songbird's crazy world

I have no problem sharing my shampoo and conditioner. Use them any time you want. But please. ..when I get into the shower and reach for my conditioner I expect it to be there. ..not in your beach bag. If you need conditioner at your friend's pool, use a travel bottle.

It is an interesting exercise in self discipline. This month I stretched myself, did NaBloPoMo for the second month in a row. Sorry, folks, but I don't think I'm going to try for three. Maybe we can do it again in July.

So Wednesday night Drew and I went to the theater. The evening began at Ellen's Stardust Diner. We love this place, we  ate here on St. Patrick's Day.  The restaurant's "theme" is the 1950's.  The waters wear bowling shirts, the waitresses wear poodle skirts.  the place is advertised as "the home of the singing waitstaff"   the person who just took your order may be the next to grab a mike and belt out a tune. although there is something slightly disconcerting about two girls in poolde skirts singing the latest Lady Gaga  song...you know, the one about her cell phone ringing constantly while she's dancing at the club.... I ordered sliders, Drew had a corned beef sandwich. Next we walked around Times Square...it was full of tourists, not to mention Marines and sailors (it's Fleet Week, after all.)  Saw some guy dressed as Spiderman, but alas I missed the Singing cowboy -- though Drew said he was out and about earlier in the ev...

I love you for most electronics, but when it came time to choose an e-reader, I chose the Nook. can't wait for it to come, I've got a lot of books I want to read!

so I'm lamenting that there's nothing to watch on TV, and then I go and post three times this week about reality shows.  go figure.

(cross posted at Midcentury Modern Moms ) So I successfully taught two daughters to drive. Now I have two daughters who firmly believe "have car, will travel." I'm sort of used to it with Jen.  shes had her license for two years now,  she got her car right after she passed the road test.  That first summer, she relished her new-found freedom, driving all over our community. She drove to work, she drove to the store, she drove to hang out with her friends.  Oh, my, did she hang out with her friends!  I spent many evenings waiting to hear the car pull up on the driveway, unable to sleep until I heard the car door slam.  We had many long discussions about what time was reasonable for a young lady to come home at night, especially on a weeknight when mom has to go to work in the morning. Becca  got her license a few months ago, and got a car just a few weeks ago...and already she's starting to drive all over creation. She drives to school (she's a ...

First, my update.  I got fed up with myself, bought a new bathroom scale and downloaded several interesting apps to my itouch.  I am back on track, at least for the moment.  Wish me luck. As for the show....it's the final four ....they all go home.  they are preparing for a marathon.  Loved the cameo of Curtis, fresh off of Celebrity Apprentice .  Then of course we have the Jenny Craig commercial with Valerie Bertinelli and Jason Alexander singing about how he was fat but now he's skinny..... Second hour, they're all working out... and they're running the marathon in the cold and rain, each for a good cause -- $10k for the charity of their choice...the sun comes out and so do past season winners... and from the other room I hear the cast of Glee singing "Piano Man"...well, why not?  first Madonna, then "Total Eclipse of the Heart"...though I thought my kids were supposed to hate my music....and then an Aerosmith cover? the marathon con...

Celebrity Apprentice last night. they had to create a Snapple campaign.  compassionfruit tea for Holly and diet tropical for Bret... so we finally get to see them going crazy as they are putting their ads together...Bret is frantic because he's doing too much but Holly is playing it safe...and Bret forgot his script!   but he manages to ad lib...and do the funny commercial... and then it's back to the live show and the fired celebrities come onto the stage.  and what on earth did Cyndi Lauper do to her hair? Holly thinks Bret's concept is too much Bret and not enough Snapple... and Bret's daughter shows up at the presentation...it's the girl who is pre-diabetic. live show, more celebs come out to the stage... Donald makes jokes about Strawberry and the Mets...Straw's opening a restaurant in Queens?  wow, maybe we will try it!  first we see Holly's spot...not bad. then  after Donald has a moment with a Make A Wish kid, it's Bret'...

so, OK, I don't have much "appointment TV" anymore, but one show I do watch is Celebrity Apprentice .  It's weird seeing people who would ordinarily be superstars in their own milieu vie for the chance to work for Donald Trump.  you get to see a side of people you've never seen before...sometimes you see the inflated ego or the bitchiness come out of someone with a squeaky-clean public image.  All in the name of charity, of course. this time around, though, the two finalists are both nice  people who are personally affected by the charity they're playing for -- Holly's son is autistic and Bret is a diabetic.  Holly is more driven and organized, Bret is more creative. But Bret gets the sympathy vote, I think, because since the show was filmed he's had a series of medical emergencies...appendicitis, a brain hemorrhage, a mini stroke, a hole in his heart.... Sunday night TV  should be fascinating.

