The New and Improved yorkd

Better Late Then Never Austin Recaps.

2011-04-07T00:25:00.001-04:00

Check out a local Austin newscast with an interview with Kyle York of Dyn,Inc. & some footage from the 138 Listening Lounge/Dyn,Inc. Cloudy Awards

138 Listening Lounge/DynInc/Cloudy Awards @ SXSW, 03.15.2011

2011-04-07T00:16:00.000-04:00

a.k.a. The Party That Almost Didn't Happen. Twice.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

BUZZBANDS.LA Austin 2011 Showcase, sponsored by 1band1brand

2011-03-10T18:40:00.000-05:00

138 Listening Lounge Private Showcase, Austin-style!

2011-03-10T18:37:00.001-05:00

Wanna come?

RSVP to 138RSVP@gmail.com for info & location.

History Lessons for Music Lovers

2010-12-08T10:27:00.000-05:00

Check out these videos made by two history teachers. Way cool!

Twenty for Twenty

2010-12-06T23:35:00.000-05:00

This is a pretty cool page to bookmark.

http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Twenty-for-Twenty/Detail.aspx

Stock up on these 20 ingredients to make 20 different recipes. The best part is that you probably have most of these items in you pantry already. I will definitely be keeping these items on my staples list.

Barry Sanders

2010-12-02T00:52:00.000-05:00

Seriously sweating my Fantasy Football team right now, so I am pretty sure this is meaningful.

Who has a birthday today? Who wants a birthday today?

2010-11-27T23:59:00.002-05:00

You and you, cool. Glad you found me, because this is for you.

Check it.

Meet Shogun Lady. When you are with her, everyday is your birthday. Make a wish!

New Year's Eve at 138 Listening Lounge

2010-11-26T20:12:00.003-05:00

Exciting stuff! The next 138 Listening Lounge is booked and the invites are out! Clear your calendars for New Years Eve and join us for Caravan of Thieves!

Dear Santa,

2010-11-24T18:48:00.000-05:00

The good news is that I got my computer back today. The bad news is that it was not fixed.

When I dropped it off, neither the keyboard nor the trackpad were working. Now that I have it back, the trackpad works as long as you are not scrolling up and only half of the keys work.

This would be the perfect computer if I was a writer on Wheel of Fortune.

#1

2010-11-23T23:09:00.000-05:00

I am back to the #1 spot in my Fantasy Football league.

Lost & Found

2010-11-22T23:55:00.001-05:00

I had a great thing happen to me today.

Earlier this evening, I packed the kids up and headed downtown for my weekly banjo lesson. My teacher had asked me to bring my iPod to the lesson. I unplugged it from my car and stuffed it in my jacket pocket. Before I got out of the car, I had to set up my pre-paid parking meter thingy so I wouldn't get a ticket. I put that on the dashboard and then got the kids & the banjo out of the car. We all went to my lesson. My iPod must have fallen out of my jacket when I was rushing around the car getting the kids and my banjo out. After my lesson and during the ride home,I realized that my iPod was gone. I searched the car, my banjo case & all my pockets once I got home. My husband, who was on his way downtown, went out to check aound my parking spot for me. Nothing. It's not like it was the end of the world, but I was still bummed.

A few hours later, I got a all from my sister-in-law. An employee from the city's Parking Enforcement department had found my iPod and turned it in to the supervisor, along with my license plate number. They ended up calling her and letting her know what they had found!

This was a nice reminder that here are still many honest people out there. Many thanks, I greatly appreciate it!

2010-11-21T20:13:00.002-05:00

Taking the computer into the shop tomorrow. Both the keyboard and the track pad stopped working yesterday. Lame.

TFDI

2010-11-20T23:27:00.000-05:00

I was out last night in Boston at Berklee's Cafe 939/Red Room for the TFDI show. TFDI is three musicians, Jay Nash, Matt Duke, & Tony Lucca, who play a mix of solo & collaborative works. The show was sick, but one song really stuck out to me. Matt Duke covered Bright Eyes' 'Lover I Don't Have To Love' and it was sick. It was probably the most intense performance I have ever seen.

Check out this video of his performance from a recent show in NYC.

Task At Hand

2010-11-19T12:08:00.005-05:00

I received a Little Tikes catalog in the mail the other day. My girls love to look through all of the catalogs that we get in the mail. They love the bright and shiny covers. They love to decide who gets what on each page. They love that they get their own 'magazine' every, single day in the mail.

So yesterday, after I got a Little Tikes catalog, I knew Madeleine would be especially excited to look through it because it was filled with fun & colorful toys. I gave her the catalog and a black marker. I suggested that she take this opportunity to circle things she really, really liked, perhaps things that Santa might take note of. She was totally game and got right to work.

This is what she came back with:

She circled nearly everything in the catalog, except the Makin' Mud Pies set she got for her birthday and the Spray & Rescue Fire Truck her sister, Lily, got this summer.

Looking at these pictures, I could think, 'how funny & cute, she loves all the toys in the catalog' or 'how greedy & selfish, she wants every, single thing on every, single page.'

My most recent exposure to the studies of managing behaviors and positive discipline have taught me otherwise. I have learned, that for children of Madeleine's age (4) , the focus is not on the end result, but on the journey or activity to get there. She was more enrapt with the act of circling the pictures of kids enjoying the toys, than imagining herself potentially receiving and subsequently playing with these toys at a later date.

