Happy Birthday, Jessica!!!!!!!!!

Today is your birthday!

Shout HOORAY!!!!!

Tulip and I want to sing to you today!!

One year older and wiser too!

Happy Birthday

TO YOU!!!!!!!!

Jessica, Happy birthday and I hope you have had a most wonderful day today! And today is only the beginning! Let the good times roll!!!!!!

XOXO,

Your ever adoring big sister,

Emily

We'll root, root, root for the home team!

And if they don't win it's a real shame! Tonight is the highly anticipated game against long-standing rival, LSU. I can't wait!

I can't wait for tomorrow to kick off the festivities

'Twas the night before J’s birthday
and all through the town
People were conspiring
Uptown and down

On how best to celebrate
Our most favorite girl
A dinner, perhaps? Bayona?
With our favorite Ann and Earl?

Or maybe a party
With neon aglow?
We'll whirl ‘round the rink,
(She loves that, you know!)

Or even, at a lovely new favorite,
A decadent brunch,
Followed by the kindest gift of all,
A snausage donated from the munch!

Why not do it all
And shower the one
Who day-in and day-out
Is a constant source of fun

With love and excitement
We’ve plotted and schemed
On how to make this year’s birthday
The stuff of dreams.

{Image by Elsa Mora}

Accidents happen

Last night, Tulip was involved in a bad accident at the dog park. It involved a game of fetch, a log and a pack of dogs. Somehow, our little munchie found herself on the receiving end of the log being launched into the air, and, well….you know the sound of a baseball getting knocked out of the park by a wooden baseball bat? Imagine that sound, against the puppy’s head. It was terrifying.

Even more horrible were her puppy cries; after the hit she cried and ran straight to us and continued to cry in pain for a good three minutes. That is a long time. We could tell that she had been hit on the right side of her face, as it had already swelled up considerably and her skin under her fur was red and broken.

Imagine this:


And this:

On this face:

After we got her calmed down slightly (and ourselves calmed down) we decided we absolutely had to take her to the vet. As we were carrying her off the levy (excuse me, the LEVEE), she sort of lifted her head up, waggled her tail a bit from between her legs and through the swollen, lopsided face gave us her best goofy puppy grin. The grin that says, “I want to play!” She’s a tough one, our Tulip.

Things got really hairy at the vet’s office, when she starting bleeding from her nose. I thought for sure at this point she was dunzo, because on Grey’s Anatomy, when patients start bleeding from noses, eyes, ears, etc, things are looking pretty grim for them. The vet was very concerned about her, but decided that the blunt trauma to her face was causing the bleeding, not brain damage. He gave her medicines and a shot for the pain and instructed us to keep her as quiet as possible, with a follow up scheduled for the next day (today).

Following the vet visit, we made a stop at Petco, to stock up on some soft, yummy treats to spoil her with. (Because, to add insult to injury, Tulip is teething right now and losing teeth left and right. She has several loose teeth in her mouth and she is clearly in pain when chewing things – us, treats, her food, anything.) So we stocked up on Snausages, puppy beef jerky chews and puppy Oreo cookies. (Yes, really.) The rest of the night, all she had to do was give us a wink from that bleeding, pouffy eye (not hard, as it was swollen shut) and we would shower her with kisses and treats.

The little miss is still down but most definitely not out. I love her resilience and how much she just wants to get back out there and run and play – even though something bad happened last time. It’s a good reminder for me to not let the memory of pain or hurt stop me from trying new things or trying failed things again, and most importantly, to never, ever give up.

And that an Oreo every now and then really can make things better.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

102!

Missouri, I didn't pick you and you've busted tons of brackets, but I think I am not alone in saying, WOW. Last night's game was fun and exciting and those last few points were amazing. Great work!!

"It made a waffle of my bottom"

Thus said Tennesee Williams of the giant wicker chair he was forced to sit in during the Drama Desk Awards (I didn't catch the date, but sometime in the 60's?)

Last night's Opening Gala of the Tennessee Williams Festival was wonderful. Joyful from beginning to end. The anecdotes, the memories, the laughter, Zoe Caldwell's mischevious face...this is what I love. It felt so good to simply be in a theater again, feeling pieces of myself wake up from a long, long slumber. It was wonderful to feel that joy.

E & A, thank you again so much!

