Amber & Back In The Day

A often forgotten fact about me is that, for a brief time, before I left the island (only to come back in season 6 because, well, life was better for all of us on the island, even with the smoke monsters and ridiculously crowded 1 trains) I lived uptown.

My LaSalle Street apartment was lovely and significantly less expensive than Avenue B.

There was a large, lovely kitchen.

There were lovely French doors to the bedroom which was a totally different room than the living room, unlike Avenue B.

And there was a lovely claw-foot tub in which I took many, many bubble baths...
 

...and sometimes, kitties took naps under.

 

And then there was the "second bedroom."  Now, by most standards this was a closet.

True, a closet big enough to fit a computer desk, but it was a closet.  The rods for hanging outfits and the shelves gave it away, as did the fact that it was too small for either a couch (living room) or a bed (bedroom).  But the real estate lady insisted it was a bedroom.  When I pointed out it was too small for a bed, she explained, "You can put your baby in it."  And that, I certainly could have.

One not-forgotten-about thing about living on LaSalle Street (other than the fact that real estate agents lie like sound-absorbing rugs in rent-controlled closets that you can put your baby in) was that it was super close to Dinosaur BBQ.  They've recently moved across the street (to a new site which seats 30 more hungry clients and will have outdoor seating in better weather) and are now in that weird area under the bridge on 125 near Fairway (don't even get me started on how awesome having Fairway as my main grocery store was--except for the walk back up the Tiemann Place hill carrying way too many impulse purchases).

Dinosaur is definitely a place I would take visitors who craved ribs.  I can't tell you if the brisket is any good because I just get sucked in by the ribs every time.  The sides are awesome, too.  I love the sauteed greens (which are vegetarian, vegetarian people!) and the mac & cheese and the Syracuse Salt Potatoes.  And they have a super beer menu.  And it is festive; there is a painting of pigs, a steer, a goat and some dinosaurs playing cards!  (That seems like the very definition of festive.)

And did I mention the ribs?

Sigh.  I miss living way down on 125th.  James took this great photo of me at Dinosaur once, and you can tell I am super happy (even though I lived in Wisconsin at the time and am probably just happy to be in NYC).

He also took this one of CRD, but CRD looks more pirate than happy.

Happiness means different things to different people.

Amber & Nice Beasts

I know this guy could eat her face and, as Isaac suggested, hock her camera for $50.  But he doesn't.  And that just makes me weepy at the wonder and kindness of animals.



I am kind of mushy about animals.

Amber & Conifer Baths

I don't know if my spruce bath (not pine, as previously described) helped my cold, but it sure helped my winter spirits.

And, it provided lots of SEEKING for Ginger, seen here standing ankle deep in water, swatting at one of my bath stones.

P.S. This was AFTER I bathed.  And the Scrubbing Bubbles did a fair job.  They weren't nearly as cute as in the commercial, though.

Amber & Supplies

I just made a supply run to Saint Jesus Pharmacy.

I bought tissues (I ran out yesterday), T.P. (I ran out today after it had to play double duty after the tissues ran out), trash bags (I need somewhere to put all the used tissues), lady stuff, generic decongestants (ran out this morning), a heavy moisturizer for my super-sore under-nose, and Sambucol.  Even though I am a bit worried my friend Sambucol hasn't really been working this time around, I want to believe I would be that much worse without it.  It's made from black elderberries--how could it not be good for me?

I also got  some Scrubbing Bubbles tub cleaner.  (I'm sorry Al Gore.)  I really want to take a spruce bath but my tub hasn't been cleaned in quite a while.  I normally use baking soda and vinegar, but I'm just too pooped to provide the catalyst of muscle power.  I've seen those commercials where the bubbles do all the work.  I promise to re-use my cardboard coffee sleeves for all of 2010 to make up for this grievous environmental sin.

And, I stopped at Floridita Bakery for a cafe con leche alto, sin azucar y la rocali.

I discovered this authentic cuban baked treat when Floridita first opened, but was very sad to learn, from the baker, that "rocali" really just means "rugelach" in espanish.  Still, I think I taste some cuban flavor.  And it's also huge.

Mission: Achieved.  My nose is super grateful for the tissues.  And my belly is happy for the rocali.

Amber & Travel

I've spent the day cleaning the mess that accumulates in an apartment inhabited by four cats when their owner suddenly becomes a frequent traveler. As frequent readers know, I was in San Francisco a short time ago for work and then also a day of recreation and Redwoods.


Then, I was home for one week, but never really got back into a normal routine or got on top of the entropy. And then, I traveled to the world of Freakshow Injuries when I got whiplash while blow-drying my hair. (No, really. I really got whiplash. Apparently, my muscles were cold and then I shocked them with heat and then moved in the exact wrong way. Beauty hurts.)

And then I had to take off, unable to turn my head to the right, to face my old nemesis, Washington, DC. The kitties were alone from Tuesday AM until Thursday evening on account of not being able to get a sitter. I left out tons of dry food, a day's worth of wet and seven water bowls (and two Woody paw-sip glasses full).

Photo by James, 2005

Mysteriously, when I got back on Thursday, there were no barfs at all, proving that no cat sitter vs. cat sitter makes no difference in kitty puke habits.

On Friday, I had more travel in store! I ventured to Brooklyn for a chiropractor appointment. Mysteriously (again), my left shoulder hurts like crazy since that visit, but I can totally turn my head to the right. Hello, right side of the world!

The sad and happy thing about my Brooklyn journey was that my chiropractor is in Amy & David & Hazel's old neighborhood. It made me sad that I haven't seen them in forever, but it made me super happy that they are such good people and, with a little effort and a little less travel ahead, I can see them soon. And maybe just in time for the second snow of the season.