As parents, I think we all naturally feel that our kids are the smartest, brightest, most talented at any & all specific talents, but we are fast to forget that they are still toddlers, still babies. They are sponges and can soak up our vocabularies & mannerisms and repeat them back to us, without fully understanding what they are saying or doing. Personally, I have always responded to my child's vocabulary as a proud parent. We encouraged her first words & cheered on her full sentences We never stopped to think if she totally understood the words & actions she was using and if she knew why she was using them. Hey, as long as they were not swear words, we were happy, right?

Madeleine was simply reveling in the task at hand. When I gave her the marker and catalog I should have said this 'Here, take this marker and show me how good you are at making circles. And, lucky you, you get to make circles around pictures of kids your age having fun on toys you might like to play with. I bet you can fill this whole, entire magazine with great circles. When you are done, let's go outside with Lily, make piles of leaves and mess them up!'

Has anyone ever wondered what it would sound like if Marc Cohn covered Jay-Z's '99 Problems'?

2010-11-18T21:15:00.002-05:00

Well, I certainly have. And thankfully, I was there the day he decided to. Rock on.

(No criticism about the lack of video, please. I asked how it would 'sound'. Frankly, between Cohn & Shane Fontayne, I was extremely intimidated. {If you know who Shane Fontayne is, you are probably equally intimidated. Have you seen the guy down-tune mid-song?})

Positive Discipline: Three Days Down...

2010-11-17T19:38:00.004-05:00

... and seeing great results!

Little to no screaming and fights over simple tasks and daily activities. This is most definitely a work in progress, as at times I feel like I am playing beat the clock, between reading the book, gathering info & putting it into practice, all at the same time that I need it most.

Positive Discipline

2010-11-16T13:53:00.006-05:00

I am about halfway through the book Positive Disciplne by Jane Nelsen, Cheryl Erwin & Roslyn Ann Duffy. So far we have had one and a half scream-free days! Yesterday's adventures included the girls first trip to the dentist, a visit to Barnes & Noble and then a fun trip to Chuck E. Cheese. We were able to go into & out of each location on time and without a fight, even at Chuck E. Cheese!

Slacker!

2010-11-15T15:35:00.004-05:00

Damn it, I missed two days, but I swear I have a good reason.

I was attending a two-day training for the Life is good Playmakers Power Play program. I was allowed to 'tag along' to the training, even though I am not technically an early childhood educator.

I met many great teachers from all over New England who are going above & beyond their classroom duties. I was also introduced to some revolutionary ideas regarding positive discipline and behavior management. I've ordered a few books and cannot wait for them to get here!

Hopefully, my experiences with these techniques & ideas will lead to some more significant and interesting posts here. Bear with me.

Cookies!

2010-11-12T23:26:00.003-05:00

I found these cookies in the supermarket this evening: Keebler Fudge Shop Coconut Dreams
I'm pretty stoked. This is as close as you can get to the Samoa until the Girl Scouts start hitting the street again. Enjoy!

Christmas Gift Idea List

2010-11-11T21:31:00.003-05:00

Check out some of the cool things on my gift-giving list this year.

Double Dish Snack Bowl I know a lot of people that love pistachios.

Spilt Milk Cereal Bowl No comment, just looks awesome.

Food Face Dinner Plate. These are so rad. I am considering tossing all my current plates and just buying a full set of these.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Pouch I'd love to carry an unwrapped PB & J around in my bag, wouldn't you?

Positivity Glass. Because it never hurts to have a little reminder.

Bubble Necklace. This thing is so sick. I may have to gift myself.

Peanut Pin. I like this because I am nuts. And if you get it this year, you might be nuts, too.

Confetti Scarf. Way funky. Would look so rad on anyone's jacket.

What Are You Doing This Weekend?

2010-11-10T22:43:00.003-05:00

What are your plans for the weekend? I'll be taking part in this:

Meat Cake!

2010-11-09T15:57:00.002-05:00

I am seriously considering making this Thanksgiving cake.

What To Read Next?

2010-11-08T22:49:00.000-05:00

I have my book club meeting this Wednesday night. I just finished our last assignment, Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen. Oprah loves it, so it must be good. I thought it was okay, but wordy. It worked for some parts of the story, but it eventually wears on you. I'm definitely curious to see what the others though of the book.

What should we read next?

Sweeney Runs The Marathon!

2010-11-07T17:10:00.000-05:00

Eat The Entire Menu Quest

2010-11-06T21:04:00.003-04:00

I am currently on an Eat The Entire Menu Quest at The Backroom. I eat there at least twice a week and have been photographing and documenting every meal I order there. It is a large menu, so I would imagine that I am probably one-third through it. They also offer daily lunch and dinner specials, as well as weekend specials. I have been working on a spreadsheet to keep help me keep track of my status. I am hoping to get it posted here tomorrow.

Carolina Chocolate Drops

2010-11-05T23:07:00.002-04:00

Digging this right now.
How sick would they be for the 138 Listening Lounge?

Family Band

2010-11-04T19:56:00.004-04:00

My kids have been all about putting on shows lately. They'll bang on the piano, destroy a guitar and make up songs and dances.

Their latest creation is this:

"We're going to the beach,
Gonna have a fun waycation.
Gonna go swimming,
And eat a lot of bacon."

Sounds like a hit. And a dream vacation.

Day 3

2010-11-03T21:29:00.002-04:00

In addition to not posting anything here, I have also not been using my camera. I finally decided to take it out and dust it off today.

Behold my triumphant return!

2010-11-02T08:04:00.000-04:00

Last night, I dreamt I got a job that paid me in kazoos.

