November Nothings

November. November. November.

A strange month in the life of LB. Working from home, saying goodbye to Franny Pants, welcoming four more years, eating a whole lot of pie... and spending a ridiculous amount of money.

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November 1, 2012 - Pic #306

I LOVE Pumpkin Spice Cookie season :).  
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November 2, 2012 - Pic #307

Cousin Chuck got married today :). Centerpiece was a castle, so obviously, I snatched it. Dad, however, is guilty of stealing the table marker for table #12... he knows me well :).  
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November 3, 2012 - Pic #308

Hard day today. Mom told me the Vet said Franny would not make it, so I made an unexpected trek to Albany to be with her.  
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November 4, 2012 - Pic #309

This was my view all day as I hung out with Franny, getting some QT. I'm glad I had this time with her, but it wasn't easy.  
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November 5, 2012 - Pic #310

RIP Franny Pants. Only 2 years old, yet so filled with life. When I rescued you from the foster home with your sister Zooey, you were but a tiny, scared, emaciated kitten. You hid under the couch your entire first night and wouldn't come out even for food. But that didn't last long :). Before no time you owned the place. You owned me. Eating my cheese danish, sleeping on my chest, whining every time I locked you out of the bathroom. I miss you Franny, more than you could ever know. I'm so glad you were my kitty. 
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November 6, 2012 - Pic #311

Election Day! It's 2012 - why are the ballots still paper? By the way... phew.  
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November 7, 2012 - Pic #312

Winter made it to November this year, but only for a short while.  
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November 8, 2012 - Pic #313

This is what 7 pounds of fudge looks like, made by Tara's mom. I'm pretty sure I'd gain a lot more than 7 pounds, though, if I ate all of this.  
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November 9, 2012 - Pic #314

Hard to believe, but this was my first time below 116th street since Sandy! Frequented Merrion Square with Mike, Manny and Carrie. 
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November 10, 2012 - Pic #315

While walking around The Strand browsing random books, I found this inserted in a mystery novel about a Spanish Ice Skater. Turns out it's part of a photo project by an artist named Fred Cray. He hides unique photos all over the world. They are unique because he destroys the digital copy after he prints the photo. This is number 5736. Read about him here: http://fredcray.com/images_unique_01.html
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November 11, 2012 - Pic #316

First of all, happy birthday Leonardo DiCaprio! I have known your birthday and your age since I was 12 (you turned 38 today... ouch!). It's easy to remember because you were born on 11/11/74, 11 years before I was born on 12/12. Ah... numerically meant to be.  

Also, had a movie date with Zack to see Wreck it Ralph. It was adorable and hilarious. Found this awesome photo op on our way out of the theater. 
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November 12, 2012 - Pic #317

This kitten is my work buddy. Everytime I get up, she takes my seat. She looks cuter in it than I do, anyway.  
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November 13, 2012 - Pic #318

Tonight I went to the Hayden Planetarium for a lecture on "exo planets", planets that orbit stars like the Earth orbits the sun. I truly love the Planetarium. Sometimes I wish I continued a career in science... I suppose it's not too late. For now, going to the museum will have to do :).  
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November 14, 2012 - Pic #319

SpaHa, our Spanish Harlem neighborhood coffee joint, thinks very highly (hotly?) of themselves.  
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November 15, 2012 - Pic #320

So, when did they start remaking furbies? I'm pretty sure mine would still be scaring the crap out of me if I didn't remove the batteries. No toy should have a mind of its own.  
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November 16, 2012 - Pic #321

When Tara's mom visited, she asked us what we need for the apartment. We really don't need anything, but she kept asking. I thought of a toaster, which is something I've wanted every since Meghan moved out and took hers with her. Tara was very much against the idea, though, and so we did not get one. However, it blurted out of my mouth, and Mom Brite would not look back! She got me this toaster for my birthday :). It's adorable, isn't it?  
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November 17, 2012 - Pic #322

