tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15150734595969013632024-03-05T11:42:41.941-05:00jannygirlJanethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.comBlogger299125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-74087109369241224322010-02-12T17:05:00.001-05:002010-02-12T17:07:05.546-05:00Snow!!...it's a rarity for us here in Georgia. During the big snowstorm of March 2009, I was in the midst of South American summer and missed the snowball fights, the snowmen on North Campus, and all the stories of people taking the day off work to relax and play with the kids. <br /><br />I love snow. <p>I have very strong memories of 1980s Atlanta blizzards, but it's possible that they didn't occur as frequently as my mind remembers. Our neighbors had a huge hill behind their house, and we'd take all sorts of sleddish items up the hill and then slide on down. I remember in particular this dented, silver saucer with cloth loop handles on each side. The handles would be soaking cold, even through my gloves. I've always been one to get cold easily, and I remember getting worn out and a bit cranky by the time I needed to go inside for a break. Is it truth or my cliched memory that makes me think my mom made me hot chocolate as I tried to warm up? One of my friends taught me to run cool water over my icy hands before turning the faucet to hot--if I wasn't careful, I'd burn myself.</p><p>Now that the snow is drifting down and piling on the ground, I remember those times of sledding, building snowmen with numb hands, and eventually going inside to painfully warm my fingers and toes. (How it hurt when my fingers slowly thawed!) This afternoon I went for a walk and couldn't help but pick up a couple of snowballs along the way; after I came inside, I ran cool water over my hands, heated up water for tea, and was amazed at the sensual memory of fingers slowly going back to their regular temperature.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-57627672660015357342009-07-20T01:12:00.000-04:002009-07-20T01:13:26.935-04:00in case you needed one MORE reason to shop at your local bookstore...<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4vPT5dhR0AA&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4vPT5dhR0AA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-43865926314355124482009-07-05T16:16:00.005-04:002009-07-20T18:11:12.717-04:00UPDATED! in all my fame and gloryAt long last I've found the notebook in which I scrawled the names of all the celebrities I've met over the years. Care to look? Well, I would, and I'd love to keep a copy of this on the interweb should I lose the original notebook yet again.<br /><br />Who am I forgetting?<br /><br />* = spoke with this person!<br />+ = saw this person on stage (I didn't really include musicians on this + list)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mary Tyler Moore*</span><br />-I don't talk about this interaction much, but, to make a long story short, I met my idol during my last week in NYC due entirely to my parents' efforts!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lars (Real World London)*</span><br />-I have a vague recollection of talking to Lars at some point. No idea what we talked about or why I was in the same place as he & Malik, but it must have been interesting at the time, as I wrote it down in my "celeb" list. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Malik (Real World NY II)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bryan Adams+</span><br />-Saw him perform on <span style="font-style: italic;">Late Night with David Letterman</span> in duet with Celine Dion. Dear Lord.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Celine Dion</span><br />-Due to my friend Matt 1's urging, we waited for her to emerge from the <span style="font-style: italic;">LNWDL</span> backstage door. There were TONS of chanting, yelling fans waiting for her, all of whom turned against her with merciless boos when she didn't sign autographs. Creepy mob experiment I never wish to repeat.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jared Leto</span><br />-We passed each other in the crosswalk on University Pl. near NYU. I thought, "Man, that bleach-blond dude looks just like Jordan Catalano!" Turns out he was in the midst of filming <span style="font-style: italic;">Requiem for a Dream</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wallace Shawn ("Inconthheivable!")*</span><br />-He came into Starbucks when I worked there and requested a grande iced coffee, no room for cream. Moments after he exited, my Wallace-Shawn-obsessed roommate came in for the first and only time to visit me at work. "Wallace Shawn was here two seconds ago!" I told her. "He went out that way!" Her face flushed and, teary-eyed, she bolted out the side door but had no luck finding him to say hi. Sad.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Liev Schrieber</span>*<br />-We were BFF a few times when he came into Starbucks to get coffee while rehearsing for <span style="font-style: italic;">Hamlet</span> at the Public Theatre.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anna Paquin</span><br />-When I was a sophomore, I had to go to the admissions office one day. As I waited for my appointment, AP walked in and smiled at me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tom Irwin (dad from</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> My So-Called Life</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">)*</span><br />-This guy is too old for me but ever so cute. Another Starbucks coup! He came in with a friend and we all hit it off. I took my 15-minute break immediately after he left and called my sister using the Starbucks office phone. (I was a couple of years away from getting a cell phone so busted out the "emergency" family calling card number.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Janine Garafalo</span><br />-She live(d) right in the Village, so we NYU kids saw her a lot. Once Kerri said to me, "It's not fair that everyone else has seen Janine Garafalo and I haven't!" Later that afternoon, we met up for coffee on 8th St., and who should be in line in front of us but Janine? See? God exists.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">David Letterman*</span><br />-Went to his show a few times during college and once since. In May 2008, Jim & I went to the show and, before we hit airtime, I asked Dave about a quilt my aunt made him many a year ago. He then mentioned me and my Aunt Dorth on the show! Very exciting time in Kirchner life.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead)</span><br />-The night I prowled the Radiohead line looking for an impossible-to-find, affordable ticket, he popped out of the stage door right as I cruised by.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sheryl Crow*</span><br />-Yet another NYC Starbucks interaction. My brawny Staten Island coworker was flirting with her like CRAZY, which was a bit embarrassing. We talked for just a minute while I rang her up, and after she left, I asked my coworker why he had flirted so shamelessly. Turns out he had no idea who she was.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monica Keena ("Abby Morgan" from <span style="font-style: italic;">Dawson's Creek</span>)*</span><br />-I met her 60 minutes after her character was killed off <span style="font-style: italic;">Dawson's Creek</span>, a show I watched every week in college with my friends. It was surreal.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Amy Smart</span>*<br />-My friend Carley & I worked at this "Women & Wine" event in LA a few years back. Amy was one of the invitees. I got to fill her glass with Veuve Cliquot a few times.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bonnie Sommerville</span>*<br />-See "Amy Smart."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Keri Russell</span><br />-Saw her in Washington Square Park doing location shots as Felic.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Philip Seymour Hoffman+/*</span><br />-Being friends with the theatre kids in college paid off. I got to go to free plays a lot and, in this case, attended a talk by PSH. It was incredible to hear him break down his acting techniques. I love him.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gregory Peck</span><br />-In the audience at the opening night revival of <span style="font-style: italic;">Death of a Salesman</span>, Lauren Bacall on his arm.