Mispronunciation

I hate to be wrong about things. I love to be right. I mean, most people probably feel this way. But I am terrible about reading and pronouncing things correctly so I have to admit being wrong. I am an avid reader but the laws of grammar that make vowels long or short and hard or soft must be lost on me.

Last weekend I asked my family if they had read the article in Reader's Digest about the people who run the Snoops website. Yes, I said Snoops, like a person who is nosy. Picture Nancy Drew snooping and sleuthing. To me, this makes perfect sense. The website exists to debunk Internet myths.

The response, of course, was "snopes?" What? Snopes does not make sense for a name of a website that snoops.

But it is funny that I was so sure I was right, even though a room full of people and grammar rules tell me otherwise. Below are some other words I have struggled with in the past. The correct word is on the left, how I chose to pronounce it follows. I can laugh at myself which is why I am sharing. :)

Gubernatorial election = gubernational
Mailer Daemon = mailer demon
Snopes = snoops

This list isn't very long but I'm sure my mom remembers more...

NYC, just a small town

When I first moved to New York City from college, I thought that it was a huge city and I knew I'd have to work hard to meet people and find my group. My coworkers at my job had all these stories about how they run into people everywhere and you always know someone and I was in disbelief. My New York felt big and lonely.

After all, NYC has 301 million residents, 1.6 million in Manhattan.

And yet, here I am, a resident for 3 years and I see people all the time. It is both good and bad, but I love it. It makes me feel like I did growing up in small city Bakersfield where you saw people at the grocery store, the movies and you'd stop to say hello.

This past week, I ran into a friend at Penn Station, a coworker on the subway platform, and a friend on the street. These are small things, but they make me feel like NYC is a hometown instead of just a metropolis.

And here's a trivia question for you all, can you name the 5 boroughs that make up New York City? Leave guesses/answers in the comments. I'll give you a hint- Manhattan is one.

Jon & Kate hate

The TLC show Jon&Kate + 8 has been in the news tons lately. And I am SO over it. These people signed up to do reality TV, they have become mini-celebrities and are now on the cover of every weekly magazine.

I do read my share of the weekly magazines and I like to read Perez during the day, so to be fair, you could say I'm seeking out their stories.

But I'm not. And even more so, I don't care. If you are having marital problems and you want to save your marriage, get off of TV, magazine covers, the Today show, GMA, etc. No one is forcing you to spotlight your life at this point; you are doing it for profit and because you like fame.

I like reality TV shows like the Bachelor, The Amazing Race, Survivor, Apprentice- because on those, you may or may not be famous after it airs. The Hills, Jon&Kate...shows like these bank on the "real" people being famous.

Anyway, I'm just ready for people to move on. There are real news stories out there and even in celebrity news, there are better things to feature and discuss than a family of 10 that is falling apart. It makes me sad but it also makes me angry because they could probably fix things if they wanted, but it would involve a private life, not reaping the benefits of TLC. (not to be confused with this TLC of course.)

Okay, venting over. But I'm also not watching that show!!!

Pomp and Circumstance

I love graduations. I love the music of pomp and circumstance, the caps and gowns, all the smiles people have, the big diplomas tucked under their arms and flowers in their hands. I got teary watching the Gossip Girl characters graduate and it wasn't even a real ceremony. I smiled when I saw a random girl carrying her Columbia gown down the street this morning. This is my favorite time of year.

My college graduation was nothing like I imagined, there was no champagne with the roomies before the big outdoor ceremony because it was freezing rain and we hadn't decided if we were actually going to go. I didn't wear my cute dress (for the same reason) and in fact, I wore yoga pants and my BU flip flops.

But it wasn't bad- just different than I expected. There were amazing moments, like my favorite advertising professor handing me my diploma and one of my best friends being the commencement speaker. And being super comfortable in my yoga pants :)

Its a priceless day, as these pictures show. How hot are those ponchos?

And now I'm off to Sara's college graduation, where I know she'll make her memories and have a great time. I just hope the rain stays away. :)

The worst commercial during morning TV

I am a quirky person and certain things drive me crazy. Like this. I have another little annoyance and it only bothers me when it is on the air.

During morning TV (I'm an avid Good Morning America watcher) about every two months, the sleep aid commercials are on. You know, Ambien/Lunesta, prescription drugs to help you stay asleep all night long.

