When Tara Met Blog: January 2006

A Graceful Exit

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

When Tara Met Blog is mentioned in the Jan. 25th issue of Exit Weekly magazine in the Geek Chic section. Reporter, Amy Kuperinsky, had asked me a few questions about music on websites. There's a quote from me saying "I detest when I go to a page and their choice in music assaults me," said Tara, the author of When Tara Met Blog (URL) "My speakers on my computer are usually set on high since I watch DVDs through my computer so when I enter a site with embedded music it's really annoying."

EXIT is a new North Jersey launch serving 21 to 34-year-olds. Copies can be picked up for free in Hoboken, Jersey City and for a list of lots more places check out their website exitweekly.com or myspace.com/exitweekly They currently have another interesting article on foot fetishes and other kinds of fetishes.

Video: Conference call with technical difficulties I'd have to quit if this happened. Thanks Rob for the link.

I've been tagged again, but I spared you all and just put my responses in my comments section here

The morning after drinking...

Sunday, January 29, 2006

the things that I do not particularly relish:

Smelling the light perfume mist that I happily walked into the night before, which now lingers in the bathroom, causing nauseousness.

Going up and down my ladder.

Having to force my eyes open in the morning, since they are apparently stuck with some sort of invisible tape.

Forcing myself to drink water and greasy food after waking up (well the greasy food isn't much of a chore, just the chewing part ;)

Cleaning yesterday's glasses left in the sink which still have the syrup of liquor on their rim and stem, despite the quick rinse from the night before.

Yesterday's worst pick-up: "Hey ladies, I need a woman's opinion," not a bad intro, but then he proceeded to tell an elaborate story about how his 'friend's' girlfriend found a shoe box with photos of an ex-girlfriend, which resulted in an ultimatum and how would we react? Then pretended the phone call he received wasn't in fact from his girlfriend. Our consensus by the way was as long as the photos of the ex weren't on a mantle or something, then whatever. I have some pictures of my exes and even though I don't have feelings for them any longer, I wouldn't want to have to give them up if I didn't want to.

Yesterday's best icebreaker: Leans in though the crowd and says "How am I gonna be able talk to you with all these people in the way?"

Pink Champagne...check!

Pink Champagne...check!

So only a month after my 2005 resolution deadline, did I finally complete my last lingering resolution from the year before--tasting Pink Champagne. I've always wanted to try it, ever since Affair to Remember, but it's not something usually ordered or around much, so I kept putting it off or forgetting about it altogether.

When I recently posted a recap of my 2005 resolutions and their outcomes, one of my male coworkers gave me a few Rose suggestions ranging from 39-69$ per bottle in price and Hiromi at Just Another Week posted some excellent suggestions in my comments section as well, actually they both mentioned the Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Rose.

While on vacation I spotted the Moet Rose for the duty free price of $60, but I couldn't bring myself to spend the 60 bucks that I had just fought to earn and hold onto in the casino on something liquid. Then again, I did put $15 towards the Brinley Vanilla Rum, which I had a little glass of last night before going to Pastis for K's bday dinner where I finally ordered a glass of pink champagne.

I ordered the only sparkling Rose option they had available, Rose Cremant De Loire, which was a little darker in color than I expected, more on the orangey reddish side. Other then it not being really pink, it was yummy, sweet and bubbly, very similar to regular colored champagne, but just a little more fun because I knew it was different lol. It couldn't rival the awesome crisp fries and hangar steak rare, that I ordered though. Yum! The New Year can really begin for me now that I finished up last year's to do list. This year I don't have a list, just to keep up my old ones like trying to eat veggies and going to the gym. The rest I'll make up along the way.

Quinky-dinks

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

The sun did in fact make an appearance on the last two days of my 4 day trip to St. Kitts, although the constant gusting winds did not let up. But ce la vie, I still managed to get a bit of a tan and some natural highlights. Most of all, I chilled with my mom and that was nice. I also acted like a kid in a candy shop at the duty free shops, buying rum and Clinique, then add in the unique island jewelry that I kept buying from the friendly vendors, equals the re-allocation of my casino earnings, but again ce la vie. I'm wearing a fun wooden necklace today, which is cheering me up even though I'm back in dreary New York weather.