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lauren Bacall</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Arthur Miller+</span><br />-Came out onstage to a standing ovation after opening night of <span style="font-style: italic;">DOAS</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kevin Klein</span><br />-Outside the Guggenheim having a smoke before his car came to fetch him. (My parents and I were together, gawking on the opposite corner.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kevin Spacey</span><br />-He hosted the <span style="font-style: italic;">GQ</span> awards the night that I, along with 50-some-odd other girls, donned a wedding dress to promote the huge runaway hit <span style="font-style: italic;">The Bachelor</span>. We yelled in unison: "Kevin Spacey, will you marry me?!" He didn't every answer us. Hmm...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Liza Minelli</span><br />-She was half-dancing, half-walking down 2nd Ave. with an entourage of at least 5 younger men. All right, Liza.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cynthia Nixon*</span><br />-I ran smack into her as she came out of her apartment near NYU. She was pushing a stroller. "Excuse me!" I said, and then, upon recognizing her from somewhere and figuring I knew her somehow, I said, "Oh--hi!" She graciously said hi. Days later I realized she was the redhead from <span style="font-style: italic;">Sex & the City</span>, a show I'd not yet watched.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Holly Hunter</span><br />-We passed each other on some street in NYC.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jennifer Jason Leigh+</span><br />-She thoroughly annoyed me with her "I'm-beyond-bored-and-sound-like-a-jerky-preteen-boy" voice as I watched her perform in <span style="font-style: italic;">Proof</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Christian Slater+</span><br />-Passed him and Uma Thurman in Washington Square Park over ten years ago. Then in college I saw him as a guest on <span style="font-style: italic;">Late Night with David Letterman</span>. Dave was horribly mean, rude, and disrespectful--but much of his real-life interview was cut by the time the show aired that night. I like Dave, but after that experience I respected him less. Also, Sweet tells me we saw him in a coffee shop once pushing a stroller.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lily Tomlin+</span><br />-Saw her read/speak/perform in small doses at the Union Square Barnes & Noble. I love her.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Christy Turlington</span><br />-OMG, we totally went to the same college.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sigourney Weaver</span><br />-Coming out of Patricia Fields on 8th St.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dar Williams*</span><br />-I've met her a few times and had a couple of mini-chats that dazed my teenage self. Most recently, I wrote her an email before her early 2009 concert in Athens and she was very cordial and sweet.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Joy Behar (from <span style="font-style: italic;">The View</span>)</span><br />-Eating lunch at some outdoor cafe in midtown Manhattan.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">John Mayer</span><br />-Standing on top of his tour bus outside Irving Plaza, spraying a group of horny barely-of-age girls with champagne. "Oh, it's that guy from Atlanta," thought I.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Al Franken</span><br />-Eating with his kid at Dojo near NYU in 1998.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lisa Loeb</span><br />-I don't remember where I encountered this character.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Judy Collins*</span><br />-Kate & I met and chatted with Judy after her Fox Theatre show in February 1997. She was really sweet to us and we had a little email exchange a couple of years later! We also met and talked with Roberta Flack that night.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Roberta Flack*</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nina Persson (from The Cardigans)*</span><br />-Some of my high school BFFs & I stayed late after The Cardigans' 1998 Variety Playhouse show. Nina, the adorable lead singer, was nice to us. Lieeish and I like to quote her as she watched us shivering in the February cold: "Go home, get warm."<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Amy Ray*</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Emily Saliers*</span><br />-Being a crazy Indigo Girls fan in Georgia means I've met the Indigo Girls a few times. Once Lieeish & I were complaining aloud that whenever we ate at one of the ATL restaurants Emily partly owns, we never saw her. Then we noticed she was at the next table--she glanced over and smiled at us knowingly. Ha.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shawn Mullins*</span><br />-I met him a few times in the late 90s before he hit the big time ever so briefly with "Lullaby." On one occasion, we were chatting for a moment when he asked me to hold his coffee cup so he could sign an autograph for another fan. We're really good friends, obvs.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nanci Griffith*</span><br />-Peyton & I waited to meet her after a show in Atlanta during high school. She had remarkably soft hands, we noticed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Edward James Olmos</span><br />-Walking with the Mothers of the Disappeared in the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, 2001.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Michael Stipe</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Peter Buck</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mike Mills</span><br />-These guys, especially MS & MM, have houses in Athens, so we townies see them a lot. Luckily we're WAY too cool to think it's cool.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Martin Sheen</span><br />-He was staying at the same place as my dad & me in NYC once in the late 90s.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tom Brokaw*</span><br />-Well, I didn't actually meet him, but a few members of my family have chatted with him, and my grandfather Gregory Kirchner was featured in one of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Greatest Generation</span> books!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mitch Hedberg+</span><br />-Went to his comedy show in early 2003. I have perhaps never laughed so hard at a performance in my entire life.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Audra McDonald+</span><br />-This Broadway star, whom I saw in <span style="font-style: italic;">Showboat</span> during a high school trip, was on Conan or David Letterman when I went once. She was really pretty in person.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">April Wilkner* (<span style="font-style: italic;">America's Next Top Model</span>)</span><br />-Lots of my college friends are friends with this pretty young lady, though I haven't gone beyond exchanging pleasantries with her. For a while my 19-year-old self was jealous of her, as she dated my crush for a bit.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Steve Avery (Braves)*</span><br />-During a field trip to the bank in 1993 or so, the teller told us that Atlanta Braves star Steve Avery was in the lobby--did we want to meet him? So we all got his autograph and thought we were really cool. Clearly I still think so, as I'm telling the story 16 years later.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Walt Clyde Frasier (Knicks star)*</span><br />-Long story. In the end, I was sitting next to him at a swanky midtown restaurant as he tried to get me to try the various kinds of sushi that were laid out in front of him. He also told me I had really good style. (Trying to be nice, perhaps, as I walked into the restaurant with jeans and sneakers, not realizing I was going to be breaking an unspoken dress code.