Francine

Patriots' Day photography reception at Hi-Fi

2008-12-03T20:03:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder to come out tomorrow night for the Patriots' Day photography reception. Come, enjoy the photos, pancakes and drinks specials. The (vodka) Shot Heard Round the World comes highly recommended.

Hi-Fi
169 Ave A (btw 10th & 11th Streets), NYC
7-11pm

Francine Daveta is having a party to celebrate the opening of her photographic series, "Patriots' Day" at Hi-Fi. The project is based on photo-journalistic portraits of Revolutionary War re-enactors and the townspeople of Lexington, MA. This exploration of patriotism and the celebration of war in liberal, suburban America comes at an important time in our living history. The exhibit will be on display at Hi-Fi until January 11, 2009.

In addition to appreciating art, please come to drink, play pool, listen to Hi-Fi's acclaimed jukebox and eat
a traditional Patriots' Day Pancake Breakfast for dinner (while it lasts).

http://francinedaveta.com
http://www.browniesnyc.com/

Patriots' Day

2008-10-28T21:59:00.001-07:00

Two days before the presidential election, photographer Francine Daveta will be showing a preview of her series "Patriots' Day" at ABC Wine Co. The project is based on photo-journalistic portraits of Revolutionary War re-enactors and the townspeople of Lexington, MA. This exploration of patriotism and the celebration of war in liberal, suburban America comes at an important time in our living history.

Opening reception will be on Sunday, November 2, 2008 at Alphabet City Wine Co., 100 Avenue C, NYC, from 6 to 9pm.Wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served. Patriotic costumes are welcome.

Rubber Ducky, You're the One

2008-08-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

As it turns out, baking soda and vinegar doesn't always help with a clogged drain. Neither does Draino or Liquid Plumbr. In some cases the only thing that works is your building superintendent and a plunger.

Klondike Bar commercial

2008-08-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

Umbrella

2008-07-29T22:08:00.000-07:00

Check out this 10 minute synopsis of ORG, the event in Boston where I exhibited my Patriot's Day photos. If you can't watch all the performances in the beginning at least watch the last few minutes or so when Amanda Palmer's performs Rihanna's "Umbrella". I comes complete with a man in scary clown make-up hosing down the crowd and, if you look carefully, me in the background shielding my camera by shoving it under my dress (not once did I stop dancing though).

The children running back to their housing projects across the street is priceless too!

So Long, Sophia.

2008-07-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

Cat in Window

2008-06-27T08:18:00.000-07:00

Pretty Girl

2008-06-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

Living Life on Wheels

2008-06-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

I just happened to be walking by Astor place today while a press conference with Mayor Bloomberg was underway. I was excited that he was announcing weekend street closings to allow more room for bikers! David Byrne and Lance Armstrong were also there to support the announcement. You can read more about this at:
http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=8&aid=82728

Vampire Weekend

2008-06-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

It was pouring outside at Summerstage yesterday while Vampire Weekend was playing. Sadly, I looked outside and the raincoats were NOT coming - say OH!

I ended up wearing a black trashbag as a dress just in an attempt to keep my camera dry. Six people ducking under a table umbrella had to cling onto the pole just to keep it from tipping over. With monsoon-like rains drenching us and the winds picking up, we felt as though we were on a boat about to be thrown overboard!
I took some pictures when the rain ease up a little bit but it was so overwhelming that I didn't even notice Ezra from Vampire Weekend walk by through my frame in this shot. The rain didn't stop the crowd from getting crazy once they finally squeegeed enough water off the stage for them to perform.

My day ended with me walking home in my garbage bag. I didn't care and I was even smiling at people who were desperately trying to stay dry with their little, $3 umbrellas. I had vendors on St. Mark's waving me over, saying, "Miss, miss! Umbrella! Umbrella!" I laughed and said, "Thank you, (as my hair is so wet it can't absorb anymore rainwater) but I think its too late for an umbrella".

A bleach-blonde punk girl was standing next to me at a crosswalk and looked over at me. I sheepishly smiled and her and she asked me if she had met me last night. Seeing as we probably don't hang in the same circles I told her probably not. Then she told me how she makes $5 per hour handing out tattoo flyers but it was too rainy to hand them out anymore cause they all stick together. Then she asked me if I was homeless.

I said, "No, I'm just wearing a trash bag today", as the rain continued to dump down on my head. I was kind of enjoying talking to her so I kept walking by her side. All of a sudden she sped up, said "take care" and basically ran away from me. I don't know if it was the lull in conversation or the fact that I wasn't homeless that bothered her but it appeared that I was the one to scare her away.

Summerstage

2008-06-15T14:39:00.000-07:00

Sunshine breaking through the clouds after the thunderstorm in Central Park. June 14, 2008 © Francine Daveta

Kickin' It... Soft Rock?

2008-06-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

Gentrification in this city is a complicated thing. Despite the decrease in violent crime over the past decade, most noticeably to me in Alphabet City, it comes at a cost. The obvious cost is in rent but what bothers me more than anything is the loss of character and grit that so many people moved to this city for in the first place.

I live snugly in between a large row of project buildings and old tenement buildings with a handful of luxury condos springing up on various blocks. A couple squatted buildings still linger but I've been told there are "legal" squatters living in them. Among these buildings tonight I saw two, large, black men carrying a proportionately large, old-school boombox. Blasting music on the streets, especially in the early part of summer in this neighborhood is not unusual but I found the choice in music interesting:

"I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt. (Let that sit for a moment. Hear it in your head. Picture the graffiti on the walls and the trash on the streets. Do you understand what I was feeling?)

The only way I feel I can remedy this is by watching 90's pulp films on IFC tonight. God, I miss the old East Village. Come back whores and junkies!!!

Pizza Prices on the Rise

2008-06-13T08:26:00.000-07:00

I was horrified to find out that a slice of cheese pizza at Ben's Pizza on Spring Street costs $2.75!!! Is the price of wheat really skyrocketing that much? Well I'll tell you this: that $2.75 was totally worth it because the pizza was DELISH. It was worth it despite having to deal with the drunk, post-college fratboys (who I can only assume were visiting from Hoboken or the Upper East Side) who insulted my friend and who actually tried to wrestle the Mario-esque pizza-man statue outside the pizzeria. I guess this is why they lock their doors and only serve through a window after a certain hour.

