I wanted to make cookies for a dancing event. So, did I whip out a cookbook, buy supplies and slave over the oven for hours only to end up going to Whole Foods and warming up something storebought? No, I did not. I invited over some girlfriends under the guise of "teach Jamie to make cookies" night but it ended up being more along the lines of "Jamie watches friends make cookies." I love the presence of wine and cookie making supplies in these pics. Cooking making fun.

The traffic lights aren't working in Durham tonight.
I'm going to stop paying my city taxes.

Mooooooooooo

So, pal Barb has a friend who is a marketing manager at Chick-fil-A.

There was a woman's show in Raleigh. People pay $10 to go into a convention center type space so they can spend more money on the wares inside.

Chick-fil-A sponsored the woman's show.

I've never heard of Chick-fil-A until I moved down here but they're a fast food chain that's closed on Sundays. They're all about chicken - so the advertising features cows who encourage you to "Eat More Chickin" (cows aren't great spellers).

So, as part of the sponsorship Chick-fil-A was passing out litte plush cows. But, they also had some very big plush cows.

Do you know where this is going?

It's going to Jamie and Barb in cow costumes. Barb has had a longstanding desire to get to be a cow but she's too short for the grown up cow costume. Lucky for Barb, this was a bigger deal event and they had baby cow costumes. I was just supposed to be a Cow Helper but one of the cows didn't show up and I was more than enthusiastic to step in. And I got to be a grownup cow because I'm tall enough.

Barb and I were laughing about the whole thing until I got in the costume. Then, there was no air left to laugh. It is very hot in there. And there's only one place with ventilation and a view to the outside world so I had to alternate between getting fresh air and seeing where I was going.

Here are some pics. But keep reading. Because it gets better.

Barb after one round in the costumes.

That's me. I wish there was a way you could tell.

My head is in the neck of the cow. Look how big I am.

Our first assignment as cows was to greet people entering the show. We weren't allowed to talk so if I was asked a question I had to bend my entire upper body to get that enormous cow head to nod "yes" or "no." We made a few kids cry. We ended up in lots of pictures. I was so hoping to run into someone from work and freak the hell of out them but that didn't happen.

Once insde the convention center there was a car display and one of the cows got into the Pontiac or whatever is was. I pretended to be browsing and shopping. I held up some clothese to my cow costume. All too small *sigh.*

Our second assignment was to be in a cow fashion show. We were on the main stage at the event. We each had about a minute to strut our stuff down the "cow-walk." I tried to Charleston but that felt a little risky.

I was Santa Cow. Chick-fil-A is a very Christian company. I really wanted to wish someone a Happy Hanukah. Someone also said that I looked like a skinny cow and I so wanted to say that I lost weight on the Subway diet. I did not do any of these things. Just thought them.

Barb was Back to School Cow.

Right before I went on stage for my "number" my ear really started to itch. Instinctively, I lifted my had to itch my ear. Oops. So I was just kind of pushing my head inside the neck of the cow to itch the ear. I felt like a horse trying to get a fly off of it's nose.

I think the funniest part was at the end of the fashion show the others cows jumped off the stage to circulate with the audience. Yeah. I was not going to jump off the stage in that outfit and risk public humiliation (being inside the cow costume is private humiliation - nobody knows it's you). I'm surprised Barb jumped off. Her cow feet were way too big and she kind of walked like a drunk cow because of it.

So I was kind of meandering on the catwalk and the MC said (to the whole audience) "Does Santa Cow needs some help getting off the stage?" And then they sent me a Cow Helper do guide me into the audience.

I laughed start to finish. What a funny morning. And we had Chick-fil-A for lunch.

Here's our runway.

And here is me as Santa Cow. I am trying to look like I'm dancing but I'm not. You can probably tell.

Moments

"Shit, man, I found a Bojangles in Brooklyn."
-Billy W. former North Carolina co-worker, recently relocated to NY

Wendy and Cliff in Target looking for Matzah for Passover (Whole Foods was sold out)

Target Employee #1 "Matzah?"
Target Employee #2 "I know what that is, it's like that garlic bread."