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cameron Diaz</span><br />-She sat near us at Yaffa Cafe on St. Marks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ben Folds</span>*<br />-I've seen him in concert a handful of times, but the interaction that most sticks out is the time when Julie, Sweet, and I saw him at Yaffa Cafe with his parents. I didn't know much about him at the time, but we stood outside the restaurant afterward trying to decide what to do next and I started busting out the song "Brick" really loudly. I turned around when Sweet cleared her throat: he was walking right next to me, laughing quietly. Oops.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">John Hannah (from <span style="font-style: italic;">Sliding Doors</span>)*</span><br />-Amazingly enough, I ran smack into this dude as he exited the W. 4th subway station while I tried to enter. It was very<span style="font-style: italic;"> Sliding Doors</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gwyneth Paltrow</span><br />-She walked by me on the red carpet during the <span style="font-style: italic;">GQ</span> Awards when I was dressed as a bride.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Neil Diamond*</span><br />-Once, out of dedication to my friend Phil G., I ran through college buildings in order to corner Neil as he entered his limo, which was tucked away behind a maze of buildings and protective road blocks. It was exciting and ridiculous.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Henry Winkler*</span><br />-He spoke at the Love of Literacy Luncheon sponsored by the Palm Beach Literacy Coalition in 2003. He approached the AmeriCorps kids' table and came over to me. Stroking my cheek with the backside of two fingers, he said creepily, "This must be the young table." Ugh.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mandy Moore</span><br />-Sitting in the stands at the Chris Evert Celebrity-Pro Tennis Classic in Delray Beach, Florida. She was so sweet and kind to her preteen fans that I decided I liked her, too.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Dr. Phil+</span><br />-Played in the aforementioned Tennis Classic and got RUL tudey when half the stands left to get faux-referee Fran Drescher's autograph.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fran Drescher+</span><br />-Pretend ref at the tennis thing. Obnoxious and unfunny, if you can believe it. (She and all the players were miked.) <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Andy Roddick+</span><br />-Played at the tennis classic, his then lady-love Mandy watching from afar. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jon Lovitz+</span><br />-Tennis thang.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chris Evert+</span><br />-Tennis thang.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Josh Taylor</span><br />-Days of Our Lives Star! My sister shook his hand at Disney World in the 80s. So exciting.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sandra Burnhardt</span><br />-Walking out the backstage door after Elaine Stricht's one-woman Broadway show in May 2002.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Real World/Road Rules guy Mark </span><br />-At a deli in Melbourne, FL.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Demi Moore & kids</span><br />-Emerging from their Central Park West apartment building and then getting into a car. The doorman informed me that I had just missed Bruce.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brian Dennehy+</span><br />-He starred in the revival of <span style="font-style: italic;">Death of a Salesman</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alan Rickman+</span><br />-Starred in Noel Coward's <span style="font-style: italic;">Private Lives</span>, which my mom and I watched from the front row.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lindsey Duncan+</span><br />-Starred with Alan Rickman in <span style="font-style: italic;">Private Lives</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Some old-ish dude who claimed to be "THE Jack Hanna(h)"</span><br />-At a sushi place in Buenos Aires, 2001. The cartoonist was dead by then, and this guy was NOT the animal dude. So... I have no idea who this guy was, but he was flanked by people and paid for some of our drinks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jennifer Nettles*</span><br />-Formerly of Soul Miner's Daughter and the Jennifer Nettles Band, this former Athenian is now some megastar in Sugarland. Good for her.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Julianne Moore*</span><br />-Met her at Book Expo America in May 2009. She was stunningly gorgeous in person and was kind enough to sign a copy of her new book for me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Julie Andrews+</span><br />-She spoke at Book Expo America in May 2009. It was surreal to be in the same room as she.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">John Irving+</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Richard Russo+</span><br />-I LOVE these authors and was thrilled to be in the small audience when they spoke with one another at BEA 2009.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Neil Gaiman*</span><br />-Saw him at Book Expo this year. AND he sent me a personal message on Twitter.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Steven Tyler+</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Chuck Klosterman+<br />Clarence Clemons+</span><br />-These two rock stars were the keynote speakers at Book Expo 2009. I found myself really liking Clarence and really disliking Steven Tyler. Sorry, Liv.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cher+</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Cyndi Lauper+</span><br />-I saw Cher & Cyndi TWICE on their summer 1999 tour. Amazing. I believe.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ed Begley, Jr.+</span><br />-Book Expo keynote speaker, 2008. Amy & I faux-stalked him for a few minutes before the keynote. We are awesome.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Craig Kilborn+</span><br />-Went to the Daily Show with friends in 1998 or so and nearly died laughing during the portion of the show about the Ohio man who impersonates first ladies.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Conan O'Brien+</span><br />-Went to his show a couple of times. He's very tall.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Recent additions others reminded me of:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lisa Loeb</span><br />-On the sidewalk near Bloomingdale's while walking with Sweet<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nancy Grace</span>*<br />-At Book Expo America, NYC 2009. Jim waited in line to meet her while I was at a seminar. "Who should I make this out to?" she asked him. "Make it out 'to Aunt Evie,'" he replied. Nancy gave him an odd look (or so I surmise) so Jim proceeded to spell it out: "A-U-N-T..." HA! A few minutes later, I appeared and got in line to acquire an autographed book for our friend Matt (who loved the surprise, personalized gift!). A new bookstore friend came up to us post-signing and asked us, "Did you meet Nancy Grace?" "Yes." "I went right up to her and said, 'You are the most obnoxious woman on CNN." "No you didn't!" He continued: "She just laughed and said, 'I KNOW!'" (This snippet made me like Nancy Grace more.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Amber Tamblyn*</span><br />-She's a poet as well as an actress! I met her this year at Book Expo and had a good chat. She's reached out to a lot of young writers and even personally critiques their work on her website. I liked her a lot.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">John Carter Cash*</span><br />-Son of June & Johnny! Autographed his kids' book for me so I could give it to Mary Beth & Oscar.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tomie dePaola*</span><br />-Multi-award-winning children's author/illustrator.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Walter Dean Myers & son*</span><br />-Multi-award-winning children's author with his artist son (they just came out with a book).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mary Karr*</span><br />-Author of the acclaimed memoirs <span style="font-style: italic;">The Liars Club</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Cherry</span>, and (coming soon) <span style="font-style: italic;">Lit</span>. Told her I "loved" her books, which is sort of a f'ed up thing to say to someone who's chronicled her scary, abusive, alcoholic former life. Oops. (Her books are great and very brave.