The $2.35 at Ray's Pizza on Houston (which one, you ask? The one closest to Ludlow.) seemed more reasonable but really couldn't compare in flavor. At least we were allowed to sit down and avoid more drunken harassment from entry-level finance guys!

NYC

2008-06-09T00:26:00.000-07:00

May 29, 2008 © Francine Daveta

Pistachio-Chocolate

2008-05-28T06:47:00.000-07:00

My favorite place for frozen yogurt is this little hole in the wall on Avenue A in NYC. Its usually served to you by this nice fellah in the photo and you can get pistachio-chocolate SWIRL.

Heavenly.

Brunch. Eat it.

2008-05-26T22:12:00.000-07:00

Fun Betty

2008-05-13T17:58:00.000-07:00

Today I noticed a new product in Bed, Bath & Beyond: Betty - a hair coloring product for your....

pubes!

There is an assortment of colors for all different shades of "hair down there": black, brown, auburn, blonde and (my personal favorite) hot pink! I suppose now that the trend of getting Brazilian waxes is coming under some criticism companies are trying to give woman a new way to get creative with their bush. (See this month's Glamour Magazine, p. 237; also remember Amy Poehler addressing Britney's clam on SNL: "There was a time when a lady garden was as big as a slice of New York pizza. Then it turned into an upside down John Waters mustache!")?

If only this product had been around years ago - maybe Samantha on Sex and the City and other woman experiencing grey hair down there wouldn't have had such tramatic "Ronald McDonald" experiences. Unless, of course, that was the look they were going for.

The Bird

2008-05-07T09:18:00.002-07:00

Have you ever noticed that sometimes, in springtime, the evergreen trees seem to be flipping you the bird. I find it very offensive and give the finger right back.

When Franny met Sally

2008-05-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

No, that's not Meg Ryan's little sister on the left there, that's me, Francine. Of course you wouldn't recognize me since that's the back of my bleach-blonde head but this is the only picture I have of me working with her in Austin, TX in 2004. Here we are at the Las Manitas diner on Congress Ave with the late, great Ann Richards.

I'm not sure what I miss the most from Austin: Meg, Ann, the music or migas...

Blue, Lime-Straw Face Baby

2008-05-06T09:41:00.000-07:00

This is my friend's pregnant belly. I hope the baby comes out looking exactly like this.

Sticky Scouring Pads

2008-05-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

I took great pride today in making one woman laugh out loud at Trader Joe's. I stuck these bright-colored nylon scouring pads to my sweater to see if anyone would notice. Of course, most people were frantically rushing around with their heads down so that they could finish their shopping before the lunchtime rush came in. I finally realized that I looked kind of crazy and no one was even paying attention anyways so I took it off. Right as I did this one woman noticed me and burst out laughing!

Mission accomplished.

Paterson High Dance Club

2008-04-27T21:54:00.000-07:00

Bitches in this video are FINE, yo!

30 Something from Paterson High dance club on Vimeo.

Robin Byrd

2008-04-26T20:53:00.000-07:00

This is a photo taken of one of the best celebrity sightings I've ever had. I usually resist asking celebrities for photos while they are enjoying personal time but I couldn't help myself when I saw Robin Byrd with her dog in Central Park. She was so gracious!

She's helped me through many nights of boredom with her sexy cable-access show. Her strippers always have the best outfits! Rock on, Robin!

The Price of a Slice

2008-04-20T09:06:00.000-07:00

I remember when a slice of cheese pizza in New York City, unless it was of the gourmet variety, never exceeded $2.00. You could easily go into any Ray's and get yourself a meal or a snack for under $3.00. Now it seems that more and more places are raising their prices!

Here's the sign at the "new" Sal's on Avenue A. $2.50 for a regular slice? Outrageous! The Pizza Shop, where the old Sal's used to be, charges $2.25 a pop - this is more than a ride on the subway!

Pizza used to be a staple for me when I needed a good, filling, cheap meal on the run. Now, with prices exceeding even the regular taxi surcharge, I am going to rethink my meal plans. I understand, with the price of gas and everything going up that people need to make adjustments but can rent be going up so much that they can't have one low-end item on the menu? I mean, go ahead and charge $4.50 for your fancy, gorgonzola-basil-pine nut slice but keep a low-budget option available to the homeless, college kids and me.

Personally, I don't think that the price of a slice of NYC, plain, cheese pizza should every exceed the cost of a subway ride. I say we encourage Bloomberg to enforce these standards for us!

VIVA LA PIZZALUCION!

1st Ave at 6:30am Sunday

2008-04-07T12:39:00.001-07:00

Facebook Withdrawal

2008-04-03T13:22:00.000-07:00

Failing. Failing miserably...

I was fine until people started sending me messages via Facebook which then get forwarded to my email account. I had to sign on just to find their email addresses and then I get sucked in....

I did have a pretty awesome workout at the gym today though. Discovered lots of new machines hiding in the corner...

Facebook Addiction

2008-04-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

Today at the gym I decided that I was going to give up Facebook. Not permanently, of course, but I felt that my compulsive status updating was becoming a problem that I needed to get a handle on. I figured if I couldn't stay away from Facebook until 5pm this Friday then I really do have a serious internet problem.

Of course, here I am sitting at my computer, blogging away. It's like morphine to ease the pain.

I thought it would be easy to avoid after a couple of hours but then I realized it was a friends birthday today... I thought. I wasn't sure if April 1st was really her birthday but I remember it being posted on Facebook. I could go on and check but I stopped myself. I ended up emailing her and asked if my birthday wishes were on time (which they were). On a side note, she is one of two people I know who were born on April Fool's Day - how unfortunate.

