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.

...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

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.

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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

Like a laser beam? Really?

Wow.

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.

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.

Minneapolis Day, on the shores of the Adriatic

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

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.
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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