By the way, I don't have any hot water today. Not ideal for cleaning nor for whiplash soreness. WTF, building? Why do we never lose hot water when it is warm outside? And why wasn't there even a warning sign this time?

You thought my hair was gross when I had to wash it with conditioner....

Amber & Hotel Rex

This is my bathroom and the pretty lamps in my hotel room. It is nice
and cozy. And there was adventure this morning worthy of Jessica
Fletcher. my bathroom ceiling was leaking, and, because CRD and I
watch so much Murder She Wrote, I was sure there was a dead body in
the bath tub. But because I was so tired, I told the front desk
instead of going up to investigate in true WWJD style. (To be clear,
the J there stands for Jessica). Since the leak has stopped, they must
have cleaned up the crime scene. My money is on the secretary.

Amber & How I Make Coffee

As previously blogged, I now make my own morning coffee. After I have bathed, I product up (face, body and hair), and half-dress (leaving off any components of my outfit which might get foody or furry). Then, I put on the cat kettle. While I am waiting for the water to boil, I put the coffee in the French Press.
Then, I put the toast in the toaster and feed the cats. (I feed them cat food, not toast, but I did not want to photodocument how gross lamb wet food is.)


Once the water boils, I add the water to the press and let the coffee brew, while I enjamb
my toast.
Then, I pour myself a mug (and add milk) and also pour one into my travel mug. I have two French Presses, one for a single cup and one for two. I use the two cup on days when I am working on-site so I have something to sip during my morning booth duty.


I add a doctor-deterring apple, and then head out to the couch to dine, and if I am lucky, have a little lap time with my favorite boy cat.I like to think it's about proximity to me and not to the toast crumbs.

And that's how I make coffee in the morning! Any questions?

Amber & Morning Cats

My morning is pretty much all about being a zombie, bathing and doing cat chores. I do yoga, drink water, scoop litter, feed cats, give Tiggy Time, provide Woody with Shower Sips, make the bed for optimal Environment Enjoyment, and generally respond to their needs. Luckily, I pick out my outfit the night before since cat chores (and being a zombie) leave little time (or mental capacity) for selecting items that help define one's signature style.

One more kitty chore I do every morning is attend to this little guy when he starts to whine.

After I nearly burned down my D.C. apartment (but Tiggy saved the day!), CRD gave me this tea pot in the shape of a cat. Although Nick finds this somewhat frightening, I find it downright creepy. It's a cat that you fill with water and put over an open flame. But, he's essential to my new morning coffee routine, which CRD also gifted upon me. (Who knew you could make coffee in your own house for less than $4 a cup?)

Amber & Birthday Beauty

In addition to being the innards of my chile, Kevin & Diana gave me a swell birthday present. They gave me a gift card for a facial at the Great Jones Spa which includes access to their wonderous water lounge which Diana has tested and deemed magical.



According to their site...

"The stunningly beautiful wet lounge is centered around a 3-story indoor waterfall, overlooking our thermal hot tub and cold plunge pool. Inspiring architecture, hushed acoustics and calming energy pervade the entire space. Just steps away, you’ll find our River Rock Sauna, Chakra Steam Room, and a lounge area for clients to lie back and relax as dappled sunlight streams in from the skylights above."

This, of course, lead to the very logical question of what to wear to a wet lounge. I'm going to make an appointment for next week, and Diana is going to join me for the water relaxation.

Clean skin and balanced chakras? What a great gift. I can't wait.

Amber & Mice & Men

Oy. Yesterday. Oy.

All of my good intentions for laundry and chores paved a path to a sinkhole in my bathroom floor. I was awoken by my very pleasant super notifying me that my toilet had flooded the bathroom below mine and my toilet was in danger of falling through the floor.

After a whole day of plumber mens and black gunk and my toilet being in my tub, everything is back to normal. But, only two loads of laundry got done and I had to use the non-medical facility at Doctor's Medical Group because that venti iced coffee had to go somewhere. Turns out, there was a hole in the pipe that no one seemed to understand the source of. Mice?

So, I'm in work today, gardening, but will try to escape early to cram in all of the undone errands of yore, plus Girl Time with Diana, and Friendship with Kevin and CRD.

Amber & Walruses

I just read this fascinating article about Walruses in The New York Times. Turns out, beneath the three inches of blubber, these little buddies are pretty darn smart-- and cuddly! The scientist in the article refers to them as "pussycats." Apparently, they like it when you blow in their faces. In kittycats, that makes them swallow which is helpful when giving them meds.

Four things I learned from the article follow.

1. The whiskers are called vibrissae, and they use them to find food through the "seabed’s dark murk."

2. The walrus is the only living representative of the family Odobenidae, which means that they walk with their teeth. They use their tusks to pull themselves up out of the water onto icesheets.

3. Walruses can "sing nonstop for days at a time, and their songs can be heard up to 10 miles away. " (Maybe my next door neighbor with the loud music is really a walrus? Next time I see him, I'll blow in his face.)

4. A walrus eats a "huge numbers of bivalves, maybe 7,000 a day. " That's alot of clams.

Amber & Spitfires

The vet was right. Woody is a spitfire.

This morning, he seemed pretty ouchy. We had been doing physical therapy where I flex his leg and then wait for him to extend it, and then flex it again. I had been trying to guide him into extending it, but he resists and I'm not sure how hard to pull. So, he was reclined on the bathroom floor when I went in to take my shower. I closed him in the bathroom with me, thinking, ladies and gentlemen, where could a cat go in a bathroom?

Imagine my surprise when suddenly he was in the shower with me. He was wearing his collar and it started to fill up with water, risking potential drowning.

This will give you the general idea, only imagine a collar on him and a bare back half.