slowly chipping away at the ole "to do" list

for the very first time in my entire life, i went to the movies alone today. i know... i'm pathetically old for this to have been the first time, but i'm weird like that. i'll probably never get to the point where i'll eat dinner in a fancy restaurant alone, but this was a small step for me.

i saw an early evening showing of the savages. it was a delightful experience spent with a theater full of seventy year olds. ahhhhhhhh the joys of living.

welcome 2008

pardon my disappearance... two weeks spent back home in seattle "relaxing" have kept me completely occupied. and now that the dactyl is back in new york with a raging cold, i just can't seem to compile all my thoughts tactfully.

which means, you're going to get a giant brain dump of events that i'm recalling as i type them. really... lucky you.

- saw atonement with my mother. visually BEAUTIFUL movie, left me feeling rather thoughtful but not exactly weepy. two thumbs up-ish.
- watched the bourne ultimatum (finally). a two hour complitation of ass-kickery and awesomeness. perhaps the best bourne movie yet. i enjoyed it whole heartedly and was most assuredly standing on the couch screaming with glee during all the fight scenes.
- got to participate in (aka watch) the birth of my friend erin's son. i've never witnessed a birth, not to mention a home birth, and the experience (i can assure you) was awe-inspiring. words can do it no justice...
- did an ass ton of dancing, dressed up in ridiculous outfits, ate good food, and gave zillions of hugs. i only cried a little bit. only a little.
- had an eye exam and got fitted for contacts. it has not been a joyful experience, although i think we've found a contact that isn't going to make me scratch my eyes out. as soon as this stress and alcohol induced eye twitch goes away, i'll be attempting to wear the contacts on a daily basis. wish me luck.

i've been home sick today watching movies and drinking tea. my new draperies are up and i'm all unpacked. it's weird yet lovely to have a weekend to do absolutely nothing and regain my new york bearings.

happy 2008 friends and strangers... i have a lot in store for myself. wishing you a heart full of joy in this new year!!

new years resolutions... in advance

arranged a little happy hour action with some girlfriends after work yesterday. we met at bar veloce in chelsea, and sat at the bar. i was determined to unwind from a slightly wretched couple of days at work, and enjoy some delicious fromage e vino. that was several differents languages, but who cares.

i had three glasses of wine. normally, three glasses of wine wouldn't really phase me, but there were/are extenuating circumstances: 1) i drink less than i used to, 2) i hadn't really eaten a whole lot yesterday and 3) i didn't LIKE any of the wine that i was drinking/had been recommended, so i kept ordering more determined to enjoy at least one entire glass. not so much.

i am in a massive pinot noir phase... and have been for a few years. i'll obviously drink other wines, and have been exploring my tolerance of white wines (tolerance OF, meaning enjoyment of, not consumption thank you)... but i'm mostly a pinot drinker. anyway, i kept telling the bartender that i wanted something in the pinot noir range that wasn't oaky or smoky, with not toooo long a finish, and general berry overtones. either their wine list just isn't that awesome, or dude didn't know what he was talking about. he did have lovely eyeglasses though. so he's got that going for him which is nice. regardless, i was beyond tipsy by the time i got home. whoops.

i've decided that i'm going to do a massive alcohol detox after the new year. my body is just ready for it. even the one off glasses of wine aren't necessary... my heart doesn't need it. i can stand to drop a few more pounds anyway, and the ole bod needs all the help it can get. this is about 75% what i've been gearing up to do anyway, but i've just start dating a man who is in the middle of a six month detox, and am now 25% additionally encouraged by the general feedback that he's been giving about the process. so that'll be a good new year's resolution i think.

i'll be in seattle for an 'alter ego' themed new years party, and will officially bring out NINA one more time... and then put her immediately to rest. now i must brainstorm good nina outfits. i love dress up. just saying.