Pre-Thanksgiving update

I'm not very good at keeping these things current, am I?

So..... it's the day before Thanksgiving. I have been reader advocate this week, so work has been... interesting. So far this morning I have only heard one call on that line (I don't have to start working until 9) so maybe everyone's running around getting ready for the big feed tomorrow and has better things to do than call me up.

The weather has turned, at last, and was quite brisk this morning, especially on the scooter. Brrr. I'm glad it did not get this windy and chilly while Mom and Dad were here last week.

Speaking of which.... we had a really wonderful visit from them. Ten days seemed, I dunno, a little excessive in advance, but it turned out well. We pretty much alternated days of big activity with days of none (on which I, of course, had to work). Had an amazing trip to the Everglades, where I had not been before. It was so interesting to see the different habitats there. National parks, in my experience, are those monsters in the West with big scenery. The everglades, not so much. But it was great to learn about them and see the differences between wet prairer, hardwood hammocks etc etc. We took a guided kayak trip late one afternoon, so it was sunset and then a nearly full moon, which was awesome. Alligator eyes.... red in our headlamps. We did not have time on that trip to go to Corkscrew Swamp, so later in the week we drove back down to that. It was quite warm, since the cold front coming through that day did not come that far south, but also extremely interesting. Saw one large gator up close, a number of birds, and some large bald cypress trees, which ain't no giant redwoods, that's for sure, but still pretty impressive. I want to go back in the spring when the trees are green. And also want to go the Fakahatchee Strand to see orchids.

Saturday we took the 'rents back to Tampa to the airport, then did a little Xmas shopping and went to see Nickel Creek --- AWESOME. They are so great. Sold-out concert, very fun, in the Tampa Theater, which is an old movie theater from the early 20th century, beautifully restored. Had a great time.

So I have sort of a Christmas list:
This Nickel Creek t-shirt: http://www.nickelcreek.com/store.htm womeon's question mark/candle in L
a Mr. Coffee mug warmer (lame, I know)
a knee length, black, knit (but not cotton) skirt like this: http://www.territoryahead.com/shopItemDetail.asp?SID=&txtProductID=340032&txtKeyword=&selPrice=&selClass=850&txtDeptID=300&selSize=&displaycase=WOMEN&vstrCategory=&vintItemNum=12&vintSaleItemNum=1&shopperid=AXVQPMEAJPN59JR8TPQCJGS96F1GER77
um, a vocal training book I have to run down the title of
Joan Didion's new book, "The Year of Magical Thinking"
pair of rose quartz earrings, pierced, not too long.
if the technology were any good, a way to listen to the iPod mini in the car. or not. I don't drive my car.

also some cool rosewood knitting needles like these: http://www.turn-of-the-century.com/knit.htm
in size 11 or 17 or really anything that looks gorgeous. Picasso's Moon in SRQ has them

NOO YORK CITY

Well, I had a most wonderful weekend in NYC with Sarah and Christina. Sarah and I arrived at around the same time on Friday evening, so connected in the JetBlue baggage claim, then successfully negotiated the AirTrain and subway to the Lobos' wonderful apartment. C met us there; we went to eat???? Nothing interesting.
Saturday morning we killed too much time getting up to the NYRR Club office to register for the Marathon Kickoff 5-Mile run in Central Park, then subwayed down to C's dorm, ate lunch at Three Squares across from Strasburg, then walked and walked and walked around Soho shopping and shopping and shopping. A moment of panic when I could not locate my wallet in my otherwise amazing Cantina Tote Bag from Sahalie, totally cool except its hidden pockets are so well hidden thatn I had somehow managed to drop my wallet deep into a pocket I did not know was even there. So there was a bit of a meltdown in H&M, a store I hate anyway. Anyway, disaster averted, we continued along, I bought a v. pretty winter-white, wool and cashmere 3/4 length coat for $89 YAY at Daffy's -- previous price: $385. Then I was much warmer and happier than I had been in chilly mid-50s weather wearing a sweater and a not-warm enough jacket of Sarah's.
We had dinner at a Korean restaurant with C's friend Sarah, who really IS Barbie, and then went to see "Slut, The Musical," which was v. fun. Then back to the apartment for much-needed sleep.
C slept in the next morning while Sarah and I went for the run, on a gorgeous day in Central Park, all the trees still green and lovely. I was happy with our time, 52:40, I think, for 5 miles, not bad given my utter failure to run much lately. Then bagels, back to the dorm, walking/shopping on Canal Street, looked at many many MANY knockoff handbags -- C got a "Preggio" bag and then we had to find the right little shop again to get the label changed to "Prada" -- ha ha. Couldn't find anything good for lunch so ended up at a chain sandwich place. Bought some yarn at P&S Fabrics, Sarah got a fake Burberry scarf and some bag that matched. Went to see "Forbidden Broadway, SVU" that night, also quite good, had fair pizza after, more crashing and burning at the apartment. Monday morning Sarah and I piddled around the NYU campus, I bought a new NYU Mom t-shirt and coffee mug, we met C for lunch and then headed back to get our stuff, get to JFK etc.
So interesting things: seeing Sting walking in Central Park. Being solicited in Union Square for Getty Images. Seeing a woman in orange patent stillettos trying to wrestle an excess amount of luggage onto the AirTrain. Wear what you should wear to travel! She did look great though, v. pulled together. Well, not great. I thought she was scary looking, but she was put together. Probably my age, 30 lbs lighter, low-slung jeans, black t-back t-shirt under a black cardigan, orange heels and orange chandelier earrings, platinum v. short hair. Clearly heading to Europe with a ton of luggage, a husband or someone with a cane who therefore was not helping her wrestle this huge amount of luggage. All she lacked was a small dog in a carryon.
In the Tampa airport I saw a disabled man with a miniature Aussie service dog. She was EXTREMELY cute.
Anyway, back at the ranch. Got ALMOST re-caught-up at work, but came home early since Jay and I are co-reviewing a show tonight. Played the mando for a bit -- can almost remember the song I've been working on. Now to fix some dinner and go to the show.