Taking an eddy

So, it wasn’t the best weekend. All around. Mother Nature shat all over my birthday weekend, and that was just the beginning.

I’ll be taking a small break from things, just for the week though. I’ll be away on a trip.

That’s about it. Be safe kids. See ya on the other side.

<3 JG

P.S. Today is my actual birthday. Go me. #28

Get your fab on and help out a sista’

So, I’m a fan of shopping. We all know this. I practically made shopping my fourth varsity sport growing up. I haven’t lost my passion for the bargain hunt. Which find me at Macy’s quite a lot, thumbing through the clearance racks. Exactly, I don’t pay fill price.

Anywaddle, I was nearing the end of my scant lunch break and brought my purchases to the cash wrap to check-out and book it back to the office. During the ring-up phase I was asked if I’d like to donate $2 to the American Heart Association’s “Go Red” Campaign and in turn, get 20% off my purchase and a cute little red dress pin. AND 20% off for the rest of the week. It took me all of 2 seconds to say yes. Find out more about the promotion here.

So, go buy something to wear to my grand evening of birthday drinking on Saturday night and donate to a worthy cause.

Women’s heart disease increases ever year and everything we can do to help the research to stop it helps. Including buying that fabulous top you’ve had your eye on for a few weeks.

Happy shopping/donating!

<3 JG

Like a duck out of water

So, I’ve been wanting to go to try the newest dim sum place on 7th St. recently, Ping Pong, and had mentioned it on my blog. Well, that lead to an invite to their Chinese New Year celebration, complete with free booze and food. I was so there. I thought it would be a casual food blogger thing. BOY, was I wrong! It was a totally fabulous party that I felt totally out of place at…alone…in my “weather-appropriate but not chic at all” Uggs and casual attire. However, I will say, my ass and thighs looked pretty awesome in my leggings. Thank you walking everywhere in heels. But that’s besides the point.

At said chic party I was able to try a few of Ping Pong’s dim sum offerings including luscious little buns of goodness with fillings ranging from prawns to veggies and beef. Delicious and crispy miniature spring rolls and delicate baked pork puffs. Pork shu mai and chive dumplings. As the night wore on the dumplings got a bit gummy. I’m not sure what would cause that but the fillings were totally worth it. Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to try the BBQ pork buns, they disappeared as quickly from the butler passed trays of goodies as quickly as they came out of the open kitchen’s steam table.

The drinks also, pretty damn awesome, but pricy. Of course you’re getting a really large glass, but still, it’s mostly ice. I tried the passion fruit and almond (Martel cognac, Amaretto di Sarrono, passion fruit puree, almond and cardamom seeds) as well as the pear and bubble tea (Jose Cuervo Tradicional, pear puree, fresh apple juice, and cinnamon, served with chewy Tapioca pearls). Knocked me on my as, mission accomplished.

I didn’t get a chance to try any of the teas, and as they characterize themselves as a tea house, I feel they should have had some out to sample. Oh well, I’ll be back to try some of their blooming teas that they gave away in their goodie bags as well as some of those steamed pork buns.

Moving away from dim sum, this morning I got an email about DC’s newest addition to the mobile food scene, the Sauca truck. Launching today, here’s the description from the website:

“Sâuçá is a unique new global lifestyle brand that combines food, travel, music, design, technology and fun into the most interesting new concept to hit the streets. The heart of Sâuçá is about enjoying delicious, healthy, global foods in a new and exciting way, where sight, sound, smell, taste and touch are key to the full experience. Experience street food on a new level, inspired by snack vendors in India, railroad station vendors in Europe and the mobile taquierias of South America, and fun, interactive experiences that will change the way you think about food – and life!”

I got a gander at the menu and their Bahn Mi looks fab as well as the rest of the international offerings. Sâuçá, if you’re listening, the Chinatown lunch scene could use a visit soon! Follow them on Twitter here for their roving locations.

Happy and delicious nomming to all!

<3 JG

What not to say

Here’s a hint guys, if you’re into the online dating, such as I am. Don’t say in your profile that you stay in because you’re broke because you racked up an insane amount of credit card debt and you’re paying it down. RED FLAG! TOO MUCH INFO TOO SOON! I have credit card debt, we ALL do, but I don’t advertise it on my dating profile.

RED FLAG!!

