I Repeat....

After another grueling week at work, I again ask you....why do we actually have to go to work this week? It's a drudgery for the sake of it, very Scrooge of everyone. I accomplished NOTHING that couldn't wait until next week. Save the overhead, the heat expended, the receptionists paid to answer the phone, etc., and let us stay at home! Bah, humbug. So, in retaliation, I'm taking tomorrow off sick. I'm SICK OF WORK!!!

Pee Wee

To my baby sister, Molly....a big HAPPY 25th from her big sister! Love you, babe!

First Snow

It snowed last night! So, we had a White Boxing Day! A few inches, not much, but enough to cover Central Park and make for some beautiful pictures! You will have to check out our website later for some updated pictures. It was cold walking around, but very fun. Snow is so beautiful when it falls. It makes everything look pretty! I know it's only the beginning of a long winter, but I'm still excited about it every time it happens!

Christmas Spirits

So, I showed up to hang out with my parents after my office Christmas party a little drunk. Mainly because I didn't get a Christmas bonus and I needed to get my money's worth from the people I work for. But, that aside, this was a first for me. Hanging out with my parents drunk, not getting the most out of the Christmas party. It was raining, so I got on the bus after the party, with my Carmel Macciato in tow, and proceeded to fall asleep in traffic. An hour later, I get off the bus, a bit more sober, and walk in the rain to meet them at the bar. All in the Christmas Spirit, of course. I think it's time for some more spirits. What can I make you?

Justice

Someone explain to me the justice that it snows in Dallas, where we lived for almost 3 years, for Christmas and not NYC!!! How is this possible? Why can't it snow here? Of course, I'm told that it almost NEVER snows here before January. But the past 2 or 3 years NYC has had a very white Christmas. It's just when WE, the heat-seeking missiles, move here that it's a balmy 57 degrees today, and it's going to rain! AUGH! It's enough to make anyone a Scrooge. Rain and cold on Christmas do not mix. I MUCH prefer snow.

Now, I know there are some of you out there bemoaning the fact that you have WAY too much snow (Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo), but you have to understand that people from Texas just expect it to snow up here in the cold north. Just like New Yorkers are surprised to find out that it's already snowed 3 times in Texas this year! They are shocked and amazed, actually. They think Texas is supposed to be warm all the time. But, that's another topic for another blog. New Yorkers and the crazy things they actually believe to be true, even though they have never seen it for themselves.

One More Little Thing

It's 2 days to Christmas, and I am done with my shopping. Actually, I was done about a week ago, mainly because I had to mail most of them back to Texas. So, I should have a feeling of calm and serenity, right? You would think so, but I keep thinking of that 'one more little thing' I can get my family members for Christmas morning. Why do I think this way? Drives my husband crazy. I love Christmas, and continue to strive for the idea that the sincere thought process of buying someone something and the act of getting them something you think they would like or would want to have is the point behind the gift giving. As opposed to just buying something because you need to get them something and don't really care what it is, but damnit, that's one more present off the list! So, my thinking of WANTING to get just 'one more little thing,' that's ok, right?

Hardest Week

The week of Christmas (and really the week after, too) are quite possibly the hardest to get through at work. Provided you are not a teacher and having to deal with kids the previous week (like my mom and Ginny). Nothing else is happening this week. No one REALLY wants to be at work. Most everyone has to travel somewhere and is already mentally planning on being gone. So why don't we just call off work for these two weeks? I mean, come on, who wants to be at work? Raise your hand. It pains me to have to work tomorrow, even if it's only for half a day. But I have no vacation, so I'm the poor shlep that has to actually show up and pretend to do something. Let's revolt! Who's with me?

Carnegie Hall

It may be the best performance space in the world. Famous people from all over the world have sung there. The stage is even has a copyright! And everyone knows the joke "How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice." It's the dream of every young musician to one day perform in Carnegie Hall in front of a packed house. And that's exactly what I got to do last night, and what I'll get to do tonight, too! The chorus I'm in this year, The Juilliard Choral Union, performed last night with the New York City Pops in their Christmas concert, under the direction of Skitch Henderson. Yes, he's still alive. He's 86. He shushes the orchestra and chorus loud enough that those lucky enough to sit close to the stage (rich bastards!) can hear him. He calls the chorus the 'chor' like the Corps of Cadets. He never takes the same tempo twice, and likes to draw out phrases for so long that sopranos could quite possibly pass out. Quite a character, I'd highly recommend reading about him. He is fun to sing for, as he is genuinely impressed with what the chorus does, and when a piece is over, he says over his shoulder 'That's it!' so everyone can start clapping! So funny!

