Felis Femina

New Year, New Project

2012-01-18T20:54:00.004-05:00

I am such a wonderful slacker that I haven't posted anything for months...and I'm okay with that. This is my new project, 365 Pictures, a yearlong photo essay blog that began on my 35th birthday, January 15th. Each day a picture will be posted. Ultimately, I hope to look back through all of the photos and have memories of a year that I think may bring some big changes.

Please come visit.

Music post: Alison Krauss

2011-09-11T18:41:00.006-04:00

One of the most hauntingly beautiful songs, performed by Alison Krauss for the soundtrack of "O Brother Where Art Thou?". My yoga teacher plays this song during class from time to time. Today it seemed to be especially fitting.

Never Forget

2011-09-11T13:49:00.006-04:00

Ten years ago I was a PA transplant, new to New York City. Exactly one year before, I had moved with two other girls to a railroad apartment in Hoboken, NJ hoping to join the ranks of all the other aspiring performers. My bedroom window just happened to face the Hudson River and lower Manhattan. On that morning of September 11th, we saw it all.

Ten years later I am still a New Yorker, 11 years strong. My memories from that day are still as vivid as can be. I will always remember how New Yorkers suddenly looked each other in the eye as they walked down the street. I will remember stopping in our tracks and cheering as truckloads of soldiers or fire engines drove by.

Every year I think that the 9/11 coverage won't move me to tears, not this time. Every year I am wrong. I am so proud to be part of New York City and still so moved to have been a part of such a life changing event. We will never forget.

Beermosa!

2011-08-01T09:19:00.003-04:00

I would like to introduce to you your new Sunday-day-drinkin' drink - The Beermosa! It's half beer, half Orangina, all good. I used Stella Artois but first tasted this amazing little concoction with Coors Light. You could also use a wheat beer or pilsner. You really can't go wrong, it's perfect for Sunday brunch (or Saturday brunch, for that matter). It goes down super-easy, so watch out!

Note: Orange juice and seltzer can be substituted for Orangina.

Bean and Beet Salad

2011-07-18T21:12:00.003-04:00

My coworker, Chiyoko, gave me a taste of her delicious little salad the other day when I was starving and too busy to stop for my lunch break. It was heavenly and so, of course, I grilled her for the ingredients, tweaked a few things, and concocted one of my own.

Bean and Beet Salad
1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can of dark kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 green bell pepper, finely diced
1 corn on the cob or can of corn
1 red onion,finely diced
1 jar of pickled beets or can of sliced beets, finely diced
Fresh basil, chopped
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper

Basically, you mix everything together. Pretty simple. You can add or subtract as you like. Chiyoko used celery, I swapped in green bell pepper. She used the canned beets instead of pickled and didn't have kidney beans at all. I may try cilantro instead of basil the next time I make this.

You may also want to play with the amounts. I used only half of the red onion because it was fairly big and I used just about half of the pickled beets because I didn't want the flavor to overpower. If I had used canned beets I may have used more. Regardless, save the juice to make Red Beet Eggs(*). Then I drizzled olive oil and about 2tsps of balsamic over it and mixed it well. I seasoned to taste with the salt, pepper, and cayenne and added a little more olive oil throughout the mixing process. Let it chill and serve as an easy summer side dish or take it to work for lunch (I plan to do both).

*Red Beet Eggs
1 jar of pickled beets or can of beets
Hard-boiled eggs

Once the eggs are boiled, put them in the fridge until they can be handled. The quick cooling helps in removing the shells. A wide-mouthed jar is ideal but I don't have one so I'm using a tupperware and sucking it up that it will probably be stained. You should get about 3/4 cup of juice from the can and maybe a little less from the jar. For the can juice, add white vinegar until you have 1 cup total. For the jar juice(which already contains vinegar), I used just a little white wine vinegar and then a little water to make 1 cup. Place shelled eggs, some sliced beets and juice into container. Seal and refrigerate for 8-12 hours. The eggs will be ready when they are a lovely reddish-purple.

Happiness is a New Toy

2011-07-18T19:41:00.003-04:00

I brought home two new toys today, a furry mouse to replace the one that had it's stuffing torn out and scattered around on my carpet, and a strange little "gummy worm" type of chew toy that is supposedly infused with catnip. Guess which one won Toy of the Day?

The song is "Pale Blue Eyes" by Lou Reed. Incidentally, his dog was a patient where I work and Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson were regular visitors.

Summer food

2011-07-11T15:22:00.007-04:00

If you're anything like me, you want your summer meals to be fast and easy. I also prefer to keep the cooking aspect of the meal to a minimum. Here are a few of my summer go-to meals.

Eggs and Rice and Beans
We get up very early for work and usually do not have time to cook breakfast so I've found that "breakfast for dinner" is a great option.
2 eggs per person (prepared in whatever style you prefer)
1 can of black beans
Rice (we like wild rice blends)
Avocado
Salsa

The main part of this meal is preparing the rice. I use a rice with a moderate cooking time but quick-cook rice is great, too. Once the rice is simmering, I get the black beans simmering in a pan. Sometimes I add mild green chiles if we have them on hand.
Cook the eggs to your preference (I usually cook them over easy)
Pile everything on a plate and add toppings. My usual choices are avocado and salsa, sometimes I have tortillas with them as well.

Swordfish Tacos
This one is so quick you can literally have dinner ready in less than 20 minutes.
1lb of swordfish (for two people)
Tomatoes
Avocado
Sour cream
Tortillas

I use swordfish because it's a "meaty" fish, and because our local seafood shop sells swordfish chunks for $7.99/lb. Get a pan nice and hot, add a little oil then add the swordfish. Season with a little salt and pepper and cook 3-4 minutes on each side, depending on thickness. Remove from heat and let fish rest on a plate. It will continue to cook through after removing from the heat so don't overcook it. Then just prepare your favorite toppings, build your tacos and you have a delicious, super-fast meal!

Two Easy Pasta Dishes
Pasta with fresh basil, tomato and mozzarella
1 box of pasta
Fresh basil leaves, torn into pieces
Fresh tomato, chopped
Mini fresh mozzarella balls
Garlic, finely chopped
Olive Oil

Cook the pasta as directed. I use half a box for two of us.
Heat the olive oil and garlic in a pan, add the chopped tomatoes and let them warm through.
When the pasta is cooked, drain the pasta and toss with the tomato, basil and mozzarella. That's it!

Pasta with peas, parmesan and sausage
1 box of pasta
Italian sausage
Frozen peas
Grated parmesan cheese
Butter

Cook pasta as directed.
At the same time, cook the sausages in a pan until cooked through and nicely browned. Remove from pan and cut into bite-sized pieces.
Heat the peas in the microwave as directed.
When pasta is cooked, drain and toss with butter and peas (olive oil can be used in place of butter).
Add the sausage and top with parmesan cheese.

Sausage and Peppers
This one requires more cooking but is still very easy.
Italian sausage
1 onion (I use white or Vidalia)
2 red peppers
2 cubanelle peppers (or green bell peppers)

Slice the peppers and onions into strips. Heat a little oil in a pan and start adding peppers and onions. I add them a little at a time so that the pan does not cool down too much as they release some of their moisture.
While the peppers and onions are cooking, heat another pan and add the sausage with a couple of tablespoons of water. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes, turning often.
When the vegetables have started to cook down and the water in the sausage pan has evaporated, add the sausages to the veggie pan. Pile the peppers and onions on top of the sausages so that the sausages can brown.
Once the sausages are brown and the peppers and onions are soft and carmelized, dinner is ready.

Serve with crusty Italian bread or make into sausage and pepper sandwiches.

Easy Summer Salad
This is a great meal if you have leftover steak or chicken, especially from the grill. We like to add shaved fennel to our salad greens. It has great flavor and gives an added crunch to the salad.
1lb of steak or chicken, cut into strips
1 red onion, sliced thin
Salad greens
1 Fennel bulb, sliced ultra-thin (optional)
Tomatoes
Cucumber
Feta cheese
Salad dressing

Heat a pan and add a little olive oil. Add the red onion and allow to cook a for about a minute or two, until fragrant.
Add the meat, again a little at a time so the moisture released from the meat doesn't cool the pain too much. If it is leftover meat that has already been cooked, let the onion cook down before adding the meat and just cook the meat until heated through.
While the meat is cooking, toss the salad greens with fennel, chopped tomato, cucumber and crumbled feta cheese (or whatever salad toppings you prefer).
Dress the salad, place on dinner plates and top with meat and red onion.

My Salad Dressing
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar
Dijon mustard
Fresh herbs

Always use the 3 to 1 ratio when mixing oil and vinegar for dressing. I usually use 6 Tbsp of olive oil and 2 Tbsp of vinegar (sometimes I use 1 Tbsp each of the balsamic and white wine). Add a dollop of Dijon mustard. Season with a little salt and add fresh chopped herbs if you have them on hand. Shake well in a tightly closed container.

A lazy Memorial Day

2011-05-30T13:51:00.008-04:00

Our Memorial Day Weekend started with a great family BBQ upstate in Fishkill, NY on Sunday. Monday's hazy summer-like weather was perfect for lazing around the house, an opinion shared by humans and felines alike.

Melvin, our 3 year old Lynx Point (and resident mushball), spent the morning in what has become "The Bear Cave"...

Emerging only when he realized it was time for his close-up....

He didn't make it too far before finding a new yet equally comfortable sprawl...

Another moment of catnapping...

Then something caught his eye...

Here's to a relaxing weekend. Happy Memorial Day!!

And, while you're at it, By This Album, Too...

2011-05-06T10:30:00.005-04:00

The newest album from The Black Keys, Brothers, is another rockin' album through and through. Although some critics claim that the addition of ballads makes the album fall short of their past success, I disagree, mainly because I don't consider most of the slower tempo songs to ballads as much as slow jams. In any event, listen to Everlasting Light, Next girl, and of course, Howlin' for You and tell me you're not sold.

Here is the Black Keys and Next Girl.

Buy this Album

2011-05-06T10:12:00.005-04:00

Mumford and Sons, a banjo wailing group of guys from West London, have been on my regular rotation since buying their album. Sigh No More, released in the US in February 2010, is folksy, bluegrass-y and completely infectious. The album is fabulous from start to finish with the standouts being The Cave, Little Lion Man, Awake My Soul, and Roll Away Your Stone...although I could probably list the entire album as standouts.

Here is Mumford and Sons with The Cave.

A Melvin Moment

2010-11-06T06:50:00.002-04:00

We got married!

2010-10-22T18:57:00.003-04:00

I can cook, too.

2010-10-22T17:33:00.005-04:00

We are big fans of the slow cooker meal and use it almost weekly, especially when the weather gets cool and we're craving warm, tasty comfort food. Lately, friends have been asking for some of our favorite recipes and I am happy to oblige. Here are a few recipes that are popular here in the little shanty in Astoria.

Pork and Sauerkraut
This is a Lancaster County favorite, mainly served on New Year's Day. It is said to bring good luck in the coming year and I ate it almost every January 1st until my hiatus from red meat in my 20's. It is traditionally served with mashed potatoes but I started serving it over my mashed potato and root vegetables and it's delish. This recipe was the motivation for getting a slow cooker when, several years ago, I realized that I hadn't had pork and sauerkraut in years and now I ate meat again. I also think it is one of the best hangover meals ever (possibly the real reason it was served every New Year's Day?). This is as simple as it comes.

