Only because I don't need one.

Pic 152 - May 31, 2012

The next time I need a taxi during rush hour... in the rain... and there are NONE... I will channel this photo. And cry. 

Okey dokey artichokey.

Pic 151 - May 30, 2012

Tonight I ate an artichoke for dinner... while wearing this shirt. 

I'm gonna be honest guys... it's been a slow week. 

Sunny East Harlem

Pic #150 - May 29, 2012

ART! Summertime art. 

I wish I felt this cool today.

Pic #149 - May 28, 2012

T'was SUPER hot today, but somehow made it to the East Harlem complex on 117th Street where there is a Pet Smart. I bought Zooey a Furminator, because I'm pretty sure she sheds more than she eats. Also became unreasonably jealous that this starfish gets to live in a permanent pool. 

I can has cheeseburger?

Pic #148 - May 27, 2012

In honor of Memorial Day weekend, had a cheeseburger and shake at the Shake Shack! Still terribly bad for you, but oh so delicious. 

The Return of the Sesi!

Pic #147 - May 27, 2012. 

Any day Sesi is in NYC is a good one! And now we have a whole summer's worth :). Welcome back, G!

A Little Taste of Italy

Pic #146 - May 25, 2012

Though it wasn't quite the same, had a nice wine and pizza dinner date with Carrie at Vapiano. And look - 12!

Oh Hey, Sailor!

Pic #145 - May 24, 2012

I hobbled across the street and up two blocks determined to ask these sailors for a pic... but I lost my nerve and decided to snap an inconspicuous candid instead :). 

Sign my cast?

Pic #144 - May 23, 2012

Well - my right foot has endured yet another hairline fracture. My tumble out of the hostel in Rome did more damage than I originally thought. Walking on it for three days probably didn't help, either. Still, the kid inside of me is stoked to have a purple cast :). 

Me in a past life?

Pic #143 - May 22, 2012 

If you believe in reincarnation... this might be a story for you. My dad sent this picture to me, so while I can't take credit for taking it, I thought it was too special to pass up. Many relatives have told me I look like my paternal grandmother, Mary Baideme, but I don't think I've ever seen a photo with such a striking resemblance as this one. Apparently the back of the photo says "Mary Mutch", which means she wasn't yet married to my grandfather, Samuel Baideme. This places the photo in or before 1934, making her around 22 years old. As we celebrated her 100th birthday earlier this month, you may remember she was born in 1912 :). She passed away in 1984, just 13 months before I was born. I never had the pleasure of meeting her, but I've been told we share much more in common than just our  good looks :). 

Ho ritornato!

I have returned :). Let me tell you, coming back from Italy was not easy. Leaving all that vino, pizza, gelato, and beautiful countryside just felt wrong. My body rebelled right along with my heart - I literally fell into a pothole on the way to the airport in Rome, and then came down with a cold on the plane. I am now walking with a limp, sniffing up a storm, and trying desperately to keep my eyes open. Welcome home, me!

And yet the few beautiful days I shared with my Posse in Florence were well worth all the heartache and physical pain I'm going through now. We're so so so lucky to have been able to make it back after only five years, and I will never take that fortune for granted.

As I had limited access to the Internet and no laptop, I did not post my "Pic of the Day" shots to my blog; however, I uploaded one each day using Instagram in order to stay on track, and shared them via Twitter and Facebook. I'm going to post them to the blog and backdate them now.

:-D

Crazy Kitty

Pic #142 - May 21, 2012

I think Franny and Zooey were pretty happy to see me. As soon as my suitcase was empty, Franny hopped right in. Perhaps afraid I will take off for another ten days? 

And... we're back.

Pic #141 - May 20, 2012

I guess it had to end sometime - back in the US of A! 

I think I found Heaven.

Pic #140 - May 19, 2012

Seriously. What a way to end our trip... we found this insanely huge and awesome flea market in a park on the Northern side of Florence. All of the tents had such variety... everything from kitschy items you'd expect to find at a garage sale, to vintage clothes and antique furniture, to authentic relics from World War II. It rained on and off all afternoon, but I don't think I've ever been happier. Someday in the distant future you will find me here, at the Marketo in Fortezza da Basso, selling all the crap I will have accumulated by then. 

Cibo!

Pic #139 - May 18, 2012. 