Oh so my mother and I were looking for some um... ganja to enjoy in the evening (we were on vacay and all ;) but only came across someone 'in the know' a of couple hours before I was leaving for the airport, so I was forced to pass. She, however, emailed me at work today informing me that she got two rolled joints for $5 and that there isn't any wind on the island now either. Brat!

Now here's the coincidence part that I mention in my post's title. On my return flight from St. Kitts to San Juan, seated in a very compact and cramped plane (being 5'2 at least has it's benefits) I started a conversation with the guy seated next to me or more like on top of me given his 6 foot frame and tiny tiny seats, poor guy his knees were hitting the seat in front of him, anyway I digress, it turns out he was two years below me at my undergrad, Wheaton College in Massachusetts. Now, the small private college had fewer students than my high school and I happen to sit right next to a student from there on a small afternoon plane leaving St. Kitts? How weird is that?

Being terrible with names and faces (good thing I'm a journalist!) I didn't recognize him, not that he remembered me either, but we learned that we sort of knew some of the same people and that I had watched him play in the Wheaton baseball games. He was on a family business retreat and headed back to Boston after San Juan and me back to JFK.

Don't you love random meetings like that?

Tonight, off to celebrate K's birthday at Kanvas.

Rain Rain Go AWAY!

Sunday, January 22, 2006

77 F / 25 C
Mostly Cloudy

I'm online during my mini vacation because the weather has been crappy :( Lots of clouds, the sun just peeks through enough for us to run out to the pool then run back after being pelted with rain once we lie out on the lounge chairs. The 29 MPH winds have been constant, no stop and go, but more like a hair dryer, always blowing. Definitely not good hair days, but whatever it's at least warm.

On the upside the food is great, we had fried lobster and the amazing local Brinley vanilla rum--I'm gonna be bringing a bottle back home. The place is beautiful too, that is when you aren't being bombarded by the wind or having your drink blown on you.

I'm also up $60 in the casino so far, I was up a lot more but started spreading out my bets too much on the craps board. I did win by rolling a hard eight (my lucky combo), 1 to 9 odds too. Due to the weather, I'll most likely be back there this evening.

We rented a car so explored the highland during the bout's of rain and clouds. From the back of the fun, but tiny Charade smartcar we spotted many "wild" goats, tree monkeys and cows on the peninsula, sometimes hidden in the trees or brazenly crossing and blocking the road.

We took several snap shots:

News: Meanwhile the tech PR firm that I work at, Horn Group, was named TOP PR AGENCY IN NEW PRSOURCECODE STUDY .

Escape

Friday, January 20, 2006

"I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up DOES rejoice. Still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they're gone. I guess I just miss my friend." -Red Shawshank Redemption For the last six year (shit has it been six years?) January's have been a difficult month for me. It brings memories and flashbacks of last holidays celebrated with my dad and then later his unexpected passing while I was home watching the Golden Globes hoping Friends would win and planning on seeing my dad the following day after school like always--neither happened. The night I found out that he died in his sleep drowning in his own fluid that was filling in his lungs, there was a terrible snow storm making the funeral a few days later even more miserable and difficult to accomplish. Four days afterwards I tried not holding my breath or scream as I passed his coffin, climbed the carpeted church steps and gave his eulogy at the high perched podium. Two weeks later, my mother took me to Cancun to help clear our heads and try to get us far away from where we were. It helped, her gesture and bonding even more so. Yesterday I went to a friend's father's wake, seeing her pain brought that week even more to mind. This Tuesday is the 6th anniversary since my dad's death (he'd only be 51) Tomorrow we leave for St. Kitts away from the cold, away from familiar surroundings. My mom and stepdad are going for 7 days but I'm only tagging along for four.

I think this should do the trick, don't you?

Be back Tuesday night.

The best laid plans, who should plan a date?

Thursday, January 19, 2006

I have been polling a few of my girlfriends to ask how they feel about having to plan first dates instead of the guys doing it.

You know the situation, you get asked out on a date and are pretty excited about the possibilities, and then he turns to you and says, "so what do you want to do?"

Hint: Girls are more likely to go on a date when propositioned with an actual offer IE "Hey, I was wondering if you'd like to go to __ with me. (no, that fill in the blank did not mean 'bed' lol ;)

It was unanimous among those that I asked, it is definitely considered a turn off when women are forced to plan a first date, not that they would turn down the date because of this, but most felt that it's not considered as exciting or dazzling when you know each stop that you're going to make. Granted, it's nice not going somewhere that you don't want to and having control in that sense, but the surprise element is often considered a plus on dates as long as the surprise isn't that he's married or some shocker like that. I know I'd rather my date take some initiative and me be out of my element, like say at a tractor pull, then actually having to plan the date for him.

