props to Doc & Richard Armitage

being the cliche female that i am...i love romantic dramas and romantic comedies (except when Meg Ryan is involved); but my most favorite is the costume period romantic dramas. BBC is the king of producing some quality adaption of classic English literature. i'm a fan of all things Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Henry James, Edith Wharton, etc.

one day while surfing You Tube i came across a "couples montage".  one of the movies listed was called North & South.  i thought it was the Civil War miniseries starring Patrick Swayze.  didn't give it much thought or try to track it down to view.

then Doc came to visit over Christmas.  i happened to mention the title of North & South and Doc told me how she saw it with a friend and loved it.  i trust Doc's opinion so quickly moved North & South to the top of my Netflix list.  it arrived on a Friday and i sat on my couch for four hours devouring the show.  i HIGHLY recommend this movie if you enjoy the costume period dramas and a good looking leading man...thank you Richard Armitage.  :)

a trailer made to whet your whistle:

bye bye big lug, hello PhD

my brother, big lug has essentially forgotten about the joy that comes from blogging, hence he is removed forthwith from my "check 'em out" section. fare thee well big lug's blog.

on the up swing, a new blogger has entered the world of website posting...welcome PhD to the goodness! can't wait to read about your life in CA and the newest addition to the Movie Man and PhD family.

ode to a cupcake

i've haven't been subtle in my angst against Rockefeller Center. now i have another item to add to my list of annoyance. a magnolia bakery has opened in Rock Center! how could this be a bad thing you ask...it's a bad thing because i absolutely LOVE and ADORE cupcakes. see exhibit A...my birthday last year. netter even bought me a cupcake tree to display my cupcake baking skills. i had friends over last year after park avenue singing for...you guessed it...red velvet cupcakes. yoga master is hosting a party tomorrow night and asked me to stop by to be her official cupcake taste tester - i plan to go to her place after my gym work out! i'm a little out of control.

i wouldn't say i have any addictive vices when it comes to food. however, since jersey girl pointed out the magnolia bakery on the corner of 49th and 6th i have been a total of 9 times (out of a short duration of time); often ordering multiple cupcakes. yesterday i convinced my co-worker Mo to join me on my magnolia pilgrimage thinking that if i bring it friend then it is okay to get yet another cupcake.

please friends - i beg you to help me stop the magnolia madness. if you see me in the bakery, i give you permission to pull me out bodily kicking and screaming. also, if you're in my apartment please remove all cupcake baking items. i need your help to control the demon.

the DVD experiment

i have a plethora of DVDs. some were purchased and are yet to be viewed (i.e. We Are Marshall, Star Wars 3, Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade...) my sojourns to Best Buy almost always result in a new DVD to add to the collection. one day while i was broken, i decided to entertain myself by "logging" my DVDs. so i set up a spreadsheet with the title of the DVD, lead actor and actress and genre. if you come to visit and are in the mood to watch something dramatic, classic, romantic, action or musical, then i have the tools to quickly give you options from my DVD collection.

i'm realizing that i don't spend enough time with the DVDs that i already own. lately i have contemplated how long it would take me to view all of my DVDs consecutively. to find the answer, i've decided to conduct a little experiment...

i will watch, in alphabetical order, at least 2 DVDs a week (Sun - Sat) to determine the length of time in days necessary to watch all of them. any TV series i own must be watched in it's entirety. (gilmore girls is going to kill me since i have ALL SEVEN seasons.) i am not allowed to give away any DVDs during this time and must collect all DVDs that are currently loaned out to friends.

at the end of my experiment (probably 2011) i will report my findings. wish me luck.

this lovely experiment will not prohibit me from purchasing additional DVDs. they will just go to the end of the line if i have already passed their letter. oh the good times to be had.

rocking with the band

went to visit Claire in CT over the holiday weekend.  it was a great time especially since we got to spend some quality time together PLAYING ROCK BAND.  the slight enjoyment has blossomed into full fledged addiction.  i love feeling like i'm shirley manson of garbage throwing down a hot guitar solo to "I Think I'm Paranoid".  

our band was completed when MC strolled into the house with his rockin' rhythms.  we funneled the power of all great rockers to achieve "easy" greatness on Bon Jovi, All American Rejects, Foo Fighters and other classics.

after all the Rock Banding was done, Claire and I hit the stores and enjoyed some new purchases.  we also saw a house with a pediment full of fruit.  only on the east.  :)

now i just need to bring the joy of rock band into my own home.  apparently it is very hard to get but i won't rest until the band can come together in the city.  

new found joy of palladia HD

channel surfing recently i came across an HD channel that was showing counting crows concert footage. now i'm not a huge counting crows fan but the thought of additional concert footage broadcast in HD really whet my whistle. i scrolled through the guide and found that the Goo Goo Dolls (a favorite band) were part of a show called "music in high places". of course i recorded and enjoyed their live performances while seeing the beauty and majesty of Alaska.

i think Palladia just might make it onto my "favorites" list. just goes to show that channel surfing can bring great results!

