NEW YORK, NY: A Silly Tale About a Silly Tail (7/21/10)

Darcy and I were playing when she decided to lounge on the floor. But, her tail would not stop wagging. Her ears perked up. She looked at her tail curiously. Normally she wagged on purpose. She wagged when it was time to eat. She wagged when it was time to walk. She wagged when it was time to play. She wagged when it was time to cuddle. She wagged when the Human came home. She wagged when the Human looked at her. But none of those things were happening. Why was she wagging?

Wag

She flipped her head to one side. Why was it wagging? She did not want it to wag. She wanted to rest.

Wagwagwag

Really, it was being so silly, acting like it wants to play. But she was tuckered out from playing and did not want to play with her tail. She had better try and catch it so it would stop.

Wagwagwagwagwag

She wiggled left.

Wagwagwagwagwagwagwag

She wiggled right.

WagwagwagwagwagWagWagWagWag

Finally she barked at it, "Why won't you come to me?! I'm your boss!"

She wiggled Left. She wiggled Right. Left. Left. FAR left. Right. Right. LEFTRIGHTLEFTLEFT

WAGWAGWAGWAGWAGWAWGWAG

This tail was out of control! It needed to be stopped so she could take a nap. She jumped up, quickly sat on her tail and bit it.

Hard.

Then she remembered, "Oh, it's me. Okay, I'm gonna go lie down now."

NEW YORK, NY: Poll Results: Name This Drink (2/16/2010)

After a cutthroat battle of the booze, you have named this drink! From a plethora of options (or maybe just 5), you made the decision of what to call the daytime express cold remedy of gin, cointreau, Orangina, and OJ. From your options: Beauty of the Boyne, Seamus a chaca, The Williamite, Orange Bill, and a free choice (Orange Revolution was submitted), a whopping 40% of you have named this wonder of wonders:

Beauty of the Boyne

Congratulations and BOTTOMS UP!

NEW YORK, NY: Dog: Part 2: Picking a Pup (2/9/10)

Today, I continue with Part 2 of the Dog series. I am writing in an effort to absorb what I am reading, and share some Darcy experiences. I did a lot of things wrong, and some things right. I'm not a dog expert, and if you're a dog's human, i recommend reading your books, going to obedience class, etc. Get better at being you. As I continue on my journey of Doggydom with the dog gurus of our age (Cesar Millan, Monks of New Skeete), I continue to learn, and to become a better human for my dog.

Perhaps the most important first step of Doggydom is choosing the right dog. When I was considering getting a dog, I was immediately drawn to the German Shepherd breed for its intelligence, loyalty, protection, and ability to adapt to my particular lifestyle of daily running, walking, and rest. I had no preferences for male or female, though I did consider that a female might be easier for my current dog, Sandy (male), to avoid dominance issues.

I decided to adopt, rather than buy, almost immediately. Sandy was adopted and he is the most perfect (boy) dog on the planet. I was happy to continue this with my new addition. I stumbled upon Darcy on PetFinder.com. I searched for dogs within 100 miles of where I lived, and found one with a cute little face and a description that says "rough and tumble outside, but a perfect lady in the house." Felicia said this sounded like my soul-mate so I inquired, and mere weeks later took her home.

Due to the restrictions of the rescue network (Lab and All Breed Rescue Network) I was not able to meet her prior to taking her home. The handover was a disaster. It's lucky Darcy is such a wonderful dog, or this would not have worked out. I will never adopt sight-unseen again- it was irresponsible and, more importantly, it did not give me enough to work with vis a vis choosing the right dog. I depended too much on luck and description from people I did not know. Everything from her age to her breed was misrepresented (she is not a German Shepherd, but rather, a French Beauceron mix).

What I will do in the future, and what I recommend for prospective dog adopters, is to meet your dog. Do not touch, talk to, or make eye contact with, the animals. Wait until they come to you calmly and are comfortable around you. Assert calm- assertive energy. Do not adopt the first dog that runs up to you- this just means the dog is assertive- not in love with you. Talk to your breeder, or the people at the shelter about the dog you like. Explain your needs, and your situation honestly and openly. Anyone who cares about dogs will not place one in a home where he or she will not be a good fit. Nobody benefits when a dog returns to a shelter. A dog that ends up in, and especially one that returns to, a shelter has a lower likelihood of finding a good home. Take the dog for a spin around the block. This will ascertain a) if the dog is leash trained (Darcy was decidedly not), and b) your chemistry together.