I was working today, editing at home. This can get tedious and boring at times so mid-afternoon was feeling pretty lonely in my little, home office. Emails were not being responded to and I wasn't getting the response text messages that I have been waiting for. Then, a friend wrote and asked if I was on Gmail chat. Wha? I had seen that little box in the corner of my screen but I never paid much attention to it. Wow, this could SAVE me! Within minutes I had 4 separate chats going with friends also bored or stressed with work!

Clearly, there are plenty of ways to waste time online. I had also decided to give up MySpace (which is not difficult because the userface SUCKS!), and Googling my own name. I wish there was a way to find out who is Googling my name because apparently various people have found pictures of me that I was not even aware of... scary. I would go and find these images myself but, again, I banned myself from doing this until Friday.

I was tempted a few times to go on Facebook again. I even typed in FlickR.com but immediately closed that window as I realized its power as a gateway social website.

Things were okay until now. I came home after a shoot to edit and I discovered that, like snacking, going on Facebook is particularly tempting late at night when you're tired. There's no one left on Gmail chat, everyone's gone to bed and I've even lost hope for that late-night, drunken text message.

So here I am, waiting for my images to process so I can burn them to disc, wishing for some entertainment other than another Friends rerun. I think I am going to have to have an extra long session at the gym tomorrow...

March in Summary

2008-03-31T18:33:00.000-07:00

March started off a bit slow and dull. I came back from Zihutanejo somewhat refreshed and very tan. Things seems good but boring and then....

My friend died, a loved one got diabetes, I was assigned to shoot a musician for a magazine which then declared bankruptcy, I met a ton of people at a photo reception where I got hired to shoot a party at SXSW, I went home to Boston for the funeral and met with old friends, I flew to Austin where I worked and partied hard, got some pictures published on rollingstone.com
http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/19395688/sxsw_2008_bands_and_fans_descend/photo/17/large/
and elsewhere, met some rockstars (who I didn't know at the time), stayed up all night at the Blender party before my flight back (via Denver!) at 7am, slept in a really awkward position the whole time, slept, slept some more.... then I went out with some Massholes to drink hard liquor before, on and after St. Patty's Day, met a real Irish drunk who kept saying "fer FUCK's SAKE!", had a slumber party with my friend passing through from London, saw another friend pull off some fantastic standup comedy with a big high school reunion to follow...

(inhale)

...then I came back to New York and got hooked up at a Knitting Factory show where I picked up the hard drive that I had WON at SXSW (!), shot a casting, had a rockin' night at the Crystal Castles show at Studio B, hung out with a hot basketball team and looked at local celebrities at Todd Barry's birthday party, went to an AA meeting with a friend just for fun, had a college reunion brunch, went to Queens and danced with an inflatable man which led into dancing at a UCB dance party which turned out to be yet another acquaintance's gigantic birthday party, had a kick-ass photo shoot with the Orion Experience and then shot the Diffa event where I ran into another photographer that I worked with years ago.

Oh, and my high school's drama teacher found me on Facebook. No, its not like THAT. He was always buds with the kids and we now have 14 friends in common - he was a COOL teacher. I love Facebook.

Now I am home editing and wondering what April will be like. I wonder...

Now I have to ask, those of you who found this blog by Googling, "white girl, fat ass", is this really what you wanted to find? My post titled, "White Girl with a Fat Ass", is a reference to my friend's blog of the same name which is geared towards weight loss and charity fund-raising. Just curious. Let me know if you came here looking for porn and still found this entertaining.

SXSW/St. Patty's Day

2008-03-19T15:01:00.001-07:00

This is what a series of all nighters in Austin at SXSW followed up by St. Patrick's Day in Boston can do to an otherwise nice girl.

Happy Belated St. Patty's Day!

2008-03-18T22:50:00.000-07:00

SXSW - Day 4

2008-03-17T22:21:00.001-07:00

Blender Party in Austin. Flight in the morning. Too late to sleep. Might as well stay up....

SXSW - Day 2

2008-03-13T05:07:00.000-07:00

I'm trapped at the front of the stage at Emo's. Great spot for photos but I can't get a damn beer!

SXSW - Day 3

2008-03-13T05:04:00.001-07:00

I still haven't gone to sleep since day 2. Good morning, Texas sunshine!

SXSW Day 1 - Bond. Jane Bond.

2008-03-12T00:08:00.000-07:00

After more than a decade I finally got to see Jane Bond live, in person. Here's a picture of us at the gate at Beauty Bar. The line was too long but she gave me a kiss on the cheek before she ran off to Beerland. I hope its not another decade before our paths cross again. I'll have to catch her at one of her next shows here in Austin.

Golden Bear show was great...
Its way past my bedtime.

Zihua Blue!

2008-03-03T22:57:00.000-08:00

Post wedding celebration at Zihua Blue in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. We danced all night! Okay, well at least until we looked around and realized no one else was there anymore...

Blinky-thing

2008-02-28T09:00:00.000-08:00

Singles Seating

2008-02-21T07:38:00.000-08:00

I'm on my way to Mexico in a Houston airport Chili's drinking my first cup of coffee of the day. I am always amazed that, when walking into a restaurant as an individual woman, I am always seated tucked away in some quiet corner. The bar area seemed fun but they stuck me in the area with the kids throwing tantrums! Are they trying to tell me that I am just as embarassing as a 5 year old who won't keep his voice down when mommy threatens to take him 'for a walk'?

And the veggie burger is not so great...

Beer, Burgers and B$%@#$'s!

2008-02-14T22:47:00.001-08:00

No amount of work, fun or minor celebrity sightings could keep me from staying up late on Valentine's Day watching reruns and munching on veggie sausages.

I started off the evening at the Helmsley Hotel to photograph the Anti-Valentine's Day Ball. The set up was cool: a celebrity-breakup-gossip-magazine themed bar, a paper shredder for pictures of your exes, take home voodoo dolls and an old school photo booth!