Yes, it’s admirable that you’re working on it to pay it down. But really? Not attractive.

Also? You’re broke and can’t take me out. Some guys might call that snobby or snotty or high-maintenance or whatever other label you want to throw my way, but in a few ways, I am a traditionalist. And THIS is one of them. Unless I ask a guy out, he pays for the first date. That’s just how I roll.

I am more than happy to pony up or go Dutch if there are dates after the first one, but, PLEASE. I will even stay in and cook for you all on my dime after the first date, I have no problem with that. Really.

If you’re too broke to date…send the icebreaker to someone else.

Am I putting too many restrictions on guys? I don’t think so.

What do you guys think?

A pork roast for Saturday night

Well chil’lins, I promised a recipe and a recipe you shall have! Caveat: this one takes a while so start early! Or else you’ll be eating at 9:30 at night…which worked out for the best on Saturday, but didn’t adhere to my whole plan. Well, not much did on Saturday night, but either way, everything worked out. But I digress…without further ado, I give you the main course of a man-pleasing meal…or alternately titled, a really great Christmas eve dish, as well.

Rosemary-Scented Pork Loin Stuffed with Roasted Garlic, Dried Figs and Cranberries with a Port Wine Pan Sauce

Based on the recipe from allrecipes.com

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 16 whole peeled garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic cloves
• 1 (8 pound) whole boneless pork loin, patted dry, at room temperature
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary (snip with scissors), divided
• 16 dried figs (or similar amount of your favorite dried fruit)
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• Heavy kitchen string or twine
• 1/4 cup Stonewall Kitchen Roasted Onion & Garlic Jam*
• 1/4 cup port
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons Stonewall Kitchen Roasted Onion & Garlic Jam
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Directions

1. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 250 degrees. Heat oil in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add whole garlic cloves and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon; reserve oil.
2. Turn pork loin fat-side down. Slit lengthwise, almost but not quite all the way through, to form a long pocket, leaving a 1/2-inch border of unslit meat at each end. Brush cavity with some of the reserved garlic cooking oil, and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper and 1 Tb. of the rosemary. Line cavity with sauteed garlic and figs; sprinkle in cranberries. Tie loin together with kitchen twine or heavy-duty string at 1 1/2-inch intervals.
3. Brush with remaining oil, and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Set roast, fat-side up, diagonally or curved (so it fits) on a large, lipped cookie sheet or jellyroll pan. Warm 1/4 cup Stonewall Kitchen Roasted Onion & Garlic Jam along with the minced garlic and remaining rosemary. Brush mixture onto meat.
4. Roast until a meat thermometer stuck into the center registers 125 to 130 degrees. (Start checking at about 1 1/2 hours.) Remove from oven; raise oven temperature to 400 degrees. Brush loin with pan drippings, return to oven, and continue to roast until the loin is golden brown and a meat thermometer stuck into the center registers 155 to 160 degrees, about 20 minutes longer. For even more attractive coloring, broil until spotty brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
5. Let roast rest 15 to 20 minutes; transfer to a carving board. Stir juices around pan to loosen brown bits. Pour through a strainer into a small pan, and stir in port, chicken broth and remaining 2 Tbs. of jam; bring to a simmer. Mix cornstarch with a couple of tablespoons of cold water; whisk into sauce. Simmer until lightly thickened. Slice pork and serve with a little sauce.

* Stonewall Kitchen has a store at the National Harbor right outside DC if you can’t find their products at your local grocer. The original recipe called for apple jelly, which I didn’t have. Also, I wasn’t going to hunt all over the District for it. However, if you have apple jelly and no Stonewall Kitchen near you, substitute away!

I paired the roast with the White House’s Whipped Sweet Potatoes, Pioneer Woman’s Buttered Rosemary Rolls, and a simple green salad. Rave reviews ensued!

Courtesy of Dr. Phil and my Mom

So, I absolutely hate mail forwards. With a passion. I delete all prayers, amber alerts for kids missing for the past 30 years, “please-forward-this-on to save my little girl with cancer”, troop tributes, cute dog pictures, good luck totems, and inane poems. Unless they’re good and worth a laugh or offer some fresh insight.

I got this quiz from my Mom and my aunt yesterday who both, like me, don’t forward on much. It’s a quiz from Doctor Phil, good for laugh. Plus, it’s Friday and I’m not feeling too creative today. But I do have some lovely cooking blogging coming your way after this weekend. Sooo, take the quiz, post your results. I got a 52…do you agree with its evaluation of me?

