Sunday, November 2, 2008

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

3rd Annual Girls Wine Weekend

The 3rd annual Girlie Wine Weekend occurred just this past weekend and we had such a great time! Each year a group of 5 of us from college have decided that we will take time out of our busy schedule and take a weekend away together.....we also agreed that it should always include large quantities of wine! haha The first year we went to the Renault Winery near AC and last year we went on a tour of a few different wineries in Virginia. This year we ventured out to Long Island were there are tons of beautiful wineries! We booked a van (very responsible we are!) through Vintage Tours and it was great! We had 5 hours and 5 wineries.........here's a recap

Here is a map of Long Island and all the wineries!
hmm, that didn't work very well. Just trust me, all those words are different wineries!

Our itinerary for Saturday
11:00 pick-up ....quiet ride over
11:15 Pelligrini Vineyards (http://pellegrinivineyards.com/site/)
- for $8 you get 4 glasses (or a flight) of whichever wines you choose. The tourguide said that 2 flights would be plenty for 5 people........so we got 5 flights.
- our favorite wine here was the Gewurztraminer, but we did drink them all
- we were the only people there.....maybe before noon was a little early to start the wine tour...hmmm, nah!
-pics



- a cool thing is that the owner of the winery is Michael Lynne, the former co-CEO of New Line Cinema
-we sampled 5 different glasses of wines for $12
-Here we were a fan of the table white, and were able to purchase a bottle of it and eat a lunch while overlooking the vineyard
- pics


1:30 Duck Walk Vineyards (http://www.duckwalk.com/)
- my personal favorite!
- by far the best bang for your buck!
- $4 for 5 wine tastings (but somehow I had 7 tastings)
- lots of favorites here....Sauvignon Blanc, Windmill White, Southampton White, Gatsby Red
- they have a few different ports, which they serve with chocolates
- oh yea, and we met up with some older ladies that we are hoping we are just like when we are their age!
-pics


- sister winery to Bedell
- free tasting with receipt from Bedell
- wine.......ah, the same as before but with bitchier pourers
- I may have bought a 3 liter magnum bottle of Rose wine, but I am not sure........things started getting a little hazy
-pics




4:00 Peconic Bay Winery (http://www.peconicbaywinery.com/)
- another favorite!
- as an extra add on, only 2 of us actually made it to the tastings...the rest laid on the grass outside
- wine tastings were $5 for 5 tastings (I think...again, hazy)
- favs here include Polaris and Riesling
-pics


4:30 - dropoff
- much louder ride
- may have ended with everyone hugging the driver and then knocking over a plant
We had such a good time and are planning on going back very soon!
I recommend Long Island Wine Country to everyone!!!

Monday, September 22, 2008

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Work and Dolly update

As you all know, I am a Physician Assistant and have recently started my new job in the Emergency Department at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan. That is a picture (albeit blurry) of Mount Sinai. It is beautiful. It is only a 10 minute walk from our apartment and is flanked on one side by Central Park. So, if I ever actually took a break I could walk over there and relax. So, here are the biggest differences between Mount Sinai and Virtua (my previous employer). First, Mount Sinai's shifts are 12 hours each but only 3 times a week. Virtua had 9 hour shifts and were usually 4-5 times a week. I like the idea of the 12 hour shifts, although they are exhausting! It is nice to be there only 3 days a week and have the other 4 days to myself. Here is the problem I am having though. I have a hard time walking away and eating lunch/dinner. At Virtua, if I didn't leave to take a break and get something to eat it wasn't as big of a deal because it was only a 9 hour shift. Now, with the 12 hours it is a bit much. For example, yesterday I had run out of my Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal so I had an apple for breakfast. I then never took a break because...oh hell I don't know and therefore found myself in a cold sweat (probably due to my impending hypoglycemia) for the last 2 hours of my shift. So, okay...it's 9:00 time to leave right? No, again I have issues. I have ended up leaving 45 minutes after my shift each time so far because I am finishing up charts and what not. So then I walk home. It's funny, while I am in the ED I am running around and moving and grooving feeling good. As soon as I step outside I realize how bad I have to urinate because I haven't done so since the morning and my hypoglycemic coma starts to set it. When I get home I have to walk and feed Dolly though (because Steve still isn't home from work!) and then finally at 11 I sit down for some dinner. Now, this would be a great diet except after both shifts I have come home and scarfed some pizza near midnight. Oprah would not be very happy! The second thing that is different is that I can wear scrubs on night and weekend shifts only. I love scrubs. I have loved scrubs for years and even have my favorite pair of scrubs. I am heartbroken. And even worse, now I am forced to poke at butt puss and cut out ingrown toenails in my snazzy dress clothes. But I agree that it does look more professional. It's sad. I am looking forward to my weekend shifts so that I can wear my favorite pair of scrubs. Incase you are wondering they are a pair of navy blue bottoms with my green virtua top that I stole. But so far I love Mount Sinai. Everyone is really nice and happy to help when I look clueless when I don't know where the emesis basins are (which is something valuable to know if you don't want your shoes puked on). I was supposed to be on training/probation for 2 months but was informed yesterday (at the end of my second shift) that that period would be halved because I am so wonderful and people love me so much. haha....but seriously, that's what my boss said. Seriously...I'm awesome at my job.