Let's be honest - the thing I love most about Italy is the food. You're really lucky that I didn't just post 10 pictures of food while I was there, though I thought about it during every meal. There is just nothing like freshly made carbs :). This pic is from our last evening in Florence, at a restaurant we stumbled upon near the apartment. I can't say it was our best meal... it may have even been my least favorite. But my least favorite meal in Florence was still ten times better than most meals in America! Hence my giddy grin. 

"Poet"

Pic #138 - May 17, 2012. 

Since I didn't bring a journal, I decided to jot my thoughts down on post cards. I ended up using about 40 post cards, which cost way more than a journal! I think the final product will be really cool once I figure out how to put them all together, though. We had a few really nice afternoons of relaxing and journaling on the terrace. 

If it looks like a castle, and smells like a castle...

Pic #137 - May 16, 2012. 

There are no words to accurately describe today. We had a personal driver pick us up at the apartment and drive us around the Tuscan countryside, stopping at Chianti wineries and small medieval villages. Our driver, Beppe, turned out to be the love of our lives. He was super fun, quirky, and just a tad too good to be true. Anyway... our last stop was in San Gimignano, a medieval town known for its large towers. I visited with Tali on our first trip five years ago, and love it because the whole town looks like it's part of castle. 

NYU's Prettiest Campus

Pic #136 - May 15, 2012. 

Visited La Pietra today! La Pietra is one of four villas on NYU's campus in Florence. It was the main residence for Harold Atkins, the millionaire who owned the estate last. Villa Ulivi (in the background) was a school of sorts back in the day, and is used for NYU classes now. Felt great to be back...

Le Sigh.

Pic #135 - May 14, 2012. 

We climbed a piccolo mountain to Piazzale Michelangelo to catch this breathtaking sunset over the Arno. I'm just not sure anything will ever compare...

Let me know when you're sick of my bragging :). 

Vorrei un cafe, per favore.

Pic #134 - May 13, 2012

It was a rainy, rainy day in Florence! Perfect for lounging in a cafe. Several of the girls used to study at Chiaroscuro, but it was my first time there. We had a lovely buffet lunch, and of course played with all the gadgety gifts along the wall. Tali ended up buying this double-cup espresso maker as a gift - super cute. 

12:12 on the 12th...in Italy!

Pic #133 - May 12, 2012

Our apartment in Florence was AMAZING. Props to Tali and Dorothy for doing all the research and finding a spectacular place. We spent a lot of time on this tiny terrace that overlooked neighboring apartment buildings and gardens. In my typical fashion, I forced the other girls out onto the terrace with their espresso cups at 12:10 so that I could stage an awesome pic for 12:12. I'm glad I did - one of the best pics of the trip! 

Oh hey, Trevi Fountain, what's up?

Pic 132 - May 11, 2012

After a long long long flight, no sleep, lots of walking, and very little food, we stumbled upon the Trevi Fountain! It was still light out when we found it, so we took a break in a nearby Spaghetteria before returning for pics. 

Alitalia = Dislike Button.

Pic 131 - May 10, 2012. 

SO excited to go that I snapped a picture of our gate sign at the airport. Flight 611, 6X(1+1)=12 (CRAZY). Also, the next flight is literally "12". Too bad...

Right after I took this picture I got yelled at by THREE Alitalia desk attendants. For some reason they hated us. The plane ride was pretty much the worst... wrong seats, broken TV, obnoxious loud ladies behind us, bizarre food... 

I will not be taking Alitalia again anytime soon! 

On the upside, it still got us to Italy :). 

Forgive me, per favore...

Well, it's here! Waiting to board right now...

Not sure when I'll be able to post again, but I shall be catching up with my pictures the next time I am connected to the Internet. In the meantime, you can find my pics on Twitter or Facebook.

Ciao!

And it begins.

One of the many reasons 2012 is/will be epic: Posse reunion trip a Firenze! Five years in the making. Pretty much nothing could live up to our expectations...

This time tomorrow I will be en route to Rome... and my suitcase is still not packed. Well, it is packed. Too packed, in fact. It's gonna be a long night. 

Pic 130 - 5/9/12

Gonna need a bigger suitcase!

Ummmmmm Poop.

Pic 129

It's "its". 

The Disney World of Photography

Pic #128 - 5/7/12

Tali and I ended up at B&H after work today. I may be late to the game, but if you've never been, it's the most amazing photography and electronics store ever! As you walk around and pick out your stuff, attendants give you receipts and load your stuff onto a conveyor belt (pictured) which sends everything to the front of the store. When you go to the cashier, you give your receipt, pay, and they retrieve your goods. Amazing! I guess it doesn't take much to impress me. 

