May 07, 2008

Solid Food - whoo hoo!

James did so well with the liquid diet the past two days that they gave him real food for dinner tonight - fingers crossed!!!

Posted by nikl at 07:40 PM | Comments (1)

May 04, 2008

Always with the extremes, those Hudsons

Over the past few days, my dad has continued his gradual but steady progress. He's still on the TPN and he's still only able to process clear liquids, but within that realm we've seen progress.

His primary care doc came in this morning and finally shared with him that 13% of acute pancreatitis end in death. That was to help illustrate that while his progress is painfully slow, it's still progress. His surgeon came in and told him that this is the worst case of pancreatitis he's ever seen. So lots of perspective for James today.

His mood is good, and he's enjoying many visitors and their conversation that keeps his mind off of his swollen belly. But he mostly wants to go home.

They think maybe he will go home late next week where he'll finish recovery before having his gall bladder removed.

That's the scoop!

Posted by nikl at 12:01 AM | Comments (0)

April 30, 2008

James update

The neck thing wasn't nearly as grizzly as I'd feared. And he actually looks the best I've seen him look since he went in. Despite a rough night last night, his spirits today were great - wanting to play Boggle (thanks Paul and Suzanne!), doing Sudoku puzzles, checking out the Nintendo DS (thanks Glenda!) and shouting hello to fellow Dr.s as they passed his room. In other words, he was himself.

We're praying for a good night tonight, and for the swelling in his stomach to start going down with his second day of the TPN.

Posted by nikl at 09:38 PM | Comments (0)

April 29, 2008

Well, you asked for it...

So, last weekend we bought an SUV. So, like, duh. I filled it up for the first time yesterday.

Ouch.

Posted by nikl at 07:58 PM | Comments (0)

James report

I've always said that there should be a website to keep networks of people up to date when folks are in the hospital. I still hope to make millions off of that website some day. In the meantime, I suppose I'll start doing a daily update here. First, a catch up:

On Sunday night/Monday morning, my dad started having severe abdominal pain with vomiting etc. My mom took him to the emergency at Alton Memorial (where he does a good deal of his surgeries and has for years). The initial diagnosis was pancreatitis. The analogy we've been given for pancreatitis is that it's like a snake bite - you never know how an individual is going to react to it. Some are in the hospital for a few days, some for months.

Monday and part of Tuesday was tests tests tests. By late afternoon Tuesday, it was confirmed that it was indeed pancreatitis, and it was caused by gall stones. That the plan of action was to wait for the pancreatic swelling to go down, then do laproscopic gall bladder removal. We felt relieved on Tuesday, secure in the confirmed diagnosis, and hopeful that it was just a matter of days before his levels stabilized and he could finish recovery at home and have the surgery in a few weeks.

By Friday/Saturday, his levels had stabilized enough for them to put him on a liquid diet and remove the IV. My mom made sure he walked every couple hours. Unfortunately, his stomach didn't process the food well and the swelling remained. The IV was back on Sunday, and Monday morning they did a test to see if there was any blockage. Monday, his Dr's came to give the snake bite analogy above, and to tell him that at this point, we wait. They did have the bad news of suggesting a TPN (Total parenteral nutrition) which is administered through the neck. Not looking forward to seeing that.

So that's the latest. We're all concerned about keeping his spirits up. He's 64 and never been sick. Runs 5 miles a day and works until you pull him away. Being down for the count this long is just not going over well.

Posted by nikl at 07:10 PM | Comments (0)

February 27, 2008

Gunshot?

Um, I just heard two gunshots in the general direction of my backyard. Should I be concerned? My first instinct was to turn off the lights in the room I'm in. Then of course I realized that I'm at the computer and turning out the lights just honed in on where exactly I'm sitting thanks to the computer glow.

Wonder if there will be a story tomorrow...

Posted by nikl at 10:25 PM | Comments (0)

January 09, 2008

I'd like to thank you St. Clair Township

Last night as I went to sleep, I put out the thought that perhaps I'd wake early enough to get up, eat breakfast, dress for the gym and get to the Nissan service department just when it opens at 7:30 to get the oil change my nav system has been telling me about for a month.

I woke up around 6:20am, and immediately remembered my thought from last night. I figured, what the heck, I'll actually do it!

I got up, got dressed for the gym, had some cereal, set the coffee machine timer for Cam, grabbed some magazines to read while I waited for the car and headed out.

About a half mile from the house, on my way up a hill...

And the without warning out of nowhere is

So clearly, it looks a mess and I remember it from yesterday when I was sure it gave me a flat and no one is coming toward me so I attempted to swerve around to avoid it and wham blam, thank you St. Clair Township - I now have a busted tire.

I contemplate driving the few miles to the dealership, contemplate pulling over and calling AAA, then remember that a. I have a full spare in my trunk, b. my house is only a half mile away, and c. my husband hasn't left for work yet. Good times.

After changing the tire and leaving for work, Cam suggests that I call the city and rip them a new one, as well as take photos should they plead innocent. Which they did. But take photos I did.

The exact quote Butch (yes, Butch) gave me when I called was "in my driving experience, that patch is drivable."

Really, Butch? Really?

Posted by nikl at 04:31 PM | Comments (0)

November 30, 2007

Lacefield Music Follow-up

Original entry

Follow-up:

Posted by nikl at 10:32 AM | Comments (0)

Kmart magic

Last night, I sang with Downtime for the first time since, what - September? It was great to see the guys again, but the true highlight of the night was our location.

I knew it was a "Kmart opening" so I thought I was ready. But I wasn't. Wal-Mart, Lowes, Home Depot - they are all sprouting up everywhere around here lately, so I figured it was going to be a new big box store with all the trimmings.

Well, I get off the highway and see the Kmart sign and think "huh, I guess they've gone retro with their signange, ok." Then I pull into the lot and it all becomes clear: This isn't a Grand Opening. This a "Grand re-Opening." A "Renovation CelebRation" as they were calling it. How very Kmart.

This was gonna be good.

They had the band set up right as you came in the store, just to the left of the... wait for it... red carpet. They had a photographer taking photos as people came in, as well we a little "party portrait" corner set up - just like in da club (and there were a few treating it as such).

We played from 7 - 9, and the varied looks on folks' faces as they came into Kmart and found a LIVE BAND ranged from booty shakin' to glares.

Around 8:30, we kicked into "I Will Survive," and yup, you guessed it, people started to DANCE. In the Kmart. We segued into "Brick House," and the rest, is please-erase-it-from-my-memory-for-the-rest-of-my-life history.

Here's Mat's recap of the night on Facebook (you have to be logged in to see it).

The first 12 photos in this Facebook album will be more fun with comments and tags. Here's the Full album of 42 photos on Ofoto without the commentary.

Either way, madness.

Posted by nikl at 09:46 AM | Comments (0)

November 14, 2007

Lacefield Music brilliance

Being an aficionado of good marketing and advertising as well as being in charge of creating it from time to time, I'm always on the lookout for messages that stand out. Particularly when I listen to KMOX 1120, where I've decided all the commercials essentially sound the same, and when effective are largely due to repetition.

This is likely due to one of two things. One, the advertiser listens and makes their spot to "fit in" with the others (which, yes, seems counterintuitive, but I think in this market there's a certain message sent by merely running on the station, given its image), or two, production is included with the buy and as I know from my experiences, while each spot is unique, they tend to have the same "feel."

So, two weeks ago when I heard the new Lacefield Music commercial during my drive home, I nearly drove off the road.

Lacefield Music clearly "gets it" because the whole store is built upon the concept of the customer desire as opposed to simply selling commodities. The store's mission is:

"To provide a place where anyone, regardless of age or musical experience, could fulfill a lifelong dream of learning to play a musical instrument as well as a place, to purchase top quality instruments, operating with a sense of corporate responsibility placing customer service at the top of its priorities list."

Dreams first, transaction second. Simple. Yet so many businesses can't seem to grasp it. But I digress.

Before you listen to the commercial, please go to the Lacefield website. If you click on one section, please choose the "Pictures/Media" section. Get a sense of who they are and who their clients are.

Lacefield Music website >

Ok, now imagine you're listening to the 6pm news on KMOX (for non-St. Louisans, think talk radio, but not as subdued as NPR - they're a CBS affiliate), driving along. You've just heard a commercial for the Overhead Door company or Gutter Helmet. Maybe a commercial about the value or gold or an investment opportunity with a 2 million dollar minimum. The you hear this >.

Points to Lacefield for running this spot. I bet people make stuff like this much more often than it ever sees the light of day. And extra points for the Ray Vincent nod (which maybe wasn't on purpose, but I'm thinkin' so).

When I begged them to post the commercial to their site so that I could post it here, I got a bonus.

The full song >. Merry early Christmas to me.

Music and Lyrics by Andy Stephen and Larry Lacefield
Commercial voice-over by Cathy Krubsack, President Lacefield Music

Posted by nikl at 10:45 AM | Comments (2)

November 03, 2007

We Are Family extravaganza

At my mom's 60th b'day party

Posted by nikl at 02:42 PM | Comments (0)

October 30, 2007

I married a cutie

Again, I can't even write in public about the madness that went down today.

But I can write about how I'm mad attracted to my husband.

Those who know him casually will find this shocking, and that's just fine.

I was about a half hour ahead of him to the gym after work today. All the treadmills downstairs were taken, so I headed up to the cinema machines - no one is ever up there. When I emerged, I stopped at the top of the stairs and scanned the room for my man. I saw him, and smiled. I came downstairs and talked to him for a minute about dinner, and I thought "damn, he's kinda cute."

Then I was glad. 'Cause, you know. I married him and all.

Posted by nikl at 09:18 PM | Comments (0)

October 19, 2007

Who knew?