Now, to the all important Dolly update. I will forgive anybody that just skipped the work update and came here first. Because she is SO CUTE! So, Dolly is continuing to adjust nicely to the city and into our family. She just recently made another trip to her country home (i.e. my parents house) while we went to a wedding. When we first adopted her we were told that she was horrible with other dogs. And probably for the first month and a half she would bark and go dog-shit (instead of ape-shit....anyone get it?) on each and every dog that we would pass. Which would be 5-10 dogs each walk! But then slowly but surely she stopped barking and starting sniffing. It's great now. Pretty much all dogs her size and smaller she sniffs and plays with and dogs that are larger than her she is starting to want to play with too. But almost no barking. I think that she just needed a stable home in which she doesn't feel threatened by other dogs. There is even a good friend of hers that we see each night, Charlie. Charlie is another Shih Tzu and they love each other. The only thing is that Charlie is a boy and he continuely front mounts her (if you catch what I'm throwing)! She doesn't get too upset, but I take personal offense for her. Does she look like that kind of a dog! My goodness, what will all the other dogs think. I am also finding more and more that when we walk her at night......she is afraid of shadows on the pavement. I don't know what it is but she does not enjoy walking on darker pavement. Another thing that she isn't thrilled about is the rain. Thunder and lightning doesn't bother her, but don't expect her to get her paws wet. Oh no! Apparently being front mounted is okay, but ask her to get her paws wet and how dare you! This was a problem because whenever it rained she would refuse to walk and we didn't want any messes in the house. So I went to our local pet shop, Furry Paws, and bought little booties for her to wear. They look like thick balloons and when you put them on her they look like boxing gloves because they are red.......but she loves them! She could walk all day in the rain with her booties on. So, while other dogs may laugh, she is just singing (well, barking) in the rain.

Awe, I love this picture. It was one of the first days that Steve started work and therefore wasn't around all day. First thing in the morning after I came out of the bathroom I found Dolly sitting on his Wall Street Journal. It was probably just because the last owner laid newspaper out for her to pee on, but I like to think that it was just Dolly missing Steve!

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Looks like someone's got a case of the Mondays

My beloved vacation is over. I begin at Mount Sinai Monday morning. I was first offered the job back in April and after the painful, but necessary paperwork I was cleared Friday. Basically they do a huge background check to make sure that I am legit (little do they know I am actually to legit to quit) and I suppose I passed. The funny thing is they not so long ago said that I wouldn't be working until late September, but I received an email this past Friday at 5 telling me that I start on Monday at 8. Wow, I was not prepared for that one! I am excited though (super nervous, but excited) and working does come with this little benefit called a paycheck. Which will be necessary to buy such wonderful eye candy such as this..



If for some reason Mr. Louboutin is a fan of my blog and would like to send me a free pair, I would not mind that at all and would make sure to add a picture of me wearing them to the blog for continued advertising. haha

So anyway, it's back to saving lives on Monday...no wait, that's orientation. But Tuesday, definitely will be saving lives by Tuesday.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Subway Etiquette PSA

Attention all subway users....this is a public service announcement. I would like to list some subway etiquette for those of you who.....well, quite frankly need it! This is directed particularly those that are on the lines that I use and therefore directly affect my day. Now, I understand that if you have never used the subway before it can be quite overwhelming, and therefore this is a purely informational announcement. However, if things do not approve, and I have to address this again I will not be as pleasant!!

First, you know when you see those silver bars both vertically and horizontally placed strategically throughout the subway cars...yea, those are BARS FOR YOU TO HOLD ON TO! They aren't just for show, you can actually touch them and hold on. The benefit to doing so is that then when the subway starts and stops you don't fling your body into me. Which really helps everyone. Because then I don't have to check my ankle for your shoe marks and you don't have to see my death stare. If you cannot handle this, then you should sit.
Secondly, I don't care how crowded the subway cars are...don't touch me. In a city as bustling and crowded as NYC I still need my box of personal space. For example, when I am standing and appropriately holding onto one of the rails, do not touch my hand. And especially don't repeatedly do it or it will result in previously said death stare. And to go along with this, when you are standing so close to me that your hair is touching my hand (ew) it will be stuck in my ring! What do you expect.
Lastly, when everyone is standing to the side of the subway car waiting to board DO NOT push and jump in front of me. Are we not all trying to go to the same place? Of course we are, and odds are we are going to be standing right next to each other and you will have already ruined my trip. Death stare time....for your entire trip with me.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Proof

Child chain gang.......told you so!