2-4 lb boneless pork loin (depending on how big your slow cooker is and how many people you want to feed)
2-4 cans of sauerkraut with caraway seeds (usually 1 can per lb works well)
Apple slices (optional)

Place the pork loin in the slow cooker and cover with sauerkraut.
Place slices of apple on top and cover.
Cook on high for 1 hour, then low for 7-8 hours.
Check the pork at around hour 6 and shred as much as possible. If it shreds well it will be ready to eat in about and hour.
Serve traditionally over mashed potatoes and top with a little chopped onion.

Mashed potatoes with root vegetables
This had become our standard whenever we want mashed potatoes

1-1 1/2 lbs potatoes (preferably Yukon Gold)
1/2-3/4 lb root vegetables (parsnips, turnips, carrots)
4 Tbsp butter
1/3 cup chicken broth
3/4 half and half
Salt and pepper
Chives (optional)

I prefer to use parsnips...
Slice root vegetable into 1/4" slices.
Brown in butter for 10-12 minutes over medium high heat.
Slice potatoes into 1/4" slices.
Add to root vegetables, reduce heat and toss together.
Add chicken broth, cover and simmer on low for 25-30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Mash with a hand masher, add half and half, chives, salt and pepper.

*This recipe comes from America's Test Kitchen and they offer a few tips:
1. Cut the potatoes and root vegetable into "half-moon" slices.
2. Rinse the potato slices numerous times to get rid of excessive starch. It gives the mashed potatoes a better texture.

Beef Stew
This is a great work day slow cooker meal because it requires very little prep and has a long cook time.

1 1/2-2 lbs of beef stew meat, cut into 1" pieces
4 medium potatoes, cut into 1" pieces
4 carrots, cut into 1 1/2" pieces
1 medium onion, cut into large chunks
2 cans (8oz each) of tomato sauce
1 package of frozen peas
salt and pepper

Combine all ingredients except frozen peas in the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
Add peas about 30 minutes before eating.

Pork Tacos
Another great work day slow cooker...

2 lb boneless pork loin
1 cup of salsa
1 can (4oz) of chopped green chiles

Place pork in slow cooker.
Mix salsa and green chiles together and pour over pork.
Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours.
Shred pork and cook for at least 30 minutes more.
Serve as hard or soft tacos with shredded cheese, tomatoes, avocado, sour cream and salsa.

Split Pea with bacon
I have loved split pea soup since my mom first served me the Campbell's split pea with ham when I was a kid. My grandmother made a split pea soup that was thick and hearty. This will always remind me of my childhood.

3 cans (14.5oz each) chicken broth
1 package (16oz) dry split peas
1 medium onion, diced
3 medium carrots, diced
2 ribs of celery, chopped
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp marjoram
3/4 tsp thyme
2 bay leaves
8 slices of bacon, crisp-cooked and crumbled (optional)

Place broth, split peas, onion, carrot, celery, herbs and half of the crumbled bacon in slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until vegetables are tender.
Remove and discard bay leaves.
Served with crumbled bacon on top.

*This can also be made with 8oz of smoked sausage or chicken sausage, sliced lengthwise and then cut into pieces.
Brown sausage in a skillet for 5-8 minutes.
Add in place of bacon.

The best thing about the slow cooker is that you can create your own recipes. Just stick with the basics - protein, vegetables, sauce, seasoning. It's hard to mess up, put together your favorite flavors and see what happens.

If only it were this easy

2010-10-09T21:25:00.002-04:00

see more Very Demotivational

This is for my dad

2010-08-22T13:35:00.000-04:00

Feline interlude

2010-08-20T15:16:00.007-04:00

A day in the life of my furry kids....

Puck's afternoon bath.

Pandora...

...giving me a little Siamese "cattitude".

Melvin knows how to nap.

Doing yoga with mom...

I call this pose "downward facing cat."

Go ahead, I dare you not to cry...

2010-08-13T15:54:00.005-04:00

I've watched this video twice, somehow I thought it wouldn't affect me as much the second time around. The honesty and sincerity in the people's responses is just beautiful. And the children in this will make you melt. Please watch it the whole way through. If you don't at least well up with tears, then I truly believe you are not human.

Tom Cruise gets a 9 out of 10

2010-06-07T11:17:00.005-04:00

Watch the 2010 MTV Movie Awards at MTV.com!

He stills loses a point for his crazy scientology outbursts but his performance at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards was nothing short of excellent.

Thank you for being a friend

2010-06-04T10:48:00.003-04:00

To this day, The Golden Girls is one of the best sitcoms to ever be on TV. It premiered in 1985 and cast Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty, and Betty White, four veteran Hollywood actresses in some of their best known roles. All four ladies had impeccable comic timing and fantastic chemistry. These four women could make an audience laugh out loud. They could also make you well up with emotion.

Estelle Getty died in 2008, and Bea Arthur passed away nine months later in 2009. On Thursday June 3, Rue McClanahan, the youngest of the Golden Girls, died of a stroke leaving Betty White the last of the fantastic foursome. Here is a clip from the episode where Blanche and Dorothy agree to appear on the talk show Rose works for...

Video post

2010-04-28T10:36:00.007-04:00

A fun way to start a Wednesday...

And at the other end of the spectrum, a little something to make you think...

M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.

Lovely Long Beach

2010-03-20T22:16:00.013-04:00

A little early Spring visit to Long Beach, NY was just what Arbor Boy and I needed to relax. The sun was hot and bright, the boardwalk was full of joggers and bicycles, even a few surfers took to the water. Enjoy the pictures!

We're always thinking about the wedding. Only six months to go!

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T11:08:00.004-05:00

We had a low-key Halloween this year, spent carving pumpkins, eating candy and watching a marathon of the scariest Ghost Hunters episodes. This is the first pumpkin I've ever carved entirely by myself (Dad did most of the carving when we were little). We only had three Trick-or-Treaters come to the door so the Reese's Peanut Butter cups were plentiful...and the KitKats, and the Twix bars, and the Crunch bars. That's what happens when Arbor Boy does the candy shopping.

Arbor Boy's Jack-O-Lantern.

One last picture before going out on the stoop. They made it through the night!

Sweet Afton

2009-09-27T19:16:00.007-04:00

One of the only things missing from my neighborhood in Astoria is a good pub. There are great restaurants covering a wide range of cuisines, a multitude of cafes where the Greek and Eastern European residents spend a good portion of their time sipping frappes and smoking cigarettes, a few sports bars equipped with enough TVs to look like the electronics department at Sears and the requisite dive bars that you only frequent if you want to feel uncomfortable and slightly dirty but, oddly enough, not one good solid pub.

Until now. Astorians, meet Sweet Afton.

Located just off 30th Ave and advertised only by a simple awning and a few lights, this is a place that knows how to do "pub" in just the right way. Arbor Boy and I had our first of what we decided will be many visits on Friday night and found some of the best food and drinks around. The inconspicuous entrance belies a spacious, inviting interior of brick and wood beams. It is a bar first and foremost so the tables are "first come, first served", many of them large enough to be shared by more than one party. We parked ourselves in a corner bar and were immediately greeted by a perky (but not too perky) waitress. The first thing she did was ask our names and introduce herself. Now, sometimes I find the name exchange annoying but for some reason it felt natural here and, since I plan to frequent this bar, it's a good idea to be on a first name basis with the staff.

Our first task was to decide on drinks, and what a task it was. The drink list offers traditional cocktails such as The Sidecar and The Old-fashioned, specialty drinks created by the bartender/mixologist and a wonderful array of beers. There were far too many tasty sounding drinks for us to try everything that caught our eye so I chose the Sweet Lemon, tea infused vodka with lemon and mint that tasted just like iced tea. Arbor Boy started with an IPA (his favorite) and followed that with the Captain Lawrence ale. Our drinks did not disappoint. Next up was to decide what to eat. The menu is small, a collection of well prepared pub food that boasts local ingredients. We started with the fried McClure pickles. Served with a smoky dipping sauce, they are a perfect complement to drinks. For our main meal we both chose the Sweet Afton burger, mine with Gruyere and Arbor Boy's with Irish Cheddar. The burgers are not served with sides so we shared a basket of fries. The burgers were absolutely delicious, probably the best burger in Astoria as far as I'm concerned. But the real showstopper were the french fries. Oh, the french fries. I hate to use such a cliched phrase like "melt in your mouth" but that's exactly what these fries did. They tasted of fresh potato, were crisp and light and only required a drizzle of malt vinegar and a sprinkle of sea salt. I could have eaten three orders. By the end of our meal we were sated, happy and looking forward to our next visit. On our way out we spotted someone dining on the mac and cheese made with Gruyere, Irish Cheddar and Muenster served with double smoked bacon and we vowed to try it in the very near future.

Sweet Afton set out to be an Astoria local pub and they are succeeding with flying colors. We were tipped off by our waitress, Chris, that they will soon be serving brunch and my mouth waters just thinking about what that menu holds in store for us. Thanks for being one more reason why I never need to leave Astoria.

San Gennaro, Little Italy in NYC

2009-09-19T19:14:00.032-04:00

Last Sunday, Arbor Boy and I hopped an N train to check out the feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy. Although I've lived in NYC for almost ten years it was the first time I had ever visited the festival. It was the opening Sunday, warm and sunny, so the crowds were thick...

...but the people watching was amazing.

Look closely, her shirt says "Bada Bing".

There is no shortage of food at San Gennaro.

All the sausage and peppers you could ever hope for.

There was sangria but we opted for pina coladas served in a coconut shell. It was amazing how many people stopped us to ask where we got them.

Fried something-or-others.

These stuffed artichokes looked delicious.

More sausage and peppers.

And then there are the sweets.

I guess this lady thought I was taking a picture of her, she gave me a big smile.

Torrone. This stuff is everywhere and costs $16 a pound.

Cannolis at The Cannoli King. NOT the best cannolis in Little Italy.

Ferrara's has the best cannolis, light fluffy pastry shells and creamy filling.

We had a late lunch at Paesano's on Mulberry Street.

I had lasagna tradizionale and Arbor Boy had spaghetti carbonara along with a half carafe of the house red.

I could look at the buildings and signage for hours. Great old awnings with lots of Italian.

Stuffed with pasta and Ferrara's pastries in box for later, we caught a glimpse of the Empire State Building on our way to the subway. It was fun spending the day in a neighborhood that we rarely frequent. I look forward to visiting Little Italy again so we can dine at Angelo's and revisit Ferrara's for some pastries and espresso. Ciao.

Surfing Hurricane Bill at Long Beach, NY

2009-08-24T20:47:00.019-04:00

Thanks to the effects of Hurricane Bill, Long Beach surfers were blessed with a weekend of big wave riding.

The waves were about six to eight feet on average...

...and they definitely had some force behind them. I knew my limits as a novice surfer and decided against paddling out.

Arbor Boy caught a few sweet waves.

The big waves brought out some of the best surfers I've seen there all summer.

Everybody wanted to surf Hurricane Bill....

...everybody.

This guy called in sick to work so he could keep on surfing.

Although I was bummed that I didn't get to surf today, ultimately it was probably the best choice and I think I saved myself from a good deal of wave pummeling.

But next time, I'm in. These waves were just too pretty.

Below is a clip of Arbor boy surfing

Click on photos to enlarge. Enjoy.

