joy and shadows

To start, a fast rant:

I have been on the subway/metro in several different cities: Montreal, Paris, Boston, Washington DC, and NYC. Of these, the NYC metro is by far the most confusing. It must be an initiation into the club to learn how to get where you're going.

Went into NYC today for no particular reason other than it was nice out and we felt like it. We decided to take the train, and most of the day was spent either on the bus (service to Summit was suspended due to whateverthefuck they are doing on Route 202), on the train, or on the subway.

I had never been to the Cloisters, so that's where we went. It always makes me feel guilty to get in using my corporate ID, but it's $40 in my pocket. It was amazing to see the Unicorn Tapestries. Although the unicorn is supposed to be an allegory for Christ, it reminded me that a very medieval (well, maybe not so medieval) mindset was, "Hey, look! A fabulous beast! Let's kill it!" There were several pleasant gardens, one with small sections devoted to medicinal plants, culinary plants, and magic plants (mandrake, rue, vervain, mugwort, etc.)

We went back downtown to the tune of more track troubles and had to get off before Canal St, where we were hoping to go Faulex and Fauxmega shopping. That was OK, because the friends we were meeting for dinner live at Prince and West Broad. I insisted on going through a nearby street fair, and there was a kimono vendor, probably from The Kimono House. Picked up a lovely deep green iromuji, only $30.

The heavens opened up at about 4:30, so we called our friends and asked to come over early. It's always nice to visit with them, and they were happy to see us. We went to dinner at a wonderful French/Moroccan place called Country Cafe, and there went my diet.

Trip home was harried - we missed the train uptown to Penn Station and had to get a cab. Then it was back on the bus to slog towards Far Hills. Tomorrow we really have to clean this place, it's a pit.

O HAY GUYS

Are any of you guys on Facebook? I just joined it b/c an old friend from high school was on it, and even though Ell Jay will always be my blog o'choice (Strikegate notwithstanding), three friends on the list looks a bit sad. So, tell me where you are!

My email is crawlybug at gmail dot com if you want to add me.

fallnangelspike, I used the photo you took of me at ANext (Isane in sunglasses.) Because Facebook is SRS BIZNESS.

Yes, I know I'm sick in the head, but it would be so awesome to cosplay the Esper Ultima from FFXII. Without the box on the bottom, of course.

The more right-wing groups that come out against Rudy Giuliani, the more I want to vote for him.

Christian right leader writes off Giuliani

If voting in a primary didn't mean choosing an affiliation, I'd do that too.

From CNN:

Rowling: Please don't give away Potter details

"We're a little under three months away, now, and the first distant rumblings of the weirdness that usually precedes a Harry Potter publication can be heard on the horizon," Rowling wrote on her Web site Monday.

Rowling has said two major characters will die in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," which comes out July 21. Although the Potter books are released under tight security, copies often are obtained before the publication date.

Otakon + HP = Fandom Wank Overload.

Tonight, after our rousing 17-11 softball victory (which I had nothing to do with besides keeping score) we polished off 100 hot wings, three pizzas, and six pitchers of beer.

Awesome.

Best game ever.

Hide the Fart

There will be pictures and more talk when it is not 10:30 at night, but husband and I got back from our weekend at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC amid torrential rain. It was great fun, we saw lots of things we hadn't seen before, and I got to hang out with buttercup0222.

Am much excited about showing you all the photos of the four geisha that I saw. They danced for half an hour, and even my husband was entranced. I'm so glad I got to see geisha before they are all gone.

Sellers of house are still jerking the fishing line. It's got me all strung out.

On a happier note, you all should check out the FST I just posted.

Arafel: Hm. I am going out for my cousin's birthday on Saturday. I need to borrow that buy a new top.

*Arafel goes to mall*

Arafel: Ann Taylor has cute tops... nice one at Banana... maybe I'll go back to Black Market/White House...

*Arafel buys pants*

Goddammit. -_-;

And then I got caught in the traffic caused by a bomb scare at the Bridgewater Mall, so I was late to class. Yay!

We're going to a friend's retirement dinner in NYC tonight that promises to be a lavish and tasty affair. I went out to White House/Black Market to get something to wear and ohmygodispentsomuchmoney. *weeps* And I had to buy my father a birthday gift and my mother needs one too and I bought some stuff from Amazon and oh shit we are going to buy a house soon and my bank account is crying.

Eh, you can't put a price on fabulous and omg the shoes are fabulous.

p.s. we might possibly potentially have found our house, news at 11.