Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Feliz Navidad, mis amigos.

I hope everyone had a great time celebrating Baby Jesus' b-day. I had a super Christmas, hanging with the Vickster and running around like an idiot. I'm cat-sitting for two different households right now, one of which has an extremely old, frail cat (Rita) who is sick and refusing to eat or... move, really. I feel so unbelievable stressed out about this cat, I'm almost embarrassed. Honestly, for days, I've been preparing myself to come home, or get out of bed, and find a dead cat. Sigh.

Ok, enough of that, it's stressing me out just thinking about it. Back to my super Christmas. It was really different this year, the first without my great-granny. Quiet. And more than a little sad. The Vickster and I had a really nice time though. We ate tons of food, drank wine & champagne and opened presents... just like always, only different.

Every year, Nanny would act very surprised that she had so many presents under the tree. Even though it really was the same thing every year, she never ceased to show (I think legitimate) surprise and to say "you guys, you did too much." And she was right, we always did too much. All she truly ever wanted was her Tabu perfume and a box of Turtles. Yet we always showered her with sparkely blouses, nightgowns, bejewelled boxes that would just clutter up her room, singing Dean Martin dolls... you get my drift. I love how the joy of christmas gifts is often more for the giver than the receiver. Whether to follow traditions, show off, or whole-heartedly attempt to show someone how much you love and appreciate them... whatever the motivation, it's fun.

Not that I didn't love all my presents - thanks, mom! My favorite, because I'm a big fat dork, is my new Lost board game! I can't wait to get home from all this catsitting and play the thing. Lookout roommates of Stryker.... it's on. I call Sawyer.

I do have plans to do some of that end-of-the-year recap, best of, type stuff. I LOVE that shit.

Ciao, buddies.
-Nina

P.S.



















Meow.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

are you emotional? Kauai, 2004



Happy Holidays, sugar plum fairies.
Guess what? We got an early Christmas present and the Vickster got to bring Wendi home last week!

Yup, she's home and doing very well. And we're already planning our next trip to Kauai. YAY.

Happy Holidays, lovelies!

Ciao, buddies.
-Nina

Monday, December 18, 2006

Ho(s) For the Holidays: Just a Peek

Another crazy-fun Stryker ladies holiday party is in the books. Fun. Done. Sad. It's hard to believe this was already the fourth year of the fantastic ladyfun, fancy food, mututal adoration, creative gifts, and 'special guests.' I'm already looking forward to next year! And so should you, my little elves...

Just a quick recap, for those who may have missed it for whatever reason (like having a penis):

Nothing says Happy Birthday Baby Jesus like a giant pile of girly goodness.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me... two nerds in feathers,


...and Tawny in a sparkly sweater dress.


P.S. Congratulations to Tawny on her exciting and well-deserved win in the hotly contested, first (and only) annual holiday sweater contest. I'm betting she is enjoying her pirate pinata right now. I didn't really mean to make that sound so dirrty, but whatever - it's Christmas.

Caution: Irreverence & Blasphemy Ahead.

What do you get when Andrew Dice Clay, Dave Navarro and the Christchild have a three-way?

The best special guest EVER.


'Sup, sugartits. You can call me Baby Jesus...


No caption required, methinks.

Really though, what are the chances that we would find someone who already had a "Bethlahem" tattoo? Amazing. It must be the season of miracles.

I have plenty more photos, but can't seem to get any more to load. Yes, I agree, that is probably for the best. Thanks ya'll for attending, participating, and being pretty. Happy Holidays, suckas!

Ciao, buddies.
-Nina

Thursday, December 07, 2006

peace, love and gap

Yo, amigos.

First, allow me to apologize. I've been falling behind lately on Cabaret updates & I'm sorry about that, love doves.

It's actually a good thing though because if I'm not blogging (or watching dumb TV or "reading" Okay! magazine or whatever comes up to distract me) then I'm writing. I've kicked it down pretty hard these days in the thesis-writing race and I'm putting a lot of concerted effort into staying focused... ya know - final laps, finish line looming and and all such racecar metaphors.
















Lots of this around Stryker these days.
















Sometimes some of this too.

By the way, congrats to Girl Hog for completing her second disgusting CPA test. I am very proud of my smartie-pants roomie these days. I've never seen anyone study so hard for anything as Amy does for these exams. Nice job, GH, you've earned that nap.

