big in '04

Hey, hey, hey… It’s almost the New Year!!!!

To steal a phrase from VH1 – my own take of “Big in ‘04”…

Chip, Pinky, and Miles moved out to the East Coast. It’s so nice to have family nearby! Also, I have a place to hang out, do my laundry for free, and experience trying to get to know and connect with a kid again.

I left Saks (again). I love my friends and colleagues there, but that particular job was going nowhere. Hopefully, 2005 will be the year when I figure out what I want to do whenever I finally decide to grow up.

I’m working downtown again… such a different vibe than the midtown rush and über-corporate political environment. The IAB is a small trade association that promotes the online advertising industry. The office is at the north-end of Union Square – facing the park and a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Village. The company is comprised of 12 people – all young, bright, and entrepreneurial. It’s also pretty cool that we can wear jeans to work (no more blasted 3-inch high heels, well at least not ALL the time!).

Moved on up into a bigger (and affordable) apartment in Harlem with a good friend and another friend that I’ve enjoyed getting to know better… Both of them have do-gooder jobs (both recently switched careers - Siobhan’s a paramedic, and Miguel helps out the mentally/physically challenged), and they have “interesting” albeit salty and cynical views on life. I’ve learned quite a bit from them.

Thanks to the move uptown… I’ve managed – so far – to hold on to my beloved Jetta. That car is my sanity. Whenever I need an escape from the city, I just hop in it and drive, drive, drive… This year’s included a few trips up to the beach/shore, Boston, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and many, many trips to Target and the NJ malls and outlets.

My trip back home to Cali last August proved fruitful. I was offered a couple of jobs out there, and it made me realize that I’m not quite ready to let go of NYC. It’s comforting to know that should I ever need to move back there, it is a home to me, and I have my family and close friends there to support me. Mom, Dad, Dan, Heather, Lisa, Debbie, Matt, Guy, Cindy, and Micki – sorry that I changed my mind. I still love you, guys, and thanks for your support!

Now to those on this side of the coast: Vanessa, Concetta, Suzy, Katie, Augusto, Jon, Leslie, and Aya – I don’t know what I would have done without you this year. Thanks for keeping me somewhat sane.

In regards to my, ahem, personal life, let’s just say that it’s been a good year overall. I can’t complain too much and have been pretty fortunate. I’ve learned a lot from my friends, loved ones (including exes), and, of course, my therapist.

THANK GOODNESS 2004 IS OVER!

young at heart...

My birthday came and went... It's been snowing a bit over the past couple of days (good for me since it means that alternate side of the street parking's been suspended, so I don't have to move my car for the next few days...). So far, the holidays have been very kind to me... I'm really lucky to have some pretty remarkable (and generous) folks in my life. I wanted to spend my bday in a fairly lowkey manner, and I did just that. Just got home from having dinner with my friend, Lydia, downtown at Vento -- yum... and totally on my company's dime.

From the LA Times (let's see if the predictions come true, shall we?)...

Today's birthday (December 27). The thrills you dreamed about as a small child are now re-entering your life. Connecting with ambitions of bygone days gives you vitality and optimism -- what could be more attractive? The next three months are busy, social and filled with options. But do settle in with someone by April. Work and finances go better when your love life is decided. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 24, 30, 52 and 18.

This week's birthdays (Dec 26-1/1): You're committed to making a difference in the world this year, and the world seems to respond to your every intention. Small changes in your interpersonal skills will allow you greater influence over your immediate circle in January. You'll be molding your schedule to accommodate a loving figure in February. At the time, it seems inconvenient, but increased good fortune in the early spring makes you see that all was worthwhile. Singles give in to love in June -- new love is met at a school of some kind.

We all may be getting older, but I'd like to think that we're still fairly young at heart. Speaking of "young at heart", here are some pics of my nephew, Miles, one of my favorite up and coming NY kids... I'm so happy that he's growing up here on the East Coast, instead of 3,000 miles away!

Meet Miles 

with his mom on x'mas eve 

at my bday brunch with his dad and sippy cup... 

my favorite pic 

another one... 

and finally... the last one for this post :-)

'twas the day after christmas...

Merry Christmas!

Spent today celebrating my pending bday by having some friends join me for brunch at the Blue Note, then having them over Apt. 4 to hang out- which led to an impromptu tutorial on how to play poker (thanks, Fido!). Roach made me his famous Kahlua chocolate cake (sans Kahlua, but it was still yummy- thanks, Roach!). The cold weather and holiday traveling deterred a lot of folks from joining us, but we had fun anyhow... It started to snow later in the evening, so it's a good thing we had an early start... Tomorrow's the big 32 (ugh...)