Three Cheers for Whimsy
I was invited to two Seder's this year. One in IL and one in NYC. When I was invited to the Seder in IL I think I was just coming back from some travel and was feeling weary so I passed. But, Thursday morning a co-worker (Craig, that's Andrea) mentioned she was going to a Seder and then I wanted to go to a Seder.

So I did. In IL. I flew to IL for dinner. Literally. Plane landed at 3pm on Saturday and took off Sunday at 10am. Worth every frequent flyer mile.

Snuck in a trip to the beach. You can't really tell it's the beach in this picture but I promise you we are facing Lake Michigan.

Yes, I flew halfway across the country to play Taboo. Seriously, we were having pre-Seder conversation and the box was just sitting there and I think I pretty blatantly interrupted so I could get the game started.

Seder Plate. Dayenu.

Romantic walk on the beach with Jamie, Taboo and Seder dinner make Gnomie tired.

Overheard in Williamsburg right now (see time stamp) "Lunch."
I am at a night shoot.
We made our talent wear a wedding ring.
It's making him nervous.
V. funny to watch.

Profiteroles.
A dessert I very much like to eat.
A word I very much like to say.

Was able to meet up with a few pals while in NYC.
Here's me and pal David. I think I can say that David was my first friend when I moved to NYC (and a loyal friend after that).

And here's Adam, who I blogged about a few days prior. Adam and I are very vain. We took a lot of pictures before we settled on one that was acceptable. We were at a pizza place in Port Authority, not the best lighting.

Observations after a Sunday and Monday in New York City

The same:
People here are still better looking.

Different:
You can pay for a taxi with a credit card. I have several memories of having a taxi drop me off at the ATM close to my apartment. This is a convenience I would have liked.

Also different:
Me.

Trips back to New York are always thought provoking. It was my home. But every visit is different in terms of the connectedness that I feel to this place. Probably has an inverse relationship to the connectedness I feel for where I am now. I'm not sure I'm ready to call North Carolina "my home" but it did make me aware that I have an attachment to Durham. For that, I am glad.

I used to wear much black, like everyone else. This trip had me sporting a powder blue coat. With flowers on it. I felt liked I screamed "not from here." It's also a spring coat and wasn't really enough coat for the weather which also might have had something to do with why I felt it stood out.

When I graduated, moving to New York was non-negotiable. Despite parental protestations I moved to New York, stayed through 9/11, moved away, came back and thought everyone else not in NYC was hopelessly unsophisticated and missing out. I don't live there anymore and I get asked all the time about moving back. I would, but it's a qualified "I would."

Also the same:
Me.
I still am energized and then exhausted by this place.
I still delight in the bizarreness of the inhabitants.
I still hate the F train.

Todd
I also need to mention Todd, who was my co-pilot for my Sunday afternoon. Todd is one of those friends who I can call the day I'm in town and ask him to join me on a trip to Harlem to see a plaque and he'll gladly join me.

So, I got a few pictures of Todd in front of the plaque (and a video, I need to figure out how to post videos to this thing). Todd was looking a little stiff and this was a dancing plaque for goodness sake so I encouraged him to move it move it a little bit. Before and after below. See what dancing can do for you?

Framily

Friends who are like family.
Like Kristi and Dave.
After far far too long, meandered over to Eastern Parkway and visited them.

Kristi and Dave have a 2 year old, Ben. Dave & Ben were sitting at the computer watching this. Repeatedly. And then repeatedly at my request. I have no idea what it is about this clip that is so intriguing but it's been rolling around my head and I don't even want it out of my head.

Mahna Mahna, do do do do do do.

Why didn't I enjoy this as a child? Mom?

On the same Sunday I went to the Savoy I also meandered to the Upper West Side, one of my many homes in New York City. I lived at 32 West 87th Street between Columbus and Central Park West.