I've written before about my obsession with skincare products that's so much of an obsession that I can't even see it as such. It's just something that I do every day without question. I suppose I have my mother to thank for this. Since the age of fourteen, I've had a daily ritual that has consisted of new fewer than 3 steps.

But who am I fooling, it hasn't been 3 steps for quite some time. And it hasn't been restricted to my face for quite some time. Right before I left NYC, between face and body, my ritual consisted of 9 steps and as many different products. If cash was tight I was still gonna have my Body Butter. Eliminating such things was simply not an option. I tried to use the best stuff I could find at Walgreens. Not only was it not the same, it was NO WHERE CLOSE.

I am at peace with the fact that this is odd, and that it's just the way it is. My skincare ritual is sacred.

We also know that last July, I became an MK consultant in the name of finding products I liked as much as the Clinique ritual and then finding out becoming a consultant means forever discount. I've been happy since then, but lately, I've kind been missing Clinique. There, I said it.

But this morning, everything changed.

I've always used products for normal/dry. Lately I've had pimples pop up here and there - which has always happened, but more than usual. Enough that over the past month I've been putting some thought to it. I noticed that the pimples always popped up in the "T-zone" and I thought, huh. Maybe I have combimation skin. So I decided that next time I ran out of cleanser or moisturizer, I'd try the combination/oily (because I can just go to my closet and do that. Love it).

This morning in the shower, I squeezed out some combo/oily cleanser for the first time and at first thought I'd grabbed the wrong stuff. It was a completely different substance than the normal/dry I'd been using for a year. WTF. Why didn't anyone tell me? Then I read the directions which advised adding more water to increase lather - wait? Lather??? The other stuff didn't lather!

After my shower and following up with step 2, 3 and 4 (4 is still normal/dry - might have to tweak that one too) I have to say that my face hasn't felt this good in YEARS. I am no longer missing Clinique.

And see, this is what I'm always saying about people talking about stuff: Divorce, sex, money and facial rituals - I could have discovered this facial bliss AGES ago - had someone just told me...

Posted by nikl at 10:52 AM | Comments (0)

October 09, 2007

Wow.

On March 19, 2007 I posted photos and commentary on my blog after being stopped next to a van from Land of Oz Academy.

Little did I know, that 7 months later it would become a COMMERCIAL on our station. Me. Dead.

Posted by nikl at 01:13 PM | Comments (0)

October 01, 2007

CSI: St. Louis

Somebody done gone and got shot on my office block. Niiiiice. Apparently, it was a police officer shooting a suspect.

It was instant drama, looked like a block party from our windows. Even up to the guy in a wheelchair braving the speed (mountains) bumps in our lot to get as close to the scene as possible. The blocked off a huge area, and policemen were walking around looking closely at the ground. There's even a police dog out there. At one point, a guy and a suit jumped out of a car and made his way under the police tape. Total CSI.

The trick will be getting out of our parking lot to get to my board meeting at 6pm...

Posted by nikl at 05:18 PM | Comments (0)

August 22, 2007

So friggin' cute

Posted by nikl at 04:19 PM | Comments (0)

August 21, 2007

Keep on keepin' on

Havin' babies, publishin' articles. Can't stop that Kira. Can't stop her.

Article >

Baby

Posted by nikl at 09:44 AM | Comments (0)

August 20, 2007

The magic of James and Saundra

Those who know about James and Saundra know about the magic of James and Saundra. But truly? Do you know about the magic of James and Saundra?

Yesterday, James and Saundra celebrated 40 years of marriage. That's a lot.

My initial plan was to tell the story of James and Saundra here. But as I went to type it, it was clear that I'd never - ever - be able to capture it in its purity. Really, what I must implore you to do is to get James to tell it. I'm debating whether or not it's best told with Saundra nearby or not, but I think that should you have the chance to hear it from James, you should go for it, regardless.

That, is your challenge, should you choose to accept it. I understand that this may take many of you years and years. It will be worth the journey, I guarantee. If you can get James to play Wack-A-Mole, Skee-ball or sing along to Dancing Queen along the way, then extra bonus to you.

Posted by nikl at 10:54 PM | Comments (0)

July 19, 2007

Mr. Jimmy says, "wassup."

This morning on KMOX they reminded us all that it is the anniversary of the crazy day a year ago when the twister came to town and everyone was without power. I guess it's a positive that it was only then that I realized it is also the anniversary of my grandfather's death. And when I remembered, I wasn't sad in the slightest. At peace that he's at peace.

About an hour ago, a big ol' storm whipped up. I hear ya', Papa - good to know you're chillin'. Thanks for not knocking out the power for a week.

Posted by nikl at 04:55 PM | Comments (1)

May 30, 2007

Showtune Tuesday

It's too late to go into it now, but Happy Birthday Gary!

Pics >

Posted by nikl at 01:03 AM | Comments (0)

May 29, 2007

Farewell, Ryan

Last Friday was the last day of work for one Ryan Wiggins, co-author of Eagles Fly. It's a sad day, but those in the know know that we'll still regularly enjoy his Ryan-ness. That's what myspace and Facebook are for. Long like the aughts.

Below is the farewell video made by Omar and Gary.

Posted by nikl at 09:09 AM | Comments (0)

May 09, 2007

Speechless

Um, I'm not even sure where to start here.

"At last, my arm is complete" comes to mind, and while it's wholly inappropriate for this discovery, it's somehow perfect in it's rightness.

I had a favorite Ethiopian place in NYC called Meskerem. It was the best best thing ever. Back in the Rosie Too days, I would get takeout from Meskerem and bring it to Rosie's - while everyone else ordered pizza :). Matt Conroy and I would go there every time we managed to get our schedules in order. And sometimes I would just crave it and travel from wherever I happened to be to get it - no matter the distance. SO. GOOD.

A couple weeks ago I saw that an Ethipian place had opened up on South Grand. I was on my way somewhere else, relying on the GPS to get there, so I barely paid attention. I made a mental note to try to figure out what it was a try it.

This morning I found out that it's a ST. LOUIS LOCATION OF MESKEREM.

They have two NYC locations, one in Charlotte, and now, ONE IN ST. LOUIS.

I am in shock, and cannot wait to partake.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by nikl at 10:11 AM | Comments (1)

May 06, 2007

All of the people, around us they say...

Now that I was a mini-diva and asked to re-record my tunes on the demo, I am perfectly willing to point folks towards the website for the band I sing with. I just realized that we have a wedding (if not two) EVERY WEEKEND all summer.

Don't be dissuaded by the 1 minute intro on We Are Family. The 2nd verse is so worth the wait...

Downtime

Posted by nikl at 12:20 PM | Comments (0)

April 26, 2007

Back on the bus

After, like, 6 years, I've started working out regularly.

Ok, maybe only 3 years.

And ok, maybe I've only done it twice in two weeks.

But it's a start.

Posted by nikl at 01:24 PM | Comments (0)

April 18, 2007

Officially a Princess

This is how bad I am. I just did my daily visit to Life in Style, and today's post is about How to change a flat tire. The intro is about the fact that women are so independent these days, but when it comes to cars, not so much, so here's a guide!

Miss Life in Style suggests we read it, print it and keep a copy in the car.

I am all about empowerment and independence, but when it comes to cars, I'm gleefully ready to play my "role." My husband loves to be the man, and I have to let him sometimes, right? The car is the perfect opportunity. Husband not around? I learned early in life the power of that gold card - no, not that one, the other one - AAA. Love it. Use it.

This makes me a walking contradiction. I'm ok with it.

Posted by nikl at 09:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 15, 2007

I am your ambassador

Last night, we had a wedding gig at the American Legion hall in St. Libory, IL. It was a couple from Nashville, IL, but the closest location to host 700 people (yes. No typo) is apparently the American Legion Hall in St. Libory.

While we were at an American Legion hall, and there were 700 people in attendance, there was indeed an open bar. Props to hosts. So three-quarters of the way through the evening, when I made my way to the ladies room, the man I ran into was quite drunk. On my way in, he offered his hand, which I took, and after a long pause, he said "I'm really enjoying your voice." I said thank you, and continued on my way. When I came out, he was still standing there, and clearly had something to say.

Now, I could have smiled and kept walking, but instead I stopped, smiled and made it clear that I knew he had something to say and that I was willing to wait for him to figure it our in his clam, drunken state.

"You don't really see people like you around here."

I didn't even pause in my decision to go ahead and by laying it out there confirm that it was an ok conversation to have and if you ask me why I'm not sure I could explain it —

Me: Yeah, I kinda figured I'd be the only black person here.

My New Friend: You're a very pretty...

Me: Black person?

MNF: I mean, yeah. It's just, I'm not used to - I've net met someone like you.

[beat]

MNF: How old are you?

Me: 32

MNF: [drunken silence]

Me: I look younger, right?

MNF: [nod]

Me: I get that a lot. I look 12 apparently.

MNF: Bla - African-Americans(?) [I make a gesture/expression letting him know I'm fine w/ either] always look 20 years younger than they actually are. Anyway, you are very pretty and you have a very beautiful voice.

Me: Thank you [looking to the bandstand to see if our break is over - hoping the break is over. It's not]

MNF: I've thought about dating african-americans before, but I've always thought that, you know, around here, I'd be run out of town. But I'm standing here, enjoying your singing, and now talking to you - you are different. You'd be ok to date.

Me: I think that people assume a lot more differences than there actually are sometimes. My husband is white -

MNF: Oh, you're married.

Me: Yup.

MNF: And he's white? Really?

Me: yup. From a small town in west Texas even

MNF: Wow. That's - wow. This whole time I didn't realize you were married. I've been separated since January and divorced since april. I was married for 21 years.

