Cool Cat

I don't really like cats, but my friends' fat one, Cecil, is pretty amazing. As soon as interaction is involved though, I absolutely rescind that statement. Let's just say this one is enjoyable from a distance:

Sticky Notes and Red Rug

These brightened up the rainy day:

And the Search for Bellydancing Classes Begins

... how convenient! There happens to be a studio in the suite next to my office!

Long Distance Love

I'm ridiculously in love with this beautiful creature I have never met. I can't describe what she smiles like, smells like or cries like, but I can say that she sure likes to sleep. She's definitely related to me:

Move Over, White Bean Toast!

There's a new favorite on my plate and it's called Baked Goat Cheese & Roasted Rosemary Cherry Tomato Toast. I've roasted tomatoes plenty of times before, but this time I used Fleur de Sel French Sea Salt, and it actually made a difference. Next, I want to try some of those smoked salts on fish or meat!

I'm Slackin'

Nearly crossing the finish line with the last three books. "Almost-there-but-not-quite" has never been more painful. I haven't gotten a chance to begin Tristes Tropiques, but have gotten around to purchasing these guys:

Trash and Horse Bones Beach

Bluebs writes:

Barren Island is off the Rockaways and was populated by Irish, Italian and Polish immigrants who took the dead horses from the five boroughs and processed them to make glue, etc. The glass is from a landfill nearby that bled out its garbage in the 40's. All the pieces of glass and garbage on the island are from between the 1880's and the 1950's. The island was shut down in the 1940's.

Kelly Bewn writes much of the same, but I'll give her a shot, too:

Off Floyd Bennett Field near Rockaway, the beach is perpetually awash in the horse bones from the historic glue and fertilized rendering plants that existing at this site from 1850s through the 1920. In the 1950 the adjacent dumb blew it's cap and old bottle, toys, nylons, and various relics from the 30's and 40's landed in the sands of Dead Horse Bay.

Wowzers. Looks like I missed out. If I had gone to this Beach O' Garbage I would have been hoping to find old jars, apothecary looking ones, and other antiquated glass goods. And maybe some remaining Clorox in those bottles to disinfect everything afterward. Real talk though, the beach does yield fabulous materials.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Introducing...

... my new niece, Baby Bella!

Primis, I really hope you guys did not name her after the Twilight chick, a worry which recalls the disconcerting case of other cousins who named their baby brother AJ after the Backstreet Boy. Congrats, cuz!

Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Wild Mushroom Polenta

Bluebs is on fire, better throw her in the water.

Lady Marmalade

Weasel-Tasha is using the oranges from her mom's tree to make marmalade. West coast produce (shaking my head) is one of the things I'm really missing right now (and mole tacos from Loteria are another):

What I would give to have some with vanilla yogurt and blueberries right now.

Update: Oooooh, somebbbody's camera phone is beating somebody else's camera phone... Hint: Mine isn't winning.

Just One Of Dem Days

McDonalds cheeseburgers and Porca de Murca, Douro Tinto 2007.

Carpet, Hockney & BH Hotel

I really liked the pattern on this carpet that I saw today:

It reminded me of this:

It's Been A While

... Since we saw one of these guys. Like Tony Toni Tone! "Feels good, yeah":

I Think I Accidentally Made A Type of Tuna Casserole?

I made myself some tuna from the can with olive oil, tomatoes, blue cheese (I know but it is good, promise) lemon, garlic, lemon juice and parsley for lunchtime tomorrow and had a hard time deciding on something quick to make for dinner since I spent most of my time doing that and roasting some peppers that I am marinating overnight for a dip. I figured I'd just make pasta since it's fast and I had some cheese left I wanted to get rid of. Once the spinach penne got to boiling, I realized I didn't have much to put in this pasta, and time was running out, so I cut up another tomato and drizzled olive oil on the pieces, along with dill, salt and pepper.

I had so much tuna at this point I decided to just bake some with the pasta. I arranged the boiled pasta on top of my seasoned tomatoes, tiny bit of garlic and oil, tossed it around and added the tuna to it. I covered it with parmesan cheese although when I took it out it wasn't cheesy enough, so I added more. I sealed the deal with some capers. I had been eating so much tuna along the way though that I only had about 4 bites of it before it entered the fridge as a leftover. I guess I now have the option of baked tuna or fresh tuna salad for lunch tomorrow!

Armory Show 2010

Thanks to Bluebs giving me her tickets, I got to go to the Armory Show on Sunday.

I had lovely company, there was an abundance of great work and the wine servings were generous. I have no complaints... Here are some of my favorite artists from the exhibition (but not necessarily their artwork from the show):

Juan Genoves:



Jesus Rafael Soto:



Boetti Alighiero:
This was embroidered so beautifully:



Georges Rousse:



Jane Irish:




Yaacov Agam:



Christina Ramberg:




Charles Burchfield:
I especially enjoy his wallpapers.

Fobby Card Mama Sent Me

Sorry, NY, but-

-I ♥
M A

My childhood was full of many-a-card of that variety, and I still hold a special place in my heart for stuff like this:

While Mary Engelbreit has a tendency to get a little too Jesus Camp for my taste, I'll always remember trying to copy her fonts and the sense of wonder her original style inspired as a little girl.