The Trifecta

2009-08-17T19:46:00.003-04:00

I don't know how many "near-death experiences" a person is required to have in their lifetime but, as of today, I've had three. I think I've reached my quota. Coincidentally, all of them have involved cars. It should be noted that my fiance has been my partner in all of these near-death experiences, and therefore has reached his quota as well.

Near-death experience number one involved a diminutive cab driver named Das Badal who had no business driving a cab and placed us in the middle lane of the BQE going 10 miles per hour.

Near-death experience number two found us walking down 22nd St on the east side when a black SUV, while trying to flee the cops, jumped the curb 30 feet away from us and then proceeded to speed down the sidewalk at about 40 mph in our direction.

Near-death experience number three occurred today at the intersection near our apartment. We were crossing the street carrying groceries and a Ford F350 Super Duty tow truck that was making a left turn hit us. He wasn't looking in our direction the entire time he was turning until my screaming and the sound of the Budweiser twelve pack that Arbor Boy was carrying hitting the grill alerted him to the pedestrians he was about to mow down. We screamed obsenities at him; he barely acknowledged what he did, gave a half-hearted apology and drove away. It wasn't until we calmed down and the adrenaline stopped flowing that we realized the potential seriousness of the incident.

So I think that three near-death experiences is enough for someone who is not actively placing themselves in dare devil scenarios (unlike someone on, say, Nitro Circus or Jackass).

I think this warrants cashing in a sick day.

Non Sequitur

2009-08-09T21:27:00.002-04:00

Every time I see someone pushing an empty stroller I have the urge to tell them that they forgot their baby.

Quiet Sunday

2009-07-26T17:11:00.005-04:00

Listening to Carole King's Tapestry on the turntable and watching Arbor Boy nap on the couch after a hard day pruning fruit trees.

New dress bought happily and impulsively, soon off to Dillinger's for burgers and beer.

It's a good summer Sunday.

Worst Week

2009-07-12T12:46:00.010-04:00

At the moment I am in the throes of the busiest season for veterinary hospitals. My unit in particular, the Isolation Unit, is seeing a non-stop flow of new patients being admitted. It's peak season for non-vaccinated animals to pick up serious infectious diseases like parvovirus, panleukopenia, and pneumonia. These diseases can be deadly, particularly to very young puppies and kittens who may not have had the benefit of their mother's milk, rich with antibodies needed to help protect them. As a result, my job is becoming increasingly stressful both physically and emotionally. Most patients spend anywhere from a week to more than a month in my unit and it's almost impossible not to get attached, especially to the animals who come in from the adoption unit who have never had the love and care of an owner.

This was by far the worst week I have had so far in my career as the Isolation Unit LVT. The economic downturn has forced us, like so many other businesses, to curb spending which means we are understaffed and overworked. It all finally took it's toll on me on Thursday. A very tiny kitten from Adoptions, named Aristotle, had come into the unit two weeks ago practically dead, but we managed to get him up and moving again. We all agreed that, while all kittens are cute, Aristotle won the competition with his big eyes and extra fluffy fur. Tipping the scales at 12 ounces, you could hold him with one hand and he would perch right there in your palm. When he got hungry he would shove his face against the bars and meow with a voice much more powerful than one would expect such a small creature to have. Needless to say, he won my heart. Aristotle, with a myriad of health problems, had good days and not-so-good days. The beginning of the week brought on some of those not-so-good days and by Thursday he weighed only 8 ounces and his big personality had subdued a bit. After placing him back on intravenous fluids and doing a series of blood tests that showed more problems looming it was decided by his doctors that euthanasia was the most humane option for him. Because the hospital was so busy, the sad task fell on me. I was heartbroken but agreed to it as I knew I would be gentle and loving through it all. I was unable to hold back my tears and sobbed as I held him for the last time.

Two days later, another of my kittens, Felix, went into heart failure and had to be euthanized. This time I held him while the doctor performed the euthanasia and we both cried for our little patient. It was my last day of work before my weekend and I was emotionally drained. Besides these little kittens that we couldn't save, there are currently a few other patients that seem to be suffering so much it's difficult to look at them without welling up.

I went to yoga this morning as I typically do on Sundays but my mind was still preoccupied with my rough week. My yoga instructor suggested to the class that we try to take whatever was on our minds and clear it away, find a way to move past anything that we were hanging on to. I immediately thought of Aristotle and Felix and what I could do to rid myself of my sadness. I don't often think about Heaven or the afterlife, what it is or if it even exists at all but I found myself imagining those two kittens in some other place, healthy and pain-free. I started thinking about people I knew who had passed away in recent years and for some reason I thought of our family friend, Annie, who passed away from lung cancer a few years ago. Annie was a close friend of my mom's; they had worked together as nurses for many years. I imagined funny, gregarious Annie scooping up the kittens and gushing over their absolute cuteness. And I made my decision right then and there that Annie would be my guardian angel for all my animals that couldn't be saved.

I'm optimistically hoping that my weeks will begin to get better but if I have more like this week at least I will have something to focus on when the job takes it's toll. As silly as it may seem to some people, it makes me feel so much better to think that their is a good soul waiting to take care of all the animals that didn't get a chance here.

O, beloved Beer Garden, where have you gone?

2009-07-05T13:15:00.008-04:00

(photo credit: John Saponara)

On Friday evening we took advantage of the lovely weather, grabbed a couple of friends and headed off to the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden. Since our move to the apartment on 30th Ave a few years ago our visits to the Beer Garden have become less frequent, and I'm truly ashamed to say that last summer we didn't make it there even once. My old studio apartment was around the corner from the Garden and Arbor Boy's old apartment was a few blocks away in the other direction so it was a natural meeting place and we spent a lot of time there. It was the best place to get a $12 pitcher of good beer, some tasty food from the grill or kitchen and just chill out with friends and a deck of cards or the backgammon board. In recent years the Beer Garden has gained a lot of popularity sparking the need for some transformations including renovations to upgrade certain features as well as an increase in prices. This is all to be expected, it's the nature of the business world.

However, our visit Friday night left me disappointed and longing for the Beer Garden I knew and loved just a few short years ago. It's no secret that Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest nights and waiting in line to gain entrance is the norm, but we decided to take our chances and made it in with no waiting and even managed to find a table (or more specifically, half a table). The pitchers are now up to $15, still a good deal for Stella Artois and Staropramen. Arbor Boy and I hadn't eaten dinner yet so we were looking forward to our favorite portabello mushroom sandwich from the grill. I encountered the first of many disheartening changes when I went to order our food. Upon arriving at the grill in the corner of the yard I was told that I should take a seat and order from my table. This was news to me since traditionally the grill was walk-up ordering and table service was only for the kitchen. But I returned to my seat and began searching the crowds for a waitress. I flagged one down only to be told that she did not take orders for the grill but would send someone our way. When no one arrived after 15 minutes I flagged a guy down who looked like he was making his way back and forth from the grill. He also could not take my order but told me my waitress could. I told him I had already been denied and he promised to send someone my way. When a server again failed to arrive I asked a bus boy who also told me to ask my waitress. We finally found a waitress who could take a grill order and happily ordered our portabello sandwiches.

By this time we had made our way through a couple of pitchers so I decided to navigate the sea of people in search of the bathrooms. I headed in the direction I knew had once had the Ladies restroom. In place of the old facilities I found the newly constructed restrooms that had been part of the recent renovation of the Beer Garden. Gone was the two stall Ladies room that tended to overflow when the crowds got heavy and soap and paper towels were a luxury rather than a basic essential. The new contruction, shiny new and well-lit, included self-flushing toilets and a bathroom attendant. A bathroom attendant. At the Beer Garden. What was going on? Where were the tiny cramped stalls that were part of the rustic charm of my Beer Garden? I made my way back to our table and relayed my tale of a new bathroom. Arbor Boy shared my shock and dismay but before we could dwell upon it our food arrived. Two mushroom sandwiches and an order of fries. Yay! I noticed right off that the sandwiches were made differently than in the past but thought little of it. The portabello was a popular grill item, a large cap thrown on the grill with a little oil and balsamic vinegar and some garlic then placed on two slices of bread that nicely soaked up the oil. These were on regular hamburger rolls with lettuce and tomato. I took a bite and immediately realized that something was terribly wrong. My whole mouth was on fire, my lips were burning. It was spicy. Really, really spicy. I thought perhaps I had gotten a very garlic-y bite but each subsequent bite added more heat to my already burning tongue. Arbor Boy finished his but I finally threw in the towel realizing that the intense spiciness would be sure to give me heartburn later.

We packed up and headed out a short time later. We all agreed that we had a good time hanging out and drinking beer but my disappointment lingered. The changes in the food, the shiny fluorescent lit bathrooms, the newness of everything. It wasn't the Beer Garden I knew and loved.

Independence Day

2009-07-04T20:52:00.003-04:00

Watching fireflys out the kitchen window, listening to the sounds of our neighbor's BBQ and fireworks going off all over the neighborhood. I do love Astoria.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T15:25:00.004-04:00

Once again, the folks are away on a camping trip on one of the "parental" holidays. So, in lieu of a phone call to dad I'll just post this picture of him and his piggy.

You're a hell of a guy, dad!

Pet Peeves

2009-06-21T15:03:00.005-04:00

On the subway:

~ people who try to get on the train before letting everyone get off.
~ people who feel the need to have really loud conversations.
~ people who walk through the turnstile and then immediately stop dead in their tracks.
~ people who stand in front of the door like they are waiting to get off but then don't move when the doors open.

Driving:

~ drivers who honk their horn a second after the light turns green.
~ drivers who talk on their goddamn cell phones while driving.
~ drivers who break when approaching an intersection even when they have the green light.
~ drivers who intentionally run red lights.
~ cops who ignore drivers who intentionally run red lights.
~ cops who intentionally run red lights.
~ drivers who drive 55mph (or slower) in the left lane.

In restaurants:

~ people who speak condescendingly to the waitstaff.
~ when solo diners talk on their cell phones the entire time.
~ diners who snap their fingers to get their server's attention.

In life:

~ people who put others down for no other reason then to make themselves feel better.
~ complainers.
~ poor grammar.
~ when people outside my immediate family call me "Kris".

My surfboard

2009-05-31T22:31:00.006-04:00

Arbor Boy made a trip out to the eastern end of Long Island and returned with our new surfboards in tow. He already got to try his out in a late morning surf session, and I'm envious.

7'2" x 21 1/2" x 2 7/8"

I'm trying it out next trip east even if I have to ride two foot waves.

Curtain call

2009-05-25T13:36:00.003-04:00

I recently started taking dance classes again after an almost two year hiatus and found that, happily, my technique and ability has not entirely disappeared. However, my re-emergence into the "dance scene" has brought up some questions that I'm finding hard to answer. Although my body is still cooperating I know that there will be a point in the near future when it decides it's had enough. How do I really know when it's time to give it all up? Now to some this might not seem like much of a dilemma. "Quit when you want to quit" some might say, after all it's just an hour and a half a week. But to those dancers out there like me, you know it's just not that simple. I have literally been dancing all my life. I started ballet classes when I was three and never looked back. Like most dancers, dance is my religion. It's in my blood. I never worried about this type of thing during my hiatus because I had every intention of returning to the studio (which I did). But now I've had to start choosing between yoga classes and dance classes since my limited free time does not often allow both. Both provide exercise, strengthening and beautiful movement but dance is a punishing art that is slowly breaking down my body. In contrast, yoga is stabilizing and rejuvenating. I probably wouldn't even have made my body last this long had it not been for yoga. And now that I've started dancing again I feel guilty when I miss a class, as though my dedication were in question. I know this is all in my head. Nearly 30 years of dancing suggests that I am dedicated to the art.

