this is a teaser...

of what I've been doing all summer off, tied to the computer...more details to come...hold onto your seats!!!

hi ho, hi ho

...it's off to work I go. Having the summer off is a joy, a treat, but now back to real life like the rest of you worker bees out there.

Foot Nazi

I had my back to school pedicure with a new nail tech last week. The woman I go to for manicures every other week was super booked and the new place had an opening so I thought "why not?"
I knew I was in trouble when I asked her if I should pick out a color for my toes and she said "No, I'll do that for you. It's my room and I'll pick the color that's best for you" Hmmm...okay..some control issues going on here but hey, she might choose something perfect.
When she started rubbing and scrubbing my feet with the pumice stone I felt like my feet had turned into the catch of the day and she was slapping them around, filleting the guts out, and tearing off the outer flesh. Did this foot Nazi have any idea that this was uncomfortable on my end?
I told her that her massage on my foot was a little painful and she said she was working out the stress in my back. Yes, I know all about reflexology and how your nerves in your feet effect the rest of your body but the pain was totally gone from my back and now in the sole of my foot. What a brute! A beast! I felt like I was with the lady foot wrestler..
After all was said and done I prefer a pedicure that is more relaxing and not medicinal stress relief. My toenail polish is a pretty raspberry...not too bad but I had to take a beating to get it.

Let's have Romy be in charge!

I turn into a seven-teen year old geek in an adults body when I think about my class reunion. I can't help it. I get all giddy and excited to see people that I haven't seen or talked to in the last ten years. Color me "out of your mind" but I just love the get togethers and the chit chat and then you go home and back to real life. It's fun.
Anyways, major disappointment for my reunion. The organizers have decided to have it in November. As in, Thanksgiving weekend November....hellooooooooooo. Does anyone else smell "hell no I'm not fighting the airport crowds, draggin my ass on an overcrowded plane , leavin my family and turkey leftovers to drive in snow and slush ruining my suede boots to see my friends who organized a reunion on the busiest holiday weekend of the year".

I'll keep you posted.

We are mysterious creatures; aren't we?

Isn't it funny how we'll tend to clean up the place before the housekeeper arrives? I like to be out of the house ...otherwise its just awkward and embarassing sitting at my computer or reading the latest magazine while my housecleaner is hustling and bustling making my house sparkle and shine.
Last week when it was cleaning day, I went to a matinee. Solo. All by myself. Ticket for one, please. No kidding. I've always thought it was silly if you felt you couldn't go to a movie without someone accompanying you. Why not? You can't (or shouldn't) talk during the film. I suppose afterwards it would be nice to talk about the movie over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine but no matter...I've got you, babe.
I saw "Evening" with glowing performances by some of todays most wonderful actresses. I especially enjoyed seeing Meryl Streep's daughter, Mamie Gummer, playing a younger version of Meryl Streep's character. Wow..talk about look-a-likes! Thumbs up for a chick flick that's beautifully shot as well as thought provoking, and thumbs up to come home to a clean house. That's what I call an afternoon delight.

Hairspray

It's actually gotten good reviews...but I just don't under- stand the

"why"

behind Travolta's character...why not Delta Burke or Rosie O'Donnell or *fill in your own plus size actress here* What a great part for a woman...the director tells you to keep eating everything in sight; people would bring you donuts on a daily basis...love that! The tabloids would rave about your commitment to the part or what a great actress to do such a thing, and how great you look now ( the losing weight part would suck...but fun to get there and get paid for it!).
I think I'm over the humor of a man dressing up like a woman...whatever. If you go, munch on some popcorn for me and throw in a box of raisinets.

Positively Posh

Color me such a loser but I am so enjoying the Victoria Beckham Coming to America reality show on NBC. Victoria Posh Beckham is a hoot--she's very funny and such a good time girl! Yes, I always thought of her as that aloof, "I'm so bored with being so fabulous" woman until this show...she even pokes fun at her "I'm so miserable" look that she wears in most paparazzi shots. She's quick, witty, and I am loving her hair by the way. Welcome to the USA, Beckhams...that's major.

Tomatoland

Summer- time. The food is fresh and cooking should be easy. Here's a fabulous treat that I have fallen in love with and it just sings summertime. If you are growing fresh herbs in pots on the patio this is SO easy peasy...and not to mention you feel like vegetarian caveman going out to gather part of your meal...how great is that? And remember, tomatoes are SO good for you that there should be a country named after them.
Enjoy!
3 tablespoons good olive oil

2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves)

2 pints cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, plus more for garnish

2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish

2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Heat the olive oil in a saute pan large enough to hold all the tomatoes in one layer. Add the garlic to the oil and cook over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, thyme, salt, and pepper. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the tomatoes begin to loose their firm round shape. Sprinkle with a little fresh chopped basil and parsley and serve hot or at room temperature.

