rachelpink rides the bus

Book Haul

I'm trying so hard to get back into reading mode. Today's library haul should help. Mmmm. Look at this eclectic little spread. 

Best. Dessert. Ever.

Crabby kind of day? Here's an all-better dessert. 

1. Take a brownie and throw some mini-marshmallows on top. 

2. Put the brownie in the microwave for 20 seconds. 

3. Eat it with a glass of cold cold milk. 

See? All better! 

These Kittehs Don't Like the Cold

   These are some crabby cats :)

The News

I don't often watch the local evening news. I get my info from the interwebs or NY1. But I've got a cold today and stayed home from work. My routine is off. So while I made myself some chili, I half-watched the news. Here's what I learned:

1. A women had 8 babies

2. A boy found a wallet with $500 and returned it to the owner. He got a reward. 

3. A Travelocity survey came out and the grossest, dirtiest hotel in the country is in NYC! 

The Curious Case...

I'm a hater. 

I saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (henceforth shortened to CCBB at a friend's suggestion) with Meg and company. I spent the movie waiting for the movie to end. When it did, my wrath could not be contained. I hated it. I unapologetically hated it. 

And here's the kicker--I really truly expected everyone to agree with me. 

I did not go in with negative expectations. I was downright pumped to see the film. For months the preview intrigued me. I love Cate Blanchette! I dig a quirky premise! New Orleans is a wonderful setting! 

But right off the bat I knew something wasn't right in ButtonTown. Cate's performance, in heavy old-dying-person make-up wasn't touching. It was over the top. It was downright campy! And this from me, a girl who cries at emotionally-manipulative commercials! I felt nothing. No emotion. No connection with the characters. 

So Benjamin ages in reverse. So? What does he learn from it? How is he bettered by it? We're supposed to think that Benjamin is exceptional and special ala Forest Gump--BUT aside from the physicality of the reverse aging, where's the emotional complexity? I didn't feel it. It wasn't there. Brad Pitt's accent was grating. 

Thank god the film looks good, or I surely would have choked myself on an errant piece of popcorn. 

And the strange inclusion of Hurricane Katrina? It made my skin crawl. It felt like a total anachronism (and it wasn't--it just had that effect on me). . . it felt like "one of these things doesn't belong here." 

So, wait, did I mention I hated CCBB? HATED IT. It made me mad because I really wanted to like it. It made me mad because there are better smarter stories to tell. 

Cold

I like it cold. I love it cold. 

In Buffalo I was the coldest I've ever been--and I never dressed for it. No proper hats, scarves or gloves and a so-so coat. I'd wait in the freezing bitter wind for the bus from south campus to north campus. If I was lucky, I had my boyfriend with me and we could huddle for warmth. 

He used to sing a song on days when the cold was too much to bear. . . 

"Where is the bus? Where's the fucking bus?" 

OK, less like a song, more like a chant. And this from a fellow who never cursed! That's what the Buffalo cold did, it changed people, it toughened them, it turned mere mortal men into cursing Eskimos. 

When it is cold in NYC like it is tonight, I think of Buffalo. I think of white-knuckled commutes from campus to home in my trusty, sliding, Chevy Cavalier. Ithink of the year I lived in an unheated attic in a house full of boys. I think of constantly walking around in grey frozen slush and having pants cuffs that never ever had a chance to dry. 

Eldr

I told Delaney that Arizona was brimming with old people. She listened with interest and replied in a most grown-up voice, “It’s the same thing in Florida! There are old men people, old women people. . .” 

“What about old baby people!” I suggested. 

“Aunt Rachel!! There aren’t old baby people. . . Are there? Was I an old baby person?” 

I teased for a bit about it, but finally told her, no, that she had been a regular cute sweet baby girl.  I think she might have been driven to fear from those DAMN BENJAMIN BUTTON %&@ COMMERCIALS. 

Did I mention that I hate that movie? Cause I do. 

Shoe Box

 The last time I spoke to Donovan, he told me he was making an emergency kit. I was impressed. “So where did you get that idea?” I asked. 

“Well,” he said, “so I had this empty shoe box. And it didn’t work as a skateboard box--I tried--so I decided to make it into an emergency kit box. I’m putting in Band-Aids, batteries, a flashlight. . . All the things you need in an emergency.” I suggested he add a Capri Sun, but he laughed at me. “It will go bad, Aunt Rache! Ewww.” 

I love that boy.  

24 Good Hours

Touching down in NYC is pure sweetness. 

Mom and I got home on Thursday night. The cats were absolutely delighted to see me. In fact, Foster Be has hardly left my side. . . he's all over me like white on rice (except right this second--he's presently attempting to mount his sister, sideways, yet again). Even Cupcake, my moody little Cupcake, won't leave my sight. 

Friday I got a snappy new haircut (from Pat at the Saloon Salon in Astoria--she's there Fridays and Saturdays--go to her). Walked around. Picked up some papaya salad and tom kha gai from Leng Thai. Enjoyed my cats. Met Jating to talk about our secret project of awesomeness (and maybe we discussed Star Trek and BSG too. . . just maybe). Then over to the V's local bar where they are greeted like rock stars. Of course they are--especially now that Mr. V is sporting some seriously complex facial hair.  Spent the night chilling out and talking to a friend over the internets. . . then crashed dead asleep. 

Today I ordered a new bed. Ate french toast. Planned a new craft project. Watched Buffy. Added some movies to my netflix list and books to my library list. Cleaned out my closet. Cleaned out the fridge. Hot damn! I'm a productive little thing! And I'm not done yet! More to do, more to do. If I can tear myself away from the interwebs, I'm going to see Slumdog Millionaire. And then buy some lightbulbs. Finish knitting a hat for my dad. Watch another disc of Buffy...

Feeling like a lucky duck today. 

Is It Going to Be All Better Now?

I hope so. I know it will take time, but it's awfully nice to have a speck of real hope.