I'm not sure what (slim) Jim did to earn that nap, but whatever. It's probably exhausting to be so damn awesome all the time.

Okay, so I told Jim that these pictures were just between us and would never go public, but... well, there is nothing to be ashamed of. I think the world needs to see this.















Maybe, though, if you see Jim sometime soon, don't say anything. I don't think he is ready to come out of the kitty-closet yet. That is really his decision.

___________________________________________________________________

Apropos of nothing, here is a small pictorial exhibit of a goofy Sunday at Stryker a few weeks ago...

Tawny, Joelle, Girl Hog and I met up at Whole Foods one chilly Sunday morning and armed ourselves with a ridiculously expensive cart full of fruits, veggies, seeds and supplements. We'd all been reading bits of this change-your-life/raw-foods-can-reverse-global-warming-and-cure-terminal-illness book & decided to try the recommended one-day fast.




















We started strong: washing, slicing, chopping, juicing, boiling. It was actually really fun. I guess it was less of a fast and more of a detox diet thing. I mean, we were allowed to eat stuff, but it was just the stuff that was the problem and led to our eventual failure.

The first item was a fruit smoothie and was just fine, almost good. And then we had some cucumber mint cold soup thing that ended up tasting like grass water and was... foamy. We tried to improve it by warming it up... not improved. It still wasn't the worst thing in the world and I think we each choked down most of it.
















I'm just shaking my head right now at the thought of it.

The next item was a carrot/parsley/lime/litterbox juice thing. Good lord, it was disgusting. We tried to slam it... nope. I'd rather have taken a shot of Karkov than one more sip of that mess. It went down the sink. But, we still hadn't given up. We munched on pumpkin seeds, drank our lemon water, talked endlessly about how it sucked and how much we wanted to beat up the author, and put the rest of our waning hope in the concoction on the stove.

A crapload of veggies, including leeks and turnips, had been simmering all day and now, lucky us, we would get to eat the broth. At first, with the first tentative spoonful, it seemed like it was going to be okay. But then I got the taste of that leek juice down the back of my throat and just threw the spoon down in surrender.

So we gave up.















And then we made a pizza and ordered takeout.

And that, blessed children, was the story of the failed one-day fast. Merry Christmas.

Ciao, buddies.
-Nina

P.S. Guess who's not the blondest blondie in town anymore...
















Moi. I know it's not that different, but to me, it seems like I have hair black as the darkest night. Next time you see me, tell me how freaking hot I am and make me feel better. And then I'll make out with you.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

WTF ?

First I get caught crying on ESPN and now the entire metro area knows I'm afraid of toilets.

I kid, I kid. This is super cool. I just about fell out of my chair when I checked my site meter and saw over a hundred page views today. Welcome newbies. Never forget, The Cabaret is always open for momma's friends. Stay gold.

Clearly, the only way to read this is as divine prophesy.

The forecast: This is my year.

The world has spoken and I hear you. You want more Nina, I get it. Therefore, I have pushed up the release date of my debut single, Bad Choices (a.k.a. The Kellogg Avenue the Night of a Wild Game Song). Look for it to drop in mid-December with a video, which will be aired exclusively on public access television, shortly to follow. Look for the 'making the video' special, following that nutjob thumbs-up guy, sometime after the first of the year.

Ciao, buddies.
-Nina.

P.S. I am curious how The Blotter writer decided to pick "failed Greek omelettes, yoga balls, her trip to Europe, poop stories, and party pix" as selling points. I don't know how one could ignore such a titillating play by play of my lunch. Fried biscuits, man!

P.P.S. Hey mom, "WTF" means what the fuck.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

put the turkey in the bag

Hi friends & lovers.

Three points of business before we all cluck and gobble ourselves silly:

  1. Mostly because I wanted to be "friends" with Sam from Top Chef (Harold from season 1 hasn't accepted me yet. I'm nervous), I've joined the myspace community. I'm not 100% sure I know what I'm doing, but come visit me & be my friend. And Sam, tell Harold I'm a really good friend.

    O, and I won't be using the 'blog' option on myspace because I don't want this blog to get jealous.

  2. Good news today for Justin Morneau, AL MVP. I don't know about you, pumpkin pies, but I just didn't see it happening. Nice job, Grunt.