The thing is, I've worked so hard all these years and it seems blasphemous to just walk away. While dance has given me many opportunities and provided a lot of joy and happiness it has also been a source of disappointment. Throughout my childhood I spent many hours at the studio in classes and rehearsals. I was one who always knew the routines, remembering changes in choreography and spacing. I may not have been the best dancer but I certainly wasn't the worst, and yet I felt I rarely got any recognition, no featured parts or solos. My high school was home to a large and well known production called Dance Theatre. I was a principal dancer for all four years, was often called on to remember choreography for 20+ dance numbers and even run rehearsals as an upperclassmen. But when all was said and done, I still felt overlooked. I was left out of routines that most of the other principal dancers were cast in, including the three other girls who, with me, were the only dancers to become principal dancers as freshmen.

I continued to dance through college and when I moved to New York City I sought out Broadway Dance Center to continue my dance training. BDC is a competitive studio that has a lot of professional dancers taking classes. I found my niche with a few specific teachers, and even performed in some studio showcases. I finally found one teacher whose style I particularly liked, who had her own dance company. For many years I took four to six classes a week with her hoping to be asked to join her group. I even expressed interest in dancing for her. I worked as hard as my body would allow and yet was never asked to perform, all the while watching other dancers become part of her company. It was frustrating and disappointing.

Now, at 32, I no longer expect to be asked to dance with her company nor do I have the burning desire to as I once did. But the competitiveness never leaves, and the yearning to perform never entirely disappears. That is why we dance, to perform. After all, it is a performing art. I have performed on stage in musicals and dance concerts but perhaps it's not enough. Perhaps I can't walk away because I feel like I will be wasting all my years of blood, sweat and tears in the studio with nothing to show for it. Perhaps I believe I will be letting myself down. Perhaps I never want to say "I was a dancer".

Thank you, Mom

2009-05-10T22:05:00.001-04:00

Happy Mother's Day!

First Birthday

2009-05-03T18:55:00.014-04:00

Melvin "Fuzztastic" Motorboat has been with us for about nine months and recently had his first birthday. In honor of our little hell child, here's a look back at his year with us...

The one-year-old

He came to us as a broken kitten,

But he healed up quickly...

and made himself at home.

He found plenty of ways to get into trouble,

but he was cute so we forgave him.

He's curious

and friendly

and affectionate.

Happy Birthday, little man.

Central Park Conservancy in Spring

2009-05-03T18:03:00.022-04:00

I recently took advantage of the unusually warm weather to stop by the Central Park Conservancy gardens after work one evening to see what was blooming. What was blooming was tulips. Lots of tulips. Throw in some daffodils, lilacs and crabapples and you get one pretty afternoon...

The tulips...

...a "rogue" tulip...

...the daffodils...

...the lilacs...

...and the crabapples.

Sue everybody

2009-04-22T18:47:00.004-04:00

I realize that it is the "American Way" to file a law suit for every little personal injustice these days but seriously, when is it finally too much?

I recently read two news articles (in back to back editions) dealing with two law suits so ridiculous it left me gaping at the audacity. The first was about a school teacher who was suing her student because he caused her to fall and sustain a back injury when he ran to get in line for the ice cream truck. Because he was 8 years old. A teacher is suing an 8 year old child. For what? His ice cream money and his Lunchables.

The second article was about a 12 year old Canadian girl who was suing her father for grounding her because she disobeyed his rules about using the internet. The case went before a judge and the judge ruled in her favor. Let me say that again. The judge ruled in favor of a child suing her father for being a parent. The judge should have told the little spoiled brat that he was sentencing her to a whole year of grounding and tossed her out of the courtroom. So I guessing suing everybody is the Canadian Way too.

Why so selfish?

2009-03-27T17:56:00.004-04:00

I have to admit I'm getting pretty tired of the constant recession coverage. I know it's major news but I don't need to know every time another company lays off employees, nor do I wish to be updated daily on the unemployment rate. But the most annoying media coverage is the barrage of complaints from my fellow Americans. Everybody wants the government, be it state or federal, to fix this mess but nobody wants to give an inch. They want Barack Obama to fix it and fix it now, but don't raise our taxes and don't spend any money. Here in New York City the cries of outrage surround the MTA and their lack of funds. Everyone wants a bail out for the MTA as long as there are no cuts anywhere else. Healthcare? Nope can't touch it. Education? Don't even think about it. Add tolls to bridges? Tax soda and beer? Pay cuts? No, no, and no. It's enough to make me scream. If we want to see the economy turn around then we have to make some sacrifices, whether it be more taxes, a fare hike, or the federal government spending billions. The economy is not going to recover by letting the money sit still, it has to move. And if Bill the Plumber, Ron Six-Pack or any other stereotype of an American wants to see the economy perk up maybe they should try helping out. Go out and spend a little. Buy some new summer clothes, a new toaster oven, go out and have a nice dinner. Consumer spending is what supports our economy.

And while I'm on the topic of spending, let's all lay off Obama for a bit, shall we? The man has been in office for just over two months and he's supposed to have miraculously fixed all the damage done over the past eight years? I don't think so. Give some of his plans a chance to work, things are not going to go back to normal overnight. But as usual, Americans want instant gratification. Greed and entitlement have become a disease in this country. After we cure the economy we need to cure Americans.

Jagged Little Flashback

2009-03-07T19:12:00.004-05:00

After filling out a Facebook "note" called 20 Albums I found myself revisiting some music that I had let fall by the wayside, and a happy revisit it was. The note asked you to name 2o albums (duh) that had a profound effect or changed your life. Although I found that description a bit dramatic it still took me on a little walk down musical memory lane. One of the albums that I thought of immediately was Alanis Morissette's 1995 US debut album Jagged Little Pill. I first heard the album during my fall semester as a freshman theatre major while enduring all the typical insanity of making new friends, juggling classes and trying to find out how to get into the keg parties. The angst and rawness attracted me and I listened over and over.

I haven't listened to the album in years but afterwards I had to go to itunes to find it. It seems that I don't actually own the Jagged Little Pill CD, most likely I just listened to my college roommates copy. My plan was to buy the album but when I looked it up another album popped up as well. An acoustic version of Jagged Little Pill that Alanis Morissette recorded in 2005, ten years after the original. I'm a sucker for acoustic so I took a listen and it was just beautiful. The over-the-top anger and venom is gone from the songs; it's replaced with more honest feelings although often just as angst-ridden. The vocals are more mature and creative.

I bought it immediately.

It's been on steady rotation on my ipod for the past week and I can't say that I'm tired of it at all. A few standout songs that were overlooked on the original album are "Not the Doctor", "Right Through You", "Mary Jane", and a really great rendition of "Hand In My Pocket". It also includes the "Hidden Track" with acoustic accompaniment. I highly recommend it.

Felines

2009-03-02T16:35:00.008-05:00

Puck on the couch...

...looking dainty.

Melvin, 10 months old

Scheming?

Generation Duh

2009-03-02T10:22:00.007-05:00

I've tried not to become an adult with a "kids these days" mentality but with the way "kids these days" act it's almost impossible not to. Teenagers to young adults prove to me every day that they are idiots. Sure, we were all idiots about some things growing up but this is a special brand of idiot that I don't remember seeing when I was in high school. And the onslaught of social networking sites has given them a new outlet in which to flaunt their stupidity. I've seen many photos and status updates on these sites proclaiming their love of marijuana and alcohol with no thought to the repercussions of these postings. I'm not saying I was a saint at that age but I wasn't dumb enough to promote my mischief openly. In the back of my mind I was always worried that I could get caught at any time. I might have been doing some stupid things but at least I was smart enough to be discreet. The kids these days don't even know how to communicate. They have no concept of grammar making them sound like complete morons. I watch them walk down the streets of my neighborhood taking up the entire sidewalk texting on their phones, headphones in place. They may as well be strangers. The world of social networking and technological communication has rendered them socially awkward. I watched one oblivious teenage girl nearly get run down by a car while crossing Lexingtion Ave because she couldn't be bothered to look up from her Sidekick, and her headphones were firmly in place. At my last internship I had the misfortune of sharing one day a week with a high school senior who was doing career observation. Not only did she use the most atrocious grammar (yes, I'm a freak about grammar, it says a lot about a person) but she had no idea how to speak and act with the adults around her. She showed no respect for the professionals that she was supposed to be watching and learning from, but rather spoke to everyone as if they were her peers. There was not an ounce of decorum in her entire being.

Before I sound completely pessimistic, I would like to say that I have seen a few glimmers of hope among this generation of socially retarded simpletons. I just wish that they were the rule rather than the exception.

My sentiments exactly...

2009-02-16T22:15:00.003-05:00

Tuesday is my Monday.

It's the Superbowl....

2009-02-01T14:02:00.005-05:00

Make some noise for the Pittsburgh Steelers!!!!
(Feelin' kinda Sunday...)

We're Engaged! (The full story)

2009-01-18T12:17:00.007-05:00

We've both been in a state of bliss ever since Alex proposed but somehow he managed to gather his mental facilities long enough to tell the full story of his engagement ring adventures over on ArborBoy. I'll leave it to Alex to share the details since my story is a lot simpler. I thought I was getting my graduation present, just something silly and fun. When I opened my eyes there was a jewelry box sitting in front of me. It was sweet, simple and intimate. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Alex thinks I was on to him but, for the record, I had no idea. He had me completely fooled.

He's amazing.

I can't begin to explain how happy we are. Thank you, everyone, for all the congratulations!

Somebody's getting married...

2009-01-17T10:41:00.007-05:00

We are!!! Alex asked me to married him and of course I said yes.

And this is the beautiful ring he chose for me.

I think it's absolutely perfect.

It's football, bitches.

2009-01-10T19:56:00.008-05:00

It's playoff season and yes, the Steelers are still in it. So are the Eagles. So are the Giants. I have plenty of teams to cheer for and a weekend of cold weather. If you need me, I'll be parked in front of the idiot box for the rest of the weekend with a beer and some tasty food.

As for the picture, that's Troy Polamalu #43.

I heart Troy Polamalu.

