Sunday, April 29, 2012

Parked.

Well its with great pleasure i can say, we have finally taken the plunge and got a proper parking spot for our car.  The inauguration was last Monday - and with mixed emotions we dropped Dumb off at the garage.

Gone are the nights of my husband gone missing for 30 minutes or longer a clip, the angst of determining the legality of a spot, "oh no, that's my spot buddy" fights (there are too many to tell), remembering "now just where did i park that car", the tickets, the late night conversations with the tow pound on west side highway that only result in more frustration and too high fines, taking the measuring tape out to be sure we are "15 feet" away from the hydrants, friendly husband/wife competitions who can get Dumb into the "tighter" spots, letting our NYC visitors experience the pleasures of repacking nightly with us, and just becoming all time champions at parallel parking….over and over and over again.

Here are the days paying monthly fees for car storage, walking 15 minutes to the parking garage, remembering to call one hour ahead to retrieve Dumb and the tips that must be paid out upon pick-up.

But here are also the days of spending a few extra hours a week doing something a little more productive - like blogging and just spending time with Yahtzee - parked here at home.
 

Saturday, April 14, 2012

For something to bloom...

Somewhere in Chelsea
I have not purposely taken a break from my blog, but its kind of turned to that way.  I appreciate all the personal notes in the three months asking for more posts and wondering why i went undercover.  I definitely have not stopped blogging, it was just a little break.

Here is my best recollection that led to my little hiatus.

It was Ash Wednesday. I was in a strange mood, kind of going through the motions of the day without putting any thought or effort into what i was actually doing. I went to a church service at Middle Collegiate Church - and the service was about, fittingly I suppose, that in order for something to bloom, something else must die. While this sounds somewhat dark, i liken it to one door closing and another opening.

Then over the next months, I started looking around me and wondering how this applies to my own life. Of course, some things are noticeable and right at the surface, others you have to look deeper in the soul. Regardless, its easy to overlook the things that might be ready for changing, but none-the-less many things are ripe for change in the name of comfort, obligation, reflection, selfishness, laziness, love, attachment, indecisiveness, spreading time too thin, not wanting to be wrong, … here are a few of the things across the spectrum that ran through my mind.


Attachment: Our beloved "Dumb" turned 200,000 on the way home from Philly.  Could this mean a new and SAFER car soon? Or better, NO car (smile).  Ok no chance, Husband already has sights on a "real car" - aka German car.





Laziness: We have been talking about decorating our little abode here for at least a year. I finally got some paint a few weeks back, but it doesn't put itself on the wall. My husband picked up a paintbrush for the first time in his life to paint our bedroom, which turned out fabulous by the way.  Could this mean less talking and more doing in the coming months, now that I have my own super mario around? Hello Boring Living Room!  


I should also mention we also bought our first major appliance, a fridge with water dispenser- only to find we need to first hook up a water line… oh SUPER!



Spreading to thin:  I had another Improve show at UCBeast with a really talented group.  All the stress of being coached was really was worth it when we are live on stage.  As much fun as it is, I am not sure I will carry on because of the time commitment - i can't play guitar, create, hit flea markets, take dance classes and be a rockstar wife all with the same gusto. Something's got to give….Could this mean I am giving up a life on the stage for a more homey lifestyle?  Maybe soon…but don't hold your breath...
After the show

oh la la
Love: Well no doubt about it that its an easy decision to spend a weekend in Flordia this little lady. Bambi was certainly a looker in her younger years, and she is just as magnificent in her 90s. Ever the storyteller, she kept us entertained with her quick wit and "advice". I am very lucky to have been able to share so many memories and laugh and sing along with Irish Eyes. 

Spending time with Bambi makes me realize that there are things to look forward to over time, like meeting later generations and retirement and travel (without blackberries)
Happy St. Patty's day birthday, Bambi









Could it mean I will learn to love the skin I am in more, rather than always raging against the machine, aka mother nature? Errrr




Reflection:  My parents came in for a visit - hurray! We did lots of fun stuff, including a comedy club (Dad got totally picked on) and a Tennessee Williams play - and a few new cuisines for the P's like Racalette and Indian.  We also went to the Freedom Tower and Reflection Pool. I have to say I was so touched by the elegance of the fountains, how they symbolized peace at a site of one of the worst atrocities in my lifetime - and the people that were honored and remembered.  While we walked around the park and tried to imagine the site prior to 9/11 and also how it will look once the rebuild is complete, I was comforted by the fact that we (as humans) have this ability to acknowledge something - in all its wonder and sadness and glory - and still have the ability to look forward.


A few of my favorite people on the planet
Makes me wonder what the things are that I will be looking forward to in the years to come, and what moments will i reflect most on?  I know for sure, these moments with my mom and dad will be top of the list for sure. I am already missing their hugs.