Whoa, New November, Where do you come from?

2010-11-01T23:26:00.002-04:00

Yikes. Even so, I have big plans for you.

Like concerts I'm going to, local events, my book club, major November holidays, banjo lessons, birthdays, Christmas plans, and did I mention my BANJO LESSONS?

A Warning to All Beach Boys Fans...

2010-03-31T23:39:00.003-04:00

unless you are also a huge John Stamos fan. Thank you to John Stamos for making the only possible reason this clip is watchable is because of the chance to spy your sweet face and stellar drum skills in it. Mike Love sucks harder than ever before, right here. Enjoy.

Still Running...

2010-02-19T23:52:00.001-05:00

I just got a treadmill the other day and I gave it a trial run this morning

I am also planning on some new running sneaks tomorrow.

Snow Day Fail

2010-02-17T16:55:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, I got up early, dressed my two girls, loaded them into the car and set out for the Y so I could get my required four-mile run in before the snow started to fall. I was pretty proud of myself for finding the motivation and drive to actually get us all out of the house before 10 am. I am notoriously bad at AM activities. I have a hard time falling asleep, and an even harder time staying asleep. My girls are night owls and love to catch their Zzzz's late into the morning. I can probably attribute our unorthodox sleep schedules to my working days where I worked any & all hours of the day, and had a constantly changing schedule.

So I get to Y, hours ahead of the impending Snow Apocalypse, to find the Childwatch room dark & empty. A note on the wall explains that when the local public school is canceled due to weather, the Childwatch will also be closed.

What? Seriously? I'm there at 9:30 am, with no snow in sight and school is canceled. What happened to the days of needing at least four inches for a snow day to even become a passing thought?

In other news, I did manage to get a solid cross-training workout in on a CardioGlide. My dad bought it for me from a Consignment Store in Dristol, NH for $10. Does anyone even use these things anymore? I mean for more than an indoor clothesline?

No, didn't think so.

I have a CardioGlide for sale. I'm willing to part with it for $7.50.

13.1

2010-02-14T22:12:00.003-05:00

So, I registered for my first half marathon last week. I started my 'official' training today. I ran three miles on a treadmill. It was a hard fought three miles, but it was still three miles. A good intro for the four miles I will be tackling tomorrow.

Baby steps, people. Baby steps.

DeezNutz Fantasy Football Draft

2009-08-31T00:01:00.004-04:00

Since I married into this family, I have found that they are extremely serious about their Fantasy Football League. So much so, that I even got scolded this season because I delayed the draft due to inadvertently registering two teams in the league (Yahoo's bad, not mine). I am just stoked that I got the NFL's current internet-whore Chad Ochocinco on my team. I may not be watching all the games, but you can be sure that I will tuned into him on Ustream.

So, do you think I have a chance?

Sorry, but I have been stuck in the kitchen lately.

2009-08-27T22:28:00.001-04:00

WTF? Yes, I've been so busy cooking, that I haven't been able to write.

Weird.

The Best Baby Shower Gift Ever!

2009-06-13T15:37:00.004-04:00

As the very gracious recipient of a wonderful baby shower, and the welcome guest of dear friends showers, I have devised the best gift for an expectant mother.

Baby showers are full of gifts that the expectant mother wants or needs for her perfect, new baby, but rarely have anything that she will want or need for herself in her first postpartum weeks.

Speaking from experience, the postpartum weeks are equal parts joyous, exciting, frightening and overwhelming. Based on my experiences, I have put together boxes for the postpartum days and given them as baby shower gifts. Thankfully, all have been received with much thanks from the guest of honor, as well as a few "I wish I thought of that"'s from other shower guests.

My "Home from the Hospital" gift boxes include:
-Maxipads w/ wings, something for heavy days, but light enough to be comfortable in.
-Stool Softener, Colace is the preferred hospital fave, but generic works just the same.
-Pain reliever (Tylenol or Motrin) Ask what the hospital prefers, depends on if Mom is nursing or not.
-Stretchy Underpants: Find something cheap and disposable. Trust me, she will never want to see these again!
-A Notepad and Pen, to record naps, feedings, diaper changes, questions for her doc or the baby's pediatrician, etc.
-Witch hazel wipes/Prep H medicated pads. Although she may never admit it, she will love you for this one.
-Dermoplast or Lidocaine spray.
-Earplugs (for Mom to use when napping!)
-Purel or other hand sanitizer in a squirt bottle
-Lysol Spray (for diaper pails and other general household germ-killing use.)
-Hemorrhoid gel-It is better to have it and never have to use it, than to need it and not have it! I speak from experience.
-Soothies/cooling nipple pads, if Mom is planning to breastfeed.
-Nursing pads, if Mom is planning to breastfeed.
-Lansinoh Nipple Cream, if Mom is planning on breastfeeding.
-Digital Travel alarm clock, to record feeding times, napping times, diaper changes, etc.
-Water bottle-It is so important for the new Mom to stay hydrated post-partum.
-Mints-just in case Mom forgets to brush her teeth.
-Refreshing face wash-again, just in case Mom can't get to a shower! A quick rinse will wake her up and help her look and feel better!

Coffee Cup Wisdom

2009-04-05T10:30:00.002-04:00

Found on the side of a cup holding coffee stirrers at Starbucks:

Mother Love is not inevitable.
The good mother is ever creating beauty out of chaos.

-Alice Randall

Coloring for Adults

2009-04-03T09:39:00.000-04:00

Cool & intricate patterns to download and color here. Sharpen your colored pencils!