Gone Shopping

2009-01-05T18:47:00.002-05:00

Just before the holidays I finished my last semester of school and now I'm slowly figuring out a full time job while studying for my licensing exam. It sort of feels like I'm on my final Christmas Break and, to be quite honest, I feel perfectly justified in riding the holidays, the exam, and my upcoming birthday to their fullest. There's plenty of good football to be watched (Steelers!), leftover holiday sweets to be eaten and, for the first time in a long time, I have a little extra cash to go buy myself something pretty so there is shopping to be had (with Arbor Boy's gentle prodding. Thanks, love). And, in another first in a long time, I won't feel guilty about spending a little money on myself. I've already been to Bloomingdale's but the tourists scared me off before I could spree but I vow to go back and give my credit card a little cardio.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

2008-12-24T09:25:00.005-05:00

I've always loved Christmas Eve, almost more than Christmas Day itself. The anticipation that builds as the days get closer to Christmas reaches it's peak on December 24th. I remember our Christmas Eves when we were growing up as some of the best. School was closed for the holidays so my sister and I usually wandered around the house, eager for the time to pass quicker. My mom often had to work (she's a nurse) but most times my dad had the day off and he was in charge of keeping us occupied. He would build a fire and the Christmas lights would be on for the entire day. My best friend Megan would usually come over or I would spend a few hours at her house, the two of us dancing around to the John Denver and The Muppets Christmas album or chattering away about what Santa might leave for us under the tree. Sometime during the afternoon dad would start to bring down the presents and place them under the tree. My parents would always bring a modest amount of packages down and spread them out under the tree convincing my me and my sister that that was all the presents. Once we were in bed they would bring down the rest of the gifts so that Christmas morning the presents seemed to be bursting out from under the tree. Once my mom came home from work our excitement really began to build as we realized that the day would soon be coming to an end. Mom usually made something special for dinner and then we dressed up in our Christmas dresses to go to Christmas Eve service, possibly the only time of year that I looked forward to going to church. The entire day built up to our Christmas Eve gift. When we were home from church and in our pajamas my sister and I were each given one present to open before bedtime. It was just a small taste of what the next morning would bring. Once our greedy little appetites were whetted we were off to bed where we were told to stay until at least 7am and no earlier (in later years the rule was no waking the parents until we had the coffee brewing). Since sleep was nearly impossible I spent some time lying in bed, eyes wide open, looking at the Christmas decorations I had strewn across my room and listening for Santa on the roof. Megan and I had a Christmas Eve tradition of signaling to each other from our bedroom windows which both faced the alley behind our houses. We both had electric candles in the window and we would turn the light bulb on and off to "talk" to each other. There was never any meaning behind our signals just two little girls having a secret best friend moment that was our very own Christmas tradition and no one elses.

Now that I'm a little less young, sadly, some of the anticipation and magic of Christmas Eve has waned. This morning, in honor of it being Christmas Eve and not just another Wednesday morning, I awoke early with Arbor Boy, who had to work today, to make a special Christmas Eve breakfast of eggs and bacon. The radio played Christmas tunes as I went about my daily routine but the little girl inside of me was still feeling the anticipation. Tonight we'll pack up gifts for the family and start the "Krissy and Alex Winter Tour '08". We'll arrive late out on Long Island but that won't stop us from poking around under the tree for the gifts that bear our names. Happily, our Christmas will be extended through the weekend as we make our way to Pennsylvania to celebrate Christmas with my family. And maybe that's the trade off we get when we grow up, a little less Christmas Eve excitement but a lot more Christmas Day celebration.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Ode to The Muppets

2008-12-19T16:11:00.002-05:00

You can't get much better than this. Two of my favorite things - Beethoven and Beaker from The Muppets.

For Mom

2008-12-17T11:40:00.004-05:00

As a stubborn teenager, I adamantly stated that I would never grow up to be like my mom. Well, here I am all grown up and I must begrudgingly admitting that, without even being aware of it, I've become quite a bit like my mom...and it's not a bad thing at all.

From your perpetually hardheaded, eternally outspoken, forever-a-teenager-in-her-own-mind daughter...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!!

Dirty Laundry

2008-12-14T13:43:00.004-05:00

Our laundromat around the corner recently gave their awning a facelift. I never knew the name of the place until now...I kind of wish I still didn't.

Best Christmas album. Ever.

2008-12-10T10:19:00.006-05:00

John Denver and The Muppets' A Christmas Together is the best Christmas Album. Period. I'm sorry but there is no arguing this fact. My sister and I listened to this album every year from Thanksgiving through New Year's when we were growing up. It's surprising that we didn't wear out the album. It was also a Christmas special shown on TV for a number of years. Still don't believe me when I say it's the best? Here's John Denver and Rolf singing my favorite Christmas carol - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Money Talks

2008-12-09T19:59:00.003-05:00

I was brought up with the understanding that the discussion of money has no place in polite conversation. You don't ask how much something costs, you don't leave the price tag on a gift and you don't ask how much someone makes. Of course, nowadays where nothing is private and casual is the new formal I've allowed myself to fall into some of these monetary discussions that were once verboten. I suffered through the "starving artist" comments after getting my bachelor's degree in theater, mostly because I was neither starving nor an artist for the most part. I spent the bulk of my artistic years in the city working as a bartender and server making good money so I usually let the ramen noodle jokes roll off my back. As well, I became accustomed to the tourists sitting at my bar asking questions regarding what I paid in rent, how much it cost to ride the subway everyday and if groceries were more expensive here. I answered because I knew they weren't being rude (usually), just curious, and they typically prefaced all their queries with "if you don't mind my asking".

But asking a few innocent questions is not exactly where my issue lies. What I would like to know is when did it become appropriate to make judgment calls on a person's career choice based on the salary it provided, especially when two people are mere acquaintances? Allow me to elaborate. As I said before, I went along with all the starving artist jokes that were thrown my way, mainly because there is quite a bit of truth behind it. Most people who are performers know that they may never make a living in their art and many are proud to be "starving artists". The same cannot be said for other career choices - veterinary nursing, for one. I recently found myself in a conversation (with someone in the very same veterinary career choice as me, no less**) who, after hearing that my first degree was in theater and my second was veterinary nursing, made the comment, "Wow, you picked two careers where you won't make any money." Now, first of all, I had known this person for maybe a full three hours up to this point. Second, while I'll concede that the theater career was bound to leave me destitute, the veterinary nursing pays a decent living wage. No, I will never buy a winter home in Aspen or a Mercedes with my salary but I'm not likely to be living in a cardboard box on Houston Street, either. Later, I mistakenly added that I may one day get my masters so that I can teach, a remark that was again greeted with an observation about my hypothetical salary. At this point I realized that I was talking to someone who valued money above an interesting, challenging career and I left it at that.

But the conversation stuck with me and the more I thought about it the more annoyed I became. Why must this country place so much emphasis on money? Why am I laughed at because I want to work in a field that will probably never pay me six figures? I did not choose my career based on the amount of money I could make. If that was my plan I would have majored in international business or chemical engineering. I chose my career because I was interested in it, because it was a growing field with a lot of opportunities and, most of all, because it made me happy to go to work. After shaking margaritas for so many years and being miserable, that means a lot. So I will happily take my modest salary, I will drive my Ford and maybe one day have a cozy three bedroom house, I will take vacations to places where I can stay with friends and shop at the Gap instead of Gucci. But I will be happy.

**Incidentally, the person I was conversing with is headed off to veterinary medical school, leaving us veterinary nurses with our so-called meager paychecks. Said person believes he will be making six figures in no time although the average median salary for a veterinarian is roughly $80,000. Good luck with those student loans!

Top Five Most Irritating Christmas Songs

2008-12-08T19:42:00.001-05:00

In no particular order...

1. Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses
2. Feliz Navidad (any version)
3. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (again, any version)
4. Santa Baby (the Madonna version)
5. Any Christmas song sung by Mariah Carey

Baking, baking, baking...

2008-11-26T20:01:00.004-05:00

For the first time in eight years I am not racing to catch a bus, packing up the car or heading off to work on Thanksgiving Eve. What's more, I will not be doing any racing around tomorrow. Arbor Boy and I have a lazy Thanksgiving in front of us that will find us sitting on the couch with giant mugs of coffee watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and then feasting on a breakfast of buckwheat pancakes and sausage. A little later we'll pop open our bottle of champagne, maybe check in on the football games and then head off to one of the delicious Greek restaurants in our neighborhood for our own little Thanksgiving feast, Astoria-style.

There is something so very relaxing about not having to be any when most everyone else is hitting the road or lining up in airports. We'll be heading to the south fork for a traditional Thanksgiving meal this weekend but right now it's just the two of us, the three cats, and a Thanksgiving Eve session. Freshly baked pumpkin bread is cooling on the stove and there is Brooklyn Oktoberfest in the fridge.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What our Sunday nights look like...

2008-11-23T10:08:00.006-05:00

Spend a lot, get a little

2008-11-22T16:10:00.005-05:00

This must be the new motto of the New York City Mass Transit Authority because they released their planned proposal for next year and it is, in a word, craptastic. Facing yet another year of major budget deficits they decided to do what they do best - increase the fares and tolls. If the plan is approved the cost of a subway ride will most likely increase to $2.50 and a monthly card will now cost $100. If these fare hikes happen, subway riders will be paying over 80% of operating costs for the New York City subway. But wait, there's more. Not only will we be paying more but we'll be paying more for less (which equals worse) service. The MTA plans on cutting the W and J lines entirely, decreasing the G and M routes, and cutting back on all trains. That means that for $100 a month we'll be standing on platforms longer, squeezing into more tightly packed trains (didn't think that was possible, did you), and creeping along at a slower pace. Oh yes, and they also plan on cutting more than 2,000 jobs.

The fare hikes may make more money for the MTA but the ramifications of their plan will be staggering. With gas prices dropping, many people are already planning to do more driving and less mass transiting. That means more single car drivers, more congestion in the city, and more carbon emissions in the environment. It will basically unravel any environmental work being done by green groups in the city.

This makes me angry and it should make you angry. Every year the MTA comes up short and every year the only option they claim to have is to raise fares on us. The subway system is the transportation for most people in this city, sometimes the only transportation for people, and the MTA takes advantage of this fact. They half-heartedly claim that the plan won't go through if they get money from the state but we all know that the state has it's own billion dollar deficit to deal with. So that means the fare hikes will be their goldmine.

But if we are going to be paying for the majority of the operating costs then we should demand transparency of the MTA finances. Most people know that the MTA seems to work off of two different sets of books, making money magically appear after they claim to have none. Subway riders need to demand that we see exactly what the MTA is working with and where our hard earned money is going. This city is quickly becoming a playground for the wealthy while leaving the rest of us digging deeper and deeper into our already empty pockets.

Get angry, New York. After all, isn't that what we're known for?

The Menagerie

2008-11-16T17:49:00.007-05:00

On Friday, I officially adopted Melvin from the ASPCA (and got his kitty bits snipped, sorry buddy) and, as you can see, he's fitting into his niche as "feline #3" quite nicely.

Although Pandora still seems to have her doubts about her new adopted sibling....

Puck has taken his role as big brother in stride.

Welcome to the family, Melvin.

Little Big Man

2008-11-13T11:15:00.000-05:00

I, I am a dancer...**

2008-11-12T23:18:00.008-05:00

Ballet at Carol's Academy of Dance. I'm the left-handed one.

Broadway Dance Center Student Showcase

(**a reference I expect dancers and theater geeks to get.)

Joy. Tears. History.

2008-11-05T09:48:00.000-05:00

What a Wonderful World

2008-11-04T21:26:00.001-05:00

Vote or Die

2008-11-02T16:49:00.006-05:00

After what seems like years of primaries and campaign trails the time has come to finally get out there and vote, which is what I hope all of you plan to do on Tuesday if you haven't already. This election has been covered from front to back and top to bottom. We've watched the presidential and vice presidential candidates debate. We've heard the words reform, economy, taxes, and health care tossed around ad nauseum. We've heard sound bites like "fundamentally sound", "small town Americans", "mavericks", and "going rogue". We've heard the names Joe Six-Pack, Joe the Plumber, and Joe Obiden. We've heard everything we're going to hear from the candidates and now it's time to make our decision. In the spirit of what appears to be an historic election, I would like to add some of my own personal talking points to keep in mind when going to the polls:

~ Barack Obama is not Muslim. Remember the whole Reverend Wright uproar? If he has a reverend then he's not Muslim. Sorry conservatives, you can't have it both ways.

