Hot or Not Hot?

Definitely not hot. Here is a photo from 1983 of a seven year old me and former neighbour Jenny and our youthful attempt at modeling. Oh god, how embarrassing. Jenny looks super cute. Me? Ugh, that silly visor, like I'm hoping to score a job at the casino in AC. The stupid shirt TUCKED IN to my shorts?? And of course, those classic 80s socks. What a dork. (but in an endearing way!)

Ganesh

Om Gum Ganapatayei Namaha

I love this chant. It means Om and salutations to the remover of obstacles. I think that's brilliant and just what I need. (My biggest obstacle is me.)

Abstract Art & the Chicken Pox

 

 

Weekend of Food!

Had a weekend that was full of tasty grub, mostly falafel. Saturday in Fishtown with Nicole, we tried out a new place (well, new for us) on Girard called Falafel Hummus & Juice Bar (more on this delightful eatery in a future post!). After we gorged ourselves to the bursting point, I dropped Miss Nicole at a friend's place then picked up Ashlee in Mayfair and we were off to Bryn Mawr. Ah....Bertucci's. Our waitress was the best. I told her to bring all of our food at once, appetizers, entrees, desserts, all of it, and then to leave us for the evening because we had lots to talk about. This woman occasionally walked past, picked up an empty glass on the edge of the table, refilled it, and returned it without making eye contact. It was perfection. So nice to sit and not have a break in our conversation.

Then today I picked up my Godmommy and we headed to Vgë Café, my newest hot spot for delicious vegan food! We chatted til they turned out the lights and we were kicked out onto the streets (lovingly kicked out, I should say.) It was an expensive weekend for Baby's wallet, but always worth it when I'm spending time with some of the best people ever created.

(Nicole, all bright eyed and ready to eat!!)

(mmmm...Falafel & Hummus' falafel pita wrap - to die for!!)

(Ashlee, ready for dessert first!)

(Margherita pizza, minestrone soup and chocolate cake for Ash and for me - bruschetta and Tuscan veggies!!)

(Godmommy Gina and Godbaby Star)

(Peanut Butter Bomb cake and a Hostess knock-off mini cupcake for Aunt Gina - mine was way tastier!!)

(Scrumptious baked falafel wrap with a side o' kale chips!)

What I Love Right Now

-the start of a new year!
-John Waters' hilarious book Crackpot
-warm blankets on cold, cold nights
-waking up and realising that it's super early and I still have hours to stay in bed
-So Delicious coconut milk cool whip with strawberries
-hot soup in a big mug warming up my cold hands
-Downton Abbey returns with new eps!!
-trip to NYC with Bishop and Pax on the 24th
-weekend plans: Saturday lunch with Nicole followed by dinner with Ashlee then Sunday lunch with m'godmommy!
-seeing Jackson for the first time this year and we actually got along really well (fingers crossed that it continues)
-my Spanish is improving!! I'm currently addicted to my Mindsnacks Spanish app. I find myself speaking two languages at once and following words in English with their Spanish counterparts. Like when I was talking to myself said, "I need a glass/vaso of water/agua real bad/muy mal." Good thing no one else heard me say that because it sounded like I was having a seizure.
-having Xavier work on my brakes and rotors and the cost going from close to 800 bucks at the dealership to only $75 for parts. Labor will cost me a hand massage, back massage, chocolate chip cookies, and pumpkin cupcakes with vanilla icing. A bargain, for sure!
-paying down my bills and not spending like I used to - maybe I've finally got this under control
-the price of gas being $1.99!!! A dollar ninety-nine!?! Can you believe it?? Now if only the price of petrol for airfare would decrease as well...I have a ticket to Belgium to purchase!
-re-watching season three of Modern Family. I just love Phil and Jay. So, so funny!!
-going back to Antwerp once more in just 67 days
-so far I have no plans for February and I am so keeping it that way! January has been jam-packed and Baby needs some alone time to straighten out her house and get back on track with diet and exercise.
-the American film version of Loft (titled The Loft) is FINALLY going to be released later this month. The 23rd to be exact, according to my notes. I have a feeling it isn't going to be as good as the 2008 version, but I shall keep an open mind...
-Yerba Mate Chai Spice Mate with honey, splash of vanilla Italian syrup, and vanilla coconut milk - so wonderful.
-Vgë Café in Bryn Mawr. I've been there twice and I'm going again on Sunday and I can't wait. Everything on their menu makes me drool.
-donating clothes and household items and passing things I no longer need to those that will accept it with love
-finding out that my nephew Johnny wants to start hanging out. He's fifteen and I always assume that teenage boys want nothing to do with me because I'm weird and goofy and not the least bit hip or cool. This clearly goes back to the fact that I was a complete loser all throughout grade school and high school. The teenage girl that still resides in me, in the very back of the class, is super thrilled that she's gonna hang out with one of the coolest boys alive. Some people think that I'm a tad deranged and disturbed to always be spending my time with kids, but my nieces and nephews are so easy to be around and there's no pretension with any of them. Plus, most of them genuinely like spending time with me. It doesn't get much better than having eight kids ranging in ages from 22 to 10 beg to hang out with you.
-the extreme cold temperatures this past week. Living in a home without working heat and depending on space heaters and lots of blankets to survive makes me thankful that I have four walls and a roof over my head. The cold always reminds me of how much I have to be truly grateful for.
-going paperless with all of my bills! Why have I waited so long to do this??
-Vera Wang's Princess line of sweaters at Kohl's. They are crazy warm and super cute.
-and lastly (for now) I love this stinkin' blog because even though no one really reads it, it acts as a personal scrapbook of my life and I really love looking back at old posts and remembering all the fun I'm having in my silly, little life!