Hurry Up Spring!

2009-03-24T06:55:00.001-04:00

What are you waiting for?

As soon as the weather hits 65 degrees, I am ordering one of these.

The Creamsicle Dreamsicle is calling my name! She's had a long, cold winter in the garage.

Oops, she beat me to it.

2009-03-23T12:42:00.003-04:00

I was going to write a review of the recent Boston stop of the Britney Spears Circus tour, but then I found this. I couldn't have said it better myself. So, I won't even bother trying.

On Surviving A Night At Britney's Circus.

Here are some pics from our seats. My sister-in-law was so stealth with sneaking in her ginormous camera. Brit-Brit Slideshow.

Enjoy.

Crappy Concert Pictures Taken with an iPhone (Vol. 1)

2009-03-22T09:40:00.000-04:00

I do not know why I even bother, yet I cannot stop taking these crappy pictures at concerts. The iPhone camera is horrible. The pictures are always dark and blurry. There is no way to zoom, so even if you are in the front row, it still manages to look like you are three miles away. It is nearly impossible to identify who is even in the pictures. Nevertheless, here is a collection of some of my personal best.

Where Have I Been?

2009-03-21T14:25:00.003-04:00

Here. It has taken me three months to complete one full row. Enjoy.

Books I Am Currently Reading.

2009-01-30T15:45:00.003-05:00

Since I have a very short attention span, I am unable to focus on one single thing for very long. This has been both a blessing and a curse throughout my life. One of the positive side effects of my constantly roving attention span is my ability to read multiple books of differing genres and styles at one time. I maintain an active and overflowing basket of books next to my bed.

The books I am currently reading:
Infinite Jest, by David Foster Wallace
Evil Under The Sun, by Agatha Christie
Breaking Dawn, by Stephanie Meyer
Too Fat To Fish, by Artie Lange
The Best Day the Worst Day:Life with Jane Kenyon, by Donald Hall
Outliers:The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell
Predator, by Patricia Cornwell

Glowing Cities Under A Nightime Sky

2009-01-28T12:12:00.000-05:00

Seven Things

2009-01-22T19:32:00.009-05:00

1. I still sleep with my baby blanket. It was a perfect, soft white blanket with smooth satin edging. Now, it is nearly thirty years old, gray and torn in two. Only one tiny corner of the sating edging remains. I cannot sleep without it. When we travel, I keep it in my carry-on bag just in case the airline loses my luggage.

2. I grew up in Nashua, NH and lived in the same house the entire time. During and after college I inhabited a variety of locations, including:
27 Greer Rd. Plymouth, NH
40 S. Main St. Plymouth, NH
1 Prescott St. Nashua, NH
1276 Chestnut St. Manchester, NH

3. When I was a child, I wanted to be a librarian. In fact, I used to skip recess in elementary school so that I could work in the school library, re-shelving books. This early exposure allowed me to work in the city library in high school, re-shelving books, when I should have been out drinking and having sex instead.

4. I bought a pit bull for one hundred bucks from a guy in a trailer park. Typically, the words 'pit bull' and 'trailer park' together in a sentence do not lead to good things, but I lucked out.

5. I can not walk past the bin of used books at the supermarket without buying some. I have more books than I could read in a lifetime, but I cannot stop buying more. I suppose this isn't so bad. It could be meth.

6. I once won tickets to a kickboxing event in a strip club contest. Totally worth it.

7. I love fast food. When I travel out of state, I always make a concerted effort to visit new and different fast food restaurants. I take pictures of my food and record my experiences at each new stop.

Tagging:
@jallgire
@kyliecross
@meaganfish
@Manage_Kelley
@hogwilder
@eab
@JoanMarie

My apologies if you have already been tagged...

Presidential Inauguration Live

2009-01-20T00:11:00.000-05:00

Dinner

2009-01-19T18:25:00.001-05:00

Dinner
Originally uploaded by yorkd

Sunday Morning Painting

2009-01-18T11:39:00.001-05:00

Sunday Morning Painting
Originally uploaded by yorkd

Warm Bagels

2009-01-16T16:47:00.001-05:00

Warm Bagels
Originally uploaded by yorkd

The Makings of Another Snow Day

2009-01-11T10:33:00.001-05:00

The Makings of Another Snow Day
Originally uploaded by yorkd

He's Hoping Her First Words Will Be 'Ooooh-Rah!'

2009-01-06T12:40:00.001-05:00

He's Hoping Her First Words Will Be 'Ooooh-Rah!'
Originally uploaded by yorkd

The Ultimate Brunch

2009-01-05T10:00:00.001-05:00

The Ultimate Brunch
Originally uploaded by yorkd

Name That Bathroom!

2009-01-04T11:17:00.001-05:00

Name That Bathroom!
Originally uploaded by yorkd

Nerd Baby

2009-01-03T12:12:00.001-05:00

Nerd Baby
Originally uploaded by yorkd

New Kitchen Color

2008-11-12T16:30:00.001-05:00

New Kitchen Color
Originally uploaded by yorkd

This Could Be My Big Break!

2008-11-11T00:44:00.002-05:00

For about the last two years, I have developed a pretty serious interest in photography. I have had some formal training over the years, and have been getting fairly decent at pumping out a pretty good shot.

I have been contemplating, for a while now, what to do next. Should I continue as a hobbyist or try my hand at some paid gigs? I have been approached by multiple people who have seen my work, and asked to shoot their kids or other things.