~ John McCain doesn't know whether he should sit down and talk to President Zapatero of Spain (or any other Latin American leaders).

~ Barack Obama is half black and half white.

~ John McCain has never been an astronaut.

~ Sarah Palin's view of Russia from a tiny Alaskan island gives her foreign policy experience.

~ John McCain plans on giving everyone a $5000 credit for health care, even though your current plan most likely costs close to $12,000.

~ Sarah Palin was stumped by Charles Gibson, Katie Couric, and two comedians from Canada (now those two are a couple of mavericks.)

~ Barack Obama is not Marxist, Socialist, or Satanic.

~ Sarah Palin can't name any newspapers she reads or any Supreme Court cases other than Roe vs. Wade (c'mon Sarah, Brown vs. Board of Education, Dred Scott vs. Sanford, Miranda vs. Arizona, Curly vs. The Three Stooges...oh, wait, ignore that last one.)

~ John McCain knows how to catch Bin Laden...but he'll only tell us once he's President.

~ The fact that Obama rhymes with Osama means absolutely nothing.

~ There is nothing wrong with having hope and supporting change.

Trick or Treat, Bushwick Style

2008-11-01T15:32:00.006-04:00

Happily, Halloween fell on a Friday so we were off to Goodbye Blue Monday in Bushwick to hear some good bands, watch some funny hipsters and get decked out in our homemade superhero costumes.

(pictured above Emergency Party's Miss Frosty on bass, Noel on drums, and Gian Carlo on guitar)

Emergency Party rocked out at midnight, along with Killer Whale and Barghest.

Miss Frosty as Slash's long-lost sister.

Caution Boy and Danger Girl
Happy Halloween!

There's an old saying...

2008-10-28T18:06:00.003-04:00

...in show business that says you should never perform with children or animals, they will almost always upstage you.

I think that sentiment can be applied to this picture. Ladies and gentlemen, Inara and Melvin.

Sunday Afternoon

2008-10-26T19:48:00.006-04:00

Feline stare down

The battle

The Melvinator

Lyric of the Day

2008-10-22T11:55:00.005-04:00

"And if I hear one more time about a fool's right to his tools of rage, I'm gonna take all my friends and I'm gonna move to Canada, and we're gonna die of old age." ~ Ani Difranco To The Teeth

The Korean mums

2008-10-19T17:01:00.013-04:00

The Korean Chrysanthemums are in bloom at the Central Park Conservancy at 105th and 5th and they are a breathtaking sight. Go quickly if you want to catch them in all their glory, the cold weather will chase them away soon. It also just happens to be the spot where Arbor Boy spends his days. We should all be so lucky.

Click on photos for larger image.

All photographs are the property of Krissy Dunkle and should not be used without permission. Contact felisfemina@gmail.com if you would like to use an image.

Thanks,
The management

Boy's Night

2008-10-11T15:08:00.005-04:00

Arbor Boy and Melvin getting to know each other.

You seem like a good guy.

Yeah, I think we'll get along just fine.

Saturday afternoon

2008-10-11T14:23:00.007-04:00

It's time for me to get away from the political insanity swirling around us and post something a little more mellow, something more apropos of a lazy saturday afternoon. I revisited itunes after placing a self-imposed moratorium on music buying for the past couple of months. Needless to say, I did a little damage but it was money well spent. As I type this, John Mayer's Continuum is grooving in the background, it's a perfect soundtrack for the day.

I also went searching for some old school hip-hop/rap and came away with A Tribe Called Quest's The Low End Theory. This is a great album from start to finish.

I rounded out my shopping spree with few random single purchases and now I've reinstated the music buying moratorium before I go broke.

______________________________________________

Arbor Boy started his new job in Central Park recently so I made my way to 103rd and 5th a few weeks ago to see where he's been spending his days. Three gorgeous gardens tucked away in the north east corner of Central Park along museum mile. I brought my new camera with me.

I highly recommend a visit to the Central Park Conservancy for those of you in NYC. The mums will be blooming soon, they're sure to be beautiful.

Tomorrow we're driving north of the city to check out some fall color, meet up with friends for some hiking or apple picking and just get away from the concrete jungle. I'm sure I'll have more pictures to post.

Enjoy the weekend!

Super Troopergate

2008-10-10T22:57:00.006-04:00

This is probably not what McCain's campaign had in mind when they told Sarah Palin to go out and get them some press. I can't wait to see the pseudofeminists and deluded women of America defend their precious hockey mom in lipstick.

Alaska panel finds Palin abused power in firing

What's in a name?

2008-10-09T18:30:00.003-04:00

Bill Platt, the GOP chairman for Lehigh County, PA made sure to use Barack Obama's middle name, Hussein, twice at a rally for John McCain and Sarah Palin. This is really getting old, folks. The people playing the name game with Barack Obama really need to stop and listen to themselves and hear how truly ignorant they sound. Obama rhymes with Osama. Obama's middle name is Hussein. Well then, he must be an anti-American Muslim terrorist who will sneak into your home at night and eat your children, right? For the love of god, people, stop it already. Remember, that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Saddam Hussein by any other name would still be an evil son of a bitch. Are we to fear anyone and everyone who shares a name with (or has a name that rhymes with) a dictator, terrorist, serial killer, etc.? The sheer stupidity of this "logic" is astounding. So, to the people who want to equate Barack Obama with Muslim faith and terrorism solely because of his name, stop it. Now.

The difference

2008-10-07T22:34:00.002-04:00

Actual debate aside, the differences between the two candidates was astounding. Barack Obama perched comfortably on his chair watching McCain intently. When he spoke he looked directly into the audience his words full of charisma and self-assuredness. McCain, in contrast, scribbled madly on his notepad, at times stumbled in his speaking and shuffled aimlessly around the forum like an old man in his bedroom slippers.

As far as the debate itself, both sides had moments and missteps. But while Barack Obama spoke clearly and plainly about energy, tax policy and the economy, John McCain tended to wander in his thinking until he found a foothold and then burst into a diatribe about one of his campaign's topics. It even seemed as though he was attempting to prove his political know-how by referencing vague and obscure policies, bills, and so on.

If tonight wasn't a clear demonstration of why John McCain is not capable of running the country then I don't know what is.

The Debate

2008-10-03T18:46:00.004-04:00

There are two things that are very wrong with last night's Vice Presidential debates. The first is the performance that Sarah Palin gave where, for all the words that came out of her mouth, she said very little. The second is the fact that there are people who will buy that performance. She stood up there with all the pageantry poise she could muster and recited those talking points that she crammed into her head in the days leading up to the debate. Ask her the same questions next week (you know, the ones she didn't answer last night) and she won't be able to pull the names Kim Jong-il and Ahmadinejad out of her brain if her life depended on it. She was as rehearsed and robotic as a grade school play and I just can't see how anyone would want that in a leader.

On the other hand, Joe Biden was poised and knowledgeable on all the topics. He spoke naturally and looked comfortable. He answered the questions that were given him and defended the Obama/Biden campaign with facts that were not drilled into his head 72 hours before the debate. It clearly showed just how out of her league Governor Palin really is. And while she claims to empathize with Joe Six-Pack (a term I despise due to it's sheer ridiculousness) she barely batted an eye when Joe Biden spoke of his wife and daughter. And by the way, to all those Joe Six-Packs out there, Sarah Palin and her husband are worth about $1.2 million. See, she's just like you!

Easy, Breezy, Beautiful, CoverGod?

2008-10-01T20:20:00.003-04:00

On my way home from work today on the subway, I was reading over a woman's shoulder (yes, I do that. Annoying, isn't it?). She was reading Glamour magazine so I could mostly see the pictures and a few headlines. She flipped to a topic that read, "7 Things In God's Makeup Bag". Now, let me pause to say that, although I went to church religiously (no pun intended) as a kid, I would probably call myself an agnostic. I believe that there quite possibly could be a god, but I tend to believe more scientific explanations for life and creation, etc, etc.

But I digress.

Why does God need makeup? God doesn't seem to show his (or her) face in public much and, if he...she... did, wouldn't she..er, he...be able to have perfectly clear, beautiful skin. After all, he's God. I couldn't read the the details so I don't know everything God keeps in his makeup bag but thank God (hee hee) there were pictures because I can tell you that God likes pink metallic nail polish. Are the fashion magazines so hard up for consumers that they're targeting the God-fearing Christians in hopes of finding a new demographic to sell their beauty tips and fashion musts-haves to? Who knows? Maybe the May issue will feature a swimsuit spread with a very different look.

Pleading the First

2008-09-25T19:37:00.004-04:00

I realize that, as a blogger, what I write is out there on the internet for anyone and everyone to read. I have no qualms with that, I want people to read what I have to say. I also want people to have an opinion on what I say. I welcome comments, criticism, outright disagreement. It comes with the territory.

I was recently confronted with face-to-face criticism about one of my blog posts. It was an older post so I honestly did not remember what exactly I had written but the criticism was fair and I accepted it as the confronter's opinion, although I disagreed with it. However, the conversation ended with my confronter telling me, in all seriousness, "don't do it again." The blog entry in question, I would like to clarify, had no reference to the plaintiff.

Well, sorry but, no. This is my blog. My web log. So basically, my journal that just happens to be available for all to see. Anyone is free to dislike, disagree with, or argue any of my opinions. But there really is no one in the position to tell me what I may and may not write on my blog.

This is my blog. I write what I want. If you don't like it, go away.

Thank you and goodnight.

Tall Tales

2008-09-21T10:43:00.003-04:00

Nothing like a good conspiracy theory to start your Sunday off right. I haven't heard this type of alarmist doomsday garbage since 9/11. It starts with the predicted (and government planned) economy crash in September 2008 *gasp* followed by our joining with Canada and Mexico to form The North American Union (kinda like the European Union) and before you know it we are headed for FEMA camps and martial law. Check out the following links:

September 2008: Planned Economic Crash

Stop The North American Union

Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America

A word from the wise...

2008-09-19T13:18:00.007-04:00

I have mocked McCain and Palin, posted the parodies and unflattering interviews but now I want to be completely serious. To all undecideds, Republicans and, especially, Hillary-turned-Palin supporters I have something to say.

Stop and Think.

This is my new mantra. This election has come down to back and forth arguments between McCain and Obama supporters, reminiscent of the childish "Yah-huh, nuh-uh" variety. For a country that appears to be going down the toilet, this is not the most effective plan.

There have been arguments over whether or not McCain is physically and mentally fit to be president. Well, stop and think. The President of the United States is a taxing, stressful job. Is a 72 year old with a history of health problems the best choice? McCain loves to talk about his time in Vietnam and his five hellish years in a POW camp. Could his time as a POW have caused him traumatic stress that has made him mentally infirm? It's an assumption made about many other Vietnam vets, why not him?

McCain has proven himself to be somewhat of a hothead. Sarah Palin likes to say that one cannot hesitate but must act without blinking. Is this the type of leadership we want in Washington? Well, stop and think. When the day comes when a country points it's nuclear (pronounced nu-clee-ar) weapons at us, or terrorists start chattering about destroying a U.S. city, do we need the hotheaded, triggered-fingered, "strike-first-ask-questions-later" administration that McCain and Palin will surely bring to the White House? Or do we need the calm, level-headed, "weigh-the-consequences-and-act-appropriately" administration that Obama and Biden are much more likely to provide.