But they kill me when they are on in the morning because I am fighting to wake up, willing myself to get out of my warm, cozy cocoon under the covers and I hear the most soothing voiceover talking about staying asleep.

Aahhhh! How's a girl supposed to get up and at 'em with this on the mind?!

Granted, I don't have a sleep problem except that I really like to sleep and don't really like to get up in the morning. I also could not turn on the TV until I am out of the shower (no guarantee I'm not back in bed...that may be a blog for a later day) but sometimes I like to listen to the weather before I get out of bed.

Either way, I have empathy for those who have trouble sleeping, but for those of us who just have trouble waking up, we need more Folgers commercials and less Ambien :)

A-choo!

Allergies. A quintessential part of spring for most people. I used to be very fortunate and never had allergies. Yes, growing up in farming Bakersfield, where there was dust and crops, and some of the worst air in the state, I was unfazed by the allergens everyone else complained off.

Now, here I am in NYC and they are killing me. Have been for nearly a month. The weatherman so kindly reports on what is highest in the air each day so I've figured out I'm a tree pollen/mold allergy sufferer.

Irony is not lost on me and I think it is really funny that in the valley of CA I was fine and in the big cement jungle of NYC, I am miserable. But Claritin and lots of tissues help, and everyone is commiserating. At least now I finally appreciate what everyone was so miserable about all those years.

A-choo!

Goodbye House

Today is moving day in Bakersfield. My parents are officially moving out of the house where I grew up. We moved in when I was almost 8 years old and I lived there until I went to Boston for school, but I always went back for the holidays and was really home.

The new house in Seal Beach is awesome; it is such a cute area and a beautiful house, but there is something sad about saying goodbye to the rooms I know, especially my bedroom that overlooks the pool, my palm tree decorated bathroom, the entryway where we performed plays and dance shows. There is the closet under the stairs we used as our barbie room and the laundry chute that lets out into "the Christmas closet" a closet that doesn't even really contain Christmas decorations.

I never really said goodbye to the house, I was there last May and knew that it was likely the last time I'd be there, but the housing market wasn't great, so I figured I'd have one more Christmas or one more swim in the pool. Alas, that was my last trip and I remember everything in its place, just like home is supposed to feel.

So, I'm making today my "thanks for the memories" day. And someday, I'll go back to the house in Bakersfield and check it out, to make sure the new family is enjoying as much as we did growing up.

Goodbye 8901 O'Meara Ct!

Summer food

I think warm weather puts me in the mood for Mexican food. I could think very deeply about this and say it is a psychological way of connecting with growing up in hot Bakersfield and there being a plethora of fantastic Mexican food in Bako.

Or it could be that when the weather warms, I just don't want soups anymore.

Either way, after a ridiculous amount of rain it finally warmed and dried out and in the past 5 days, I've had 5 meals that are Mexican based.

Friday lunch was fantastic Chiptole, Sunday brunch was a delicious breakfast burrito, eaten outside with the girls at brunch, Monday lunch was a fiesta bowl salad (basically take the bowl of lettuce at the salad bar and top it with burrito filling instead of veggies and salad dressing) Monday dinner was homemade enchiladas (okay...the sauce is from a can) and then lunch was leftovers.

Lots of spicy food and guacamole. Gotta love warm weather and Mexican food!

Breakfast in Bed

I have a lovely little tradition on weekends watching old 90210 episodes while enjoying breakfast and coffee in bed. The funny thing is, I've been doing this for about 2 years and then SoapNet started marketing their reruns on Sat and Sun mornings as "breakfast in bed" with SoapNet.

Sometimes breakfast is pretty sad, like a lone yogurt left in the fridge, but other times I make something rivaling breakfast out.

I made this coffee cake recently and it was fantastic; perfect way to start a weekend!

It was super simple and yet another throw-back to childhood recipe; this time, the coffee cake recipe from the Bisquick box. When we were kids, I remember making it early Saturday morning, usually before Mom and Dad were even up.

Visitors!

The best thing about living in a big city is that people come to visit all the time. I love having people come to NYC and staying at "Hotel Teresa".

My sister came yesterday so we could go see the New York City Ballet perform and it is her last impromptu visit since she's leaving Providence and will be a 5+ hour flight away rather than a 4 hour train or bus ride away.