I have always been unsure, until now. Check out this post from Craigslist. How intriguing. I love that he specifically wants a female photographer. It is totally awkward and completely creepy at the same time. What exactly does this guy want? I am so intrigued. I could position myself in a totally undiscovered niche.

I haven't decided if I should contact this guy. I'm going to sleep on it.

Twitter Voting Tools

2008-11-04T08:05:00.001-05:00

Why I Love Being A Mom

2008-10-21T01:24:00.003-04:00

Here is a place to duke out the pro's and the con's of being a stay-at-home-parent.
Click on anything to read and experience some way rad articles about the full parenting spectrum.

This site is a fine example of the best of both worlds. It perfectly illustrates that there is no one, correct, perfect and exact way to raise a child. Live on, parents, do exactly what you feel. Your kids will be better because of it.

Scents From My Childhood

2008-10-16T00:47:00.000-04:00

I just bought perfumes that smell like Crayons, Play-Doh and Madeleines. The first two are some of my favorite childhood memories. The last one is for my little girl of the same name. The Madeleine scent is supposed to smell like the sea-shell shaped French cookie. If it is at all like the real thing, it should be delish.

Now, if only I could find Eraser, Freshly-Sharpened Pencil and my dad's Tool Box, I would be content.

Finally...

2008-10-10T11:19:00.001-04:00

A news report with the word 'crotch' in the headline. I can die happy now.
Read here.

New Hampshire Webcams

2008-10-09T21:17:00.003-04:00

Here are the links to some of New Hampshire's finest webcam feeds.
Plymouth State University
Concord Monitor, Downtown
Mt. Washington, multiple cameras offering a variety of views.
WMUR, Manchester.
Hampton Beach

Retouch, Please!

2008-10-08T19:08:00.000-04:00

Anyone else notice Sarah Palin's mustache on the cover of Newsweek?
Yikes. Regardless, I'm still voting.

Labels

2008-10-07T20:48:00.000-04:00

I would like to take a vacation and ride scooters next fall. Anyone else in?

No, not really. I just wanted an appropriate entry for the 'suggested' post labels.

Philly Cheesesteaks: Don't Believe The Hype!

2008-09-30T00:55:00.004-04:00

Seriously, are they that big a deal?

I was just there last weekend and was way less than impressed. I chose to eat at Geno's based on a variety of factors, namely The Food Network's insistent coverage of that particular establishment.

Let me start by explaining that I approach every business trip, vacation, and weekend getaway as an opportunity to appreciate a different fast food experience. Most often, I am pleased with the results.

However, I was sorely disappointed after my visit to Philadelphia's self proclaimed 'King of Cheesesteaks', Geno's.

My hometown steak & cheese sandwich is an absolute winner. Found only at Nadeau's Subs, this cube-steak wonder is a dream come true. I prefer mine with a little mayo, extra cheese and a sprinkling of pickles. The cubes of steak are so perfectly cooked that they leave an ever-so slight blood stain on the super-soft roll. The melted cheese is a perfect companion to their meat and roll union. They have yet to disappoint me. With four separate locations, Nadeau's risks slipping up, but having dined at each one, it is clear that everyone involved knows the importance of a true steak & cheese sandwich.

While I understand that the Geno's version, a shaved steak sandwich, is a different animal, it was still difficult to swallow. The measly amount of meat in the actual sandwich tasted as though it had been dropped in the street, run over a couple times and left to dry out for a few days. The addition of Cheez-Whiz was a clear attempt to force some malleability into to near jerky-style meat. There were also some super overcooked onions included in the sandwich. My thought is, when you bite into an onion, it should bite back. These were so mushy, one could hardly tell they were even there.

Because Geno's was my only experience with the infamous Philly steak and cheese, it is hard for me to dismiss all of them, yet it is still impossible for me to get a straight answer from any Philly native about the best sandwich around.

Are you not the City of Brotherly Love? Start agreeing? Where should I be eating? Pat's, Geno's, Jim's, Steve's,Rick's etc, etc, etc?

Breast Milk Ice Cream

2008-09-24T14:12:00.000-04:00

Yum. Maybe I should apply?

Things I Have Recently Recieved in the Mail

2008-09-19T15:30:00.003-04:00

-Howard Stern's book, Private Parts. I was searching high and low for this book after the guy at Barnes and Noble told me, "Yeah, I had that book...like ten years ago. It is out of print now. What do you want that book for?" Actually, I never really wanted to book, I just liked going into stores and asking people about their private parts.
-Once You're Lucky, Twice You're Good: The Rebirth of Silicon Valley and the Rise of Web 2.0 by Sarah Lacy and Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies by Charlene Li. I ordered these books to read on the off chance that I ever need to start or maintain a serious conversation with someone my husband works with. I was slightly disappointed when he grabbed one and actually started to read it. Now, I'll have to talk about something else. Anyone interested in potty training?
-Cringe: Teenage Diaries, Journals, Notes, Letters, Poems, and Abandoned Rock Operas, edited by Sarah Brown. This book delivers exactly what it promises. You want to read it all in one sitting, but you just can't. You will be taken back to your own teenage years where you felt that no one could possibly understand you, you were way too complex and had way too many things to deal with. Well, surprise, so did everyone else. This is such a rad book. Indulge yourself a little and you will find yourself walking the fine line between rereading your old diaries and completely destroying them so they can never come back to haunt you.
-Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World by Lynne Spears. I am still in the early chapters of this gem. I am not sure if I want to truly feeling bad for this woman or if I should just admit that I am really looking forward to the unintentional comedy this read will no doubt provide me.
-Canon PowerShot SD750 Digital Elph. For the past three years, I have been using a digital SLR, a NikonD50. I love it and take it just about everywhere with me. It takes great photos, but it is kind of a pain to carry around all the time, so I decided to get something thin, lightweight and easy to sneak in places that my jumbo camera bag would always get me denied from. I researched this a bit and I am pretty pleased with it. It is tiny, reasonably priced and takes nice pictures, despite an annoying shutter lag. You can't win them all.
-The Tales of Beedle The Bard, by J.K. Rowling. So, technically, this has not come in the mail yet, but it has been pre-ordered. I just got a email from Amazon informing me that I will receive my limited Collector's Edition copy of this book on December 4th, the same day that it is released. This is such an improvement over having to wait in line for hours with costumed pre-teens, constantly worried that I might end up on the local news or on the front of the daily paper. Now, I can just wear my costume at home and only the UPS guy will know my secret.