Remember, a dog is part of the family. Treat it as such. Nobody adopts a kid without seeing how it will interact with the family. Do the same for your doggy.

Stay tuned tomorrow for part 3!

NEW YORK, NY: Dog: Part 1 (2/8/10)

I'm currently reading "How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend" by the Monks of New Skeete. The book (second edition) shares a lovely quote I'd like to share with you.

I love inseeing. Can you imagine with me how glorious it is to insee, for example, a dog as one passes by. Insee (I don't mean in-spect, which is only a kind of human gymnastic, by means of which one immediately comes out again on the other side of the dog, regarding it merely, so to speak, as a window upon the humanity lying behind it, not that,) - but to let oneself precisely into the dog's very center, the point from which it becomes a dog, the place in it where God, as it were, would have sat down for a moment when the dog was finished, in order to watch it under the influence of its first embarrassments and inspirations and to know that it was good, that nothing was lacking, that it could not have been better made... Laugh though you may, dear confidant, if I am to tell you where my all-greatest feeling, my world-feeling, my earthly bliss was to be found, I must confess to you: it was to be found time and again, here and there, in such timeless moments of this divine inseeing.

- Rainer Maria Rilke, New Poems,

Translated by J.B. Leishman

For everyone out there training a dog... or being trained by one.

NEW YORK, NY: Don't Leave Home Without It (2/5/10)

Don't leave home without it. Although usually "it" is a flask, I'm talking about my American Express card. American Express is a charge card with an annual fee. This sounds like it could be a bone, but my AmEx is the best thing to have happened in my role as a financially responsible individual. Let me start by illuminating the perks of this little mean green machine.

Customer service. I've called AmEx several times to question charges, enroll in programs, pay my bills, etc- and their customer service is absolutely outstanding.

1) First of all SOMEONE ALWAYS PICKS UP THE PHONE! Beyond providing my card number, I have never spoken to an automatron.

2) Second, they're professional. Nobody kisses my ass, they just treat me like a normal human being.

3) Third, I know AmEx has my back. When I've called to dispute a charge, I've never been treated like I was the wrongdoer. Everything has always been resolved respectfully, professionally, quickly, and cleanly.

Their programs are awesome.

1) First- they have a credit watch center! I'm twenty-four, and I know nothing about credit except that I need to pay my bills on time if I eventually want to buy a house. But how do I monitor my own credit? How do I know who to hire to monitor my credit without worrying about them pulling a report that would have an effect my score? Well, American Express monitors my credit regularly- without pulling a credit report. They let me know if something fishy is up and they fix it right away.

2) Travel insurance. Through a responsible insurance carrier, AmEx provides travel insurance. I know if I end up in Paris, France and my bags go to Paris, Texas- AmEx has my back. They'll pay for me to wear new duds until my bag arrives.

3) I have my own personal accountant at AmEx. The Money Manager tracks my monthly budget and tells me how to keep on track. Money Manager also tells me when I've spent more on my dog than on human food this month... which it actually told me yesterday...

4) I get concert tickets, dinner reservations, flight deals, car rental offers, etc- for discount prices, and in advance.

They're hardcore about their customers.

Aside from general customer service wonderment and sweet perks, American Express is hardcore about their card-members.

1) Each time I call I am reminded of how valued I am, and how long I have been with AmEx.

2) They alert me when there is a fishy charge.

3) They offer me new services I never knew existed. If the service has a cost, they are upfront about it right away.

4) AmEx takes their responsibility to their customers seriously. They even donate to worthy causes they know are close to their clients' hearts.