It would have been fun had it not been for the lame crowd: old men in suits making stupid photography jokes - go home to your wives, Lame-o's! It was so depressing (I realized after the fact) that after I bumped into Julia Allison in the bathroom, I ended up blurting out all my of past Valentine's Day misery stories to her. I mean, she probably gets it all the time being a dating columnist but all of a sudden, I became THAT PERSON. She was very friendly and and a good listener though!

I even told her about my plan, two years ago, to convince my then-boyfriend that V-Day is not just about doing girly things and spending money on flowers, candy & dinner. He was very "ANTI" everything and couldn't just suck it up for the sake of romance. I decided to take him out and give him every man's dream: a night of Beer, Burgers & B@%j#bs! I even threw in a jazz show which I knew he'd be into. It was great! He was happy, so impressed with his girl and ready to brag to his friends the next day. Job well done, Francine!

Except he didn't get the message. I thought that since 2006 was the year that I planned a big extravaganza that he would put a little thought or effort into something fun in 2007. I would have been fine with something we BOTH could enjoy like a rock show or a burlesque performance. But nothing was planned. So now I am single this year and bitter. Julia could relate.

The best V-day I've ever had was back in 2000. I went out with 3 of my best girlfriends for dinner at Patsy's and a night out drinking. We were each other's dates - it was Sex in the City before I even had cable! Girls are so much fun on V-day - somehow guys always seem to screw it up.

Back to V-Day 2008. We finally left after the open bar closed and we couldn't stick anymore pins into our voodoo-EX dolls. Off to a late night of editing and watching reruns of Sex in the City that I've seen a DOZEN times! I have cable now but not premium - its too damn expensive in this city! If I seen those Hampton party episodes one more time...

But the worst part of this evening was the food. I just couldn't stop eating! I should have started blogging hours ago to avoid it but I just didn't have the strength! I know its so cliche but I was feeding my ego and my loneliness with brie and fake Italian sausages. This is only because the dark chocolate had already disappeared. It was very unlike me - at the least the recent, responsible me. I guess its alright to do that every once in a while especially on a night like Valentine's Day.

Well, its way past my bedtime so I will bid you ado. But first let me say, I know that Valentine's Day is not about fancy gifts or dinners. Its not about flowers or burgers. Its about people showing that they love each other. It can involve material objects or not. I've learned recently that an extravagant night out in itself doesn't mean anything in the long run (but it IS nice if you have the means!)

Baddest Blogger in NYC

2008-02-13T09:34:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't been contributing to this site much lately. I am a bad blogger ("bad, BAD blogger!!!") But I know someone who is really good at it and she is now up for a SXSW Interactive award. If you have a sec, check out her site:

http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com

and vote for her site at:

https://secure.sxsw.com/peoples_choice/

Thanks!
Francine

Black or White

2008-02-07T14:26:00.000-08:00

All the fun seems to happen upstairs at Whole Foods! Just now I went to grab a cup of coffee before my pre-Valentine's Day, single-woman chocolate-fest. The African- American gentleman asked me if I preferred black or white to which I replied 'black'.

He nodded in recognition and then asked me if I wanted room for milk.

I'm not kidding you! Off to get my chocolate now (no pun intended - well maybe a little...)

Pete's Candy Store tonight!

2008-01-29T13:26:00.001-08:00

Come for the music, stay to by me a pre-birthday drink.

Pete's Candy Store
709 Lorimer Street
8:30pm
FREE!!!

Miami

2008-01-27T08:53:00.000-08:00

Man-O-War

2008-01-26T08:31:00.001-08:00

Miami

2008-01-26T06:50:00.001-08:00

Best Karaoke in Miami

2008-01-25T14:04:00.000-08:00

"U.K".

2008-01-21T10:05:00.000-08:00

And to further confuse your quotation/punctuation dilemma. They do it differently in the UK. Punctuation always falls outside of the quotation marks there.

-Dan

"Quotes."!!!?

2008-01-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

It amazes me that, in the months that I have been blogging, the most comments I have received so far have been in response to a post in which I mentioned placement of a period when using quotation marks. Apparently, my ex even informed me that I misquoted him and corrected me:

"I always put the period inside the quotes. Commas also go inside. But question marks and exclamation marks go outside (unless part of the quote itself)."

I find this all especially amusing because the post was about Tom Cruise and Scientology - not one person contacted me regarding that subject! I fully expect to get an email now regarding my misuse of commas and my overuse of exclamation marks!!!

NYC Rats!

2008-01-20T09:28:00.000-08:00

Walking home late last night I heard some rustling amongst garbage bags on East 9th Street. At first I thought it was the wind but then I noticed that the movements in the plastic were those created by slithering - not gusting winds. All I could say was, "Gross"!

Way Cool

2008-01-18T19:45:00.000-08:00

Tom Crrr...azy!

2008-01-17T23:05:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine in Los Angeles told me to watch the leaked video of Tom Cruise giving an acceptance speech at a Scientology award ceremony. Apparently, he sounds crazier than ever in this video but, much to my disappointment, when I searched for the uncut version on YouTube, I got this message:

"This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Church of Scientology International".

Okay, do I even have to go into why this is so fucked up? I feel like I need to see the whole thing before I judge for myself. The only thing I learned from this whole experience is that my ex was right when he told me that closing quotations come before the period. (".) Oh, and also that its still fun to watch clips of Tom Cruise dancing in his underwear. That shit is timeless.

LHS Rock Paper Scissors

2008-01-14T19:22:00.000-08:00

Its amazing what you can find in a simple Facebook search...

Unless you went to Lexington High School in Massachusetts, are an UBER acapella (or Justin Timberlake) fan, or are just a pedophile - you probably won't appreciate this video. There's not much more to say except that the redhead singing Timberland's part at the end can really hit a low note. Watch if you're bored:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F_m5mbbfDg&feature=related

Nice job, guys and gals. Glad to know LHS is still supporting the arts.

Alphabet City Wino

2008-01-08T13:32:00.001-08:00

With all that's been going on in my life lately I wasn't sure if a wine shop opening around the corner from me was a good thing. Of course I was excited to find a cool little place that is open late on my way home! The problem is that I really, really like wine and I have no problem drinking lots of it.

