad was happening.

I heart Starbucks again

Well, it's official.....I get a high when I have the last say. I have been talking to myself for the last 24 hrs like a crazy person. I replayed the conversation over & over in my head & couldnt shake it. The more I replayed the memory, the madder I got.

Today I too upset from what happened yesterday so I skipped my morning drink, but showed up at lunchtime to speak to the manager and clear the air once & for all. She told me that she reprimanded the girl (who turns out...is a shift supervisor) who took her apron off & walked off the bar. She also told me that the barista told everyone that not just me, but that she (the manager) also made those racial slurs in front of customer.

???HUH....That girl has some nerve!!!!!

I asked the manager for the name of the barista & her name, went back to my office & called Starbucks HQ & filed my own report. CRAZY, BUT I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER NOW!

oh, here I am during my Starbucks stint - circa 1995

& here I am with Annmarie (who I just recently found due to Facebook) circa 1996

we might have been good baristas...but BOY OH BOY did we drink A LOT of coffee back then!

upset with Starbucks

I've loved STARBUCKS since I started working there back in college. I was so proud of being a Barista & Supervisor. The one thing that impressed me about that company was the training they provided. Before I was left alone on the bar to make drinks, I was given a full month of on the job training, as well as training of the history of the company. Let me tell you - back then I mastered the art of foaming milk! You could ask any employee in my store how to make any drink - and they could recite it back to you {SNAP} "just like this".
Not anymore!
I'm one of those people that find a drink they like.....and order it to death. About a year ago my bro-in-law ordered a Cinnamon Dolce Latte (aka CDL), hated it & passed it on to me. It was pure love. That would be my cold weather drink! Knowing from my experience working at Starbucks that you can order your drink anyway you like - I tweak the normal order of "GRANDE CDL" to my obnoxious version of "GRANDE DECAF SKINNY CDL WITH LITTLE WHIP AND TOPPING". Why order the whip & topping if I'm getting it with sugar free syrup & skim milk? Every barista that takes my order rolls their eyes at me (which I pretend to ignore), but the truth is....if you eliminate the whipped cream & topping, you might as well skip the drink.

On friday a cashier took my order, called it correctly to the barista who proceeded to give it to me w/o the whip or topping. At $4.84, I check my drink before I leave - so I took the lid off, noticed what was missing & asked for the whip & topping. The girl then proceeded to give an exaggerated eye roll, squirted 3" of whipped cream (ie: 2" over the rim so no way would the lid go back on) and sprinkled an enormous amount of topping on top. Then handed it to me & said "the lid wont go on". I said "sorry, I need to walk to my office - can you make the lid fit?" She then said, "then drink the top off". Was she crazy? Did she really think I was going to slurp 2" of whipped cream so she can fit a lid? Um....no. My reply was, "Sorry - would you mind making the drink over so the lid can fit?" No point in getting nasty to her (and if you know me, you know I sometimes take pleasure in getting nasty). I order the same drink every day, at the same place, so just like every other barista here - she will learn that my order is a bit annoying.

What she did next I didnt expect. SHE WALKED AWAY and TOOK OFF HER APRON! HUH??????

After about 2 minutes of standing by the bar watching others get their drinks - I asked the other barista (who was working next to the barista who just walked away the entire time) if my drink was there & he said "which one". I told him & he said "oh - it's at the end of the line". I asked him where the girl went & he said "guess she went on a break". WHAT? It's not even 9am in midtown manhattan during rush hour - who goes on break then?!?!

I then walked over to the cashier while I was waiting (who happened to be the manager) and asked why the barista walked away when I asked her to redo my drink. She apologized, picked my cup up from the end & told the other barista to make it a priority.

Today I show up at 8:45am & order the same drink & have a different cashier tell me the drink was on the house due to the incident on Friday (which if you know me, then you know I get high when i get something for nothing), but then proceed to burst my bubble by asking me IN FRONT OF AN LINE OF CUSTOMERS, "did you say to the white manager on Friday that the little black girl made my drink wrong & you wanted her fired?" OH-MY-G-D!

How dare someone even ask me that in public - I was mortified. I asked if she was the manager on duty (which she was), so I answered "no - I didn't play the race card & I'm embarrassed that you would ask me that".

{{SIGH}} I loved Starbucks!