Several times I've picked the restaurant and bars because the guys I were seeing were not familiar with the city since they lived in NJ or CT and that's understandable, but those dates definitely weren't as fun when I was continually coming up with suggestions on where to go and what to do. One of my girlfriends suggested that it emasculates the guy in their eyes because it's like they have to lead them around on a leash by taking charge of the date like that.
Don't get me wrong, presenting your date with a list of options is not a bad move and neither is asking if there are any types of food they'd prefer, but other than that make some plans, show that you gave some thought into the date and had been thinking about it ahead of time. Work a little.
I'm not saying there shouldn't be spontaneity and that you have to plan everything, because yes, then that's no fun either.

Two really nice first dates that I had consisted on agreeing to go explore a certain place (zoo, park, fair) or area of the city and then deciding on a whim together where to eat and what to do. So although not everything was planned the guy at least decided on an activity and got the ball rolling and it's fun discovering likes and dislikes as you choose restaurants and explore new surroundings.

Link: The best blonde joke ever.

Poem: Italian Princess

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

A couple years ago during my senior year of college, my friend Nicki (Whose now married and living in Cali) joined me for a weekend trip home, during which she met my friends and heard stories about me and my family. Being the passionate poet that she is, she wrote a poem about the weekend. I was very honored and deeply impressed at how she was able to recapture the feelings of the weekend and the essense of my family. It was also interesting seeing the same weekend from outside eyes. Nicki was also the first person to graduate from Wheaton College in Massachusetts with a poetry concentration, read the poem below and you'll see why. Oh and she got the title, "Italian Princess" from a gold charm that's in my jewlery box, one my aunt gave me when I was in middle school or maybe even younger.

Italian Princess
By N. E. Tasker
She introduced me to her father
and then she said a prayer…
She made movements with her hands
as I stood in silence,
hovering over him as he lay
below the Impatiens that stared up at me.
She was in New York to see her Nanny:
someone unrelated by blood,
but linked by affection.
I was in New York to see how the absence
of family is crowned by the abundance of friends.

In the distance, the cemetery foliage is dying…
I don’t know this man beneath my feet,
but I’ve seen his pictures, heard his stories.
I don’t ask questions or force her to remember,
but I do listen when her memory speaks.

Forty-eight hours later
in Connecticut by the ocean,
we drank Merlot with her mother.
My senses virgin to the
maroon flavor of Clos du Bois,
she had to teach me how to relish.
The first sip, a raw introduction;
the second, the aromatic Napa Valley,
dismissing the sour fermentation;
the next, a noisy slurp splashing the tongue
and cleansing the palate;
finally, the swish of mouthwash-redwine.
Hard to remember, now,
the swallow of this drink
because it so quickly distorted my thoughts.

As the ruby liquid disappeared from
my glass, my mind drew crooked pictures
of family gatherings:
one-hundred plus people
imbibing on my new-found plum,
as they bring to life their past in pasta—
penne a la vodka and buttery cavatelli in
Settembre family red sauce—
each member glistening in yellow gold
as their voices chime high and their laughter
resonates in my ears.

It was then I saw
the shadow of an Italian Princess
and there I took a long drink
from her family tradition.
But it was in the constancy of shifting seasons
that death and absence silently drowned
in the ocean’s distant fury.

For more of Nicki's poems check out her poetry site I'm a fan of For What, Midnight Chant and Noon In New York City (I was there for that one too).

Coffee, Chocolate and Wine--these are a few of my favorite things!

Friday, January 13, 2006

The newly opened Cocoa Bar (228 7th Avenue) in Brooklyn's Park Slope area is a triple threat, offering high end chocolates, wine and coffee for every kind of New York connoisseur in a cozy neighborhood cafe setting. It has the typical trendy artwork, from local area artists, hung on the latte colored walls and of course comfy sofas and the extras we've all come to expect like books, wi-fi and board games. Cocoa also offers specialty desserts like a dense individual truffle cake or a spongy and moist hazelnut rum cake ($6), which arrives on a ceramic plate with chocolate syrup dots spread in random formations or cinnamon dust shapes sprinkled around the generous chocolate slabs of cake. But what makes Cocoa Bar especially unique is that it's not just a coffee and dessert shop, but also a wine bar.

