Femme to Femme Sammy's Noodles

Last Friday night I went with Sarah to Sammy's Noodles, a Chinese restaurant. We talked on the phone the night before and had decided on Chat N Chew, the new one that opened on 12th st. and 6th Ave (the original is by union square). Chat N Chew has homestyle food like meatloaf and mac n cheese. Sarah and I decided that my post about our experience could thus be called "Femme to Femme Chat N Chew." However, the day of our meeting-to-be I walked by Chat N Chew, and it had closed. This was a bummer! I called Sarah who wanted to switch to the union square Chat N Chew because she had become in the mood for the unique food provided by Chat N Chew. I wanted to go somewhere by work, so she reluctantly agreed to Sammy's. Then she called back later, and said that she was starting to get used to the idea of Chinese food. I went thru the same transition in my mind. When we met at Sammy's, we discussed Sarah's break up (at least for now) with K. Sarah had made a plan s/p our dinner to go to the movie, Tarnation (www.filmforum.com) by herself (I was invited but had respectfully declined). I like Sarah's ex, K., very much, but said in regard to her meeting new dates, "It's good that you're going to events that you enjoy, like this movie, because you have the potential of meeting women who will share your interests [women like K. who she has a lot in common with]." Sarah thought about it and said, "You mean like other women who enjoy documentaries about schizophrenic mothers?" Exactly! The night before, as already mentioned, I had talked about posting on our meeting. She noted that I say all positive things about people, and I told her that I don't feel comfortable trashing people on my blog (okay, maybe now and then). She expressed happiness that she would not be trashed. I told her, "Just to reassure you, I don't say anything personal about other people on this blog, at least not that I think they would mind." She replied that she wouldn't much care...so I have made it slightly personal, but not too.

Food and Water...and Cat Sip

1. Every morning and evening the cats receive a snack. The snacks are in little containers next to my new cat condo in my bedroom. They receive one big heart called "Whiska Lickins" (or something like that) and then two turkey baste 'em tartal control pellets. Two French pellets (writing is in French on the outside) can be substiuted for one big heart, prior to the Tartar Control Pellets. Preferably somewhat later in the evening (though soon is okay too), go to #2.

2. Cloud enjoys a special milk called Cat Sip. She only has it in the evening and only gets one serving. The way it should be served: Go into the kitchen and sing in a slow melodic slightly high-pitched tone similar to music in a nice Chinese restaurant "Who likes cat sip? Who likes cat sip?" Both Frou and Cloud will come running, meowing and galloping to the kitchen. Then get the little red cup (I cut the bottom part of a plastic cup) from the dish drainer by the sink. At this point Cloud will rub against your legs and meow. Then open the fridge and on the top shelf there will be a soy milk-type container labeled Cat Sip. Cloud gets only the amount that rises above the ridge at the bottom of the cup. In other words, she gets barely more than covers the bottom of the cup. Then set the cup down by the recycled paper trash can beside the oven. Cloud will lap up every drop. While she has it, I often pet her, adding to the excitement. Frou Frou also serves as a voyeur to this special experience. You can also say anytime during the routine, "Clould, you love your Cat Sip, don't you? Yes you, love Cat Sip!" The words "cat sip" make her eyes bug out! Afterwards wash the cup with plain water, blot with paper towel and put back in the drainer.

3. Once a day (late evening) the cats receive a level cup of food (only one to share), on the bureau in the cat room in a cookie jar. The cup is inside the jar. Dump the old contents of the feeding tray into the trash can in the kitchen (the one farthest from the oven). Remove crumbs with a dry paper towel. Then split the cup between the tray's two feeding compartments.

4. In the evening and morning they receive new water from the faucet in the bathroom. The big blue cup in the cat room by the wide entrance is where the water goes. Wipe with a papertowel if they knock water on the floor beside it. Refresh with bottled water, one in use usually by the food on the bureau. If not, grab an unopened one from the fridge and then put it by the cookie jar for continued use.

My Brother's Psychiatric Wit

Phone conversation:

Jen: "So I'm going to this commitment ceremony in Pennsylvania this weekend, and I want my friend to drive. Do you think I should rent a car or ask to borrow dad's car."
Dave: "Well, you have to remember that with Dad he can take it away at the last minute."
Jen: "Yeah, or he could say no, and I could start crying and asking why he let's you take it."
Pause.
Jen: "Or my friend could end up getting in an accident."
Dave: "I would fear an enactment more than an accident."

