I forgot to believe in redemption, and then I remembered.

Still just as beautiful. Maybe even more so.

From whence we came

I cannot get enough of this royal engagement! Is there a book to buy? A Dateline episode to watch? I want it all!! One of my favorite articles (other than those discussing The Ring) is this one, detailing Kate Middleton's ancestry. I especially like the contrast between her great great grandfather, a coal miner and William's (K George V). Who could imagine that fortunes change so rapidly. It reminds me of Sarum, a book I enjoy specifically because you get to see all the connections your ancestors have to you. It was not so very long ago that George and Alda (short for Alexandrina - they didn't want to call her Alex because it sounded like a boy) left England and Scotland respectively - granted I have not (yet) risen to royalty. But I think they would be pleased as punch nonetheless :)

I love you Granny and Papa George - and I wish more than ever you were here for just 5 minutes to laugh about the royals with me.

April 9, 1944
Shortly before their 16th wedding anniversary and a bit less than 3 years before my mom was born.

xo
Your Alison

For Granny

Look at the energy those flashbulbs put out at them!
My Scottish born and bred Granny would be very excited today if she were here - when I was a little girl she used to teach me to 'wave like Lady Di' out the window as if my adoring public were waiting. In her memory, I plan on finding some piece of commemorative china to purchase just as she did with Charles and Di all those years ago. I'm waving Granny!

XO

Ahahahahahaha!

I do not like football. That being said, this is a riot! "Play smarter, not harder" indeed!

A lesson in love from Harold and Dorie

Harold and Dorie are Britain's longest married couple. I'm not even done with the article and I've learned some lessons:

‘We didn’t think about it, really,’ says Dorie. ‘Folks don’t put up with things these days. The least little problem and they’re up and off, aren’t they? I never wanted to leave, I must say, but I think ­people give up too easily these days.’

I bite my lip, recalling a recent threat to exit my marriage after a ferocious altercation over a pot of yogurt. I ask Dorie if people these days simply expect too much.

‘I think so,’ she says. ‘We never really had much, but we were happy enough.’

Being not entirely unfamiliar with ferocious yogurt altercations in the past, I shall be attempting to mend my ways henceforth.

I made a really good omelet and the dog is ridiculously cute

All Hallow's Eve x2

Round 1:

Round 2:


I seriously don't think I can survive a double Halloween again.
I am just too old. (Thank God!)

Halloween makeup color test

Odd lighting but those are greens. (Along with my new favorite nail polish color which looks kind of black but in real life is sort of grayish brown)

Indeed!

Are there any other kinds of people...?

Italian anyone?

Who doesn't love some homemade meatballs? So easy, so delish!
(Also such a good smell! Although caramelizing onions is still a better one...)

I think I am now too old for G&T's in pint glasses

Brooklyn: a giver of good advice

I don't just miss them dicing on the bar

One thousand four hundred and forty minutes

10.10.10

www.onedayonearth.org

Wanna have kids?

Could I come up with a plan for something like this if I did? How do you come up with something like this?! It is just so... COOL.

Homemade Spacecraft from Luke Geissbuhler on Vimeo.

Swinger

Helloooooo....

Towels, sheets, blankets, pussy cat... wait, what?

Don't tell me it doesn't pay to be pushy!

Thank God she can still get a full manicure!
No Jackie 9 Nails here!
(As someone who saved their own gallstone, I also fine it awesome she keeps her pinky in the freezer)

Posh & Becks, I love you still!

This is turning into a photo blog

Everybody loves the High Line.

Suburban Auto Group, I love thee!

I laugh at these damn things EVERY TIME.

They can't fly but oh-ho they can swim!

Thought for sure she'd sink like a stone but she is the little Pig that could!

Beating the heat as best I can

I am so damn proud of those flip flop tan lines

Need a tug?

Cousin Roddy and I just barely avoided inadvertently joining the tugboat races. As they had beer and barbecue, I can't say that it would necessarily have been a bad thing. Maybe next year!

Watch out Martha!

Last weekend I officially perfected my meatloaf recipe.
Don't get me wrong - the meatloaf was already perfect. Perfect.
But I was having issues with my gravy. It was not rich/creamy/tangy enough. Something was missing. And now I have found the missing ingredient and therfore perfected recipe. I can now make the best meatloaf with mashed baked potatoes and gravy. Amen.

Sound the trumpets!

Officially not a Summer sailing person

Because most people would be sorry that nights like this will be ending soon.

Ode to the Old Days

I hate people telling me I should watch a video too.

But if you just watch til minute 1:30....



I bet you'll laugh.

This is just the eeriest thing ever!

This

+
THIS

=

THIIIIIS!!

At last I have found myself.
Just call me 'A Tats'.

Internet, I would say yes

Who wants traditional when you can have hysterical??