We only sing a couple of songs in the whole show. But it is such a cool experience to be up on that stage! And it is humbling at the same time. I had a great time! And, to top it all off, I get to do it again in January! Next time is the Brahms' Requiem with the Juilliard Symphony Orchestra. Twice in 2 months; how lucky am I? Our director, Judith Clurman, said last night before we went on stage; "It's CARNEGIE HALL for God's sake! Smile and enjoy it!" That's exactly what I did, and it made the experience that much better. Who would have though that a simple girl from a tiny town in West Texas would be singing in Carnegie Hall! That's enough to make you smile right there!

'Tis the Season

'Tis the season of parties and shopping and more parties and tasty beverages and spending time with friends and family. Enjoy it and take a minute to remember the Joy of Christmas.

Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king.
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Merry Christmas!

I'M SURROUNDED!!!

Help! I'm surrounded by Aggies! On this, the absolute WORST day for Longhorns and Aggies to mix! Today is the annual brawl in the Lone Star State between what I would call the biggest rival in college sports....UT vs. TX A&M football. And all of Joel's family is here with us in the City, so I am alone to root for my Horns. Joel has already started in on me about how they are going to beat the hell out of us. As if he himself, and all of his Aggie friends are going to jump me! AUGH! The only thing getting me through is knowing that MY team, who is the dominant winner in the series and has been for a while, is going to pull through, and Joel can eat crow!

HOOK 'EM HORNS!!!

NBA Brawl

Pacers/Pistons. Did anyone see that last night? We didn't see the game at all, as neither Joel nor I are NBA fans (except Joel tends to root for the Rockets), but caught the recap this morning on Sports Center. I am appalled. Players were fighting, which is not really uncommon, and has seemed to get worse in the past few years, but it spilled into the stand between players and fans after a fan threw a drink on one of the Pacers. Completely classless fans. They had to call the game because it got out of hand. 3 of the Pacers and 1 of the Pistons has been suspended indefinitely. I know there will be lots of law-suits come out of this one, but personally I feel that if you go out onto the court to confront a player, you deserve what happens to you. They were throwing everything at the Pacers' players as they were going into the dressing room! I am appalled. What is professional basketball coming to? I agree that the players should not have started a fight with the fans, but how stupid are the Detroit fans if they think this huge, adrenalin-pumped, athlete isn't going to just jump that little table separating them and kick their ass?

Again, completely classless.

Academy Antics

Go Army! Beat Navy! (Sorry, Molly, it's just for today)

Joel and I visited West Point today. We were the guests of friends of ours from church, Mike and Eleanor Peters. Mike is a West Point grad and has taught there at 2 different times, so we got a personal tour and got to visit several different homes on campus of people they know there. It was SO cool! Mike is a retired colonel from the army, and has lived all over the world working for the Army in some capacity. They are about to move to Santa Fe, NM, for him to take over as the President of St. John's College, a liberal arts school that teaches the classics. Not sure what that means, but it has something to do with having a set curriculum and reading a lot of Plato and Aristotle, to name a few. Needless to say, doesn't sound like something a career military man would typically go for, but that just proves what an amazing man he is. They are great people and we are so fortunate to have met them as our paths crossed in this remarkable place.

West Point was fun, although the weather was pretty crappy. It rained off and on all day, and to top it all off, Army lost to University of Alabama-Birmingham. We didn't even stay to the end of the game because it was raining too much and we were all cold. We didn't consider this being a 'two-percenter,' as the stands were emptying with the increasing rain, and even the Cadets didn't seem too into the game. We got to go to the Cadet Parade before hand, and tailgated with the Peters and some of their other friends. Having lived there off and on over several years, they are excellent tour guides! The history of the place was just great, but Joel and I were both a little under-whelmed at the spirit and excitement of the Cadets. The Aggies put them to shame! This probably has something to do with the quality of the football team, as Army is not very good, but still. West Point itself is more like an army base than a college campus. I was just amazed at the size of the place. It's just beautiful, really, and has great views of the Hudson River Valley. If you ever have a chance to visit, I would highly recommend it! We will be visiting again in a few years when Army plays Texas A&M!

FRIENDS

I have a confession. I am addicted to 'Friends.' I know this is not news for some of you, as you have hidden addictions, too. I love to watch old episodes, even if I've seen them a million times. My husband views this as very odd behavior. He tolerates my watching, but not multiple shows in a row. I don't really have a favorite episode, but I do like the earlier seasons when Chandler was really funny and normal. Anyone want to share their favorite?

BCS contention

In reference to my previous post, I am currently watching the OU/Nebraska football game and rooting for OU because if they cover the spread, I will win a point in my football pool. Sad to say, but true. But, Nebraska has handed it to so many teams in recent years, beating them handily with their option offense, that I really can't feel sorry for their current 30-0 ass-whipping. So, if OU, current Big 12 team-to-beat, kicks the shit out of them (as a Longhorn I find it very hard to root for the Sooners), I think that's just Nebraska's just desserts.