With AmEx, I feel taken care of. The Roman dude with the broom hat is the perfect image for this company (even though they're American), because they are the gold (or in this case, green) standard of protection, service, and fighting on behalf of their card-members. It may seem like a spontaneous love fest- but after having called AmEx in a panic this morning, and being told "don't worry- this is why we're here," I am just so grateful. I am a lifelong AmEx customer. If you haven't opened an account yet, do it. Even if you don't use it that much- keep it. The longer you're with AmEx, the more you are valued. Man, I love these guys.

NEW YORK, NY: Something Wonderful: Name This Drink (2/4/10)

This past Saturday called on mixological medicine to cure a cold (again). The goal was to find the daytime equivalent of the Hot Trotty- something that peps up the patient while still easing the cold symptoms. Well, my friend and I threw some things together and created this marvelous concoction, using the working title: Delicious

1. Ice a high ball (glass)

2. Add two fingers of gin (I find Bombay Sapphire nice and gentle for a cold remedy)

3. Fill with orangina

4. Add orange juice

5. Top with a nice swirl of cointreau until happy

Given the quantity (and quality) of English gin, French ingredients, and orange juice, the drink had to be named after William of Orange and the Battle of the Boyne. But nothing seemed catchy enough, so we decided on Bonnie Prince Charlie. As it turns out, Bonnie Prince Charlie had nothing to do with the Battle of the Boyne! In fact, Bonnie Prince Charlie was a bit of a sissy in life, so he has no place in such an awesome drink.

So I put the contest to you. Name this drink!

Here are the new options:

1) The Beauty of the Boyne

2) Seamus a chaca (after the Irish King James that was deposed)

3) The Williamite

4) Orange Bill

5) Other (Please submit!)

May the best name win!

Photo courtesy of www.wikipedia.org

NEW YORK, NY: In Defense of The Fountainhead, and Other Pleas to the Tea Party Movement (01/27/10)

The current issue of the New Yorker has an article on the Tea Party Movement. The Tea Party's views on politics don't interest me- I think they're reactionary and not proactive. But they dragged art into the debate, and now I'm a little miffed.

My favorite book is The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. It's absolutely everything a book should be. If you haven't read it, buckle down for the 800 pages and just do it. (It is preferable if you know nothing about it beforehand). The hero is Howard Roark. He has bright orange hair and is wonderful. He is an architect, who only creates to satisfy his own inner need. The theory of the book is selfish objectivism. A human's first duty is to him/herself. Why? Because we can not create things of any use if we are not first self-satisfied. For this reason, the fountainhead (hence, the title of the book) of the best things in our civilization (helicopters, penicillin, etc) is the ego, vision, and execution of one talented, selfish person.

It should be said that Rand was anti-political. She hated liberals and conservatives equally.

So why is the Tea Party Movement claiming The Fountainhead as the book symbolizing their struggle? From what I know of the Tea Parties, they organize in frequent protests of masses upon masses of people. They attract people who brandish petitions, and people who take pride in being "Ordinary Americans." (I will leave this alone- as anyone who relishes being merely ordinary is probably deserving of the title.)

But... The Fountainhead claims that nothing productive may be accomplished with masses of people- it's all down to one person. Also, if you need other people to back up your opinions, or if you want to influence someone who needs to see you can influence others, this is tyranny. And, finally, anyone who is "ordinary" has sold his/her soul.

The Fountainhead is not about ordinary people. Rand continually wrote against the flock-centric vulgarity of these "ordinary" masses. In fact, The Fountainhead explicitly states that masses of people, especially these collective "ordinary people" corrupt everything that is wholly good.

So really- my plea is this. Tea Party, I don't care what you do, but please read books before you tout them.

NEW YORK, NY: My Humble Opinion: A Uniform We Should All Wear (2/3/10)

It's widely known that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" exists to the detriment of the military, and to civil rights in general. A talented and professionally indispensable person is chucked when his or her homosexuality is called into question. The nature of this process implies there is a correct answer. It's startling that this exists in the military by federal law, when federal law prohibits this type of discharge in any other profession. With one hand they make the landscape safe for civilians, and with the other, make it uninhabitable for soldiers.