while riding the Alaska train, the Goos performed "Here is Gone"

a slight sabbatical

don't know what it is about the holidays but they are always very, very busy.  doesn't help that work is also hectic along with the Primary responsibilities.  i needed to take a break from the things that make up my life...so the blogging was the casualty of too much to do with too little time.

went to Connecticut to visit Claire and the Munchkins over Christmas and spent New Years chillin' in my crib.  so often it is my dearest wish to stay home, order some food, put on my pajamas, watch a cheesy chic flic and put my hair in a pony tail.  that is what i opted for this Christmas.  so very, very nice.  

also this Christmas made me miss my family more than ever.  hopefully i'll be able to spend it with them in 2009.

very happy new year and merry christmas to one and all and welcome 2009!

the "great" of 2008

in case you missed it here are my "Great in '08" moments:

• Greatest reason to have a younger sibling: My sister Alyssa flew to New York by herself in February to take care of me when I broke my ankle. She had to cook, clean, grocery shop, do laundry at a Laundromat, find the ATM & remember my PIN number, make sure I took my meds, accompany me to the doctor, open doors for me and my crutches and overall keep me sane while I was confined to my apartment with only 100+ DVDs and books for company.
  
• Greatest “Family” vacation: HAWAII for 7 magical days…saw the sights of Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, Polynesian Cultural Center, swam with a dolphin, walked the grounds of the Laie Temple, barely made it out alive from a helicopter tour, sampled the Pineapple Whip at the Dole Plantation, played lots of hands of Pinochle and swam in the ocean & pool with some of my favorite people in the world, my Mom, brothers, sister-in-law and sister.
  
• Greatest example of why I own an HDTV: Michael Phelps’ swimming events in the Beijing Olympics
  
• Greatest new item to beat the cold: Dunkin Doughnuts White Hot Chocolate…life will never be the same.
  
• Greatest “Friend” vacation: Went to London over Thanksgiving. Saw the Crown Jewels, Westminster Abbey, Changing of the Guard, Courtauld Institute Gallery, National Gallery, traveled to Stonehenge & Bath, boarded a capsule on the London Eye, grimaced through Dirty Dancing the Musical (TERRIBLE!) and ate some great Indian, Thai, Italian and American food and tried to swallow some nasty British food
  
• Greatest electronic purchase: My iPhone at the 5th Avenue Apple Store on Tuesday, September 9th at 7:00am
  
• Greatest songs in iPhone/iPod rotation: Bleeding Love (Leona Lewis), Your Guardian Angel (Red Jumpsuit Apparatus), Your House 2007 (Jimmy Eat World), Broken (Lifehouse), Let’s See How Far We’ve Come (Matchbox Twenty), Sit Back, Relax (Ryan Cabrera), Gravity (Sara Bareilles) & Crack the Shutters (Snow Patrol)
  
• Greatest New York daily moment: Exiting my Rockefeller Center office building to the sight of tour buses unloading excited tourists coming to view the Today Show or glide on the smallest ice rink in the city
  
• Greatest television shows: Brothers & Sisters, Heroes, Eli Stone, Ugly Betty, Lost, Mad Men and Grey’s Anatomy
  
• Greatest traveling moment: Was upgraded to first class when flying to Los Angeles with Missy Elliot in the seat in front of me. Was upgraded again both ways when visiting the family in Utah in October. Gotta love Medallion status.
  
• Greatest hours spent in a movie theater: 27 Dresses, Iron Man, The Dark Knight, The Incredible Hulk, Twilight, The Duchess and What Happens in Vegas
  
• Greatest reason for a movie ticket return policy: Mamma Mia, The Other Boleyn Girl, Indiana Jones & Made of Honor
  
• Greatest “Get out of New York” destination: Newtown, CT (via train) to visit Megan and White Plains, NY or Hackensack, NJ (via rental car) to visit Target and the Cheesecake Factory
  
• Greatest home improvement: Painted a wall purple in my living room and purchased the final piece of furniture in the living room, an end table, at a deep discount at Crate & Barrel
  
• Greatest websites to distract me from work/life: Facebook, Bricks & Stones Gossip and AccuWeather
  
• Greatest personal achievement: Avoided temptation to purchase a puppy while still on crutches and turned 30 years old

christmas decorating

my two Nativity scenes and little tree pales in comparison to the following Christmas light displays.  surprised to find that the location of the displays is about a mile from my joani's house.  too bad i can't see it in person this year.  check out this website for details on where the display is located.  so which do you like best?