Below is Dr. Phil’s Personality Test.  Dr. Phil scored 55.  He did this test on Oprah and she got a 38.  Some folks pay a lot of money to find this stuff out!


Take this test for yourself and send it on to your friends.  It takes only a few minutes.

Don’t peek, but begin the test as you scroll down and answer.

Answers are for who you are now and not who you were in the past.  Have pen or pencil and paper ready.

This is a real test given by the Human Relations Dept. at many of the major corporations today.  It helps them get better insight concerning their employees and in their prospective employees.

It’s only 10 Simple questions, so grab a pencil and paper, keeping track of your letter answers to each question.

When you are finished, forward this to friends, family, and also send it to the person who sent this to you.

Make sure to put “YOUR” score in the subject box.

1. When do you feel your best…
A)  in the morning
B)  during the afternoon and early evening
C)  late at night

2.  You usually walk…
A)  fairly fast, with long steps
B)  fairly fast, with little steps
C)  less fast head up, looking the world in the face
D)  less fast, head down
E)  very slowly

3.  When talking to people you…
A)  stand with your arms folded
B)  have your hands clasped
C)  have one or both your hands on your hips
D)  touch or push the person to whom you are talking
E)  play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair

4.  When relaxing, you sit with…
A)   your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side
B)  your legs crossed
C)  your legs stretched out or straight
D)  one leg curled under you

5.  When something really amuses you, you react with…
A)  big appreciated laugh
B)  a laugh, but not a loud one
C)  a quiet chuckle
D)  a sheepish smile

6.  When you go to a party or social gathering you…
A)  make a loud entrance so everyone notices you
B)  make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know
C)  make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unno ticed

7.   You’re working very hard, concentrating hard, and you’re
interrupted…
A)  welcome the break
B)  feel extremely irritated
C)  vary between these two extremes

8.  Which of the following colors do you like most…
A)  Red or orange
B)  black
C)  yellow or light blue
D)  green
E)  dark blue or purple
F)  white
G)  brown or gray

9.   When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before
going to sleep you are…
A)  stretched out on your back
B)  stretched out face down on your stomach
C)  on your side, slightly curled
D)  with your head on one arm
E)  with your head under the covers

10.   You often dream that you are…
A)  falling
B)  fighting or struggling
C)  searching for something or somebody
D)  flying or floating
E)  you usually have dreamless sleep
F)  your dreams are always pleasant


POINTS:

1.  (a) 2     (b) 4     (c) 6
2.  (a) 6     (b) 4     (c) 7     (d) 2    (e) 1
3.  (a) 4     (b) 2     (c) 5     (d) 7     (e) 6
4..  (a) 4     (b) 6     (c) 2     (d) 1
5.  (a) 6     (b) 4     (c) 3     (d) 5     (e) 2
6.  (a) 6     (b) 4     (c) 2
7.  (a) 6     (b) 2     (c) 4
8.  (a) 6     (b) 7     (c) 5     (d) 4     (e) 3     (f) 2     (g) 1
9.  (a) 7     (b) 6     (c) 4     (d) 2     (e ) 1
10 (a) 4    (b) 2     (c) 3     (d) 5     (e) 6     (f) 1

Now add up the total number of points.

OVER 60 POINT: Others see you as someone they should “handle with  care”.  You’re seen as vain, self-centered, and who is extremely dominant.  Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don’t always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.

51 TO 60 POINTS:  Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality, a natural leader, who’s quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones.  They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once, someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure.  They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you radiate.

41 TO 50 POINTS:  Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting, someone who’s constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well balanced not to let it go to their head.  They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding, someone who’ll always cheer them up and help them out.

31 TO 40 POINTS:  Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful & practical.  They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who’s extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the same loyalty in return.  Those who really get to know you, realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS:  Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy.  They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It would really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature..

UNDER 21 POINTS:   People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions and who doesn’t want to get involved with anyone or anything! They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don’t exist..  Some people think you’re boring.  Only those who know you well, know that you aren’t.