(Note to self, must get James Grissom's book on TW when it comes out)

Wonder girl sets goal, works hard, perseveres and accomplishes breakthrough!!

Thank you, Dad, for the pumped up email!!

This is a great day.

Great days ahead

I am very excited.

The coming few days are going to be special. Tomorrow evening, we are joining E and A for the Opening Night Gala of the Tennessee Williams Festival. The show will feature Zoe Caldwell, Marian Seldes, Frances Sternhagen, and James Grissom. This will be my first trip to Le Petit Theatre and I simply cannot wait!

And then, Saturday night, Jessica and I are going to see the Houston Ballet perform Marie, thier new full-length classical ballet. It will be performed at the newly restored Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts, which just reopened in January following the damage it incurred during Hurricane Katrina. Jess and I are going to dinner beforehand at Murial's (the site of Dad's last birthday party!).

Two great nights! I am busy getting things done on my to do list so I can relax later and enjoy Thursday and Saturday completely!

Oh, yum

Last night I made roasted broccoli with shrimp for dinner. It was amazing. I highly recommend. (The only modification was cooking the broccs and shrimps separately, so we could each enjoy the dish as we liked. We also gave it a splash of soy sauce. It made the whole dish pop.)

(Photo from The Wednesday Chef)

I really, really miss this place!

There is a blog that I read, written by a girl who lives in New York. We've never met, and I can't even remember how I found her blog, but I love to read it, because I think that Kathryn is pretty cool and think that if we ever did meet in real life, we might be friends.

Last week, she wrote about exploring the boroughs of New York, and her recent trip to Williamsburg (NY, not VA). I used to live in Williamsburg, loved it, and decided to comment on her post and give her a tip about a restaurant there that I absolutely adore.

Well.

Not only did she and her husband and friends go there for dinner (yay!!!) but then she wrote an entire post about it!!!

I feel oh so in-the-know and just simply delighted by this. And my mouth is still watering from the recollection of what you ate. When I told my sister that you guys had gone to eat there, she immediately responded, "Oh, I want some of that rice and green sauce!" You are lucky, lucky people!

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Kathryn!!

In Audubon Park,

Near Egret Island, with white swans swimming about, I saw five turtles sunning themselves on a rock.

It was lovely.

I am unhealthily attached to my computer right now

I don't know what little {blue} devil gets in me during March Madness, but I just love it. Like a magpie to shiny things, this tournament draws me in every year. Here it sit, blissfully watching SI.com refresh itself and deliver its scores to me. I only wish I was at home watching the games myself, but tonight and tomorrow, it's game time. How are you doing with your bracket?

Today, we are

I started the day out fabulously, with a run in Audubon Park with my two favorite girls. I'm tied for third place in my NCAA pool. And it's Friday! Hope you have a great one!

Life is a Cabaret

What good is sitting alone in your room?

Come hear the music play.

Life is a Cabaret, old chum,

Come to the Cabaret.

Put down the knitting,

The book and the broom.

Time for a holiday.

Life is Cabaret, old chum,

Come to the Cabaret.

Come taste the wine,

Come hear the band.

Come blow your horn,

Start celebrating;

Right this way,

Your table's waiting

No use permitting some person of doom

To wipe every smile away.

Come hear the music play.

Life is a Cabaret, old chum,

Come to the Cabaret!

I used to have a girlfriend known as Elsie

With whom I shared four sordid rooms in Chelsea

I think of Elsie to this very day.

I'd remember how'd she turn to me and say:

"What good is sitting alone in your room?

Come hear the music play.

Life is a Cabaret, old chum,

Come to the Cabaret."

And as for me, I made up my mind back in Chelsea,

When I go, I'm going like Elsie.

Start by admitting from cradle to tomb

Isn't that long a stay.

Life is a Cabaret, old chum,

Only a Cabaret, old chum,

And I love a Cabaret!

Natasha Richardson was an iconic Sally Bowles. I listened to this album, and especially this song, over and over and over and over. I thought she was hugely brave, to take a lead in a musical on Broadway, when she had never sung before. She was magical. I loved her, looked up to her, learned bravery from her.

I am so sad for her family's loss of their wife, mother, sister, daughter.

Hey diddle diddle

To my little: I just bought your birthday present! I think you're gonna love it!

