Sincerely, Bridget

I'm Up and Running...

2011-07-21T18:11:00.003-04:00

I've written about my experience doing the Disney World Princess Half Marathon for Hello Giggles, a fab new site you should check out if you haven't already.

Check out the article.

I'm hoping to be writing more about my running and training in the near future, for those who are interested. And those who aren't, f u.

Just kidding, I didn't mean that.

Sincerely,
Bridget

Procrastination Vacation

2011-06-14T18:58:00.002-04:00

I'm having a seriously hard time concentrating as of late. I'm trying to write and work on projects but my focus just isn't there. I keep perusing facebook or surfing the web for "procrastination cures" which only creates more distractions, like HuffPo's entertainment page. Not helpful.

Also, my cats won't leave me alone when I'm working. And they're really cute, so it's hard to ignore them. I'm hoping by actually updating my blog and sharing this with the world that I'll magically be able to concentrate and write for hours, fueled by inspiration and cat magic.

So, here's hoping.

Sincerely,
Bridget

I Need to Update This

2011-01-11T00:56:00.001-05:00

It's been almost a year and the last thing I wrote about was deodorant.

Think it's time for a proper update.

A little later.

Sincerely,
Bridget

Lady Gaga vs. the Crystal Stick

2010-01-28T16:06:00.003-05:00

Here it is.

The post you have ALL been waiting for. The post where I discuss my use of the CRYSTAL STICK.

What does this have to do with Lady Gaga? A LOT.

First off, I have to tell you that I am totally surprised that this stick, disguised to look like some form of BAN circa 1986, totally WORKS! My years of scoffing at the sight of this and laughing in the faces of anyone who suggested using it are over. Believe the hype, people. This rock will change your life. forever. Or not, to be honest, but it works pretty well!

The first day I used it I was not only stink-free, I wasn't really sweaty. And after I worked out I didn't smell.

And then comes Lady Gaga. I went to see said lady at Radio City this past weekend. It was insane. Wanna be Gagas filled the theater. There was more synthetic blond hair than in Kim Z's wigs. All that, coupled with the fact that Lady Gaga's show is insane, with so many lights, dance routines, video screens, fog,etc. Suffice it to say: it was damn hot in there. I have never been to a concert where I got so exhausted from watching someone else perform.

And that leads me back to the crystal. it really wasn't a complete match for Lady Gaga. There were...trace scents. It totally could have been my concert partner, though. Rumor has it he was also trying a natural deodorant. Maybe Howard Stern put something in the water?

Anyway, I'm still on the Crystal bandwagon and it seems to be working better. But further research has revealed that this may not be all that much better than traditional antiperspirants. It contains ammonium alum, which some say is really bad for you and others say is okay because your body doesn't absorb it...? Who knows. This process of finding more "natural" products is exhausting. According to THIS site everything you think is good is bad and when things are labeled good, you can't totally trust it because there just aren't enough tests on all the shit companies put in their products.

That said, I'm stickin' with old Crystal for a while. It's better than the Alba. I will hopefully try one of the "fancy" natural deodorants soon. I'm very curious as to how well those work.

In the meantime, in the words of Lady Gaga, "I'm K-kinda BUSY." So peace out. And watch my video again!

Sincerely,
Bridget

Au Naturale? Oh, Naturale!

2010-01-21T18:09:00.005-05:00

Natural deodorant.

It's something that seems to come up intermittently, every few years or so, and I think: I really should use a more natural deodorant. We all hear the horrible things about aluminum (specifically aluminum chlorohydrate ) and how it causes anything from breast cancer to Alzheimer's. I also read disputing arguments stating that these antiperspirants cause no harm, or basically that there is no proof. But I do like the idea of putting less..toxic? questionable? things in and on and around my body. I think this sounds reasonable enough, right? I should mention that this is kind of wishful thinking as I definitely put way too much diet fanta soda and Doritos into my system. Many people would consider these things VERY toxic.

So I think I am going to share with all 3 of you my exploits as I try to find a decent natural deodorant, if such a thing exists. I will start by saying that in college I did buy a stick of Tom's of Maine, and found it unsatisfactory. I think that I may have used it all of 2 times. This time, while perusing the drug store, I came across some nattys and decided to give it another shot. This time I picked up Alba's Tea Tree Enzyme Stick because it was between that, Tom's and Nature's gate. And to be honest, I liked the color of the package. The designers did their job, okay? I am totally a sucker for nice packaging. I know it's ridiculous, but if something has an ugly logo I might turn to its pretty competitor.

It was only after I bought the deodorant on a whim that I began obsessively researching natural deodorants, deodorants/antiperspirants in general, and really just became generally preoccupied with this issue. Yes, I know. People are starving, dying and generally suffering in the world. But I don't want to make those around me suffer with my incredible stink!

So now for the good stuff. It's been about 3 days on Alba. And I have to say I'm not that impressed. I know that as a deodorant this won't stop the sweating, but I don't want to stink! I should preface all this by saying that I don't ever stink and don' sweat that much. Well, I should say that I don't stink when I wear a typical antiperspirant. I've been on the Dove train for a while. I would apply once in the morning and that was it. I'd be fine all day, and overnight and even during a workout the next morning. That's all the toxic shit doing its job apparently.

Anyway, I feel like I've been coating my arms with inches of this Alba stuff and by the time I get home I definitely detect a trace scent...of myself. And while it's not terrible I don't want to have to think about my pits. I don't want to have to reapply anything to my pits and I REALLY don't want people to catch me sniffing my pits.

So I bought the rock. The Crystal stick. The thing that if seen in a medicine chest screams A HIPPIE LIVES HERE. I never thought this would work, but so many reviewers swear by it, so why not?

Tomorrow, it's all about the stick.

I should also mention that we may have some more videos coming up in the near future in case you're interested in things OTHER than my smelly body.

Sincerly,
Bridget

PEE PANTS!

2009-10-28T12:40:00.002-04:00

Anyone who is here has most likely already seen this, but hey, if not: PEE PANTS!

Pee Pants! - Lady Gaga Parody - watch more funny videos

FIVES

2009-04-14T17:14:00.000-04:00

This was really for another blog, but it's been so long since I posted anything!

The Fives are out of control. I’m not talking about T-Mobile. I’m talking about, yes, facebook. I know, I know. Facebook is lame and old hat. But it’s ubiquitous these days. There is no avoiding it. And unfortunately, there is no avoiding the trends WITHIN facebook, those things that everyone just has to do that is then, ever so conveniently, placed in your update feed. First it’s an application that everyone ads, then it was those stupid 25 Random Things notes that everyone was tagged in. Now it’s the Your 5 Quizzes. Your 5 favorite movies, your 5 favorite albums, 5 movies you wish you never paid for, 5 fave fictional heroes. Whatever. 5 anything.

The worst thing about these is that, while they are excruciatingly annoying, I want to do all of them! Yes! I DO want to list my 5 favorite album covers from the 90s! Please let me share with you my 5 celebrity look-alikes, my five favorite tv show theme songs from the 80s, my five most annoying habits, my five reasons for low self esteem, 5 foods that give me horrible gas. Please. Let me share.

Whatever. We live in an age where everything is an open book, so obviously it makes perfect sense that people want to share even the dumbest facts about them. We all know this. Nothing new. But it’s still annoying.

Don’t even get me started on the quizzes. Unless you want to hear which Jane Austen character I am…

New Video: GAY TORINO

2009-01-28T18:37:00.004-05:00

We made a new video! I'm hoping to have a few more in the coming months.

Enjoy!

Gay Torino - watch more funny videos

It's a New Year...

2009-01-14T16:59:00.003-05:00

So probably time for a new blog post, right? And to think, my followers must feel so abandoned! I'm sorry...all three of you.

