An Homage to Puttin Head

Friends are undoubtedly awesome, right? No need to answer... yes - friends are awesome. Today, my blog is about my awesome, a little left of center friend Shannon.

I'm certainly at a loss as to where to begin with this one, but I guess I'll start from the beginning and tell a brief version of Shannon's favorite story. The day we met (cue dream sequence music).............

Oneonta, NY Aug. 2000. The most exciting and nerve-wracking experience in a person's life is their first day away from home and at college. I fell into step day one when I walked into my room and there was Jackie... my roomie. She needed a lot of work but was quiet (little did I know) and sweet and easy to get along with. I knew there was a girl on my floor that I had met at orientation and I wanted to go find her. Turns out she wasn't there, but her roommate was... SHANNON!! The second Shannon saw me and Jackie she knew she'd be Okaaaaaaay (thumbs up!). From that day on, it was as if we'd all been friends for years. We instantly were comfortable talking about poop - which is ALWAYS a good sign - and knew one another would be there to hold back our hair when we were puking from drinking to much (OK, maybe not me so much with my aversion to vomit).

To me, Shannon was the be all end all of advice (and boy did I need a ton of it with the shitty ass boyfriend I had that year). She sounded like she knew what she was talking about and she used big words - it was all very comforting and accurate... what more did we all need? The years rolled on as few more people were added to our group of friends bringing us to Sophomore year. The most awesome year EVER! This year was actually a big blur to me because I think I was drunk 75% of the time... but pictures proved that we all had a blast. This was the year that we really "dressed up" to go out... we're talking black pants and sequin shirts!

Cut to Junior year. We're off campus and in our own (DISGUSTING) apartment. This is where I think who Shannon is really came into play. She's a slob... there's no denying it. However, she is kind enough to keep the slobbery to her own room. She never spent much time in her room blaming it on the fact that the room itself didn't have a window. Looking back, I'm thinking it was because her room was too messy because if we're being honest, the only two windows in the whole apartment were in my room and Jackie's room.

Either way, this was a very "growing" year for me and Shannon - 2 reasons... 1) We both were in relationships that would be very telling of our future and 2) the roommates were totally split down the middle. What did you expect with 4 girls living together. So it was me and Shannon against them. Being the so non-confrontational people that we were, we kind just laid low and thanked GOD that they didn't spend much time in the apartment. (Shannon.. do you remember when we were texting back and forth when they were talking shit about us right out in the kitchen?!?!? LOL!).

Senior year Shannon and I moved into our own amazing apartment together. We promptly painted the kitchen green (ew) and decided "Americana" was the way to go in the living room. If Shannon and I thought we knew each other before... forget it! Between our pooping and our every so convenient 24 hour stomach bug... it was all out on the table. We were approaching graduation and wondering what was about to happen to us after we left what turned out to be home. After our graduation ceremony, we pranced around Oneonta in our "Unemployed" tank tops we made thinking we were hysterical... but we actually were hysterical and unemployed. So what happened next???

Shannon moved to Long Island, initially for her boyfriend... but we all knew. She moved here to be close to me (LOL!). That was 5 years ago (holy shit!)... tallying up the total time of our relationship (because at this point it's more than a friendship even though I always told her that I could never be in a relationship with her... no way) to 9 glorious years. She's been a roommate, a friend, a maid of honor, my own personal basketcase... you name it.

I say basketcase because, and this is what inspired me to write this, Shannon is flying this weekend. Oh dear Lord, that's never a good thing. She's a nut about quite a few things (croch-up underwear being one of them) but when it comes to flying, I've never seen someone get so panicy (and I hate to fly) - I actually had to text her on my HONEYMOON that I landed safely... so she's not just a nervous flyer about herself but about the people she loves too (which also goes to show what kind of friend she is). She asks for some flying prayers (she even had her dad light a candle at church this past weekend)... so fork 'em over as she heads to Michigan to attend a bachelorette party weekend for another friend.

