Baxter Bark Twice

Do as I say, never as I do

Posts Tagged ‘summer is here’

Hello, 911? I’m on fire

Posted by AllieB on May 30, 2013

I am well aware it was but a few weeks ago that I was ranting and raving about the endless NYC winters, but I really don’t care about how flaky and/or melodramatic I seem because I just don’t.  Today, after a Memorial Day weekend where the high topped out at 48 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday, it is 92 degrees and the air feels like hot, stinky breath. I am seriously, legitimately concerned about how I am going to survive the next few months. I joked last week about getting bob haircut – as if! – but today I’m thinking a full-on Ellen DeGeneres whack job. I’m not kidding. And my hair is the least of my worries. Do they have full body deodorant? I’m talking Secret Prescription Strength for head-to-toe. The good news is that my office temp is a comfy 58 degrees, so I have to wear sweaters and scarves inside then basically disrobe to go outdoors. Winter’s easy:  you just put on more clothes. The wet, hot, American summer of NYC is a new animal with which I’ve yet to grapple, and I’m already thinking about ceding victory…for I am screwed. BOLO for 3 straight months of red-face/dancefloor Allie.

This week I present to you a very special segment: How to Stay Slim & Trim. I have two things that are really going to rock your world – perfect timing for ‘kini season!!

1. PRANCERCISE! What is prancercise, you ask? Prancercise is defined as follows: A springy, rhythmic way of moving forward, similar to a horse’s gait and is ideally induced by elation.” But why use words when there is video:

I had a hard time getting past that camel toe, but I powered thru and am already planning to go prancering after work. I’ll fit right in doing this around the Central Park Reservoir. Don’t need sound for that video, and you don’t need to watch more than 20 seconds. Thank you, Sista Wedge.

2. Aw, crap.

AB marathon

The gods have spoken. If I’m going to talk so big about running a marathon, it seems I might actually have to do it. I bailed on the LA race in March, and when I signed up for the NYC race on a whim I assumed there was no way my name would be chosen from the lottery – I worked it out: I had an 8% chance of getting it. Given my history of never getting chosen for anything, I felt pretty confident about my odds…until that email showed up earlier today. Just this morning, during my morning yog, I thought to myself, “I sure am glad I didn’t get chosen to run that marathon in November.” But it’s local, it’s important to participate in light of the Boston Marathon tragedy, and it’s something I always said I’d do. Plus I’ve got like, what, 5 months to train? Totes doable – I’ve already got my Body Glide and everything. I don’t think I can prance my way through this one, guys.

And now for the really, really random stuff:

-Ron Swanson is one of the greatest TV characters of all time – that is a statement of fact, not opinion. His awesomeness is elevated in this slideshow depicting his feasts throughout the 5 seasons of Parks and Recreation as well as his commentary.

-My birthday party is happening. I haven’t sent out the invite yet, but here’s a preview…!

bday invite

ATTN anyone tempted to refer to my upcoming birthday as “Dirty Thirty” – you are preemptively dead to me.

-Ya know how I went to the Stones Fest last Thursday to see my friend Parker play? Well…it was awesome. Jason Isbell, Norah Jones, Boz Scaggs, Regina Spektor also played… I will never, ever forget the ensemble performance of Shine a Light (my most very favorite song) as long as I live….read about it here – this guy knows a whole lot more about it than I do.

Remember that really funny spider email from 2008? I had totally forgotten about it until I rediscovered it last night. LOL

funny spider

I threw this together in like 15 minutes but I’m on a great streak here of not missing a week, and I gotta keep up the good work.

TGIT! Eat, drink, and be merry. I’ll see you next week – same time, same place – unless I melted, in which case…who knows.

Posted in Arbitrary | Tagged: , , , , | 13 Comments »

I’d rather not go to there

Posted by AllieB on May 1, 2012

Atlanta, in recent years, has really made a name for itself on the Foodie Scene. From high-end chains like BLT Steak to the food trucks (Tex’s Tacos WE MISS YOU), Atlanta has made an indelible foot print on the national culinary front. I read NYMag on a daily basis not for the politico mumbo jumbo or even the current events, but for the celeb, food, and culture stuff. The penultimate category pertains mostly to NYC-centric restaurants, but occasionally they step outside the box. Their food section, Grub Street, just published this article listing worth-the-trip restaurants in every US state (50 State Dinners: Food Pilgrimages You Must Make This Summer). Neat! I thought. “Pilgrimage” implies that they’re going off the beaten-track a bit, so I actually thought about for it for a second before I read the Georgia suggestion. I figured it probably wouldn’t be in Atlanta, unless it was a Korean BBQ place on Buford Highway or similar, but I thought they might direct people to Athens or Savannah, or even Madison or Thomasville – definitely someplace in a town that’s heavy on Southern Charm. Evidently, I was barking (get it?!) up the wrong tree:

And we wonder why Georgia still has this country bumpkin, back-country, red-neck, missing teeth persona. Let me first assert I am not hating on Rexall Grill – I’ve never been therefore cannot judge, and I’m sure that, if it’s made the upper crust echelon that is NYMag, it must be pretty good, but COME ON. Surely there’s a better photo? And what’s more – once you send people to Duluth, they’re going to be in Duluth…this is hardly a destination eatery. I spent a lot of time in Duluth back in 2k5 when I was slinging ads for the AJC, and there’s not a whole lot going on unless you count sitting in traffic as an activity. Which I do not. I probably would have chosen someplace on Tybee Island, such as Tybee Island Social Club. Should you find yourself on Tybee Island, you must go to here: long on charm, short on strip malls/doors with bells that ring when you enter. Or what about ADD Drug in Athens?! It’s a pharmacy that serves awesome food and it’s in the coolest city in the world. I think I might leave a comment on the website about this oversight.

If this is the direction in which NYMag was going, perhaps they should have chosen One Star…?

Summer’s here. Who has a pool?

I know I said I wasn’t going to talk about her anymore, so I will leave you only with this one teeny thing. (Just click thru; no sound, no crazy pop-ups – just simple truth)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO WILLIAM & KATE! That wedding really was the highlight of my 2011. She’s as glorious as ever. All hail the princess.

Posted in Arbitrary, Food & Drink | Tagged: , , , , | 5 Comments »