Budweiser Ad Talks About Merrimack, NH But Is Afraid to Show It.

2008-09-16T21:31:00.004-04:00

Once again, Anheuser-Busch is raving about how much they love America and how essential they are to the history of our country. Yet, they could not even be bothered to get appropriate film footage of the NH town they so proudly call their own. While the footage does appear to be of a quintessential New Hampshire town, it is clearly not Merrimack. Perhaps, AB is afraid to depict just what one of their breweries actually looks like. Everybody loves the idea of small town America and the hard-working companies that thrive and grow upon it, but nobody loves to see an enormous eyesore of a factory, a wastewater plant built to handle their massive daily discharge and the numerous paved roadways built to connect everything. Clearly, Anheuser-Busch is still under the impression that they can rule the world and that they are smarter than the people who consume their products. At least AB understands one thing; that they have taken the idea and image of an American born and bred company and completely blown it up to match every other big box, Big Brother, big money company out there. AB has commercialized themselves into a deep, deep hole that no amount of Super Bowl advertising can dig them out of. This latest commercial is an insult to each and every Merrimack brewery employee, to the town of Merrimack and to the entire state of New Hampshire. Shame on the Merrimack Anheuser-Busch plant management team for not taking a stand and demanding accurate representation. Once again, this top-notch team is caught with their tails between their legs, bowing to their omnipresent 'king'. Everyone is waiting for the day when someone finally speaks up on behalf of the Merrimack employees. What's the matter, guys? Too busy working on your resumes? If I were you, I'd get right on that.

Check out the ad for yourself. What do you think?

Here is a photo of the actual Merrimack, NH plant.

And another photo of the wastewater treatment plant that was specifically built to accommodate the Merrimack brewery.

Info That You Can Use

2008-09-14T20:37:00.001-04:00

Check this link. There is a bunch of stuff here that you did not even know you needed.

Funny Things to Read

2008-09-14T20:34:00.000-04:00

Anusburger

What I Have Been Up To:

2008-09-14T00:20:00.004-04:00

Rye Beach Vacation:

Antique Shopping:

Impromptu Self Portraits:

Additionally, I have joined the Y, started the South Beach Diet, bought bus tickets to NYC, helped plan a kick-ass bachelorette party and got a tiny, new digital camera and a hot leopard print dress. I have also reconnected with my most best friend ever. Honestly, I thought she was dead. No joke. True story. I am going to see her during my way-too-short trip to New York City in a few days.

Stay tuned...

Back in Action

2008-09-13T22:32:00.002-04:00

I have been MIA for a while now. I went on a vacation to a tiny beach house that had little to no cell service, no internet and just basic cable. A bit of a culture shock, but was absolutely necessary. Now, I am back and trying to get on track again. I have been so busy for the last few weeks. The next few weeks are looking pretty cramped, too. NASCAR, Bachelorette party in NYC, trip to Philly, a wedding. I guess I can't really complain; it is all way cool stuff.

Triumph vs. Star Wars

2008-09-04T17:33:00.001-04:00

Are You Internet Famous?

2008-08-19T16:09:00.001-04:00

Your browser doesn't support HTML iframes. You will not be able to see the Wired Celebrity Meter. Please try with a different browser.

I scored a 68. Not so hot. The higher the number, the better.

Breast Friends?

2008-07-28T19:19:00.001-04:00

I love my friends and I love their kids, but I have to draw the line somewhere. Ladies, do not take offense, but also, don't even think about asking.
Cross-Nursing

Roadside America

2008-07-26T23:37:00.002-04:00

This is a cool site that has lists of the different and unique attractions in the United States. I will be tagging along with my husband to Connecticut this week. He has a bunch of meetings and I will be visiting some of the more unique sites that Connecticut has to offer. You have got to love New England. How many other places can you go to for one day and take in sites from all corners of the state?

[Your Name Here]

2008-07-25T00:52:00.003-04:00

Who doesn't like to advertise themselves? I am pretty sure this guy already has my vote, but this solidifies it. I hate to say that I am more than slightly tempted to pay $250 for this sign. This man has a good marketing guy, and as you all know, that can make all the difference in the world.

True.

2008-07-23T22:18:00.000-04:00

ASL Videos

2008-07-20T22:09:00.001-04:00

Learn sign language here: ASL Videos.

I Cannot Take My Eyes Off This Photo...

2008-07-17T01:31:00.003-04:00

The Most Beautiful Suicide (via Kottke)

Tooting My Own Horn...

2008-07-17T00:10:00.001-04:00

Hey, Check me out!