Ladies, this next paragraph is directed at you. Sarah Palin has said that she is anti-abortion and that she would like to see Roe vs. Wade overturned. Do you want an administration that will decide what you are allowed to do with your body? Well, stop and think. Placing Sarah Palin in office will undo decades of work that women have done to earn rights and equality. A short sidebar, remember that pro-choice does not equal pro-abortion. Pro-choice means that you have the opportunity to choose what you want to do with your body. This is not something that should be taken away. No one is forcing abortion on you but it is there if and when you need it. If you don't approve, then choose a different option. I respect the decision of women who choose not to have an abortion, please respect my decision if I decide to have one.

I know that many women out there would love to see a woman in the White House. I would love to see a woman in the White House. But Sarah Palin is not that woman. Sarah Palin is not Hillary Clinton. She is not even in the same league as Hillary Clinton. Be patient, ladies. The day will come when a woman enters the oval office.

The McCain/Palin campaign is doing a frighteningly thorough job of scaring their supporters into believing that Obama is not capable of being President. How exactly are they convincing you of this? Well, stop and think. They are spending the majority of their time (and, most likely, money) flinging nasty jabs and sarcastic remarks at the Democrats. They are producing ads that are nothing more than smear campaigns. They are deflecting hardhitting questions with cliched soundbites, negative commentary on their opponents, and cries of "sexism" and "offensiveness". This might be convincing people that the Democrats are a bad choice but are they really convincing people that the Republicans are a good choice? When the election is over and all is said and done, what have they accomplished? They've successfully (and unfairly) made Obama look bad but they haven't proven themselves.

This country has become so jaded and pessimistic that it can't stand the sight of optimism. There are people out there balking at the hopefulness and integrity of the Democratic campaign, writing it off as naivete. There are people mocking the idea of "change" as a platform when that is exactly what this country needs. Please don't be afraid of change, don't be afraid to be hopeful. Truly listen to what each candidate is saying and then stop and think. Think for yourselves. Don't let them tell you what to think.

Live from New York! It's Saturday Night!

2008-09-14T11:25:00.005-04:00

McCain's New Beauty: Get Her Secret Makeup Tips

2008-09-14T10:40:00.006-04:00

I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that the Sarah Palin supporters refuse to see through the carefully crafted persona that the McCain campaign has created for her. Articles like this one from The New York Times give a fairly clear picture of what the country is in for if McCain and his pitbull (or is it hockey mom? I'm so confused) end up in the White House. This is a woman who believes the visibility of Russia from an island of Alaska equals experience in foreign policy. A woman who will appoint a friend to the Division of Agriculture because of her friend's "love of cows". Of course personal opinion comes into play in any politician's position on policies (check out that alliteration!) but Sarah Palin leads with her personal feelings and what appears to be snap decisions. She has said "...that you can't blink, you have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, the mission that we're on, reform of this country and victory in the war, you can't blink." Is this the leadership that we want in the White House? A skittish colt who reacts first and thinks later? Her supporters will argue that she's made progress in her home state of Alaska, but at what cost? We don't need a secretive bunch running this country, another four years of "executive privilege" being tossed around.

So I say to the Sarah Palin supporters, do something new, something different.

Think.

(Thanks to kodak konfidential for the excellent photoshoppin')

Things You Have to Believe to be a U.S. Republican

2008-09-12T10:35:00.003-04:00

1. Jesus loves you and shares your hatred of the environment, homosexuals, and Hillary.

2. Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him, and a bad guy when Bush needed a 'we can't find Bin Laden' diversion.

3. Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.

4. The United States should get out of the United Nations, and our highest national priority is enfor cing U.N. resolutions against Iran.

5. A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation.

6. The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.

7. If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.

8. A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our long-time allies, then demand their cooperation and money.

9. Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy, but providing healthcare to all Americans is socialism. HMOs and insurance companies have the best interests of the public at heart.

10. Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.

11. A president lying about an extra-marital affair is an impeachable offense, but a president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.

12. Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet.

13. The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George Bush's driving and military records are none of our business.

14. Being a druggy is a moral failing and a crime unless you're the wife of the Republican candidate for president or a conservative radio host, then it's an illness, and you need our prayers for your recovery.

15. What Bill Clinton did in the 1960s is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the '60s is irrelevant.

16. 4 more years of a Republican president and Republican Congress is a vote for change.

17. The economy is in great shape and those who don't believe it are just whiners.

Pet Questions

2008-09-08T19:22:00.004-04:00

I recently received the following email from a friend of a friend about her two kittens and I would like to share it with any animal lovers out there who may have the same questions. The "cat person" she refers to is me.

i also have a question for your friend, the cat person. they are
sick. one has the runs, the other is throwing up. one isnt eating and
is pretty quiet.

before i take them to the vet whcih will cost hundreds of dollars
that i dont have i wondered how long i should wait and if she had any
advice.

I realize that people don't want to have to drop hundreds of dollars at the vet anytime their animal seems a little under the weather. Hell, I don't want to either, if I can help it. But the truth is that it really is necessary. This was my reply.

Because they are kittens, I would recommend taking them to the vet immediately. Vomiting and diarrhea in kittens can be a sign of quite a few diseases, especially if they are not yet fully vaccinated. They can also become dehydrated quickly because they are so young. If you are worried about cost I suggest taking them to the ASPCA in Manhattan, you'll have the best chance of getting affordable (and possibly discounted) care.

Preventative medicine is as important for your pets as it is for you. If your pet is sick, please don't wait to take it to the vet.

In The News

2008-09-08T19:00:00.006-04:00

The following is a quote by New York Young Republican's president Lynn Krogh from an article in today's Metro entitled "Palin: battle of the sexists".

Folks in the lower 49 states don't know Sarah Palin and so when they (the media) field the questions of whether or not she can be a mother and vice president, they feel them to be valid. I (Krogh) don't think those questions should be asked. No one asked Hillary that question.

Well, Ms. Krogh, allow me to explain. Hillary, unlike Sarah Palin, would not be raising a Down's Syndrome baby while trying to run the free world. I'm pretty sure Chelsea is out of diapers by now.

Update: Lynn Krogh was kind enough to send me an email after reading my little blurb so I thought it only appropriate that I print her response. The following is her email to me in it's entirety.

Hi!!

Thanks for picking up my quote. I appreciate it. Couple of things:

1 - The quote was part of a larger context which obviously wasn't picked up, I used Hillary and Obama both as examples because neither were asked if they could be parents and lead the free country.

2 - I'm very proud of Palin and her continuous fight for all women, on both sides of the aisle. She's certainly breaking that glass ceiling that many of us, politically active or not, had hoped would happen much sooner, rather than later.

3 - I see you live in Astoria, As do I... small world!

Thanks agian, have a great night.

Lynn Krogh

My response to this?

1. Whether you're asking the question of Hillary only or both Hillary and Barack, there is still a world of difference between raising an infant with Down's Syndrome and raising older children without special needs. Barack Obama's girls, Malia and Natasha, are ages 11 and 9.

2. I couldn't disagree more when it comes to Sarah Palin fighting for women and I don't believe she's breaking any glass ceilings. As Arbor Boy pointed out, it's more like she's pouring a layer of cement over the glass ceiling. Her anti-abortion stance, along with wanting to teach abstinence only and creationism in schools, and believing that the world is only 6,000 years old only points us in the wrong direction.

3. Everybody lives in Astoria.

Thanks for writing, Lynn!

Watch me

2008-09-06T23:28:00.003-04:00

Posting this video is my good deed for the day.

Say my name, bitch!

2008-09-06T19:41:00.001-04:00

In my book, this is what really happened.

Full Melvin

2008-09-01T12:37:00.007-04:00

Wednesday was x-ray day for Melvin and, happily, there was no sign of his fracture so Melvin is now bandage free. It's the first time Arbor Boy and I have seen him without a bandage or e-collar. After four weeks with a splint he has to re-learn how to use his little leg but he's finally figuringout how to curl up like a normal cat. He's still confined to his cage or our laps but he's working his little muscles and soon he'll be up and running at full speed, although if it were up to him he'd be chasing the Siamese around the table as I type this.

It was a good Labor Day weekend. A visit from friends, a lot of beer and food consumed and a lot of confused cats. They were thoroughly exhausted from all the activity.

I think we even tired Melvin out.

Baton Death March

2008-08-22T18:17:00.002-04:00

Last night the men's US 4x100 relay team, more specifically Darvis Patton and Tyson Gay, dropped the baton during the first heat thereby disqualifying themselves. Not surprisingly, the team was a tad pissed off. But they were also shocked, and that's the part I find interesting. The announcers raved about the men individually but said that they rarely have time to practice the relay part itself. They are chosen for their speed and then put together into a relay team. So it's possible that they may never have actually attempted to pass the baton from one to the other and I would imagine that it takes a little skill to pass a baton while running full speed.

Only a few minutes later, the women's 4x100 relay took to the field and, wouldn't you know it, Lauryn Williams and Torri Edwards go and drop their baton thereby disqualifying themselves. In the 2004 Olympics, LaurynWilliams ran too early and missed the handoff. I'm no rocket scientist, but the common link I see in this puzzle is Lauryn Williams. She may be fast but if she's a "butterfingers" maybe they should keep her running solo. After the drop, she gallantly retrieved the baton and ran across the finish line even though she knew they were out. What a trooper. The irony of it all is that the announcers showed the replay of the men dropping the baton about a thousand times and then finally one more time before the ladies ran, warning them to avoid the same mishap. It's like they put a hex on them. The best part of all, though, was the post race interview with Lauryn Williams who said that they did the best they could and she didn't know what went wrong because the US women's 4x100 relay team was the best team on the field. I don't think Lauryn should hold her breath waiting for the call inviting her to join the next 4x100 relay.

Melvin...

2008-08-14T17:52:00.004-04:00

...is the new man in my life. He's a 3 and 1/2 month old Tabby Siamese kitten whose previous owner decided to throw him when he scratched her. He suffered from head, eye and liver trauma and a fractured humerus. Thanks to the ASPCA I am now fostering him and when he is all healed I'm going to adopt him. I'd write more but he's sitting on my lap right now and he makes it very difficult to type (luckily, he's ridiculously cute so I don't mind).

Coco

2008-07-31T16:59:00.005-04:00

Coco, a sweet and beautiful pitbull, was brought to the ASPCA by her owners last week after giving birth to a litter of puppies. She had been having seizures during the pregnancy and was immediately placed in the ICU. The puppies were in good health and, since it was too dangerous to leave them with their mother for fear she would have another seizure and crush them, the doctors gave them the "all clear" to go home with the owners. The moment Coco was placed in her ICU cage without her puppies she began to make these awful noises that can only be described as screams. I was happy that my shift was almost over as the screams were making it difficult to think straight.

When I arrived at the ASPCA early Monday morning after being on vacation for a week I was surprised to find Coco still in the ICU and still being very vocal. When Coco's doctor came in later that morning I inquired about her seizures and was happy to learn that she hadn't had any since giving birth. I also learned that the owners "friend" was scheduled to come pick her up later that day. While her screaming and howling continued at a fairly constant rate, it was clear that her noises were a demand for attention. I managed to find some time to take Coco out for a walk and she jumped all over me, happily licking my face. Before I left for the day, I crawled in her cage with her and let her sprawl across my lap while I rubbed her ears and scratched her rump. I kissed her on the head and got up to leave hoping that, for the sake of my coworkers ears, Coco's owner would arrive soon to take her home.