In this country, one earns one's place through honest work, nepotism, and bribery. The same process is the standard of military advancement, unless you're gay. I am disappointed that the civilian population thinks itself entitled to have a say in whether a soldier can acknowledge who he or she is. I am disappointed with Congress for still enacting unequal rights, and for considering the propagation of this policy of closet bigotry. I am proud that Defense Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, and Gen. Colin Powell have stepped up and said a soldier's identity is in his/her accomplishments, not sexual orientation.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" should be repealed- it doesn't make sense; EVERYONE LOOKS GOOD IN A UNIFORM, PEOPLE! And civil rights is a uniform that looks good on us all.

NEW YORK, NY: Real Estate (1/15/09)

Anyone who has dipped their little toe in the New York City real estate scene knows it is less enticing than being drugged and left for dead in Mexico (Arriba!). It's the "death" option in the "Cake or death?" equation.

I have looked at apartments that have ceiling tiles covering the walls for soundproofing, "but don't worry, it's not always this loud." I have looked at an apartment without a kitchen, and an apartment with the kitchen sink in the bathroom. I have looked at apartments with mouse droppings in plain sight and gaping holes in the walls. All of these studios are pushing $2k/month.

And tomorrow, I set out again. I am hoping to find a place I can live for a few years, so I don't have to go through this apartment hunting nonsense again. Somehow, I feel like I'm playing a losing bet against logic.

In an effort to keep me "focused" an "inspired" my friend Felicia sent me the loveliest treat. As my proclivities lean toward the humanitarian, I am sharing her gift with all you who share my near homeless fate.

Happy Hunting!

Photo courtesy of http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/10810Besokesuit1013Web.jpg

NEW YORK, NY: Sunshine in a Bottle

Buying wine intimidates me. I have my favorites, but refuse to buy expensive bottles on a regular basis, and I'm not too familiar with the less expensive wines. This is when it's important to have a good wine expert across the street.

On my way home from work the other night I popped into my neighborhood liquor store for a bottle of Pinot Grigio. I needed it for my Creamy Gorgonzola Pasta recipe. For obvious reasons, it was important that the wine also be deliciously drinkable. The sommelier of the store pointed to this bottle and said "It's just like summer sunshine in a bottle." Being that the high that day was 30 degrees, I was sold. She was right.

I invite you to pick some up for yourself. In New York the bottle retails for $11, perfect for a mid-week sunshine lift. The weather is cold enough right now to just set it by the window. The flavors are much richer and sunnier if they aren't fresh out of the fridgidaire.

Cheers!

NEW YORK, NY: Gorgonzola Pasta (1/6/09)

One of my favorite blogs, Talk More Later, posted a delicious recipe for a Creamy Gorgonzola Pasta. The recipe was originally written in Splendid Table. As a vegetarian, my favorite things in life are cheese, vegetables, and carbs, so this recipe was a delightful little midweek challenge (start to finish shouldn't be longer than an hour). I tweaked it slightly for my tastes and have posted my version below.

Mama Megan's Take on

Creamy Gorgonzola Pasta

(This is what the original is supposed to look like, photo courtesy of Talk More Later)

Ingredients to prepare:

- 3 large shallots finely chopped
- 1 large garlic clove, minced (or two if you're not planning on kissing anyone)
- 1/4 cup tightly packed chopped basil, don't skimp. (This can be a problem if basil is not in season, which is currently the case. You can substitute with some steamed spinach, which is always available, even out of peak season, or even some steamed broccoli rabe. If you don't use basil, throw in a pinch of oregano right before the veggies)

- 1 28 ounce can whole tomatoes, chopped and drained

- 1/2 generous cup of crumbled gorgonzola or blue cheese (I used a softer, sweet gorgonzola, not the crumbles, though you're free to use those, too. The crumbles, though, don't tend to be as rich, nutty, or smooth as the wedge of gorgonzola, so I forwent that option and just broke the wedge I got into smaller pieces)

Ingredients to measure:

- 1 generous tablespoon tomato paste

- 3 tablespoons olive oil

- 1 large pinch of hot pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup white wine (you can eyeball this- if your hand gets heavy and you end up with 1/3 cup, I think you might survive. Also, bear in mind you'll be drinking this wine, so choose something drinkable.)
- 1 cup cream (I used milk. Cream tends to disagree with my delicate stomach. Also, the better the cheese, the more the fat, so I wanted to cut back the calories on the milk/cream end)
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 - 3/4 pound pasta, shells tend to work best.

