Halloween

Halloween with Aunt Beth and Granddad! An episode of car-sickness on the way to LI made me very happy for 2 things: 1. I packed Caroline's costume instead of letting her wear it in the car & 2. The Bronx Zoo gave us a large men's t-shirt when we joined for the year, which I still hadn't removed from the car. Caroline didn't let the wardrobe mishap get her down either.

Caroline and Aunt Beth after lunch:

Caroline missing Liz:

Watch the tail kid-

Cousin Liz Comes to Town!

Pumpkin hunting with Cousin Liz:


And 'waiting' for Pooh to finish blowing up:

Poor Pooh

He didn't stand a chance-

Buffy Update: All Washed Up

'Buffy' fans bemoan demise of sing-along from Yahoo News.

I've got a theory it could be bunnies.

Update: JH, the Musical

Well, I just found out that we actually are close to selling out all the shows (there are only 90 seats in the theater) - and the phone line for tickets hasn't been working in almost a week. It will be fixed tomorrow (Friday), so chances are more people will be calling. Apparently, we were mostly sold out before most of the cast was even in the show - so none of us have tickets. Suddenly getting a roast beef doesn't seem so great anymore.

Anyway - If anyone wants to try to catch a show, email me asap & I'll see what I can do - or call the ticket # at 718-424-6666.

Halloween Preview

I took these when Amy came by a while back. Caroline so has no idea what Halloween is all about, but she sure likes dressing up as a dinosaur.

She also really wants a horse, much to AJ's dismay. By the way, don't forget your purse when going out for an evening stroll - Caroline never does.

Hurry it up already

Caroline and I were doing returns in Hicksville last week when I shot this. She had a blast, but was obviously slow for the other kids on the slide (as you can tell by the video) - especially for one much older boy who liked to rush up the front of the slide. At a time when there were no less than 4 kids on the stairs and 2 at the top (Caroline & one of the kids who was routinely passing her in line), the boy zoomed up the slide and accidentally knocked Caroline off the back. I was in a sheer panic. It's not the first time she's landed on her head lately at a playground, but it was the first time someone else knocked her that way. At least the crowd of children slowed her descent from that height. She cried for 1/2 a minute and demanded back at the slide - where she cried for another 1/2 minute watching the other kids climb. Then up she went. She sure liked that slide.

Jackson Heights: The Musical

Ok, time to come clean. It's been a while since I've been in a show (can you say 8 years or so?). The academy first put the kabotch on it back in 2000 and I've never really found the time since then. Well, the stars are finally aligned (in terms of a light rehearsal schedule for me and a reasonable call schedule for Clay)- so it's on. Oh, it's so on. It's so on, it's already been brought-en.

Little did I know this show was going to get some press, though - from yesterday's Daily News. And the news is spreading. I should put a notice here - there is no slant to this show, as many of you (like I) would have guessed. It's not angsty or satiric or edgingly comedic. It's just a cute little revue highlighting the diversity and history of JH. I've had a fun time so far at rehearsal. It's a slice of life for sure. There's also been lots of eating - Clay, Caroline & I went to Sukkot dinner a couple of weeks back and on Saturday night they sent me home with a roast beef. Who can complain?

Best of all, I get to play a tree. I've always wanted to play a tree - ever since I was a Christmas card from Spain back in the First Grade. And now I have a Halloween costume, too. It's a really small chorus part, so there's no obligation to hop on the 7. However, if you're craving some good Indian food, it's an excuse to make the trip. Shows are next Thursday & Saturday evening, Sunday afternoon & Sunday evening. Roast beef goes to anyone who wants to babysit Caroline intermittently on Sunday while Clay does his 'at-home' call.

This Weekend's Picks in JH

Anyone up for a little adventure tomorrow is welcome to join us for the 2nd annual Jackson Heights Film & Food Festival. Seriously - give us a call 'cause it should be fun.

Tomorrow is the food portion of the event, with several Jackson Heights restaurants serving dishes priced from $1-$3 from Noon-4pm at a local church. Yum Yum.