In other news Internet, I am baffled. (I am also baffled about where to put the commas in that sentence but that is for another post) A little over a year ago after some strenuous physical activity i developed some knee issues. Every time I walked up stairs my knees both hurt and clicked, a disturbing crunchy-clicking sound. Not delightful. And the pain was like a giant rubber band was being over stretched down the front of my knees. Also not delightful. Eventually after a couple months, Righty stopped hurting and just crunch-clicked a little but Lefty has gone on strong with the whole pain/ crunch-click show. It has been slowly getting worse and worse and last week I was at the point where I figured I needed to see a Dr because I was now having serious trouble getting up stairs. And then it happened. Right in the middle of the Cole Haan store. I was on my way upstairs to look at some gold purses (extraneous details make the story) and while favoring my left knee, my right flip-flop caught on the stairs and I tumbled into them. And The Great Toe Incident of 2010 occurred. Suddenly my knee issue was secondary to the big toe on my right foot which was now cracked and starting to gush IN A LUXURY GOODS STORE. Thank God I had a metallic pink pedicure to help hide the carnage. After a few hours I realized the toe damage could have been worse and would eventually repair itself but in the meantime, the ODDEST thing happened. Suddenly, my left knee stopped hurting. Now there is a very slight pain at stairs and minimal clicking that is getting better every day. What gives??

Announcing the new band name!

Yes, it's true, Mildred and The Hot Cheese now has an official new name!
While being briefly known as Dick Cheney and his Evil Weather Machine, the band will officially from this point forward be known as.....(drumroll):
Mona's Death Hankie
As always, we thank you for all your continued support, we would not be here without you. We would also not be here without pop up video technology so a big shout out to them as well.
Look for our first official new set list for the new album to be posted shortly.

Thanks also to Rogue Wave who we randomly met at a bar last night. Never heard of you guys before but you don't suck.

PS-Does anyone know where we can find Allagash White in NYC? We prefer draft to bottle.

Peace and love,
Alison Wonderland, Ferocious C and the boys.

I still remember the bitter end

This post is dedicated to Tony F as he loves nothing more than a little Gaga blasting as he zips around in the Aston. Which therefor accords me some of my funnier moments ever experienced. Not many people expect Bad Romance to pour out when they motion for you to put your window down, Tony! But Tony does indeed like to support those TSOA/CAP grads - all of them! I enjoy here very much because if Bowie and Freddie had a girl - well, here she is! She also loves Spencer Tunick - I feel we'd get along juuuust fine.

"If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she's late? Nobody."

Maybe I should write more.
(Text used to determine answer shall remain hidden)

Her proudest achievement was staying blonde. And eating avocado.

Two entirely unrelated pics but at least it's 2 entries in 2 days. Oh and besides avocado, I now also love eggplant. And haddock. Who knew?

An iPhone July

The world's seediest dog

Just ask a chihuahua

Sometimes, size doesn't matter.

PS-am now in need of small pet owl

Newbury St: Before and After

Which one looks like the washed up rockstar with too much drink and hard living under her belt? Um, yeah, that'd be me...

One of the world's perfect edibles

One of the reasons I love photography

This

Anyone out there have one of me?

Still processing finale

But OH does this make me laugh

Summah here already?

Juanita and I had our first spin of the season today. Then I got a Parisienne Street Sandwich which had brie and Dijon mustard so I felt very French.

Thanks to Pookie for Juanita's new bell - Ding Ding!
Thanks to Amy Whore for the circa '84 rubber bracelets. The help keep Juanita real.

I am getting so excited!

Makes a girl want to go find her own Destiny.

This was going to be a one line post

About how of all people, Baby Mama turns out to have awesome style (I love posts that make sense to almost no one but me) but tomorrow is Tuesday (aka Lost Chicken Wednesday) and I have to address it as it is being called the 'penultimate episode'. Except I looked up the word penultimate and lo and behold, I am not the only one who didn't know the meaning! Penultimate means next to last. Not, NEXT to next to last.

So for Season 6 (don't think I really read him before that?) I have been a big fan of Doc Jensen's columns. I don't always particularly agree with him but I really LOVE discussing Lost. It's like the best history/ comparative literature class I can imagine (if only I had been as fond of them in college...) and I can't imagine anyone who watches not wanting to talk about what things mean and what might happen. (Of course, being OCD helps with this but I digress). For example, the Sideways World. Many Lost watchers seem to think something is wrong with it, that it is 'off' or 'bad'. I think that it's great! Everyone's still alive! Everyone still has their opportunity for happiness and redemption and all that good stuff. Incidentally. I also think it's what made Sun and Jin's death not so moving to me. I have always liked them (and Sayid!) but as they're still alive in Sideways I am not nearly as moved as say, when Charlie died. OH SEASON THREE. You were such a pain in the ass to watch and then you had THAT ending. That's another thing about Lost. It really teaches (reminds) the watcher that you need the yin and the yang for things to be worth it. You have to have a few slow episodes to give kick to the fast, amazing ones. Like how in life the ups are made sweeter by the presence of the downs. That the commitment is worth it. OK, this is getting too deep. All I can say for this week is that I hope Man In Black's name is not Esau or anything similar. Oh and after seeing a preview for this week (this is not really a spoiler), I am left to wonder whether MIB's problem might be that he was 'raised by another' too... What will I ponder once Lost is over? Maybe it will finally be time to go and figure out when to use "it's" and when to use "its". Of course, I have made it this long...