Before you begin- pour yourself a glass of wine, and boil a pot of water (it will be used for the pasta, so add a little salt or olive oil to the water).

Step By Step:
1. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in large saute pan over med high heat.

2. Add hot pepper flakes, black pepper and shallots and saute for about 3 minutes. The shallots should soften and start to become translucent. Adjust heat to prevent browning. (The pepper flakes will brown- so don't freak out if you see that stuff. It's the shallots you want to avoid browning because it will effect their taste and ability to absorb the other ingredients).

3. Now that the heat is lower, add minced garlic and the basil (or steamed veggies) and saute until you can smell that the garlic and onion have made friends, about a minute.

4. Add the tomato paste and saute for another 30 seconds, or so, until it's hot.

5. Pour in the wine and simmer till it's reduced to nothing. (You can take this opportunity to stir the tomato paste until it's incorporated with the wine, the vinegar in the paste melding with the acidity of the wine will make for a tasty reduction).

6. Stir in the tomatoes and simmer uncovered over medium high heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring often.

7. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 10 minutes. (can be made ahead to this point and refrigerated for up to 2 days.)

8. By now the water should be boiling, so add and cook pasta for 8-10 minutes depending on which pasta you choose (Pasta should be al dente, so read the directions on the box).

9. When pasta is done, hold aside one cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta when done, but do not rinse.

10. Bring sauce to a simmer. (You can start this the last minute or two of when the pasta is cooking.)

11. Stir in 1/2 cup of the cream (or milk) and simmer for a minute.

12. Taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and pepper.

13. Add pasta and remaining 1/2 cup cream to the sauce stirring over medium heat for a couple of minutes.

14. Stir in the pasta water you reserved, and the last tbsp of olive oil

15. Gently stir in the gorgonzola until just combined and cheese is melting.

16. If you haven't refilled yet, your glass of wine is probably empty. So pour yourself another.

Serve pasta hot with a glass of cool wine and enjoy!

Serves 4 as a main course, 6 as a starter.

The pasta is delicious, but very decadent, so keep in mind the size of your portion, because it's addictive, but filling.

To see the original recipe, and other fabulous treats, please visit Talk More Later. It is the most delicious blog on the web- in fact, it's the one on the right side of this page that screams "Food!"

NEW YORK, NY: Planes, Trains, and Anti-Anxiety Medication (12/28/09)

Each birthday as a child, my father gave me a new volume in the "Worst Case Scenario" guides. This was his way of calming my panic attacks during travel. I've learned how to stop a speeding train, how to escape from quicksand, and how to ward off a zombie attack. I've studied the books, and have followed their travel instructions to a tee. However, his intentions backfired; in preparing for every eventuality, I have learned the vivid details of everything that could go wrong...

I am a terrible traveler. I love being other places, but the process of actually getting there makes me nervous. I will check to see if I have my passport at least twelve times, and will then check twelve times more to make sure that my passport didn't fall out when I was checking. I will then move my passport to another area in case some thief saw where I checked to find my passport. This continues until my passport has made a merry-go-round of my person. In my pre-teen years I would spend entire flights with my fingers crossed. On a recent flight from San Francisco I had to sedate myself because the man next to me refused to turn off his cell-phone. I've never been stopped at airport security for the same reason that Woody Allen has probably never been stopped. If you need a valium to just make it through airport security, you have bigger issues than ascertaining that all your 3 oz. liquids are in a sealed plastic bag, no larger than a one gallon size.

I can spend a whole vacation just recovering from a flight (reference the Kiwi turbulence debacle of 1995). But I can't stop traveling. No matter how neurotic, superstitious, or physically ill it makes me, I want to see how small the world is and drink up every drop, play every game, and dance to every tune. There has got to be an easier way to travel, aside from ocean liners (no go since the Titanic) and magic carpets (I won't ride in anything without seatbelts).