Well many things have changed since last year. Rock of Love: BUS is now on. American Idol's ratings went down...10%. But Bush is still president. FOR FIVE MORE DAYS! This is pretty exciting. And everyone's abuzz about the inauguration on Tuesday. And I'm trying to figure out just HOW I will be watching the inauguration.

This is never a problem I had in the past. For the past 2, I could have cared less. Or rather, didn't care to see Bush take office. For the 2 before that, I was still in high school. Oops. And now I have to be at work. Without adequate cable access! What's a free-thinking, liberal minded, quasi-feminist to do? Head down to City Hall to freeze outside? Stream it from the internet? Walk home and watch it on my ridiculously giant TV?

I voted for Obama, so I vote for the last option.

Anyway, I'll have a better post...tomorrow. In the meantime here's a funny link.

Sincerely,
Bridget 2009

Rainy Gay

2008-12-10T11:34:00.003-05:00

It's raining today. And it's supposed to be "A Day Without a Gay." I want to know if people are actually doing this in California. I know Brian is at work today, but only because our boss professed her love of gays and said he had to come in. But I think it would be pretty amazing if this was successful, especially in my home state!

And I am going to try not to blog about TV anymore. I've decided. Instead I am only going to post links like this:
http://www.zooborns.com/

Well I really only wanted to post that to celebrate this:
http://meisure.blogspot.com/

Happy rainy hump day, y'all.

Bridget

The Amazing Disgrace

2008-12-09T10:25:00.005-05:00

I have always enjoyed "The Amazing Race." I didn't actually watch the show, but I always loved the concept. A race around the world! And Mei working on it forever, and then her going on the race made it that much more totally awesome (although those cryptic phone calls where Mei would call to say hi and upon being asked where she was would just reply "Secret..." were damn annoying.)

I watched the show for one season, about 4 years ago, when I had just moved back to NYC. My sister and I made it a weekly ritual. We liked to imagine that we, too, were on the race and may or may not have been heard saying to each other: "Rory and Bridget...you are team number...ONE." And we loved the hot brothers.

I hadn't watched it at all until this season (yes, I missed the Goths of season past). It is honestly rare that I actually follow a show. SERIOUSLY! The only shows I can actually follow have to be on Bravo because they re-air the episodes 17 times a week. But I made it a point to follow this show. And it sucked! I mean it was still exciting in a way, but the teams were terrible. And I missed the first episode where the self proclaimed Hippies got kicked off. One by one, any team I would get behind or would be entertained by were eliminated. So we were left with the horrible frat boys, the eventual winners Nick and Starr (who were conniving and backstabbing bitches) and then Ken and Tina. They were a separated couple who were trying to see if they should give their marriage another shot. And I think he cheated on her or something. But they were the WORST! In probably every sense of the word. They were annoying to look at, annoying to listen to and were just....annoying. Apparently my thesaurus is broken.

So at the end, when all of the teams are on "the mat" and Nick and Starr are reveling in their post-win glory (cocky bastards) Ken and Tina come running in, in second place. And then Ken starts shaking and almost crying and talking about how it's been a long road. And then he's pulling out a little package from his pocket and talking about how much he loves Tina. And then we see that he's pulling wedding bands from this package and grabbing Tina's hand and saying "I know we've haven't been wearing these lately" and then he's really crying and she's crying too and then he's putting the ring on her finger saying he wants to give it another go.

And then I'm crying.

I KNOW! It's ridiculous. I hate them! So why, after how ever many episodes, should they make me cry? What does this say about me as a person? As a modern woman? And he cheated on her. He's a bastard! I shouldn't cry over his display of emotion and declaration of love, I should scream at the TV and warn Tina, however annoying she is, to run, run far away and find herself a decent man who will be honest and true to her!

But I am a sucker. So I popped a few tears (I wrote "pooped" at first, which would just be a strange concept.)

So Ken and Tina, wherever you are, after the cameras are gone, after the adrenaline from running the race courses through your veins and fades into the background of your daily lives, I wish you well. I hope the marriage sticks this time. I hope you are true to each other and love each other until the day you die. If not for yourselves, then...for me.

Please, let not my tears have been in vain.

Who knew "The Amazing Race" could be so revelatory? Me, that's who.

Sincerely,
Bridget

Top Chef Beef

2008-12-04T18:28:00.004-05:00

I have beef with Top Chef. To be more specific, I have beef with Jeff, the toe-headed wonder boy from Miami. Not only does he seem really wormy and annoying on the show, I find him REALLY unattractive. I do recognize that most people would find someone like him attractive, but I think his personality cancels it out.

Then I get to work. And people agree that he can be sort of arrogant (again, I think more wormy and pathetic than arrogant) but they all think he's HOT! How is this possible? HOT? As in, really really attractive? Ugh, there's no home for humanity.

I realize I am in the minority being so completely repulsed by him, but come ON! Look at that pose! That face! NOOOOOOOOO! It's like someone took James Spader and a dash of Ellen and made a horrible person.
I do love me some Tom Colicchio though. Maybe that explains things.

Ciao,
Bridget

Pandora's Christmas Box

2008-12-03T15:57:00.002-05:00

I am so late to the game. Really. To every game. I used to be sort of on it. I wouldn't say I ever really had my finger on the pulse or anything like that, but I was with it. Anyway, I've only recently discovered the joys of Pandora, thanks to Kadi. I knew about it, but last week, during an extreme lull at work, decided to try it out and I love it! Better late than never?

That said, I went a little nutty yesterday and decided to make a Jingle Bells station. The only artists/songs I put in to create this station was, of course, "Jingle Bells" and The Waitresses (Holiday.) That was an option. But I bring this up because it's December and I always get excited for Christmas. This is one game I'm never too late on. So I'm jamming at work, with my headphones on, to a little Elvis, Bon Jovi and then that song from Auntie Mame comes on..."Haul out the holly!" and I'm done. That song will be in my head for the next 2 months!

I always do this to myself. I should probably wait until the 20th to bust out the Christmas music. Last year I mistakenly put my infamous "BLC Christmas" albums (2001 and 2004 editions) on my ipod shuffle. I absolutely love having the shuffle and can't live without it, but I am really bad about updating it on a regular basis. So usually I'm stuck with some random playlist I made for a plane trip that I will listen to over and over. Last year, it was the Christmas playlist. So these songs end up in my iTunes "Recently Played" playlist which I will play in my apartment randomly. This means the Christmas songs keep coming up and getting played. Which then means these songs start to appear in the exclusive Top 250 playlist. The end result is that when I'm cleaning my apartment in the middle of July I will suddenly hear Angela Lansbury scream through the speakers: "Haul out the holly!" I don't know what's more embarrassing: blaring Christmas music in July or admitting that I have that damn Auntie Mame song on my ipod.

Anyway, thanks Pandora, for infecting my brain with those delicious Christmas confections and reminding me that sometimes good things come in small doses. It was a hard lesson, but a good one. Now I'm just listening to "Bridget's Depressing Music" station. Seriously, who knew my tailor made radio station would be such a downer...ugh.

Season's Greetings,
Bridget

PS: I just went and made a new Pandora station. The only song I put in was Beyonce's "Single Ladies." See, I'm upbeat! I swear!

Aloha...Thanksgiving

2008-11-24T11:10:00.004-05:00

Okay, Obama's election is so yesterday's news. But that didn't stop me from hopping a flight to is birthplace to see where the miracle happened. I actually (happily) went to Hawaii for the wedding of an old friend. There's nothing better than going to Hawaii in November when New York is miserable. We went diving, snorkeling, cliff jumping. We watched the active lava flow. It was amazing.