Why is it, that as soon as I find an interesting blog, the person decides to stop blogging?  It's happened to three or four blogs I've liked so far....

Tonight the auditorium of Becca's high school turned into a reasonable facsimile of Bryant Park during fashion week. The art club held its annual fashion show, proceeds to benefit a worthy nonprofit (this year that meant a literacy program). the theme this year was Grimm's Fairy Tales -- the authentic stuff, not the sanitized Disney versions.  Dark and mysterious. Most of the designers created clothes, but one young lady created an entire jewelry collection.  She had her models act out an entire skit with a fairy tale theme -- and she cast Becca as the Evil Queen (type casting?).  Betsey Johnson loaned her a strapless black dress. Rebecca rocked the runway (where have I heard that before?  oh, yeah, that was the theme for her bat mitzvah party....) of course, I forgot my camera and video camera, and had to rely on my cell phone to capture the moment -- forgive the poor quality.... Here's a shot of the models and designers before the show -- that's Becca ...

Where have all  the good TV shows gone?  I used to have a lot of "must see TV".  But now it's just one or 2 shows....Or maybe I'm just busy these days...

(cross posted at Midcentury Modern Moms ) Becca's senior year, that is. In New York, the school year generally runs from just after Labor Day until the end of June, with graduation scheduled the last Sunday in June. On the high school level, the last two weeks of June are devoted to statewide subject matter tests called "regents exams" and/or school-prepared final exams in core subjects. In our school district, students are expected to finish all of their regents exams by the end of their junior year. In thier senior year students are expected to take six academic periods (we have a 9-period day) incluidng English and social Studies, as well as gym. The senior year can be academically challenging or as fluffy as cotton, depdning on which classes the student selects. Becca has always been academically motivated. She took two Advanced Placement classes in her junior year -- US History and English Language. For her senior year she chose a challenging program which...

 first, me.... haven't been following program, haven't gone to a weight watchers meeting in ages.  starting to feel gross and uncomfortable, maybe I should start eating healthier and possibly doing workouts...  did you realize how much merchandise the show  generates?  maybe it's time to buy something inspirational. and the show.... We are coming close to the end now. It's the last week on the ranch; this week there won't be a yellow line.  Instead there will be a red line, the player who falls below it will automatically go home.  and then we will know the final four. Then we meet past winners Helen and Eric.  OMG, Eric gained back almost all the weight he lost! Michael is having a hard time...he's still extremely overweight even with the huge weight loss on the ranch and it's hard for him.... it's the "put the weight back on" challenge.  it's a $10,000 challenge. Daris wins.  and trades his winnings for a on...

convinced Drew to take a road trip to Niagara Falls over the summer.  let the planning begin!

"murano" glass pendant and earrings. don't yu just love it?

Mine...well, I didn't have a car of my own until I was 22 and in my second year of law school.  I learned to drive on my mother's Buick, and from age 17 (when I got my license) to age 22, I spent a lot of time saying "Mom, may I borrow your car?" But then, in law school, I needed wheels to get to an off-campus internship.... ...and so my parents gave me my dad's 12 year old Oldsmobile Cutlass, affectionately referred to by my family as "the Rustbucket" because the body was rusting out.  Don't laugh, it ran.... Even after that idiot walking through the dorm parking lot filed my gas tank with a garden hose, it ran. The first car I ever bought for myself....well, I owned a Buick for about 3 weeks,  bought it used from an auto dealer, drove it for about 5 minutes before it broke down, returned it under the Lemon Law. the first new car I ever bought for myself was after my divorce.  Bought myself a brand new 1995 Toyota Corolla.  Sand pebble be...