And now there has been a truly scary situation in Detroit, which, to my endless gratitude, ended peacefully. But now I've got a bone to pick with this Nigerian jerk, with jihad, and with Homeland Security. There is never a good time for this sort of thing, but it would have been more convenient if this had not happened when I was fresh out of anti-anxieties, and my flask exceeds the liquid ounce limit prescribed by the TSA.

NEW YORK, NY: The Nutcracker Sweet (12/19/09)

Every year my sister and I go to see The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. It's a moment right before the holidays when we can spend time together and just celebrate the magic of the season before the utter madness of it. When we see my mother after the show, she always asks "Did the tree grow this time?"

This year's performance was very nice. The Sugar Plum Fairy was, in my humble opinion, the best I'd seen in years. She danced with the exuberance of a teenager and the skill of a vet. She was absolutely lovely. Tea was also wonderful, and very silly.

Lincoln Center is a gorgeous venue. It is about more than the stage, it is about being a cathedral to art, a destination in and of itself. The lil sis agreed. Here are some pics from the evening (I can't show you all of them as I'm not sure about copyright issues, seeing as how we were admonished at both houses for taking pics inside the venue). As you can see, this is something everyone should do in person. Now, go.

The lobby of the New York City Ballet

The lighting art on the balcony of the New York City Ballet

A view of the New York Philharmonic from the balcony at the Ballet House

The chandelier in the lobby of the opera house. A gift from Austria.

NEW YORK, NY: Chop Chop (12/20/09)

When going through a major transition in life, it is common practice among many (especially women) to change our hairstyles. It is a visible way to punctuate a period of flux, an attempt to reconcile the inner feelings with outer appearance. I am guilty of this practice. When I found my first gray hair and suffered the recognition of my own mortality, I went blonde. When my friends went to Europe, I donated ten inches of hair. I even dyed my hair red(ish) following a breakup. Each change has done more to help me start anew than any other coping mechanism. It is for this reason that I have always found a good hairstylist far less expendable than a shrink.

I have had very long hair for a very long time. A lot of people didn't understand why I would want to have hair down to my waist, but I loved it. Having long hair is a virtual beacon in a crowded bar, guiding new friends to shore. It's irrelevant that many ended up shipwrecked to bits after my occasionally sharp tongue was finished with those who were less than yare.

However, I am now at a stage many call the "quarter-life-crisis." Reconciling jobs with dreams, living arrangements with my actual budget, the single life with the fact that I just adopted a pup... It was time for a change. So I called my amazing hairstylist Nikki, and forty-five minutes later my hair was twelve inches shorter. I kept the red (which I have since grown to love) and chopped the rest for Pantene's Greath Lengths Campaign.

Pantene's Great Lengths Campaign provides wigs for women who have lost their hair to cancer treatments. To my benefit, they actually accept hair that has been dyed semi-permanently (though not permanently), so my donation was eligible for the organization.

I love my new haircut. It's short enough to be a big change, but long enough to still fit in a ponytail. And since I'm benefiting from the mental effects of a haircut, it's only appropriate that someone else benefit, too. My luscious locks served a greater purpose than my social life after all. I wish the woman who ends up with my mane good luck.

For more information on Pantene's Great Lengths Campaign, please visit: http://www.pantene.com/html/Donation_Guide.pdf

For information on where you can get the best hair-do in the city courtesy of Nikki, please visit: http://www.lesaloneast.com/

NEW YORK, NY: Words of Wisdom from the Fridge (12/23/09)

The refrigerator is a magical contraption. The refrigerator keeps your food cold, so it will not rot and make you ill. The refrigerator also is endlessly entertaining- people can stand in front of it for hours, waiting for what's inside of it to change. For this reason, the refrigerator is suspenseful, too. The refrigerator is an art gallery, as well, displaying the art work of children the world over, and the magnets of Paula Deen. Recently, the refrigerator has added a new role to its repertoire: dispenser of sage advice.