Friend Thanksgiving, 2012! Laura and Annie made an awesome turkey. It was a wonderful time :). And Tali came all the way from Philly!  
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November 18, 2012 - Pic #323

Been sick with a sore throat and the sniffles. Luckily I have a comfy couch and lots of ring pops.  
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November 19, 2012 - Pic #324

Still sick... and looking for things around the house to take a pic of. More adorable stationery... this one's for Sesi :).  
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November 20, 2012 - Pic #325

D got these for me a long time ago and I completely forgot about them! Found them today and put them in their rightful place on the fridge. Cuteness party.  
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November 21, 2012 - Pic #326

Arrived home for Thanksgiving today, and Dad had already made the pies. This huge apple crumble pie was delicious!  
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November 22, 2012 - Pic #327

Took our traditional walk through the woods post Thanksgiving feast today.  
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November 23, 2012 - Pic #328

After a full night of shopping (10pm - 8am), this was all the damage we did. 90% done with my holiday shopping! Definitely bought way too much for myself, as well.  
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November 24, 2012 - Pic #329

Santa! Is it Christmas already? It's still November! At least he's jolly :).  
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November 25, 2012 - Pic #330

This is Dad's solution to the squirrels eating all the birdseed.  One of the many wonders in our backyard!
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November 26, 2012 - Pic #331

Got into the zipcar after class and immediately turned on the radio. I forgot that at 9pm tonight, the Empire State Building was going to show off its new LED light system with a timed show to Alicia Keys music.  I got to listen to the music on Z100, but missed the show. That's what youtube is for, though!
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November 27, 2012 - Pic #332

I went to a Marketo User Group at Moody's today in 7 World Trade Center. Got a rare view of Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial.  
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November 28, 2012 - Pic #333

At the Union Square Holiday Market with Carrie I found this awesome art stand. Inspiration for new art project!  
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November 29, 2012 - Pic #334

The Urban Garden Center next door changes for every season. I think this is my favorite one :).  
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November 30, 2012 - Pic #335

Made friends with construction workers along the new 2nd ave subway line.  

September Snap Shot

Well, this blog certainly got away from me. I'm a little sad about it, but not surprised. I am glad that I kept it up for as long as I did, since most of my journals and diaries in past years only ever lasted until about January 10th :). However, I have kept up the picture a day project, and that's the real win. With a couple of exceptions, I've managed to get one picture posted on Facebook each day by Midnight. 

Anyway... a lot has happened in the last three months, some of which is really difficult to think about, much less write about. 2012 has certainly been a roller coaster of a year. Since I want to see this project to its end, I've decided to do one long post each for the months of September, October and November. 

Enjoy!

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September 3, 2012 - Pic #247

Laboring on Labor Day! With the wall officially down in our new giant living room, we decided to liven up the space with some color. Bee-yoo-ti-ful, if I do say so myself.  

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September 4, 2012 - Pic #248

Kittens were not happy to be awoken from their cat nap. I'm glad to have gotten this picture of them together :). 
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September 5, 2012 - Pic #249

Remember rock band? Sesi, Tara and I brought it back tonight, Beatles style. We are need of a drum set, though...
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September 6, 2012 - Pic #250

Early morning view of the East River from the 16th floor of 199 Water Street. 
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September 7, 2012 - Pic #251

Blimp! According to this, there are only 43 blimps in the world. Also, happy 17th birthday, Kailey!
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September 8, 2012 - Pic #252

This might be the saddest art I've ever seen. Poor turtle can't go anywhere! 
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September 9, 2012 - Pic #253

It's dangerous living with a roommate who likes to bake: Maple Bacon cupcakes happened. I helped... but only with the eating part. 
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September 10, 2012 - Pic #254

This was a very hard day. Found out that Franny Pants is really sick. Sesi came over to visit for a bit and gave me her good luck charm. Friends like her are one in a million. 
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September 11, 2012 - Pic #255

No one will ever forget the events of September 11, 2001, especially Downtown Manhattanites. But, this tower, as intended, does represent new beginnings. It's easy to become jaded, seeing it every day on my way to and from work, but today is a day to remember. 
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September 12, 2012 - Pic #256