Daily recommended parings of a cocoa dessert and complementing international wines are available for $12. Their menu consists of over 10 pairings picked by the owner Liat Cohen, but her favorites are the Sparkling Shiraz paired with their "I like it spicy" chocolate bar as well as the Muscat paired with a caramel centered dark chocolate. She says, "The sparkling shiraz is fun, festive, chilled and unique. Most of all it has spice to it. Our 'I like it spicy' chocolate bar is also fun and unique in that it has peppers and cayenne using single origin Venezuelan cocoa beans. And, of course, it is spicy and paired together they bring out conversation, laughter and enjoyment, which is what we want people to experience while they're here."

Unfortunately wine can be very intimidating, and so can chocolate these days. Liat and her husband and business partner Yaniv, try to encourage people to try new wines and chocolates and boast monthly coffee “cuppings” and wine tasting sessions. Those used to having their coffee at scalding temperatures though might be disappointed by the bar’s foaming coffee brewed drinks, creamy white hot chocolate, creative flavored latte's and rich roasted espressos being served tepid. The bar has a counter top for takeout, and tables and a modern backyard garden where their personable staff will serve and offer suggestions.

Be Well
The other night when eating Mac and Cheese at Cafeteria (17th and 7th) with K, our pleasant waitress with a silk scarf tied around her head kept saying weird statements when she came to check in on us. Instead of asking how is everything? Or are you enjoying your meal, she asked, "Are you happy?" I joked to my friend that I should have said, well, lately I've been depressed and feeling kind of fat. If she only said "are you happy with your meal," then that requires a 'yes' or 'no' answer and then she could be on her way to the next table. "Are you happy?" though left me confused and wondering.

When we were leaving and waved goodbye to her she replied "Be well." I felt like I just left Ghandi's temple.

Yes, I date!

Out of the blue, I was sent the following email from a blog reader:

"I seem to remember you posting about your dating life in the city, guys you'd meet around town and crushes u had, but lately I haven't seen that. What's up? Are you taken and boring now or do you not date now that you are a busy Wall street chick?"

Well, Mr. Inquisitive, yes, I do date, as my post title declares, but no I'm not taken. Your recollection is right I did used to write more about the men I'd meet while out and about, not too often, but sometimes I'd share that information. I've stopped because I've found that anyone who knows my full name or has my business cards can plug it into Google and then voila there's my blog and me talking about them. What a way to intimidate and scare someone off. It also gives them way too much of an edge knowing that I'm talking about them. Thus, I'd rather remain silent. Guys who are interested in me can already get a big insider's edge just by reading my blog as it is. Oh and by the way I make it a policy not to Google people, not that I'm judging as I can see the temptation, I just rather not know too much.

Over the summer I was "dating," which I know I know it's not supposed to be called that anymore, but call me old fashioned then. I actually usually say I'm "seeing" someone rather than dating, but I digress...I was seeing this dude and I had mentioned our meeting on my blog, that was it. I had only referred to him as 'Subway Dude' and that we had an upcoming date, and even though he never read my blog he kept asking me questions about it as if afraid I'd spill every detail about him on it. I told him to actually read my blog sometime to see that's not what I do. I told him I had no intention of continuing to write about him and I haven't until now either, but he was definitely pretty spooked. He mentioned it on each of the few "dates" that we had. I think he had a girlfriend, thus the irrational fear she'd find out or something. Any other questions? Feel free to shoot them my way.

PS: You're so vain you probably think this blog post is about you, don't you? ;)

Link: 50 Things to do With Your iPod

Photo Essay: The Doors of Lower Manhattan

Sunday, January 8, 2006

In a city that never sleeps and whose inhabitants are almost in a constant state of motion, it is easy to let everyday things go unnoticed, especially something as commonplace as a door. Yet, Manhattan has many fascinating and aesthetic doors that once spotted are hard to miss again.

The doors of lower Manhattan, below 14th Street, are especially unique and filled with the area's heritage and originality. Some of these captivating entrances belong to townhouses, office buildings and restaurants and show the city's artistic, modern and vanguard roots, while some simply have extra odds and ends that deserve another look. Here are just a few that stand out out of the snapshots that I took for my photojournalism grad class.