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Craig Ferguson+</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jeannette Walls+</span><br />-Craig (late night host) & Jeannette (author of The Glass Castle, which is a phenomenal memoir) appeared on a panel at BEA 2009.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Philippa Gregory+</span><br />-On stage speaking at BEA 2008.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Meg Cabot*</span><br />-Jim and I had a little crush on her--such a funny, enthusiastic woman (and Key West resident, which is awesome). When Jim went up to get his copy of her new book, a story for preteen girls, he had her make it out to him. He's a weird dude, but he's MY weird dude.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kathie Lee Gifford</span><br />-At Book Expo 2009 signing whatever she wrote. She looked all made up for TV but was in a fluorescently-lit conference hall. Weird. And a tiny bit scary.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Joan Baker</span>*<br />-You'll know her voice more than her face. Jim befriended Joan at BEA this year and then told me to go up and talk to her. (She was as great as he'd promised.) She wrote a book about voice over acting and has been featured in TONS of commercials, ads, etc. Really nice woman!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dr. Ruth*</span><br />-Yep, <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> Dr. Ruth. She was tinier than I expected (which is saying a lot). Jim and I got autographed copies of her book and were, quite dorkily, among the first people in line to meet her. (Truth be told, we wanted to spy on her a little bit and listen to the funny things she was saying to her publishers as they got ready for the signing.)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuMXUjfmUsfd83fVTgzMUrBsud53Zap9srTmEmhuhWAodUk2NpPPRDhnin4extbMIyfoxaLKOVpBaCs-AmnIzkYQWckWqtmbdtMAzOQL43hI32w7RuKMaaMLQhaWgJeLDi5VY7ictSLWE/s1600-h/IMG_2670.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuMXUjfmUsfd83fVTgzMUrBsud53Zap9srTmEmhuhWAodUk2NpPPRDhnin4extbMIyfoxaLKOVpBaCs-AmnIzkYQWckWqtmbdtMAzOQL43hI32w7RuKMaaMLQhaWgJeLDi5VY7ictSLWE/s320/IMG_2670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360666716907571970" border="0" /></a>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-18333211964134416602009-05-05T20:42:00.002-04:002009-05-05T20:46:48.705-04:00one reason why I'm sad to be missing the Brandi Carlile show in Athens...Brandi Carlile is an amazing live performer with an electric voice. Even if you are inclined to dis people whose work has appeared on <span style="font-style: italic;">Grey's Anatomy</span>, I encourage you to give her a chance anyway. Listen to her voice and guitar work! I just love her.<br /><br />This video was posted a few years ago and still brings a tear to my eye. Can you imagine the joy and excitement that girl must have felt?!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/v_qw7If-8Dc&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/v_qw7If-8Dc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-6320893423155798032009-04-30T21:46:00.003-04:002009-04-30T21:55:13.120-04:00because you really want to know about my alphabet.You've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with the ABC's of YOU.<br /><br />A - Age: 29<br /><br />B - Bed size: queenie<br /><br />C - Chore you hate: scrubbing nasty, old, wet, formerly crusty crap off pots and pans<br /><br />D - Dogs or cats: small baby kittens only<br /><br />E - Essential start your day item: coffee & smoothie breakfast combo<br /><br />F - Favorite color: rojo<br /><br />G - Gold or Silver: Silver<br /><br />H - Height: 5'11.72"<br /><br />I - Instruments you play: I used to be able to play clarinet and took piano in college. Plus my singing voice is AMAZING.<br /><br />J - Job title: scientific & English document editor; future bookstore owner<br /><br />K - Kids - I sure do love them, but I don't want any of my own. <br /><br />L - Loud or quiet: this is silly. But I'll choose quiet.<br /><br />M - Mom's name: Mary Carol<br /><br />N - Nicknames: Jan, Janny, J-bird, Regretta Person, Janevie, Jan-Jan, Janey, Janny, Handicapped Twin (or "HT"), ROSE, Neighb, Bonzi, Jon, Jonny, Jenny, Jynni, Word, Geddeeeeeeezzzz....The list goes on and on, really.<br /><br />O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: no thank you.<br /><br />P - Pet Peeve: pen-tappers in otherwise quiet spaces<br /><br />Q - Quote from a movie: "Ted, where's that fancy corkscrew? You know that fancy corkscrew for the wine bottle? Uh-Ted?" (<span style="font-style: italic;">Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter</span>)<br /><br />R - Right or left handed: Right<br /><br />S - Siblings: Rosaurio Dawson Rose Rosacea Rosalita Rosalia<br /><br />T - Time you wake up: rarely before 9:30, dahling<br /><br />U- Underwear: under WHERE?<br /><br />V - Vegetable you dislike: eggplant, and I had way too much that soggy stuff served to me in Argentina a couple months ago. Yech!<br /><br />W - Ways you run late: I tend to forget VERY IMPORTANT THINGS inside and have to run back and forth to grab all the goods pre-departure. Once I was on the way to the Atlanta airport for a trip to Europe and realized I had left my suitcase in the parking lot. Neat.<br /><br />X - X-rays you've had: Teefs, neck, foot<br /><br />Y - Yummy food you make: breaded chicken breast! Pasta with sauce! artichoke & spinach dip! Guacamole! Hummus! Stirfry! I am a CHEF!<br /><br />Z - Zoo favorite: In Melbourne, FL, it's the crazy birds who have been known to peck at my father's head A. Hitchcock-styleJanethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-51682840767977507062009-04-21T16:35:00.003-04:002009-04-21T16:36:47.028-04:00problems of the famousIf I got super-famous and super-stalked by the media, I wonder which of my "friends" would turn his/her/their back(s) on me and spill my secrets to the press.<br /><br />I wonder this each time I read stories on celebrities, stories in which the following phrasing is used: "an unnamed source, a close friend of the family's, says..."<br /><br />Is it you?!<br /><br />Or...you?<br /><br />Which one of you would sell me out for money from <span style="font-style: italic;">Star</span>?Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-61983270055275021712009-04-12T20:35:00.002-04:002009-04-12T20:35:59.382-04:00when I want a little pick-me-up...I'll watch this. <br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/T-pzlZPRvx8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T-pzlZPRvx8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-16459218822498149032009-04-02T20:31:00.003-04:002009-04-02T20:35:41.821-04:00why do I keep watching Brothers and Sisters?I mean, the <a href="http://abc.go.com/primetime/brothersandsisters/index?pn=index">show</a> drives me crazy. There are lots of good actors, that's true. Maybe I'm wishing <a href="http://www.hbo.com/sixfeetunder/cast/characters/brenda_chenowith.shtml">Brenda</a>--ahem, Rachel Griffiths--will be as frustratingly terrible and lovable and hate-able as she is on <span style="font-style: italic;">Six Feet Under</span>. Maybe now that I've started involving myself in the Walker family story I can't just bow out.<br /><br />Here's an email I just wrote to my mom. The show is making me mad! Not as mad as <span style="font-style: italic;">The L Word</span> does, but still. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This new half-brother is annoying the crap out of me! The whole show is, as usual, but of course I keep watching.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 1. All the Walkers are happy.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 2. Oh wait. Each person suddenly has a personal crisis.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 3. Nora decides everyone should come over for dinner.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 4. All the kids realize what each other's crisis is. They decide not to tell their mom.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 5. During the group dinner, everyone acts crazy and, one by one, the secrets start to spill.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 6. Nora gets upset.