Here's the 32

And one of the cross streets (Why yes, it was a dark and gloomy day. I bought an umbrella at Duane Reade. That, my friends, is why it didn't actually rain).

That was a fun apartment. Through a series of random events I lived there under cost, my brother showed up unannounced one day and stayed for the whole summer. That same summer a friend of my sister was going to stay with me for a few days while she looked for an apartment and she ended up staying a few weeks as well.

So there were three of us in a studio and it felt like four because said friend talked on the phone with her boyfriend at all hours. And I think her dog was there with us for a bit too.

I can't remember why, but one evening my brother and I got dressed up in cocktail dresses and went to the corner store for milk.

So here I am in front of the apartment. Do you see the smiley faces etched into the wall? I always liked them welcoming me to my Happy Apartment.

I also knew a few folks on the street. There was one guy who was always standing outside on the stoop towards Columbus and every time I passed him I would hear his deep voice say "Hello Gorgeous." I was sad he wasn't there when I passed through. I wanted to make sure I was still gorgeous to this random gentleman from my street.

Oh, and here's one more at the Renaissance Ballroom. All boarded up. Sad. Well, at least it still exists. More than the Savoy can say for itself. In a year, this will probably be a New York Sports Club.

Placeholder for 32 West 87th Street

I'm trying to rank my visit to Alice's Tea Cup as compared to the opening game for the Bulls and the Big Boss Brewery tour. Close call.

Savoy Ballroom Field Trip
So, I've been keeping up with Lindy Hop lessons and in the interest of nurturing that interest I decided to take a trip to Harlem to visit the site of the Savoy Ballroom, where it all started (I'm in New York City for a work trip, I didn't fly up here just to see the site although don't put something like that past me).

Chick Webb "the daddy of them all"


Me pretending to do the Charleston but really just holding the pose. You can probably tell.

I am trying to imitate the woman on the plaque. I am not dancing with anyone else though. You can probably tell.

Boo

This would have been funnier had there been more than two arms and legs but alas it was just me. You can probably tell.

It was a fun excursion. I have some "live action" videos I hope to post.

I've been to the Waffle House two times in the 2+ years I've been in North Carolina. Here's the funny thing. The first time I went, it was prom night in Durham and the couples who weren't makin' out were at the Waffle House. The second time I went, almost a year later, it was prom night again. Next time I have a formal occasion, waffles it is.

I enjoyed the Big Boss Brewery tour almost as much as I enjoyed the Bull's game last night.

Opening Day. Durham Bulls. Oh, what a night.
Especially those firecrackers.

Got a voice-mail from my NYC pal of 301 Cathedral Parkway fame, Adam Brown.
It made me chuckle.

"Been a little discombobulated. Baby number two came. Yeah - a couple week ago and so not getting much sleep."

"Cute. He looks just like me so he’s a beautiful kid."

Congrats. From Adam's Animal Kingdom to Adam's family. The roommates that came and went through that spare bedroom. Myself included.

Also, today or yesterday is Adam's birthday so Happy Birthday Mr. Brown.

Stay classic.

Someone said I looked middle aged and angry in my hairdo picture.
It might not be up too much longer if I start to believe it.

A little trim for the warmer weather.

Happy Birthday Papene Nana.
I miss you.
Mom does too.
But not the weeping willow that you killed with nails and a hammer.
I think of you every time I vacuum.
Bacis Nonna.

Swapped

Hosted my first ever clothing swap.

It felt like shoplifting. Really. You try on clothing that's not yours and if you like it you take it.

I ended up with some goodies, gave some away. My top two "takes" were a black and pink polka dot dress as well as a pair of hot green pants I'm dying for an opportunity to wear.

We were going for a Nordstrom vibe (piano music) but if you look at my apartment and the staging of the clothes (How obvious is it that I've worked in retail when I write "the staging of the clothes"?) it looked more like Filene's Basement on Black Friday. I think my couch is underneath all those clothes.

Today's Numbers
55 and 40.

Rain.

There's always an upside. The river is back on.
This is on the evening news.