2006 - Carol of the Bells

2007 - Amazing Grace

scary resolution

start the self-analyzation.  it is almost resolution time.  i'm already afeared about my personal reflection.  

had a conversation with doc and netter during our gift exchange that started the beginning of resolution thinking.  sure that this past year's experiment of depravation and instigation will affect my self-analyzation.  should be interesting.

have you thought about possible resolutions and for how long will you keep them?

great night at Carnegie

last night went to Carnegie Hall for the New York Pops Holiday Concert.  it was fantastic! normally i get annoyed with too much singing by the guest artists because it takes away from the Pops.  not this time.  the guest artist's were the King's Singers and they were amazing!  it is just my luck that they performed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at their Christmas concert last year AND it's being broadcast on PBS on Christmas Eve.  

i loved the Mack Wilberg arranged O Holy Night performance.  it made me cry.  at least i know i'm not dead inside during the holidays.  thank you Christmas music.

just so happened that the concert was held the night of the "big" snow storm.  love the beauty of a snow covered city but not as happy to try and schlep across town in it.

New York Fun Day 2008

the 7th annual new york fun day was fantastic.  we started early with our traditional brunch at Corner Cafe and made it to Macy's, Bryant Park, Avenue of the Americas, Au Bon Pain, Rockefeller Tree (with tubas), Saks Snowflake show that didn't happen, dinner at Outback Steakhouse and finally Christmas K-A-R-A-O-K-E!  

we had such a great time despite the crowds, cold weather and slight tiredness.  hard to believe another New York Fun Day has come and gone.

the unicycler

took a cab to work this morning and saw a man wearing a suit and riding a uni-cycle down park avenue. that was something i had yet to witness in the city.

any strange sights you've seen that you would like to share?

the Fun Day cometh

the story of new york fun day...

i was quite depressed after moving to new york in september of 2002. the adjustment was much harder than anticipated. it was december and i needed a serious "pick me up" otherwise i was pretty sure i was going to head back to joani's. thankfully i had forced doc to be my buddy. one saturday in december 2002 we decided to hit the town and pretend to be tourists to see new york in all of its christmas glory. we went to Rockefeller, Macy's, up 6th Avenue and through Central Park. thus new york fun day was born.

this saturday is the 7th Annual New York Fun Day! i'm so excited. for some reason i don't feel like it is Christmastime until the fun day. thank goodness doc is able to travel from the wilds of medical school to join in the festivities.

itinerary remains the same with brunch, Macy's windows, strolling up 6th Avenue to see the ornaments, hot chocolate at Au Bon Pain, Rockefeller tree, Saks Snowflake show, dinner at Dos Caminos and the finale of Christmas Karoake. i'm really excited to play with netter and doc on saturday.

pics from fun days past:

Christmas all around

i'm so ready for Christmas.  last Saturday i went to white plains to do some shopping (and ate at the Cheesecake Factory of course), saw a Christmas movie that was better than expected, and BOUGHT a tree!  amazing how a tree can lighten a room and bring the Christmas spirit.  i hope i feel the same way when i have to remove it.  :)

Rockefeller Tree Lighting

Me and my new tree

My pretty tree all lit up

London Calling

i have been sorely chastised by family and friends for my tardiness in posting content from my trip across the pond with netter.  there is no excuse that i can give.  it actually makes me feel good to know that people actually care about where i go, what i do and how i am able to capture it all photographically.  London was good, but the picture to the right captures the trip in a nut shell -- it was rainy, windy, and as Claire would say "blasted cold!"

tonight i'm tired after going to the 'burbs to shop for the cutest rug rats ever so i'm only going to post a select number of London pics -- the creme de la creme you might say.  thanks go out to netter for her stellar photographic abilities. details about the trips activities will come along shortly...just not tonight, because i'm tired.  

The Chopping Block

while riding in a cab returning home from stake conference with Elder Holland, netter dealt some bad news to me. two of my shows were cancelled. it was truly tragic because the networks didn't give them a chance especially after the writer's strike cut into their debuts.

i bid you a fond and sincere farewell Dirty Sexy Money and Eli Stone. i shall miss your musical numbers and overdramatic cat fights while sifting through the reality show retardation which shall take your place.

i hope no other stellar ensemble shows like Brothers & Sisters or Heroes find themselves on the chopping block otherwise, my netflix subscription will have to go from 2 movies to 3 movies.

a new chapter in my life called...

cub scouts. tonight i attend my first pack meeting. honestly, i'm a little afraid. i like the cub scouters but the organization itself scares me. first, what the heck is a webelo? the bear and wolf i get but the webelo throws me.

i guess the fear and trepidation stems from my mother's aggrevation and irritation with getting my three brothers' Eagle Projects put together and completed. but the cub scouts don't need to worry about that until they hit the big time AKA the Boy Scouts.

wish me luck in my inaugural journey into the world of scouting. as long as i don't have to pitch a tent or go on a 50-miler all will be well.

the Befores

a few more Holiday "before" pictures:

the Macy's windows (unveiled day after Thanksgiving)

Rockefeller Rink minus the Tree

Saks Fifth Avenue windows shielded by Swarvoski drapery

random "next blog"

had some time on my hands so opted to click the "next blog" button shown on my webpage. interesting that of my 8-9 "next" clicks that not one of the blogs was written in english. had a bunch of spanish and french blogs, an japanese or chinese blog and some middle eastern language. it just goes to show that the world is a very big place that can fit onto a very small tableau known as Blogger.