But there was nothing I could do to stop Alphabet City Wines from opening and having such delicious offerings. Turns out the owners are really cool and know their shit about vino. They are always very willing to talk at length about all the varieties out there! Buying two cases of Nero D'Avola for client gifts this year turned out to be a good thing because I really needed a last minute location for a portrait shoot last week. I didn't think the owners would go for it but I asked if we could do a shoot in their cool, little lounge area and they were down with it!

So here is one of the lovely pictures I took of David Tucker (Nailbiters) and myself. I am going to be singing with him on Jan 29th at Pete's Candy Store in Brooklyn! Come check it out and buy me a glass of wine (or a Makers) - its my birthday EVE celebration as well!

Adorable!

2008-01-07T13:21:00.000-08:00

I See Famous People

2008-01-06T17:48:00.000-08:00

After a hard day of shopping today, I decided to stop off in Whole Foods for a little snack. While I was upstairs reading the Rustica menu, trying to find something under $5 and less filling than pasta, I noticed a man nudging up against me. He got uncomfortably close to the point that I really hoped that it was a friend of mine. He said, "hi there" and I looked up to discover that it was Horatio Sanz from Saturday Night Live!

I guess he remembered me from a couple shoots that I did for Upright Citizens Brigade - but I was shocked! He told me that the ravioli was great and introduced me to his girlfriend. He told me that he had seen me earlier in the day walking down St. Marks. I said, "Oh, that's funny! I didn't see you." He pulled up his collar in a mock-incognito sort of way, smiled and said he had been "hiding".

Now I find this whole experience really amusing because I've been on the other end of celebrity /non-celebrity encounters where I, of course, recognized a person and said hello. This is the first time that a celeb has approached me (well, other than that time in an elevator in LA when Jamie Foxx and his friend talked to me - this was pre-Ray). He probably thought, "hey, this is weird. I recognize this girl from somewhere. I even saw her walking down the street today. I wonder how the universe allowed our paths to cross so many times - there must be meaning to this. I am going to say hello because there is something cosmic about all of this."

This is the same way people think when they see famous people: "OMG! I've seen this person, like, a hundred times before on various programs/movies/commercials/music videos and he/she has made me laugh/cry/drool in the most real, meaningful way! The universe is putting me in the same location with this person for a reason! I must say hello to them."

People in NYC and LA are always saying I saw this celebrity or that celebrity but no one really thinks or cares about the fact that sometimes celebrities are seeing YOU. In a way, BEING seen is far cooler. Especially when the celeb lets you know it.

And, BTW, after he left, I scrapped the snack idea and sat down for a nice plate of ravioli!

Happy New Year... in a hole!

2008-01-01T12:03:00.002-08:00

My New Year's Eve started off on the wrong foot and in the wrong borough. I'll get to that later on today after I finish my coffee but I just need to point out something I noticed as I soberly walked amongst the drunkards at 1:30am last night. ConEd must have decided that work on the streets could cease due to the holiday because they left these gaping holes open in the street right next to a bar called 7B! There were about a dozen hammered party-goers stumbling around on the street and sidewalk next to them.

All they did was throw a few saw horses over them to create awareness of them but don't you think they could have at least made an attempt to cover up the holes? Part of me hoped that some drunk asshole tripped over her heels and fell in - just to prove a point, that is.

And then there were the other drunks that were trying desperately to GET IN a hole - a different kind of hole... I haven't decided if its fun or not to be the only sober person in an entire neighborhood but it certainly helps when you're trying to avoid certain gentlemen callers. I have found that I have a knack, perhaps even a talent, for beating men off with a stick or, as I have been told, with my wit.

One drunk guy who sat down next to me in Sal's looked at me and said, "You are so beautiful. You're so beautiful that... that...". I said, "What?! So beautiful that you can't even finish your sentence?!" He seemed surprised by my response but immediately recognized how hammered he was and left me alone. A wasted finance guy at Zum Schneider insisted that he was 28 but I didn't believe him because he was acting like he was 22 (then again, he is in finance). I told him to show me his ID and the wheels started turning in his head. After a moment of staring into space he said, okay, if I would show him my boobs. They must teach these thing on Wall Street or something! I told him that I was grateful for him saying that because now I could tell my friends something funny about my New Year's: a drunk, finance guy asked to see my boobs. Happy Freakin' New Year!

But let me tell you how I got here to Zum Schneider, by myself on New Years. I originally had plans to go see the Dresden Dolls with a guy from high school who bailed on me at 4pm New Year's Eve. Needless to say, I was a bit upset but I figured I could pull my night together with all of the other options that I had. I had invites to 4 parties in Brooklyn and, while I am not a fan of leaving my neighborhood when I don't have to, I figured the numbers were against me and all my friends were staying east of the river this night. I got all dolled up and got in a cab to Rubulad just before midnight. I made it just in time to blow $25 for the champagne toast and to have my dry clean-only outfit soak up the smell of cigarettes and hippies. At midnight when all cell phone service seemed to die in NYC, I stepped outside and realized how great this dingy part of Brooklyn smelled compared to the inside of the warehouse. I stood outside for about a half hour trying to get a cab. A gentleman wearing a full suit, a hat and a bottle of glitter on his face approached me and asked if we were in Brooklyn (is there an emoticon that rolls its eyes?) He offered to flag down a gypsy cab and asked if I was willing to pay $30. Fuck no! Are you kidding? I spent $19 getting here with a wrong turn - there's no way in hell I'm paying $30! I think I then scared the tourist away...

I finally found a local Brooklynite who spotted me a gypsy for $20. On the way back to the East Village I saw a guy viciously head-butting an old drunk (it seemed) in the doorway of a deli. It was probably one of the most violent scenes I've seen in NYC other than a street fight in 2000 that ended in murder. I couldn't stop looking but the driver turned his head away and I got the sense that it wasn't because he couldn't stand it but more because he didn't want to have to be a witness to whatever it might lead to. All I wanted at this point was a beer and a veggie dog. I ended up feeling bad and giving the driver $25 since it was New Year's and I felt that I needed to change my karma in some way. At this point the night seemed to be getting worse and worse. To my dismay Crif Dogs was closed for a private party! I know it sounds silly but this was the point where I almost started crying. I actually did get a little teary when I found that Two Boots was also closed. So I ended up getting a slice at Sal's where I realized how painfully sober I was. I decided I needed to salvage this night in some way or I would live to regret it.