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 7. The kids yell at each other.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 8. Nora yells at all of them to be quiet.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 9. People storm off.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 10. Later, Nora explains that she is strong enough to hear whatever they have to dish out.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 11. Everyone apologizes and says "I love you."</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 12. Start at beginning again.</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Love,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> me</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> P.S. I have entertained myself. Time for a blog entry. But first I must kill Ryan the obnoxious half-brother!</span>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-90624230457135943992009-04-01T19:10:00.003-04:002009-04-01T19:22:17.580-04:00ways in which technology makes my life easierI have a pretty sweet deal with work, especially considering that I am often ill with migraine and have not yet worked myself up to the reality (and necessity) of working full-time. I work far fewer hours than my contract outlines, but I get paid a salary regardless of how many hours I've worked. So when The Company fails to bombard me (or even slightly burden me) with projects, I am still raking in the cash. (If by "raking in the cash" I mean "getting paid well and then finding out that huge percentages are taken out in The Company's country as well as mine. But that's another spoiled brat gripe for another time.)<br /><br />Tomorrow we have the first of four weekly Webconferences. I can't make the second and third, but I'll be calling in for the first and fourth. Apparently, it goes a little something like this: we editors will dial in to the main terminal (for lack of a better word) at an appointed time using our personal phones while simultaneously logging into The Uber-Company's Webconference page. So I'll be holding my phone to my ear talking to 5-8 other people while we all scroll through documents together on a shared site. <br /><br />Um, hasn't anyone heard of Skype? The technology is out there. We could go hands-free, phones-free and do the entire Webconference (a word I loathe even more in written than verbal form) online, I know. Yet we won't. I will be using my daytime minutes and getting a crick in my neck as we argue about whether or not that comma goes there or not. Lord help me.<br /><br />We have a homework assignment before the Webconference (gross, I said it again), and I was actually going to look into completing it even though it's not required! BUT I then received a manuscript to edit on a short timeline and will be doing that work instead.<br /><br />"This'll be a breeze," I tried to force myself to think. "I'll just print that baby up, pour a coup of coffee, and start editing."<br /><br />Cue printer problems. Cue outdated-and-crappy-work-PC-laptop problems. I spent the last 48 minutes trying to get the durned computer to let me print even though INK LEVELS ARE LOW!!! Once I replaced every single outlandishly overpriced ink cartridge, the computer warned me, "CANNOT HAVE MORE THAN ONE INK TANK INSTALLED. PLEASE REMOVE INK TANK(S)." So I did. Then I got, "ONE OR MORE INK TANK(S) MISSING. PLEASE INSTALL ALL INK TANKS AND THEN PRINT."<br /><br />This went on and on. Eventually (as I like to see it), I was so swift that I deftly switched printers and then tricked the computer into thinking we had enough ink for the job. <br /><br />I'm so happy I have multiple computers and printers to get in my way of holding a piece of paper and a pen in order to do my work.Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-30290385189349890562009-03-31T20:10:00.005-04:002009-04-01T19:10:06.783-04:00something an ol lady said onceI just remembered one of my favorite quotes of all time.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAngywhjahFwtY4wmROY-VKVk46_WSNm6xQdqgbSreB4SG4m3X5N2p0Dl0n2Xxu2_8zGyJhCrzv6TKTarBBiJU0xSg_m6hLrmiDeLjArT50oRjetIlIAvBsSjFKy30OoN6mUDHf_zXZmV/s1600-h/S4300008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAngywhjahFwtY4wmROY-VKVk46_WSNm6xQdqgbSreB4SG4m3X5N2p0Dl0n2Xxu2_8zGyJhCrzv6TKTarBBiJU0xSg_m6hLrmiDeLjArT50oRjetIlIAvBsSjFKy30OoN6mUDHf_zXZmV/s320/S4300008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319510153782850290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Here's my dad a couple summers ago in Geneva, OH with two cousins.</span><br /></span></div><br /><br />Once my dad and I were visiting my grandma in Pittsburgh. We were near the elevator bank when we came upon a woman in a wheelchair. She stopped dead in her tracks, looked at my dad in happy surprise, and said, "And who is this tall, shiny building of a man?!"<br /><br />I hope he was flattered. I know I thought it was a pretty awesome compliment.Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-9209530941558946102009-02-23T22:45:00.006-05:002009-02-23T23:05:51.745-05:00midwifery + Kim is awesomeMy friend Kim Dau was featured in a snippet on an NPR station (<a href="http://www.wunc.org/front-page">WUNC</a>) last week. She's a very happy, very talented midwife in Durham who coordinates a local program called Centering Pregnancy. <br /><br />Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to post it on here. Fortunately, I was able to put it on my Tumblr.com page. Scan through my page and find it on 2/24: http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/jannygirljr<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-style: italic;font-size:10;" ><a style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" href="http://www.foxytunes.com/signatunes/" title="FoxyTunes - Web of music at your fingertips"></a></span>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-50104380023199070312009-02-21T01:23:00.003-05:002009-02-21T01:29:13.876-05:00I'm applying for the best job ever!It's my birthday, by the way.<br /><br />I finally finished my video application for the <a href="http://islandreefjob.com/">Best Job in the World</a>. Video applications are due 2/22, so of course I finished mine 2/21. You'd be amazed--simply amazed!--at the amount of crap I got done today, crap I've had to do for weeks. Funny what a month-long trip away from home will inspire a girl to do. I mailed a ton of letters, sent off boring paperwork, took care of my taxes (read: mailed all forms to an accountant), did Addieville duties, picked up some Argentine pesos, tidied the house, and more, more, more! <br /><br />Plus I went out for an hour this evening to celebrate <a href="http://jannygirl.blogspot.com/2008/12/baby-neighb.html">Baby Neighb</a>'s birthday. And I watched a <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050371/">movie</a> and did this video! Life is good. Hope I'm not too sleepy when I wake up all too early tomorrow.<br /><br />Watch the video, but don't write evil comments or give me less than 5 stars. 'Cause then, you know, I'd be sad--and a girl shouldn't be sad on her birthday.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Is0A5E-BiDg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Is0A5E-BiDg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-58751179588168252312009-02-19T23:52:00.005-05:002009-02-20T00:12:40.956-05:00let's race with destiny<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8EbYmMb4lR4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8EbYmMb4lR4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I started watching this as a joke and then ended up with tears streaming down my cheeks. Thanks, Whitney.<br /><br />I hear that she's <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hdk22tcnlzbQ2X5rYP3eBKaYjFnwD967I9800">doing well</a> these days, that she's kicked the drugs and is coming out with a new album. That's wonderful news--as much fun as it was to marvel over her non sequiturs and generally dazed, giggly nature on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrnEcMZQD3E">interviews</a> and that awful reality show she Bobby had, I was always sad to see how badly she was doing. This is the woman whose poster I had on my wall after my mom and aunt went to a late 80s WH concert. (I wonder now where that poster is. I seem to recall there was a crooked rectangle situated inside another, pink and/or teal confetti sprinkled all around Whit's face. God, that was a good poster--it was on the back of my bedroom door for quite awhile there.) I did a Google image search for it and came up dry. Luckily I found a couple other gems that made me feel better. Look how adorable she was!