My New Home Away From Home.

2008-07-15T22:59:00.001-04:00

I love these bitches: Jezebel.

Old Birthing in a New World

2008-07-15T18:37:00.002-04:00

Photojournalist Mariana Bazo traveled to Cuzco, Peru for a story about vertical birthing. Some really amazing work here. She answers the question: What makes a great picture?

Free Stuff! Ya-Yo!

2008-07-13T16:23:00.002-04:00

Hey, I just got my free business cards in the mail and they are way cute. I got them from Giggleprint.com. They are free, minus the shipping, which is a measly $5.95 or so. You get to pick a design, and add all your vital stats (i.e. Flickr site, blog info, Facebook page, etc.). Sure, I do not actually have a business, but I do look like the coolest broad at the playground when giving out my info. No shuffling for a pen or trying to keep a napkin from ripping as I write on it. Get cool like me. You know you want to. Do it here:giggleprint.

Alice In Wonderland 1985 TV Version

2008-07-09T22:32:00.001-04:00

My parents taped this off the TV for me when I was a child. God, I loved this movie. Watching these clips on YouTube, I discovered that I still can sing along to all the song, I loved Alice and I wanted to be Alice. I wanted her perfect blond hair and her orange, flouncy dress. I loved the part where she sang to the tiny baby deer and the part where she rescued the crying baby only for it to turn into a squealing pig. The cast of characters in this TV movie is amazing, and only now do I fully understand the star power associated with it. I should be receiving my copy from Amazon in 5 to 7 days!

Movie Reviews: The Happening

2008-07-02T01:32:00.002-04:00

I love ovguide.com. I can watch total crap movies without paying a dime or even leaving my seat. I do not think I can name one other movie that had so much potential at the beginning and lost it all so quickly.
Today, I watched The Happening. I must admit, I had high hopes for this picture. The first fifteen minute were totally rad and I was hooked. I never imagined that a picture could turn so sour after that. It continually got worse and worse.
SPOILER ALERT:
Marky-Mark tries to reason with a houseplant.
Betty Buckley loses her shit.
The main characters live happily (& slightly modified) ever after.

Culture Buzz

2008-06-24T23:54:00.004-04:00

Visit Culture Buzz On this blog find and discuss the best alternative marketing campaigns that created buzz online: viral, blog, influential, wom, buzz marketing, and branded content. Cool stuff!

Another Thing I Want to Learn How To Do:

2008-06-23T08:46:00.000-04:00

Score a baseball game.

I want to be able to follow the game, pitch by pitch and play by play and record everything on that worksheet that they handout with the game day programs.

She's Amazing. Lilybuns, You're Amazing.

2008-06-22T02:00:00.005-04:00

Just try and convince me that this is not the sweetest and most adorable thing you have ever seen. For the record, it was totally unscripted and off the cuff. I did not even know that Madeleine knew the word 'amazing' or what it meant.

Why can't I view this video in Safari? Does it show up for anyone else? Is this a legit issue or am I just an imbecile? I can see the video when I use Firefox.

A Perfect Weekend

2008-06-22T00:16:00.007-04:00

Travis & I had been talking about buying bicycles lately. We had checked out some websites for local retailers and bike shops, just to get an idea about what was out there. We both decided that the cruiser-style bikes were the perfect fit for us. We wanted something to get us from point A to point B, all the while looking cool while doing it. We have no interest in racing, trail riding, or anything even remotely requiring some level of athleticism.

Because we had nothing planned today, we decided to visit a few local bike shops to get an idea of what was available for us. Using my iPhone's map capabilities, I searched for all local bike shops and came up with a pretty healthy list. With our stops listed, we headed out on a blind journey. We are both bicycle novices; basically our riding experienced ended when we entered high school. I had not even ridden a bike since 1996. My last bike was stolen. Travis had a Redline BMX in college, but it has been sitting in our garage for at least as long as I have known him.

Our third stop on the list of local bike shops proved to be the jackpot. As soon as we pulled into the parking lot, I spotted a sweet, bright orange bike and said 'That's the one I want. It is perfect'. Keep in mind, we were only out to browse. In no way were we ready to commit ourselves to a couple of bikes.

This place had exactly what we were looking for, cool, retro cruisers. The shop owner was a way rad guy. He knew exactly what we wanted. He showed us his inventory and invited us to test ride anything in the shop. He was more that willing to adjust and tweak anything to fit us for a test ride. We were hooked after he said that he could customize anything for us on the spot.

Travis rode a few bikes, but finally settled on an Electra Townie Balloon 9-Speed. It has a black frame with rad pin-striping. some fat, white tires and a brown leather seat and leather handlebar grips. He was able to customize it with black fenders and a mud flap on the back. The shop owner kept suggesting different accessories and all Travis would say was 'If it was yours, what would you do?'. He is already talking about how he will now bike to work, instead of driving.

I, on the other hand, was captivated by the first bike I saw, an Electra Townie 7-Speed Lady Orange. It was bright orange with a big, comfy white seat and white handlebar grips. It looked like a creamsicle with wheels. I got it customized with some pearly-white fenders and a rad 'ding-dong' bell. I am looking to finish it off with a perfect little basket. I have already named it 'The Creamsicle Dreamsicle'.

We spent about three hours at this shop while our bikes were being customized. During that time, we were also sold on a Croozer trailer for the two kids to ride in. We had debated on how to accommodate them. The Croozer looks way cool. It is a three-in-one; a double stroller, a double jogging stroller and a bike trailer. Plus, it has a ton of cargo space, something that all my other strollers seriously lacked. I highly doubt that either of us will ever jog with this thing, but at least we know we could if we wanted to.

