La Voiture

Though it may come as a surprise to some, I don't actually know everything.
Fortunately, for those few instances when I have a question I can't answer, I know who to contact.

Like today, on my walk home I passed the most ridiculously looking car...

To: The Cantabridigan
From: Ryan O'Brian
Re: ?
Toyota veneia? Some sort of hybrid SUV station wagon

To: Ryan O'Brian
From: The Cantabridgian
Re ?
Venza. Camry wagon on big wheels. Hellish ergonomics.

13 years since I've had to let an automotive related question go unanswered.
A man among men you are my friend. Or, rather, a Cadillac in a sea of Chevys.

Georgia On My Mind 2009

It's time once again for my annual autumnal journey south of the Mason Dixon.

This time I'm headed to Athens to see Georgia play Auburn.

I don't have a horse in this race, but since my ticket comes to via a War Eagle, I'm rooting for Auburn.

I've been practising my cheers and have my orange and blue all packed and ready to go.

Weagle Weagle War Damn Eagle!

Of Mice and Men

Right.
File this under "best laid plans."
It was a winter's day in New York City.

A Tuesday I think. Perhaps a Wednesday. Mid-week. Grey. Wet. Rough day at the office. You get the idea.

Anyway, I decided it was a pizza kind of night. I went to Arturo's and picked up a large mushroom pie and a 6 pack of Heinekin. Figured I'd bring it home and surprise my roomates with dinner. Got home, opened a beer, put the oven on warm, took a slice for myself and put the rest of the pie in the oven (can you guess where this went sideways?).

Some 10-15 minutes later I smelled smoke. Went into the kitchen and saw flames jumping out the top of the oven. I managed to pull the flaming box out of the oven and got it in the sink. The flames set the paper towel roll and the dish drying rack as well as the wooden spoon on fire.

Fortunately I had a full brita filter of water and was able to put out the fire.
Unfortunately, I lost the pizza.
Fortunately, I still had 5 beers left.

And that, is the story of how I set my apartment on fire.

Extemporanious

In 4th grade my mother gave me a book of poetry by Judith Voirst (she of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day fame). If I Were in Charge of the World was the title and my mother inscribed it with the message, "Don't you wish you were!"

What can I say? I like to hear myself talk. I also like to tell people what to do. That I am the eldest daughter of 4 children is not unrelated. But, I digress.

I especially like to hold court as it were (ed., perhaps that's why I have a blog). Give me a drink or two and well, my usually loose lips come unhinged.

Fortunately for me, my roommate adores these ramblings and calls them my “Dr. Seuss’s Guides.” As in “Doctor Seuss’s Guide to Having an Affair and Managing a Business,” the title of one of my more recent monologues (ed., I am neither having an affair nor running a business). I make pronouncements, give advice and make commentary on a variety of subjects. Monday’s subject was, predictably, relationships. The details of these lectures are always fuzzy for me, but apparently the phrase “corn-fed thighs” came up, several times.


Corn fed thighs. Just the phrase makes me laugh.

Cent

For Nina, because she speaks for the tress that have no tongues.

This is my 100th post. I feel unprepared. Would that I had a special post waiting to go. Alas and alack, I do not. Instead, I'll have to make do with this snippet:

Me: Ah, summer dinner parties, they'll be the death of me.
Him: You gotta die of something. May as well be summer dinner parties.

Ding Dong the Bells are Gonna Chime

My good friends, E and S, are gettin' married in the morning.

I am, as always, in complete and utter awe at anyone capable of making such a commitment. I, whose greatest committment to date is signing a 2 year lease, can no more comprehend plighting my troth than I can Hebrew. Still. I'm just so happy for them.

Much love, many prayers, and all my best wishes to the beautiful couple.

C'est Vrai

Said yesterday morning by my friend, in complete sincerity:

Ryan, your job should be just telling people what to do.
You're so good at it

Duh. Finally. Somebody gets it!

McFlipper

Special thanks to my current favorite Cantabridgian.
Rides to the Cape, beers at Grendels, and, most recently, telephone web support.
You're a man among men, my friend