early morning walk

Today Hana woke up a little bit earlier than usual, and seemed quite cranky, so I thought it would be best to take her for a walk. We left the house around 6:30 for a very sleepy, but peaceful walk. She zoned out in the stroller, while I shuffled along. With a little bit of coffee to fortify me, we took our usual stroll through the park. My phone didn't take great pictures, because there was not enough light (and i didn't feel like dragging around our big camera). I tried to wake myself up by studying the art in the park, and also paid attention to the way the early morning sun was shining on the buildings. I often get really cranky when I'm tired (as Mark can wholehearted agree), but I managed to shake it off and enjoy our quiet time together. Even though I'm quite sleepy now, it's nice to start the day this way. People also seem friendlier in the early morning. Almost everyone we ran into said hello, and one guy told me how much he loved the view from the park in the morning, especially just when the sun was coming up. Not sure if I'm ready to stroll around the neighborhood before daylight :).

look out world

It's the next Audrey Hepburn!
Even with a bad cold, Hana knows how to work it :)

teapot love

I have to share my excitement for my new teapot. I finally broke down and bough a descent one for the office. I really like its color and shape. I drink a ton of tea during the day, and my little tea filters are not really big enough to let the leaves do their thing. This pot is the perfect size (especially so i don't drink *too* much tea), and has a descent infuser inside. Now I just have to find better tea.

Sadly, it's the little things that are so important around the office- anything to get me through a tough day. The pic shows a little bit of my messy desk. No matter how often I clean it, it just gets cluttered again. But the tidal wave of digibetas and HDcams just never stop.

You are my sunshine!

Mark, Hana, and I had a great weekend. You can check out Mark's blog for a more detailed post, including some of the fun art in the park, as well as Hana's first swimming experience. http://shacket.blogspot.com/2008/07/dumbo-lots-of-new-art.html. Today I'm sitting here at work realizing just how much fun I had with Hana this weekend. She is starting to have a strong understanding of her world, and how much fun it can be. Yesterday she had the best time pushing herself up, and standing on her own for a few seconds. She had a look of pride on her face that lit up our entire apartment. She would stand up with a proud look, stay suspended on her own for a few seconds, and watch our reaction. She just loved it when we cheered for her. We also had fun imitating each other. She would do something, then I would imitate, and it would send her into laughing fits. She knew I was having fun, and it seemed to make her even happier. Her other favorite game was 'kiss'. I'd ask for a kiss, and she'd lean forward with her mouth open and tongue out (i think i'm teaching her the wrong things!), and kiss me, then laugh like crazy. so cute.

For lunch I'm eating leftovers from last night's farmer's market dinner (oy that sounds SO obnoxious!). We're going to the James Beard House for dinner tonight (woohoo! again, a little obnoxious?) so we're trying to keep it light. kinda. We made an arugula salad with lemon and olive oil dressing, and I added a blob of mozzarella cheese (not from the market obviuosly) to mine, as well as the remaining pickled garlic scapes (which are so delicious!), and a nectarine. I also made tzatziki sauce with cucumber and dill from the market, and greek yogurt. Mark's dinner is the tuna salad, arugula and bread w/ tzatsiki sauce (and pickle). mine is the bowl with salad, and the black blur is Misha, our cat, checking out the goods.

Add our tasty dinner to a lovely weekend, and I wish we were all still back at home, enjoying each other. It's still so tough leaving Hana to go to work, even though I know it's best for me right now. But seeing the priceless look on Antoinette's (and Hana's) face when she arrives in the morning, I know the two of them have a special bond, and I'm glad that Hana has that in her life. It's important for her to form relationships with people outside of the family.

Blaise, and possible Beard House dinner!!

P and I went over to Garrett Popcorn to check out former Top Chef contestant Richard Blaise. I was a big fan of his- I liked how he brought more molecular gastronomy to the show. He has great technique and creativity, and just seems like an all-around nice guy. He was giving out caramel popcorn balls that were frozen in liquid nitrogen. Cool concept (I read on chowhounds that this may have originally been conceived by Jose Andres), but it really just tasted like cold caramel popcorn. A bit too sweet for me. I guess I liked it well enough, because I forgot to take a pic before I ate it. I should have asked him how they made the popcorn balls before they froze them. Anyway, it was great fun to meet him, and congratulate him on his new baby. As you can see, he even let us snap a couple of pictures. He'd be a fun guy to chow around NY with.


On the way back P and I stopped into Indus Express and picked up a fairly tasty indian lunch. Not the best, but good and plentiful for the price.

AND, I just found out that Mark and I may be dining at the JAMES BEARD HOUSE on Monday!! I can't wait!!!!!! Then we're going to Peter Luger's on Wednesday. I've been trying to eat 'healthy' since we came back from vacation, but I guess it's just not to be. Oh well, I'll be fat and happy!

Yummy Cure-ness

The Cure has been releasing a 'single a month' until the release of their new album on 9/13. the singles are released on the 13th of each month, of course. I'm a little late to the game, but caught the latest one. I'm not convinced, but not bad. Very similar to the stuff on 'Wish'. So put on your makeup, dim the lights and enjoy. i'm sorry that i missed them when they were here in June, but things were just too busy. Besides, I don't think any of their performances will top the one that I was able to see a handfull of years ago, where they were taping for a VH1 concert, and I got to see them up close and personal.

Random Zakka post

so we're finally back from vacation, and you'd think I would post something about the fun we had. but, not yet, I just don't have the energy to describe everything. But I will say that Hana had the best time!! She loved watching all of her cousins play and run around. She even tried to join some of their games.

so i love all things that are related to Japanese cuteness (Kawaii), and I just discovered Shinizi Katoh, a Zakka artist. How have I not noticed his stuff before? I'm drooling over everything in the online shop!

http://www.shinzikatoh.com/

Someone please restrain me!! Thankfully it's difficult to navigate the Japanese site, and the English site doesn't have as much inventory :)

just a quick update

the pickled garlic scapes are delicious! tangy, a tad bit sweet, and of course dill-y. definitely something I'd try to do again.

this is my last day at work for over a week, which makes me happy. i'm not looking forward to the 7+ hour drive to Rochester, but once we're there it should be fun. I think Hana is going to have a great time playing with all of her cousins. and we'll get to go to WEGMANS!! wooohoo! cheese bread!

Last night I had a dream that I had an ear infection, and when I woke I was all worried that I would give it to Hana. I was quite relieved when I realized I didn't actually have one. It's amazing how much time I spend worrying about Hana.