Thursday was my next shift and I was absolutely astounded to walk through the door of ICU only to have Coco come running to greet me. The night shift techs, now familiar enough with Coco, had let her out to roam the ICU while they cleaned her cage. She was still waiting patiently for her owners or her owners' "friend" to come rescue her and take her back to her puppies. But the plain truth was that they were not coming back to get her. They wanted the puppies and had no use for an adult female dog who may possibly have seizures for the rest of her life (for the record, she still hasn't had a seizure since giving birth and there is no reason to believe that she will). The owners got exactly what they wanted and so they abandoned her. Instead of being at home where she could care for and nurse her puppies, Coco has been living in the chilly windowless ICU at the ASPCA. Instead of lying on a comfy dog bed in someone's living room, she is sitting in a metal cage with only a few layers of brown paper to sleep on.

I try to shower love and attention on as many of the owner-less animals as I can but I'm there to do a job and I just don't always have the time. That people would have the audacity to just dump an animal like that, that they can be so callous to think that it won't affect the animal appalls me. Coco, having such a sweet personality and good temperament, will hopefully be up for adoption soon and be given a better life than her first one. At the ASPCA, we call it the "forever home". It may sound like a sappy and sentimental name but it's what these animals deserve. It breaks my heart to see the love and devotion that an animal is still willing to give after being thrown away, or abused or neglected. I hope Coco gets her chance. I hope all the animals at the ASPCA get their chance. I have to believe they will, it's the only way I can keep doing my job.

Vacation (all I ever wanted...)

2008-07-22T23:23:00.003-04:00

Arbor Boy and I are on vacation this week and I plan to be as far from my computer as possible for the next three days. Ocean, sand, seafood, here we come.

Suggest a story

2008-07-18T16:58:00.004-04:00

For the past few months I've been contributing stories to Blog Me A Tale, a blog with many contributors and a moderator who chooses monthly topics for us to write about. I've enjoyed writing stories and poetry since I was young and I've enjoyed the opportunity to write for Blog Me A Tale (whenever time allows). I certainly don't fancy myself a "writer" in any way but when I get a story in my head it's amusing to start writing and see where it goes. With that thought in mind, I've decided to try a little experiment. Suggest a few topics that I should write about and I'll see what I can come up with. Anything goes, be as creative as you want, but I'll pick and choose depending on what topics appeal to me.

Dick*

2008-07-13T11:50:00.002-04:00

**A repost from Blog Me A Tale**

I think I was five years old the last time my dad and I had an argument. My dad is, for the most part, a serious looking man with a good pokerface. However, being half Italian and half German, when his temper flares he suddenly becomes an animated caricature of his usual sober self. His stance widens, knees slightly bent so he can bounce a bit to the rhythm of his yelling and carrying on, his arms wildly gesturing as his voice rises with his temperature. The sudden change in demeanor would crack me up as a kid and I ended up laughing hysterically even as he was trying to scold me. He eventually gave up yelling at me, finally realizing his attempts at punishing a giggling five year old were futile. We've gotten along ever since.

My dad is an old Air Force guy. He used to take us shooting in the woods where he would set up beer cans for us to fire at. I remember one time we had paused so that he could set up more cans, I was holding the pistol with the barrel pointing up as he had instructed. Unfortunately, I had failed to keep my finger off the sensitive trigger and the gun accidently fired straight up in the air. My dad, who may have actually shat himself when the gun went off, hotfooted it back to me all the while trying unsuccessfully to form a comprehensible sentence.

"Give me the...watch what yer...don't hold the...gimme that!"

To his credit, he didn't get angry he just took the gun from my stunned little hand all the while rolling his eyes at me.

My dad liked to mess with my friends all through my teen years. He was a gun enthusiast and had a room in the basement where he would work on restoring and cleaning his collection. He would emerge from the basement, knowing that my friends and I were upstairs playing video games, and stand quietly in the doorway of the family room lovingly stroking a pistol with a grease stained white cloth until one of my friends would turn around and notice him there. My friends often decided they had to go home shortly thereafter.

When I was twelve we moved to a suburban neighborhood where most of the men went off to work everyday in a collared shirt and tie, and spent the weekends around the house in khaki shorts and a polo. My dad worked for the Air Force National Guard and went to work in fatigues and on the weekend could be seen mowing the lawn in ripped up cutoffs, combat boots, and a faded black shirt/jacket thing that was held closed with three ties down the front that he most likely picked up overseas somewhere when he was still in the Air Force.

My dad retired from the National Guard five years ago. His plan was to find a part time job that would give him something to do and yet require him to have only the most minimal responsibilities. It took a few tries since it's in his nature to take on responsibilities (his opinion is that people are idiots and if you want it done right, do it yourself) but he finally found something he enjoyed that only took up a few hours at a time. My dad is now a hot air balloon wrangler. His job, along with a couple of other guys, is to get the balloon and basket set up and then hop in his truck and follow the balloon across the southern end of the county until the pilot finds an open farm field to land in. Then they wrangle in the balloon, deflate it and pack it up. Think of it as a tamer version of tornado chasing. He's quite fond of the job and it allows my mom and him to go on their camping trips whenever they want. It also allows him to enjoy his other favorite past time, military reenactments. Because what else is a retired military man supposed to do with his time?

What else can I say, the man's a legend.

(*yes, that's my dad's name. It shouldn't come as a surprise that most of my friends were perfectly happy calling him Mr. Dunkle)

A dose of hipster

2008-07-12T15:35:00.011-04:00

On Deus Ex Malcontent, one of my favorite blogs to haunt, Chez recently wrote one of his superbly blunt pieces that has garnered a fair amount of attention and commentary. It's a lengthy piece (but absolutely worth the read) entitled Droll Models, a look at the internet as new media, specifically the sites Gawker and Jezebel, and what happened when two of Jezebel's bloggers stepped out from behind the computer screen for an interview. If the length turns you off, then I encourage you to at least check out the interview with Lizz Winstead and Jezebel bloggers, Moe Tkacik and Tracie Egan, and tell me they're not irritating as hell. Moe appears to be having a hemorrhoid flare-up that prevents her from sitting like a normal homo sapien, Tracie rattles off a few thoughts that were most certainly formed with the singular goal of shock value in mind and makes sure to let everyone know she lives in Williamsburg (in case you didn't get that she's "hip"). Both girls spend much of the interview glancing at the audience for approval whenever they say something they deem to be clever proving once and for all that stupid is the new black.

Thank you, Chez, this piece was utter fabulocity*.

(*and thank you, Mia Michaels, for the word "fabulocity)

Summer Pics

2008-07-10T12:26:00.010-04:00

This summer is all about the mini-vacation for Arbor Boy and myself. A few weeks ago, we took a long weekend and drove up to Framingham, Massachusetts (a place we affectionately nicknamed "strip mall hell") where Arbor Boy did a six month internship two years ago. We wanted to visit with the staff who are now our good friends and see the progress of the garden. On our drive there we encountered some traffic and on our drive home we encountered torrential downpours, but the days in between were relaxing and lovely. We ate a lot, drank a lot, and took some pretty pictures. I don't bother with the latin names of all the plants I photographed, I'll leave that to my hort geek boyfriend, but I can certainly find the names for anyone who is interested.

All of the following were taken at Garden In The Woods, part of the New England Wildflower Society.

A very tall magnolia

It was a good year for mountain laurel, we saw it everywhere.

wandflower, I love the shine on the leaves.

These white flowers were so small and delicate, I was sure they would never photograph.

succulents in the Tufa Rock Garden

Tufa Rock Garden

Prickly Pear Cactus

A few more mini-vacations are in the works, I hope to have other pictures to share in the coming weeks.

Neuter your pets, people.

2008-07-09T15:10:00.002-04:00

Excuse me while I hop up onto my soapbox. Okay, here we go.

Neuter your goddamn pets, please. My phrasing may not be as convivial as Bob Barker, but now that he's off the air and no longer reminding you to "spay or neuter your pets" he needs a mouthpiece to carry on his legacy. And I am happy to be that voice. Since starting work at the ASPCA, I have seen a startling number of pets come in that are not spayed or neutered. I can't even begin to emphasize how necessary these procedures are for animals. Already there are too many unwanted pets in this city (and in this country for that matter) and by not neutering your animals you are contributing to the problem. Just come into my job and take a look at all the animals waiting to be adopted. There is an endless parade of kittens coming through the door everyday. There is also a steady flow of female animals coming to the hospital because of dystocia, or difficulty giving birth. This is due largely in part to people breeding their pets irresponsibly (or unknowingly).

There is a contingency of pet owners who will squeal and squawk about how neutering is robbing their dog of his manhood. Bullshit. It's not a trophy to Fido. Those are dog balls, not Golden Globes. Male intact dogs can become more aggressive and territorial, they may try to dominate their humans and they will search out a female to breed with. Submissive male dogs may become friendlier and more comfortable around people once they are neutered. Intact male cats and dogs will mark their territory, or in plain language, pee all over your house.

But aside from the pet population and behavioral reasons, there are health reasons to neuter your pet as well. Intact male animals may develop benign prostatic hypertrophy or testicular cancer. For female animals the main reason to spay is to prevent pyometra, a painful infection of the uterus. This is no small infection. Don't believe me? I watched a surgeon remove a 15lb pyometra from a dog. Needless to say, the dog was in excruciating pain. Female pets are also more likely to develop mammary tumors which will then have to be surgically removed, another painful procedure.

Let me make it perfectly clear that I find nothing wrong with responsible breeding, but responsible breeding means being knowledgeable about your pets health and it's birthing process. There is more to it than letting your dog get mounted by another dog. I am not being a causehead, I just have your animal's best interest at heart.

Feed your head

2008-07-02T14:03:00.011-04:00

A friend of mine just introduced me to the website freerice.com and if you are even remotely as geeky as I am, this is your cup of Jamesons. It's like your own little standardized test you can take whenever you want. Here's how it works. They give you a word and then four words to choose from. You have to choose the one that is the synonym. For every one you answer correctly, they will donate 20 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. As you answer them correctly, the words will get harder. If you answer them incorrectly they will start to get easier. The words you miss will appear again later on. And, make no mistake, these are no little pansy-ass words. The whole idea is to increase your vocabulary.

I donated 1380 grains of rice last night. My geeky little brain is addicted already.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

2008-07-02T09:46:00.003-04:00

Same blog, different title.

While I haven't suddenly started playing well with others, I have decided to officially call the blog simply Felis Femina. Years ago, I had the nickname "Meow Girl" so this incarnation feels like a natural progression. Also, there happens to be another blog with the title "Doesn't Play Well With Others" so I don't wish to have any confusion, and I'm starting to enjoy the little persona I've created in Ms. Femina.

So...welcome to Felis Femina.

Meow.

Technical Difficulties

2008-06-26T22:50:00.003-04:00

Thanks to the utterly useless cable company, Time Warner Cable, I am without internet service until Sunday when one or two of their fine cable technicians will most certainly arrive at the last possible moment to replace my cable modem...for the second time in eighteen months.

Time Warner Cable, you suck.

** This picture came up when I Googled Time Warner Cable, I swear.