"Happy, happy birthday baby..."

Lots of activity in the past couple of days, kids.

This weekend was Bryan's birthday, so we went to New York City to celebrate. We spent the weekend hanging out with one of my best friends from high school, and she dutifully took us out-of-towners where we wanted to go. But, first things first.

We got there after a grueling 6 hours in traffic and parked the car near my friend's Brooklyn apartment before taking the subway into the city. Of course, we had to stop at the Apple Store on 5th Ave., as it's kind of a holy place for Bryan. Also, it's right next to F.A.O. Schwarz, so we could pick up some toys for the new nephew and the soon-to-be-daughter of one of Bryan's good friends.

After dinner, we met up with my friend at her workplace. She took us to the roof of her building in Herald Square (which, as a matter of fact, is where the above picture came from). After she got off of work around midnight, we went to Lincoln Center to see this art installation. The theory behind it is cool. The artist filmed dancers performing, but slowed the frame rate way down so it looks like they're floating in mid-air and holding leg extensions for eons. It was very cool, and quite relaxing to watch as we lay on the cement of the plaza.

On Saturday, we spent the whole day at Coney Island for the Siren Music Festival. I had never been to Coney Island before, and all the impressions I get of it from the media are of a drug-ridden former paradise. It was actually kind of charming in certain respects, although it was VERY crowded and VERY hot, with no shade. Being the delicate flower that I am, I was slathered in sunscreen and sought shade at every possible opportunity. The highlight of Coney Island was riding the Cyclone roller coaster. It was fun, I guess. If you like being beaten to a bloody pulp. The ride was so rough, Bryan has bruises all over his body (I guess he's the delicate flower in that scenario). Later that night, some other friends of mine came in for a birthday dinner at the Park Slope Alehouse.

Sunday we left Brooklyn after eating a couple of burritos the size of our heads, and we had dinner with my family in Connecticut at one of the best seafood restaurants in the state before heading home. All in all, it was a good weekend, and Bryan enjoyed his birthday which is all I really cared about in the first place.

Next week, we're off to Indiana to visit the new nephew and experience the heartland, so I'm looking forward to a week of chain restaurants and fast food joints.

If you can't say anything nice...

This meme looks really interesting, and is very different from a lot of the memes out there. I thought I'd give it a try.

List ten things you want to say to 10 people you know, but never will for whatever reason. Don't say who they are. Use each person only once and only use one sentence.

1. You are quick to point out the things you see as faults in others, but you are absolutely incapable of seeing those exact same traits in yourself.
2. I am severely disappointed that you didn't even call me on my birthday.
3. You used our friendship to manipulate me because you knew you could.
4. You intimidate me as much as you inspire me.
5. I will never forgive you for what you did to me.
6. I'm capable of far more than you think I am, but you never give me the chance.
7. Our friendship is one of the things that I cherish most in my life.
8. Were you to ever not be in my life, I would experience the biggest, deepest, saddest sense of loss I have ever known.
9. I'm almost a Ph.D., and you sell shoes for living, and I don't feel at all badly that I'm gloating about that.
10. I hate your significant other.

I wanted to try out Blogger's picture posting capability.

Just a silly picture of me singing really bad opera in front of the Opéra Garnier in Paris.

It's that kind of day.

"I know I must keep travelin' till my road comes to an end..."

OK, Will. Ha ha. Here's another post -- this year, yet -- just for you, Mr. Smarty Pants. And, for the record, yes, the dead bird is off of my car. That car, as a matter of fact, is now completely defunct. Head gasket blown, wheel baring rapidly going down the tubes, brakes no longer functioning. It sits in the driveway like a beached whale, gathering pollen dust and bird poo. Pretty soon I'll have to get some cinder blocks and turn it into a planter or something for the front yard. But that $500 air conditioning I paid for last summer works like a champ. If there was a patron saint for automobiles, I'd kick him or her in his or her respective naughties.

Aside from the car, life continues on. I've been granted a research fellowship for the summer, so I spend most days confined in my apartment reading through dusty tomes (or photocopies of dusty tomes) and writing my magnum opus. It's currently on page 30 or so. I must say, after 6 years of working toward this moment, I thought that the writing process would be easier. I mean I have all of my arguments, tons of notes, and a skeletal outline. Alas, no -- not so easy. It is the most soul-sucking endeavor I've yet encountered in grad school, and as many of you know, grad school has no dearth of soul-suckage.

Bryan continues at his job, although hopefully not much longer, and he's eagerly anticipating meeting his new nephew when we head to Indianapolis at the end of July. My mom knitted him a new baby blanket, which is really cute, and we're both looking forward to giving it to the blessed child when we see him. As well as meeting the little'un, it will be my first time meeting Bryan's brother which should be interesting. I only get Bryan's view of his brother most of the time, so I'll be keen to know if he lives up to his reputation.

Bryan and I have a relatively new addition to the family, our beloved Oscar. He has several annoying habits, but when he's not currently engaged in yowling, scratching, or tearing about the house, he's darned cute. Bryan continues to try to "train" him. Mostly, it's kind of like watching an episode of ALF. The furry being does something annoying and mildly destructive; we berate him for all of thirty seconds; he gives us the googly eyes; we all have a hearty laugh and snuggle on the couch.

My best friend got married this weekend. The wedding was beautiful, she was beautiful -- the whole thing was beautiful (or, à la Cabaret, "Bee-YOO-tee-ful!"). I'm happy for her, if I'm a bit sad for me. We'll never hang out, just the two of us, like we used to, or do any of the impulsive things we were fond of in our earlier years. No matter how much I look to the future, when the future arrives, there's always part of me that wants to maintain just a little bit of the past. I guess that's what photo albums are for.

And there it is folks. The update. Hopefully to be followed by more, although probably not on anything resembling a normal schedule. Um, yeah. Tally-ho!