  3. I am scared of the toilet at work. Really. I'm not frightened that I might fall in to, or that something might crawl out of it... rather, I'm a quite positive that at some point this winter I'm going to lose a digit while flushing it.

    The flushing mechanism is a one-inch or so in diameter button, located on top of the outside of the lid, that you have to depress pretty hard to commence the flushing. The problem is, after you push the button down, it immediately kicks back with the force of a russian carbine rifle... and guaranteed, your thumb is still on it. It's scary!


That's all. Happy Thanksgiving, turkeys.

Ciao, buddies.
-Nina

Monday, November 20, 2006

Friday, November 17, 2006

I would like one of these for my birthday please. Thank you.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Love it or poop on it ?


The video, I mean. The song is unquestionably awesome.

Really, I'm curious what people think ... gratuitous celebrity parade or are you interpreting something more ?

What do I think? Well, I am not too proud to admit myself a sucka for a gratuitous celebrity parade. Especially a nicely photographed one in which I get to see Kanye West, Iggy Pop, & Kate Moss' ass cheeks in the same two minutes.

Ciao, buddies.
-Nina

P.S. It's a nice use of "irony" in juxtaposing the sentiment of Johnny Cash wearing black to identify with the poor and the downtrodden with the dude from Maroon 5 and Lisa Marie Presley looking sad.

P.S.S. Maybe I am not such a sucka after all.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Excuse me, Mr. Gore... May I ask you a question?

Midnight. Mid-term election -- 2006. Momma is nothing short of giddy.

I've teared up at least fifteen times tonight. It's not 100% dream-come-true, but it is... um, to me at least, 95% ROCK AND ROLL. The house has gone strong to the Dems. The Senate is still up for grabs & very well may not "go" Blue... but really, for all intents and purposes, insofar as sending a message, is as blue as are my eyeballs. There is a better way, my friends. There is a better way, and we, as a country and as voters, are demanding it.

Congrats to some HUGE winners --

Amy Klobochar: nice work on a clean, smart campaign; a strong win earned on pure merit, ability & brains. Woot! First elected female Senator from Minnesota.



Congrats to Nancy Pelosi: first female Speaker of the House.

Congrats to giant sort-of-surprise wins in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Montana, and, God-willing, Virginia (especially Pennsylvania). Thank you!

Congrats Dems to winning a majority of the Governorships.

Congrats to Lori Swanson, first female Attorney General of Minnesota.

Congrats to South Dakota, for saying NO to the abortion ban.

Congrats to everyone who cares for impressive voter turnout.

Congrats to Jack Abramhoff, Tom De Lay, Mark Foley, Bob Ney, & Duke Cunningham for making it impossible to defend you, and for bringing other guilty parties down with you.

Congrats LADIES, ladies, ladies. Methinks, tonight, feminists are raising their whiskies high...

And, easily, most of all, from the bottom of our hearts... congrats to the majority of this country for growing yer balls back! Maybe it's not a 100% landslide, but C'MON, can the message be any more clear....



We are NOT picking up what you are throwing down, Mr. President.

Even people in Tennessee and Nebraska are passing a judgment upon you; your lack of humanity, your lack of humility, your hubris, and your disgusting war. I cannot wait to hear what you have to say for yourself tomorrow.

Congrats & Thank You, American Voters, for being... well, KICKASS and MY NEW HEROES.

Ciao, buddies.
-Nina.

P.S. Not to rain on my own parade, but... I won't lie (remember, I'm not a Republican), I am totally disappointed in the MN 6th District for electing Michelle "Cupcake," "Jesus-told-me-to,""Batshitcrazy" Bachmann. I will never set foot in St. Cloud again. However -- and mark my words -- she will prove herself to as batshitcrazy as she truly is, and before too long. That gives me some joy. Not "we just took the House" kind of joy (which involves dancing), but joy, nonetheless.

P.S.S. Again, I won't lie (remember, I'm not a Republican) -- I am completely freaked out that Smirky-Pawlenty just may pull this one out. I am disappointed by this. I want to see how it ends, but will probably have to wait until the morning (it's not like Mike Hatch would just give up, so I think it will be a late night)... it is sadly close right now. I will go to sleep dreaming of instant-run-off-voting... & cursing Peter Hutchinson.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Nice Work, Funny People


I was lucky enough to see a couple of really well done, funny things this weekend -- Borat (wow. I mean, c'mon, don't make it so easy for him, Red Staters!) & Lost in Yonkers at the Guthrie -- both really, really funny (although, uh, slightly different in nature).