So I went to Zum Schneider for a beer and, as I looked around the room, I wondered why everyone felt the need to go to some crazy party with a high cover charge when there were these great places right in the city that weren't too packed and had great music! A young man asked me how close to 42nd Street we were (insert eye-roll emotion here). But everyone was having a great time. There were even girls dancing on the bar! I was a wall flower until some lovely German woman saw my pout and introduced me to all of her friends. It was my luck that she insisted I have another beer before leaving - turns out that she used to work there and she hooked me up at he bar! Anyway, I ended up dancing with her, her friends and the bar back, Miguel. The finance guy showed up and, as amusing as he was, he scared me when he wouldn't leave me alone. After multiple attempts at kissing me, I decided to go home. ALONE. I specified this multiple times yet the guy followed me out the door after I said my thanks and goodbyes to the fantastic Germans. I kind of felt bad for the guy cause he was hammered so I offered to get him in a cab. He said it would be better if I took him home. At this point I was planning on walking to someone else's apartment building so he wouldn't know where I lived but then luckily a friend called! The drunk dude asked if it was my boyfriend so I lied and said YES! That didn't stop him from stumbling after me but at this point I just decided to bolt. I ran across the street with traffic coming from both directions so he couldn't following me without getting hit! I hope he did get in a cab and not go to another bar to hit on other girls. Though maybe if they were as wasted as he was they would be happy to have the attention!

I spent the next 4 hours iChatting with friends celebrating in LA. I was proud of myself for going out and having a good time on my own but its always better to be with friends. Next year I'll make sure I stay in Manhattan though!

Merry Christmas

2007-12-28T10:14:00.000-08:00

I spent Christmas night in Boston with some good friends from high school. I couldn't resist turning on the video option on my camera especially when the conversations started getting funny. Here are some pieces of conversations that I overheard. I'll make sure not to send my friend Kimon anything with a fucking Santa on it!

Fountain of Youth for your Pits

2007-12-24T08:42:00.000-08:00

Its seems that I have been finding a lot of material to write about it my local Duane Reades lately.

The other day I noticed a new Dove product on the shelf: Pro-Age deoderant. With all of the anti-aging products on the market, how could we have all over looked our precious, delicate underarm skin?

As ridiculous as I think it is, I will probably buy it the next time I'm in the market for a tube. I am a sucker for packaging and I am tiring of Radiant Silk, Dove's last fancy marketing twist. I don't even like the maroon bottle but its different and I'll take anything to spice up my life at the moment. Does anyone lose here? Dove wins. Their marketing people win. But most of all, I win beautiful pits that will stay forever 29.

Elf Yourself Til You're Raw

2007-12-21T23:01:00.000-08:00

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1678400514

Just watch. Its speaks for itself.

Merry Christmas!

Duane Reade Clearance

2007-12-20T19:17:00.000-08:00

Please, ladies and gents: when going to Duane Reade to buy condoms, don't go to the clearance section. It really is worth spending a few extra dollars for a box that hasn't gone past its expiration date.

I don't care if you pick up your holiday soap collection there but you should probably pass on the instant Indian dinners as well.

Drag Queen Wig Cotton Candy

2007-12-19T14:57:00.000-08:00

Okay, just so you can get an idea of how big these Barton G. desserts were, take a look at this video. The end shows the gigantic cotton candy station on our neighbors' table. I wish I had gotten a shot of it when the sparklers were lit!

All That Jazz

2007-12-19T10:26:00.000-08:00

My favorite karaoke bar in the world is "The Studio" at the Shelbourne Hotel on Miami Beach. The music is run by a vampirish, older man named Ronnie who works every night until about 6am. Here's a fantastic rendition of All That Jazz performed by my friend Lauren.

Miami Sunrise

2007-12-18T13:46:00.000-08:00

Flashdance Grouper

2007-12-17T19:44:00.000-08:00

Now I remember why I'm a vegetarian. I've been experimenting with the whole pescatarian thing lately to expand my options for food as well as to up my protein intake. Well, a night at Barton G. in Miami and a dancing iFish was all it took to send me back to my non-fish-eating ways.

At first I was amused by the blinking, gyrating machine that accompanied my grouper. Then its pathetic flailing on the table reminded me that the lump in my bowl actually used to flip around itself.

I won't lie: it was tasty. But I felt obligated to eat the whole piece so that it wouldn't have died in vain. Oh boy! I am still a bit nauseated. I wish that I had just eaten the mashed potatoes below it which were more delicious yet less guilt-causing.

Anyway, I'm not saying I won't ever have a bowl of clam chowder when I visit New England but I am seriously going to think twice before ordering seafood in a restaurant notorious for large portions and obnoxious presentation.

If I ever go back to Barton G. it will just be for a cocktail and a dessert. Perhaps someone would want to join me for the $89 fondue fountain or the cotton candy tower that resembles a wig of a drag queen?

Mr. Clucky

2007-12-17T08:25:00.000-08:00

We had the fortune to meet Mr. Clucky today, a friendly, rescued cock. This bird happily sat on our model's shoulder as well as ride off with his owner on the handlebars of his bicycle.

8 Tacky Nights

2007-12-16T16:41:00.001-08:00

Hannukah is over but the decorations are still up in Miami. Could this cheesy shell menorah be offensive to a religion or is it just troubling to my personal taste?

Tough Life

2007-12-15T09:54:00.000-08:00

Day Four in Miami

Miami

2007-12-14T15:23:00.001-08:00

80°
Life ain't so bad.

Perry Ferrell

2007-12-11T13:36:00.000-08:00

I know this is going back a bit but I just wanted to share this short clip of Perry Ferrell's Satellite Party at the end of his show at Fashion Week in NYC this past fall.