Caroline and I have the magnetic alphabet on our fridge. In the past we have used the letters to declare our love for such gems as Dirty Dancing Havana Nights, and Brazilian house boys. Today, with nothing but candy and orange soda inside the fridge, the outside is imploring us to remember that which many forget at this stressful time of year. These words of wisdom give us pause, and declare our love for the Mother of All Wins: The Dance Party!!! Here's hoping the fridge inspires you this season:

NEW YORK, NY: Simply Having a _______ Christmastime (12/16/09)

I asked you several weeks ago how you feel about the holidays. Here were your options:

1) MAGICAL! I LOVE IT ALL!

2) Family time is great- I love seeing Uncle Jack (Daniels)

3) Who cares as long as there are presents?

4) I'm ambivalent and/or in denial.

The majority of you are saps. 66% of you think this time of year is magical. 16% of you are cynical lushes (Uncle Jack, you know who you are). And the rest of you are smart enough to recognize you're in denial- which tells me that you probably spend the holidays on the rocks, but keep all your turmoil locked inside just long enough to exchange what you got for what you actually want.

Really, though, the holidays always end up with one sentiment: gratitude. We may be grateful for having survived four quarters of economic hardship, or a semester at college. We might be grateful for some cool weather, and the opportunity to break out the sweaters we've been eyeing since July. Often, we are grateful for family and friends. Or we are grateful for having survived them. As the angel Clarence writes at the end of "It's a Wonderful Life": Remember, no man is lost who has friends. Wait, that's not it... Oh- here it is:

Every time a martini shaker rings, an angel gets his (or her) wings.

NEW YORK, NY: Something Wonderful: Maker's Mark Munchies (12/12/09)

As a certified ambassador for Maker's Mark, I am privy to the inner workings of the bourbon industry. Part of these workings include how to make delicious snacks with bourbon. Recently, Bill from Maker's Mark sent around a recipe to all of us ambassadors. The recipe was submitted by Kasey at the Toll Gate Cafe.

Caroline and I tried out the recipe for a cookie exchange party this weekend, to resounding success. These cookies are the best I have ever had. Take a look and try it out for yourself!:

Chocolate Mint Julep Cookie

2 sticks butter, softened
2 cups light brown sugar
2 eggs
3 cups all purpose flour (we prefer White Lilly Flour; it's a soft winter wheat - like the soft red wheat used in making Maker's Mark Bourbon)
1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup finely ground oats
2 cups Andes Mint Chocolate Candy pieces
Bourbon Fudge Topping
2 cups melted chocolate chips (milk chocolate or semisweet, whichever you prefer)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 to 1/2 cup Maker's Mark Bourbon

Preheat conventional oven to 350 degrees or convection oven to 325 degrees. Cream butter, sugar and eggs until smooth. In a separate bowl, mix flour, oats, baking soda, salt and mint chocolate candy pieces. Gradually add to butter mixture until incorporated. Scoop out with a two ounce scoop and place 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in conventional oven, 10 minutes in convection oven. Allow to cool and add bourbon fudge topping.

Topping:
Melt chocolate in double boiler, remove from stove. Add sweetened condensed milk and bourbon and mix until incorporated. Top cooled cookies with warm fudge and enjoy.

NEW YORK, NY: Holiday Spirits: My Evening at Wine Down (12/2/09)

The holidays are a time of celebration. Some festivities are somber, others silly. The most appropriate festivities, however, honor the common thread of many traditions: wine.

Last Wednesday night, Caroline and I donned our most festive Wednesday attire (somehow this included a beret) and trekked down to the Wine Down Holiday Party at BLVD on the Lower East Side (miraculously, we did not get lost). Wine Down is an event that allows you unlimited tastings of select wines for a cover charge. The wines were chosen by Gourmet Magazine's wine dude: Michael Green. To our benefit, Michael landed on his feet following the closure of Gourmet (RIP).

With the exception of the champagne that greeted us at the door (what a lovely welcome!), we stuck to the red wines. After all, sticking with one color of wine is a virtual vaccination against the Irish Flu. Before we got down to business, however, we took a "before" picture- as in, before our teeth turned purple from wine. Surprisingly, this was not much of an issue- as the wines were so good. (See the "after" picture at the bottom of this post).