And of course there's nothing worse than coming back from Hawaii in November when New York is miserable. And then you have to go back to work. So thankfully (no pun intended) it's Thanksgiving week. I just want to give a shout out to all them pilgrims and Indians who got together many centuries ago so we could all take a few days off work and stuff our faces. Honestly, Thanksgiving is the best. And then after that you get to lay around all weekend and watch Home Alone and Elf on TBS!

I am coming to realize that I am completely a creature of my surroundings. For example, whenever I go to Hawaii, or other tropical places, I want to immediately immerse myself in all things Hawaiian. I want to listen to Hawaiian music, drink fruity drinks and cover my self head to toe in hibiscus print something or other and put flowers in my hair. And when would I ever really be caught dead in New York, or anywhere else really, with a big ol' flower print dress while I'm rockin IZ on the ipod?

And then I get back to the city and it's all warm tones, browns, earthy colors. I'm looking up recipes online. I'm excited to knit. I'm NESTING for god's sake! Who even uses the word nesting but women over 40?!?!?! Okay, I just googled nesting to see what kind of results the internet would give me. And nesting is really something pregnant women do in the final trimester. So I'm basically acting like someone who's about to have a baby all because it's cold out and I like the holidays. And I'm wearing brown.

But that doesn't stop me from hoping to catch up with Kevin McAllister and all his antics sometime this weekend. It also doesn't stop me from remembering that I indeed own "Home Alone" on DVD so I can watch it whenever I want. But isn't it much more thrilling to catch an early 90s Chris Columbus classic live on television, when you have to sit through hours of commercials and it isn't even presented in it's original aspect ratio?

Exactly.

Sincerely,
Bridget

Barack Obama: 44th President of the United States

2008-11-05T11:45:00.002-05:00

Awesome.

THIS IT IT!

2008-11-04T16:26:00.002-05:00

Just a few hours before the first polls close....

Marathon

2008-11-03T17:01:00.009-05:00

Halloween came and went...Saw some Palins. Saw some Jokers. The parade starts right next to my office, so it's always a mad dash out of here to beat the craziness so I can cross sixth avenue. I did see them setting up which was cool.

But more exciting than Halloween for some reason was watching the marathon go by in Brooklyn. I had never watched the marathon before, but it was so fun! There were so many people out watching and cheering. There was a local school band playing the Rocky theme...on a 3 hour loop. People were selling cupcakes, having barbecues on their stoops. It was all very wholesome and inspiring.

So inspiring, in fact, that this morning at the gym I decided to run on the treadmill. It's always been a far off goal of mine to run in a marathon. And seeing those people yesterday, so proud of themselves and happy to be out there, I wanted a part of it! I finished exactly one mile before I switched to another machine. So much for dreams...

Anyway, speaking of marathons, the marathon election season is (hopefully) over tomorrow. I am very excited. It seems a little surreal since we've been following the campaigns for two years. And it's so sad that Obama's grandmother died, right before the election! I guess next week we'll just go back to talking about Grey's Anatomy and Friends re-runs.

Well I hope you are all going to vote (Obama) tomorrow.

Until then,
Bridget

Trick or Treatz

2008-10-29T14:55:00.005-04:00

Halloween is fast upon us, all you spooks and ghouls! And there is no better place to be for Halloween than New York City, the ol' Big Apple. The sheer number of people, coupled with the fact that people like to go all out, is awesome. The parade, however, I could do without. Walk in it once, or dance in it. On a float. In a bikini. With a horrible sound system blaring behind you. Whatever. Do it, it's worth it. But never again. The worst thing about walking in the parade is all of the people walking with you who are wearing black hoodies and backpacks with patches from Hot Topic on them. Teenagers who think they're all badass because they jumped the barricade and are in the parade. But why? Now they're just walking with some lesbian couple and their son who's dressed as Nemo. And the group of college friends who are dressed as the Royal Tenenbaums. Again.

Anyway, last year in the parade Kelly dressed as Tracy Turnblatt from "Hairspray." Every Asian girl went NUTS for her! Seriously. For some reason, it was all Tracy, all night, from the Asian population. And there were some amazing costumes. Two girls were the old guys from the Muppet show, complete with surrounding balcony.

But that was last year.

I will try to make it a point to post pictures of what I think are the best costumes this year and then the ubiquitous ones. Last year it was all Amy Winehouse. The year before: Borat.
This year it's going to be an overload of Palins and Joes the Plumbers and some poor soul is STILL going to be sporting the "Scream" mask. It will not die.

I just remembered something really random from last Halloween. After the parade a bunch of us did karaoke. Right when we got there this very tall person in a very normal outfit took the mic and said "Hi, I'm dressed as a tall girl." The voice was pretty deep, clearly a guy. My friends and I cracked up at the simplicity of going as a tall, boring girl. HILARIOUS! But then someone said they saw her going into the girls' bathroom so it became an on-going saga. Is she or isn't she...a man? So later on, after I accidentally kicked one of the Tall Girl's friends during some Pink song, I struck up conversation starting with an apology for the kick. Then i pointed to tall girlfriend and asked if that was a guy or a girl. Her friend got so mad and said, very curtly, "it's a girl." I felt terrible. And also cheated that what I thought was the best costume of the night was just some really lazy, boring, tall girl with no imagination!

Sometimes at night I pretend she really WAS a boy, and that her costume really WAS fabulous...sometimes.

Again, that was last year.

Check back (all 4 of you) for an update soon.

Sincerely,
Bridget

PS: this jack-o-lantern is so blog appropriate, no?

TGI...W?

2008-10-17T15:39:00.003-04:00

I'm going to see W. tomorrow I think. I'll do a live-blogging review from the theater.

But, in all honesty: THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY! I really hate that I am one of those people that says "TGIF," but I am! And I guess 90% of the US population are probably 9-5ers who really ARE thanking god (or the higher power of their choice, Oprah? Angelina Jolie?) that today is the end of the work week and that we get to enjoy two days off. I just usually assume people who say TGIF are Kathy comic reading, personalized mug owning, middle-aged people who run home to watch their tivo'd stories. Or "Dancing with the Stars."

This web post was written primarily to establish my snob status. I'm a jerk, what can I say.

TGIF Everyone,
Bridget

Nick and Norah: Stick to Bedding

2008-10-13T15:29:00.011-04:00

I saw "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" this weekend. This was more out of necessity than actual interest, owing to the fact that there isn't much of note playing in theaters. I can't wait for the spectacle that will be "W" and I still want to see "Man on Wire," but come Sunday afternoon, it was "Nick and Norah."

To me, when I hear Nick and Norah I think of the company that makes cutesy pajamas and housewares, like the fabulous cloud comforter I had in college (please see this craigslist ad.) And when you see the poster for Nick and Norah with the handwritten block letters and Michael Cera, you can't help but think of Juno. I'm not sure if either of these is a good thing.

Let me admit that I was game for this movie. The trailer suckered me and I thought I would secretly be swooning for the teenage angst and indie pop soundtrack. So when I found myself bored AND rolling my eyes, I knew that was a bad sign.

First of all, the villain, the total hottie who previously broke Nick's heart, is more of a troll than a babe. I recognized her from "Fool's Gold" (not my finest hour) where she was similarly miscast as a hot socialite. This girl is pretty, but she's kind of weird looking. And my boyfriend pointed out that she has brown teeth! How can the "hot girl" in the movie have BROWN TEETH?!?!? Which leads me to my point...Norah is a total cutie. She looks like 2/3 Gwen Stefani plus a dash of Hilary Duff. She's adorable! So it's completely implausible that this chick is supposed to feel threatened by the troll, whose character's name is TRISS (props to the writer for the most annoying name. ever.) Kat Dennings (Norah) just isn't convincing when she says she'll never compare to Triss. Or when she's afraid to take off her sports bra. (As a side note, can anyone explain why the gay band's tour van is complete with a box of bras?)

