Working it.

Elizka and her beautiful smile.

John and Rose striking a pose.

Gratitude

A good friend of mine made a comment today which is worth sharing...

Friendship is not about keeping score. Friendship is about giving love.

You are not friends because someone does something for you. You don't keep track of what you do for them or because they paid this time and you pay next time.


You do nice things for your friends because you like them and you want good things for them. And anything you can do to make their life better you do. And the good news is that if they are your friend they are doing the same for you. Win-win.

Lately I've been lucky enough to be surrounded with exactly those types of people (though I shouldn't say "lately" as I've been lucky enough to have those types of people in my life pretty much throughout!)
It's such a lovely and giving way to look at friendship.

Sunday

Here we are on Rose's rooftop


Oh and something I forget...when I put something 'out there' into the www... people read it. It's not just something that goes into the abyss.
Sometimes this is good because what I write is funny or thoughtful. Sometimes not so good- because it's just annoying. (like me writing MJ lyrics constantly for the past two days). Ah well... you can't please everyone.

Just more memories

I heard a quote today on NBC that I liked:

"He was the soundtrack to people's lives."

Someone at work today told me "Well he only had like 10 songs or something..." and I wanted to hit him. I spent the rest of the day sending him 'factoid' emails about the things that Michael accomplished to the impact he had on truly the world.

Small things like being the first entertainer to get $2 residuals off of each album (ground breaking in the industry) to big things like - selling the number one album in the world of all time.

Another quote on facebook read :

"I feel as though a piece of my childhood has died." which resonated with me as well. Maybe it's because I'm just thinking about it- but I have real memories associated with his songs like no others.

- 55 Bearberry Crescent in the living room dancing to "Off the Wall".
- Learning about the accident with his hair while in the cafeteria/gym at Beddington Heights Elementary.
- Going shopping with friend Sandy to get the HIStory album.
- Watching the "Scream" video in my living room at 15-28. (We moved around a lot in the early years!)
- Dancing to "Man in the Mirror" with a junior high crush...

Ok it's late: I'm watching youtube videos and drowing myself in tributes. Time to go to sleep.

He will be missed

"Thriller" – his second solo effort as an adult – was released in November 1982 and spent a record 37 weeks at No. 1, producing an unparalleled seven Top 10 singles.

My Mom and I were talking tonight- I called her to tell her that Michael Jackson died. I was on the phone with my brother when I read about it. A tweet from my friend Edlynne- that I didn't initially believe. Because I didn't want to believe. My Mom said (and it's been repeated often in the media in the last few hours) - "It's just like when Elvis died."

It's true- he's gone. And it's sad.

Yes he was a musical genius. (First and foremost). Yes he was eccentric (no denying). Yes he had a tragic history. But he was a part of my history.

I remember "Thriller". I remember "Bad". I remember "Beat It". I remember "Billie Jean" - so many songs that broke the mold with such brilliant talent.

I was looking forward to his comeback. But instead I will enjoy his legacy of music and I will wait to see what will become of his other legacy- his children.
And I will mourn with the rest of the world. And he will become another figure in history- alongside John Lennon, Elvis Presley and Princess Diana.
And I will remember being a pre-teen and dancing to "Man in the Mirror" and loving every freakin' single second.

You know ...

...that feeling you get when you meet someone- and there's that immediate "warmth throughout your body tingly" feeling? And when they smile you think it's only for you? And there is an instant level of ease that lives comfortably with yet somehow in contradiction of an excitement?


And even if it doesn't go anywhere or you never see them again you feel better for having had that interaction. For just that moment you remember: "oh there's that spark, there you are."

(Though it would be nice to see him again.)

Weekend Update

Went to a Mets game on Friday night at Citifield- was super fun to get out there and see a game (mostly fun to be outside and eat burgers and drink beer).

This is me drinking a custard shake: and realizing I really don't like custard.

Citifield: a really great stadium.


After the game we went to my local and had drinks- and our friend J & E showed up. We stayed a bit later than intended and then they wanted to see my place. Here is Rose and John- I think they wanted to stay even longer!!!


Two of my good friends were also in town this weekend and I took them shopping and eating and showing etc.
Here is Rob on our first day together minutes after he'd dropped his bbstorm and the screen broke. Oddly enough when I was in Rome with Jen she dropped her iphone and its' screen broke as well. (I'm screen bad luck maybe?)