Jazz brunch at the Blue Note... Greenwich Village, New York City

Aya & me...

Chett & me... 

Jose, me, Jon & Sorana

Jon & Sorana, Take 1

Jon & Sorana, Take 2

Chip and his own "mini-me"...

Me, Leslie, & Dave

Leslie & Dave

Fido, Gen, & some mad loot... 

Augie, Eliot, Roach & me... 

Augie & me... 

Roach & the canine Sumo, not to be confused with my
best friend, SuMo, who was in India for X'mas, four weddings
(and no funeral)...

Fido giving us all a lesson on Texas Hold'em...

so much for my happy ending?

"I don't believe in happy endings, but I believe in happiness..." - teeth

repartee: a sparring of words, an exchange of (not always) clever retorts

teeth077: You only think you know, but you don't know
teeth077: ...but you will know...oh, indeed you will
teeth077: come on Trizzy
teeth077: trust me I won't be long
Trizzy: i had a run in with my ideal guy an hour ago
Trizzy: too bad he's not so ideal now that i've seen him in person
teeth077: ideal? Then he must be your ex
Trizzy: J I M M Y F A L L O N held the elevator for me.
Trizzy: oooh - low blow with the ex comment
teeth077: thank you
Trizzy: he's taller than i thought but not as cute
teeth077: really? By the time the doors closed his career was over
teeth077: You should have told him how much you LOVED Taxi
teeth077: and asked him when the sequel is coming out
Trizzy: so sad so sad
teeth077: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Trizzy: lol
teeth077: I'da asked him if Tina Fey was a lesbian
Trizzy: i love that chick too
teeth077: really?
teeth077: Wanna do her?
teeth077: That would be hot
teeth077: ha ha hot
Trizzy: Duuude
teeth077: party on
Trizzy: you're always bustin' my chops yo
teeth077: thats what I do
teeth077: so...what are you wearing?
Trizzy: clothes
teeth077: boring!
Trizzy: what are YOU wearing?
teeth077: a grey double breasted suit
teeth077: kenneth cole shoes
teeth077: silk boxers
Trizzy: hey, did you like utah?
teeth077: yeah, it was nice
Trizzy: one of my exes invited me to go to sundance
teeth077: gee, I get to flirting with you and you have to bring up and ex
teeth077: you love friggin Exs
teeth077: and no I wan't only talking about your ex, I was talking about you bringing up my ex
teeth077: X-X-X
Trizzy: not so true
teeth077: but only now
teeth077: not
Trizzy: some people collect cars, baseball cards...
teeth077: rrrrrrrright

AND HALF AN HOUR LATER...

Trizzy: do you not see what is so wrong with that?
teeth077: with spell check
teeth077: or that all your friends are exs
teeth077: except for me, which lowers my self-esteem
Trizzy: you know this chat's going up on my blog
Trizzy: edited, of course
teeth077: to make me look like a dingbat I'm sure
Trizzy: nah, it's just funny
Trizzy: i hung out the other night with that guy and there's no zippy repartee
Trizzy: not interested.
Trizzy: it was disappointing.
teeth077: Did you say "Hurry up so I can make you my Ex already!"
Trizzy: retard
teeth077: "I'm not interested in dating! I'm about the 'exing!"
teeth077: "Now join my X-men!"
teeth077: HAHAHAHAH
teeth077: that's so stupid its funny

misspelled words irritate the hell out of me...

maybe it's because i was spelling bee (as well as speech meet) champ three years in a row during grade school... i have a good friend that claims to be a writer (just kidding, he's actually a very good writer), however he's a horrendous speller. he even teaches writing at a local university... what the fondue???!!! my best friend can't spell either - even worse via IM. at least i'm not the only one that thinks that poor grammar and spelling are bad... very bad...

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/07/business/07write.html

now capitalization, however, is something i can do without (too lazy to hit the shift key!).

big movie weekend... and other random thoughts

from my friend, big v:
as for "closer", be warned it's a tough movie to watch. not for everyone. i'm trying to see if there's a soundtrack too. natalie portman is so pretty i want to kill her. there's a line in there i thought was so profound...

"You know the thing with depressive people is that they don't believe they deserve to be loved. Yet when they try to be happy they can't because they don't get to be depressed anymore."

That's a doozie!

this weekend's a big holiday party weekend (woo hoo!). it seems like with mercury in retrograde and all (you think i'm kidding?), that everyone could use it... i'm also psyched because "Oceans 12" and "The Aviator" are coming out... trying to decide which one to see this sunday...

senile at (almost) 32...

whew! well, it's been awhile since my last post. and it's because i couldn't remember my password for blogger... holidays are approaching and i'm so psyched...