Jobless in Manhattan

Okay, sorry for the lack of posts lately. For my loyal readers I know you have been missing me (mostly because you voice your complaints directly to me!). So, if you haven't heard I am still not working! I was offered the job in April, but am a prisoner t0 HR and paperwork. A realistic worst case scenario is that I won't start working until late September! Ridiculous! So, this has made me think of other jobs that I could get in the meantime because as much as I joke about my goal was to be a lady of leisure...I am kinda bored! So, here is what I came up with so far....

1. Starbucks Barista -
Reasons it would be cool : I love Starbucks, and I would especially love free coffee while I was working! Also, I would love to be able to write my Barista recommendations on the board each day.
Reasons it won't work : For the amount of money that I would be paid I don't know if I could deal with all the crazy people with drawling from caffeine with their 5 minute long order. (in rich white person voice...ah, yea...I'll have a grande skim 3 shot 140 degree sugar-free iced caramel macchiato...and a scone) I mean seriously, if you need to take a breath in the middle of your order...you are too freakin' controlling! So, I think somewhere in between rolling my eyes, sighing, and saying "huh" I would be fired. I'll be honest, when I order I do say...grande non-fat no-whip iced mocha, which may at first seem controlling (me...controlling...never!) but it is really just to save them the time of asking....do you want whip cream? It is just me trying to help my barista!

2. Dog walker -
Reasons it would be cool : Dogs are cute and you actually get paid $15 for a 20 minute walk per dog and you only have to go out of the house 3 times a day! Not too shabby. Plus you would have the added bonus of being about to check out other people's apartments without them being home. I wouldn't miss too much tv and yet feel like I was doing something.
Reasons it won't work : I have a hard enough time picking up my own dog's poo without sticking my finger in it. Therefore, I don't think that I would be able to walk multiple dogs at the same time. 'Nuff said.

3. Open a cupcake cafe -
Reasons it would be cool : I heart cupcake cafes, they are just so cute! My favorite is Crumb...check it out. What would be more fun then making yummy cupcakes and decorating them into little beautiful cups of sugar.
Reasons it won't work : Yea, I can't decorate cupcakes! Not helpful in this field of work. Who am I kidding.

4. TMZ reporter -
Reasons it would be cool : For those of you that are either over 40 or have a life and don't know what TMZ is, it is basically paparazzi following famous people. It was originally on the Internet only (http://www.tmz.com/) but is now a 30 minute TV show (on Fox...check it out!) and has paparazzi follow and videotape celebrities while asking them questions. I love celebrity following and asking questions, I would be perfect!
Reasons it won't work : You actually need to know where the celebrities are at, and I don't have those kind of connections...yet!

Any other ideas for me? Let me know.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Mrs. Naked Cowboy

Many of you probably know about the Naked Cowboy that plays his guitar in Times Square each day. He basically plays his guitar and people make circles around him just to get in a picture with him. Oh, and by the way, he has a number that you can call to make an appearance at your party --- 866-99-NAKED. So, if there are any birthday or graduation parties coming up, there is the number to have him come along! Well, here is something that might now know. A Mrs. Naked Cowboy exists! I know....scandalous! I found her while walking in Times Square minding my own business on the way to a Broadway show. (In the Heights...you may remember me ranting and raving about it earlier) We were walking around when I noticed a crowd standing around with their cameras pointed at something. I'll be honest, while many New Yorkers may walk right past something like this because it is very un-New Yorkerish to freak out over celebrities. But, I'm still a South Jersian and any opportunity that I have to take a picture of/see TomKat or Mary Kate Olsen I am going to check it out!! Well, it wasn't a celebrity, but definitely the second best thing......it was Mrs. Naked Cowboy!

How great is this! There are a lot of things about this picture that I love, but my absolute favorite is the wads of money stashed in her leg straps. She also sings. I will share with you, a little piece of her song...."Everyone's here......We're in Times Square...Takin' off my clothes". Oh, and the picture doesn't give you everything. Behind the guitar is a bra and black thong! Too much. You know what though, it is about time that women win once. You know what I'm talking about ladies. All the time in movies and on television there are beautiful women with ugly men. And when you go to the beach there are plenty of good looking women in tiny bathing suits, while the only men that wear speedos have a membership to AARP and are creepy tan and hairy. It is about time that women get a sumpin' sumpin' to look at!