12:12 on the 12th! Most 12:12 pics this year have been during lunch hour or meetings at work. It's both comforting and a little sad that my life is so routine. At least I have good friends to share the time with :). 
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September 13, 2012 - Pic #257

A few of us threw Mike and Manny a surprise wedding shower at the Chalk today! It was a super cute hit.
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September 14, 2012 - Pic #258

I was hoping if I stared long enough they would turn into a flash mob - or at least one of them would wave. No dice. 
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September 15, 2012 - Pic #259

Oh hey - surprise party number 2! Brunch was a wonderful time, and the Snickerdicker cookies I made were delicious. These are some lucky boys :).
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September 16, 2012 - Pic #260

This picture project has forced me to acknowledge how often I do nothing. But at least I do it with Friends. 
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September 17, 2012 - Pic #261

"Whatever happened to predictability?" or "Rice-a-roni, the San Francisco treat!" Yes, I am riding on the side of a Trolley and taking a selfie. Only slightly dangerous, but totally worth it. I was nervous about traveling alone, but I actually had a blast walking around a new city and getting completely lost. I even scored a free bus ride from a generous driver after he realized I had no idea where I was. I think I could live in this city. With all the hills, I'd certainly have buns of steel. 
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September 18, 2012 - Pic #262

Day 1 of the Dreamforce Conference, and I hadn't made any real friend yes. Luckily, Saasie was there to keep me company. Dreamforce posted this picture on Facebook and tagged me, forcing me to explain to several co-workers that this is actually work. 
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September 19, 2012 - Pic #263

Day 2 of Dreamforce, and I've made some friends! Sir Richard Branson isn't one of them, but we did brush shoulders. I almost tipped over after backing up into a security guard that was escorting Sir Richard and Marc Benioff (CEO of Salesforce) around the exhibition floor. The conference was fairly star-studded, with the likes of MC Hammer, the Cake Boss, and Colin Powell, to name a few. 
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September 20, 2012 - Pic #264

Mooooooo. Day 3 of Dreamforce. I chose a very bad time to leave the exhibition hall. There is an escalator of people off to the right funneling into a completely full lobby, with hundreds of people trying to move in different directions. Turns out Tony Robbins was on a podium a few feet to my left giving an interview, but I didn't realize that until I had already waded out of harm's way. 
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September 21, 2012 - Pic #265

Sad to leave San Francisco! I missed the last day of the conference in order to make it back for a very important social event :). I had a truly wonderful time and met so many fantastic people. 
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September 22, 2012 - Pic #266

Happy Wedding, Mike and Manny! It was a beautiful ceremony and a helluva dance party. 
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September 23, 2012 - Pic #267

When this picture was taken, I thought Franny was on the mend. It turns out she was not, in fact. I'm so grateful that she had such amazing care and love from my parents in her final weeks. 
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September 24, 2012 - Pic #268

Over the last two years, I've spent many an hour stuck on the LIE in bumper-to-bumper traffic. At least it affords some quality thinking time. 
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September 25, 2012 - Pic #269

PSA from a Dunkin Donuts' bathroom. Desperation beyond words - at least English ones. 
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September 26, 2012 - Pic #270

Sugar cookies are appropriate any time of the year... all you have to do is change the color of the sprinkles!
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September 27, 2012 - Pic #271

Just a band's sticker on some light post in the city... but "meaningless" in Italian has a lot of meaning for me :). 
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September 28, 2012 - Pic #272

It's never good to come home late at night and find ConEd digging a giant hole outside your building. I was happy to find that our power was a-okay.
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September 29, 2012 - Pic #273

The beauty of having an iPhone is that is provides endless ways to waste time. Seriously though, this is suspect. 
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September 30, 2012 - Pic #274

The Medieval Festival in the Bronx was awesome, to say the least. However, the jousters really could have used some more practice. Two fell off during the show, and one had to be taken to the hospital. Talk about a stressful show!