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cBmwUCbySu6t97qc3UygLksqPxaTciHiIXV36HOvlc_7xxbpXp8m-j7ALDfGN33g9Opa15qOvuLjw4jqZi74S3ahKmTv0qs0D1WrWn_ufD1Z5QM-PpYBsjRf03JS2ITiERF06FYml3E-/s1600-h/104351__whitney_l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cBmwUCbySu6t97qc3UygLksqPxaTciHiIXV36HOvlc_7xxbpXp8m-j7ALDfGN33g9Opa15qOvuLjw4jqZi74S3ahKmTv0qs0D1WrWn_ufD1Z5QM-PpYBsjRf03JS2ITiERF06FYml3E-/s320/104351__whitney_l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304741764667305954" border="0" /></a><br />I'm hopeful that she really is doing well and that it lasts awhile. At least creepy Bobby is out of the picture. <br /><br />I want onnneeee moment in tiiiiimmmmeee!<br /><br />Looks like it's time to pop in that <span style="font-style: italic;">Greatest Hits</span> album!Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-87201914800722760742009-02-04T13:12:00.003-05:002009-02-04T13:22:18.337-05:00could she be any cooler?I've told you before about <a href="http://jannygirl.blogspot.com/2008/06/kwotable-kidz.html">some</a> <a href="http://jannygirl.blogspot.com/2008/08/new-kwotez-from-kidz.html">hilarious</a> <a href="http://jannygirl.blogspot.com/2008/09/kwotable-kidz-iii.html">kids </a>in Georgia I have the great fortune of knowing. I could have sworn I've mentioned Rio before, but perhaps not. She is the <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=l2XuAyzszSM">wonderchild</a> of my NYU friends Eliza and Eric Obenauf (of <a href="http://www.twodollarradio.com/">$2 Radio</a> fame).<br /><br />Check out how awesome she is!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZl6xhRP_6bbrnaiCz5cNWKONUz0_KDO7bdVGCuO0O6XQCceBd_9Yi2IHdD_H6lvb4AbpDU2Xal_e24Y6nvnXz1g6waWvoRA0747Z99f9vsZsjZ04dpMXApwNCks8QiHgLYpr0ON5oiWo/s1600-h/Picture+27.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZl6xhRP_6bbrnaiCz5cNWKONUz0_KDO7bdVGCuO0O6XQCceBd_9Yi2IHdD_H6lvb4AbpDU2Xal_e24Y6nvnXz1g6waWvoRA0747Z99f9vsZsjZ04dpMXApwNCks8QiHgLYpr0ON5oiWo/s320/Picture+27.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299008561336624946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTVb2ore8zQip5Bs-T7T7RKtld-45x-jI1Sd6vtJi9c-l3IthjhxYp_9xvRs8rso-mGsSn719PJBUKI8a15nMFZmxa8VrQoY_7i5BY5I5mX14fjI8w-MObUTVnHhUdycycSLGpf2mD9hv/s1600-h/Picture+29.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTVb2ore8zQip5Bs-T7T7RKtld-45x-jI1Sd6vtJi9c-l3IthjhxYp_9xvRs8rso-mGsSn719PJBUKI8a15nMFZmxa8VrQoY_7i5BY5I5mX14fjI8w-MObUTVnHhUdycycSLGpf2mD9hv/s320/Picture+29.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299008569703303458" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JIFMarZMmgSqnD9FtULT65MigiE4XMuLQuYurpr7eN_GmtHZi_4g3HjzQDxfXTHYrNdNoTOPdxZBR-5TKYYgFX_mUEsuQF1-FIMl38rxoBU9cUvtaQkoxuU6o0POYzow3NPaEXkD21wC/s1600-h/Picture+28.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JIFMarZMmgSqnD9FtULT65MigiE4XMuLQuYurpr7eN_GmtHZi_4g3HjzQDxfXTHYrNdNoTOPdxZBR-5TKYYgFX_mUEsuQF1-FIMl38rxoBU9cUvtaQkoxuU6o0POYzow3NPaEXkD21wC/s320/Picture+28.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299008569509019986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(photos courtesy of Eric & Eliza Obenauf)</span><br /></span></div>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-25321048889375194512009-02-03T23:05:00.000-05:002009-02-03T23:06:16.415-05:00I heart drugged up kids<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/txqiwrbYGrs&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/txqiwrbYGrs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-92205639490449811022009-02-03T20:21:00.004-05:002009-02-03T20:27:45.899-05:00noncommittal blogging alertI decided to get a Tumblr.com account. My username is <a href="http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/jannygirljr">jannygirljr</a>. Thanks, <a href="http://lsquared.tumblr.com/">Lawson</a>, for the inspiration.<br /><br />There are often moments when I see things I want to share with people, but it's getting to the point where Facebook is rife (or overstuffed) with users' posts on TONS of stuff, so I'm discouraged from posting mine. I don't know why I resist--maybe I don't want people to see how much I am on Facebook wasting my life away. <br /><br />The articles, photos, and slice o' life stories are often not substantial enough for a blog entry (in my strange rule system), so I usually end up not sharing. Tumblr has granted my wish to be able to have a thought occur to me and post it immediately. Today I remembered a funny photo of my dad and decided to post it along with a story. I guess I could've written about it in my blog, but it seemed more fun to post on my mini-blog. Ew. Mini-blog.<br /><br />Adieu.Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-29035031548163385842009-02-03T20:18:00.000-05:002009-02-03T20:21:05.029-05:00watch & learn!http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&template=x.ascx&action=11448Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-83671431663127130522009-01-28T00:46:00.006-05:002009-01-28T00:51:05.756-05:00new passion: video ichat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_Dv8_rhiRKnfkPV0IZ2Grh1VqcFvRuFeRKHH64rpjvGHRKBRzMTLdouhgOWd9XqvuW0NgO6QfIWzlKKD5hSapLs8G0c_x0lp_na5Rf83R_Un7muMxstHhz4T2ZyMipuGT_yMFx83tVla/s1600-h/Picture+13.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_Dv8_rhiRKnfkPV0IZ2Grh1VqcFvRuFeRKHH64rpjvGHRKBRzMTLdouhgOWd9XqvuW0NgO6QfIWzlKKD5hSapLs8G0c_x0lp_na5Rf83R_Un7muMxstHhz4T2ZyMipuGT_yMFx83tVla/s320/Picture+13.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296217115322440578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3wY63nccE5al_g82BA7iOFEvXh_mlEwtMJN979qRJHMz1scQzNVOTWGy1dC41p3oJCzEh_LOSH4tm6aFgmuMELTTY4ESUC59zsuHKG8Um7lQDb_dMQ1hK_ixbGfbShE5LFa6K1JgcLqI/s1600-h/Picture+23.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3wY63nccE5al_g82BA7iOFEvXh_mlEwtMJN979qRJHMz1scQzNVOTWGy1dC41p3oJCzEh_LOSH4tm6aFgmuMELTTY4ESUC59zsuHKG8Um7lQDb_dMQ1hK_ixbGfbShE5LFa6K1JgcLqI/s320/Picture+23.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296217108065102402" border="0" /></a><br />What do you do when you are bored and want to see a friend who's far away? What do you do when your friend Chris is in Buenos Aires and you haven't seen his smiling face in weeks? What if Sweet Blond moved to Ireland in 2000 and never looked back*?<br /><br />Why, call him on your iChat video! This works best if it's very late at night, chatters have had a drink or two, and everyone is giddy and strange. Note: try not to talk about anything of substance. <br /><br />*slight exaggerationJanethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-17762382680001455532009-01-27T18:03:00.004-05:002009-01-27T18:09:34.825-05:00hmmm...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6GM5hspoMnuvjjuv_8v85C_eCgu-i3VVd4ByknVsaj1IxcXwJUmGsxht-qJxzLjBxNgjorfZ2VHm_d_NWtcSgPpHwZy4WPXopKOSSfvY-2hm3uaviUs_rS1V6ICYM4LeM7OFZyXXwW4O/s1600-h/images-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6GM5hspoMnuvjjuv_8v85C_eCgu-i3VVd4ByknVsaj1IxcXwJUmGsxht-qJxzLjBxNgjorfZ2VHm_d_NWtcSgPpHwZy4WPXopKOSSfvY-2hm3uaviUs_rS1V6ICYM4LeM7OFZyXXwW4O/s320/images-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296114134135284946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Of course I find it sad that John Travolta's son died. Of course I think it's crappy that the paramedic (& others) tried to extort a ridiculous amount of money from JT after his son's death.<br /><br />But I cannot get over how weird looking the kid was! Also: I'm very affectionate with my parents, but some of the photos make it look like Jett & John are on the verge of a kiss, or at least a lovers' embrace. Ick.