Monday, June 23, 2008

Give my regards to Broadway....

One of the many benefits to living in NYC is easy access to Broadway musicals. Through the years I have seen such musicals as Les Miserables, Wicked, Thoroughly Modern Milly, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Moving Out, and Rent. This past week we went to see Mamma Mia and In the Heights. Let me give you the low down on those two musicals.

Mamma Mia

A story that takes place on a Greek island involving a daughter, a mother and 3 possible dads! Classic songs by ABBA such as Dancing Queen, SOS, The Winner Takes it All, and of course Mamma Mia set the stage for this musical. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to find her father brings 3 men fom her mother's past to an island that they all visited 20 years ago.

A fun-loving musical that is greatfor a night out. If you aren't dancing in your chair to Dancing Queen by the end of the musical.....well, then you are no fun! It has been on Broadway for 9 years and is now coming out as a movie. It has been watched by over 30 million people, and definitely worthy of a night out on the town!


In the Heights


The Tony Award winner for 2008 Best Musical, In the Heights is an inspiring story about people trying to make it in a part of Queens called Washington Heights. Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda in his sophomore year of college In the Heights began as an off Broadway show in 1999 and had it's first show on Broadway this past February. The musical takes place on a street in Washington Heights based around a corner coffee bodega, limo and car service, and hair salon. A hip-hop musical that instills hope and inspiration as well as having you dancing in the chair (hmm, I dance in my chair a lot).

This musical was so awesome and I think everyone should see it, hands down! What are you waiting for, go buy your tickets!



Sunday, June 22, 2008

Question

You're trapped in a well with a goat and a slinky.
Describe how you will escape.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Well, HELLO Dolly!

We adopted a doggie! Steve and I called the ASPCA in NYC 2 days ago and asked if they had happened to get any small dogs in, and they said yes! And then it was a shih tzu (my fav!) We walked down there and fell in love with her, and literally walked out with her same day!!! Then had to scramble to get important dog things like a snazzy little bed and cool tools....oh yea, and food too! She is a 4 year old shih tzu and is tan and white. She has been the perfect dog so far, except that she is not really a huge fan of other dogs....but we are working on that with hot dog treats! (which she is a huge fan of!)
She was seized by police from her first home, and then adopted only for 2 days because the other owner had another dog and they didn't get along. So, she ended back up at the ASPCA, and ended up home with us. We are so lucky!!! We were told that she has some separation anxiety, but is doing so great. The one really funny thing though, is that she doesn't like her picture being taken. So I have 2 hypotheses on why:
#1 - her first family was Amish, and therefore she adopted their culture and doesn't want her picture taken.
#2 - she was in the modeling career for years and now that she is finally out of the "biz" she is so over getting her picture taken

I haven't totally figured out which it is yet, but given her troubles with eating (i.e. she doesn't want to eat her food) I think it is probably the modeling thing. We may have a case of dogorexic on our hands. Just bare with the pics that are on here, because they are the best that we can do! Whenever she sees a camera pointing at her she starts walking in circles around you so that you can't get a good shot and then hides under the sofa.

like such

So, she is getting used to us and we are just loving her. Nothing is better than coming home from somewherer and having Dolly there to freak out at the fact that we came back to her and jump around and wag her tail.


P.S. Yes, I know........the name. Here's the thing. She is already 4 and actually answers to it. So, Dolly it is!

Friday, June 20, 2008

Pedicure + Cosmos = Awesome Nail Salon!!!

Oh my! So much to talk about......broadway shows......our new dog Dolly.......mini celebrity sitings!!! But, first I am going to talk about this amazing nail salon that I found. There are tons of nail salons in the city, so I just googled 'nail salons' and found the most amazing place in the world! There are a few of them in the city, but I go to the one on 94th and Madison Ave. It is called Dashing Diva, and it is totally so cute and indulgent! First of all, everything inside is all pink! You pick your nail polish and then site on a bench and put your feet into a bowl with lemons! They are so nice, and gave an awesome pedicure and manicure! Oh yea, and the 10 minute leg and foot massage and the complimentary upper back massage weren't bad either! The best part is that if you go on a Thursday or Friday they give free cosmos with a manicure/pedicure! And yes, the sign said cosmoS, not cosmo. How awesome is this place!!!
Now, I think that I am a hard working and I am a grown lady so paying a bit more for a mani/pedi to endulge myself feels okay. I just lie to myself and say that I deserve it, so the price is okay. haha The only thing that blew my mind though, were all of the little Madison Ave Upper East Side girls (yea, like 10) coming in with their friends and mothers for their appointments for their nails. I wish that I was kidding. Then, to make it even worsem, one of the little prostitots was reading Instyle. I couldn't believe it! And here in lies reason #86 of why I do not want to raise children in the city!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Child Chain Gang