Love Yourself

2007-12-09T18:45:00.000-08:00

Drunk Santas in New York City

2007-12-08T14:08:00.000-08:00

Its that joyous time of year again when thousands of people take to the streets dressed up as Santa and get hammered. New York City's annual Santacon found me when I walked through Tompkins Square Park in the East Village today. One dirty, drunk Santa-man told me he was recruiting elves to work in his workshop (wink, wink) and asked if I was interested. I was in such a holiday spirit that I told him maybe next year! Check out this crappy video that I took while walking through the crowd. My favorite Santa might be the woman with the cigarette singing her version of Mickey: "Hey Santa, you're so fine! You're so fine, you blow my mind - hey SANTA!" I wanted to hold the camera on her longer but I was afraid she might kick the shit out of me. But that's why I love New York!

Don't Stop Believing

2007-12-06T21:41:00.000-08:00

I should have posted a warning on the last entry, Live Tech Support. I didn't start fucking with the guy until halfway through so if you're short on time skip to the middle. To make up for it, here's something short and sweet!

Live Tech Support

2007-12-05T15:52:00.000-08:00

I've been going crazy trying to send these files out to my client with this damn service that takes and eternity and sometimes freezes up. With these large files, it takes 4 or 5 hours to send something so you can understand my frustration when it stopped in the middle and I have to start the process all over again. I tried to rely on the company's live tech support but the second person I communicated with was just not that into helping me (or showing any personality for that matter). I am so sick of sitting here by my computer waiting for this process to finish so I figured it couldn't hurt to ask for a little company or entertainment. I tried to keep this tech support guy on for as long as possible but he seemed desperate to go. I finally let him since its now dinner time and I am only (at the time of writing this) 12% through uploading with 4:41 hrs to go.

Here is our dialogue from the 2 hours that I managed to keep him engaged:

Welcome to YouSendIt Support. A representative will be with you shortly.

You are now chatting with 'John K'

John K: Welcome to our live chat service.

John K: Hello. How may I assist you?

Francine Daveta: hi

John K: Hi

Francine Daveta: I have been uploading two files for a while now. the first went through and now the second (which is 1GB) seems to be stuck at 32%.

John K: If you are facing an issue while uploading the files, please hit reload in your browser several times. This way you can get directed to another server. Otherwise it boils down to the speed between you and our servers. Empty the browser cache and please make sure that you have disabled any firewall installed on your computer.

Francine Daveta: Hitting reload won't cancel out the current progress?

John K: It will cancel the current upload.

John K: I would also recommend you look at our desktop and plug-in applications at http://www.yousendit.com/cms/applications . Our desktop application is 25% faster then a web browser, and will resume the upload if the upload is interrupted. You can also upload folder directly through our desktop application YouSendIt Express. Zipping files and sending entire folders is currently available to paid subscribers on Windows only, Mac support coming soon.

John K: Is there anything else I may assist you with?

Francine Daveta: Am I having this problem because I am relying on wireless service? I had a similar problem earlier today with Safari. I need to get this out tonight and I don't want this to happen again halfway through.

John K: Francine, sorry we don't support wirless service.

Francine Daveta: I guess what I am asking is this interruption of service - could it be due to the service itself? Is this a YouSendIt problem or not?

Francine Daveta: I've been trying to send this all day and I am losing faith in this service - could you please help me?

John K: Francine, you are facing this problem as you are using wirless service and we don't support on it

John K: Are you still with me?

Francine Daveta: I am only asking because you mentioned an interruption. As far as I know the only problem I have been having today is with YouSendIt. I have not had any problems with my internet service.

John K: YouSendIt has several gigabit connections, so, your upload/download speed depends on how much available bandwidth you have, who your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is, the routing between your ISP and our servers, how busy our servers are, etc. In any case, you should expect it to take several hours for large files.

Francine Daveta: I have started to upload the file again starting with the 1 GB file this time.

John K: Okay

Francine Daveta: Right now its 3% complete.

Francine Daveta: You still there?

John K: Yes, I am with you.

Francine Daveta: Its still only at 3%, does that mean its taking too long? I'm wondering what's up with YouSendIt?

John K: Check out http://www.speedtest.net/ . We are in San Jose, Virginia, Atlanta, and Frankfurt, Germany.

Francine Daveta: Where are you right now?

John K: You can choose any of the locations'

Francine Daveta: I know, I'm loading it up. I was just wondering where you were, physically. I'm in New York, but I guess you can probably already see that from my profile. Where are you?

John K: We are in Cambell, CA.

Francine Daveta: Oh cool. I bet its a lot warmer there than it is here. What's the weather like? Oh, wait, somethings happening.

John K: Its pleasant over here.

Francine Daveta: Okay, I did a speedtest but I don't know what the results mean. I have some friends in LA & San Fran - is Cambell anywhere near there?

John K: Can you please provide me the results of speedtest?

John K: We have not heard from you. Do you wish to continue the chat?

Francine Daveta: yes, just trying to read this

John K: We are terminating the chat since we have not heard from you.

Francine Daveta: im here!!!

John K: Okay

John K: Not a problem

John K: Is the progress working for the file?

Francine Daveta: Okay, does this make any sense: 1322 kb/s, upload 209 kb/s, Pings 1057ms, Distance <50mi.

John K: What type of Internet connection you are using?

Francine Daveta: Roadrunner

John K: I mean to say its a Cable or DSL?

Francine Daveta: Oh, its cable. Did you know that there is a song about Cambell, CA?

John K: According to your speed it will take approx 2 hours to upload the file.

John K: Is there anything else I may assist you with?

Francine Daveta: Well, its is stuck at 3% again so I had to refresh again.

John K: I suggest you to use our desktop application.

Francine Daveta: I just did it now and it says 0% complete and estimated 4:58 minutes left.