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1iqg2L4bhm0WayED4ymxNEyYked-D-2zjDOkrGvDnFBW7PGqFZ2syK0dgHsqbduUbsMhJhxC4IB6JQrB57idLfVUBqj3yNH_ttGD6QZ5P-4oq7hb2udcQNdkyduegS0hNImTIeyJZViq/s1600-h/images-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1iqg2L4bhm0WayED4ymxNEyYked-D-2zjDOkrGvDnFBW7PGqFZ2syK0dgHsqbduUbsMhJhxC4IB6JQrB57idLfVUBqj3yNH_ttGD6QZ5P-4oq7hb2udcQNdkyduegS0hNImTIeyJZViq/s320/images-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296114130500405106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNk_Vu1_i1U9OkKsTsijJa2TVmI_XjlpfXvIL3uxc0YxGifuO30F4j81c5Iz3yp2X6n96Wp1ttYbCLVWKnD6ukcRq7MV7-YZqaM-DctE2J1FOVgbb2K60nJwPDeVttZM1zhOIhT_yIxQWM/s1600-h/travolta_son_050109_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 351px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNk_Vu1_i1U9OkKsTsijJa2TVmI_XjlpfXvIL3uxc0YxGifuO30F4j81c5Iz3yp2X6n96Wp1ttYbCLVWKnD6ukcRq7MV7-YZqaM-DctE2J1FOVgbb2K60nJwPDeVttZM1zhOIhT_yIxQWM/s320/travolta_son_050109_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296113506775788866" border="0" /></a><br />I'm evil. Goodbye.Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-21570108031507684432009-01-26T20:11:00.002-05:002009-01-26T20:38:00.954-05:00podcast recommendation of the dayAre there any English majors out there? Anyone who wanted to take more English classes but decided to pursue some other interests instead? You might want to keep reading to find out what podcast I'm going to recommend and why. I promise it's good--you should stay tuned.<br /><br />As someone with an undergraduate degree in English and American literature, I can recall many, many hours of discussion-based literature classes during which pompous classmates dismissed others' theories and claimed their interpretations were the "right" ones. Luckily, far more prevalent are the memories of having one "aha!" moment after another during class discussions, grateful for others' insights that led me to understanding the story, poem, or essay more deeply. Despite my initial discomfort with revealing to others what I saw in the patterns and prose of fiction, I eventually opened up<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEstYyGF6sklr1pzQv6ohZ3BvDlU6VYqM3_3oeItRheaxkYXCLyT-4n2AsFkwwEyfkj2hbmvEZeA_vbko7FU6uO1bumcumB5h_qJHqQ9UUNkaGjHwjIWmcUyl_jvpjzN8GMl-rjJ9frwnm/s1600-h/podcastcoverFICTION.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEstYyGF6sklr1pzQv6ohZ3BvDlU6VYqM3_3oeItRheaxkYXCLyT-4n2AsFkwwEyfkj2hbmvEZeA_vbko7FU6uO1bumcumB5h_qJHqQ9UUNkaGjHwjIWmcUyl_jvpjzN8GMl-rjJ9frwnm/s320/podcastcoverFICTION.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295781473833124562" border="0" /></a> with the knowledge that almost any self-proclaimed theory about literature can be argued as long as you have some evidence and well-picked quotes to support it. Work may be created by the author with one particular goal in mind, but his readers will walk away from the piece with a variety of insights the author may not have intended--and each reader may have a completely unique interpretation.<br /><br />Other than a few informal meetings of our local fledgling book club, I haven't much talked about literature in a critical sense since I graduated from NYU in 2002. I read voraciously and definitely reflect on my reading, but I don't go out of my way to push myself to understand a novel more deeply or try to see someone else's point of view. I read and reflect alone, then put the book back on the shelf. I hadn't realized I missed the push and pull of roundtable literature discussions, hadn't known that I'd missed the part of myself that could pull all-nighters writing twenty-page papers about my particular take on a poem.<br /><br />Until now. On a whim, I downloaded a few episodes of <span style="font-style: italic;">The New Yorker</span>'s <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/podcasts/fiction">Fiction Podcast</a>. I bundled up for a walk a couple weeks bag and pressed play on my iPod and was whisked into a wonderful, beautiful story. I can't remember what episode I listened to that day, but I can remember smiling as I walked down the streets of Athens. I remember thinking to myself, "Wow! I feel as if I'm in one of my English classes with a really good teacher and no obnoxious, holier-than-thou classmates!" You see, the show not only features the stories themselves--it comes complete with a brief discussion before and after the story is read. One famous author picks any story he wants that has been published in <span style="font-style: italic;">The New Yorker</span>. The guest author reads this story he admires and then discusses the ins and outs of the work with the magazine's fiction editor, <a href="http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950CE0DE1339F93BA15752C0A9659C8B63">Deborah Treisman</a>, who has a really pleasant voice (unlike the voices I've stumbled across on several less-established podcasts). I did a quick Google search for her so I could link to her name and came across a really great article from <span style="font-style: italic;">The New York Times</span>--click on her name and read it, if you'd like. Sounds like a cool woman in the <span style="font-style: italic;">NYT</span> article.<br /><br />And she sounds like a cool woman in her recorded life on this podcast. She isn't abrasive, judgmental, or dismissive when it comes to guest authors' interpretations of the work they choose to read. She retains the wide-eyed wonder (overused phrase--sorry--but it seems to ring true here) of a girl who's still in love with reading, who's still amazed at all the tricks of language and tone. Deborah and the guest author talk about whatever has moved them in the story, about the author's language and motivation, about his/her diction and use of imagery. I've listened to about ten of the episodes so far, and no one has annoyed me. The stories are always great, and the intimate conversation that follows really does shine light on the story.<br /><br />Have you never ventured into literary criticism but wanted to know what intellectual bibliophiles had to say about so-called "good" fiction? Did you take one (or twenty) literature classes in college and then go cold turkey, not having another literary discussion after age 22? Are you an avid reader who thinks she immediately knows all there is to know about a piece of writing? Are you curious to know why I love this show so much? If you answered yes to any of those questions, I have an answer: this is the podcast for you.<br /><br />Let me know what you think of it.Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-63851452493097317992009-01-08T01:03:00.006-05:002009-01-08T12:14:58.047-05:00I want to be a part of BA, Buenos Aires--BIG APPLE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Buenos_Aires_-Argentina-_136.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 1024px; height: 660px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Buenos_Aires_-Argentina-_136.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Oh, it was probably a mistake to sing that song. Now it's going to be in my head for hours. Ick.<br /><br />All that is to say that I'm returning to Buenos Aires for the first time since I studied abroad there in spring 2001 (that's pre-economic crisis, folks). It was one of the best, most rewarding, and most challenging times of my life. It is my belief that the majority of traveling students feel that way about study abroad programs.<br /><br />When I got to Bs. As., I was a month away from my 21st birthday and spoke not two licks of Spanish. (Granted, I could say "Hola," which I thought was spelled O-L-A, and I could say one extraordinarily rude thing that didn't sound so bad translated into English.) The first full day I was there, I was STARVING and had no idea how I could go eat. I went to a neighborhood store and pointed to an orange juice container (something familiar!) and perhaps a pack of crackers. Smiled a lot to show my gratitude. Ate the snack and was still hungry.<br /><br />One of my randomly assigned roommates was a hot young thing from Columbia (that's the university, not Colombia the country). She was confident, funny, smart, and (joy of joys) Spanish-speaking! She took me to a restaurant we found around the corner from our place and ordered for me after translating the menu items.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://arturovasquez.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/buenos-aires-air.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 632px; height: 800px;" src="http://arturovasquez.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/buenos-aires-air.