Cinco de Mayo in El Barrio

Pic 127 - 5/6/12

Well, I don't understand why the Cinco de Mayo festival was TODAY, on May 6th... but it was. From 10am to 6pm there was music, food, and lots of chaos all along the East side of 116th St. 

Where Bathtubs Go to Die

Pic 126 - 5/5/12

The Demolition Depot is... awesome. I unknowingly took a picture of the storefront from a zipcar a few weeks ago, but today I happened to be walking by. I popped in and explored their showroom and yard - all things they've collected from demolotion sites and are now selling for hundreds (more like thousands) of dollars! Like, for instance, these bathtubs. 

Bonus Pics:

PB&J a Whole New Way

Pic 125 - 5/4/12

Rebekkah's cousin is awesome and sent her these handmade peanut butter and jelly sandwich cookies. Yes, cookies! They are adorable AND delicious, and provided a great treat break around 4 in the afternoon. She even made (MADE!) little ziplock baggies to put each cookie in so that they would look like lunch. A+. Thanks for sharing, RS!

On Broadwaaaaaaay...

Pic 124 - 5/3/12

Godspell! Braved illness and rainy humidity to have a theater date with Carrie. T'was quite worth it! What a fun show. It's at the "Circle in the Square" theater, which is literally a circle (well, round) stage in a square auditorium. All sorts of hidden doors and contraptions, audience participation, and cheap jokes. I highly recommend! Oh also - we got to go up on the stage during intermission for some Jesus wine (grape juice). So now I can say I've been on Broadway...

Bonus Pics: 

Peoples going up on stage to get their wine while some of the actors danced around and played music.

Hard to tell, but we're standing on stage :). 

Godspelly.

P.S. HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY, GRANDMA MARY BAIDEME! Today would have been my Grandmother's 100th birthday - born May 3, 1912. She picked a good year :). 

New "Underground" Music

Pic #123 - 5/2/12

My new favorite subway buskers on the Downtown 4,5,6 platform at 125th Street. These fellas are badass and jazzy. I would have tried for a better quality picture, save for two problems: 1) There were people constantly walking in between us and it was all I could do just to get this one unobstructed, and 2) I always feel weird taking pictures of people when they can see me do it...

Also, fun LB fact: In high school I did a project with my friend on the art of busking. I'm pretty sure we chose the topic because I had just learned the term and thought knowing it made me cool. :).

The Tale of the Screwnicorn Who Screws No More

What's the perfect gift for a unicorn loving wine fiend? I'll tell you: A Screwnicorn. Maybe it's because I'm petty, but I believe there is no elation like that which comes from winning a round of gift giving — when I can honestly say, "Oh em gee... I found the perfect gift for you." Giving Screwnicorn to Tara for her birthday last summer was like delivering a soul to its mate. When Screwnicorn uncorks a bottle, you don't just get wine, you get sparkles and whimsy, glitter and rainbows... and everything else Lisa Frank.

Just look how stoked these fellas are to FINALLY have found Screwnicorn:

 

As you can tell from the title of this post, this story does not have a happy ending. Still, I feel it's only fair to give you proper warning: Screwnicorn doesn't make it. 

Pic #122 - 5/1/12

Screwnicorn during happier times (approximately 3 hours ago). 

Sadly, not everyone was impressed with Screwnicorn. Some (Becca) refused to call her by her name, seeing "it" only as a mechanical device made for uncorking alcoholic beverages. Some declined to thank her for her magical twisty powers. Some feel really really badly now. 

Here's what happened... in pictures. No reenactment was involved — the images below document real people in real time, with real feelings.

Again with the happier times. Corking wine and eating rainbows.

One Miss Becca Pants giggling, because she knows something the rest of us don't.

"Oh crap - I just killed Screwnicorn." 

"I mean, it's not like she didn't have it coming."  

Tara's initial grief at the site of clipped Screwnicorn.

Delirious denial.

Final goodbyes. Because, let's be honest — what kind of life can a screwless screwnicorn really lead? 

In fairness to Becca, Screwnicorn was not this cork's only victim, leading us to believe her demise was not due to malicious intent, but rather a stubborn cork. 

And you thought The Last Unicorn was a sad story. So let this be a lesson to you: Only the good die young. Don't let Becca touch your stuff. Red Leather Yellow Leather. I've got nothing.  

Farewell, Screwnicorn. May you rest in sparkly peace forever.