And then to top it off, I find this genius little video. I love when people do this shit.

Nice job. Momma likes funny people.

Ciao, buddies.
-Nina

Thursday, November 02, 2006

I'm probably stranger than I was in July

I am really jonesing to go out to the bar.

Since coming home from Europe, broke as a f.j.o.k.e., I have *not* gone out. I'm serious -- I have gone out (not counting ladysleepovers/bookclub meetings or co-ed keggers, held mercifully often this month. thank you) TWICE in five weeks. And of those two outings, one time Girl Hog paid for me; the other time, Mel generously & quietly took care of business.

Not that it isn't good to stay in and save some money, because it is. I get that. There is no economically feasible (or physically) way to keep up with Europe mode. However, the side-effect is that I've been sitting my fat ass on the couch a lot more often.

The good side of said ass on aforementioned couch, besides the money-saving and the QT I'm spending with my cats, is that I've gotten quite a bit of thesis-writing done and at least five books checked off my Read This, Dumbass list. An overview:

  • All the King's Men (just excellent. I loved this book)
  • Possible Side Effects (not Burroughs' best. funny enough but just too bitchy)
  • 1984 (for ladies' bookclub. a classic; as timely now as ever... you know how it goes)
  • Magical Thinking (very, very funny)
  • America's Report Card (surprisingly good. subtle social commentary yet... not. very "post-9/11," which was stated in the review and I didn't really get what that meant - but, I see it & it's cool)

The bad side is that I've picked up four new TV programs, and dropped none.

The weird side is that I have watched five Brian DePalma films in the last month. It's not really my fault. Comcast seems to be having a love affair with Mr. DePalma - because I've only watched one film on DVD; the rest on either some cable channel or On Demand - at the same time that I have taken to staying up late, drinking red wine, flipping channels by myself. What else am I supposed to do?

  • Blow Out (really pretty good. I'm sorry, it is)
  • Carrie (still scares me. I like the near absence of literal sex, yet the strong presense of it)
  • Body Double (no fucking clue)
  • Carlito's Way (solid movie. the Pacino-redeemed stuff is cheesy, but the Penn-damned scenes are killer)
  • Femme Fatale (dumb)

The good news is that I have a scheduled Happy Hour tomorrow. It's at a cool place and with two ladies I am thrilled to hang out/catch up with. Hopefully I won't embarrass them by not knowing what to do in, say, the dreaded officious wine-tasting situation. They always seem to come to me when a male is not present... odd.

Ciao, buddies.
-Nina

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Really, everyone loses.

It's not that I don't care about the law, because I do. Nor do I think myself or anyone else above it... but this makes me frown. And I bet Stephen Colbert is crying in his scotch. Ya know, I never really liked scotch.

Friday, October 27, 2006

...and the Cabaret band plays a little slower, sadder

This just might be the only post where in I look to the Cabaret as a personal journal... ya know, with feelings and stuff. But, Momma is sad.

I suppose it makes sense to use the blog to share with you. I mean, it's not like I'm, say, Anderson Cooper, with a blog audience of 300 grand or whatever - - my "you" is all of my closest friends.

I found out on Wednesday that Wendi (ya'll know Wendi - the Vickster's roommate/best friend/co-worker & my good friend) has cancer. Horrible, aggressive, far-along type of cancer. She went to United emergency after a bed-ridden week due to back pain. She's had back problems for years, so it made sense, just seemed really, really bad this time. Nothing some treatment, muscle relaxers and pain meds can't fix, right?

Wrong. The CT scan came back with a big red X on it. Not literally, I'm sure, but I can only imagine that the word hit that room like a flatbed of concrete blocks. Cancer. Breast cancer metastacized into her spine, wrapped around it, fractured it.

Jesus.

It's been a full day now of knowing, visiting, crying, waiting. There are plenty more tests to be run & specialists to see. Everything to know is not yet known, but the fucking word still sits there. It's been a full day now and still, all I can really say is Jesus. And shit. And keep Wendi in your thoughts. And keep the Vickster in your thoughts. And let's all try harder to quit smoking.

