And then I woke up

It's fall. It's cold. It's wet. It's windy.

...But last night I had the most amazing dream! It was summer and beautiful. And I was walking in the neighborhood and discovered the most amazing gardens surrounded by gorgeous swimming pools.

And then I woke up. And turned on the tv. And learned about the new local YMCA with a swimming pool. And remembered I just signed another year's lease for my "bare bones" gym.

Damn!

In Praise of Brooklyn Heights...

On weekends, I prefer to stay in Brooklyn and relax. Here are some of the great things about my neighborhood and its surrounding area...

1. Walking the Promenade, which offers a gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline. You can even see the Statue of Liberty!
2. The architecture; street after historic street of it, including many of the old carriage houses.
3. They wrote it here. Many writers once lived in our 'hood: Arthur Miller, Truman Capote, W.H. Auden, Norman Mailer (last I knew, he's still here), Thomas Wolfe, Henry Miller, Carson McCullers, and Norman Rosten.
4. The Heights Players: a theater that welcomed us onto their stage and became our neo-family.
5. Close to enormous Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Brooklyn Museum of Art.
6. We have our own Farmer's Market 3 days a week.
7. Shopping: our own Macy's, Target, Barnes and Noble... (Hey, we were even featured on "The Look for Less" - Brittny Gastineau had to buy an outfit for like less than $200 in our 'hood!) P.S. We also have great stoop sales!!!
8. Best place to spot the little cuties on Halloween night: Every Halloween, Garden Place street is closed off and everyone stands in front of other people's stoops to hand out candy. (Your candy won't last more than 5 minutes; be warned!)
9. Best window-peeping around! Chandeliers, moldings, chandeliers!
10. And...if all these fail...one is close enough to walk the majestic Brooklyn Bridge over to Manhattan!

Water Water Everywhere

It has been raining CATS AND DOGS all day! I was drenched gettting to work. And I stayed drenched for the remainder of the day. As a treat, I indulged in a chocolate croissant this morning!! The soaking was so bad, that one woman had to proofread in her socks. And another proofreader actually brought in an extra pair of pants to wear because he predicted he would get soaked. He hung his wet pants over his cubicle for them to dry for the rest of the day, prompting various inquiries as to whether or not he had pants on under his desk! When my chiropractor saw me at lunch, she suggested that I should probably not stay in those damp clothes all day. I tried to get her to go along with the idea of a new ensemble from Bloomingdales next door, but she wouldn't give the approval!

Unbelievably, my umbrella is still in one piece. But that's probably because I recently purchased two new ones, and was using my old one anyway.

I think my fish is the only one I know who actually doesn't mind water today.

Things That Make My Hair Stand On End

1. An empty theater.
2. That old "Bloody Mary" trick in the bathroom mirror.
3. Trying to walk down the crowded sidewalk during the Village Halloween Parade.
4. The song "Hotel California."
5. The movie "The Ring."
6. Being alone in a subway car.
7. Downtown Detroit.
8. Shining a flashlight through my skin and seeing the glow.
9. Most ghost stories.
10. All the screaming kids at Target.

Poem for a Rainy Weekend

"Western wind when wilt thou blow

The small rain down can rain

Christ if my love were in my arms

And I in my bed again."

Anon (early 16^th Century)

A Surprise at the Diner

Today I ordered a blueberry muffin at the diner. The waitress returned with it on a plate, cut in half, and toasted. I've never before had a toasted muffin. Well, I've had toasted English muffins, but never regular muffins. It was quite delightful.

They can't be nice ALL the time

New Yorkers. They were an adjustment from the people of Michigan I grew up knowing. They all seemed to speak harshly, coldly, with little caring in their voices or body language. Always honking, always in a hurry. I've been here quite a few years now. I've spoken to nice strangers, I've witnessed compassion after September 11th. But now and then, I'm jolted by utter rudeness I cannot accept or appreciate.

Like, for example, this week. I'm walking in a broken-in pair of sandals. It's the end of summer. My ankles are used to it. But I'm in a hurry, I'm late to work, and my ankle turns, sending me crashing to the ground. The corner of a city sidewalk. I'm ok. I stand up, readjusting my gym bag on my back and my shoulder bag. I look up to see an old lady with a cart bending over to pick up my lunch bag for me. How nice! "Thank you," I start to say, but before I can get that out, she starts lecturing me about wearing shoes without straps. "Yes, they're pretty, but look what happens when you..." "Thank you, I'm alright," I say, walking away as quickly as I can without falling again. You know, where is the love? If that's love, then...then save it. I don't need to learn your lesson. I am 5'2 and I cannot wear flats every day of my life. Go pick on someone who's younger than 30!!!

Sex and the City Moment Number 1

I'm not one of those people who live in the past all the time. Yes, I have all the Sex and the City DVDs, but that's only because Mr. H buys them for me! I don't watch them everyday, and I only bought like one pink item from the Gap when SJ was their model. Alright! I caved and bought the InStyle yesterday, but it was a last-minute Friday treat at the Barnes and Noble checkout! Had the line moved faster...!

Anyway, here's my real-life Sex and the City moment. I'll see how many I can log, just for fun. So, I'm called to usher at the last minute for an off-Broadway show. I'm handing out the Playbills inside the theater. I hand one to this tall, handsome stranger, who looks vaguely familiar. He doesn't seem to notice me much. Was he a director I auditioned for? Who? who? He takes his seat in the first row. No, no...! Nooooo!!!! Yep, my former gynecologist. Right there. Oh, dear. It's such a small island....

The Forgotten

This evening I watched "The Forgotten" starring Julianne Moore. It was filmed in my neighborhood; actually right around the corner from where I live. I remember seeing them film it, walking by and seeing Julianne at the food table. There was an enormous spotlight shining on the street. They took down a fence at one person's house, and put up a wire fence on another property.
It's strange to be so close to a movie set. I've passed them before and been covered in chills. Being an actress, aka, starving artist, I think, how can I be so close and yet so far away??? The only union I'm not in is SAG. I've heard one can sometimes walk up to a shoot and ask if they need any extras. Sometimes people don't show. But being an extra is no day at the beach. You sit all day, and you usually aren't seen in the final cut. I've done work on "Sex and the City," "Spiderman II," "Lochness." Still no "Law and Order" though! What's wrong with me?!!! Ok, it hasn't been my focus! I don't watch it. It's on network tv. Um....Look at the TIME!

I think she takes after me

This is my niece, Serena Adele. She is a good little girl. I wish she would visit me in New York.

Welcome to my blog

This is my first blog. Hello! Being a Pisces, I sometimes can be seen having trouble making decisions. Here is one of those moments. Coffee or Champagne?