As I am sure you can tell from my rambling, I am so stoked about these bikes. I cannot wait to get out and ride. I took a few short test rides down my street and was so energized. Pardon the cliches, but I loved the feel of the wind in my face and the burn in my legs as I pumped myself uphill. Travis also took a late night ride when we returned from the baseball game tonight. Naturally, his first thought was to coast down the big hill in our neighborhood. He has very fond childhood memories of his grandfather letting him ride down this same hill on his Big Wheel, with complete and utter disregard for any stop signs or moving vehicles he may have encountered as he flew through the intersection at the bottom of the hill. Afterwards, as we parked our new bikes in the garage, we had to step back and admire them, all the while commenting on how cool we were.

After our successful afternoon at the bike shop, we headed out to a Fisher Cats baseball game with the little ones. Despite the hometown loss, it was an ideal summer evening, still 70 degrees at 10:00pm and finished off with a fireworks display. Some beers, some baseball, some babies and some new bikes. So far, this has been one of the best weekends yet.

Typos, A La Carte

2008-06-21T23:41:00.003-04:00

Great article about poorly written menus. Chinese restaurants have the best menus. They are almost always littered with quotation points and exclamation points. I also love when restaurants advertise their daily specials with excessive punctuation. I appreciate their enthusiasm for the soup of the day, but honestly, it just makes me lose my appetite.

God help me if there is a typo or misspelling in this post.

Meet the Creamsicle Dreamsicle

2008-06-21T19:39:00.003-04:00

Creamsicle Dreamsicle
Originally uploaded by yorkd

Things I Want to Do:

2008-06-20T01:39:00.005-04:00

Learn how to sing: I took voice lessons in high school, but was never a remarkable talent. On the night of my vocal recital, I cried so much about how bad a singer I was, my mother did not make me go and perform. I had a younger singer that was blessed with the god given talent of a beautiful singing voice. I, on the other hand, sound like a frog. I worked so hard in voice lessons, but was not blessed with any singing ability.
Learn how to play the piano: Again, I took piano lessons for many years and worked very hard to become a mediocre player. I can read Easy Piano music and can play a few songs from memory. Playing piano was more of a skill than a talent for me. I worked very, very hard for the level of skill that I have achieved. I only wish I could sit down and play songs after hearing them once. I have tried, on more than one occasion, to try this,but have repeatedly failed.

My elementary school had a 'band day' where the current members of the school band showed off and talked about their specific instruments. I was immediately drawn to the deep, sexy, whiny drawl of the saxophone. Yet,at only ten years old, was still feeling the intense peer pressure to be interested in the sweet, delicate,feminine flute. I was, however, a very, tiny girl. I could not physically handle a regular flute. My arm span would have required a specialized flute, with a specially modified and curved mouthpiece. This curved mouthpiece would have made it possible for my short arms to reach all the keys on the flute.

I started music lessons in the fourth grade. I had come to a compromise between the flute and the saxophone: the clarinet. I suppose it had the best features of both instruments. And we were able to find a decent, used instrument in the classified ads of the Nashua Telegraph. I started lessons the summer before fourth grade, perhaps to give me a slight advantage over the other music students. Or perhaps my mother was determined to use these summer music lessons as a self-esteem booster, as a way for me to feel more informed than my peers in the band.

Cool Diversions

2008-06-19T21:50:00.002-04:00

One Word Write your heart out(in sixty seconds or less).
Jackson Pollock So deliciously addicting, it hurts.
Learning to love you more Do your homework.

You're it.

2008-06-19T19:31:00.002-04:00

Yes, you,dear.I love you. I told you he was brilliant.

How to Nap

2008-06-14T22:26:00.005-04:00

For those who need formal instruction...
How to nap.

Behold, the Bounty.

2008-06-12T00:40:00.004-04:00

I am looking for any excuse to host a party here, on The Bounty. The Bounty is a full-scale pirate ship located inside a Nashua, NH hotel. I have only viewed The Bounty once, when there was no function, but I can only imagine how awesome it would be. I can only hope, that one day, Travis will plan a surprise birthday party (Goonies-themed, if possible) for me here, with the Everyday Visuals performing 'Pet Sounds'. Someday. Amen.

Hungry?

2008-06-10T19:17:00.003-04:00

Eat here. Cafe Momo. When you do, you must order the traditional Nepali dumplings, the Momos and the Choila. Everything here is fantastic! Super-fresh and made to order! Be sure to order some Cucumber Coolers to wash things down! There is something for everyone, vegetarians and carnivores alike! We love to take first-timers here! They always end up coming back for more!

Just In Case You Wanted To Get Me a Gift...

2008-06-07T15:25:00.000-04:00

...Here are a few ideas:

7-in-1 Curvy Jersey Dress Size Medium, please. And in any color you choose. I am famous for always wearing 'that same black dress'. I can get at least seven black dresses out of this one!
Flip Ultra This thing is so cool. And it is the perfect size. It will fit easily into any purse, bag or pocket, plus I'm sure you could easily convince any ticket-taker at a concert that it is just a cell phone.
MacBook Pro Battery Do not keep your laptop plugged in all the time, people. I am convinced that this is the reason my current battery can only hold a 19 minute charge.
Bedside Water Carafe Because anything looks better than a pile of empty plastic water bottles strewn about.
Some hot shoes Size 8.