While walking to the subway yesterday I noticed a possible child chain gang. There were about a dozen 5 year olds all in a line connected with a rope and wearing yellow vests. I mean, I guess it could have just been a school trip and that was the best way to protect a bunch of rugrats....but I think I may have seen one of them carrying a pole to spear paper and recycling!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Are New Yorkers really unfriendly?.....blame the poop

I was watching the View the other day and Joy made a great statement. She said that New Yorkers get such a bad rap because they are always looking down instead of looking at people and saying "hello". I consider myself fairly friendly, or at least enough to look at people and say "hello" when you are walking past them. However, I have done that a good half dozen time and no one has said anything back, so I am contemplating rudeness to surpass my feelings of being dejected! But I digress....What Joy said, and what I am also realizing is that people in NYC are not unfriendly, rather they are just on the look out for sidewalk dog poop! I have noticed that I am constantly looking at the sidewalk to avoid a pile of expelled dog food. Not at first, but after 2 weeks of Steve grabbing my arm and pulling me away from poo I am now just another New Yorker looking down instead of making eye contact. Being a potential dog owner myself (maybe) I am sure that picking up warm poo in a tiny little plastic bag is terrifying. I am already having irrational fears that all the bags I use have holes in them! However, lucky for me we are looking at super cute doggies that I'm sure only poo flowers. Here are a couple of the ones that we have put applications in for :
I know, cute right?! Flowers only! It is crazy though, I thought that people would be psyched to have us adopt a dog...but it is so much harder! The application process takes 2-4 weeks before we should even hear from them, then they need references and even do a home visit! I mean geez, I am adopting a dog or a child! Actually, I just hope that we get approved! (which is pathetic enough in itself) Well, we shall see. In the mean time, people.........please clean up the poo! And especially you with the small little dogs, clean it up! The little tiny dog poop is even harder to see! When a great dane poos I can see it a mile away, but the little tiny yorkie terd you don't see until you are right upon it!

Monday, June 16, 2008

the BIG move (i.e. how exactly did I get to NYC?)

Shortly after marrying my high school sweetheart in April 2006, he lovingly turned to me one day and said, "I want to go back to school to get my M.B.A.". I said, "great" and figured that since we were currently living outside of Philadelphia, albeit in my parents house, that he would go to one of the wonderful Philly establishments. However, for those of you that do not know Steve he said that he would only go to one of the best graduate schools in the country. Now, I was being supportive, but not that supportive. So I said that he had to look in the tri-state area. He got into NYU and we moved to Hamilton so that he could take the train in daily and I could still work at my current job. Well, 2 years and countless ungodly train rides after long days he said that we should move to NYC. Alright then. So, after nervously telling my job that I would be leaving at the end of June and finding a new job at Mount Sinai we were ready to move. Oh yea, and Steve graduated in May and has a job at JPMorgan that he will be starting in July. Woohoo! I mean, I loved being the bread-winner for 2 years.....but momma needs a break!



It is now the end of May and we are packing everything in our 2 bed/2 bath oh so spacious apartment to move to a 700 square foot 1 bed/1 bath closet...ahem, apartment in the Upper East Side. Let's just say that we had to pare things down a bit. Sorry mom, but you guys are great free storage! Regardless of my hinting towards hiring movers, Steve is adamant on moving everything ourselves. So, Saturday we were packing the moving truck and Sunday we were driving it all to NYC. Saturday comes along and as we are moving the bedroom furniture to the truck a torrental downpour with thunder begins and the weather channel alerts us to the fact that there is a tornado warning in our area. Greeeeeeeeat. So, everyone is soaking wet and carrying furniture up a slippery, wobbly metal ramp. I say, " should I be wiping off the ramp or placing towels down?" To which Steve says, "What is the worst that happens, someone falls off the back of the truck and breaks their ankle. haha" (foreshadowing) Everything somehow fits in the truck and Sunday we drive up to the new apartment. The day is beautiful and sunny, nothing could be better. Half way into unpacking I get a call on my cellphone from my mother-in-law saying "Get down here. Steve just fell off the back of the moving truck!" He was okay...our headboard not so much. Although it did bend back nicely and you can barely see the Steve shape in the metal anymore. So, finished unpacking the stuff and then drank some beer and ate some pizza. Welcome to NYC!