CYHSY

Last night I (with my little sister) had the privilege of going to see CYHSY. They were awesome and did not take getting use to. Only a philistine would say as such. It was amazing. But I have to say adding to the event was the overall atmosphere (sans cigarette smoke which, like the old lady I am, only aggravated my asthma). The concert was in Rumsey Playfield where they hold all the SummerStage concerts in Central Park. It's like a 5 min walk from my apt. The night was cool and crisp and the music was...an experience. Imagine listening to one of your favorite albums in the middle of your favorite city, more specifically, in the middle of your favorite part of your favorite city. I closed my eyes and took it all in. Then my sister, who really didn't listen to them much before going last night, leaned over and said, "This guy is singing bad on purpose." Perhaps. But he does it so well. Their transitions were great and when he sang, "I - Will try on New York City" everyone shouted. It was great.

It was also a little weird listening/watching them perform in CP. Their album is one of my long run albums and so being at a concert in my running stomping grounds made be feel like I should be running. No, it made me want to run. Anyway, they were fantastic. If you aren't already a fan, I strongly suggest giving them a listen.

No beer for you!

I went for a run tonight in CP and decided to pick up the last few items I need for dinner on my way back home. I step into the grocery store all sweaty (and wearing the most obscene pair of bright yellow short shorts [it was laundry day today]) and immediately decide that I want beer. I peruse the selection before deciding on Brooklyn Brown Ale. I then pick up my tofu and go to the self check out. The little automated lady voice informs me that my ID will be checked by the attendant. I dig in my tiny pocket (which looks even more obscene because it's in the inside of my shorts) and find no ID. I have an ATM card and my insurance card. The attended immediately takes the beer out of my hands as I try to explain that I just came back from a run and says loudly, "No ID, no beer. And you can't fool me, you're not a day over 21." As much as I would like to think I am retaining my youth, I do NOT look 21 or younger. Then the older lady behind me starts tsk tsking and whispers, "trying to buy beer..." while giving me a reproachful look.

Furthermore, what kind of sub-21er buys tofu and goes running with an insurance card? Stinkers.
I had seltzer instead.

Revolving Doors = Mental Lapse

I have always been astounded by the inability of people to use or understand how to use revolving doors. I work in a hospital. There is a huge entrance with a revolving door in the center and flanked on both sides are electric sliding doors. Since this is the main entrance to the hospital and to the emergency room, you would think that there would have to be electric sliding doors to accommodate the gurneys, wheelchairs, strollers, walkers, etc. that come through the main entrance. And there is. An automatic sliding entrance is on the right and the exit is on the left of the revolving doors. Now, people don't seen to understand that this and somehow try to squeeze all kinds of situations through the revolving doors. I'm talking things/people that OBVIOUSLY cannot get through nor should you try to get through for safety reasons (such as a gaggle of children, more than one elderly person with a walker, babies in strollers, people in wheelchairs, etc. It's not like each quarter is a luxurious size. It's your standard revolving door size. I have seen this on multiple occasion, but today was the icing on the cake. I was stepping into the revolving door in a half sleepy state and realized I couldn't push it. Why? Because each quarter was filled. With a population of a small country. It was like that game of how many people you would fit into a telephone booth or a punch buggy. It was so ridiculous. In one quarter was a woman with a small child and a stroller (infant in the stroller), the other had an elderly woman with a walker and a (not so smart or qualified) helper, the third was about 5 children between the ages of 4-13 (and I have to say that they were soooo tight in there that one kid was pressed against the glass) and I was in the last. I was able to squeeze out of my quarter and go through the electric doors (as these people clearly couldn't comprehend) all the while staring at this really bizarre predicament. How on Earth did these people think they would get through?!

Finally the security guard, who was watching with aggravation and amusement, came over and PUSHED like there was no tomorrow. Quite frankly, I would have left them there to learn a lesson, but really, that infant shouldn't have to suffer for the lack of logic skill in his/her guardian. How absurd. And the best part. Once they got through (they were not all together which means there are more than one group of people that thinks it is ok to do this) , they started to yell at the security guard for some reason or the other. Then, Then! A bunch of people who were waiting to go through the revolving doors also crammed themselves in (with a STROLLER!) and got stuck. What is wrong with people! Another guard was motioning to use the electric doors and they didn't listen. Oh man.

Therefore I conclude, based on many observation and today's personal experience, that revolving doors are somehow perceived as a magical portal of entry for most people where space constraints do not exist (I liken it to Mary Poppin's carpet bag), resulting in serious mental lapses. Incredible.

Greenish thumb

I planted several herbs and plants in my backyard (which is crawling with big fat worms and slugs [Are slugs a bad sign?]) and I am happy to report that most of my plants are growing. The peas (from seeds!), alpine strawberry plant, and mint are doing great. The purple basil is doing poorly and the thyme, parsely and chives are slowly growing. Check out my beauties.

Peas, alpine strawberry (look! one red strawberry!) and mint.

Family BBQ

My family came over this weekend to BBQ in our backyard. It was nice to see my parents, siblings and brother-in-law. My mom out did herself again with her awesome Korean marinated BBQ. There is something about mothers and skills involved in marinating for BBQ (well, this statement is made from a sampling of 2 [Vijay's mom and my mom] but the evidence is so compelling that I choose to firmly believe it) that makes everything so amazingly delicious. There was a lot of beer and wine and of course dessert (chocolate ganache cake from Whole Foods, an array of tarts, and cream puffs from my favorite place, Beard Papa's). The weather was great making the time spend in the backyard fantastic. The little faux beach Mike set up was great and will be used again for our uo-coming beer tasting party (weather permitting-the faux beach that is, not the party). All in all, it was a great day/night.

