Little Miss Mox has had a rough few weeks. I discovered that her dog walker had been skipping days he was scheduled to walk her – two days this week and two last week (at the very least). While I’m searching for a new dog walker, she’s had to go to daycare three days this week (she normally only goes one). Although she seemed happy about it the second day, she wasn’t thrilled about it this morning. To top it off, she barfed last night out of the blue. She’s going to get extra love (and a chicken/rice diet) this weekend…
Author: Laren
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My Poor Girl
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The Halls of Justice
Sorry for the crickets around here, folks. Back to business. So I had to go down to the New York Supreme Court the other day to renew my notary license. I'm always slightly geeked out when I go to court — any court — but there's something so visually majestic about the court buildings downtown. Maybe it's just the lawyer in me talking — who knows. As I walked around the building trying to find the notary office, I was immediately taken back to my one and only court appearance as a litigator. I was filling in for a colleague on a pro bono case for a minor court appearance. He told me what I needed to tell the judge — very quick, very simple. When our case was called, the judge immediately called counsel into chambers and expressed her frustration at seeing our clients before her yet again. She demanded that we have a full custody hearing that afternoon. I nearly passed out. Once I regained my composure, I respectfully explained that I was filling in for a colleague and that it would be in our client's best interest to have some time to prepare for a custody hearing. "Fine," she barked. "Monday." I returned Monday morning with my colleague for a full-blown custody hearing for which we had prepared all weekend. Trial by fire, indeed. -
In the News
My favorite quote from today's news, in an article about divisions within the Republican party regarding proposed abortion legislation: "Representative Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader, recalled on Thursday when she was new to Congress and opposed a bill restricting abortion. “One of the Republican members got up and said, ‘Nancy Pelosi thinks she knows more about having babies than the pope,’ ” Ms. Pelosi, who has five children, said, adding, “Yeah. Yeah. That would be true.”"
UPDATE: and another, from the first female customer allowed through the door of McSorleys: “Martinis are like marriages,” said Ms. Shaum, who was married twice, to men who are now deceased. “Two is enough and three is too many.”
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Booze You Can Use: Have a Bamboo
photo: SaveurYes, it's Friday, and I know you probably want I cocktail. I do too. Not *now* of course, but at the end of the day. Maybe you've had a rough week and want something strong, but you might prefer something on the low-alcohol side — something that will ease you gently into the long weekend. I had the pleasure of going out for cocktails at Attaboy earlier this week, and was introduced to the Bamboo Cocktail. It's a classic made with equal parts of two low-alcohol ingredients: dry vermouth and sherry, and dashes of both orange and Angostura bitters. If you're looking for a slight a variation, try a Perfect Bamboo, which splits the vermouth into half sweet and half dry.
1 1/2 ounces dry vermouth
1 1/2 ounces dry sherry
2 dashes orange bitters
2 dashes Angostura Aromatic BittersAdd vermouth, sherry, and bitters to a mixing glass; add ice and stir. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist
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Nerding Out
I'm not really a comic fan, but for some reason, I'm loving these new stamps I got yesterday. Even the round ones are stamps!
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Baby, It’s Cold Outside
Right b
efore I adopted Moxie, I purchased a new down coat from Eddie Bauer — one of those head-to-toe sleeping bag numbers. When I took her home in mid-January (almost three years ago now) and had to walk her 3+ times per day in the bitter cold, I realized just what a good purchase that coat was. Days like today simply reinforce that it was money well spent.
Yeah. I know that's not me. I wear it zipped up to the nose with the hood up. You can barely see my face.
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Happy New Year!
I hope your new year got started like mine and Moxie's — surrounded by loved ones.
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Older . . .
Yesterday was my birthday, and per usual, I celebrated with some of the special people in my life. One of the most amazing things (other than the fact that they tolerated the fact that I was constantly blowing my nose all night) is that most of these people I've known for about ten years and some for closer to twenty. Having them in my life is the best gift of all and makes getting older much more tolerable. Much love to all of you and the rest of you in my life!
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My Happy Place
I've spent this morning and part of yesterday cooking homemade gifts for my family — granola, butter crunch toffee, and bacon jam — with nothing much else on the agenda. I've got the Pandora "Indie Christmas" station on in the background to get into the holiday spirit (#badjew) — in fact, they're currently playing one of my all-time favorite holiday songs. For me, listening to music and cooking the day away is super-relaxing and one of the reasons I love any opportunity to cook for friends and family. Hopefully I'll be doing a lot more cooking/entertaining in 2015 — as part of my savings plan to renovate my kitchen and then to celebrate having a kitchen that's much more conducive to cooking/entertaining! The plan is to break through the wall in between the kitchen and main living space so that people don't huddle awkwardly around the kitchen door while I cook and so that I can still feel like part of the action even if I'm in the kitchen. CAN'T WAIT.
