But Call Me Betsy

A couple of weeks ago, Lisa Marie and I found a yard sale and stopped to browse. As a result, she bought a cute little black dress that she wore to her opening of her awesome art film, Troupe de Fetishe which you can now see at the Crane Arts building in Fishtown. I bought two pair of shoes for $4 total. These are the boots. And these are the red Mary Jane heels. I seldom wear heels b/c I quite often fall over, but these have a thick heel, so I am able to wobble around in them almost seamlessly. Then the other day, Dan took me to Green Street and I found this coat/sweater. It's good for chilly weather, but won't be enough for cold winter snow. It works for now. Oh, and these are the two leather things I got Lisa Marie for her birthday (I can put them up now b/c her birthday was yesterday). I don't really know what they're for, but I got them at Jane in Princeton. Luke saw them while he was eating a bagel at Starbucks and asked me if he could squeeze his cream cheese in...

It snowed a bit this weekend. These are photos of what used to be my back patio.           And this is probably the only time in his entire life that Ernesto has refused to go outside. Both he and Emma Carol, really, really want to be out there until they find that the snow is cold and not so friendly.     Below, please find some urban art that Lisa Marie and I discovered in South Philly.You just never know what will turn up.          

Both Lisa Marie and John were kind enough to come over this past Sunday and remodel some things in the house. John cute a giant hole in the basement door (to accommodate the giant Henri) and he also hung the mirror in my bedroom that I bought at Circle Thrift for $20. Lisa Marie and I worked for about 5 or so hours on the brand new, redecorated, restyled, and re-carpeted kitty palace. It is resplendent. First, the cat door. I wanted to put this on so that I could keep the basement door shut, since that's where the litter box is and I don't want the smell wafting up into the kitchen. But I haven't yet put the flap on it b/c I'm not sure they're smart enough to go through it. Well, I know Ernesto is, but not so sure about the other two. This is a view of the living room with the new coffee table. Still no sofa. And the new table and chairs all set up. I haven't hung any pictures b/c I'm scared to mess up the walls. Liz and Luke are coming for a visit this week...

That is because I don't yet have a couch, having left behind the shitty brown one for the neighbor's to snatch up (which they did--I noticed that when I returned to clean, their old couch was on the side of the house and mine had vanished). I am waiting for two things right now--the cleaning lady to find my home, and the furniture dude to deliver the new tables I bought on Saturday at Ethnics. I am certain they will both show up at the same time and I'll have to juggle the awkwardness somehow. The last week has been crazy and tiring. I hate moving. It sucked, even though I had Mambo Movers, because of course, I had to take over two loads of stuff beforehand and so climbed about 500 sets of stairs. Then there's going over to clean the old place, which I did, but I wouldn't say it was a stellar job. I cleaned for three hours, but I didn't spackle or scrub the floors like I probably should have. And then there was the cable dude who convinced me to not run the cabl...

I've been meaning to post these few pictures from Friday night's girl happy hour...Celia is usually the photographer at these events and there would have been more photos, except she had given blood that day and started to feel vomituous after two beers. We went to Mantra again and the same waitress was there, Brie, though she had dyed her hair a darker brown. She seemed to remember us--recalled that we'd left her a stack of quarters as a joke, so that was nice. In any case, here's lovely Ann with her stigmata. And Irina, not wanting to get her photo taken. You may recall she exhibited similar hostility in the previous photo shoot . She (and others at the table) had had a pretty difficult week. And Celia, a bit wan but otherwise cute as ever. Minutes after this photo was taken, she disappeared into the bathroom and when she returned, she said she had to leave. We really do need to plan another night out soon rather than waiting four months between seeing each other. Oh...

Paul Skoles and Piper were fairly well-behaved except when Paul Skoles licked the top of the pumpkin pie. And the butter dish. And then turkey. John McGovern, law school student extraordinaire. Carrie and Ionia laughing at something. Piper grooming Paul Skoles. He likely needed it. Miss Carrie! Padhraig preparing the butternut squash with walnuts that I declined to eat. He called me fussy. That was the second time in a week that someone said I was fussy. I don't think I am! Seems so innocent. The spread. How about a list of things so I don't have to go through each day: 1. Best thing about Thanksgiving: this delicious key lime pie that Carrie's friend Sarah made with a heavenly meringue topping (though there was also some debate about it one should put meringue on a key lime pie). We also played Charades (who do you think forced that on everyone?) and almost every single one of Padhraig's choices included a cat, so that he could just point to either Piper or PS wit...

I'm not sure what to do with today. Will be going over to Carrie and Padhraig's, but that's not for a few hours. I didn't really sleep in today--I perhaps need a new hobby. Or a baby. I told A. that if I got the Pew Fellowship, I'd use it to buy a baby just like Angelina Jolie. I think that's why people have kids, in part, out of the boring sameness of every day and then as a reason to keep waking up in the morning, a way for their life to be meaningful. Like, as long as their kid turns out okay, doesn't kill himself and others in a drunk driving accident or go on a shooting spree, if he just grows up to be a responsible adult, then life will have meant something. Does it matter that my cats are well-adjusted and friendly? (Well, and that's not entirely true. Henri still sometimes runs from me and only just got used to a guy being over occasionally. He did show himself when Liz was here a few weekends ago, which I thought was so cute. He remembers her!)....

I mean that in the nicest way. I hate being so busy that I don't have time to write a little something--it usually takes me about 15-20 minutes to write a post, so not a substantial amount of time, but lately, it's just not feasible. I have photos to add but forgot my camera at home. ADDENDUM: It's really Monday now and I'm adding the photos for you. A quick weekly update: Sunday: Helped Lisa Marie film her latest project--well, really just showed up with the boy she needed to play the date. He was perfect for the part and maintained an even temperament throughout. I did something with the lights and wrote down the different shots. She has asked me to be in her next film, but I would like to lose just about 20 pounds before that time. Monday: Went with C & P to see, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas , a movie based on a book written by Padhraig's friend, John Boyne . The film was showing as free premiere in Bryn Mawr. We arrived late in part b/c of me and also b/c ...