Sunday was all about lab.

Pics.

Killing time.

I got to work early and accomplished a good deal and so now I am bored. That's why I did the four things about me thing. 'Cause I had nothing else to do (that didn't require serious thinking) though normally I find these things pretty silly. But once I started, it made me think and dig deep in my brain, which is a time consuming project. Not that anyone really has made finding the answers to what my four jobs have been their life pursuit, but if you have, I grant you this:

Four jobs I've had:
1. Shopgirl in a clothing store
2. Busch Dining Hall server (I probably served most of you! I was always generous [hence yelled at] with mashed potato servings.)
3. Lab tech
4. Dry cleaners (and NO, it was not owned by Koreans!)

Four movies I can watch over and over : There aren't many movies I watch repetitively...
1. Sound of Music- I watched this with my sisters all the time when we were really little. We tried often to re-create the waltz. Oh, and I thought they were calling her "Baroness" because she couldn't have kids (hence marrying a man with 7 children). I thought it was really mean of the writers to do that.
2. Swiss Family Robinson- Again, a movie watched often as a child, though their ability to make those tree houses and have ostrich races always impressed me.
3. Ghostbuster (ok, I'm cheating by saying BOTH Ghostbusters)
4. umm...Beetlejuice

Four places I've lived:
1. Bronx, NY
2. WNY, NJ
3. New Brunswick, NJ
4. NYC

Four TV shows I love:
1. Law and Order (SVU in particular)
2. The Simpsons
3. Food Network (yeah yeah, I know it's not a show.)
4. Gilmore Girls (I promise, promise, promise, it's because of the outfits and hair. I find both main characters to be annoying [particularly Rory who has gotten lamer as the seasons have gone by].)

Four highly regarded and recommended TV shows that I've never watched a single minute of
1. 24
2. The Sopranos
3. Six Feet Under
4. Survivor

Four places I've vacationed:
1. Various parts of Italy
2. Paris
3. London
4. Seattle/Mt. Rainier

Four of my favorite dishes:
1. Hot and Sour soup
2. Mexican (all dishes Mexican)
3. Kimchi chigae
4. Pizza

Four books recently read: (ok, this stretches to books read this year because I really can't remember when/what order I have read these.)
1. The Devil in the White City - Very good
2. The Memory Keeper's Daughter- Excellent (almost made me cry!)
3. Prep (BIG disappointment-Well, on second thought, it was okay, but I just didn't really identify with the characters. It interested me because who hasn't had the feeling of a huge crush or a sense of high school drama. So it was good in that sense and it was a fast read.)
4. Running with Scissors (Great-Reminded me of David Sedaris' stuff, whose writing I like better.)

Four sites I visit daily: (The site visited most often on a daily basis is NCBI, but we won't count that one.)
1. NYtimes
2. all sites of close friends
3. gmail
4. People magazine (yeah...)

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Cinque Terra
2. Hiking with friends
3. Hanging out around NYC (I guess this is when you know you really like NYC.)
4. Skiing (cross country and downhill) with friends

Now, wasn't that absoulutely thrilling? Yes, yes, thank you.

update: Mike and I watched Swiss Family Robinson this weekend, and oh man, I totally see why this movie appeals to kids. An island with tigers, elephants, pirates and the coolest tree houses ever?! What could be better. I really enjoyed watching it again.

A failed BBQ but a successful party and year of marriage

This weekend we had a get together, intending a BBQ party at the apt. The perpetual rain, however, had other plans for us (thanks Ernesto) and because the UBS Gallery is open from M-F (9-6- really, who can make those hours!), we had to come up with other pre-party/dinner plans. So, naturally, the Brooklyn Brewery was my first pick because, well, it's fun, it's a free tour (it use to be a matzo factory!)and the beer is really good and cheap. I have to say the Brown Ale is my favorite, though the Weiss is a close second. I generally don't like IPAs, but this one was pretty good. Anyway, Bena (our new neighbor!), Vimal and Joe came out and headed to Brooklyn. Here we had several beers and I scored an awesome funky jacket from the thrift shop for eight bucks! The rain was non-stop, though not heavy all the time, but enough to keep us from hanging out in the backyard. Therefore, we had an indoor burgers/hotdogs party complete with 7 Layer Dip, feta-tomato-basil-lemon orzo salad, falafels and baba ganoush from Sido, a peanut butter cheesecake and a homemade peanut butter mousse black bottom pie (I will definitely be making this again).

It was great having Joe back (you have been so missed-though many [including myself] are upset at not having a Western outpost anymore) and a get together was long over due. Vijay wasn't around and his presence was sorely missed. Mike and I plan on having another get-together, this time it WILL be in the backyard.

The next day was our one year anniversary! Mike had schedules massages at Equinox and man, did I need one. This masseuse was excellent. He totally worked my shoulders, neck and back and did this one thing that actually lowered my one shoulder. It felt awesome. We then sat in the park, went for a four mile run and out to Little Poland in the East Village for dinner. Wow...I can't believe it's been a year...I mean, we're still just kids... (haha!)

I've posted pics, but there are a combination of apt pics, the half marathon, Brooklyn Brewery and indoor BBQ, and general happenings. Enjoy.

And with that, I retire. (Yes yes, it's early, but I want to go for a very early bike ride.)