The films start tonight and continue through Sunday at the Eagle Theater in Jackson Heights. From the NYT: "It’s not easy to find American cinemas that offer samosas (Indian pastries filled with meat or vegetables) along with popcorn and candy. The Eagle Theater in Queens is one..."

While we probably won't make tonight's flicks, there is a kid's fest on Sunday (complete with free bagels and kiddie-rock) that we surely can't miss.

Testing Out

the new camera. If you listen to the video, right before Caroline goes after the ball a second time, she says "I'll get it!". I caught it on tape!

Go Grandma for teaching her this, though Caroline would never say it in front of her. This is completely indicative of Caroline's talking skills. She says words once or twice, but not often and never when you want her to. Clay got her to say 'please' the other day, but that was the only time. I can get her to say 'all aboard', but not when anyone else is around. If there are any theories out there about this type of behavior, please share them. We're stumped.

We both, however, understand her many faces...

Cheap Healthy Entertaining

I thought of my cousin when I saw this today and I post it here in her honor. For the college girl who once visited me in the city and pleaded 'Can we get chicken on a stick?!?', I give you the toddler equivalent.

Please though, be careful they don't run with the sticks.

Look down the comments for another good idea - edible apple ring jewelry.

Get your kumbaya-yas out

Beware! The network Fx has pulled a quick one on us all. After airing the 'Once More With Feeling' episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer at 7am this past Monday, they switched the 7am slot to Malcolm in the Middle on Tuesday. While I have nothing against Malcolm, it cannot replace what has become a staple of my morning ritual since - oh 1999? I tried not to panic (sometimes holiday schedules tend to interfere with the Buffster), but after Malcolm was aired in this slot all week, I needed to take action - but how? The only way to counter this scheme would be with a fierce and unyielding... google search.

While I did unearth Fx's master plan (through an ingenious perusal of the Fx website), my search stumbled upon something far more interesting. Apparently, IFC Center in NYC is having Buffy sing alongs on Friday and Saturday nights at midnight (ala Rocky Horror not The Sound of Music). I immediately wondered how horribly wrong it would be of me to show up to one of these with a toddler - or, alternatively, how much a sitter would cost for an 11pm-2am shift. Though I bet Caroline could sleep through it (she did, after all, sleep through The Bourne Ultimatum last week), I don't know how comfortable she would be in a Buffy costume - that's an awful lot of leather.

For those of you who are as outraged as I, Fx will be showing Buffy at 7am this weekend - but I have no guarantees going forward. Tomorrow's episode is 'Tabula Rasa', the one where everyone forgets who they are.

And for those of you who are itching for some sing along action outside the NYC area, they also tour.

On a side note, how did I never know that Anthony Stewart Head is the brother of Murray Head? And yes, he did take over for Murray in Chess at one point. That means he can hit a tenor high C in full voice (4:45 of recording). Go Giles-

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A bonus side note: Everyone is familiar with at least these two aspects of the show Chess. It's also the prime example of how difficult it can be to write a show 's book around an already released concept album and a recently ended cold war. But it does have some great songs.

Almost caught up...

The end of our vacation in pictures happened on Tuesday, when I dropped the camera in the sand. Here are some shots of our pre-drop and post-drop activities.

Pre-drop: Having fun at Jones Beach

Post-drop: Seeking out borscht in Brighton Beach

This week's activities? Finding a camera repair shop

Labor Day (cont.)

Some shots of lunch at Wall's Wharf in Bayville:

Labor Day (cont.)

More pictures of the vineyards:

Labor Day

Labor Day was our big weekend with Grandma Carol and Grandad Alan, as well as the beginning of Clay's week off. We had lots of fun hitting the North Fork vineyards for a picnic on Saturday, Wall's Wharf for lunch on Sunday and lots of pastries in between. Some shots of the vineyards:

Oh my...

I hope this doesn't translate into endless hours of her teenage years stuck in front of a mirror, but Caroline has had a thing for her sunglasses lately - too cute. I would worry about her being too girly if she didn't also glow when trying on a dinosaur (dragon) costume for Halloween. She started roaring around the house. No pics of the dinosaur as our camera is currently kaput. Here are the sunglasses shots, though.

Road Trip (cont.)

More blurry slide action - and the choo-choo train!