Ciao, buddies.
-Nina

Monday, October 23, 2006

Because you care about every thought that crosses my mind

We all know the Tavern on Grand is known for great walleye (is the walleye even really that good? I'm not so sure), but has anyone ever had a burger from there? Hot damn, kids. Seriously good stuff. Run right out and get one. Right now.

________________________________________________________________

Is anyone watching this Heroes show?














I watched an episode last night and now I find myself a tiny bit intrigued. I'm not sure I have the time or energy to take on another program, plus - I'm not convinced yet. If you watch it/have watched it, a recommendation either way would be appreciated.

I hear it's big with the Lost crowd.




















But, Star Trek and Steven King are big with the Lost crowd too. And, clearly, I am waayyyy to cool for that stuff.

Cioa, buddies.
-Swyrrlvr4815162342

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

What a weird day.

I'm still feeling melancholy and a bit blue about being home. And I don't mean that I don't like home, because I do. But, I would rather be traveling in Europe. Right now. I'd just rather be traveling, always. But that's not that weird. Today was weird because I could not stop thinking about all of the food from Europe. Typically I'm missing things like, uh... the hearty preservation of ancient architecture, the late nights & good times with friends, the attractive men who actually care about fashion, the tiny cars...

But, o no, not today. Today was about crying over chocolate croissants and garlic prawns.

All day today I searched, fruitlessly, between the pantry, the fridge & the freezer, looking for anything mysteriously and deliciously French, Italian, or, fuck it, even German. Nothing. Peanut Butter, tuna, oatmeal, frozen corn, walnuts. I got excited for a flash when I found some smoked salmon, but it had a use-by date of September 4th.

So, I threw it across the room.

Here's a little tour of what I did not find in my kitchen today:

Onion Soup. (Paris)


Moroccan Smorgasboard, suckas: Lamb tagine, chicken & lamb couscous. (Momo, London)


Spinach spaetzel & mushroom sauce, white sausage & something else. (Munich)


Giant, buttery, garlicky, perfect prawns. (Hvar)


Andalusian gaspacho & Raw fish tartare with quinoa and hummus cream
(La Boussole- Paris)

Yes, yes,
I am that geek who takes pictures of her food... right there in the middle of a 4-star, with a flash & everything. But, do no worry- when people look at me all crinkly-nosed & disapproving, I just tell them I work for a fancy, important food magazine.

And then I play "see food" and give them the finger.

Ciao, buddies.
-Nina
p.s. I'm going to bed hungry (Amy said I was bad) after looking at all of this amazing food. I can't wait to see what kind of dreams I have.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Allow me to dork out for a moment.

I just have to write about the Twins. I tried to hold off for a couple of days to see if the urge would dissipate. No such luck. I am totally bummed that the season is over & I have to wait until freaking March for more Twins time. I understand that there are probably only a few of you who will care (you know who you are), but whatever, it's my damn cabaret, suckas.

O, and for momma's lady friends who are neither interested in America's pastime nor my take on the Twinkers, know that I have peppered this post with pictures of young, hot boys... just for you. Well, and for me, obviously, as every photo involves my favorite, Young Joe, aka Baby Jesus, aka Muffin Butt.



You can't see me, but I'm a pickle in the middle of this little man-boy sandwich.

What a kickass baseball season for Twins fans. I know that has been said (even by the national media) to the point that the sentiment has nearly lost its meaning, but man... take some time and think about it just one more time. It's simply a phenomenal sports story & we are lucky that it happened to be our team involved in it. It would be a cool story, if it not even our team, but it was & we should be really pleased about that.

And, although it ended in the most anti-climactic fashion imaginable (and really quite unbelievably poorly played), Twinsfannation can take heart by 1. remembering September (sorry, cheeseball, I know) and 2. legitimately looking forward to next season (for real).



Yeah, I'm in that sandwich too.

What do I think went the most wrong in the ALDS, you ask?

Well, forget the dumbass-rookie-mistake-I-always-want-to-be-a-hero-these-young-studs-are-showing-me-up-and-I-can't-handle-it Hunter play. One play doesn't lose a series. Forget the booted infield bloops (wake up, Bartlett) and Cuddyer groping the astroturf, looking for the ball like he had a boiled ham attached to the end of his right arm... a few defensive miscues don't lose it all either.

