I remember when teenagers were old...

Oldest Boy turns 11 on Monday.  We promised him a "room pet".  He researched, snakes, rodents, reptiles and birds and decided he wanted one parakeet.  He originally thought he wanted two parakeets so they would keep each other company while he was at school, but the bird guy told him they would bond with each other and be difficult to tame.

We bought the parakeet yesterday, and we've all been talking to it, singing to it, complimenting it - all in an effort to socialize the bird - per the bird guy's instructions.

I walked in Oldest Boy's room last night and he was playing The Beach Boys.  I showed him how to do the Twist and we danced for a few minutes.  Middle Boy and Toddler Child joined us.  I told the kids how their grandparents used to dance to this, then I asked Oldest Boy why he was listening to The Beach Boys.

"Because the bird guy said my parakeet would enjoy classical music."

Country Mouse Visits City Mouse

I returned Monday night from a visit with my friend T in NYC.  I'm tired but it was a great trip.  I've known T since we were 15.  There's comfort not only in sharing common history as kids, but also having remained friends who understand and accept one another into adulthood. I can't honestly say that about too many childhood friends.

T moved from L.A. to NYC about a year ago to be with someone.  I traveled there last Friday to 1) see T because it's been over a year, 2) meet the new someone, and 3) see a little of the city - a very nice benefit to our new "someone".

I've been to NYC once, briefly about 13 years ago, and it was a business trip so I didn't see or do much.  This visit I was looking forward to some good food, a little wine, and a bit of sight-seeing and shopping.  Mission accomplished.

I can think of dozens of stories to share from my trip, but I'll keep it macro and stick with some highlights.

The Filth
I'll get this teensy-weensy, negative detail out of the way.  NYC... is dirty. 

We took subways.  Some stations were *cleaner* than others, but this is no place for a border-line germaphobe who gets motion sick.  One man's face was about 12 inches from mine, he slightly turned his head, sneezed, wiped his nose and mouth with his hand, then grabbed the same pole I was holding.  I was paralyzed. 

In the Meatpacking District, which actually has some of the nicest high-end shopping, I experienced random smells that almost made my gag reflex do it's thing.

I would advise all people in NYC to keep their hands away from their face, touch as few surfaces as possible, wash hands frequently, remove your shoes prior to entering your living space, and carry hand sanitizer and wet wipes.  I went through lots of hand sanitizer.  It's a miracle the entire city isn't chronically sick.

Brush with Greatness #1
T's new someone has a connection at NBC.  We were treated to a tour of several studios.  I'm not sure what I'm allowed to share, but we were on the SNL set Sunday after the most recent Palin skit, the Today show sets (all of them), the NBC and MSNBC Nightly News sets, the Football Night America set, a sophisticated control room, and several other behind the scene areas.

    

T and I played Meredith and Matt (because I begged him), then I played anchorperson. 

Walking, Walking, Walking and Central Park
When your friend who lives in NY asks if you have comfortable shoes, they mean, "Do you have athletic shoes that you can run a marathon in and not bleed?"  I packed all wrong for this trip.  I had several cute outfits with matching shoes - flat, strappy sandals, the high-heel "need to drink a mojito" sandals, clogs, and because there IS a God, I packed running shoes, which I finally convinced myself, matched my outfits.  Bryant Park material, I was not.

Central Park is beautiful.  I wasn't prepared for it to be so large, and so well maintained.  I could have spent several hours strolling (with proper shoes) and watching people enjoy the park.  The diversity, every aspect of it, was gorgeous and thumped with life.

  

Brush With Greatness #2
This part is very exciting for me and I'm certain it embarrasses T, so I'm typing quickly, willing it to be like a whisper type, so maybe he won't get pissed off and make me delete this whole post.

T's someone has two Emmy's - plus another award that's VERY impressive.  T let me look at and hold them on Friday when I arrived at their place.  We were alone so I could be stupid without embarrassing him.  On Sunday I asked T if he'd take my picture with the Emmy's - he grudgingly agreed.  We snuck them out of the closet and quickly took several photos.  I don't think it would have bothered the owner of the Emmy's - I think T just didn't want me to be so easily impressed.  But I was.

   

They're real and they're heavy - the Emmy's not my boobs.  My boobs are real (with the assistance of a nice foundation garment), but they're not heavy.

The Best Part...
This trip was a treat because I got to connect with one of "my people" - a true friend.  The meals out were delicious, the sites of the city exciting, and T's friends are all interesting, intelligent, fun and welcoming.  But the best part, was sharing morning coffee, not looking out two different windows in two different states while talking on the phone, but drinking coffee and talking... while looking out the same window.

Blog Awards Confession

Blog awards.  I don't know what they are or what to do with them.  I really don't.  I don't know where they originated, and once I'm notified someone has one for me, I don't know how to "get it" or where to "put it".  I'm genuinely flattered and thankful for the three I've received so far.

Thank you Jennifer from My Chaotic Peace for my first blog award.  You kindly notified me, I kindly went to your blog and said "thank you".  But then I didn't know what to do.

Thank you Mrs. D. from Dash of Crazy for my second and third awards.  Again, I was kindly notified, and I visited your blog to say thanks.  But then I didn't know what to do.

When people ask me what kind of computer I have, I used to say beige.  Now I can say grey.  I'm not up on technical tricks.  I can type.  Pretty fast actually.

I went to the bookstore a couple of weeks ago to get some books on HTML and CSS because I have some design ideas for my blog.  My blog.  The hobby that makes no money, and pulls me away from puttering, mothering, wifing, and has actually resulted in me screening phone calls, because I'm too busy (blogging or reading blogs) to take the call.  Pathetic. 

I can intellectually understand what the HTML and CSS books say.  I don't have enough uninterrupted time to tinker on this new compulsion though.  One day I will.  I'll be like an addict with their face in a giant pile of white powder, coding and typing, beautifying and perfecting my blog at lightning speed.

Until then, I have no frickin idea how to retrieve an award, what to do with it, or where to put it.  I literally canNOT pick the thing up at "your place".  I don't know how.

I sincerely, and humbly thank you Jennifer and Mrs. D.  This is a simple case of my bad.

[Note to Mom, Em, and maybe Grandma Ross:  I should probably explain blog award.  Many other blogs have postage stamp size rectangles to the right or left of the main body.  These "stamps" have cute graphics and say "cool blogger", "I luv your blog", "bad-ass blogger", etc...  They're considered a very nice and welcome compliment to the blogger.  Email me with any further questions.  Oh, and Mom,  I've NEVER done cocaine.  I saw Scarface though.]