She was an awesome ballet dancer back in the day but hadn't yet seen City Ballet perform. So, I had an opportunity to get half price orchestra seats and we had a wonderful Friday night in Lincoln Center.

Then, this morning we got to have breakfast with Uncle Dan, Lisa, Jonathon and Rebecca since they are in town for the weekend as well.

It was great see everyone, I hope more people come visit soon!

Rain Rain Go Away...

Dear Rain,

I know you are vital to our atmosphere and you help plants and crops grow and provide water for the dams. But can you give it a rest?

Seriously, it rained Thur and Fri last week, then Sun, Mon, Tue of this week. Then a huge thunderstorm Wed night and today it is humid and swampy and they say more of you to come today, tomorrow, and Saturday.

I just want some sun and dry air. So that my tedious blow dry work every morning isn't wasted and ruined on my way to work. And so that I can wear shoes that actually match and go with my outfit, instead of shoes that can stand up to the rain.

Thanks so much,
T

Jury Duty

Like going to the DMV and the dentist, jury duty is one of those things you just have to do and no one ever thinks will be fun. Today was my day to go to the criminal supreme court in NYC.

I had both dread and excitement going into the courthouse today- it wasn't really a good day to miss work but once I'd packed my bag with a couple of magazines, a book, and my iPhone charger so I could fully utilize the free wi-fi, I was feeling okay. I was in touch with work if they needed anything and I also think that it is such a great opportunity to participate in jury duty since it is one of the pillars of the American judicial system.

Today wasn't a busy day at the courthouse in terms of juries; in total they only called 20 people. There was talk of needing to call 100 people into the selection room before lunch, then it was after lunch, then it became tomorrow. The other cases were settled without a jury, likely that people plead guilty. So, I hung out for the day, read, had lunch in Chinatown with a friend who works in the financial district, and enjoyed the people watching experience.

Overall, it is a pretty organized system and Larry, our moderator, cares a lot about his job and takes jury selection seriously but with humor. Lots of people come in with a bad attitude just trying to think up excuses to get out of there, others set up mobile offices and are unfazed by the day, and then there are the funny people- the sleepers, the ones who are eager to serve, the ones who really can't figure out if they can defer or aren't eligible, etc.

It wasn't so bad, but I'm glad that I don't have to worry about it for another 6 years. And who knows if I'll still be a resident of Manhattan in 6 years....

$5 Footlong

I have always been a fan of Subway and it is one of the few places I like to go pick up lunch when I don't bring food from home. I always get the same sandwich- Italian herb and cheese bread, pepperoni, lots of lettuce, tomato, pickles, green pepper, red onion, salt & pepper, oil & vinegar.

So, when they started the ALL footlongs for $5, I was elated. A place I like to go, a sandwich I always like, at an even better price.

But my favorite pepperoni-only sandwich is not eligible for the $5 deal. I'm sorry...doesn't your ad say all footlongs?

It gets even better, I can get the Spicy Italian footlong, with pepperoni AND salami, for $5. Now, I don't mind the salami terribly so to get the deal, I've been ordering it. But what sense does it make to charge less for a sandwich with 2 different kinds of meat on it than for a sandwich with only one.

This sandwich situation has become something that really bothers me. And I have to admit, I really prefer it with no salami- I had a 6 inch the other day, all pepperoni and it was so delicious, but I can't bring myself to not take advantage of the $5 deal.

Grande non-fat cappuccino

I get a little thrill out of the fact that the barrista at the Starbucks near my office remembers my drink. This is exciting because in New York, you really don't get the neighborhood coffee community that they have in the suburbs. I've been to Starbucks' in California where they have pictures on the wall of the regulars with their drinks. But here, the volume of people (and the plethora of locations) makes it harder to connect with a Starbucks and its staff.

I am far from a regular; I go to Starbies maybe once every two weeks. But, I think last fall when work was slightly out of control, I went more often because I was too exhausted at night and in the morning to make my own coffee and/or I needed the espresso in the cappuccino to keep me going for the day. And hence, my guy remembers my drink.

I even remember the day he gave me a triple grande with a wink; meaning he recognized I looked so bad heading into work I needed more caffeine than usual.

Anyway, it just helps me start my day with a smile when someone remembers how I like my coffee and makes it perfectly for me.