At Chez Rodriguez

Last night after work I dashed down to Marina's. Since moving back to the States from Colombia, Marina has been kind of overwhelmed with everything and we haven't had much time together. We are hoping to change that and make a point of seeing eachother at least once a month.

The highlight was seeing my favourite little man. He's so sweet and loving; always giving smooches and giggling. We ran around and played for an hour or so and then, on his way to bed, Teo gave me hugs and kisses and said, "I loe you, An Litha." Oh my goodness, is anything cuter than that? Marina said that he calls everyone Litha, so apparently I possess Mateo's favourite name.

 

Then Marina and I had a chance to chat and just be together, like the old days. She mentioned having to register online and set up accounts for so many things (credit cards, banking, gas company...) and the frustration that comes with creating IDs and passwords. Then I remembered the funniest Dilbert comic ever.

"Oh my," Marina said, "Her hair looks like Chichen Itza." Crikey! It totally does!!

The discussion then turned to call centers and automated phone systems. I've worked for a call center, and I know how frustrating it is for customers. We both agree that any company that would do away with their automated system and instead just place the customer on hold until they are able to reach a live human being, would therefore be deemed as the ultimate in customer service. They would have the most loyal following that no one would ever dream of looking elsewhere. Sadly, even though companies claim that customer service is their number one priority, it isn't. Their bottom line is, and that kinda sucks. What doesn't suck is how unbelievably awesome my family is - I can't wait til we see eachother again!

(sorry for the mini-rant on customer service!)

Imitation Game at the Old Ritz

Late last night, in the nine degree New Jersey winter weather, I went to the old Ritz movie theatre to meet Anne. The Ritz was once the best theatre in the tri-state area. I remember opening day in 1996 when I went to see Citizen Kane for the first time. They had a man in a tuxedo playing a grand piano in the main lobby. There were little café chairs and tables and big leather sofas to sit and chat before or after the movie. They had a regular concession stand and then one that served coffee and delicious chai tea, cakes, muffins and even fresh fruit. Inside the theatre, the lighting was low and before the film there would be classical music playing while local art was shown on the screen. It was wonderful to go and sit and be able to chat with your companion, read a book if you were there alone, or just relax and settle in for the upcoming feature. Then the theatre changed hands. The prices went up on everything, the clientele went from suave and sophisticated adults and young people with manners to groups of rowdy teenagers and obnoxious adults that would text throughout the film. It went from being a sanctuary to an asylum and I hadn't been back since. But Benedict Cumberbatch and The Imitation Game pulled me back in.

I noticed that there were several hipsters coming in for the 9:30 and 10 o'clock films and was hoping I wasn't going to regret coming to this theatre. Then I got up to the ticket sales counter and met Sue. She was beyond sweet, in her mid to late 40s, with short, soft brown hair, a pretty face, and a charming demeanour. She told me I was in for a treat and was sure to love the film. I said, "Well, I mean, Benedict Cumberbatch..." and we both swooned out loud, then giggled like silly high school girls. "He's going to win the Oscar," Sue told me, and said that the rest of the cast were equally as dazzling. Then she mentioned Mark Strong. I had completely forgotten that Mark Strong (hubba hubba!) was also among the cast until Sue reminded me. I nearly leapt onto the counter as I said, "OH MY GOD!! I LOVE HIM! Oh, he is just so gorgeous." She totally agreed with me and told me of a car commercial that he was in with, oh my goodness it never ends, yet another stunning Brit - Tom Hiddleston! As I waited for Anne, who as it turned out, was sitting in the café and not the ticket area, Sue and I talked more about our adoration for Signor Strong and all those lovely British stars of the silver screen.

Then I finally discovered Anne and we strolled to theatre eight. As soon as we sat down we were blasted and bombarded with stupid commercials, behind the scenes footage of upcoming films, plus idiotic trivia games. I began to feel like a crotchety old bitch. The volume. My god, the volume! It was like that torture chamber they had Karl in on Lost season three. It was deafening. I was channeling my dear departed Granny Roseanna, shaking my fists in the air and wanting to shout, "I can't hear myself think!!" Thankfully the Brits know how to make a film without an explosion every five and a half seconds and so once the previews were over, I was able to regain my hearing.

Cumberbatch as Alan Turing was nothing short of phenomenal. He wasn't over the top and he seemed effortless in his portrayal. His performance engulfed me completely and it wasn't til the credits began to roll that I came out of my trance and realised just how good Cumberbatch and the entire cast really were. Mark Strong looked as dashing as ever and that Matthew Goode is certainly easy on the eyes. Oh, and it was nice to see Tom Branson away from Downton (Allen Leech is such a fine actor). Most impressive I think was Alex Lawther as young Alan Turing. It sounds cheesy as all get out, but his acting was spellbinding. He kinda stole the show, to be honest.

All in all, regardless of the sub-zero temperatures, I had a lovely time with Anne, a fab chat with Miss Sue, and the images of a beautiful film to dance through my mind as I curled up under the blankets and set sail for Dreamland. Sadly, Mark Strong and the lads were out of town and therefore completely missing from my dreams...

(photos kidnapped from youdontknowjersey)