After all, the 'N' is for knowledge!

Sports Corner

Yes, seems strange for me to have a blog about this, but it's Friday night, and I'm watching sports! In light of recent events regarding Ohio State, I have determined that sports in general is getting out of hand. College football has become an 'arms race' of who can have the nicest facilities, who can get the best players, who has the biggest stadium, whose alumni fork out the most money for season tickets and who can pay their coach the most money and still post a profit! I speak from experience, as my husband and I went to big rival schools, the University of Texas and Texas A&M, and both programs tend to just try to out-do the other. Both have successful programs, and have ranked football teams known nation-wide. But if you can't beat A&M, you're tenure at UT is in jeopardy. Same at A&M. I hope that we don't get to the point in college athletics, specifically football and basketball, that we pay the athletes like professional athletes. But, only time will tell.

And another thing, no matter what time of day, you are bound to have sports readily available to you, especially if you have cable (and who doesn't these days?). Don't get me wrong, I enjoy sports. I tend to watch a lot of it, actually (married to a sports fan). And, it's not the games themselves that bother me. It's the shear quantity of TALKING about sports that annoys the shit out of me! I just want to watch, I don't want to hear about all the analyzing pre- and post-game! Yes, I'm sure you're thinking I should just change the channel, or better yet, turn it off and go outside! But it's not that easy.

I'll get over it, I'm just annoyed at the moment and feel I should put this out there into the void. So good-night void!

Scott Peterson

So.....he's guilty. All I have to say is....Thank God! I am SO sick of hearing about this stupid guy! Good Morning America had a segment at least 2 times a week, sometimes more, on this stupid case for the last 9 months. Frankly, who is this guy? Why do I care about him? I must say, his conviction affects my life IN NO WAY except that I no longer have to hear about it and that makes me happy! Now, they'll probably be some sort of appeal or mis-trial or something like that and we'll have to hear more about it. Which just goes to show you that for some reason, our judicial system is screwed up. Can't someone just be GUILTY, and that's the end of it!?

New York Marathon

Today I saw my first marathon. And what a cool one to get to see! The NYC Marathon is one of the most famous in the world, and people from all over were there running. My good, and crazy, friend Jennifer Souza ran it. It was so cool to get to see someone I actually KNOW run it the first time I've gotten to see one! I had someone to wait and watch for, and yell really loud in the 10 seconds or so she was in ear shot! I actually knew a couple of other people running it, but I never saw them. It's harder than you'd think to spot someone! There are the crazies that wear a costume while running, like the guy dressed as Elvis. I saw a guy dressed as Scooby-Doo. Of course, this being New York, there were a few people displaying their political and/or social agendas on their t-shirts. There were lots of people with their names on their shirts, so you yell at them when they run by. Lots of Texas flag shorts, which was cool for us. We stood in Central Park around mile 24, where everyone looks a little beat. It's great to cheer everyone on when they look a little down. No matter what someone is wearing, you have to cheer them on and give them props, as they are actually out there busting their butts running, and you are standing on the sideline, wishing whoever you're waiting on would run by so you could go somewhere and sit down!

Marathoners are amazing. Joel, of course, now wants to run one. I, on the other hand, have the exact opposite reaction. No way in hell will you catch me running 26.2 miles. The NYC marathon route goes through all 5 boroughs....if I want to go from Brooklyn to Central Park I take the subway! It was a perfect day, probably a little warm for the runners (up in the 60s) but just great for us spectators! All the trees are turning in Central Park, and it was a perfectly clear day. Great day to spend in the park. We saw the leaders run by for both the men and the women run by. They are running faster at mile 24 than I could probably run 1 mile! Amazing. We'll see if Joel actually runs it while we still live here....feel free to comment on that and encourage him!

blogging

Having recently discovered blogging as a past-time, I felt the need to share all my deepest, innermost thoughts with all of you, complete strangers. I live in New York City, transplanted from Texas (that's fly-over country for all you Yankees and Californians) with my husband Joel (also a Texan), and we do our best to make it as Republicans on the Upper West Side. Yes, we take donations (like I'd say no to free money!), but we DO NOT require your opinion in any way shape or form.

Don't get me wrong, I love living in the City, it's a fabulous place and I'd highly recommend everyone spend some serious quality time in one of the greatest cities in our great nation. But the recent re-election of President George Bush, and the resultant backlash of negative press and opinion columns in the Times has left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe my next blog will be more up-beat. For now, I'm just an ignorant, racist, gay-hating conservative from middle America. Or so the Times says....

-k