Thursday, June 22, 2006

Let's go Yankees!

So, before heading to Shea I wandered around my neighborhood trying to scope out the new restaurants and the Spiderman 3 shoot. Looks like they might be setting up for a night shot. When I was walking down Court they were putting up some fake Tae Kwon Do sign next to the Cobble Hill Cinema and possibly mocking up the Cobble Hill Cinema sign. I went back after the game and they had changed the Cobble Hill sign to say Styuvesant Cinema. I couldn't tell if the TKD sign was up. But it looks like that little corner is the only place they're prepping to shoot and everything else is just for set up. Which is impressive. They're taking up a hell of a lot of the neighborhood just for one corner. Lights and cables and shit everywhere. And I haven't seen any trailers or anything yet. Just equipment. Though there were signs for catering pointing towards Clinton or Henry or some such. I didn't explore all that much. Too bad I'm not sticking around to watch tonight. Ah well, I'll check it out in the theater.

Today The Senator and I went to my first game in Shea Stadium. I'm not a Mets fan at all but I figured I should see Shea at some point since I love baseball and love New York. It's not the greatest stadium, but I'm glad I went. They have a mascot (which I used to wish the Yankees had but am now glad they don't) and an apple in a hat that slowly rises whenever the Mets hit a homerun. I like the Durham Bull better, but still, fun in a cheesy sorta way. The Senator thinks it's a dump, but I didn't think it was that bad. But I'm not going to be sad when they finally build a new one. Though I suppose the new one will be all orangey too. What's with New York teams and orange?

The game itself was fun. Pedro pitched. While I can't deny his talent, I'm not so fond of him. And for not being fond of him or the teams he's played for, I've seen him pitch quite a bit. The Mets won, upsetting the Senator. But really, the Reds were crap on the field and the Mets do seem to be having a good season. Still, I wasn't so into the game not being invested in either team. Which meant I could just chill and drink beer and hang with a friend on a lovely day while everyone else I knew was at work. And now I can say I've seen Shea Stadium. And never have to go back.

Go Sherill!

Tonight Lovey took Vader and I to a Liberty game. I'd been wanting to get to a WNBA game for a while now so when Lovey asked if I was into it for tonight I jumped at the chance. Apparently Sherill Baker is an old family friend of the Lovey clan and can get Beverly tickets from time to time. So we went and had a fabulous time. The seats were great, the game was exciting, Sherill didn't play enough for our tastes but had some good moves, the fans were fun and I really, really want to go back. Lovey loves basketball and thinks Sherill rocks so she's totally got into the team and dragged us all to the team store for a little shopping after the game. She got the Musical Genius a #10 t-shirt and I was weak and got myself one as well. So, you know, I can have something to wear for the next game. After that we headed to the green room to wait for Sherill to pop by. Vader and I got to meet her and she's just the nicest person. We also met a friend she played ball with in college who's in town for a bit. Actually, she blew out her knee and can't play ball any more (the friend, Sherill is fine) and is thinking of law school. But before she goes she's looking for legal assistant jobs (willing to relocate anywhere) to take a break between undergrad and grad and to check out life at a firm before applying to school. So, if any of you lawyer types out there are willing to talk to her or give her suggestions or help looking for jobs, let me know and I'll pass your info on to her.

Anyway, I had a great time and think I might become a Liberty fan. Woo. And watching Vader and Lovey geek out like total fan girls was excellent. Vader may betray Lovey's Baker love and pick #20 Christon as her favorite though.

In other news, tomorrow Spiderman 3 will be spending some time shooting in my 'hood. I'm going to be out and about a lot tomorrow and then am heading out of town that night, but I may spend a little bit of time poking around to see what I can see. Though one of the blocked off streets is on my own little block so I might not have to go far to see anything. And while Mom and I were poking around looking into the Spiderman thing we learned that LOTS of new things have been going on in the area so maybe I'll just go for a nice little walk tomorrow to check it all out.

I guess this means I have to finally watch Spiderman 1 & 2 so I can go see #3 and squeal when I see my 'hood. And I totally will. You should've seen me towards the end of American Psycho when my 'hood and even apartment building showed up. Just ask B. I think the squealing and pointing when Greenwich Street appeared upset the woman a few rows in front of us much more than all my earlier laughing did (dude, it's a funny movie).