The 6 Rule

So, when I woke up this morning…or should I say when my alarm jarred me out of my restful slumber in my lovely warm cocoon of a bed, I heard about something on the radio that I was sure was part of a sleep-deprived hallucination. It’s called the 6 Rule. Have you heard of it? I had never, but then again I don’t swim in the social circles where I think it might apply. This 6 Rule is apparently a dating rule, or really a screening tool, to see if a guy measures up. It goes like this, if a guy has:

1. Six figure in his bank account

2. Six pack abs

3. Six inches in his pants

4. At lest 6 feet tall

Then he’s good to go. And if he’s lacking in any of those categories, he can make it up in others. Less than 6 foot? Have more than six figures in the bank account. Lacking in the pants area? Well, have an 8-pack. (Is that even possible? Bio majors out there…do we even have 8 ab muscles? I don’t know…)

OK ladies, I’m all for being picky and having standards, really, I am. But come on, the 6 Rule?!? That’s effing insanity! If you ever landed a guy that that, which I don’t think he actually exists, you would be so worried about having someone else take him away from you, you’d be a neurotic HOT MESS. Always in the gym, always in heels, always in full make-up, always being crazy about what you eat. I don’t think you’d actually have time to date this man between work and keeping yourself “up to par”. Then there’s the jealousy. I’m sure if he looked sideways at the 75-year-old cafeteria worker you would throw a shit-fit. You would. I know it. Gorgeous men do strange things to normally rational women. I’ve seen it.

Give me a funny, gainfully employed, interesting, strikingly handsome man that thinks I’m ravishingly beautiful and that I enjoy spending time with and I am a happy woman. Eff the “standards”.

Well, ok, I have one caveat, he’s gotta be taller than me, that’s all I ask.

This made me wonder, do men have 6 Rule that I am woefully ignorant of? Men of the interwebs, let me know!

Thievery Corporation, work on the house, and a story about a boy.

So, this weekend was a pretty darn good one for many reasons. Here’s the list:

1. Got to bed at a reasonable hour on Friday after devouring some delicious pho out in the ‘burbs with Blogger Boy #1. And during dinner, I pretty much broke it off with him. We agreed that staying friends would be righteous (yeah, ala “Fast Times @ Ridgemont High”, Spicoli style). It’s a total cliché, but I think we’d just be better off being friends as opposed to dating. He’s a cool guy, just not the right one for me. It wasn’t dramatic, no table flipping, it just was. I’ve never done that before. I’m always the one being left, it was a first for me.
2. I woke up Saturday morning WITHOUT a hangover (well, I didn’t drink either, so there you go). I know, I’m amazed as well, it’s been a while. I should to it more often.
3. Made my way to the house in Virginia for some work by 10:30 am and was SUPER productive. The basement is now waterproofed, there’s a new lockset on the front door, and all the ex’s trash has been disposed of. Go ME! Also, Red Buckeye showed up at exactly the right time to speed things along so we could go to…
4. KATHY GRIFFIN! She was awesome, I laughed the WHOLE TIME. Between the Whitney Houston jokes and hearing about her mother’s affinity for Franzia, I feel I laughed off a good amount of calories.
5. Red Buckeye and I headed out to AdMo for Town Tavern’s 1 year anniversary. It. Was. PACKED. We stayed for a drink and left. I think we’ve come to a point with AdMo…time to move on to other drinking neighborhoods. Any suggstions? Cap Hill? Dupont? I need options people! Also, drinking partners.
6. On the taxi ride home I grew some balls and texted The Baller to see if I could crash his party at Porter’s. We were supposed to meet at Town Tavern after he showed at Porter’s but well, I’m not one to wait and I was wanting to see him in my cute new (SHORT) dress. And he said he was wearing a blazer. I’m a sucker for a well-dressed man. Oh, wait, I haven’t introduced you to the Baller. Well children, sit and listen…I met the Baller online (surprise, surprise). We tried to get together before the holidays but sickness and busy schedules stymied our plans. We finally got together during the second week of January at Ben’s Next Door. I was nervous (he’s waaaay easy on the eyes, like really, I just want to look at him all day. Can I get a job doing that? Maybe?) and there were lots of good drinks to choose from. He was running a bit late so I ordered one and started my evening without him. The drink was STRONG and I hadn’t eaten dinner. Couple that with my nerves and well, I was buzzin’ by the time he got there. Also, I was two, yummy blueberry cocktails in by the time he found me at the back of the bar.  We introduced each other and he ordered a drink. We chatted a bit, found out the basics. He’s 30, from Pittsburgh, lighting designer, Master’s, gainfully employed, and he plays trombone. In a ska band. Yeah, kinda hot if you ask me. So really, a good guy. I went to the bathroom and came back and sidled a bit closer to him. What? He’s cute…I’m drunk. I can’t help myself. I was all but on top of him by the end of the night. And I kept on drinking…the blueberry stuff, a few shots, then another blueberry one. I was a certifiable lush. However, he still found my attractive enough to kiss me in the bar, which was lovely. There were unicorns and rainbows. I wanted to do him right on the bar. We close out the um, quite expensive bar tab and make our way to my place. How, I have no idea, but we ended up there. I wake up the next morning and…OWW, MY HEAD. That is next trumped by, Oh…hello hot guy in my bed, let’s make out. Yes, that’s a very good idea. So we do. At that point, I think to myself, well, that was fun, but I was a total drunk last night and I won’t be hearing from him ever again. I then throw on my morning dog-walking clothes (sweats are totally hot the morning after, right?) grab Fallon and the three of us are on our way, The Baller, back to Tenleytown, me and Fallon to take care of um, his business. I give him directions at the corner and we part ways with a kiss. And then…I hear from him again. He’s read my blog. He thinks I’m funny. We commence gratuitous G-Chat flirting all day. Unfortunately, we both have plans to go out of town that weekend (MLK weekend) and make loose plans to see each other the following Saturday. Which brings me to this past weekend….I didn’t want to crash his party as I thought it was like an intimate birthday gathering as opposed to the HUGE party it ended up being, they were rolling at least 130 deep. On the second floor of Porter’s. To say it was crowded would be an understatement. Throughout the texting leading up to my arrival, I get a text, “U here = awesome”, so he was looking forward to seeing me. Yay! I end up meeting him at the bar where him and 130+ of his closest kickball friends were partying like it was 1999 (or 6 birthdays, take your pick). I wasn’t crashing anyone’s party and he was very glad to see me and my dress. However, I find out last night that a lot of the cute, sweet details that I remember from the night are gone. He doesn’t remember most of them (sad face) including the last song we danced to (Sinatra’s “In Other Words”), or dancing at all really (which is what we did for most of the time I was there), or the adorable things he said to me. Basically, he was just as tanked as I was on our first date. Guess I deserved that one. But, I’m hoping he still digs me. Which I’m thinking he does. We got together last night for dinner (a sober one!) and he’s coming over on Saturday night. I’m cooking. I’m hoping there will be kissing, I enjoy it. A lot.

boy meets girl, they dance

7.  After recovering from Saturday night I finally got my ass in gear for the Thievery Corporation with Blogger Boy #1 and his cousin and the cousin’s girlfriend at the 9:30 Club. It was off THE CHAIN. MY MIND WAS BLOWN. Words can not express how insanely awesome it was. If you haven’t caught a Thievery Corporation show yet, get high and GO. You’ll thank me later. Trust.

And that was my weekend. How was yours?

Blah blah blah, weep, cry, moan, rend garments etc.

So, I had a moment on Sunday night. I freaked out. If you’ve known me for a hot minute since, oh, middle school, you know I’m a champion sleeper. I can pass out anywhere. Like say, a couch in a bar, during 7th grade bio lab, in history class, during my annual review, anywhere. And I’m also infatuated with my super comfy, if not on the small side, bed. I have pillows and comforters galore. I’d lead my life from my bed and punctuate my daily schedule with cat naps if I could but we all know that’s impossible until I start making my living doing internet porn. Woops, didn’t mean that Mom. Erase that from your memory.

But, Sunday night, I couldn’t sleep. This happens almost never. Ever. So while stewing in my own mind juices I realized. Hmm, stressed much? Why yes mind, I am. And this is why.

The house isn’t done and won’t be on Feb. 1 like I need it to be. Now this realization hit me like a ton of bricks because this past Saturday I got back to the manual labor routine and spent the day working on the house and that shit took forever. I need to pick up the pace. Bee tee dubs, shoutout to Red Buckeye and Spade for helping out on Saturday. You rock me and my unfinished basement. Hard.