Todd going for a stroll

anyone need a babysitter?

I know a 23 1/2 mth old who is willing to accept pmt in yogurt melts. Diaper changing assistance is a plus!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Diane, me, Barb & Reenie toasting in the New Year (cosmo style)

Sydney Harbour - welcoming 2009

"Every New Year people make resolutions to change aspects of themselves they believe are negative. A majority of people revert back to how they were before and feel like failures. This year I challenge you to a new resolution. I challenge you to just be yourself." - Aisha Elderwyn

YO-YO-YO...SHERRI, NEIL & TODD

YO! YO! YO!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Wishing You a Very Happy Holiday,

and a Bountiful Yew Year!

(PS: this is one very YO-LA-TENGO family)

Foamy's Letter to Santa

WARNING - this video contains harsh language

http://www.illwillpress.com/XMESS3.html

first snowfall of the season

yesterday the northeast got hit with a snowstorm....nothing catrostophic, but a few inches - which is all it takes for everyone to freak out. Considering the fact that about 70% are driving SUV's nowadays - i dont really see the big deal.

Here is my commute home from my bus stop - I go up this block
and then turn onto my block.

By the time I got off the bus (and detoured to shoprite to pick up a few extra items for tonight's chanukkah party) - it was already dark. I think it would have been nice if the plows would have come down the streets by then, considering it was about 8 hrs since the snow began falling.

Trans Siberian Ochestra - IZOD

if you've never heard this band before - i encourage you to buy tix if they come to your town & GO!

what is Trans Siberian Orchestra's music like?

well, take Christmas songs, add in some heavy metal flair (yup - black leather pants with an unbuttoned white shirt & blond hair flipping...very David St. Hubbins), toss in Tommy Lee drum stick clicks before each song and some synchronized POLYPHONIC SPREE female hair flipping, while dressed like Lita Ford all while a Laser Floyd show is going on.

Cheesy? Ya betcha - and I loved every minute of it!

Here is a sample call MAD RUSSIAN'S CHRISTMAS:

But what REALLY made me go "WOW" - was the pyrotechics, and not just a little (OH-NO), we're talking they went ALL OUT circa 1984! Check out this clip I took of PRELUDE TO MADNESS:

Unfor, my memory card was full by the finale - but it was a treat....Steven Tyler joined the band on stage & performed DREAM ON & SWEET EMOTION (I havent seen him live since back in 1988 @ GIANTS STADIUM when AEROSMITH headlined with G&R / DEEP PURPLE)!

PS: if you CLICK HERE you will go back to a year ago when I first heard thier music laid out with Christmas Lights...this is Wizards of Winter at their finest!

my twinkling lights

aka: freezing your tail outside on sunday in 18 degree weather on a 20 foot ladder...

...the end results sure are pretty!

my decorating weekend

So this weekend Randy & I went nuts finishing up our chanukkah/x'mas decorating

Kitchen Window

Dining Room Buffet

Living Room Piano

Living Room Fireplace

(stockings: Mich, FOG, Derek, Randy)

then we headed outside for the lights - when randy wasnt looking I climbed up...and DAMN is it high up here!

hurry & take the pic....I'm FREEZING!
even the squirrels found something to do - they investigated our leftover pumpkins:
and when they couldnt take it with them - they helped themselves to it from the inside out!
check back later for pics of the front window & all the twinkling lights (and let me tell you - they are PRETTY!!!!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY

happy birthday to you,

happy birthday to you,

happy birthday dear RANDYYYYY,

happy birthday to you!

ok, granted we did let the candles melt down quite far before we let you blow them out!

Here is Mr. & Mrs. HOME DEPOT saying "happy birthday" to you too!

Look out Abercrombie

there's a new 23 m/o wonderkid in town...and this model's name is TODD JACOB!

Beyonce's SINGLE LADIES

I'm not sure what makes me keep watching this video:
1) wondering if JANE FONDA was hired as choreographer? Oh Boy, does this video remind me that I need to head TO THE GYM & WORK OUT!
2) makes me think "COOL, ANOTHER 'WHITE CHICKS' DANCE-OFF" !
3) makes me go "UH-HUHHHHHH" for my two friends who know who I'm taking about ;)
4) reminds me of the WANNABES from "SCHOOL DAZE".
....whatever it is - I watched this video 5 times in a row!