It's been a long week, busy at work and busy at home.  I am so tired ....I don't just want this weekend, I need it. Drew and I going to a movie tonight, going out for Chinese food with friends tomorrow night.  Nothing terribly exciting.  but that's just fine.

Once Upon a Mattress is a nice musical comedy based on the fairy tale "the Princess and the Pea", but with a few risque twists.  Main characters are Princess Winifred, Prince Dauntless, King Sextimus, Queen Aggravaine, Sir Harry and Lady Larken. Originally done in the 1950's, the show was revived on Broadway in 1996. Sarah Jessica Parker played Winifred in the revival. My sisters and I saw the production during previews, before opening night.  Loved the show.  After the show opened, we got a mail-in offer from Theater Development Fund for discount tickets, and decided to take the girls.  (At the time Jen was about 6 years old and Becca was 4; they were experienced Broadway veterans,   they'd already seen Beauty and the Beast .) With TDF, you picked two or three days on which you wanted to see the show,   and they pick the performance and  the seats. We got very lucky, we got a group of seats in the very front row of the theater!! And t...

Today's post over at Midcentury Modern Moms is a re-post of something I wrote here last year.  so I guess I'm going to have to come up with something else for today's post here, since I have committed to NaBloPo Mo for May. so let's see, what's new with me? Busy at work, of course.  Not a bad thing, especially these days.  Haven't seen any movies lately, haven't read a good book, and TV's been dull.    Uploaded a bunch of classic rock CD's into itunes.    tried a new Greek restaurant in Bellmore, ate shish kebob and gyro and rice pilaf, and drank a lot of    white wine -- a lovely zinfandel. Planning to see the new Robin Hood movie this weekend, and we're also meeting an old friend for dinner -- Chinese food. Just the usual, dull, ordinary stuff. Which is not a bad thing.

the makeover episode...it's amazing to see the transformations.  and the guest star...Ashanti. and then the challenge.  climb the ladder over the water and don't fall off...easy.  winner gets a one pound advantage.  first player to fall into the water gets a one pound disadvantage. Ashley is the first one to hit the water...after only 3 minutes.  Everyone else is much stronger....it's finally down to the gray team and Daris,,, Sam's out, it's Koli or Daris,,,and after 2 1/2 hours it's Koli. time for the last chance workout. and then the weigh-in. Koli first, he's got a one pound advantage....15 pounds!  even before the advantage that's formidable. Michael's up next...9 pounds...might not be enough. Daris gets on the scale next...he needs more than 13 pounds to be safe....he lost 9 pounds. and Koli is safe. Sunshine goes up to the scale.  she needs more than 7 pounds....she gets nine!!!!! Sam needs more than 10 pounds....he l...

No one writes a happy song about Mondays? Monday Monday -- the Mamas and the Papas Manic Monday -- the Bangles Rainy Days and Mondays --the Carpenters Monday Morning -- Fleetwood Mac Permanent Monday -- Jordin Sparks blue Monday -- Bob Seger I don't Like Mondays -- Boomtown Rats No, wait, I was wrong....there's always an exception to the rule.... Come Monday -- Jimmy Buffett Come Monday, it’ll be all right Come Monday, I’ll be holdin’ you tight I spent four lonely days in a brown L. A. haze And I just want you back by my side

1.   My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE  .  "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."   2.  My mother taught me RELIGION . "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."   3.   My mother taught me about TIME  TRAVEL .  "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"   4.  My mother taught me LOGIC .  "  Because I said so, that's why."   5.  My mother taught me MORE LOGIC  . "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."   6.  My  mother taught me FORESIGHT .  "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."   7.  My mother taught me IRONY . "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."   8.   My mother taught me about the  science of OSMOSIS...