Me: That's got to be hard

[Now, on my way to St. Libory, I was anticipating that I'd be the only black person in a crowd of 700 people, and for some reason the thought that came to mind was to wonder whether or not they would play "Gold Digger" and if so, which version and if it was the uncensored version, what would I do?

At this moment, I realize that "Gold Digger" is playing. However, the conversation I'm participating in has been and continues to hold my attention to the degree that I have no idea which version is playing.]

MNF: Yeah. I'm just not good at being single. I've been doing that internet dating thing -

Me: I met my husband on eHarmony.com!

MNF: I've been on a few dates, but nothin' yet. A few african-americans have popped up as matches, but none of them are like you.

Me: I'm sure you'll find someone.

MNF: I wish I could find someone like you. You're different than any African-american I've ever met.

Me: Well, I'm used to being the only black person where I am - I grew up in Rosewood Heights, by East Alton.

MNF: Hmm - I've been to Granite City?

Me: North of that.

MNF: Oh.

[beat. Me still looking to see if the break is over]

MNF: You're more light skinned than most african-american's I've seen.

Me: We come in all shades! My great grandfather was white.

MNF: Oh! That explains it.

[Band starts to play]

Me: Oh! I've got to get back on stage.

MNF: Ok. It was nice talking to you.

Me: Stay out there, you'll find someone. And maybe she'll even be black!

MNF: Thanks for the conversation!

End.

Now, let me clarify that while this man was drunk drunk drunk, he was in no way obnoxious loud touchy-feely drunk - just the everything that popped in his head came right out of his mouth drunk. I can't image that he would have said any of this sober. And while some might not be amused in the slightest by the above, I have to say that really, he just seemed sad, lonely, and curious. The alcohol and/or the growing up in an environment completely devoid of diversity brought him to me in a place where he found his questions and comments fair game. And to his credit, even given the previous, he did (to some extent) look to my clues to keep talking. I really just wanted to give him a hug. (But that would have been yet another clue, not one I wanted to give.)

I'm not sure what the moral is here. I'm used to playing the role of accessible black person people feel comfortable asking about all the Great Mysteries of Being Black. Some black people who know me find that hilarious for varying reasons, which is a whole other blog post.

I guess just

a. it was hilarious
b. only in the midwest. and
c. if that guy goes on a date and ends up happily and blissfully married to a black woman because of that conversation, that would be mad awesome

Posted by nikl at 08:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 04, 2007

Cutest. Evah.

It's official. My nephew is the cutest. Ever.

Posted by nikl at 11:49 AM | Comments (0)

Moooooo

Last week I received my moo cards.

Let me begin by saying how impressed I am that they were able to purchase the URL moo.com. Kudos.

Thanks to miss Kate Sinclair for peeping me to moo cards a few weeks ago. We're gradually getting up and running with 3rd Row Center and wanted a quick (cheap) way to get some cards done. I took a mixture of photos I already had in archive and some I took expressly for moo card purposes, signed up with Flickr and in an hour had my moos designed and ordered. It truly couldn't be easier.

The only drawback was the shipping delay, since they travel from across the pond (oh, how I miss Allan and Alan and Thom and discussions of those across the pond and their doings). I think I'm officially spoiled by the speedy shipping antics of Crate, PB, BN and Ofoto (which I will NEVER call Kodak Gallery).

Here are the fruits of my labor:

Posted by nikl at 11:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 02, 2007

Eagles Fly to the next level

Eagles Fly was featured on the front page of the Everyday section of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch this morning.

Eagles LIVES. Refresh your Eagles love.

Posted by nikl at 09:15 AM | Comments (0)

March 27, 2007

Priceless my ass

A glamorous (albeit long a food-less) night at your company's theatre - $0

Getting another wear out of the outfit purchased for the '06 company party - $0

1.5" gash in your rear driver tire from the "VIP" parking in the alley next to the theatre - $250

Posted by nikl at 08:42 AM | Comments (0)

March 24, 2007

Yes, Virginia, People That Stupid Do Roam the Earth Freely

Last night, after specifically deciding I was NOT going to stop in at Lil' Peeps for Karaoke, I stopped in at Lil' Peeps for some Karaoke.

OW had organized a group, I hadn't seen her in a week (:)) and I had to drive by anyway. I'd dressed in the morning with the possibility in mind, wearing clothes I was ok with having to wash immediately due to smoke saturation. So I was prepared to give it an hour or so.

Now, for those who don't know, let me explain that Lil' Peeps is

a. Really and truly actually called Lil' Peeps
b. A bar fashioned out of an old RAX
c. Fah rEEuhl

So, the smoke is thick, the music predictable and its your expected midwestern night out of fun. There's this guy so drunk and odd that you're not sure if he's just that trashed or if he's a little mentally challenged in which case, why is he that trashed. Either way, annoying. He gets up to do some rap version of some song that's not a rap, and in the lyrics, is the "n" word.

Now, this is actually a perfect example of the double standard set by the hip-hop community - in that it's "ok for a one of my brotha's to call me that - you know, it's a term of endearment," but if a white person says it... Ok, well, now that every suburban kid from here to there and back has embraced the hip-hop culture as their own and the advertising world has caught on, it's everywhere. And anyone who listens to hip-hop has been desensitized to the "n" word and other street terms like it. And at the same time that rappers are churning out music supporting this desensitization, we all wonder why we all "can't just get along."

Anyway, I digress. Deliverance boy wailed his way drunkenly through the song, "rapping" all the lyrics, including the "n" word. Many people kinda went "huh?" when he did it, having not realized it was the "rap" version whatever classic song it was, but then listened a little more and realized what was going on. So fine. Some of his friends must have said something to him about it, b/c seemingly out of nowhere he starts talking about how he's the "white got not afraid to say n*%%#$" - and proceeds to defend this title for the next, oh, say, 20 minutes.

It's been a long time since someone used this word in my presence, and I've been lucky enough that I can only remember twice, and both times were people who weren't so much throwing it at me, but trying it out (not that I'm sure usage matters). The first time I was too young to tell the girl just how ignorant it was of her to "try out" the word, and the second time we (some other friends were there when it happened) punished the user for months. I don't think he's uttered the word since.

There were two other black people in the bar, both on the other side of the room. This guy's group was right next to ours - not that he couldn't be heard over everything else going on. The more his friends encouraged him to shut the hell up, the more he persisted he was mad cool for being unafraid, and using the word in every exclamation.

I hadn't had a drop to drink so I was 100% clear headed. I always say that the most appropriate thing to do in situations of pure ignorance is to point and laugh as thought observing an animal in a zoo. But this guys was so far gone, and he wasn't being overtly hateful, just waving his stupidity around like a flag. Pointing and laughing was just going to make him wave harder - and louder. In fact, any sort of confrontation was just going to aggravate the situation. So I did nothing. Neither did either of the two black guys on the other side of the room (they were with different groups). In doing nothing, at first I felt as though I'd failed. I was uncomfortable, I wanted to leave. But I kept thinking about it (as he kept frickin' yelling) and I came to peace. No one that sad is worth brain space of mine.

So Virginia, yes, people this ignorant do still exist. You've got your animals in the zoo and you've got your pathetic ignorant drunk - both seen in simulated natural habitats.

Posted by nikl at 06:21 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

March 23, 2007

Hood Painting is for MIRRORS

This morning I found myself in front of a van with the company name painted on the hood. But it wasn't backwards, so in my rear view mirror, it was, well, backwards.

Is there a point in hood painting if it's not viewable in the rear view mirror? I suppose one could argue that it's effective for oncoming advertising, but how much hood reading is actually done when a vehicle's in the oncoming lane? I mean really?

Am I being too hard on these guys?

I tried to take a photo, but the light turned green.

Posted by nikl at 11:22 AM | Comments (0)

March 17, 2007

Even MORE Proof that the Wiz is at the Center of the Black Universe

I don't think I've ever commented on the number of childcare businesses I see in the 'hood where I work. so many, that I've started to think that it's cultural. It could be that I'm just not exposed to other slices of society so regularly and I'm totally wrong, but I just don't think so. Can someone confirm or deny this for me?

Last week, at the light at the intersection of Kingshighway and Natural Bridge, I was stopped next to this van:

At this point, I was unsure of what to do. Ever. After I got over the shock, I realized that it was, surprise, a childcare van. Luckily, I regained my senses and grabbed my camera. Just in case you can't see it really well, here's a close-up on the main logo:

If the insanity of this isn't striking you immediately, I don't really have worlds to attempt explaining it further.

Posted by nikl at 12:51 PM | Comments (0)

March 07, 2007

It's All About Modern Technology

Avery Videos! >

Posted by nikl at 03:05 PM | Comments (0)

March 04, 2007

The Golf Ball Ceremony

Yesterday, it began:

More photos from Avery's first few days.

Posted by nikl at 11:28 AM | Comments (0)

March 02, 2007

Welcome Avery!

Welcome to the world, Mr. Avery Washington Banks!

He so looks like he already knows what's up, and he wants to know what you think about it.

He was born around 2am on March 1, 8lbs 13oz 21in and my dad says he has crazy long fingers and feet. I'm headed up to meet him after work today - many more photos to follow! :)

Posted by nikl at 08:52 AM | Comments (0)

February 16, 2007

Here We Go...

It's official. After 16 years on the District 7 School Board, my mom is not running for re-election. The date to file has passed, so she can't change her mind :).

There are 5 people vying for her seat, 1 of which would be a complete cluster#%@^, two of which would be a nightmare and two of which would be productive additions. It's going to be an interesting race to say the least. I predict at least 1 lawsuit will come out of it...