I also saw the much anticipate movie "The Proposal" today- and recommend it.

Sorry so brief: am tired. And I think I'm getting sick.

The perfect Sunday afternoon

Given the festivities of Saturday it seemed appropriate to go and see "The Hangover" on Sunday.
SO FUNNY. Go see it.

An "O-date"

Here's an update on little O. She went to the Zoo with the family the other day. She's started crawling and as such, has no interest in hanging out in Mom or Dad's arms. She wants to be on the ground exploring.

Mid Summer Party

Lifted from Wikipedia: "In modern Sweden, Midsummer's Eve and Midsummer's Day is arguably the most important holiday of the year. The main celebrations take place on the Friday, and the traditional events include raising and dancing around a huge maypole.

The year's first potatoes, pickled herring, sour cream, and possibly the first strawberries of the season are on the menu. Drinking songs are also important at this feast, and many drink heavily.

Traditionally, young people pick bouquets of seven or nine different flowers and put them under their pillow to dream of their future spouse."

Yesterday my Swedish friend C hosted a Midsummer party at Central Park. Though it rained a bit it couldn't keep the revelers away and we had an amazing time. It was fun to do something so different- and C really tried to bring in some of the elements of her culture so it wasn't just another picnic in the park. I know it was a lot of work but worth the efforts as we all had a great time.

Here are our hosts at the start of the party, after they'd taken care of setting us all up with Pimms (traditional English sweet bevvie).

Caroline made the wreaths from wild flowers for all of us- I tried but was taking too long. But she did it in just a few minutes- I guess that's a lifetime of practice.


Of course me and Rose.



We did do all of the things wiki mentions- like eat pickled herring (actually pretty good) and drink schnapps (veerrry strong) and sing traditional songs. We didn't have the maypole- but I did do a lame rain dance to try and keep the water at bay (it didn't work and my embarrassment was for naught!).

And for the record I had a dream about Kanye West (the rapper) and my friend Eric (who is gay) last night- so I'm not sure about the whole 'dream about your spouse' part of the lore!!

Blog Traffic

In the last two days the traffic to my blog has jumped CONSIDERABLY- and from places ALL OVER the world. Anyone care to comment what drove you here? Has a link been placed somewhere??

Finished product

Purple Rain

When our family moved into the house in Santana we were told to pick out paint colours for our rooms. I picked purple. It was painted pink. A very real, very solid pink. They told me it was 'violet'. Now to be fair- maybe the card said that -but it sure wasn't violet especially when they accented it with a pink quilt, pink blinds and a rose colour carpet.
Anyhow- it's been a few years, clearly I'm having trouble letting go... and so today I decided to right some wrongs. Life has come full circle.
Today I painted one of the walls in my room PURPLE. To be precise "Plum Royale". I LOVE IT.
Here it is after the first coat (I then did a second coat- and will take a picture once it dries and I have my room reassembled).


THANK YOU RK for spending a BEAUTIFUL Saturday afternoon indoors helping me!!!

This is us hard at work. Though compared to my other painting jobs (that take weeks) this one was relatively painless.

A double edge sword

Often enough I get comments from people "you're HOW old?!" when they find out my age- as they are usually surprised to learn I'm the age that I am.

(not shocked- but a bit of a double take)

Most of the time I'm flattered and humbly mutter something about "Oil of Olay..." and look away shyly, but lately I've been wondering...

Maybe it has nothing to do with my youthful dewy looks and stems from the fact/perception that I'm just incredibly immature?

Or perhaps a combination of the two -bringing my estimated age to a grand total of 12!!

sigh- something to think about.

Amen Sister

"The Good Wife's Guide"

You can click on the picture to enlarge and read. This has been making the rounds on the "net" for a couple of years now- but never fails to make me laugh- and shake my head - and also feel a little ashamed that I might secretly a tiny-little-bit- pine for days like these...
An ad from "Good Housekeeping" in 1955.

my commute

I have started biking to work again. Last year I didn't start until August and regretted the late start. This year it's June and hopefully I'll keep it up. In addition to being faster than walking or the subway it's an awesome way to start and end my day. Invigorating and peaceful. (might seem like a contradiction but it's really both)

The sunset (it's darker than it looks outside) on my way home. That's the Hudson river.