So to my friend Shannon - you're awesome... may you travel safely this weekend (and please take notes on what everyone was wearing!).

Strolling

What is wrong with this picture???



Kinda scary, no?
This is the kind of "chaos" I run into just on my leisurly walk to Penn Station to catch my train.
Never a dull moment.

Random

Here are just a few random thoughts I'm pondering today....

*I'm going back and forth between really enjoying my outfit and wondering what the hell I was thinking this morning.

*I have a halo of frizz atop my head. More gel would've been key this morning.

*This month is National Accordian Appreciation month. I leanred that on the community website for my apartment complex. Why did they include that in this month's activities.

*Rain rain go away, come again NEVER.

*I wish I were independantly wheathy. Wouldn't that be awesome?

*Referring back to my last blog... We actually have a costume party to go to in Oct. (Aa's goddaughters 1st birthday party). What should we go as (Jan & Dan would be awesome but no one would get it)????

*I'm currently obsessed with Cinamon Toast Crunch cereal.

*I desparately want a new couch. Preferably one that costs $1. They're hard to come by.

*I'm really looking foward to watching episode II of True Blood on the train ride home. However, there are tons of sex scenes ("Vamp Porn" as my friend Alicia puts it) and I worry that someone will see what I'm watching and think I'm gross for watching it on the train (honestly, it's a show based on a series of books about Vampires... it's totally innocent, save for the Vamp Porn).

*How does one of the woman I work with know so many people who speak German. She's speaking German on the phone alllll daaay looooong.

*I'm very excited that The Closer (on TNT) is back with a new season. I'm equally excited that Aa and I have found a new show to watch together (this rarely happens), Royal Pains on USA.

*Beer! (That one is for Shannon).

*There are so many movies coming out that I NEED TO SEE that I'm having trouble keeping track... My Sisters Keeper; Harry Potter; New Moon; The Hangover; Night At The Museum; The Proposal................

I think that's all for now... no, that's a lie, my head is always swimming.
Tcuss!!!! (That's "goodbye" in German)

Jan & Dan

**Warning, this particular entry may not be understood by non-family members. I apologize and you may consider yourselves lucky (ha!!).

Yesterday on our way home, my friend Shannon (**shout out!**) and I were having another meaningless and only-funny-to-us conversations. It started off about how much traffic sucks for her and how much my ride on the rails sucks for me. Since she is stuck in her car without the option to sleep, read, or play on a DS (all options I have available to me during my daily commute) I suggested to her books on tape. She laughs even though she knows I'm serious. And I was... completely and totally serious... and that is when it occurred to me......................................................

Ever since I was little they (being my family) always called me "Lil' Judy" (Judy being my aunt, my mom's older, wiser, and gorgeous sister who can bake the pants off anyone!). I never really understood why I was deemed little Judy. Was it because I looked like her (fair and blond)? Was it because I sounded like her? Was it because I acted like her? Perhaps all of these things attributed to the "Lil' Judy" status. But as soon as I made the suggestion to Shannon about the books on tape, I knew I was in fact "Lil' Judy".

Our love of books is not unusual. I think it's the fact that we would suggest books on tape to others (in fact, she had recommended I listen to books on tape during my commute just a few short weeks ago) and think it was a totally normal, not-nerdy thing to suggest. However, despite my great efforts to help a friend in need during a crap commute, I'm being laughed at. At that very moment an idea sprung into my head.....

I wondered if Aa could be Uncle Donald to my Aunt Judy... I thought Halloween... I thought family costume party... I thought "WE'D BE THE HIT OF THE COSTUME PARTY!". I'd just bought my very first pair of Crocs (albeit flippy-floppies... not the clogs, but thus thrusting my "Lil' Judy" status further into real life) so I already had that part of the costume down! Aa has the height... it would totally work and it would be HILARIOUS!!! Even when I brought the idea to Aa, he laughed and said it was a good one (surprising because he always kind of just nods and smiles to appease me). Anyone up for having a family Halloween party???