Posted by nikl at 10:39 AM | Comments (0)

February 15, 2007

Eagle Update

Eagles is up to almost 38,000 views and it's rated #95 Top Favorites for the month for all the comedy videos on YouTube.com. KILLING ME!

Oh, and now you can buy t-shirts.

Posted by nikl at 09:24 AM | Comments (1)

February 12, 2007

Two Years Ago Today...

In honor of the anniversary of the night I met my husband, I bring you an excerpt from my secret dating blog of that era:

Tonight, I met Texas Boy.

My plan for the evening was to meet a HS friend out at a restaurant for a night of drinking and good food with his girlfriend and initialy some of both of our friends, but all my friends had other plans so it ended up being just his friends. Texas Boy and I have been exchanging e-mails outside eH for a couple days now, and this afternoon I said hey, going to this restaurant, meeting a bunch of folks for the first time, if you can get away from work, come, here's my phone #. He came (with wing man in tow).

I had to edit that to protect the innocent, but that, my friends, is how it all began :)...

Posted by nikl at 09:33 AM | Comments (0)

February 11, 2007

Damn

I just wanna say that Eagles is now up to almost 21,000 views. Hella yeah.

On another note, Survivor rocks. I have to say it. They manage to keep it interested after nine gagillion seasons. Why they didn't let Yau-man solve the damn puzzle is insane.

Posted by nikl at 02:31 PM | Comments (1)

February 01, 2007

Yay Uncle Bill!

Cameron's cousin Sherri's husband Bill who really isn't Cameron's uncle but that's what we call him suprised us by catching the majority o our wedding day on camera. Given the fact that we STILL DON'T HAVE ALL OF OUR PHOTOS (don't get me started), it was a wonderful surprise to receive the DVD in the mail yesetrday! Being the internet girl that I am, I've split it up into bite sized chunks so that you can at least hear the amazingness that is Maya Azucena singing her patookey off just for us! You can link to YouTube for a listing where you can see all the clip titles by clicking here, or you can click around using the little interface below, where you can't really tell what's what until its started.

One day, we'll have all of our photos too...

Posted by nikl at 11:29 PM | Comments (0)

January 17, 2007

Smallest. World. Ever.

I can't believe that I didn't write about this yet, a.

Friday, the day of the Missouri Miracle, where a boy missing for 4 and a half years was found living with the same first name and the last name of his kidnapper an hour from where he disappeared, a friend I hadn't seen in 12 years came to town for an interview. But that's only the beginning.

In the summer of 1992, I was in a production of Big River at SIUE. I had just graduated from High School, but the the cast wast mostly college students. Chris Trares and Tony Visser were two of them. I kept in touch with Chris over the years, but hadn't really kept in touch with Tony, who is one of the funniest people I've ever met. But I digress.

When I was working at Rodgers Townsend, I met Katie McGrath, who in addition to being a professional rock star, is a a rock star rock star. She throws an annual indoor Christmas Caroling party and it's AWESOME. At the 2004 party, the piano player, Larry, and I totally hit it off, and at some point realized that we'd been hearing about each other for 12 years, through CHRIS TRARES (see above). After I started working at 46, it turns out that Larry works for one of our clients. Small world, right?

So back to Friday night. Chris is coming to town, he rounds up Tony and Larry, I bring Cameron, and we have a nice night out in the CWE despite the awful weather. During the evening, I as Tony where he's living right now:

Nicole: So, where are you living right now?

Tony: Rosewood Heights.

Nicole: Seriously!? I grew up in Rosewood Heights!

Tony: Really? Where?

Nicole: Carolee Ct.

Tony: Wait - my sister lives on Carolee Ct. Number 28 I think.

Nicole: That's crazy. We were at number 15.

Tony: Wait, 15? I was wrong, my sister is at 15!

Nicole: Nu uh.

Tony: No, no, i think so. Walk out basement?

Nicole: Yeah - White/Grey brick?

Tony: Willie lives next door?

Nicole: YES! Vicki and Willie - and the backyand goes like this (makes hi-to-low hilly motion with hand and arm)?

Tony: YES!

Nicole/Tony: HOLY SHIT!?!?!

Apparently, the bar that my parents had put in the basement before we moved has been renamed "The Peach Pit" and there's a party to be had there every weekend night. So plans are made for Cameron and I to join after trivia Saturday night, which we did. Long live the Peach Pit.

How can the world be so big and so small, all at the same time?

Posted by nikl at 09:11 PM | Comments (0)

December 20, 2006

Hot Water: Not Overrated

Our hot water heater has been trying to poop out over the past two winters. The past three weeks, as the heater limped its way towards that water heater place in the sky, the water has only stayed hot long enough to ONLY get the most basic level of clean. (Hair washings had to be timed so that Cameron was available to watch the pilot light, warn me when it was out, then relight it and watch again.)

I understand that, for men, this is not an issue. But women DO things in the shower. Most of us are not silky smooth in all the right places by magic. Most of us don't have clear even skin by osmosis. And most of us have hair longer than an inch. And most of us have fallen for this thing called conditioner. And the list goes on.

Today, our brand new wall unit continuous water heater was installed. The beauty of continuous is that, well, it's continuous. Which means I can take as long a shower as I want without losing hot water.

And I just did.

Me = Happy Camper.

Posted by nikl at 12:49 AM | Comments (0)

November 07, 2006

As I Thought

Apparently, I should not be voting. Which I could have told you. I got a big ol' phat D.

Posted by nikl at 10:29 AM | Comments (2)

November 05, 2006

A Transformation

Tonight I truly became... The Wedding Singer.

I've been singing with Downtime for a few months now, and while I do sing "I Will Survive," "We Are Family" and other such standard wedding tunes, Mat's really The Wedding Singer of the bunch. He grabs the cordless and heads out into the audience for The Electric Slide. He gets them to sing "La la la la la la la la la la di da" on "Brown-eyed Girl," he's getting solos from the audience on "Mustang Sally." So far, I just sing the chick tunes and look good.

Well, tonight, all that changed.

I don't know if it was my new status as a married woman, me being comfortable, or maybe it was just written in the stars, but tonight, my friends, I made my debut.

It all started with "We Are Family." I had seen a band do an audience participation bit in the middle of the song back in September, and I'd immediately texted Jon and said we had to do it. Even though I was so not ready to actually do it. Luckily the next wedding we played it just wouldn't have flown. Well, tonight, the mood was perfect, the crowd was primed, and, well, I did it. I initiated crowd participation in the copacity of a singer with a band at a wedding. Making me, A Wedding Singer.

Apparently I liked it, because in "I Will Survive," I invented a NEW crowd participation bit - ON THE SPOT. Talk about out of the gate running. And it involved the Soul Clap.

I proceeded to adlib, interact and generally go hog wild throughout the rest of the evening. And I daresay it was one of the funnest ever. I even won the newly inaugerated nightly gig award, given by my bandmates.

Now that I'm out of my shell, be warned, young paduan. Be warned.

Posted by nikl at 02:27 AM | Comments (0)

October 28, 2006

Lost on Me

I'm not sure why, but the whole "we won the World Series" thing is totally lost on me. I can't even dredge up faux excitement. I recognize that it's good for the city and the paper and downtown and all that. It's kind of a bummer that the money grubbingness of the Cards totally paid off (though with the worst record ever), but I'm not even really worked up about that. Just total, well, indifference.

I'm going to go ahead and guess that it's due to the fact that I got married last week and pretty much everything besides the experiences of the wedding week and the people surrounding it seems less than important. I'm a little surprised at myself as to just how moved I am by the whole thing. And It's like I process it all a little more every day - which, I suppose, is very Nicole Hudson, the whole delayed emotional reaction thing :).

Speaking of which, here are some more photos from the weekend, as recorded by Cameron's groomsman, Donnie: here.

Also, I thought I'd post the text from our program.

And, what's up with Indiana anyway?

Posted by nikl at 10:07 PM | Comments (0)

Wedding Program Text

WEDDING PARTY

Parents of the Bride
Dr. James Hudson and Mrs. Saundra Johnson Hudson

Parents of the Groom
Mr. Robert Hollway and Mrs. Lexie Hollway

Officiant
Judge Mike Brown

Best Man
Mr. Robert Hollway Bobby is Cameron's older brother, as if you couldn't tell. He's the automotive department manager at Sears in San Angelo and one of the better pool players in West Texas. Bobby's son, Garrett, is 9.

Groomsmen
Mr. Kevin Tims “Slim” is one of Cameron's closest friends, dating back to their time at Wall High School and as fraternity brother at Angelo State. Kevin and Rachel have two children, Samantha (10) and Austin (3). Slim is a district manager for Town & Country convenience stores.

Mr. Don Reed “Reedsie” is Cameron's golfing buddy, and one mean poker player. From St. Joseph, Missouri, Don has two children: Ellie (14) and Daniel (11). He's the night sports editor at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Mr. Roger Hensley Roger loves the Chicago Bears and White Sox, Notre Dame football, and Bobby Knight. An Indiana native, Roger and Cathy have two beautiful daughters, Abbie (8) and Emma (6). In his spare time, Roger is the deputy sports editor at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Matron of Honor
Dr. Kira Banks Kira is the world’s youngest PhD and general academic superstar. She is an assistant professor of psychology at Illinois Wesleyan University, and her area of research is racial identity development. She rocks a mean karaoke mic, especially when Kelly Clarkson is involved.

Bridesmaids
Mrs. Kathryn Iwanusa Kathi is a music teacher, sax player and mother extraordinaire. Kathi lived next door to Nicole in Brooklyn, and they logged many an hour on rat runs, at Target and at the New York Youth Theatre. She has two children, Erin and Matthew, and recently married “Mister Jim” (Conmy).