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">photo courtesy of Arturo Vasquez, random guy I found on Google Images search<br /><br /></span></span></div>I met so many friends there, started feeling more excited and open-minded about my life (which had recently gotten sort of bland and sad for me, friends and loved ones living away from NYC or moving to other countries). A semester in BA was exactly what the doctor ordered. Since my mid-May 2001 departure, I've been daydreaming about returning. I've spent hours upon hours looking at maps of the city and poring over my photos of gorgeous buildings, lush parks, charming little plazoletas.<br /><br />Am I very different from the Janet that landed at the Buenos Aires international airport almost exactly eight years ago? Perhaps. Do I want the same things out of this trip as I did the last one? No.<br /><br />I'm going to try really hard not to annoy my traveling buddies with tales of people they've never met; I'm going to make the effort to keep those old stories to myself (and perhaps email them to former fellow students of the ill-fated first edition of NYU in Buenos Aires). I don't want to relive the long nights I spent drinking too much tummy-expanding Quilmes dancing with friends.<br /><br />What I'm most excited about is strolling down the beautiful streets, wandering through the parks, soaking up the energy of the city. (Oh you sweet, sweet cliches--keep on keepin' on!) I want to shake myself awake a bit and be somewhere where I'm not entirely comfortable. I want to practice my Spanish and have a lot of alone time. I want to drink wine in a park-side cafe with Liz and Chris and Sweet.<br /><br />I'll be gone for a month--just cashed in my SkyMiles today for the plane ticket. I'm so, so happy. I'm at the point in my life where this makes sense: my job can be done from anywhere I have internet access, I have some money saved for an apartment and living expenses, and I have the time. It just so happens that one of my dear friends will already be down there (Chris is spending 3 months in Argentina); it just so happens that two of my best friends will be taking turns sharing my adorable apartment with me. Sigh. I feel like a girl with a big ol' crush that makes her smile to herself all the time.Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-81612717588828795242009-01-03T23:01:00.003-05:002009-01-03T23:06:30.901-05:00intense TV moments<div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes watching <span style="font-style: italic;">The Wire</span> is like this.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TUdehn0wPB69CbuLesyAOwki4X4z_1MldmH6_EzpTKAABQVptNrxL8JhtdBte1BFRZ_DvoZR_5BotS61rgSjsW3tn2WrRfmCRR3QKVLWaCZyc4hY_wHJRNtJaU7X0ab42o4-zwvm6bU3/s1600-h/IMG_8186.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TUdehn0wPB69CbuLesyAOwki4X4z_1MldmH6_EzpTKAABQVptNrxL8JhtdBte1BFRZ_DvoZR_5BotS61rgSjsW3tn2WrRfmCRR3QKVLWaCZyc4hY_wHJRNtJaU7X0ab42o4-zwvm6bU3/s320/IMG_8186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287284387134153746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes it's like this.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAGVrOxcTb-iEylLA7k0f17schsLp4sBmRvm42PStLCVEfAhRfmbyDWmyCGQUamO6t3mgYdz1-NhZfjyw-8QYLyZi4WcccTkPvTpii25EUcKrwkUVcPw9gvRRp93bUQ0VGpZ2tUKaxlDv/s1600-h/IMG_8189.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAGVrOxcTb-iEylLA7k0f17schsLp4sBmRvm42PStLCVEfAhRfmbyDWmyCGQUamO6t3mgYdz1-NhZfjyw-8QYLyZi4WcccTkPvTpii25EUcKrwkUVcPw9gvRRp93bUQ0VGpZ2tUKaxlDv/s320/IMG_8189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287284404077708642" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-41617294863977844512008-12-27T00:51:00.003-05:002008-12-27T00:53:41.868-05:00moneybagsWhile looking through piles upon piles of old letters from family and friends, I found $43 in cash! One $20 bill was from my dad in 2002; the other $23 came to me in 2003 on my 23rd birthday.<br /><br />Best part of this is that RIGHT before I picked up the birthday envelope to inspect it, I told Julie & Jim: "Man, it's my dream to find a twenty dollar bill in one of these old envelopes."<br /><br />Being psychic is awesome and rewarding.Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-48324478988299093192008-12-15T11:05:00.003-05:002008-12-15T11:12:14.211-05:00gnocchi by your personal chef, Janny<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjG3SO7UAdqgiCxT0wwl8cXJ6bhfG88C0Ml-zczgxilbE-vHwqAI5NlraIB5O5MnkoxtUoCWlbSFX1rOeIdCdmcBPIK8zfwk-174mhXaDi0k8kXPULg-KeRjF9PD44LbVD1VWqB1J20_a/s1600-h/IMG_7846.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjG3SO7UAdqgiCxT0wwl8cXJ6bhfG88C0Ml-zczgxilbE-vHwqAI5NlraIB5O5MnkoxtUoCWlbSFX1rOeIdCdmcBPIK8zfwk-174mhXaDi0k8kXPULg-KeRjF9PD44LbVD1VWqB1J20_a/s320/IMG_7846.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280049901476691010" border="0" /></a><br />Last evening I decided to use the recipe I'd found in a magazine called <span style="font-style: italic;">Family Fun</span> (my mom sent it to me--some creative ideas in there, kids!). So what did I make? I made homemade gnocchi from scratch! How strange is that for me?<br /><br />Let me first say that it was FUN. Secondly I'll out-dork myself and reveal to you that while I was waiting for the water to boil on the stove, I sat down and WORKED ON MY PUZZLE.<br /><br />Love,<br />Old Italian grandma<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKA7Q6lTcKRt7o6sy0FAzsa1vEQHfGXRFYmN0hc_Cie6MOezQg4XzkdWawqWmwZko2Wf_rCFCXFQKGXZHEMsO7BjEkIcRscI0Eq_17z4ARQKEnyY5PNtraDb19v59daCGOsYWUL4uV8qy/s1600-h/IMG_7848.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKA7Q6lTcKRt7o6sy0FAzsa1vEQHfGXRFYmN0hc_Cie6MOezQg4XzkdWawqWmwZko2Wf_rCFCXFQKGXZHEMsO7BjEkIcRscI0Eq_17z4ARQKEnyY5PNtraDb19v59daCGOsYWUL4uV8qy/s320/IMG_7848.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280049906279771570" border="0" /></a><br /><br />P.S. The gnocchi was really good. Next time I'll try a homemade sauce instead of store-bought, perhaps.Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1515073459596901363.post-83923866524108858602008-12-14T10:14:00.001-05:002008-12-14T10:29:32.438-05:00my neighborhood<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKwigzAItlwn8xQliHUELj2C7x6EDaBNNP5dslgO3WQM5sH_0wXR6VcPV3C43l8rX2NOacVeAS-4JvFtzyScJaMgZm5YyRw1TDmXcLvuXe17iESsSqscoZA4EPzSJiWMlN7aFOh9HmTl1/s1600-h/IMG_7564.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKwigzAItlwn8xQliHUELj2C7x6EDaBNNP5dslgO3WQM5sH_0wXR6VcPV3C43l8rX2NOacVeAS-4JvFtzyScJaMgZm5YyRw1TDmXcLvuXe17iESsSqscoZA4EPzSJiWMlN7aFOh9HmTl1/s320/IMG_7564.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279665837915071170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-owmLFhR-ZdpnBGX-u5_xpHwyFrjDhtuzY8CytTa_p1Vr9LqLCNW2OHLoG7RLuYl5eTqvsGKmpwtVOebdGszYK8QhDGlYpccKJRo-TBdjT0iSpaEQUyIClKUwuDSVVFoQZnhCLEcstDEu/s1600-h/IMG_7652.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-owmLFhR-ZdpnBGX-u5_xpHwyFrjDhtuzY8CytTa_p1Vr9LqLCNW2OHLoG7RLuYl5eTqvsGKmpwtVOebdGszYK8QhDGlYpccKJRo-TBdjT0iSpaEQUyIClKUwuDSVVFoQZnhCLEcstDEu/s320/IMG_7652.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279665836439952754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-v5K4v2mWMmPrKEQ7aCIIFKgh2By-o8Q3n88vc5TvqcsJQ1mcPdLmjtYNHTn4fL7ZxkpFe5A71LSHeQrHJa8rMu311VQRIWehrvkDBCcZY7oagh8yzMfrRT7FerAlxnD9qKbqmwwioKK/s1600-h/IMG_7641.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-v5K4v2mWMmPrKEQ7aCIIFKgh2By-o8Q3n88vc5TvqcsJQ1mcPdLmjtYNHTn4fL7ZxkpFe5A71LSHeQrHJa8rMu311VQRIWehrvkDBCcZY7oagh8yzMfrRT7FerAlxnD9qKbqmwwioKK/s320/IMG_7641.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279665828005225474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2abyEmf6umlPi_kjGeRH5Xz13SVyCEYZr-MO4GrjsZWvBi3jiuud21FFKkzHbChxF1jxKrOJoEmHJ6MAXmdW_tWeF_fls5whXwIr9brIv5mP7RL0N1Kc3Z0Tu8wqp6WWyJkamDwYYtch/s1600-h/IMG_7645.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2abyEmf6umlPi_kjGeRH5Xz13SVyCEYZr-MO4GrjsZWvBi3jiuud21FFKkzHbChxF1jxKrOJoEmHJ6MAXmdW_tWeF_fls5whXwIr9brIv5mP7RL0N1Kc3Z0Tu8wqp6WWyJkamDwYYtch/s320/IMG_7645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279665826130105650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-Tf2NqeYawPX0NQ-ZCkAgIo-2dgikQZBpzJQzj6UnNWubY-wvdwsX38z-ogZRhTYsgFNNZ3tqXtq4XpA8WcD3R0gAVeVc7oMfZ-k-K-exCrjp-6Zjo2JEPYiPVzE7SulSSNezRl_G6Bm/s1600-h/IMG_7615.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-Tf2NqeYawPX0NQ-ZCkAgIo-2dgikQZBpzJQzj6UnNWubY-wvdwsX38z-ogZRhTYsgFNNZ3tqXtq4XpA8WcD3R0gAVeVc7oMfZ-k-K-exCrjp-6Zjo2JEPYiPVzE7SulSSNezRl_G6Bm/s320/IMG_7615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279665820971839938" border="0" /></a>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262782152556510118noreply@blogger.com0