However, I do think the defense problems are certain side effects of what really lost them the series... emotional immaturity and a straight up lack of experience.

I think the Twins played "out" from the first moment the Big Hurt hit a dinger off of Santana. Their emotions & nerves got the best of them & they couldn't pull out of it. They could not shake it off, and that, coupled with some stupid management (DHing Jason Tyner, who couldn't hit a homerun off of a tee... Mike Redmond not seeing one at bat... putting Jesse Crain in, ever = all dumb) set the stage for the defensive miscues and the painful offensive impotence (Justin M & Ronhill Light are exempt from this verdict). O, and the A's played pretty well, too.



Do you think that Justin (aka Grunt, aka Porno) washes Muffin's hair at home before going to bp every morning? I do. hoyay !!

The good news is that they should have the nerves out of their system now, right? Yes. Momma says so. Next season's playoffs will be entirely different.

And more good news is that there is not a whole lot that needs to be done during the off-season, in my opinion. I mean, picking up & dealing players, not workouts and stuff. I'm only really looking for 1 - a real DH, 2 - one more starting pitcher. Honestly, that's it. I also say cough up the moula and keep Torii in center (I could be convinced otherwise on this one, but for now I say keep him).

With one more reliable (hopefully experienced) pitcher, the rotation is going to be fine next year. Let's see... Santana, Liriano, Bonzer, Garza/Baker/Perkins & the new guy (ZITO!ZITO!). Yes, that means I say dump Carlos Silva. And I also say dump Jesse Crain and his stupid necklace and his even stupider nappy beard. Aside from dumb Jesse, the bullpen rules. Don't change a thing. Well, except give Nathan ("twitch-n-pitch," I recently & hilariously heard him referred to) more innings. It doesn't just have to be a save situation, silly.


"I like older women."

I like the infield as is as well. Altough I like a tall, lean fellow at third - tinyPunto has earned the spot & hopefully a Gold Glove. Second & short are fine & Porno has turned into a really good first-baseman (along with a killer hitter. I mean, c'mon, he is unreal). And, obviously, I sort of like the catcher.

O, and they better keep Mike Redmond. I get the sneaking suspicion that he may be single-handedly responsible for the big turnaround this season.

O, and someone tell tinyPunto that you don't get to first faster by sliding headfirst. That is a statistically proven fact.

Your thoughts, please! Want so super fun & smart Twins-related reading? Check out Bat Girl.

Ciao, buddies.
-nina
p.s. I'm thinking I'll play fantasy baseball next year. Anyone interested?
p.s.s. I just heard they picked up Torii's option.

Friday, October 06, 2006

Minneapolis Day, on the shores of the Adriatic

might be a bird, might be a loon...

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

jive-Turkey


a little shopping, a little Hagia Sofia... not a bad day, buddies.



Our last night, we went to a Whirling Dervish "show"at the big train station. The music was really cool, but I can't say the whirling was my favorite. Walking out, Shorty and I compared our Dervish nicknames.... Sad Dervish, Reluctant Dervish, Jeff Buckley Dervish, Too Young to be a Dervish Dervish.



Now, this here, however, was a favorite. Inside the Hagia Sofia, there are Christian mosaics which had been tiled over when the place went from basilica to mosque. The mosaics are pretty remarkable, as is the entire Hagia Sofia. Yeah, yeah, no shit. I know.


Ahhh... it makes my heart melt a little looking at this right now. This was the view (of the Blue Mosque) from our hotel's rooftop patio, on which Shorty & I spent muchas time and and muy muchas dinero. Yes, it was perfection.
_________________________________________________________________

well, pumpkin pies, momma's home (literally; on the couch, in "my spot") now. i'm struggling a bit with the old post-fantastic-trip blues. it's only a matter of days before I fall back into regular ol' life, I know this to be true, but it's a goofy time right now. bear with me, buddies.

ciao, buddies.
-nina

Monday, September 25, 2006

i was in asia today

I had this dream last night that I was sitting on a rooftop patio, edged with greenery and fruit, looking out upon a giant cake, with six candles stuck into to the frosting... Shorty was there, as was a group of older Brits... the call to prayer was going off, ships were in the harbor beyond the cake, A Girl from Ipanema was playing in the background, fantastic wine was flowing like a severed vein....

o wait. no dream - this is happening. the giant cake is The Blue Mosque, the candles are the minaretes & evertyhing else is really happening. it's nuts. Istanbul is nuts. coming into it, earlier today, I felt almost jaded by travel fatigue. it's nice...but, whatever, I've seen so much. but now.... after a couple of the call to prayers & a few glasses of wine - on this amazing rooftop patio; someone is beginning to be bewitched.

see Shorty's post for a more eloquent post....

ciao, buddies.
-nina
p.s. the way I missed the whole crew before is different now.... I SO, SO badly want you to be here. i want you to see this. i want you to hear this. i mean, i really do miss you... but more so, i wish you could be here. ciao.