Dr. Karyn Fowler Karyn and Nicole met in the Saturday Suzuki program before they terrorized the halls of Edwardsville Jr. High School together – or was it the other way around?… Back in the Midwest after completing her residency in Denver. She and her husband Dr. Chad Fowler reside in O’Fallon, Mo.

Ms. Jennifer Mudge Nicole met Jennifer while working at Alan Wasser Associates in New York, where Jennifer is the office manager (queen of the world). They were original members of the office softball team, The Broadway Bombers. The Bombers didn’t win many games, but with uniforms designed by the folks who designed the logo for the Phantom of the Opera, they sure did look good.

Ushers
Mr. Tony Aguirre Cameron's other brother from another mother, Tony has been an unofficial Hollway since he was coached by Ol' Bob in Little League. Tony and his wife Wendy live in San Angelo with their family. Tony is in the automotive financing business.

Mr. James Conmy “Mister Jim” has put up with more than his fair share of girls nights in which he has exhibited the patience of a saint. When he’s not managing every word that comes out of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, he’s crunking. Watch out on the dance floor.

Mr. Jim Inghram “Ingy” was a colleague of Cameron's at the Post-Dispatch for several years before recently moving back to his native Southern California. Jim's passions are the Padres, UCLA athletics and anything trivia. He's a writer for a manufacturing trade magazine.

Ring Bearers
Mr. Ryan Gully The son of Cameron's close friends Randy and Tammy Gully, Ryan (6) is in kindergarten at Wall Elementary. He and older brother Layton (8) help their parents on the family farm.

Mr. J. Mackenzie Brewer MacKenzie is Nicole’s second cousin, son of her cousin Jasmine Brewer. He may act like he’s shy, but know that it’s just an act. He’s a charmer first class. MacKenzie is 3 and started pre-kindergarten this fall.

Attendants
Ms. Callista Chen, Candle Attendant is one of Nicole’s closet high school friends, and one of the better writers she knows. When she’s not traveling the world on a whim because she can, and sometimes at the same time, she works for McKinsey & Co. as an associate editor for their quarterly business journal.

Mrs. Tammy Gully, Candle Attendant is Cameron's closest high school friend. She's a teacher, and she and her husband Randy own a farm near Wall. Tammy, who is never without her camera, is the world's best scrapbooker. She and Randy have two children, Layton and Ryan.

Ms. Edie Hollway, Candle Attendant is Cameron's sister and the youngest of the Hollway siblings. Edie has been employed for eight years by San Angelo National Bank, where she's the head teller. Edie and her fiancee Andy have been together for eight years.

Ms. Tracy Saunders, Candle Attendant is Cameron's sister and the senior of the four Hollway kids. She's the mother of four outstanding children (Paul, Matthew, Stephanie and Lexie) and the grandmother of Stephanie's son, Cameron.

Mrs. Bonni Burns Schuette, Program Attendant Bonni is Nicole’s immediate supervisor and general sanity from 9-5 Monday through Friday in addition to being her most recent BFF. OMGCYBTI???

Mr. Kent Schuette, Program Attendant Kent is not only Bonni’s husband, but the hottest guitar player in the Midwest. His licks and riffs can be heard every year in the massive fundraiser he and Bonni produce for a local home for mentally disabled adults.

Musicians
Ms. Maya Azucena Maya and Nicole bonded for the first time on a trip to San Angelo to sing back-up with Allan Harris at Fort Concho in 2003. Describing her as a singer song-writer doesn’t begin to explain the gift she possesses.

Mr. Christian Verhalen When he’s not playing, writing or touring with Maya, Christian is producing shows at the Blue Note in New York, or spending time with his rock star of a wife, Nisha – though none of the above are mutually exclusive.

Readers
Dr. Kira Banks

Mr. James Weitzer Nicole and Jim met at Northwestern, where he began his career as a musical theatre heartthrob. As roommates, Nicole and Jim spent many a late night rewriting the popular musical theatre cannon. For hours.

CEREMONY
Lighting Of The Candles

Prelude/Seating Of The Mothers
“Like No Other” | M. Azucena, C. VerHalen

Processional
“Set You Free” | M. Azucena, C. VerHalen

Welcome

Description Of Marriage

Reading
On How We Met

Exchange Of Vows

Exchange Of Rings

Reflection
“Hallelujah”

Announcement Of Marriage

Recessional

SPECIAL THANKS
Hamp And Bonnie Beesley
Vic And Cathy Choate
Bob And Laura Derby
Randy And Tammy Gully
Stephanie March
Monte And Trish Sims
And All Of Our Family And Friends
Who Have Helped Make This Weekend So Special

Posted by nikl at 09:56 PM | Comments (0)

October 09, 2006

He Drives Around, All Over The Town...

Just in case you forgot: Toonces, the Driving Cat.

Thank you Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Funny stuff.

Speaking of YouTube, damn. Go google. And as Larry Meyers said tonight, "when am I gonna come up with my YouTube?"

3rd Row Center?...

Posted by nikl at 09:45 PM | Comments (0)

October 08, 2006

T minus 2 weeks!

Two weeks from today, I will be married!.

Posted by nikl at 12:44 PM | Comments (0)

September 28, 2006

My Sister is a Friggin' Rock Star

To Quote my brother-in-law:

--

Tonight, Kira [my sister] won the 2006 Athena Award for being an overall outstanding female leader as well as role model in community service. It's not verified yet but she is believed to be the youngest award winner in the history of the 20+ year event (typically the award is given to women twice her age). Each year, the award is presented in over 300 areas in the country, not to mention internationally. More info on the award here.

Her mother was there as well to witness her winning the award. We're all proud of her so take time to congratulate her on a job extremely well done next time you talk to her!

--

Go 'head girl, go 'head get down. Photos here.

Posted by nikl at 09:50 PM | Comments (0)

September 24, 2006

All My soul Sisters

Thank you to all my girls for yesterday! So much fun. I love you all!

photos

Posted by nikl at 01:34 PM | Comments (0)

September 04, 2006

The Floor Is COMPLETE!

Finished tiling added at the end of the Kitchen Madness photo album.

WHOO HOO!

Posted by nikl at 03:11 PM | Comments (0)

August 07, 2006

Both of the men in my life have lessons for me

My legs are on strike.

In the most current phase of the kitchen remodel, this weekend we installed the kitchen tile. (I added photos to the end of the kitchen madness photo album.)

Friday night after work, Cameron and I took our individual cars way out to Manchester to pick up our tile which had finally come in. Antique white 16"x16". Love it. We put approximately 500 lbs of tile each in our cars, and make our way back to Belleville, praying our cars don't realize that we're treating them like pick-up trucks.

Saturday morning we get up and head to Home Depot, where dreams are made. Sorry, I mean, where people are convinced that home improvement projects are as easy as, say, oh, snapping your fingers. We know we need that mortar like stuff, and we know we need grout. Based on our room size of about 500 sq ft, the helpful flooring assosiate does some quick calculations and tells us we need 10 50 lbs bags of the mortar mix stuff and 4 bags of the 25 lbs grout stuff. And we have to choose from like, 50 grout colors. ??????

So we again load up my car like a two penny ho.

Sat night, Cameron prepares the floor and I go to Concert for Cancer and hear Open Arms. Journey. (Ask me to tell this story, which the more I (re-)tell the more I am convinced that I'm thinking it's a lot more funny than it actually is.)

Sunday morning, Nichol comes over to school us in the way of the tile. Jorie comes over to help. At 9am, we start prepping, and Nichol and I head to HOME DEPOT where we load up my car with a wet saw and a few more things. We debated about doing everything but what needed cuts and renting the wet saw a separate day, or waiting until noon and seeing where we were progress-wise before renting the wet saw, but somehow we land on bucking such logic to the wind and just going for it.

We get back, conduct an experiment to deduce that the room is indeed square, and start from the south and east sides of the room. We FLY. We are cool. We like the tile. We love separators. Nichol starts us off, and soon Jorie and I are laying tile and Cameron and Nichol are ruling the wet saw. We get both walls complete, they master the cut around the A/C vent, and then we get to the second row on the east wall going north.

Pesky tile. Doesn't seem straight. In, out, up, down, tilted, nudged. Finally we settle and move on.

Then we get to the 3rd row. Same point in the process, it gets tricky. We end up having to cut a tile to get it to fit. But we think this will get us on track, we'll be fine moving forward if we can just get past this spot...

After the fourth row, we realize that no. Contrary to popular belief, the kitchen, my friends, is not square. We debate. We discuss. (at this point our expert, Nichol, has headed home to her own home improvement fun.) And ultimately we decide that the only thing to do is, yes, pull up everything but the south wall and start over.

It's at this point that the first lesson hits home. My father led by example: "If you can hire a professional, do." Not that my dad is lazy - he's a busy man with a job that has him up early and home around dinner time and he spends all day giving his energy to people. So when he came home he spent the rest with us, and any home/yard sort of stuff he hired out. We were never allowed to cut the grass because surely "a rock could pop up and hit us in the eye." So there were just always certain things you left to professionals. It was worth the investment to save you from injury/use your time in another way. Additionally, as my mother loves to add, there are people with specialties off of which they make a living - we should support them in their endeavors whenever possible! I live this philosphy whenever I can afford it.

Jorie helps us remove our work so far (at this point it's 4pm. We spent a good 2.5 hours alone on the trouble spots), and has to head home as well. Cameron finishes scraping the floor and I take the tiles out to the yard and wash off the mortar (after a call to Nichol she verified the necessity of this step to make sure that everything came out even in the end). And then we start again.

By the time I leave for KMOX, it's clear this approach is going to work. I had planned to go home after the show, but change my plans to come back and help finish. The wet saw rental was $60 for the day, and it was due back at 10am. We were finishing, dammit.