I hate seeing fake insecurity on screen and I hate when it comes about because some girl, obviously cast in the lead role because she's really pretty, is put up against someone "prettier" who is really just second rate. All those stupid tween movies like "She's All That" and "10 Things I Hate About You" have these very pretty girls/women in the roles of the ugly/loser/outcast freaks. It's so obvious they're going to have their revelatory "I'm a pretty girl" scene. Or why can't they just cast truly beautiful people as their arch rivals to prove this point?

I'm going further. Sorry. In the BBC version of "Pride and Prejudice," Elizabeth Bennett, played by a lovely Jennifer Ehle, always feels she can't hold a candle to the incomparably beautiful Jane, her older sister. Well this whole concept doesn't hold water because the woman they cast for Jane looks like a man in drag. Okay, this is probably incredibly harsh but it's distracting to watch when Eliza Bennett goes on about how good and beautiful her sister is. And then you see her: BIG JANE. At least the '05 film version got it right by casting Rosamund Pike who is undeniably pretty. Here's a side by side comparison:

Big Jane in BBC's "Pride and Prejudice"

Rosamund Pike as Jane in the '05 film version

Okay? See my point? Cast matters, people.

In defense of the other tween movies, and even, I guess, Nick and Norah, sometimes it isn't the pretty girls who are "pretty" in high school. Popularity, and hence attractiveness does come about in strange ways during the teenage years...

Back to the actual movie. There's not much more to say. The random orgasm plot ripped from "American Pie" (the Weitz brothers are producers on the film, interesting...) seemed so tacked on and the resolution was quite laughable. I don't want to ruin it for those of you who still want to see the movie. But that Nick has some magic hands! Oh, and back to the Weitz brothers. I guess we have them to thank for some other random gross out scenes and the never-ending gum?

The best part of the film is the drunk friend for not only being very funny and convincing, but for paying homage to that other lost friend in a bus station: Penelope Ann Miller in "Adventures in Babysitting." I think Nick and Norah could have taken a lesson from that film. Make the stakes higher. The audience doesn't give a shit about Fluffy. And apparently, by the way the film ends, neither do the characters. Now on the other hand if your best friend was stuck in a bus station and Thor was on your tail? Smells like a classic to me.

Signing off,
Bridget

Linx

2008-10-09T11:59:00.004-04:00

This one's for the Kadis: check out the cuteness.

And please read this post from Amity about why women for Palin shouldn't support Palin. She doesn't support women!

And if you haven't already, check out our video:

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Boots with the Fur

2008-08-20T11:23:00.004-04:00

Everyone loves FloRida's song "Low." But one person loves it more than you. Turn up your speakers please:

I think this is what youtube was made for. EXTREMELY literal photo-lyrical interpretations of rap songs. Well that and celebrity photo montages set to Vanessa Carlton.

A Tree Grows in...

2008-08-19T14:47:00.006-04:00

I'm calling on Jennifer to help me. I was in the Liz Christy garden this weekend for the first time and saw this plant, which was very odd. The branches were really smooth and caught my eye. What is this?

In other news, I'm ashamed to admit that I've lost my Olympic fever. After Phelps and gymnastics the rest is kind of a snooze fest. It's a lot to get invested for another entire week of completely different sports and athletes. It's not like I actually follow any of these people or events between the Olympics. So, bring on the conventions.

There is apparently supposed to be a big announcement tomorrow: Obama's Running Mate. I did not sign up for the breaking news text from Barack's camp. This, to me, is the stupidest thing ever. Come on! Are they really hoping to mobilize the youth by sending a text message when we can go and read the Drudge headline 2.5 seconds later? I am excited and increasingly anxious for the election as the thought of a McCain administration is close to unbearable. This is probably the most overstated and blindingly obvious statement I've made in a while.

Moving On. I took advantage of the NYC Summer Streets weekend before last. Here is a photo of Lafayette.
No cars! Bikes! It would be very cool to have a car free city. Or even just a car free street. It would also be cool to have a personal chef and a yacht. Or if Harrison Ford was my dad. Guess we can't have everything.

And here's a picture from the deck of the New Museum. Not a fan of the museum, love the view.

And I saw Keanu Reeves yesterday. Just a sidenote...

Ciao,
Bridge

Funky Bridge

2008-08-14T17:05:00.004-04:00

I took this picture last night on the bridge, from pretty much the same place as the earlier photo. I feel the two pictures really explore themes of night and day, gray vs. color, good meets evil. Or, it really just looks cool. I was trying to take a clear pic of the Empire State building which is apparently, for the first time!, having different color schemes on each of its sides to represent different countries performing in the Olympics. Can't you tell from this picture?

It is the embodiment of the Olympic spirit, no?

I need to go dodge another rainstorm now. This seems to be my life these days, tracking storms on wunderground.com and wondering if there is enough of a clear patch on the radar screen so I can ride my bike home. No wonder these blog posts are so exciting!

Ugh,
Bridge

ps: first clap of thunder, huge flash of lightning. Never a good sign.

Tired Bridge

2008-08-12T15:06:00.004-04:00

I took this photo on the Brooklyn Bridge this morning on my to work. The city looked very pretty and silvery, like San Francisco.

But the truth is I was just really tired from biking up that damn incline. So why not take a photo to disguise the fact that my legs were shaking and about to give out on me? Not a good morning. But a pretty one. Kind of like Katie Holmes. Undeniably pretty, but undeniably evil.

Seriously! I'd Like to Know...

2008-08-11T15:03:00.000-04:00

Olympic Feva!

2008-08-11T14:31:00.006-04:00

I've got the Olympic Fever. Okay, well maybe I would have the fever if when I turned on to watch the Olympics it wasn't just badminton or beach volleyball. The fact that beach volleyball is actually an Olympic sport cracks me up. The name alone brings to mind people in Venice Beach tourist t shirts with the sleeves cut off with strands of beads on the bottom of the shirt. You know what I am talking about.

Anyway, I logged on to nbc's Olympics site and watched the apparently Earth shattering swimming relay I missed. It was pretty awesome and the quality of the video online was impressive. Go technology. And Michael Phelps. I would also like to thank Kadi for leading me to this inspirational video. Volume up, please:

How can I say anything about Phelps at all when Smashmouth says it so much better?

Anyway, there were some awesome thunder storms today. I'm still a little scared and haven't left my corner. Here's something that might brighten your day if you too are in a gray, stormy, cloud.

Always,
Bridget

For Better, or for Worse, I'm Back.

2008-08-08T15:47:00.004-04:00

Dear Readers,
It's been a long, hard absence. I realize that. And I sincerely apologize. Let's just blame it on the rain, okay? Did I really just say that? You gotta blame it on somethin'.

Anyway, the sad thing is after 4 months I have nothing to write.

Everyone should take advantage of the NYC summer streets tomorrow:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/summerstreets/html/route/route.shtml

And watch the Olympics. I have a Google spreadsheet online with all of my viewings scheduled. Just let me know if you want to access it. I'll probably be live-blogging the equestrian events.

I want to write a funny tidbit and I really have nothing. Well, except for the fact that my writing partner/roommate/co-worker/half-brother's zipper on his too-cute cords broke today. So he's feeling awkward and in a little bit of pain with his faulty pants. Cheer up, Brian! It is Friday after all.

Missing you now more than ever,
Bridget

Oh, Gmail, You Sly Fox!

2008-04-01T10:43:00.000-04:00

I sign into Gmail this morning to see they've added a new feature. This isn't that uncommon but today they announce "Custom Time" which essentially lets you go and backdate your emails in case of those "missed deadlines, missed birthdays and missed opportunities."

They also will go so far as to make your email look like it's been read! So you can totally pull that "I sent you that highly important email 5 days ago and YOU READ IT!" No need to take any heat for your own lack of responsibility, let Gmail do your dirty work!