This Tuesdays 'Lost Chicken's Wednesday' menu: The Labor Meal or What my mom ate the night before she went into Labor with me. Chicken Tetrazzini and Pina Coladas. 'Nuff said.

Hey Lost, guess what? You taught me how to cook, too! Thanks!
(Of course, you didn't teach me if "Tuesdays" should have an apostrophe but I guess that's asking too much)

Update: It was just pointed out that given this week's subject matter, The Labor Meal is most appropriate! Ha!

Don't look closely at this picture!

Even tho it is INCREDIBLY tempting. Because that marker board? It has spoilers. I learned the hard way.

This lovely pic (which makes me want a marker board in my house SO BAD) is from this lovely article. It is so lovely I am posting about it before I even finish reading it. So are their spoilers in the article? So far, no!

Theory that you can't be a pretty girl and a good comedienne: disproven!

At last, if not a theory, at least an idea...

Thus far, in 6 seasons of Lost watching, I have had all of two 'epiphanies'. One was when I first heard Ben's 'Henry Gale' alias and realized it invoked the Wizard of Oz. Unless something unexpected happens in the next 4 (SOB!) episodes I think that was nothing more than a clever nod to the Wiz. My second epiphany is that I think Juliet is Jack's sons mother. I'm not really happy about this but so long as she winds up with Sawyer (and Desmond with Penny, AND DESMOND WITH PENNY!!!) I can live with it. I have not got a clue as to how the Sideways World and the Island World will resolve. Not a clue as to who might replace Jacob, if indeed he will wind up replaced. No clue as to why Clair's Wig doesn't have a credit of its own. But now! Now I have a fragment of an idea! Time wise we've jumped all over the place (and as one upcoming ep promises, we're gonna be jumping further than usual soon) We've flashed forward, we've flashed back, we've flashed sideways (whatever the hell that is). But when Lost premiered on September 22, 2004 we were for that one day in present time with the Losties. Plane crash happened: September 22, 2004. Right now, the Island is in 2007. I propose that on May 23rd they will have come full circle to 2010. May 23rd. What does this mean? I have no clue. But I think it'll have the same effect as the end of the best Lost episode thus far ("Through the Looking Glass") when Jack turns from that gate and says "We have to go back." I shall once again jump up from my couch and scream OH MY GOD.

Additional thoughts:

Did anyone else think that it was more than just creepy when Jack told Flocke that he had no idea who he was and Flocke is all "yeah, ya do"? It made me wonder if Jack's known him all along as something else and just doesn't know it yet.

Will we ever learn why women couldn't have kids on the island? Because that is just gonna annoy the crap out of me if we don't.

Desmond is so not dead in the well. But did they have to put that "you can check if you want to" bit in? Meh.

Who the heck is the Ghost Boy Flocke saw? Young Jacob? People, we have 4 episodes left - start the answers!

Oh, Horatio!

I knew I'd heard about things like this before!
So magical things can occur. Good to know.

Maybe it's not true but it's still beautiful

Lovely little fan theory that will totally get you thinking about those moments.

My Constant

"So long as Desmond and Penny remain together in the end all will be well with the world!"

So true, my Pookie, so true!

An email I just sent

Hello All!

Before I get to the reason I am sending this (long) email, let me start with a wonderful 'quote' that if you haven't already heard, will probably brighten this rainy day:

Inside every adult lurks a graduation speaker dying to get out, some world-weary pundit eager to pontificate on life to young people who'd rather be Rollerblading. Most of us, alas, will never be invited to sow our words of wisdom among an audience of caps and gowns, but there's no reason we can't entertain ourselves by composing a Guide to Life for Graduates.

I encourage anyone over 26 to try this and thank you for indulging my attempt.Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97:

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

That was written by Mary Schmich of the Chicago Tribune. It was also made into a spoken word piece by Baz Luhrman which is awesome and I highly recommend listening to. The reason I quoted it was because I am about to 'dispense advice' of my own (well, really I just think it's super cool) ANYWAY...