At 4am, Cameron made the last cut. A very complicated cut actually, which with his depleted 4am brain power took him quite some time to figure out. (and ps, we only used 3 of the 10 bags of the mortar.)

We cleaned up everything in a daze and got ready for bed. As we fell asleep, I found myself feeling a huge sense of accomplishment, partnership and love. I NEVER would have embarked on something like that were it not for having Cameron in my life, and despite all the insanity of the project, and the fact that it took 19 dizzying and sometimes very frustrating hours, we did it together, with the help of our friends. We found ways not to take out the ins and outs on each other. Working together came naturally. We made a good team.

And so the second lesson: Sometimes it feels damn good to do something on your own, with your hands. Especially together with the hands of those you love. And while you may not realize it in the moment, tests like that are the building blocks of relationships that last a lifetime.

Cue music, and goodnight.

Sudden cut in music as though someone took the needle off of a recond and voice over: But don't think this changes my philosophy about professionals and my duty to support them in their careers.

Re-enter music.

Posted by nikl at 11:38 PM | Comments (0)

July 21, 2006

Obit

Papa's Obituary

Posted by nikl at 02:43 PM | Comments (1)

July 20, 2006

Oh no they di'eh

I'm sitting here catching up on DVR, thankful that we have electricity back, and I hear a weird noise on the porch. I'm thinking, this is it, all my fears about a weirdo sneaking up on the back porch to break in and kill me have come true... So I turn on the porch light, turn out the light inside, and see...

RACCOONS.

4 of them. Just chillin. I banged on the glass and scared them at least towards the step. Then I proceeded to have to make a series of sudden loud movements as though I were a crazy person . Eventually they left.

but they'll be back... and I'll be ready.

Posted by nikl at 10:49 PM | Comments (0)

July 19, 2006

Requiem James C. Johnson, Sr.

My grandfather passed away in his sleep last night. It's sad, but we're glad that he's no longer in pain and can be somewhere where he can chase women and party like he was born to. Except, of course, my grandmother will be there to keep him in line. :)

Posted by nikl at 06:23 PM | Comments (0)

July 18, 2006

New Route

This morning I took the scenic route in through East St. Louis. And I use the word scenic lightly. Quite lightly. I did, however, cut 30 minutes off of yesterday's 90 minute commute. Ass whoopin's abound.

Last night we finally bought tile! I don't think I ever got around to posting about how I started taking down the wallpaper in the kitchen and it quickly turned into removing all the moulding and then the linoleum. The painting of the walls is now complete, and we're about 1/5th into putting in the pre-tile cement board floor. Whoo hoo! Who knew that home improvement could become so all consuming...

In other news, Entourage continues to rule, and I'm mega behind on every other show. Work kicks into high gear with 3 - count 'em - 3 station launches come September. Wedding plans are nearing complete after the trip to San Angelo, still need to nail down a few things - oh, and design my invitations.

Oh, and I became a Mary Kay Consultant. My friend Tamra has been participating this summer, and I'd been to a couple of her events to show support. In the process, I ended up finding not 1, not 2, but 3 products that I'm not only now obsessed with, but have started me on a switch from Clinique. Now, some of you know how loyal I am to Clinique and that I've been using their products consistently since the age of 14. About 3 years ago, I discovered their body products and never looked back. Now, I've yet to find an MK product to replace those, and I won't be switching from the Clinique 3 step until it runs out, but I am now officially in love with

1. Satin Hands. Anyone who's held my hand - or shook it for that matter - knows that the palms of my hands are SHOCKINGLY rough. Like, are you allergic to me, rough. The list of lotions and exfoliators I've purchased to try to combat this is insanely long. The Satin Hands stuff, by some miracle, ACTUALLY WORKS on my construction builder hands. Rulz. And the middle step has one of those frangrances that you just can't sniff enough of.

2. Satin Lips. My lips are almost as bad as my hands, but not really. This two step process RULZ. The balm is super smooth and shiny, but not sticky and goopy. Which leads me to -

3. Lip gloss. Passed up on trying it b/c I had like 4 different brands in my purse. Gave it a second thought. Thew away the other 4 brands in my purse. Just the right consistency and doesn't come off on everything.

And then there's the foundation. First ever to not make my face itch as though it's crawling with fire ants. (So much not so, that I'm wearing it every once and a while off camera...)

So, in short, this is not your mother's Mary Kay. I'm shocked and amazed. And now your hook-up. Bring it.

Posted by nikl at 08:57 AM | Comments (0)

July 17, 2006

Road Advice

As opposed to road rage.

All you people on 64 headed into downtown in the mornings who take the right lane all the way to the front and then cut in line? Yeah, you. A pox on your house. A pox on both your houses. You will pay. And you suck.

Posted by nikl at 08:56 AM | Comments (0)

June 11, 2006

Lightening Fast Construction

This morning on my way into town, suddenly there was a SONIC. It's like things spontaneously appear around here. WACKY.

Last night was the Moon annual BBQ. We had just enough outside time before crazy thunderstorms came through. Good food, good folks and good fun. Photos from the end of the evening, here.

Watched the HEX premiere yesterday afternoon w/ my mom. I'd go ahead and say that, for a pilot, it was good. Interesting characters, set up a lot of mystery, witty writting at points. I'm sticking with it for the moment. Windfall, on the other hand, was totally predictable on all counts. I'll stick with it, but it was exactly the safe, polished normal thing you'd expect from The Peacock.

Posted by nikl at 01:23 PM | Comments (0)

June 10, 2006

It's Friday Night and I Just Got Paid

That's a damn good song, and I have to say under played.

Tonight was the opening reception for the Roberts Tower Marketing Center. After that, we headed to E'ville where we passed the evening on Roger and Cathy's driveway. Another reason why the midwest rock-eth.

Posted by nikl at 04:33 PM | Comments (0)

June 09, 2006

The Return of the Killer Raccoons

Tuesday night, after getting into bed, I suddenly hear what sounds like the world's biggest cat fight, taking place in the window shade in my sister's room. After it happens a second time, my mom yells upstairs to see wtf. I get up and go into my sister's room as Scarlet (cat) runs out. The window shade is askew, and as I pull it up, sure enough, I see a RACCOON. Calm as can be, staring at me.

If they start getting in again, I am going to be none to pleased...

Tales from the 2004 Battle of the Raccoons
- Attack of the Killer...Raccoon
- Return of the Killer Raccoon
- How do you like me now?

Posted by nikl at 11:10 AM | Comments (0)

April 08, 2006

So MIA

I've been MIA. And for that, I have many reasons. I am sad that I've missed the last two weeks of Idol as well as the last two weeks of LOST. See, that's how little free time I've had.

Work is part of it. I added two words and an additional paragraph to my job desctiption. All in all, an incredible opportunity, but definitely a lot of work. For those who tune in to the show, there will be new episodes starting this Sat.

I also travelled all but one weekend this month. I'm ready to stay put for a minute.

I also got engaged on Thursday :). I am very very very very happy, and excited.

Friday was a great follow-up day - gorgeous weather (even though the twisters were supposed to return), and half the office got out together for a patio lunch at Laluma. Then in the eve I met Beth and Cody for dinner before heading to the Collinsville VFW for some karaoke that wasn't. Photos of the day, here.

Today Cameron and I cleaned his house with reckless abandon in honor of Tom and Sheridan coming over tomorrow for the ceremonial splitting of the weekend season tickets. The place looks good.

Now, we're watching baseball. A's and Mariners to be exact. Cameron has MLB extra innings, so basically, we watch baseball nonstop from April through October. My favorite part of extra innings is getting to see the local commercials. I just got really confused by a Quest commercial.

Posted by nikl at 09:03 PM | Comments (2)

March 02, 2006

A Maze, I Tell You

Getting to work this morning was like a game. God bless traffic and weather every 10 minutes. And to think, I ALMOST listened to my iPod instead of KMOX.

It started with me hearing the train crossing bell go off as I walked out of the house (there are tracks behind Cameron's that have to be crossed to get to the highway). As I pulled out of the subdivision, the 7:40 report tells me there's an accident on 64 between 50 and 159 (normally I get on 64 at 50 and take it in to the Poplar Street Bridge). So I take 50 down to attempt getting on 64 at 159. When I get there I see that it backed up further than that, and then the 7:50 report tells me that once I get through that, it will be backed up again a few miles from the Poplar Street Bridge. So, in a bold move, I keep heading north on 159, as though I'm going to Edwardsville. I jog over to 157 past Collinsville HS, and get on 55/70 headed back towards St. Louis. It dawns on me that I should have used 255 to do all of this, but alas. It's still only 8am and I'm on my way. The 8am report tells me that there's an accident on the Poplar Street bridge, and I soon start to see the backup with my very own eyes. Thankfully, I use the MLK Bridge to 70W, and that has it's own lane. I resist the urge to roll down my window and yell "SUCKAS!" as I sail by the parking lot-like traffic leading up to the Poplar Street bridge (if I'd come at this from 64 like I usually do, it would have screwed me). But I don't, in fear of jinxing my "luck." I get over the bridge, onto 70W, no problem. The 8:10 report tells me that an accident on 70E has 70W rubbernecking starting at Union - one exit beyond where I get off. As I scoot off at Kingshighway, I see the breaklights half a mile ahead. Suh-weet!

Who's the patron saint of traffic? Thanks whoever you are!

Posted by nikl at 08:58 AM | Comments (0)

With My Very Eyes

Oh. My. Goodness. The things I saw tonight. So fitting were they of Kay's Crazy Crap that I feel as though perhaps I should call her, relay everything to her and let her post it all.