And you know what, 
for all the pondering in the last three months, 
something really did bloom

I am slowly getting my mojo back,
looking forward to some changes

and Springtime in NYC is perfect for delivering little reminders

Could this mean more blog postings from Dasha in the near future???
a sure YES


an e10th st doorstep



 

Friday, January 27, 2012

Dancing on the Stage of Memory

Sister
Fleeting visits pass
Still they satisfy
Reminder of the next
Overshadow goodbye
- the Nixons

It wasn't so long ago that i had a nice visit here in NYC from my sister

Of all the fun things we did,
singing an acoustic duet together
to Sister
was by far my favorite

Sister, I miss you.

Sister, Happy Birthday

 

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Lox of love


I have been watching and waiting for Tompkins Square Bagels to open since this summer.  I got especially excited when the store sign went up, being a long time fan of mosaics.

They finally opened in December and so this morning, we decided to have a look.

I ate a Lox Deluxe  - which is wasabi cream cheese, capers, onions and lox on an everything bagel.  I made it through half and will have the rest later. Deliciouso x

And Bonus! They sell Stumptown coffee.

I hate to tell my good friends in Astoria, but i think TSB gives ol' Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee and run for their money.
 

Little Celebrations





despite considerable back pain, i managed to find one or two things to celebrate this weekend
….a trip to the grocery - for first time in months we have more than film and beer in fridge
…a new dress, Barney's sale :-), got it half off and I was eyeing up in October at regular price
…The Lob!

…and a husband who has been waiting on me hand and foot - with a little coaching

happy saturday

 

Friday, January 13, 2012

ski bunny


Remember this ski trip - little mountain in Schwarzwald
You didn't take to snowboarding, but you were fashionable as ever.

happy birthday, dene.

 

Monday, January 9, 2012

Settling In


This common sight on the streets of NYC is a reminder that as of Thursday, the 12 days of Christmas are officially over.  But after all the travels and visits and snowboarding, I feel like I have already begun to settle back into my life at home.
Coolness on back of bus - heading home from shopping

This weekend I was able to take Stella out for a spin (until she ran out of oil - new year's resolution…check fluids frequently),  do a few returns, meet up with our friends who are new parents and taxi them downtown with the most precious cargo on board - an adorable little newborn, go to beauty salon, restart dance classes that I was really missing after a month off!, take an nicely unexpected call from Dad this morning - for no "special" reason at all, and kickoff Improv coaching with Abra Tabak who i have admired since seeing her perform with the Grandma's Ashes troupe at the first Harold night I attended. Abra just has quick wit and a very positive energy - i know I will learn lots from her. Also I am reading up on the art of Improv - in hopes of a better show come March.

I took on the bold task to clean out my hats! These are not even all of them, not even half! - disgraceful I know. Oh, i have challenged myself recently to wear all my winter hats at least once. I am toying with posting a temporary page to host all the looks for good fun.
Raclette Love!
APRES SKI!!! Since we missed much of the bar scene after the slopes in Colorado, it was decided we would do a followup here at home. And without wasting anytime, we found ourselves gathered around this extensive setup for Raclette night, talking about about some heavy controversial issues - -  of which are easy to stand as judge and jury after a little JD&Coke!  Love hanging out with this group of friends - time just flies.



And in between, took a little time to dream a little of things to come.

Hope you are finding your arrival in 2012 is full of happiness.
 

Monday, January 2, 2012

Check us out, we're in a boat!


We slid into 2012 
in just the same way as we rang in 2011

Same fun gang

Same ski outfits (Santa, what happened?)

And the same wonderful husband to kiss at midnight

Only difference is the mountain…
And the fact I survived another ski-trip unscathed…despite my (now famous in these parts) "lose-edge-tumble-pummel skier-double axel hook-belly slide-dig in-500 meter-black diamond-maneuver" 



Conditions have not been stellar, but we do have a hot tub. 
And delicious meals nightly.  
And board games. 
And good wine.
And each other!!

Happy New Year from Steamboat Springs!

 

Rock the Backstage


No Flyers Allowed
We celebrated Christmas this year with 
Roadies, Groupies and ROCKSTARS!


We only needed a kitchen table….that could double as a stage
(ours is soapstone and weighs 400 lbs so this was actually not an easy feat)
How Low can you go Silvestro


      Food in the form of a 12 Ft of Hoagie
of which 9 ft were eaten!


Some signs & stage props…enter "the artist"


Hard Booze & a good rocking' bartender


Some sound checks and warm ups...




 ….A kick-ass band - with a kick ass guitarist of course

Falling for Breedlove

 And ROADIES, GROUPIES & ROCKSTARS
to rock the house with Dasha














 Hope your holiday's were mind-blowing.