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Life of the Unemployed

Today I got my hair done again and then went off to meet Lovey so we could walk over to Madison & 49th and check out the Meow Mix House. I'm thinking that I really might need a job soon if this is how I'm filling my days. But man, those cats were super cute. Muppet was going to go with us but had a 4PM meeting. I think looking at cats in a store front was the much better choice.

Monday, June 19, 2006

Still Happy Birthday to Me

I had a lovely birthday. With the unemployed state and total flux of my life right now I wasn't really feeling into my birthday. Wasn't feeling the urge to plan a massive birthday week or crown myself Princess of Everything or whatever. My folks have been asking me what I want for a gift and I couldn't think of anything beyond rent money. I feel weird asking for birthday gifts when I'm trying hard not to spend lots of money these days. But, I knew I had to do something or I'd be very angry with myself later.

Saturday I had a party in the backyard. It was a pretty mellow thing, but great. Vader came by early to help with last minute cleaning and such. Then other folks started showing up. And with lovely gifts too. Because people spoil me. And think I'm a trashy princess since some of the gifts were booze and bath products and even a set of sassy stripper pole glasses. Hee. And of course the fancy girl air conditioner.

But it was a good time. Enough food and beer and wine for all. And dill dip. Which Beverly brought. And every time I said Lovey was bringing dill dip people thought I was going to say dildo. Leading to people laughing too much at the words dill dip all night. I manned the grill some but didn't have to do it the whole damn party like last year. So that was nice. Also, since only about 10 or 11 folks came I didn't feel like I was answering the door or hostessing as much and could sit and talk and hang out. Vader, Iolanthe, Charlotte, Britney & Kevin, Bambi, Muppet & Mr. Muppet, Lovey & the Musical Genius and Steph all came. So, a good crew. With lots of joking around, trash talking and mocking of me. Vader brought up the stuffed animal of an ex that I spent a good deal of time mending which amused those who were not aware of my good girlfriend homemaker abilities. And then at one point gynecologists came up and I said something about a tiny pink bagel. A few folks hadn't heard the tiny pink bagel story so I started it. At which point Steph giggled and said, "Ah, Amanda's vagina stories." And I actually do have a collection of vagina stories. Which is a little mortifying. But not mortifying enough that I didn't actually share all of them with the die hard folks who were still around later in the evening. It was a really nice night and I'm glad I decided to do the party thing.

Sunday was a day of Steph. We had brunch, got the AC, installed the AC, watched X-Men 3 and had way too much popcorn. Excellent Birthday Sunday.

And then today Sheena made me come into Manhattan and bought me lunch. I grabbed coffee with Lovey after that and ran into a bunch of folks from the old office which was nice. Everyone seems concerned about me and all that, a good feeling knowing that people do give a rat's ass. On Saturday, Vader insisted I couldn't be alone on my birthday night so she brought piña colada mix over tonight and we had piña coladas in the porch swing before heading to Sweet Melissa's for dinner and chocolate souffle cake. And of course lots of chatting and gossiping and eventual drunken babbling as the piña coladas were rather strong.

And then lots of emails and phone calls and such all day from friends and family. So, lots of Birthday Princess attention.

All in all a good Birthday Weekend. I have a lot of fabulous friends and family and am very, very lucky. And very, very old.

Happy Birthday To Me!!

I'm just getting older and older and older.

Shouldn't I be married with kids and a career and stuff right now? Not jobless and looking for a short term gig so I can go back to school? What are most 32 year olds doing these days?

Sunday, June 18, 2006

I Feel So Fancy

Just two weeks shy of my 10 year anniversary of moving to New York I'm now the proud owner of an air conditioner. I feel a little extravagant. I was kind of proud of being a bad ass (idiot?) who whethered ten air conditioner free summers in the City. And now I am weak. And I suspect in a matter of days I'll be all, "What was I thinking?!?!?" having not gotten one earlier. Actually it's been lovely today enjoying it in the 90 degree heat in Brooklyn. Though I do keep inching the temp up higher and higher so I feel less extravagant. Heh.

Muffy & Steph decided I needed one as a birthday gift and so Steph and I went out and got one and then he installed it. And it's lovely. And they are darling, darling people. So good to me. And now I can't complain that I'm too hot to job search next week. Alas. I also won't have to go home with cute boys because they have air conditioning (kidding, Daddy, I would NEVER do that).