John K: I would recommend you look at our desktop and plug-in applications at http://www.yousendit.com/cms/applications . Our desktop application is 25% faster then a web browser, and will resume the upload if the upload is interrupted. You can also upload folder directly through our desktop application YouSendIt Express. Zipping files and sending entire folders is currently available to paid subscribers on Windows only, Mac support coming soon.

Francine Daveta: The song goes:

Francine Daveta: Well the light from the alleys brings warmth to the night We're meager disciples they gather in rite It's time for the indignant paupers to speak This town belongs to me The gravel lines archways The perilous streets were desperate deeds Find buyers in heaps God bless the concrete and chaos it keeps This town belongs to me The wind from the ocean it whistles in trees My mouth stagnated by the cold that is brings The end of the world is closer than it seems This town belongs to me.

Francine Daveta: Cute song.

Francine Daveta: Its at 1% now.

John K: Try to download it and then try to upload the file through YousendIt Express.

John K: As I said it takes more time to upload big files

John K: Is there anything else I may assist you with?

Francine Daveta: I know that. That's fine but its not fine when it stops after 2 hours of loading and I have to start all over.

John K: Therefore, I am suggesting to use our Desktop application. Our desktop application is 25% faster then a web browser, and will resume the upload if the upload is interrupted.

Francine Daveta: I tried to download this YouSendIt Express and it says its not available for Macs at this time.

John K: It is use the beta version for mac

Francine Daveta: oh okay - let me look for that - I didn't see it.

John K: Visit this URL

John K: http://www.yousendit.com/cms/standalone-app

Francine Daveta: okay, I'm doing that now....

John K: Please try it on YouSendIt Express and if you face any issue please contact us back

Francine Daveta: Okay, its downloading. The song is by Lars Frederiksen & The Bastards in case you were interested. I found all of this out online while I was impatiently waiting for my files to upload.

John K: Oh I see

Francine Daveta: Cool, right? Its up to 2% now.

Francine Daveta: 3%!!!!

John K: Great! so it means it uploading

Francine Daveta: Yeah but 3% is where it got stuck last time. And it says it has 5:10 hrs to go...

John K: Wait for sometime as it will take some time as you are using a cable connection and are trying to upload a file of 1 GB.

Francine Daveta: Is there a better connection? DSL? I've heard that DSL is slower than cable though.

John K: Francine, DSL is much faster than Cable.

Francine Daveta: Really, so my ex-boyfriend is an idiot then?

Francine Daveta: 4%!!!!

John K: I am sorry, I can't comment.

John K: so its means its working now for you.

Francine Daveta: Oh, go ahead and comment! I'd enjoy the comment.

John K: Read this link

John K: http://compnetworking.about.com/od/dslvscablemodem/a/dslcablecompare.htm

John K: It will give you an idea about the comparison between DSL and a Cable Service.

John K: Is there anything else I may assist you with regarding YouSendIt service?

Francine Daveta: Interesting.

Francine Daveta: I think I get it now. But I am skeptical of this guy who wrote the article. He has a mullet, you realize. One thing I can say about my boyfriend is that he at least had really nice hair.

John K: Thanks for chatting with us. We value your feedback, please click the "Close" button on the top right of the chat window to access our brief survey.

Francine Daveta: 5% so far but I'm not convinced.

Francine Daveta: It froze at 32% before!

John K: Francine, you are suing web application or YouSendIt Express?

Francine Daveta: I won't sue anyone if I can get this file to go through.

John K: Sorry Typo error

John K: its using

Francine Daveta: Oh, I am still trying FireFox but I downloaded the Express app in case this doesn't work.

John K: okay

Francine Daveta: Its at 7% now but it says its got 4:58 hrs to go - that's practically midnight in NY! The person expecting these files will be out of the office by then. Will you still be in yours?

John K: We are here till 6 PM PST

Francine Daveta: Okay, so 9pm my time. That's another 2 hours and 15 minutes.

John K: Francine, I suggest wait for some time if you face any issue please contact us back.

Francine Daveta: Any last words of advice, John K.?

Francine Daveta: I called my client and told him not to wait for the files tonight.

John K: YouSendIt Express application.

John K: okay

John K: Thanks for chatting with us. We value your feedback, please click the "Close" button on the top right of the chat window to access our brief survey.

Francine Daveta: Okay, thanks. I was hoping for something a little more inspirational but I'll give that a try.

John K: Thanks for your understanding.

Thanks for chatting with us. To receive a transcript of this chat, or give us your feedback, please click the "Close" button on the top right of the chat window.

White Girl With a Fat Ass

2007-12-05T13:16:00.000-08:00

I have to share this new blogsite with you:

http://jellykean.wordpress.com/

This girl is a friend of mine and she is determined to simultaneously lose weight and raise money for Hunger Relief! She's funny as hell and vows to post a picture on the site of her bare ass next year (big 0r small)!

I really admire her ballsy attitude and willingness to take what could be a bad situation and turn it into something really positive.

Check out here site and help her out if you can!

Payback

2007-12-04T20:20:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine who recently found my blog through Google (I wouldn't tell him where it was) criticized me for not posting entries everyday. He said, "Isn't that the point of blogging, to do it everyday?"

Yes, well in an ideal world that would be the case but I have a job and a life that sometimes gets in the way of my online time-waster. So sorry. Here's an entry to make up for it - a picture I took of this friend at Pyramid on Friday night.

Tammy & Franny Went Down to Georgia

2007-11-29T23:56:00.000-08:00

Gorgeous Global Warming

2007-11-22T16:53:00.001-08:00

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

2007-11-21T18:50:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-21T17:15:00.000-08:00

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...

2007-11-18T11:05:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-14T20:49:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-14T10:06:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-13T18:57:00.001-08:00

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

2007-11-12T17:44:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-12T17:21:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-11T09:31:00.001-08:00

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

2007-11-08T14:39:00.000-08:00

Reflection off building in Bryant Park, NYC.

Robber

2007-11-06T19:04:00.001-08:00

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

2007-11-05T21:55:00.001-08:00

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

2007-11-05T11:42:00.001-08:00

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

2007-11-04T10:24:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-04T08:20:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-04T00:03:00.000-07:00

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