My friend K and I were looking for doors to capture for almost two months, and now that I'm more aware of the different entrances in the city I still find myself scoping for them, even in NYC television shows. Funny how things can change once something is brought more to your attention.

Speaking of New York shows, the new sitcom coming out on CBS, Love Monkey, with that guy from Ed has been filming near my subway stop and in my neighborhood.

Because this makes me laugh

Friday, January 6, 2006

Oh Whitney what happened to you? You were so pretty and seemingly classy in The Bodyguard, now I can't say 'I'll Always Love You.'

I've been tagged (Let's not make it a habit):
Four movies you would watch over and over (and I have!)
When Harry Met Sally
Baby Boom
Die Hard
Soapdish
Four places you have lived
New York, New York
Norton, Massachusetts
London, England
Greenwich, Connecticut

Four TV shows you love to watch (just four??)
Friends
Grey's Anatomy
Alias / Lost (same creator, so I'm putting them together ;) Speaking of Lost check out this funny flash video
Golden Girls / Moonlighting / Taxi and so many more

Four places you have been on vacation
Italy
Tortola
Vegas
Puerto Rico

Four websites you visit daily
Google
Blog Explosion
eBay
AOL

Four of your favorite foods
Macaroni and Cheese
Dark Chocolate
Lucky Charms
Steak (rare)
Four places you would rather be right now
In my apt or more specifically in my bed
On the beach, but someplace hot, thus not here
With my dad
At the movies, since there are a lot of films I need to catch up on

Four people you are tagging
Nobody, consider yourself lucky!

The Cab Driver Plays Puccini

Wednesday, January 4, 2006

When I'm riding in a taxi, the majority of the time the drivers are talking on their cell phones, using earphones of course since it's the law, but sometimes it's the whole duration of the cab ride even. I know that they are aren't actually talking to me, since having fallen for that before, but I just can't help but wonder who is talking to them for so long at all hours of the day. Do they have a wife just sitting at home providing them with phone company? Are they talking to other cabdrivers? Usually it's not in English so it's hard for me to figure out the relationship. I know during the work week it's hard enough finding someone I can call on my lunch hour who is available to chat with, so I'm really curious how they find someone after midnight, in the afternoons and during the morning commute to speak with. Don't these people have jobs that require communication outside their cells? Yes, I'm giving this way too much thought.

When my cabbies are not on their mobiles, I do like asking them questions, it's the reporter in me I guess. I like hearing where they are from, what long shifts they work, their commute, if they own or rent their cab, about their children, spouse etc. I'll start by a comment on the weather like: 'do you believe all this rain? I'm getting ready to build an arc.' Then they ask me about where I'm going or about where they just picked me up from, then the conversation segways into what I do for a living, schooling background, their living in Queens and their children who they want to see do well in regards to education and job wise.
Before the holidays, the day after the strike I hailed a cab and asked to be taken to Grand Central Station. The cab driver, Mohamed, then asked me if I was "Going to Connecticut?" I laughed and said "yes, why do I look like I'm going to Connecticut?" He said "yup" and that was that. haha. When he found out that I was Italian, not sure how that came about though I do remember that he is married to a Philippine woman who he says is beautiful like Italian women and then he put in his own mixed CD of Puccini, then we both hummed along to La Boheme. It was pretty funny.
News Update: Questions are still surrounding the maple syrup smell that has swept Manhattan twice now. Trying to Make Some Sense of That Syrupy Scent. My old blog post about smelling the sweet scent can be found at: Attack of the maple syrup.
Link: Top 10 Free Time Wasting Sites on the Net

Happy New Year

Tuesday, January 3, 2006

Just got back from Vermont and am very bruised. I luckily didn't fall skiing but I sort of twisted my leg, got whacked by a child's pole and incurred several bruises while sledding at night. Below is a photo of the place we rented--although it doesn't do it justice and is missing the snow--the place sleeps 10 yet we managed 14.

News: 100 things we didn't know this time last year, which I found thanks to A View From England. Who knew Nicole Kidman is afraid of butterflies and that one in 18 people have a third nipple? Very glad I'm not one in that statistic, I had only heard of Chandler on Friends to have one, oh wait and a guy friend from college.

PS: My former coworker and I have a snapshot in MediaBistro's Party Photos: PR in New York at the bar Libation. You have to scroll down a bit, it has my name in the caption.

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