Here's my two 'tips':

I've found this and it is SO good I wanted to share.
JOY OF COOKING HERB PAN SAUCE (aka Magic Pan Sauce)

Basic Herb Pan Sauce
Yield: Makes 1/2 cup

Ingredients:
1/3 cup chicken stock, apple cider or wine
1/4 cup minced shallots
1 bay leaf
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard (optional)
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, wine or cognac (or to taste)
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup heavy cream (optional)
1 tablespoon minced fresh herbs (parsley, thyme and or rosemary) (optional)
1 tablespoon butter, preferably unsalted

After cooking lamb chops, pork chops or chicken breast, remove them to a platter and keep warm. Pour off the fat and heat the skillet to medium-high. Add the chicken broth or wine.
Stir with a wooden spoon to loosen and dissolve any brown bits. Bring to a boil and add the shallots, bay leaf, Dijon mustard, if using, lemon juice, wine or cognac, and salt and ground black pepper to taste.
Cook, stirring occasionally over medium-high heat until slightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add heavy cream, if using, and cook until it is reduced by half, 3 to 5 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat, strain the sauce through a sieve, if you want, and, if desired, stir in 1 tablespoon minced fresh herbs. Discard bay leaf. Swirl in butter and spoon over the meat.

I do it slightly different because I am lazy:

After cooking lamb chops, pork chops or chicken breast, remove them to a platter and keep warm. Add the chicken broth.
Stir with a wooden spoon to loosen and dissolve any brown bits. Bring to a boil and add the shallots, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, parsley and salt and black pepper.
Cook, stirring occasionally over medium-high heat until slightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add heavy cream and cook 3 to 5 minutes. Til thick.
Spoon over the meat.

If I didn't list an ingredient it is because I was too lazy to purchase/ measure / chop it. Amen.

My other tip of the day:

American Eagle! Dear Lord. I ordered online some delightful tshirts ($100+ means free shipping and you can return anything you don't like to a store) and I loved ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARRIVED. How often does that happen?? All super soft and none too $$$. So thrilled that I needed to let everyone know IMMEDIATELY.

Have awesome days everyone :)

XO

An Ode to Lost Chicken Wednesdays

Due to the lovely Emily, Lost has now become something that I have to experience with a special meal. This is no doubt due to our famous Lost Chicken Wednesdays involving Emily and Bouley Bakery's amazing roast chicken and mashed potatoes. Oh, seasons 3 and 4 how tasty you were! So now, every Tuesday evening I embark on a Culinary Adventure and try and make some delightful cuisine. I am becoming not too bad a cook! (Who knew?!) This week is the first Martha recipe so keep the fingers crossed and stay tuned. Veal stew, here I come!

It's back!

11:17!
Every time I look at the clock!
AAAAAh!

True?

"Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect."

Follow Through

Seriously?
Me and The Bachelor wedding and a bottle of champagne was bad enough, but SERIOUSLY???
I still remember sitting on a bar stool telling him that was the best choice for the single.
This Universe is just nuts.

Dear D & C,

A four letter word?? Really???
With an "o" but not an "e" or "a"?
Cork? Door?? Tomb???
This is like torture!
I've got it! The island is a TORT!!!!!!

(long, deep swig of merlot)

Dear Damon and Carlton,

You are making my head hurt.
I now watch the episodes and need to read blogs and wiki's afterward in order to make sense of them (Oh, Jeff Jensen how you save me).
I have so many questions.
Did Claire time travel with the rest of them or did she just stay 'static'?
Is Smokey the Man in Black as well as being the Man in Locke? Or are we all just assuming that because we haven't seen MIB in awhile?
Is the real Locke dead and gone? Because that would be wicked sad.
So Juliet saw the future, right? Or the past? Because 'it worked'...
Is Sideways Jack's ex-wife not at the kid's audition because she is of with a certain scruffy someone going dutch?
Jacob: Good or Evil? Is that even a valid question?
You both said that after the premiere ep this season that we'd have enough info to make a reasonable guess as to what will unfold. Seriously?!

Beyond all this tho, I LOVE THIS SHOW. I even love you more than the Olympics and anyone who knows my deep love of figure skating knows how much I love those! (Incidentally, people are coming out of the woodwork to say how they're thinking of me because ice dance is on - YES!) Yesterday I used Jack's journey as a parable to help explain something to someone. (I am not sure parable is the right word even tho I just looked it up. I do know however, that ironic is NOT the correct word to use at this time. Baby steps...) I am so intensely glad I have invested in it and do not worry a bit that I will be disappointed by it's conclusion. I feel bad for the people who gave up in Season 3 (although I was almost one of them!) But as Dorothy had to go through Oz to figure out she could have been clicking her heels from the beginning, so must we have gone through Season 3! (Hmm, Jacob=Glinda? Nah.... Although I am the only one I know who was spluttering out "Henry Gale! Dorothy's Uncle!!!" when Ben stuck his balloon in that tree!)

Alright, til next week...