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And because Aunt Judy and Uncle Donald have such a great sense of humor they would find them being someones Halloween costume hilarious. But despite poking fun in the most loving way, I'm proud to be coming into my own as "Lil' Judy"... so go get your books on tape and settle in for the long haul. And if you need help picking out a good one, I've got a ton of suggestions... and if I can't think of one, I'll go to my wise book-loving Aunt Judy!

Summer in the City

Since I started working in the city I've developed a love/hate relationship with it... I mostly hate it in the winter and I kinda like it (some days love it) in the summer. Here is a short list of reasons to give you some insight into summer in the city thru the eyes of a not-so-typical Long Island gal.

1) The aromas of the city streets are totally heightened in the summer making those roasted peanuts smell divine and the flowers that sit outside of the bodegas smell magnificent. HOWEVER, the subways smell wretched, and the smell of the garbage that sits on the streets permeates a little quicker with a longer lasting effect. One hones their breath-holding skills walking these streets. Not to mention the streets themselves radiate heat, so between heat coming at you from all sides and you holding your breath, you barely stand a chance.

2) The vendors are out in full force. You can get books, videos, sunglasses, bags (the pashminas are exclusive to the winter months unfortunately), perfumes, paintings and pictures... you name it, in the summer it can be bought on the street. HOWEVER, while these vendors supply an array of goodies at such a valued price, they are pushy and almost ALWAYS refuse to bargain. And these vendor tables are flooded with tourists (I won't even elaborate on that one, it deserves a spot on the list of it's very own). And of course, you always run the risk when buying a bag or the likes from a street vendor that you will run into 100 in 10 blocks who are wearing that same identical item (mom... must I remind you of the faux Burberry scarves???).

3) Bryant Park and the New York Public Library. OMGOSH! 2 of my favorite places in the city in the warm weather months... there is no denying it. It is the most perfect place to take a snack, grab your camera and people watch. The steps of the library are a great in-the-sun relaxation place and the little bistro tables in Bryant Park are perfect to catch a shady spot with a nice breeze. HOWEVER, right now, the library is under construction so everyone floods to the park making it even more crowded than normal and actually getting a seat impossible.

4) Believe it or not, the LIRR... specifically, my train home. Despite my recent move, I'm still taking the train home that I always have... the 5:09pm train to Speonk. Now that train remains my trusty (and quiet) stead Mon-Thurs. HOWEVER, come Fridays from Memorial Day thru Labor Day, all hell breaks loose. It becomes the 5:10pm train to Montauk <>. There is an upside and (of course) a downside to this. First, the train is exceedingly more crowded than usual. It is filled to the brim with 20-somethings (yes, I poo-poo my own generation) with their collars popped, their Chanel sunglasses at the ready, and their Louis Vuitton speedy bags packed full of raw carrots and cheese......... and they're screaming..... and their taking up the aisle with their multiple suitcases for 1 short weekend at the beach. And God help us all if they add some alcohol to all of the above. Ugh! I'm so happy I took off this coming Friday but I still have to survive every Friday there after until Labor Day.

5) The tourists. Gotta love 'em, but we mostly hate 'em. I love seeing a young family so excited about seeing this mecca we take for granted for the first time. And some of the photo ops I've seen are so creative it makes me wish I had my camera and the guts to say "hold it, I'd like a picture of you doing that too". HOWEVER, the 20-student tour groups from France with their yellow backpacks and wandering eyes... they can go. I don't necessarily mind that they're here, it's that they're here during rush hour staring at Macy's like it's the Goddamn Vatican. They are impossible to maneuver around because there's just so many of them and you can't say "excuse me!" because they don't speak English so they don't even know what you're saying. And they walk.... so.... slooooooooow!


With all that said, it's a city I love and a city I love to hate. What can I say, I guess I'm just a snobby, complainy, judgementaly girl from Lawn-guy-land after all.