I know I've Neglected LIA but check out my ATJ Showcase!

And So It Is

Hi all,
As some of you may know, it's been a tough week over here at the Kellas compound. This weekend, our beloved family dog Darwin was hit by a car and died and this morning we received news that my grandma passed away in her sleep. She was 85 but was not sick so it has all been quite a shock. As it just so happens, both my dog and grandma were beginning to show signs of dementia. I don't know what that means but there it is. Below is an email my grandfather just sent out to his friends.

I'll be working still but will be down in Dallas for a few days next week.


DEAR FRIENDS,

MARGIE DIED IN HER SLEEP LAST NIGHT. SHE WAS HAVING TROUBLE WALKING BUT WHAT CAUSED HER DEATH IS A MYSTERY AT THIS TIME.
WE STAYED UP AND WATCHED TV UNTIL 9 P.M. AND THEN WE WENT TO BED
SHE REALLY WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO GO TO KRISTENS WEDDING IN OCTOBER.

I KNOW SHES WITH THE LORD AND THAT IS GOOD/

ZAVEN 'DOC' MASOOMIAN

The New Get Over It Exercise Routine

If I think about Boy 1 - 5 sit-ups

If I think about Boy 2 - 5 push-ups

If I fantasize about either, triple it.

I am going to be so fit for my sister's wedding.

Cabin Fever

The weekend of July 25th, Kramer, Josey, Bill, Brook, Jill and I headed up to Brook's cabin for the weekend. There is a reason we love going up there so much, it's awesome.
Bill, Kramer, Josey and I headed up early on Friday ahead of Brook and Jill- they were in Boston at a Red Sox/Yankees game. Bill borrowed his parent's car and picked Kramer and I up at her apartment Friday morning. The night before, I took the train to Jamaica and met Kramer at Silvercup Studios to grab the keys for her apartment from her. She works on Gossip Girl and wouldn't be off work until who knew when, 2/3/4am?, and I was sleeping over her place. I was talking with Sea on the walk over saying that I didn't care too much about touring the set but then when I got there and Kramer showed me around I was floored. It was so cool! And I don't even watch Gossip Girl!

I fell sleep around 1:30am and Kramer didn't walk in the door until a quarter to 4am. I let her in and we proceeded to make... let's just say some very special oil for some very special brownies that we wanted to make up at the cabin.
Kramer had 3 hours sleep under her belt, and me not too much more, when Bill and Josey arrived in the morning but the news that Josey had found a restaurants along from Diners, Drive-ins and Dives woke me up. I love that show! Hell yes wanted to make a detour to Manchester for The Arrow Diner! Upon arriving at the diner 5 hours later, we asked what Guy Fieri had on the show and proceeded to order everything he tasted. There's me having the meatloaf. As you may know, New Hampshire is the location of the first presidential primary and thus the state's big city is littered with lots of political imagery, like a big wall mural of past presidents on a brick wall downtown and little plaques on the seats at the diner stating who sat there. Hilary Clinton and I shared a seat.

The food was delicious and we decided to buy a whole pork pie and a few homemade twinkies to share with Brook and Jill for dinner the next night.
We arrived at the cabin by 6pm after hitting up the local grocery store for supplies, ie: beer, and proceeded to settle in and relax. I was quite proud of myself. I got the water pump going, filled the jugs and had the brownies baked and cooling before the sun set.
After a dinner of cheese and crackers and Josey's homemade pasta, we each had a brownie and played a hand of a Russian game Bill taught us called Durak. It's a little complicated but basically the loser is called a Durak, or fool.
Somewhere close to the end of Durak, the brownies kicked in. They ended up to be pretty potent and this began several hours of complete and utter silliness. I felt as if I weighed a ton and getting up from the table to get something was just about the hardest thing I have ever done. We couldn't concentrate on a game of poker and moved onto 'things Barney would never say' scrabble. There's Kramer's contribution to the board.
Long lense photography attempt above. Around 1am, Jill and Brook arrived to us all passed out. Sorry guys.
The next day, it was volleyball. Kramer, Jill and Josey all played varsity in high school and well Brook and Bill are just all around athletic. Guess who was the durak of this game? I played in a dress and heart sunglasses and was hit in the face twice by the ball.
Case in point, check Josey's athletic prowess.



Bill entitled this- 'Things that go 'bump' in the night. They are making it their holiday photo.
Brownie round two.
We all asked for there to be a thunder storm at night and mother nature obliged. Thankfully, the funnel cloud that was forming in the distance behind the cabin disappeared or we would have been in some serious trouble. Kramer took this in hopes of making it into the Silva-Braga cabin calendar.
We left late the next day after a few games of volleyball and a dip in the river. It ended up we had to take the train back to the city from Tarrytown and after some intense driving (read frightening as all hell) from Bill, arrived just in time to make the 11:12pm. And thus ended another awesome cabin weekend. Thanks Kramer for all the awesome pictures.

You're never, ever, ever, ever there

Yesterday was odd.

So, what do you say to someone whom all you have left to say is how much they hurt you? Preserve the friendship because they are amazing and never say anything or say something and hope it doesn't turn awkward? Yeah, I don't know either. For the past two days, that has been my dilemma and the reason why it took me 2 days to write a reply email. I decided to leave the whole matter up to another time. Let future Jen take care of it.

After reply email was sent yesterday afternoon, I headed off to Greenpoint to meet up with the future landlord. I thought he wanted me to fill out a bunch of paperwork for credit checks but instead he just handed me the lease and said I can pick-up the keys from the current tenant at the end of the month. Hurrah! I was so absolutely nervous about the situation. It's been 6 years since I've had to deal with this sort of thing. Stay tuned for late September house warming. I promise live music and loads of calimocho.

Whilst on the drive in, received a very funny, annoying, strange phone call from Macy's. Seems someone had stolen the couch I bought there yesterday. For real. I bought a couch in their clearance center and someone who had bought my same couch but the slightly cheaper version (without the sleeper), that was sitting right next to mine, pulled a fast one and told the delivery guys that mine was theirs and stole it! Macy's said they can't go back to the person's house and go get it now. I'm pretty annoyed about the whole thing but Macy's is holding their couch for me for 3 weeks and keeping an eye out for another one that matches to come in. At least now I don't have to store a couch in my garage for a month until I move. But seriously, who steals a couch?


(on a side note, I write this sitting next to the open door leading out to my garden. It is peaceful and beautiful, dripping with colourful flowers and my dad just ran out of it screaming and flailing his arms like he is about to be murdered- he stepped on a wasp nest.)

After landlord meeting, I headed to Carroll Gardens for a bbq at Betty's. I brought a 6 pack of Bud Light Lime and it was a big hit. It's better than Miller Chill, I must say. After eating far too much, I was sleepy and headed for home to watch Throw Down with Bobby Flay. Today I think I am heading out to McCarren Pool to see Deerhunter and The Black Lips. Maybe.

I thought I was suppose to have a date, of sorts, I guess, maybe, after the bbq but it never came to fruition. Oh well, another time.

I have a shit ton of music to catch up on but instead, can't seem to stop listening to this cover of Cake's 'Never there' by Senryu. Reminds me, The Music Slut has some exciting news coming up just around the time of CMJ. Keep an eye out.

(side note to side note, my dad is now spraying wasp nest with hose. Kill dad! Kill!)