Saturday, September 23, 2006

I've been meaning to do it this way all along...
















Roman Forum
this was super cool, i thought. you could walk around right in it & it was free = good stuff.
it is pretty mind-boggling, when you are standing in the middle of it. the weight of the ages
& the power weilded and then lost really is palpable. but i like to dork out like that,




























Inside of the Pantheon
totally gorgeous. i wasn't expecting it to be as ornate as it was. pantheon is my favorite thing
from Roma.



























Trevi Fountain
yah, you know the one... Felini & all. it's ridiculously ornate & over the top, but also very cool.
we threw coins in, standing backwards and over your right shoulder, as you are supposed to.
we are now guaranteed to return to Roma.















The Vatican & St. Peter's Basillica
this is just gorgeous to walk up to - and then inside you're like... o yeah, this place. you've seen
it a million times, but it's still cool to see. the piazza in front of the cathedral, with the pilllars (designed by Michelangelo, of course. that grouchy little genius) is really pretty. I looked for Il Popers but didn't see him popping his weird little head out of anything.

















and of course, Colloseo
it was cool to see, but I have to say, it didn't deliver the way the Pantheon or some other big dog- types (Duomo, David, Parthenon) have done for me previously. I actulaly like the Roman Forum better. we didn't go in, it costs something stupid, like 10 euro - but we did drive by it at night or early in the am or something, and it was all lit up inside by what seemed to be big black-lights. maybe they have raves in there after hours or something.

okay, that was my good-little-traveler post. don't look for that again.

ciao, buddies.
-nina
p.s. shorty and I are shopped-out. i never thought i'd say that, but tis true. i didn't buy much at all today, just a (fantastic black leather, okay fake leather) purse. hey vickster - i looked for one for youm but couldn't find anything anywhere (in my price range) that I thought you would like. sorry!!















Man, remember the bowls and bowls of steaming & fresh seafood... best meal of the first 'leg' of the trip.
















Mr. October.




Weeeee! says Boy Hog.

Bonjour buddies. not much time to write, just know that Shorts and I are having a blast in Paris. yesterday was supposed to be a day of museums, historic walking tours & maybe *some* shopping. well... yah, you know how it ends. we went over to the bastille area for late dinner (which ended up being street-paninis) and drinks. when mel & i were in paris before, we stayed over there & it was quite fun; chill & a bit funky, with a few bars & cool restaurants. now it seems as though all hell has broken loose over there & it's THE place to party... but not in a cool way.

it was fun, but a bit of a disappointement until we stumbled upon french break-dancers in the street & then took a super-fun cab ride home - - I'll leave you hanging until Shorty posts the video.

today we are off for Montmarte, lots more food, more shopping & the Eiffel Tower tonight. YAY.

ciao, buddies.
-nina

newly added hot items to the photo smorgasboard
















I know this was a game of 'look scared while Tawny pretends to bite,' but I think that is real terror on Mel's face. This was about 4 seconds before Girl Hog took a backwards dive off of her stool, if I recall correctly.
















ANGIE!















Just tell him how you feel. You'll never get anywhere if you aren't honest with him.

newly added hot items to the photo smorgasboard
















I know this was a game of 'look scared while Tawny pretends to bite,' but I think that is real terror on Mel's face. This was about 4 seconds before Girl Hog took a backwards dive off of her stool, if I recall correctly.
















ANGIE!















Just tell him how you feel. You'll never get anywhere if you aren't honest with him.

Friday, September 22, 2006

take it to the beach


marienplatz


moi, making a wish on the lucky star on charles bridge. i'm wishing that I can someday go to Paris again. o, wait.


ninja toothpicks! scary!


the soberest tech has ever been. ever.


tagged, sucka.