Also? Boys. Namely, stupid boys.  I’m not going to dignify your existence and call you men, because you’re not, you’re still boys. Also, since I am so uber-stressed out and stretched to my breaking point, dating might not be the best thing to try at this point. We’re not hiring and I’m as full up on crazy as I can get. I won’t be taking anymore applications. Also, pink slips, they’re coming, and if you’re dead weight…so sorry, but not really. See ya later. Actually, never. That means you: guy from Richmond and ass-hat in Dumfries. Buh-bye. More lay-offs coming soon if things don’t change. And maybe you don’t want to see me, that’s cool too. Just tell me so I can delete you out of my life and get on with it. Also, new dating policy. If you don’t live in DC, it’s not going to work. So sorry. I like DC and you shouldn’t make me leave. I’m done with guys from the suburbs. Arlington is pushing it, but I’ll make and exception if you’re absolutely stellar. Otherwise, not so much.

On a totally unrelated and mushy note, Cadillac Man called me from Afghanistan this morning. You’d think I had just hit the lottery from the way I reacted when I picked up my phone. It was ridic. Also, WAY EXCITED to see him in Vegas in February. Ohh Emm Gee.

Ok, back to the stress. So yeah, knee surgery coming up in March. What will hopefully be my final one until I’m old and grey and have to replace the whole she-bang. Since I’ll be unable to walk my dog for 2 months, I’m kinda freaking out about what to do with Fallon. Parents either won’t or can’t take him. Can’t afford a dog-walker twice a day for two months. And I’m not going to impose on my new friends and ask them to take my dog for two months because that’s just not right. I even asked my ex’s parents in Michigan to take him (they have cats and can’tdo it) So, interwebs and bloggy buddies, if you know of a family or perseon perhaps that would like to foster a chill dog for two months to “try-out” having a dog, let me know. I’ll pay for all food and costs incurred although he just sits on the couch all day and sleeps so there really isn’t much in the way of entertainment costs. I’m getting desperate at this point. PLEASE HELP!

Also? School starts today. Fuck. Me. Last semester of grad school. Good-bye life.

Also? The epic battle with the scale.

I’m hoping for a tiny respite this weekend as I’m heading out to Arizona on Friday for a work/pleasure trip to do a site visit and see Dawny. I’ll finally get to meet her sweet baby Henry and get to see her husband Aaron again. Dawn, if you’re reading, I want to relax, work out, go to the spa possibly and make-out with boys in a bar. Can we?

AHHH!

Warning: Unabashed familial plugs

It’s time to take a break from all my bad dates and overexposing myself on the interwebs. As you may know, I grew up in northern NJ, outside of the cultural center of the universe, New York City. The daughter of a singer/actress, my world was steeped in culture and the arts. I grew up on opera, musical theatre, and straight plays. Mom went off to auditions and rehearsals and sometimes I tagged along. I went on day trips to the Guggenheim, the American Museum of Natural History, as well as the New Jersey Symphony. I got all the Shakespeare I wanted, and more, interspersed with the latest and greatest on Broadway. Wilde, Dostoyevsky, Homer, Moilere…all part of my childhood. And I loved every second of it. It has made me the person I am today. I couldn’t imagine what it would have been like growing up in a world without the arts.

But it seemed like that NJ’s Governor Corzine and Governor-elect Christie thought that was going to be just fine and dandy for the citizens of New Jersey to freeze the arts grants that are the life-blood for some arts organizations around the state. Not cool guys, not cool at all. Read more about it here.  Not going to lie, my Aunt, the G.R. Dodge “arts money fairy” wrote it.

Things are a hot mess in the NJ Arts community with money disappearing left and right all in the name of budget cuts. Life is better because of the arts, we can’t let them disappear. Make your voice heard in your legislature so this doesn’t happen to your state! Buy some art,  go see a show, hit a museum, anything at all!

Here’s another shameless plug, still in the vein of NJ Arts. My mother is head of Marketing and PR at Appel Farm Arts Center in southern NJ, right outside of Philly. They are currently in the running for a few arts awards and need YOU, my loyal friends, to vote for Appel Farm here. There are probably places you’ve never heard of but the categories that matter are the ones where Appel Farm is nominated. PLEASE go there and vote for Appel Farm. I know you will. Because you love me.

So, to recap:

1. Don’t let arts go down the tubes in your state. Be a patron.

2. Vote for my Mom’s art’s center. If you do, I’ll bake you cookies. Lots of them.