Song for Fishy

The loveliest amphibian
I ever knew
Was our Sebastian
Big and blue.

He liked to find
His sliver of sun
And swim and swim
Until the day was done.

He was a fighter
He puffed up fast
When he saw his reflection
In the mirror's glass.

He hid in his bush
That was his way
Of teasing his owners
Who watched him play.

We'll miss Sebastian
He was our friend
He didn't eat
And met his end.

Thank you little fish
For sharing our home
You made us happy
We loved you so.

Walking the Line for Topher

My girlfriend graciously invited me to the east coast premiere of "Walk the Line" this weekend. We were seated in the 5th row of the orchestra (unreserved seats). We didn't see Joaquin Phoenix. Or Reese Witherspoon. No! No, the only star we really saw was Topher Grace. Topher Grace. He's cute, but what kind of a name is that???

When it's over

When it's over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was a bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it's over, I don't want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened
or full of argument.

I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.

Mary Oliver

I'm thinking about my doorbell

Please do not ring my doorbell at 9am on a Saturday morning promising a delivery and leaving nothing but new phone books. I am not dressed and it is most unkind.

O, Pickle Chips, O Pickle Chips...

I first discovered Lay's yummy pickle chips while visiting relatives in the Midwest. I looked for them back in New York, but couldn't find them again until I was in a quaint little town on Long Island this summer (and no, I did not stock up!).

Then, last night, because I was peckish after the play I saw, I happened to stop in at Duane Reade on the corner of 42 St. and 8th Ave. I entered hoping to score some Pirate Booty, which they did not carry. As I was about to settle for a mini can of Pringles, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but Lays Pickle Chips, right next to the beer! Thank you, thank you, Duane Reade!

OK, that's weird!

I was walking home late last night in the 'hood when I noticed a guy taking pictures of the soon-to-open Ann Taylor LOFT's store windows. Wha??? I notice him, he notices me, and walks away a bit. I pass the windows, which until tonite, had been covered for the renovation. What do I see? 20-30 naked mannequins in the window in different poses! Was he a pervert? Or an artist?

When bananas fail you...

I went to a banana-themed birthday party last weekend. The host made banana pudding, banana cake, and frozen bananas dipped in chocolate, rolled in oreos. And to take home, banana muffins! All were most delish.

But I still woke up this week with charley horses.

It's time to get out the bouncy balls and roll my calves on them. Eek!!!

November Pain

Ok, ok, fans! I'll say something. Geez! It must the month of November. ...I'm too busy eating. Actually, there have been out-of-town guests. And parties. And shows. And dancing. There hasn't been much time. I've done so much, where to begin?

How do you dress up to win over revelers at a gay Halloween party? As Alice in Wonderland.

How do you entertain such international guests as a Canadian and a Swede? Take them to "Beauty and the Beast."

How can you comfort a friend turning 30? Buy her a monkey on a keychain.

Hope to say more. Soon!