Today, I

Got to drive one of the company golf carts while escorting around a VIP. I briefly considered freestyling down St. Charles, but decided it would probably be a bit too conspicuous. Very, very fun!

What I miss about New York

Walking down the streets
Tiny moments of absolute silence, so rare and so amazing
The musicians in the subway stations
The catwalk in the Union Square station when you’re walking over the uptown 4/5/6 section
The subway
Window shopping while you walk
Lower Fifth Avenue. Newsroom Café, Club Monaco, Anthropologie, Sephora, Innovative. A lot of good things are in the neighborhood.
How you can literally walk from one end of the island to the other
Looking up the avenues and seeing all the stop lights changing color together
Looking across the streets and seeing the sun set
The temple
Lincoln Center, the ballet and the opera and the theatre
All the theatre, everywhere
The Met and its creaky floorboards on the 2nd floor hallway
The Frick
The Garden Court
The Rockefellar Christmas tree
Treats from Dean & Deluca while waiting for the tree to be light - 2 years!!!
Times Square
The movie theatres
The Subway by my office and the guys who worked there and would let me pay later if I didn’t have the cash
The Spanish rice and beans
The $7 manicures and $12 pedicures—and that I could walk one block to get the mani/pedi during lunch
Reading in line at the library
Spring
Summer
Winter
Fall
Central Park
Bryant Square Park
Washington Square Park and walking around NYU
NYU
Falaful
Sushi
Orange Japanese dressing
Eating with chopsticks
Jamba Juice
Chipotle, my manna of life
Eating McDonald's late at night at the 24-hour McDonald's on Fulton and talking about everything
The Westside highway and the jogging path on the pier
75 West - Sid, Anowar - I miss you guys!
Somehow, I even miss 33 Gold
Walking in the rain, wearing great rain boots
Walking in the snow, wearing great rain boots and a big poofy parka
Walking in the sunshine
Learning that all weather is good weather, as long as you’re properly attired
Riding the LIRR to the beach
Running into friends I haven’t seen in years, while I am walking down the street
Taking cabs to church
My ward
Cafeteria
Jane
Really really good pizza
Walking by the Plaza and Bergdorfs and remembering….remembering
Laughing on the inside as I walked past Abercrombie on Fifth and smelling the cologne…a block away and outside
Walking through Tiffany’s
Browsing for hours in Barnes and Noble
Sitting in Union Square late at night, watching the skaters
The Virgin Megastore
The Christmas bazaar in the red and white striped tents
Learning where (nearly) all the public restrooms are
Exploring Brooklyn and all the funny subway lines that go unusual places
Every roommate I’ve ever had—no matter the terms we parted on, I really enjoyed the time we had together and I remember you happily
My amazing, amazing friends
My wonderful job at Innovative
My awesome, awesome job at the AAMD
My truly, insanely, heavenly, wonderful bosses. Ladies, I miss you more than words can say.
All the dreams I had when I was in New York
Everything

I miss everything.

But, you know? I’ve realized, over the last seven months as I’ve been here and missed there (and managed to fall completely in love with here) that even though I miss New York so much that my insides ache and I when I talk to friends there I feel a blinding jealousy that they’re there and I’m not….I’ve realized how lucky I am. I am so lucky that I had a college experience and a life in New York worth missing. I am so lucky that I have amazing friends worth missing. I am so lucky that I’ve had two life-changing jobs worth missing. I am so lucky and so grateful for all of it. Even the missing of it part, because it helps me live here, in the moment, and love it that much more, because I know how lucky I am to be as happy as I am right now.

Weekend + Today

It was a quiet weekend for us here in NOLA. Rain, naps, snacks, etc. The most exciting was when we took Tulip to the doggie beach at the Levy and after much flirting with the water’s edge, she finally took a flying leap into the (slightly) deep end and SWAM!!! We were so proud of her. She was rewarded with a nice warm bath, as that Mississippi water is noxious. She hates baths very much, so it was a real treat for all of us.

Now it's a quiet, rainy Monday. I think I'm going to go peruse SI.com and learn all about the teams I want to pick for my brackets. I love March Madness!

Sickly....sniffle cough cough

I'm sick. Bleccch.

To paraphrase from Fifi Lapin, "I've got the dreaded lurgy... {cold} and pinkeye..."

No good.

I was home yesterday, back at work today, and am so, so, so glad it's Friday.