I love helpful signs.

I met Oprah Winfrey today. She gave me a hug and then told me she wanted me to be on her show to talk about my life... Then I woke up and took a picture of her thru one of the office windows as she came into the Ed Sullivan theatre to film the Late Show (the one with David Letterman). She's one of the people wearing black. Probably the one near the limo waving back at the mob of people frantically screaming "Ohpprraahh!!!"

Like 99% of all males on this planet - I still have yet to understand the fascination with Oprah. Personally, I think Tony Danza does a fine daytime show (ouch, who just slapped me?). Oddly, I also ran into Paul Schaffer the evening before and really didn't think twice about it. He was just as I expected. Sunglassed and with a big arse smile across his face. One of those grins when you know you've just pulled off an awesome practical joke like my friend Melissa Hsieh telling a felon @ the police station that she was just "fresh out" of jail for arson. (mind you before reading this story that this girl is a frustratingly attractive, petite and smart)... Genius.

I think it was Monday that I decided to get dinner. Alone. Call it only child syndrome but every once in a while I have to just be by myself. Monday night was one of those nights - maybe it was having been the first day of my new job. Which was an exciting event in of itself. I hit up this placed called Ray Bari Pizza just a couple of blocks down from my apt. It was scrumptious but something makes me think that it's hardly the best in town. People here are pizza snobs. What do you expect when you can get something equal or better than the motherland (not mine, the Italianos) for less than the Coke you might order with Domino's?

Good lord - all I do is eat. Thank heavens I walk every where... um, except when I take the subway. Otherwise, I'd be a heaping tub of Korean lard. But hey, who's counting? Anyway, I couple of my friends were in town from Knoxville on work (where I used to be) and we went to Carnegie Deli for some rediculously over proportioned food and catch up on stories and general gab. There is a dish there called 'Jerry's Special' which I can only describe as a pile o' meat. I had goulash and it was all scrumptious.

Side note - I just sneezed so hard my CD player skipped... the one on the shelf. Excuse me while I dislodge my nose from the wall.

Anyway, on the way home we stopped by Rock Plaza (Rockefeller) so they could catch a glimpse of "The Tree". They did the lighting ceremony last night and it was like a mini New Years @ Times Square. Far too many people to see an oversized version of what so many people have at home. Happy Kwanzaa. Listen to me, I already sound like a disgruntled resident of Manhattan. Hell, I felt like one walking thru the crowds yesterday on my way home (even three blocks away). Eh, maybe I am.

Don't go out for drinks with someone who doesn't have to work the next day. Sorry for the crappy camera phone pic.

Ok, so I finally feel that my apartment is in decent enough order to show... here are the long overdue pix. This, my friends is 485 sq. foot living at it's finest... um. I'm still not done yet. Must. Go. On.

First four are pictures from when I scouted the apartment a few weeks back and a shot of the lobby in the evening. Second two are the nightmare that was 'moving'. Last three are the pictures from this evening (I'm particularly proud of my marrying of a lamp and a coatrack to give provide some much needed lighting near the closets - last picture). And well, the bedroom is too risque to show, ha.








p.s. Yes, I'm obsessed with lighting and lamps.

Bloody French. Why do they make such good food? Well, I succumbed to their scrumptious siren's call for the second time this weekend. Carla, Morgan, Megan, Macall and I hit a place called Provence (evidently one of NYC's 10 best in this category). It was delectable. It was laden with wine and best of all, it was free o' charge. Sorry for the crummy camera phone-ish pix.

Um... you know that show Rachel Ray's "40 Dollars a Day"??... um... yeah, this wouldn't have made it to the producer's short list. So Morgan wherever you are I raise a glass (what is this here, oh it's 2% milk) to you for your bottomless food funds and beerbutt chicken (??).

Quick rundown of the victuals:
1st: Tarte de Monsieur Seguin - Goat cheese, eggplant, and tomato tart.
2nd: Bar St. Tropez - Chielan sea bass steamed with fennel, potatoes, and a saffron sauce.
3rd: Creme Bruele - obviously
Wine: Provence locale - Chateau Simone
Dessert: Some 16 year old Bourbon that Morgan ordered. Yes, Bourbon for dessert.