Clearly, I totally fell for Gmail's cruel, cruel April Fools' Joke. Upon further reading, I was happy to see that this Custom Time feature is powered by the e-flux capacitor. Anything that references "Back to the Future" can't be all bad.

In other news, I'm afraid CNN's headline about a 10lb 4-year-old boy is not a joke.

In Da Voting Booth...

2008-03-31T21:22:00.002-04:00

Oh man, if I don't know where Fitty's at, how can I make an informed decision?

So About Those Virgins...

2008-03-31T15:55:00.004-04:00

There is an article in the NYT magazine about abstinence and in particular abstinence clubs at Ivy League schools. Abstinence is a fascinating topic to me, especially in the past decade with Bush and his abstinence-only education policies. I think it’s absurd that this administration and numerous other right-wing or evangelical groups actually claim that educating young adults about things like safe sex, plan b or gardisil, is in turn promoting promiscuity, debauchery, and a miserable, loveless life.

Anyway, I digress. In the article, they profile this student at Harvard who is the president of one such Virginity club. The author of the article almost seems to be winking at the reader while he writes about and interviews her. It’s easy to do as an adult, since you can just sort of wave of the naiveté of a fervent youth. It’s also easy to do when she’s shocked that her co-president (a guy) has lustful thoughts (gasp!) and has masturbated (double gasp...from him. Okay, that was terrible.) You quickly realize how young she really is. But abstinence is such a tricky issue. This young woman, and other like minded people are so focused on their message of not having sex that perhaps they don’t stop to see if this is actually the decision they truly want to make. It becomes more about the stance than the actual act of sex. And of course half the time I am thinking “don’t knock it til you’ve tried it!” but I guess that goes against the whole “waiting til marriage” thing.

I wholeheartedly agree that people should only have sex because they want to. And at the same time, if people want to wait that should be their choice as well. It’s terrible that people (girls especially) get pressured into doing it or doing things against their will. But this speaks more to empowering women, and arming them with confidence and self esteem, than it does to promoting abstinence. How you can successfully do this, I have no idea. But to promote something so ardently, whether it be abstinence or not having abortions, always rubs me the wrong way...no pun intended this time. Maybe because I am not for anyone telling me that I CANNOT do something. I’m all for people strongly advocating and protesting on behalf of things like gay marriage or freedom of speech. But who’s to tell me I can’t (or shouldn’t) have sex? Or marry a woman? Or eat trans fat!

I think what this all boils down to is my stubborn independence and the few months I was living with my aunt and uncle in the 80’s. Like I told them, if you’re not my mom, you’re not the boss of me. Anyway, I am sure there are feminists galore who can sum this up much more succinctly and articulately than I just have. And I’m not exactly sure what my point is, except to say: it’s my way or the highway and if I don’t like your views, you’re stupid. Fair enough, right?

In unrelated news, Terry O’Quinn came up in conversation and with any mention of Terry, one must recognize his stellar turn in the classic 80’s hit “The Stepfather.” Upon close inspection of the official IMDB page, I discovered this tagline: Daddy's Home and He's Not Very Happy. Yeah, tell me something I don’t know, Internet Movie Database...*

PS: I loved this look.

Also, has anyone seen the trailer for Helen Hunt’s directorial debut? Hangdog, anyone?

Love and Bra Burning,
Bridget

*Disclaimer: my dad’s actually pretty cool.

Bare Bush...that was too easy

2008-03-26T14:16:00.004-04:00

So Jennifer requested a Carla Bruni/Laura Bush side by side comparison. I would love to oblige, especially under the recent headlines Bruni is getting. But I don’t think I can find nude photos of Carla AND Laura on the internet...

I would love it, though, if the UK tabloids were going nuts over some decade old glamour shots of Laura in the buff. That sweet smile, the perfectly coiffed bob. God love ‘er, but she’s ridiculously boring.
So obviously I am trying to be better about updating my blog which means: even MORE mundane posts about random things! And I don’t even have anything to offer today, save my two bits on Laura Bush posing naked. But chew on this: I’m going out for Mexican tonight (sorry Kadi). Will I get a big burrito? Some enchiladas? Tune in tomorrow to find out.

Hasta Manana!
Bridge

Our Fearless Leaders...

2008-03-25T12:24:00.005-04:00

If anyone wants to debate why Europeans are inherently cooler than Americans they need to look no further than this:

Their president is more rock star than policy maker.

And then look at this:
IS HE SERIOUS? He looks as sincere as my cousin Stacy hugging that Easter Bunny (I mean that in the best way, Stace!) It really doesn't strike me as creepy, which might be my gut reaction if it was say, Spitzer (remind me to blog about my Spitzer dream) or any other man over 10. Bush really might just have the mental capacity of a 9-year-old. I truly believe he was as enthused to hug that bunny as I was to ride the Flying Dumbo ride at Disneyland when I was 3.

I need to thank Drudge for having both of those photos on his page.

In TV news, we all know I claim to be a non-tv person. Do you like how I wrote "we all" as if the readership of this blog is more than 3 people? Anyway, I claim I don't watch a lot of TV and I claim not to watch shows regularly, save "Project Runway." But I was so excited yesterday when I saw a promo for the new season of "Workout." This was a show I dismissed and would only watch out of laziness because it aired after Runway at some point. But I totally got addicted thanks to the Bravo programming gods who insist on airing their original shows non-stop. Suffice to say, I would so set my tivo to record...if I had a tivo. But why would I need one of those? I'm not a tv person, remember?

Sincerely,
Bridget

Triple Thick

2008-03-24T15:04:00.005-04:00

I like Chili's. I've spent a lot of time on the road and i grew up in the suburbs so you learn to pick and choose your battles. When it's between Applebee's and TGI Friday's you choose Chili's. Well if you're smart you choose Chili's.

At least this is what I always thought. Until Chili's decided to promote their new bacon burgers with TRIPLE THICK BACON! The strips are seriously an inch thick! And if you've seen the commercial there are like four pieces of bacon on every burger. Falling onto the grill, falling on the burger. Bacon everywhere.

We just had a discussion in my office about this and the consensus is that bacon is supposed to be crispy. When it's thicker than a pink eraser you really don't achieve the desired bacon effect. I will admit that I don't eat bacon regularly and can in no way consider myself a bacon connoisseur. But even a novice bacon eater recognizes a gross bacon misjudgement when they see one.

You can try to view the commercial here

Or here's a photo:

And um, sorry I just wrote an entire post about bacon.

Peace, Love and....bacon,
Bridget

LEAP DAY! OMFG!

2008-02-29T11:09:00.003-05:00

Today at the gym I glanced up at a TV that was airing CNN. They have this whole new look for the election, a sort of distressed Americana thing on a white background. Usually the text says something like "CLINTON! OBAMA! THE DEBATE!" Today is was something to the effect of "LEAP DAY COVERAGE: ALL DAY!"

Leap day coverage? Are they serious? Then again, they are the same people who list this story on the top of their webpage.

On another note, I have used the phrase "waiting for the other shoe to drop" maybe 5 times in the last week about completely different things. So I decided to look up this phrase because that's the kind of thing I do at work. I ended up on some message board where someone wrote "What does this mean? I heard it on Sex and the City and didn't get it." Oh Carrie, you stump us all!

Happy Leap Day, everyone. Live coverage all day. From me.

My Super Tuesday

2008-02-06T14:16:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was cool. Over the course of the day I:

1. Hit the gym
2. Ate a subway sandwich
3. Surfed the web
4. Started a new improv class

Thanks for listening,
Bridge

SIck of Being Sick

2008-01-29T20:23:00.000-05:00

I'm one of those people who never gets sick. Seriously. If I do get sick it's maybe a slight fever or a runny nose for a day or two. So far, in the last month, I've been sick three times. THREE TIMES! It's hideous! I got a disturbingly debilitating stomach flu when I was in California for the holidays. I had a slight cold a few weeks ago and now i have something else which consists of a heinous cough and a fever. My throat is so sore that when I am walking outside in the cold my throat burns from the cold, dry air. I mean, not that I'm complaining or anything.