It all started with monthly girls night, masterminded by Melissa, and participated in by many. Though she blatantly excluded me from all except the first, I am now apparently back in the worthy zone and was invited to this month's event (MELISSA, I'M TOTALLY KIDDING :)). We went to Llywelyn's Pub in the Central West End. Because there were TWENTY of us, they sat us upstairs where they warned us "karaoke starts at 9pm." They obviously don't know us. Well, they obviously don't know me.

The karaoke guy arrives, sets up, and I believe, senses he's about to lose the one table upstairs and asks if we mind if he starts karaoke early. We don't. A good time is had by all - B 52s. Thriller, the ususal supets, and then... other people start to come upstairs. This is where it all goes wrong... or right... I will never be sure.

The first sign that we've entered an alternate universe is a duet by two guys who most possibly are grad students at Wash U, perhaps studying, maybe, economics. They sing some hip-hop song that I don't know. Something about "your behind" and "gettin' down." I am shocked, and I know not what to say.

This is followed by a guy (not with their group) who speaks english maybe. He reminds me of someone who might be an extra on Bali H'ai in the movie South Pacific. LIT-ER-A-LY. He sings James Brown - "I Feel Good." I cannot do justice in writing what went on here. Find someone who was there, and ask them to reinact. That's really the best I can do. But as he left the "stage," he let his shirt fall and flexed his muscles for the girls in the front row. No, really.

Then, a woman who said she was a surfer in the 60s (take that mental picture and run - fast) got up to sing "catch a wave and you're sittin' on top of the world." Complete with shout out to surfers in the 60s at the end (with the prerequisite fist raising, showing us her belly button).

Then, the piece de resistance, another grad studen type gets up, and sings some slow R&B jam about takin' it slow, takin' off clothes, et cetera. And he played to girls in the audience as though he were perhaps, LL Cool J. LL Cool J he was NOT. But props for the attitude. Props for the attitude.

I couldn't take anymore after this, and took my leave, only to be lured back by the karaoke guy starting a Luther song (was it Luther?). Once that was over, I _truly_ left, even though the original grad student duo was up, about to sing "I Had the Time of My Life." Lucky me, I COULD HEAR IT FROM THE STREET, LOUD AND CLEAR. I almost went back and told them all that anyone driving the block was hearing the madness, but then, I didn't :).

Lots and lots of madness I tell you - though all of this from a 31 year old woman who can be seen wearing a chococat watch. So there you go.

No AI guys watching tonight. I'll catch up tomorrow after the show (going to see "Relativity" at the Black Rep). Here's Ordinary Whirled's recap if you need it now :).

Posted by nikl at 12:32 AM | Comments (0)

February 28, 2006

Grandfather Update

Stopped by my grandfather's on the way home today and he was almost back to normal. Hopefully, the last week was his system getting used to the meds and is a thing of the past... we can hope.

Posted by nikl at 09:44 PM | Comments (0)

February 26, 2006

Same Day Delivery

Same day delivery is no joke.

As I stood in the long line at Borders today, with a whining girl behind me and a woman popping gum while answerering her cell phone (which rang on LOUD, mind you), I longed for the days when I could order from bn.com before noon and have the book delivered to my office before I headed out at 5pm - FOR NO DELIVERY CHARGE.

Some things, I tell you, NYC has in spades.

Posted by nikl at 03:06 PM | Comments (0)

February 19, 2006

Not Opposed to the Party Bus

Saturday night was a bachelorette party for my friend Melissa, with whom I worked at RT. Her bridesmaids did a bang-up job, starting the day with a luncheon, followed by a shower, then dinner, and ultimately, a ride around town in a Party Bus.

Now, I somehow have reached year 31 without ever having experienced the Party Bus. I must say, that in the end, I am not opposed to the party bus. Especially when Bob is driving and there's been a Mix CD made with the Party Bus specifically in mind. Please do not forget to listen to the clips of us singing along to choice songs on said mix. There truly is nothing like a 21 person Kelly Clarkson singalong in a small enclosed (moving) space. Truly.

Photos here, soundclips here.

Posted by nikl at 11:26 PM | Comments (0)

February 16, 2006

Teach That Old Dog

We're having sever thurderstorms and tornado warnings here in St. Louis right now. I'm sitting here, refreshing the screen on weather.com, for like a half an hour, until I realize, hello: I work at a TV station now. I have a TV sitting right in front of me.

Duh.

Posted by nikl at 03:44 PM | Comments (0)

February 13, 2006

Gotta love him

I'm in bed, about to shut down my computer, and I can hear that my dad is flipping channels. He lands on a channel that for whatever reason has Peabo Bryson's "If Ever I'm In Your Arms Again." It stays. And I'm just waiting. Because I know it's coming. Sooner or later.

And there it is. He's singing along.

Posted by nikl at 11:39 PM | Comments (0)

January 18, 2006

Thank God

Yesterday was a day have hallelujahs.

I woke up yesterday around 7am, got up to check my email, and there was an email from my brother in law to an article about a fire in Pinebrook in Edwardsville that destroyed an unoccupied house. Imediately, I'm like, OMG. Our house is unoccupied. Our house is in Pinebrook. After some googling I discovered that it was actually not our house, but the house next door. Good gracious. I later found out, after calling my sister's mother-in-law frantically, that her father-in-law had gone up there at the height of the blaze at 2:30am, and called my parents at 3am St. Louis time (which is 11pm Hawaii time).

Luckily, by some miracle,even though the fire was "Big. Massive. Huge." and took 2 hours to control and another 2 to put out and the fact that our neighborhood is such a FOREST, somehow the fire was contained and our house, unharmed. There's apparently some minor roof damage, and a window facing the house that burned is cracked, but that's IT. We have a house. Hallelujah.

After the shock, which still isn't gone, we started thinking about the stress we missed by not being there. We wouldn't have known everything would be ok. We probably would have gathered the cats, packed some bags and stood in the street all morning praying that our house didn't catch.

Thank God that we have friends and neighbors and family-by-proxy who went by and took photos and kept us posted enough that we're just thankful we have a house and thankful we weren't there to be traumatized.

In the morning yesterday, we finally partook of the $27 breakfast buffet. Well, I did. I have a thing about breakfast - good breakfast. I love it! Cameron and Mom humored me, but got breakfasts that cost a bit ledd than mine. But it was worth it! After that we planned to go to the beach, but decided to stay in and look at the beach. After my dad finished his conference meetings, we all headed up to Lahaina town, the former capital of the islands. It's a great, neat old town, with a ton of shops and restaurants, and a great view. Here's my dad and us girls in front of the world's most gigantic banyon tree - well, part of it - it takes up a city block.

After eating at Bubba Gump's, which I'd successfully avoided up until then but have now been won over, we headed back. About 10 minutes into the 45 minutes drive, Cameron realized that his wallet was gone. We went back to Bubba Gump's, to no avail. We drove by the parking lot where we'd parked, to no avail. We drove home, thinking about how he was going to get on the 3 remaining plane rides without ID...

As we were putting the key in the door, ready for our mission of credit card replacement and logistic discovery, he got a call. A man had found his wallet on the ground and taken it back to his hotel, where they used his license to call directory assistance and get his roomate in Belleville, who gave them his cell number and mine. Hallelujah #2.

And for that, for it all, we had some wine.

Posted by nikl at 11:44 AM | Comments (3)

December 30, 2005

Orange Sucking

Um, I just looked up, and my dad was sucking an orange, massaging and squeezing the sides as he sucked. He'd been doing it for about 3 minutes before we noticed. He continued for another 3 or so, then stopped, and said "mmm, that's good!" Then he proceeded to turn it inside out and eat what was left. This took another 4 minutes. Then he got up to throw away the peel, and as he headed to the sink, he said "you guys want some orange?"

He returned from the kitchen with another one, and said "now, what you do, is that you soften it up first, let the juice out..."

Posted by nikl at 10:25 PM | Comments (0)

December 29, 2005

Ignorance is UG-ly

Tonight Cameron and I went to the holiday boys basketball tourny semi-finals at Meramac. I have to be honest and say that I love HS sports. Just like college is better than pro for fans and guts and glory, HS is better than college - though college has more skill. But I digress.

Webster got upset in the first game - badly - by Hazelwood Central. We stayed for the first quarter of the second game, Kirkwood vs. Troy. Not Troy, IL, but Troy, MO, which is I don't know where. Kirkood brought cheerleaders. Only 4. Three girls and a boy. Two hot girls, an albino girl, and a boy who really, really, really wished he were a girl. Or at least was on a dare to. He had his hair in two afro-puff ponytails, and he was wearing diamond earings (though so was half the HC team), and his moves, kicks and jumps but Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union to SHAME. He. Was. FIERCE.

Before the game started, I heard the woman behind me commenting on the guy - something about flaming and/or not being sure it was a girl or a guy. The game started, and after a few cheers, she says "say, shut up, faggot!"

I turned, slowly, and gave her the nastiest look. I didn't turn all the way around, but around enough to be sure she knew the turn and the look were meant for her. Didn't hear a word out of her after that.

Now, I myself definitely noticed the guy, definitely was amused, and made sure that Cameron saw how fierce his jumps were (he was _trying_ to watch, what - the game??). This guy got so many props for being 100% who he wanted to be - maybe 120%. But I don't think I'm wrong in feeling as though her comment, shouted in a crowd with two children on her lap, was just ignorant.

It's easy to forget that those people are out there - or at least to forget that they can look like soccer moms. And the scariest part is that her kids will learn that that kind of ignorance and disrespect is ok.

I'm kinda kicking myself for not saying something. At the time, I wasn't 100% sure what she'd said, but in retrospect, and later when Cameron told me all the other stuff she was saying that I didn't hear, it was perfectly clear. I wish I would have done what I always say I'd do to people that ignorant, which is point and laugh. GRRR.