P.S. If you don't understand my brother's razor sharp wit, see comments.

Short Sharp Shocked

Saturday night Hope and I went to Mia's for a pre-concert dinner in Brooklyn. Mia lives with roommates on two beautiful floors of a house on a nice, tree-lined street. She is an artist, among her many talents, and has some great paintings in her bedroom. She made a veggie plate, her signature lasagna, veggie meatballs, garlic bread, and brownies for dessert. We were waiting to go see www.johnsharples.com (Alice's boyfriend) play around midnight at Freddy's, a small, crowded bar near Mia's. It was a treat to relax at Mia's instead of in the bar! The dinner was incredible. Mia says that the important part of entertaining is how you make the guest feel, not the quality of what you serve, but happily there is the best of both at her place. We had our usual discussion about Dr. Phil and Oprah, and it was just as enjoyable as the past two weekends. We took a car to the bar and met up with Klaus, John, and Alice. We went down to the basement (which had a distinct herbal scent) where Alice had stored her wonderful vegan snacks to serve during John's performance. The basement is a kind of rec room for performers and also provides storage. Klaus and I got into mischief as usual, finding a paper mache alien and posing with it for pictures. Alice ushered us back upstairs before we could break anything. John performed a little late (you know how it goes with bands), but it was well worth it, and not just for Alice's pigs in the blanket (little veggie hot dogs from Chinatown wrapped in homemade biscuits). He has a great voice and knows how to work a crowd. This was his record release party, and CDs will soon be available on his website. Afterwards, we hung out outside the bar, getting in a few more laughs, meeting John's high school pal from Virginia, and then heading off to our varied subway routes. A fine evening with good friends!

Surf Music (AKA: the Debate)

Last night I went to a debate party at my friends' Dorian and Rob's place, a gorgeous apartment in Brooklyn Heights. They provided lots of great drinks and snacks and a healthy dose of liberal anger. When I first arrived, I conversed with a surf band bass player. I asked when or if he felt he'd reached his heyday (a good question, I know), and he said that for the year when Pulp Fiction came out, he and his group were hot stuff. They played at weddings, events, and generally found themselves appreciated in a way they hadn't before. Then the fad wore out as quickly as it had arrived. He's still playing surf music and having a lot of fun, though. I had a drink and a square of cheese on a toothpick (Is there any better creation?) and settled in for the showdown. Kerry started out a little nervous. He said "shatters" instead of "tatters" (don't we all sometimes) and maybe gave too many compliments to Florida. But then he got down to business, feeling more and more comfortable as the President began to make an ass of himself. As someone at the party pointed out, had we been given bingo cards, they would have included the phrases "hard work," "grand diversion," and "nucular." He mixed up Sadaam and Osama (though only once) and he said that he knew things were bad in Iraq because he'd seen it on TV. The highlight of the debate for me was when Dorian put down her blue martini and threw a flipflop (one of Bush's favorite words) at the television, hitting the President right on the nose! After the debate, I had some chips and guac and chatted with Rob. I am eternally grateful to Rob and Dorian because they were the previous companions to my kitten-kids, Cloud and Frou-Frou. They raised them right, and adopting them has been pure joy. Before walking me to the subway, Rob took me down to his bedroom closet and showed me a picture of my sweet cats. Seeing the sweet image from their youth made me so excited to be going home to them (If you're reading this, Cloud and Frou, I still think you're young!). Before leaving, Dorian showed me an inspiring art project that she'd done utilizing a Teletubbies kids' book. She'd glued media images of the Republicans in just the right places, making for a much better book! This is one of my favorite artistic genres, so I was pleased as punch to get a look and some laughs at her work. As Rob walked me to the subway, we talked about how great Dorian is. He told me how much she has influenced his way of thinking and how special she is to him, more than anyone else on the planet. Rob is a nice guy, and two of the reasons I know this are because 1) he swiped his metrocard for me at the station (before I could swipe mine), and 2) he brought me my own special bowl of hot popcorn during the debate. A fine night with smart company. Go Kerry!