So, getting sick sucks. I guess the only consolation is that it's January and at least I'm not missing out on amazing weather. Oh, that and I got to catch up on the "Rock of Love" episode I missed the other night. What's better than a skanky, manly looking French girl getting naked for a has been rock star? Oh my god, I am dying right now. I just found her (Angelique's) myspace page and it says she's only 25! I still can't even believe she's a female. I will miss her...

If These Balls Could...

2008-01-24T13:32:00.000-05:00

I know there is a myriad of important things going on in the world (recessions? Heath? election?) but what is more important than my inaugural dodgeball game of the season? not much. And how exciting were our first 2 games? Not very. If These Balls Could Talk 2 got creamed.

What amazes me about this dodgeball league is that people actually take it seriously. We played a team last night that is a notoriously good - and brutal - team. They happen to have the tallest person known to man on their team and a few other beasts. But they are ruthless! Not only do they play a fierce game (and fierce in a bad way not in a gay heeeey! way), they are not even congenial people between games. They are just straight up assholes. It's like they got picked on their entire lives, they never excelled at sports and now are exacting their revenge. Or better yet, all they ever had was sports and come graduation from high school or college or whatever, they find themselves in the sport-free zone of NYC and need to fight poor defenseless non-jocks like the people on my team. I bet they all work at investment banks or something. Not that I am opposed to investment bankers.

Obviously, I never played sports in high school. Well I am only assuming that's obvious by the comments I made above. But let's just say that in high school I was one of the girls who had to take a second year of P.E. because I wasn't in a sport. And because I had a full schedule of AP and IB and BS classes I didn't have time to take this second year of P.E. until my junior year. But even then, I only had time to take half a semester. And I got lucky. My best friend and I ended up in a class full of sophomore boys. Just us and a bunch of tiny, adolescent, squeaky voiced little guys. And, naturally, we ruled the class. We were always team captains, rallying the troops, telling the teacher we had our periods so we didn't have to do anything. You know, taking advantage of our female status. And it was ridiculously fun.

But then senior year comes around. Last semester. And I still have half a P.E. class to finish. And no best friend this time. So there I am, moments from graduating, caring more about my boyfriend and off campus lunch than badminton, in a class full of non-athletic sophomore girls. It was like the worst stereotypes you can imagine came to life: the girl in the wheelchair, the fat girl, the non-English speaking crew, the girl who always wore sweats - in and out of class. And then me. I was forced to make friends with some semi-socially awkward girls who had collections of lip balm and hair scrunchies so I could partner with them versus the girl who smelled like milk and old bread. There was one girl I became particularly close with, if you call chatting in an awkward class "close." She was a senior, like myself. I had vaguely seen her around over the course of the past four years. She was a quieter girl, nerdy, but had a large group of co-nerdy girlfriends. Not that i was miss popularity or anything, but I had my share of friends spread around the school. The funny thing with this girl was that we would see each other around campus and quietly nod or smile, acknowledging each other. It was like we were having a secret love affair and we didn't want our friends to know. Just two girls from different sides of the tracks. I still think about her now, wondering how things turned out. If she ever finished UCSB like she wanted, if she ever fell in love. Who am I? Kevin Arnold?

Anyway, flash forward to the present, I'm back in the gym. Wishing I had given more thought to that second year of P.E. and writing a post that would make Brian proud, ie: taking an epic stroll down memory lane sans the super witty one-liners.

Love and Dodgeball,
Bridget

Thanks European Vacation!

2008-01-15T17:45:00.000-05:00

Today is Tuesday. It's January. It's 5:46 and totally dark out. What else is there to say?

Oh, right! Gym news! You can imagine how ecstatic I was this morning when I turned on Bravo and saw the opening credits to "European Vacation." Yesterday, they were airing some movie with Ewan McGregor playing a stock trader in Singapore. It was evident that it was based on a true story, because it was exhaustively detailed which meant it was very boring.

The same, however, cannot be said for the second installment of the Griswold family saga. I happen to think that this one is highly under appreciated. There are the die hard "Vacation" fans and a younger crop of "Christmas Vacation" loyalists, but I would say the majority of people dismiss their trip over the pond. But why? There are many funny bits, but I think the crown jewel is the daughter, Audrey (played by Dana Hill.) She's funny just to look at. She's kind of a little creature with a raspy voice. And her endless "I miss Jack"s are insane! And it seemed even funnier that they kept highlighting the fact that she didn't want to gain weight, when she looked like a chunk. But then you'd see a long shot of her and realize she was actually really tiny.

The sad thing is that she really wasn't a little creature. She was sick and had diabetes which apparently stunted her growth and then put her into a coma and eventually killed her! It's terrible. So this post goes out to her.

And to the scene in Italy when the Griswolds get hideous new outfits. That is probably why everyone hates the movie.

Love and basketball,
Bridget

Live Blogging: Caddy Wompus

2008-01-14T15:59:00.000-05:00

Okay, I am half kidding with the live blogging thing. And the five people who read this were promptly emailed when this incident happened. I work across the street (caddy corner if we’re getting specific, okay?) from this new Trump SoHo BS tower that is going up. It’s huge and being constructed at record pace and the neighborhood hates it. And I hate it! I walk by it every day on my way to and from work and the construction site freaks me out. They fill they huge metal buckets with cement and hoist them via crane to the top of the building, which is apparently 46 stories above me, little pedestrian, on the street. And I swear they fly up. I have wanted to write about this fact alone, because this alone freaks me out.

We moved into our new office space at the start of the year (caddy corner...ugh, worst phrase) and now I get a beautiful view of the building and the cement buckets right outside the window next to my desk. So today, there was a huge noise and my boss and co-workers and I clamor to the window to see an unsettling amount of debris fall from the building, and further see that a large chunk of the top floors are gone. Chaos ensued, FDNY showed up, EMTs, the news crews, the whole deal. Apparently, one person died immediately, which is horribly tragic. One of the construction workers was even trapped in a safety net and we saw them bring him down in his own metal bucket. He was promptly whisked away on a stretcher when he got to street level.

Needless to say (even though I already have 6 times in this post), shit like this really freaks me out! Most of you know I did a short film in college about a woman who wears a bicycle helmet all of the time. And while most of that stemmed from growing up in California with earthquakes and whatnot, living in New York City does not help calm my latent things-falling-down-on-my-head paranoia (I’m 90% sure that is an accurate, medical term.) You always hear about scaffolding coming down, or a crane load falling from a construction site (as exemplified by today’s incident.) So maybe there’s an actual reason for my paranoia. Maybe I’ll start wearing a helmet or maybe I just won’t leave my apartment. Okay, let’s be honest, if that happens it’s most likely because Ocean’s 11 is airing on TBS or something. You know I’m a sucker for a tv movie “event.”

Here are some photos:

They just pulled out another person on a stretcher. It’s been about 2 hours. Apparently he was trapped somehow. Here’s a link to some more accurate reporting on Gothamist.

Anyway, after all that, I am not really sure what my point is except to say that I am no longer walking along this stretch of Spring St. on my way to work. And I did a google search of caddy corner to make sure I had the correct spelling and I found out I could have also used: kitty corner (this is just straight up annoying) or caddy wompus! I really missed the boat on caddy wompus....there’s always next time I guess.

Okay enough about Trump. I have to get back to uploading a new facebook photo.

Ciao!
Bridge

Happy New Year!

2008-01-07T13:59:00.000-05:00

Well it’s a new year and what better way to ring it in than with this uplifting news story.