...with Greek yogurt. no, really, this stuff is amazing. so much better than Dannon or columbo. it's rich and creamy, and just tart enough to be interesting. plain, it works on a baked potato -- better than sour cream. but mixed with honey or fruit....ambrosia from Mount Olympus. the food of the gods.

and by that I mean, what fun things do you have planned? I don't have much yet, but what I've got planned.... Bon Jovi at the Meadowlands Memorial Day weekend Jimmy Buffett at Jones Beach at the end of August Hair in a couple of weeks, and another Broadway play, Everyday Rapture , in June the King Tut exhibit the NY Renaissance Faire the backyard pool not to mention, Becca's graduation and everything that goes with it.  I've waited 18 years for that one. it's going to be a terrific summer.

NaBloPomo's theme for May is "Look Up". We look up to the sky when we are hopeful.  We look down towards the ground when we are submissive, depressed, sad. Lincoln once said: “I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.”   I mean, how can you look at the night sky and think that we are alone in this universe?        

(cross posted at Midcentury Modern Moms ) Road trip!!!   Headed up to Jen's college this weekend to empty out her dorm.  We drive up Friday night, empty out the room, and drive home Saturday.    Jen plans to come home with us, then head back to school on the 12th, she's got a final exam on the 13th, and then she'll check out of her dorm and begin her summer. It's hard to believe she's almost done with her sophomore year of college.  Two years have gone by so quickly! I remember the day we moved her into her freshman dorm.  The four of us -- Jen, Becca, their father and I  --  drove up to school  in his minivan the night before move-in day.  I wasn't able to get a reservation close to the campus, so we wound up staying at a motel about half an hour away. The next day we drove  back to the school and into utter chaos. There isn't much parking available near the dorms, so you have to pull up to the building, empty out yo...

In a case of "no good deed goes unpunished", I worked late on Tuesday and wound up missing the first half of the show. got home just in time to see Koli win immunity. didn't get to see much of Texas. felt bad for the teenager Jillian was talking to, I hope she was inspired. good thing Koli has immunity, he lost a mere 1 pound. Sam's turn. 6 pounds, not bad. Sunshine's turn. 4 pounds. O'Neal's turn. He lost time from the competition for a funeral. he needs to have lost more than 6 pounds. he lost 5. Michael gets on the scale next. He needs more than 7 pounds to stay above the yellow line. He lost 15 and he's so excited!!! Daris is not feeling confident about the weigh-in, or the week. he loses 5 pounds, he's safe. O'Neal falls below the yellow line. it all comes down to Ashley. will it be her or sunshine with O'Neal below the yellow line? she needs to have lost more than 5 pounds. she's afraid of the yel...

anyone see Next to Normal ? I saw it last year.  It's a Broadway musical (note I did not say "musical comedy").  The main character is a housewife who is bipolar, delusional and battling the demons in her own mind.  the themes include whether to stay on medication that makes her numb to the world, experimental treatments, and the effect her illness has on her family.  serious and dramatic material for a Broadway stage.  made for an interesting evening of theater.  the overriding theme is one of hope....but the story is scary.  mental illness is scary. experiencing it on the stage is one thing. seeing it played out in the next cubicle is something else entirely. we jokingly referred to her as "the office loon" because of oddball behavior we'd all observed.  but this week her eccentricities crossed into a different realm:  delusional, obsessive and alarming.  now her previous odd behavior makes sense -- it's clear she's been suffe...

So yesterday Drew and I took the train into NYC. first we headed downtown to Chinatown.  I hadn't been to that area in ages and ages.  The neighborhood never changes.  Crowded sidewalks, shops with their wares spread out on the sidewalk competing with sidewalk vendors, the smell of fresh fish veing sold on Canal Street (your dinner can crawl into your shopping bag if you like).  On Mott Street you can buy all sorts of stuff -- handbags,scarves, Chinese fans, silk dresses, toys.... Restaurant row is on Mott Street too.  the restuarnats all used to be Cantoneses, but now yu can find a variety of cooking styles, incuding Hunan and Sezhuan, and even Korean, Thai and Vietnamese.  Our favorite chinatown place, however, is a traditional Canonese place called Wo Hop .   There are actually two Wo Hop restaurants on Mott Street -- a street level restaurant at 15 Mott that can seat about 150 people, and a .much smaller space in the basement at 17 ...

and I have a "thing" about Arthurian legend in its many incarnations.... and because it's may, of course.... Vanessa Redgrave as Guenevire