Checking my vitals

I have turned into an email addict. I am working on a project this summer that ties me to my computer for great lengths of time and the problem is that I am obsessed with checking my email at any given moment. Yes, I do have lots of email queries in regards to this project but in reality, do most people reply in 45 minutes or less? Actually, I have found that there are those people that react to incoming email like Pavlov's dog...the bell rings and they answer their email. I applaud those people for such quick replies. Thank you (sort of like a drug addict thanking his source, eh?).

Email excites me. I am like the seven year old kid who just found out about this unexplained phenomenon known as the daily mail. Wow! Some person brings these mysterious envelopes once a day addressed to people in your home. Don't you remember how giddy you would be if there was ever a piece of mail for YOU at that age?? That's me...deja vu all over again. Lately, I have been thinking how nice it would be if email only did come once a day just like our good old snail mail...then, I wouldn't have to keep checking my email every hour on the hour.

To rationalize my guilt over this, I must state that I don't surf the Internet looking for this or that or wasting hours on end...it's just the email that throws my train of thought off the tracks when I am supposed to be busy being creative and working.

I know I can kick this habit though...they tried to make me go to rehab, I said no,no, no. Luckily, at my place of employment they have banned any email sites from our computer (thanks Mr. Porn surfer guy) but, it should wean me from this ever consuming addiction when I return in the fall. I won't have mail...I'll just have work.

The Story

If I ever had a fantasy it would be to sing like this and own it. Brandi Carlile nails it; she lives this song...awesome.

Chit Chat free zone

First and foremost, I love, love, love my IPod. In my opinion it's just as important as the running shoes I'm wearing...it makes my daily exercise regime a few points above tolerable. But, here's the problem.
I live in a "Leave it to Beaver" neighborhood. Nothing wrong with that, in fact many people from many other states have chosen to settle in our little piece of suburbia...it's a great place to live. There are lots of neighbors, dogs, a few kids, and great areas to take walks. Therein lies the problem. When I'm movin and groovin and shakin and bakin to Donna Summer, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, or whoever...I don't want to be bothered. I really just want to walk, but on the other hand I don't want to be rude to the neighbors around the area.
Lately, every morning when I walk I have been learning the fine art of reading lips while wearing the IPod. I can totally translate "hello" or "good morning" but it's the "how are you today?" or "great day for a walk" that totally throws me off and I feel like I have to unplug and say my few words of social kindness to those more slower walkers on the block that want to chit chat.

I can get over it but then I began to think...are we raising socially inept adults in our society as a result of the IPod and other personal music devices? Will the kids of today be taking "Social Skills 101" as adults because of overuse of "me" time? It's great to have your space, your time and music to yourself, but I think we need to keep ourselves open for using our social graces with other living, breathing people. I mean, what would you do if you happen to bump into Madonna on an early morning run?

Bad Girls

Compared to some of the people I work with I might be considered cool, hip or a little funky. Compared to singer Amy Winehouse, I am vanilla. I am Polly Purebred. I am a wallflower at the grade school dance.
She has got such a thrown together, uber-cool, rebel without a cause vibe about her and you know she would just tell you to take her or leave her..."but if you leave me, you'll never know what you'll be missing."
From an article on tiscali.co.uk--
"She has the vocal prodigy bit covered. If words have already worn themselves out trying to describe the horny, sleazy, salty spiritual, worldly wise, late night, tired of bullshit, downtown, flirty, velvet resonance that makes for a great soul-jazz singer they're going to fall apart entirely over Amy."
Her popular song, Rehab,reminds me of poor Britney and her very public meltdown. The only difference is that Winehouse would be openly and honestly wearing the bald. Sometimes, bald is beautiful.

Flag Frenzy

What ever happened to the good ole 4th of July? Picnics, family, friends, fireworks...a down home, kicked back, relaxed sort of holiday. It was a holiday meant for summer...throw a couple of hot dogs on the grill, whip up some potato salad, pop open a brewsky, and you got yourself a fourth to be proud of. All of a sudden it's become this hoo haw of buying red and white and blue ribbons, flag t-shirts, hats with flags and fireworks, and festooning the house with streamers, wooden craft cows with red bandannas, and not one flag but fifty to line the driveway! Let's relax a little, people!We used to be able to count on the 4th to be a mellow, lazy, hazy kind of holiday but now the merchandise has taken over. What's next? Labor Day?