Seriously? SERIOUSLY!?!?

Anyway, on a brighter note it’s almost 60 degrees in the middle of January in New York City. That is cause for celebration.

Sincerely,
Bridge

I am the Biggest Loser

2007-12-19T15:55:00.000-05:00

Today really feels like a Thursday. It's unfair that it's only Wednesday. I feel like Angela Chase in "My So Called Life" right now. Mainly because Buffalo Tom just came on my iTunes and I am feeling a little melancholy and contemplative. And when was Angela anything but? She was forever resting her head in hands, looking off into the distance and sighing. Oh, Angela!

In morning gym news, I tried my luck with Bravo's random AM programming again. This time I got some weird special version of "The Biggest Loser." It's kind of funny watching a show like "The Biggest Loser" when you're at the gym. I used to watch "Celebrity Fit Club" occasionally and had the same feeling, like: "Hey! I'm already working out! I'm ahead of the game!" What the hell is that supposed to mean? I have no idea. But I was feeling smug at 7:30 on a Wednesday, okay? Not to say that I am not a sucker for those shows. I am always amazed at the hard work they put in and the amazing transformations they make. Recently, my roommate had it on and the contestants got all dolled up and had a moment in front of a three way mirror. Maybe this was the first time they got to look in a mirror or something, because they were so emotional looking at themselves. But the clincher was that the mirror was actually a door which whisked open to reveal the contestant's significant other who had seen them 50 pounds ago. So more tears ensued and sweet nothings were whispered. I felt bad for one girl who just had a random older woman friend on the other side. Not even a mom or sibling. Just Sally, probably her co-worker who's always there to lend an ear over a mug of office coffee. There weren't many tears when that door opened. Sorry, Sally.

I also saw "Atonement" which I will dub "A Mole Through the Ages."

Sincerely,
Bridget

This Morning in a Doctor's Office Far, Far Away

2007-12-14T14:42:00.000-05:00

I had to go to the doctor this morning to get the second portion of the chicken pox vaccine. I know it seems improbable that I, being the ripe age of 27, have never had the chicken pox, but I haven't! And when a co-worker came down with the pox (at 33!) and had been interacting with me quite a bit, I was sent into a panic imagining myself having shingles for the rest of my life. I don't think I was even fully aware there was a chicken pox vaccine available. From what I understand, it became prevalent in the US in the mid nineties and I was too busy checking my pager to care.

Needless to say, I trudged to the doctor after my mild panic attack and got my first dose of the varicella. It did not hurt, but it was curious that the injection site became extremely HOT for days afterward and started to itch. It was like I had one giant pock. (pock? )

So anyway, that was then. I am not sure if I'll have another pock. But more interesting things happened while I was waiting for the doctor. There are many physicians at this office, and there is a large pediatric component. So there are always a lot of kids around. Today, as I settled in to await my single pock injection, I could hear the soothing sounds of a mother reading a story to her very attentive children. I heard "The intergalactic enterprise thwarted..." WHAT!?!? This woman, in her dulcet tones, went on to talk of the Battle of Endor and their trip to Tatooine. She also explained how Han Solo had lost the Millennium Falcon in a high stakes game of cards.

Okay, so this lady was reading some sort of kids' picture book version of the "Star Wars" saga. But the way in which she was reading it and the way her kids were reacting was unreal! And these were young kids, maybe 3 and 5! She talked about C3P0's copper sheen and gave them anecdotes clearly not from the book about Luke and Leia's relationship. She had things to stay about "Star Wars" and damn it, her kids were going to listen! It was hilarious. And she was such a dorky mom, too. Living in New York and being from upper middle class suburban SoCal (that sounds horrible), all I ever see is too-cute moms trying to be 26. This lady was nothing of the sort. She looked like a cross between Anthony Michael Hall in "Sixteen Candles" and Charlize Theron in "Monster." The highlight came when she started explaining that "the Storm Troopers' blasters have the capability to," she dramatically turns to her daughter "stun. But they also have the capability" she turns her head to the other side, into the wide eyes of her son, "to kill." Oh, the joys of geeky motherhood! We can't all be young, cute moms with blonde pixie cuts and purple sweatshirts!

TGIF people,
Bridge

PS: I would like to apologize to all of the Star Wars freaks if I botched some of that information. I mean, how can I be sure if it was the Empire or the Rebellion who used blasters? Right?

Boomerang

2007-12-12T11:18:00.000-05:00

First of all, I just told my friend at work that I was going to poke the shit out of her on facebook. Everything about that statement is wrong.

Now on to the important stuff. I was at the gym yesterday, taking a much needed respite from the "Today" show and turned on Bravo. To my surprise "Boomerang" was just starting. This isn't a movie that I revere or that I watched a lot in my childhood and have nostalgic feelings about. But the soundtrack was that ubiquitous album when the movie came out. It contained the hits "End of the Road" and that PM Dawn song "I'd Die Without You" or something like that. It was on heavy rotation to say the least. Anyway, I had seen this movie once, maybe in the theaters or shortly thereafter. And I remember always identifying with the David Alan Grier character, the guy who doesn't get the girl. So throughout my pre-teen and teenage years I internally labeled myself as the David Alan Grier of the group. Except I'm not black and I'm not a guy. But I was always the sensible, romantic one who wasn't out to play the game and who never got a date...in seventh grade. I also think I just liked David Alan Grier from his funnier days on "In Living Color."

When I saw this movie again, maybe a year or so ago, I felt so sad for my twelve year old self! Who chooses to identify with DAVID ALAN GRIER? I wisely switched sides and now identified with Halle Berry. I mean, what modern day woman DOESN'T identify with Halle? She's just like us, right? Suffice to say, I got home, cued up my "End of the Road" tape single and had a good cry.

In other news, there was this story about none other than Jeff Bridges on CNN today. Leave it to CNN to post the most riveting news stories.

So now this blog is about dogs, Christmas, David Alan Grier and Jeff Bridges. Great.

Signing off,
Bridget

The Office: Special?

2007-12-10T12:08:00.000-05:00

Okay, I have a lot to write about today. A LOT. Big weekend, guys. Well, not really.

We had our office Christmas party on Friday. It was in the office so it went like this: 6:15: send off work email. 6:17: tap the keg. In actuality, it was a really fun party that culminated in a dance party with the core of the company, including my boss and the owner, as seen below.

At one point, my friend's boyfriend said "You know, watching all of you dancing was like watching an episode of 'The Office.' You have all the characters, all the roles covered." I didn't really know how to take that. Who am I? Meredith? Ugh, I guess we're both redheads.

On an unrelated note, I caught about 5 minutes of "Tin Man." I had been dying to see this after seeing some ridiculous promos and ads all over the city. The whole concept was just so retarded to me. And I have to say, that actually seeing 5 minutes of it did not disappoint. The attempts to make "The Wizard of Oz" edgy and modern were so pathetic and laughable; from the fact that they called Dorothy "DG" to referring to Oz as the O.Z. THE O.Z.! It was pretty horrid. Alan Cumming with a zipper on his head and the cowardly lion character who looked like the Beast from the 80's TV series "Beauty and the Beast" were about all I could take.

Also, I woke up at 4AM because I was having back spasms. It wasn't my lower back and it didn't hurt, but who gets back spasms? Well, besides Aikman...

