Happenings

Yesterday was one of those work days when everything just piles on at once at the end of the day, on the one day I have to leave by 6:30, and the day before I go on vacation.  Then I had my last improv class (sniff... I think I'll take the next level though; I really enjoyed this one.  Improv at UCB, whether or not you have any interest in performing: Recommended).  Then I woke up today and just started packing.  Tomorrow I have my improv class show at noon, and then Dan and I'll come back and meet our man with a van to move to our new place in Greenpoint.  

Packingwise, we're in okay shape.  It should get done by then end of the day without too much trouble.  Then on Sunday, we leave for a week in Maine with my family.  I'm so, so looking forward to a vacation without any kind of obligation whatsoever.  I just want to eat lobster, maybe canoe a little, and read The Power Broker.  The main thing is I'm going to miss our kitties.  I try not to talk about that in public, but if you saw the way they groom each other whilst in a mutual headlock, you'd understand.  

I'm taking a break from packing right now to order a three-roll lunch special from Samurai.  It will be $10 and include both soup AND salad.  I love lunch specials.

Oh, last weekend Dan, Panicky and I went to Redford's beach estate in Connecticut for his seventh annual last-ever beach house bash.  As last year... it was fun.  Really fun.  

So, guys, I'm off to eat my three sushi rolls, pack, do improv, move, see Funny People, and then Maine until next week.  I doubt we'll have Internet there, so... see you in ten days!

I've been watching this show even though I hate it - it's been killing in the ratings, and I'm trying to figure out why. Could it be Mark Feuerstein's freaky open-underwater-eyes???

Does America secretly covet stethoscopes strung with pearls, floating disconnectedly in a swimming pool???

While the show itself is stupid and self-righteous, it's the credits that really do me in. They're just so... gay. Or maybe I should say "homophobic," because a REAL gay would have waaaaay better taste than prescription diamonds as (presumably) a headache remedy.

Julie & Julia

I began Julie & Julia a couple of years ago, and returned it to the Santa Monica Library almost immediately. I found the author, Julie Powell, really, really whiny. Schmindsey convinced me to give it another go a few years later, and it grew on me. Julie was still whiny, but it was a cute story, and cooking every recipe in Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year is nothing to sneeze at. Apparently she's now releasing a book about how she had an affair with her friend, broke up her marriage (in Julie & Julia, she refers to her husband as "Saint Matt"), and put her life back together by apprenticing at a butcher shop. I hope they're timing the release with the movie!

Nora Ephron directed the movie, devoting half of it to Amy Adams as Julie and the other to Meryl Streep as Julia Child. Are you sensing a disconnect? Meryl Streep, the greatest actor of my parents' and probably my generation, as a truly unique woman who shaped the culinary habits of America, versus the squeaky-voiced Amy Adams as a whiny blogger? From the trailer I'm sensing a Grindhouse problem, that the "Julie" sections of this movie will be borderline unwatchable. But the scenes with Julia look sublime! Oh, lord. Okay. I'll see it. But I might see it on DVD with some liberal fast-forwards.

Also my lobster mac n' cheese turned out pretty mediocre. Next time I need to use the shells to make a stock.

Lobster Mac n' Cheese

Although for food publications, 2009 has been The Year of Barbecue, as opposed to last year's Year of The Burger, I fondly remember The Year of Mac n' Cheese. It was like when Observe and Report and Paul Blart: Mall Cop came out in the same quarter: the collective brain of New York City restaurants started cooking up mac n' cheese with truffles or caviar or truffle oil or abalone or all of the above. They would always use $38/lb cheeses. The appetizer portion of white-truffle mac n' cheese at Waverly Inn was listed at $55. Most of them were mediocre. Strange, I know.

Anyway, one of the less-bad parts of moving is finishing all the food in the house, and while inventorying the fridge last week, I discovered two frozen, forgotten lobster tails from a Costco binge in May. We defrosted them and broiled them up, but they hadn't necessarily frozen perfectly. I've always wanted to make a fancypants mac n' cheese, but have never been able to bring myself to waste a gorgeous, fresh lobster on a cheese sauce.

Bingo.

Problem, though, is that I don't have a good recipe. Do I make a thick bisque-like sauce and pour it over the warmed pasta and sea bug meat? Or, can I just make my usual casserole of sin and mix the lobster into it before baking? Will that overcook the lobster? Why is the Internet being COMPLETELY UNHELPFUL in this? Oh lord, I forgot I have half a tub of truffle butter in the fridge. This is going to be good.

Nurse Jackie

I've been catching up on Nurse Jackie recently. I had a lot of initial reasons to like this show: Edie Falco, duh; a New York hospital setting; a show about nurses. My mom is a nurse and in many ways the show makes me think of her, even though she, unlike Nurse Jackie, is not a philandering pill-popper, and I never even knew her in her hospital days. I guess the show reminds me of her stories of her hospital days? They're fairly insane.

Anyway. The show is pretty excellent. It's entertaining and breezy while feeling real. Plus, how often do we get a lady antihero with actual personal problems?

It also features Eve Best, who Dan and I saw in The Homecoming last year and who is mesmerizing in all that she does. She makes me want to be an upper-crust Brit high-heel-addicted woman doctor with intimacy issues. There's also the farm girl from Michael Clayton as a student nurse, albeit like twenty pounds heavier now, who is charming and quirky.

Also, as I write this, our two kitties are curled up next to each other over the remote. I guess they like the show too. Awwwww.

1095

As of today, Dan and I have been exclusively dating for 1,095 days. Three years! I feel so warm and fuzzy. I always like knowing exactly where I was x number of years ago. Last night I was thinking that around that time in 2006 I was pulling into my driveway at home after my final 13-hour leg of a fairly uneventful 12 day road trip, too tired to unpack anything but just sentient enough to log onto Gchat and ingratiate myself into a group outing at SEA with this dude I really liked. Then, three years ago today, I told my mom I was going to hang out with Kent Place girls and then headed for Williamsburg to meet up with Dan and um, all of his friends. We went to a bar at 1:30 in the morning, the time for last call in LA.

So, three years later, Dan and I are still together, sharing an apartment (about to share our OWN apartment, in ten days), co-parenting our pets, and creating a monstrous carbon footprint via air travel. He has learned at what point in my repetitions of "I'm hungry" he absolutely must get me to a pizza place for the good of all around us, and I've learned that "I'm only going to read for x more minutes" means that he'll actually read for x minutes times three. What illuminations. But really, I couldn't be happier.

Happy anniversary, Dan!

You better get me a present!

EMMY NOMS

The 2009 Emmy Nominations were just announced. In the past, the Emmys have served as a reliable barometer of what is mediocre (remember when 4 of 5 best actress noms were for the Desperate Housewives ladies? ). So let's see who made the cut for 2009:

Dramas

Outstanding Drama Series

Big Love • HBO

Breaking Bad • AMC

Damages • FX Networks

Dexter • Showtime

House • FOX

Lost • ABC

Mad Men • AMC

Beggars can't totally be choosers... at least Greys' is off the list. But Lost? Was it even on the air last year? HOUSE? House is a BAD SHOW. I could watch Hugh Laurie read a phone book, but the storylines are predictable and trite. Like, hey, House and Cuddy are arguing about whether or not to do a risky prodecure! Who do you think'll win??? I agree with Ameet, who loves Chuck, when he says that Chuck's self-awareness of being a totally dumb show allows him to enjoy it more, whereas House's pretensions of being a thought-provoking serious drama is just infuriating. Bingo.

Anyway, Big Love just finished an amazing season, so that's my (pretend vote).

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

Brothers & Sisters • ABC Sally Field, as Nora Walker

Damages • FX Glenn Close, as Patty Hewes

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • NBC Studios Mariska Hargitay, as Detective Olivia Benson

Mad Men • AMC Elisabeth Moss, as Peggy Olson

Saving Grace • TN Holly Hunter, as Grace Hanadarko

The Closer • TNT Kyra Sedgwick, as Brenda Leigh Johnson

Is this the same list as last year? Where's Chloe Sevigny from Big Love on this list? What about President Roslin? Why are we rewarding Glenn Close for whatever she did to her face?

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Breaking Bad • AMC Bryan Cranston, as Walter White

Dexter • Showtime Michael C. Hall, as Dexter Morgan

House • FOX Hugh Laurie, as Dr. Gregory House

In Treatment • HBO Gabriel Byrne, as Paul

Mad Men • AMC Jon Hamm, as Don Draper

The Mentalist • CBS Simon Baker, as Patrick Jane

Looks pretty good. Simon Baker?

Comedies

Outstanding Comedy Series

30 Rock • NBC

Entourage • HBO

Family Guy • FOX

Flight Of The Conchords • HBO

How I Met Your Mother • CBS

The Office • NBC

Weeds • Showtime Excited to see HIMYM make the cut! Although: Emmy voters: memo: Entourage is not good anymore. It just isn't. It's okay. Let's move on. Although, alert: Jeremy Piven was shut out this year! FINALLY! Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series 30 Rock • NBC Alec Baldwin, as Jack Donaghy Flight Of The Conchords • HBO Jemaine Clement, as Jemaine Monk • USA Tony Shalhoub, as Adrian Monk The Big Bang Theory • CBS Jim Parsons, as Sheldon Cooper The Office • NBC Steve Carell, as Michael Scott Two And A Half Men • CBS Charlie Sheen, as Charlie Harper Poor Brett, first of all. Can the nominating commitee even tell him and Jemaine apart? Which member of the nominating commitee is still not over his crush on Tony Shalhoub? Alec'll win anyway. He wins everything. (Except divorce settlements). The supporting noms are even better: Tracy Morgan, Kenneth the Page, NPH, Dwight Schrute, and people other than Ari Gold. YES. Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series 30 Rock • NBC Tina Fey, as Liz Lemon Samantha Who? • ABC Christina Applegate, as Samantha Newly The New Adventures Of Old Christine • CBS Julia Louis-Dreyfus, as Christine The Sarah Silverman Program • Comedy Central Sarah Silverman, as Sarah Silverman United States Of Tara • Showtime Toni Collette, as Tara Gregson Weeds • Showtime Mary-Louise Parker, as Nancy Botwin Weeds isn't a comedy anymore! It's actually really somber! But Sarah, way to represent. Jane Krakowski was nominated as a supporting actress for 30 Rock and I hope she wins. Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series 30 Rock • Gavin Volure • NBC Steve Martin, as Gavin Volure 30 Rock • The Bubble • NBC Jon Hamm, as Dr. Drew Baird 30 Rock • Mamma Mia • NBC Alan Alda, as Milton Greene Desperate Housewives • The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened • ABC Beau Bridges, as Eli Boggs Saturday Night Live • Host: Justin Timberlake • NBC Justin Timberlake, as Various Characters As much as I love Jon Hamm... JustinTimberlakeJu stinTimberlakeJustin Timberlake Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series 30 Rock • The One With The Cast Of 'Night Court' • NBC Jennifer Aniston, as Claire 30 Rock • Christmas Special • NBC Elaine Stritch, as Colleen Donaghy Monk • Mr. Monk And The Lady Next Door • USA Gena Rowlands, as Marge My Name Is Earl • Witch Lady • NBC Betty White, as Crazy Witch Lady Saturday Night Live • Presidential Bash 2008 • NBC Tina Fey, as Governor Sarah Palin (Spoof) The Big Bang Theory • The Maternal Capacitance • CBS Christine Baranski, as Beverly Hofstadter Yes. Tina Fey has been nominated for acting twice. That's my girl!

THE POOL!

***all images from Brooklyn Vegan.

Meet Dan and Meghan, Williamsburg residents and apparent poster children for The Pool Parties:

(Yes, that's us. We are famous).

The Pool Parties started two (3?) years ago as a way to use the dilapidated McCarren Park Pool for something, because lord knows you can't swim in it. The first time I went, no one told me that the pool had no water, and I felt really stupid lugging around my towel. Now the pool is being renovated, so you'll allegedly be able to swim in it in a year or two, and the Pool Parties have moved to the Williamsburg waterfront. I bitched and moaned to no end about losing the pool, but I think it was for the best. The first party was yesterday, and it was pretty cool. Skyline views...

Indie bands and their lookalikes...

Games...

And a band called "Fucked Up." Did the singer hit his head? I... don't remember that.

My Poor Dog

Teal has a foot wound that he wouldn't stop licking, so my parents, after trying sprays, socks, and yelling, gave up and coned him.

He's pictured with a new foster kitten named "Crazy Eyes."

The Parade of Homes!

One random fun thing we did in Denver was go on the Denver Luxury Home Tour, subtitle: The 2009 Parade of Homes. All custom remodels ranging in value from $1 to $6 million! A mil in New York gets you 3/4 of a brownstone in Harlem, but in Denver, it means actual luxury. Logically, I would assume that taking a luxury home tour would feel pathetic and desperate, but it was really fun. And Grace was easily distracted by the water features.

(Sadly, I have no pictures of the water features. We - and by we I mean Dan and Andy - were too distracted by the various game rooms).

We also went to a reservoir. Andy was very specific that we were not to call it a "lake." Apparently, in Colorado natural bodies of water are few and far between. We frolicked for a day, the sun burned my scalp, and we took a highly exciting tube ride. FUN SHIT, GUYS!

Also we got our kittens this past week, and they are awesome.

Next week: apartment hunting. Again.

Hi, My Name Is Meghan And This Is My Adorable Niece

Non-toddler-based programming coming soon.

Warning

If you visit a city that is 5k feet above sea level and drink 1.5 beers in the afternoon... this happens:

Fun On The Fourth

Got back this morning from four days in Denver, visiting family. My niece has somehow gotten exponentially cuter. And talkative! I kind of started crying when I said goodbye to her.

Also, she's incapable of taking a bad picture.

More details to come! Currently, I just need to make it through the work day. Red-eyes always seem like such a good idea at the time...