Given that all the wines were affordable, there was a surprisingly delicious selection. My favorites were:

Henriot Champagne Brut Souverain NV, France. Veuve Cliquot Brut is my all time favorite champagne. You can have the Dom Perignon and Santana DVX- when I think of a champagne that I want to drink every day- I reach for the yellow label. I love the consistency of the bubbles that aren't quite as small and sharp as, say, a Taittinger. I also like that the taste is a little fuller with a bit more citrus than a Moet Chandon. However, this Henriot is definitely going on my short list. It's not as mood-changing as the V.C.B., but it's lovely and light. There are delicate notes of citrus and white flower, and it finishes very clean and balanced. This Henriot is a special occasion champagne, and retails for about $95.

2007 CS Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. This Cab is very smooth, and very drinkable. It's not overly complex, but the layers of flavor are lovely and delicate. Green described this pick as "Aromas of raspberry, redcurrant, tobacco and licorice. Broad and sweet, with pliant, harmonious flavors of plum, raspberry, currant, leather and mocha." I didn't taste the leather, but it definitely had the feeling of a cozy Cab to drink in a room that has many leather bound books. This is a good wine to keep in the house, and retails for about $20.

Caroline liked the 2008 Orin Swift Prisoner from Napa. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Charbono, Grenache and Zinfandel, this was definitely a more complex wine. The Syrah and the Zinfandel were strongest for me, and were layered upon by hints of fresh sage and wild berry. If you'd like to pick up a bottle for Caro, you will need about $35.

With wines like these, we had a glorious evening! The staff was friendly and gracious, and paired beautifully with the selections by Mr. Green.

For information on Wine Down, please visit: http://www.winedownevents.com

NEW YORK, NY: Atonement: Friend or Foible? (12/2/09)

Atonement is the story of two lovers separated by a felony. Although this sounds like just another story about jailbait, it is actually the story of how awful your relatives can really be when they disapprove of your significant other and testify against them in court.

The film adaptation of Atonement is very sad. I was so thoroughly dissatisfied with it because it’s too moody for me. ("Boo Hoo, I loved and lost because I have an obnoxious younger sibling. Boo Hoo.") I think there’s immense sadness but no variation. All good stories that move us must be equal parts of emotions. We connect on several levels of emotion and mentality, and stories that grip us on each level are the most powerful. Films and stories that get caught in moods are doomed (as I am often reminded- "mood" spelled backwards is "doom"). Atonement was not without bright spots, however. There were standout performances by Romola Garai (Briony at 18), Gina McKee (Nurse Drummond), and the ever Ms. Redgrave (Briony at 77). The book, however, is different.

I bought the book whilst I was going through a bourbon + The Notebook/Love Actually = catharsis stage. The book was so much better than that. McEwan is such a profoundly psychological writer- not for one moment did I misunderstand Briony or her motives as she gave her witness testimony. All the characters are afforded a point of view, which McEwan masterfully uses to tell the story, paralleling Briony's own journey as a writer. It is a must read. Part 3 is, I think, lacking in this essential depth of character understanding. However, parts 1, 2, and 4 are gorgeous. I won't say anymore. Must read.

The book gives an interesting lesson. For all my fourteen years in a Catholic school, I don't think I ever really meditated on the commandment "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." It seemed like the least damaging commandment to a child. "Honor thy Mother and Father" was much more a Damnation Deal-breaker (inevitably the cause of my current lack of religion). In Atonement, however, bearing witness is the one commandment to which a child fails, to disastrous outcome.

Atonement is so powerful because the whole thing is based on a simple, adolescent screw-up. It's almost a parable, with the simplicity of the error, and the severity of the consequences. It made me stop mid-page and remember myself at age thirteen, and how unbearable I was as a human being, as all thirteen year olds are. Did anything I do alter the course of someone's life? Is puberty, the agonizing transition, really a growth at all, or a period for which we spend the rest of our lives apologizing? Do we become more careful as we become adults? How often do we fall short? How much of the thirteen year old we were, remains? What a frightening thought...