Sincerely,
Bridge

Jeff Bridget

2007-12-07T14:09:00.000-05:00

I had a dream last night that I was hanging out in a café with Jeff Bridges. I don't really know what prompted this, but in the dream we were friends and clearly had a nice rapport. At one point I looked up at a big screen on which the restaurant was projecting "The Big Lebowski." I looked over at Jeff (who was sporting an uncharacteristically short hair cut) and said "This movie is great. You should check it out." Then my dream thought process went like this a) Wait, doesn't Jeff sometimes go by Lebowski? B) Oh shit!! Didn't Jeff PLAY Lebowski? He smirked and I apologized profusely and kept saying I was such a moron. But the worst part of the dream was that after this bit I was transported somewhere else and the first thing I wanted to tell anybody who would listen was that I had this crazy dream where I was telling Jeff Bridges to watch his own movie! How crazy is that? And then I think I moved on to another setting, in which I was telling an entirely new group of people about this nutty dream! I had even been commenting to Jeff how it must have been tough to work with the Coen Brothers because they are such meticulous and well planned filmmakers. This is never a thought I have had in my waking life. Those are usually coveted qualities, right?

Anyway, this happens to me all of the time. I dream about something, and then think I am awake and refer to the old dream over and over. By the time I wake up the thought of telling one more person about the dream is exhausting. Or sometimes I dream about a situation or something going on in my life that I may be stressed about. The worst is when the crisis/situation pans out perfectly in my dream and then I wake up and remember I have to deal with it for real. The point? Reality sux.

And in semi-related morning gym news: at the end of my yoga class my teacher likes to change the music to something really "chill" to further relax us. Today, as we're laying down, I suddenly hear what I think is the Twin Peaks theme music! AAHHHH! This does not inspire me to take rest. This inspires me to take flight from a long haired man named Bob who tormented my ten year old dreams! Where was Jeff Bridges THEN?

And for your viewing pleasure, I wanted to find a proper picture of Lebowski, but I found this picture of Jeff Bridges' character in "Surf's Up."

The most annoying thing about typing this post is that every time I go to write Jeff Bridges, I instinctively type Jeff Bridget. Old habits die hard.

TGIF,
Bridget, or Bridges. Whatever.

Have a Holly, Jolly...

2007-12-06T15:20:00.000-05:00

I have been assigned the task of putting together a playlist for our office Christmas party. It's a task I don't take lightly. Okay, that's a lie. To be perfectly honest, I am using it as an excuse to put off the other things I should actually be accomplishing. But it's tough. My office is comprised of a bunch of youngish people, but we're inviting clients and freelancers so it will be a mix. I'm not sure if the road trip CDs or mixes I made while on poster tour are going to cut it. If I busted out "Lighters Up" or Fastball's "The Way," this group would not appreciate it.

There's also the issue of Christmas music. I have compiled two (now legendary) Christmas mixes. But I have been coming up against people who abhor Christmas music! I know we can all get burned out on the holidays and all the shit that goes with it, from Amy Grant's rendition of "Grown Up Christmas List" to seeing decorations show up 2 hours after Halloween. But who can deny the awesomeness that is "Do They Know It's Christmas" or "Christmas Wrapping"? Or "Fairytale for New York"? Anyway, I can go on and on, but I am going to try to accommodate everyone. So while I will be playing "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," I will not include "Ho Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum." Fair enough?

Now this blog is all about Christmas and dogs. Gross.

Sincerely,
Bridget

ps: I only included the "Rocking Around" link for the "Home Alone" part. Please enjoy.

Introducing Ruby

2007-12-05T10:40:00.000-05:00

This is Ruby. She is 1 of 2 basset hounds I see on my way to work.

Luckily I had my camera this morning. I think she is my favorite. Look at that face! Although I have to admit, I think she has a better down coat than I do.

In other news, Rory sent me this link today. If I start spending actual money on virtual uggs or beer please help me.

Sincerely,
Bridget

The Wonders of Chinatown

2007-12-04T11:39:00.000-05:00

Every now and then I am reminded that I live in a really unique place, and I don't mean New York. I mean Chinatown. This morning, on my walk to work, I saw this Chinese man on the corner with a cart, like you would see in the kitchen of a restaurant. The cart was covered by old boxes with various kinds of seafood labeled on there. And these weren't new boxes. They were the kind of boxes I find in the hallway of my building when it's snowing and they don't want you to slip on the tiles. The light changed and the man started across the street with his cart. That's when I saw that hanging in the cart were about a dozen fully cooked ducks, probably about to go hang up in the window of some restaurant. Maybe it's just me, but I don't need my Peking duck to cross Canal street, or ANY street, covered by a bunch of sick old seafood boxes. But that's just me. Maybe Chinatown is like Mordor. One kitchen to rule them all? I'll have to ask Rory about that one. She spent approximately 13 hours in Middle Earth once.

In other walk to work news: it's freezing.

Sincerely,
Bridget

SNOW!

2007-12-02T11:07:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning to see this outside of my window!

Well I actually woke up because I heard Kelly leave and then I heard someone stomping around on the roof. Kelly was excited. She said she'd never seen snow fall before (well unless you count "Snow Falling on Cedars." Decent flick. Come on! If I can't get my puns in here, where can I?)

So we decided to check out the snow. Kelly put on long underwear which prompted me to as well. I don't have proper long underwear, but I have these thermal type pants I wear when I go snowboarding. I am really stubborn and usually think I don't need such things but it was amazing. I was so warm! It's a testament to my stepmom, Lucy. If it's below 50 she doesn't leave the house without 100% wool long underwear, a full wool undershirt, a down skirt, a floor length shearling coat, a hand knit 3 meter long wool scarf and a wool hat. This might be an exaggeration, but if it is it's a slight one.

We ended up pretty much taking a tour of lower Manhattan.

Here's the Jeff Koons sculpture outside WTC 7. I'm a fan. I also liked his balloon in the Macy's Parade.
There's a Koons sculpture near my dad's place in Venice. It's a balloon animal dog. My dad jokingly said something to his students one day that someone should make a balloon animal turd and put it underneath the dog. His students accepted the challenge. Here's a link to the blog they made. It's all in Italian, but there are pictures of their mission:
http://lookmypoo.blogspot.com/

For the record, I don't usually use the word "turd."

Anyway, I really love being in New York around the holidays. I have rarely had a white Christmas, being in California for most of them so it's nice to have some snow for the lead up.

Sincerely, Bridget

PS: There's a movie on the Hallmark channel right now called "A Boyfriend for Christmas." Santa, I hope you're watching! Also, "The Parent Trap" is on. Paging Nadine!

Hello there!

2007-12-01T17:46:00.000-05:00

So I started a blog!

Check back when I have something to say. Bye!

Just kidding. But I do feel a certain amount of pressure to make my inaugural post a good one, but who am I kidding? It's freezing outside. I am reading while my roommate watches "Guys and Dolls." Brando's singing voice intermittently interrupts my book and all I can think is that he sounds like Billy Crystal doing an impression, probably of Brando. I am not really a fan of the big musicals from the 50s and 60s, like "My Fair Lady" or even "West Side Story." Sorry Kel, but "Guys and Dolls" is no exception. But I do, on average, like musicals.

Kelly is now chatting with a long lost friend who just found me on facebook, looking for her. I signed up for facebook maybe 72 hours ago. I felt pressured because suddenly all of my friends signed up at the exact same time, even though it's been around for years and I thought they were all loyal myspace users. I had vowed not to sign up. I've been an ardent myspacer for almost four years. Making the switch from Friendster was a pain in itself, so why would I change it again?

And I was completely unprepared for what facebook had to offer. What's with all these "applications" and functions? I can't even figure out something simple like inviting friends. My sister signed up right after me and she was already sending me "Christmas Presents" and dedicating songs to me. It's pretty hideous, but yet another fabulous time waster. And everyone swears that facebook is better than myspace. I was getting exhausted with it all and decided to just start a blog!

Not that I won't be on the 'book in 20 minutes confirming that I met this long lost friend through Kelly and walking her through setting up her own profile while Brian nominates me for a superlative. Hey, at least I have a virtual social life, right guys? RIGHT?!?!?

The cool thing is that my cousins from Australia are on there. That's a plus!