Posted by nikl at 10:44 PM | Comments (0)

December 25, 2005

A Wicked Christmas

Merry Christmass to all who celebrate that sort of thing!

Today we made a total of 5 stops. We started with the Carol Sing service at church this morning, then to Mardra and Reggie's for a "heated" breakfast. That was followed by a trip over to St. Louis to my Aunt's house where ALL the cousins were in attendance - yay! From there we headed to my grandfather's, then on the way home we made a stop at the Wethers'.

In the car between stops, we didn't listen to Christmas Carols - no. We listened to Christen Chenowith, Idina Menzel and the cast of Wicked. Again, again and again.

No one mourns the Wicked.

Posted by nikl at 10:56 PM | Comments (0)

November 11, 2005

What a Difference a Day Makes

Yesterday it took me 2.5 hours to get to work. TWO AND A HALF HOURS.

Today it tookk 30 minutes.

Hi.

Posted by nikl at 10:41 AM | Comments (0)

November 07, 2005

Beep Beep

I had to make it to work for an 8am meeting this morning, so I left my house much earlier than usual. Now, I'm almost sure that in the past when I've left that early, that I have never seen as much traffic as I did this morning. They always say that backup on 55/70 begins at 203, but it never actually DOES. Madness I tell you, madness.

Posted by nikl at 09:32 AM | Comments (0)

November 04, 2005

It's Friday Night and I Just Got Paid

Not really. It's the off Friday. But it's still a good song :).

Tonight I was supposed to meet Cameron for dinner, but some drama at the Post put an ixnay on that. I had said (for the 900th time) that depending on this or that, after dinner I might meet Melissa and Susan out at Felix's to see Susan's husband, Tim, perform. Well, when Cameron had to bail on dinner, the prospect of heading back to E'ville and catching up on DVR'd TV sounded pretty nice... the gig didn't start until 9, and now that there was no dinner to be had, why hang around in the Lou...

But Melissa convinced me that I knew better, and thus began one of the funnest evening's I've had in a while! Tim's show is GREAT. He's literally a one man band, and you should definitely catch him if you can. He draws a fun crowd, and a good time was had by all. I even did a little Bobby McGee :)

And I was so bad on the way home. I not only drove through the McDonalds on Hampton for fries on my way home... I drove through the McDonald's in Edwardsville for more fries... AND A (small) CHOCOLATE SHAKE. So worth it... but why I've been on the treadmill all weekend.

Me and Momo

Me beltin' it out

Posted by nikl at 11:32 PM | Comments (0)

October 28, 2005

Na na na na na na - You say it's your birthday!

Happy Birthday to the Gateway Arch!

Posted by nikl at 09:10 AM | Comments (0)

October 12, 2005

An Open Letter to Drivers

Use.

Your.

Turn.

Signals.

Dammit.

Posted by nikl at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

September 24, 2005

RT. No 9

RT No. 9 (the 9th anniversary party for Rodgers Townsend) was thursday night, and as I hear is the usual, a good time was had by all. I peronally danced my butt off.

St. Louis ledgends Mae Wheeler and Kim Massey provided the musical entertainment for the night, and they were awesome. Good stuff indeed. Photos here.

As a bonus, the day of the party, I went out to pick up Thai food downtown, and when I went to start my car up to go the 15 blocks back to my office... no ignition. So they towed it to the Honda dealership, where they won't be able to take a look at it until next week. Grrrrreat. But I still love the midwest, and having a car :).

As a result, I rode the MetroLink for the first time yesterday. It wasn't bad at all. It only comes every 20 minutes, and it kind of only does you good for about 10 different locations, but if you need to get to and from any of those 10, it's really great. It only took me an hour and a half to get to work from Belleville (30-40 minutes when driving).

Posted by nikl at 11:15 PM | Comments (0)

September 12, 2005

Jennifer's Midwestern Extravaganza

Photos from our weekend - not even really, 30 hours - in St. L and Edwardsville. Not included here are the photos from the dance-off Jen and I had in Laurie's.

:)

Posted by nikl at 01:37 PM | Comments (0)

September 09, 2005

skunked

Our Saturday night small group met tonight b/c no one could make it on Saturday. We ended around 9pm. We're out in Scott's driveway, saying goodbyes after setting off sprinklers and shooting some hoops, when Scott's son, Tyler notices a skunk running down the street. Scott announces that he "loves skunks," grabs Tyler's bike, and goes after the skunk. It's about a block away, and after a few minutes, the rest of us notice that Scott's about 10 ft from the skunk, but it's ignoring him. It's just running in circles.

After about 10 minutes they come back down the block and note that there's something wrong with it, it didn't spray, it's just running in circles with its nose to the ground. We start talking (about my red hip-hop Pumas, Tyler flipping over the front of his bike then doing it again on the grass on purpose, me singing about the G-Hetto, Trapped in the Closet, Tyler showed us how he could come down the bump at the end of the driveway with no hands), and 20 minutes later noticed that the skunk was STILL down the block running around in circles.

We start watching it, and singing lyrics to the tune of Trapped in the Closet about the skunk. This is all hilarious for another 15 minutes. We notice that the neighbors down the street have come out the watch the skunk as well, and they've brought a flashlight. 10 minutes later, the cops show up.

Yes. The cops.

There's about 10 minutes of discussion and debate that we can't really hear b/c we're down the street. Jamie (Scott's fiance), decides she wants to hear and walks down to the group now forming around this skunk, still doing steady circles. Some guy has found some wood blocks, and he starts banging them together (?). Still steady circles. Somehow, the policeman gets the information that if you put a sheet over the skunk, it won't spray. So a guy from the neighborhood gets a sheet, and four of them, including Jamie, go in for the capture.

And it worked. It was either too crazy, too tired, or the sheet myth is true and it didn't spray. They covered it with the sheet, and a guy used a long pole to get it in the middle. They wrapped it up in and ball and tied it off. As the policeman carried it off, he asked the crowd if anyone cared what he did with it. The crowd started to disperse and we headed back down to Scott's.

As I drove off a few minutes later, the police car was still parked and there were still a few people out. I had the AC on and as I drove past the scene, i was 95% sure I smelled... skunk.

Posted by nikl at 10:57 PM | Comments (0)

August 13, 2005

Backdating Madness

Wednesday night after dinner, Cameron and I met some of his coworkers for $.50 bowling in Clayton (if you know the insanity of that sentence, then you know - can't really break it down). We proceeded to bowl not 1, not 2, not 3, but SIX games. At this moment, 3 days later, my right wrist, elbow and shoulder are, well, killing me. It was well worth it though, we had a blast (even though I started out with a way too heavy ball and scored progressively horribly over the course of the evening).

Despite that, I just cought up on blogging for the past week. See links below.

7/31 - Karyn's back!
8/5 - Highway wrongness
8/6 - Fairmont Park
8/11 - Neruda/Erato
8/12 - see below.

I also upgraded to Tiger (grrrrr) today. So far not noticing a difference, but I haven't really explored yet.

My dad and I saw The Skeleton Key this afternoon. I thought it was pretty good. I half guessed what was going on about halfway through, but remained thwarted in the end. and Kate Hudson is just hot. Period.

My mom's out of town again, and Mouse (my cat from college that came to live here when Dan Lipton's mom informed me that he doesn't like cats - my mom thanks you, Fran) is losing his ever loving mind. Every few hours, he cries as though someone is standing on his tail. He does this every time she's gone for longer than a day. And then when she gets back, Mouse will follow her EVERYWHERE. Like a dog. A dog on crack even.

Don't forget about Showtime at the Apollo, y'all. Just don't. Two people just got "whop whop"ed.

Posted by nikl at 09:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 12, 2005

Morton's, Who Knew?

Friday, at Morton's, from 5-7, FREE kick-ass steak sandwiches, and $4 vodka drinks. Hell yes. Sheridan and Tom kicked it off, and Perscilla and her co-worker Steve quickly joined, and eventually Perscilla's husband Marcus and the KAryn and Chad rounded out the crowd. In keeping with our discount theme, we headed to Hoosierhan's (Houlihan's) in Galleria where appetizers are half prize in the bar area, like forever. One of the bills we got was for $8, and I'm still not quite sure how it all went down.

Eventually, it became clear that everyone at the table spoke at least two languages fluently, and I pretented to be exhausted to end my inferiority complex. Just kidding about the pretending thing. I was beat.

Perscilla and Sheridan holdin' it down at Morton's

Posted by nikl at 10:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 11, 2005

99 Bottles of Wine on the Wall

I continue to say that Neruda is the best bar in town. It's only b/c of acoustics that it beats Erato (that Erato has poor acoustics, not that they are extraordinary at Neruda). The only thing I would change about Neruda is the smoking. That Erato has over Neruda in spades. While both have great wine lists, Erato wins there two - however, they both serve Newcastle. Neruda is also a bit more "homey" than Erato, but I think that's part of Erat's charm - the hard wood and sleekness - if hard wood and sleekness can emit charm. Regardless, I like the both, a lot.

Last night, after splitting a bottle of wine with Em, I started thinking about how fun it would be to have an old school, NYC style sing-along cabaret piano night at someplace like Neruda. So I emailed the owner. I'll keep you posted. Because I know everyone's just as excited as I am. Long live the piano bar and group 5 part "Tonight."

Posted by nikl at 10:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 06, 2005

Every 19 Minutes

Tonight, after our family reunion picnic Cameron introduced me to the world of horse racing. On my first bet, I won $3.90!! I then proceeded to lose I don't know how much. But I came pretty close on what would have been pretty good payouts. Kira and Aaron joined us, and much to our surprise, Rudy Wilson and Dr. Wethers were there as well. It was hot, but all in all a fun night.

Posted by nikl at 09:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack