Tammy & Franny Went Down to Georgia

Gorgeous Global Warming

Thanksgiving was spent at a restaurant that served marshmallows on their sweet potatoes and a wine list an hour too late to be very useful. Its nice to not have a kitchen cleanup but I didn't count on not having leftovers to eat for dinner.
I've gotten used to having anything I want at just a phone call away in New York and now, in New England, with everything but movie theaters closed down for miles around, my stomach is starting to grumble.
On the bright side, autumn came late this year and the foliage is still hanging onto the trees. I don't think I've ever come home for Thanksgiving to see these beautiful, red Japanese Maple leaves still so bright and fresh. If I can get my hands on some pumpkin ice cream before this trip is over it will be worthwhile!

Mobile

Believe it or not, I am actually mobile blogging right now. I am on Amtrak somewhere in Connecticut. I think I have officially crossed the line into Red Sox country because everyone suddenly got friendlier and louder.

I've been passing the time by catching up on magazines and I was struck by a woman's description of herself in NY Magazine's Look Book page. A really lovely looking redhead calls her own personal style 'disheveled aristocrat'. Now, I know they have brilliant editors at NY Mag but did this lady come up with this on the spot? I now have a new, irrational, neurotic fear that I will be stopped one day on the street to be photographed and interviewed but I won't know how to sum up my appearance in less than 10 syllables.

I've been brainstorming oxymorons and the best I have come up with so far is Sparkly Degenerate Yuppie. Sort of sums it up but I don't know if even Time Out New York would run that.

Kabooz

I am thankful for beer and butternut squash soup at Kabooz in Penn
Station. BTW, does anyone else find it odd that indoor restaurants have 'outdoor/sidewalk' seating?

Live from New York...

It's Saturday night!

Or it was... all night into Sunday morning when I actually got home. I suppose if I had gone home right after Saturday Night Live's live performance at the Upright Citizens Brigade I would actually have some pictures to share with you now. But, since I didn't get to sleep until 6am, I'm a little behind on my editing.

I know it sounds cheezy but I really feel like I was party of comedy history at last night's show where all of the cast members (except Maya Rudolph) of SNL were in attendance (including Horatio Sanz). Because of the writers strike and some layoffs at SNL, the cast put together this last minute show to support them. I got to witness Fred Armisen paste fake pubes to his bare ass backstage. Now tell me that's not an amazing thing to behold. I had kind of hoped to see Andy Samberg's ass but he kept his clothes on last night.

Yo La Tengo played two songs according to regular SNL format and Norah Jones showed up to sing "Iran Away" with Samberg. Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers performed at a tiny prop desk with a hand written sign that read "The Weekend Update". At 1am Kenan Thompson came out to announce the opening of "Live at The Apollo" which normally airs immediately after SNL. Poehler came out to apologize that they were running over and that they just needed a few more minutes to finish their sketches.

All of the sketches were previously written and most had not been aired before because the were considered too offensive for TV. Host, Michael Cera, was given an opening monologue written for Donald Trump until he put the kibosh on it and read a Paris Hilton script instead - THAT'S HOT! Robert Smigel put together a racially charged video about airline passengers that was HYSTERICAL! Please check back here later for more info - I'll be posting some images later.

The show's ending led into a big afterparty where drinking and dancing ensued. Rachel Dratch who had performed as her character, Debbie Downer, ripped up the dance floor along with Kristen Wiig, Samberg and John Krasinski of The Office.

So much more to tell, but first its time for some more coffee...

Drummers

So my drummer boyfriend recently moved out of the apartment and into a new living arrangement about 4 blocks away from me. I guess that's all the space I am going to be getting for right now. He is now living with a good friend of his and HIS friend, the drummer for Albert Hammond Jr.'s band.

What I recently found out is that, this fella has been living at the Strokes drummer, Fabrizio Moretti's, pad for sometime now. Apparently, when Fab was dating Drew Barrymore he spent most of his time at her place so he could rent out his apartment to the AHJr drummer. Since the place is big enough for two, they were both living there for a while, from what I'm told. But, of course, eventually he wanted to find his own place.

What I find interesting about this is how all these circumstances create opportunities for all these drummers to move around. Had Drew Barrymore not broken up with Fab, my ex-boyfrend would probably still be living with me, looking for a 1-bedroom in Manhattan for $1200 (which doesn't exist) because his friend would have never started looking for places without the AHJr drummer.

I'm glad that my ex is living in a nice apartment with good people who share similar interests, like drumming. Frankly, I'd be worrying about him if he were alone all the time. But, in the end, there are two people alone in this situation. Me... and Fab.

FAB! Call me!!!

Bowery

What is this new building going up on the Bowery? They were putting up a sign that says "Hell Yes!" in rainbow colors on it when I rode by on my bike (sorry for the bad camera phone shot). Remember when NYC used to be scary? This is scary in a whole different way.
Francine

Free Puppies

I received a lot of attention while photographing a box on the street for my friend's film project. It must have been the red paint that stated, "Free Puppies" that caused all the commotion. Not only did I have men and women who were old and young, black and white, rich and poor come up to me but I nearly had a female dog owner berate me because she actually thought I was leaving a box full of puppies next to a park trash can.

I had to apologize to nearly a dozen people for not actually having free puppies to give away. Some I didn't even have to say I'm sorry to. I just grimaced and shook my head as I saw them approach the empty box. Two teenage girl ran after me when I just couldn't take it anymore and started walking back home with the box. They saw my camera and asked if I at least had some pictures to show them of the cute little puppies!

When I got home with the box I was so sad and I'm not sure if it was because I had just disappointed so many people in such a short amount of time or if it was because I truly did not have a box full of puppies.

Passive Aggressive Notes

How many of you have lived with roommates who constantly left passive-aggressive notes about household issues instead of facing the problems directly? I know I did and I even wrote a few of those notes! Well, my friend, Kerri, has a website dedicated to these notes and they are hysterical!

http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/

I submitted one of my own (received) Passive Aggressive Notes that may end up in her book that's coming out next year. Here it is! I love that its written on cute Chococat stationery!

Watch out former roommies!!!

Blogs

So this whole blog thing is sort of an experiment for me. My boyfriend of 4 1/2 years recently moved out and I worry about losing myself to sadness. I've been keeping myself fairly busy which is always helpful and having a career that I am passionate about is life-saving.

But there are always those moments late at night when there's no one to call and nowhere to go on my own. Those are the moments that I worry might lead to depression and alcohol. I don't have a problem with the boozing but I want to keep it that way. Its far too easy to let that evening glass of wine turn into five and, if I'm by myself, too easy to cry myself to sleep.

So, since I seem to spend most of my time online anyway, I figured having a blog would be a healthier way of spending my quiet moments at home when I just can't concentrate on a book or something else probably more productive.

I am curious to see who reads this too. I mean, I know there are my friends who are essentially forced to read it by me sending links, but is there anyone else there who actually has the time and desire to look at what I post? This blog is sort of a mishmosh of my life, at least so far, so I can't imagine what type of interest I could raise but, again, this is an experiment. Perhaps my next blog will be more specific in content. For now, please bear with my random entries.

I am also fascinated with the whole concept of blogging - keeping an online journal of sorts - and how so many people have figured out a way to draw enough interest that they have made careers out of it. I don't ever plan on becoming a full-time blogger but I would love to incorporate blogging into my photography career. I am already working on a photoblog concept with another colleague.

Of course, I'd love to hear feedback from anyone who is interested!

Hedgehog

Someone brought their pet hedgehog to a shoot the other day. They're cute but not so cuddly.

Empire State Building from Bryant Park, NYC

Reflection off building in Bryant Park, NYC.

Robber

I love working on film sets. I worked on this shoot as a still photographer, guitarist and actress with my friend, Elizabeth. She cast some of the funniest, crazy people. I can't wait to see the final edit!

I'll be sure to post the edit here when they are released.

Glamour Women of the Year Awards

Oh, Stephen Colbert! There are only two men in the world that both my mother and I have had equal crushes over and one of them is Stephen Colbert. Neither of us will ever have him and sadly, Antonio Banderas is also married.

He made my night by introducing Nancy Pelosi at the Glamour Women of the Year awards ceremony tonight. It was somewhat of a shock since she recently told members of congress that they should NOT appear on the Colbert Report. Guess she still has a good sense of humor.

Mariah Carey opened the ceremony with a hot black dress and a rhinestone microphone, staggering in height over the African Children's Choir. Toni Morrison accepted a Lifetime Achievement and her presenter, Fran Leibowitz, was hysterical! Diane Sawyer presented to Donna Karan and looked amazing - I have no idea how old she is but she sure is looking good!

But for me, the most exciting part of the night was when I spotted Ben Affleck cornered by the elevators at Lincoln Center. The massive crush I had on him from the late 90's to early 00's came flooding back in a heartbeat. I felt equal guilt on crushing over a married man who came to support his wife, Jennifer Gardner, for being THE woman of the year. It seems as thought tonight all the good men were taken!

Phantom Wig Syndrome

I wore my black wig the other day, all day, for a commercial shoot that my friend produced. When I went out at night, I could still feel it on my head and it was a constant shock when I tried to touch it and it wasn't there. Is it possible for a costume item to become part of your psychological being?

My friend told me that this has happened with ancient tribes who wore masks that became part of them. Does anyone know what this is called?

Amy Winehouse costume

Somehow a FlickR picture of me dressed up as Amy Winehouse for Halloween ended up posted on Brooklyn Vegan:

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2007/10/more_photos_of.html

The link was subsequently posted on The Guardian in the UK. How do people have time to search for these photos? How do you have time to be reading this blog? Why am I writing this?

Can someone please answer my questions?

Pumpkin Pancakes

November is the perfect time for pumpkin pancakes!

3/4 c skim milk
1 egg
1 tbsp butter (melted)
1 c flour (combination of white and whole wheat - your discretion)
1-2 tbsp sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
add nutmeg, cinnamon, ground cloves to your discretion (about 1/8 tps each?)
3/4 c canned pumpkin (or fresh, cooked if you prefer)

Mix milk, egg & butter in med bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Grease skillet with buttah! For med to large pancakes put 3 heaping tablespoons of batter in skillet and cook until bubbles form in the batter. Flip. Cook until golden brown. Serve with maple syrup.

Eat then go back to bed and sleep til 5pm or until your hangover is gone.

The original recipe was with frozen blueberries so I am sure you can experiment with different types of fruit.

First Night Alone

First night of being single again after 4 1/2 years.