A Ratty Day
I tripped over a small squishy dead rat in Washington Square Park today on my way to my morning NYU grad class. Ironically, I wasn't looking at my feet because I was reading a florescent pink sign taped to a tree that read Caution: Rat Poison has been sprayed in the area. Well, the stuff works because besides the mushy lifeless one that I tripped on, I saw another dead rat body when exiting the park too. Speaking of rodents, the sonic mouse repeller is now on in my apartment, I'm not sure if it's working or just a placebo, but no sign of mice since the first spotting.

Then my day got even more annoying, when I spilled my tea down the long table in my photojournalism class. The very HOT tea scalded my hand as I ineffectively tried to catch the falling cup and splashed Sarah's folder containing her weekly photo assignment. Luckily only her folder's edge got soggy and she had plastic covers protecting her photos. Everyone jumped to hand me napkins but my professor and NYT photographer was lecturing so I felt like a tool. I also didn't want to disturb the class further by running to the bathroom to put my hand under cold water. Instead, I just squeezed my red hands in my lap as I hurried to contain the liquid. It was a solid 15 minutes until I attempted to reach for my tea again and take a cautious sip.

PS: Let's go Yankees!! I have my cap on even in the office, thankfully it's casual Friday. I'm watching the game in Westchester tonight with some family friends who are also die hard fans, including my 86-year-old Nanny who was at Yankee Stadium when Lou Gehrig gave his famous speech. She says there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

PPS: Yes, I'm still riding the subways, no choice really.

Study: Half of All Teens Have Had Oral Sex.

Mac Attack
It is not always easy to receive comfort, just when you need it. But comfort foods like Macaroni and Cheese have been soothing troubles since childhood.

When you are feeling down and need the instant gratification that can only be found in the warm creamy pasta, you don’t have to turn to Kraft’s blue cardboard box or travel to the 24 hour dinner to satisfy your craving. Many bars and restaurants like Cafeteria (119 Seventh Ave) have tapped into the carb-comfort racket and serve childhood consolation meals like Macaroni and Cheese. However, in almost the same amount of time it takes to fix the packaged version or travel and order a side dish version, you can make your own cheesy baked ambrosia that is richer and more fulfilling.

Growing up I preferred cut up hot dogs in my Velveeta, while my friend likes to add a can of cream of mushroom soup to give extra flavor and texture. Instead of bread crumbs I once crumbled up some potato chips, tossed them with a small amount of melted butter and garlic powder, basil, oregano and black pepper. Yummy!

My Mom's Easy Cheese Macaroni
Called “Cheese Macaroni,” this recipe includes mozzarella; an 8 oz can of tomato sauce and no bread crumbs or paprika. (30 minutes).
Boil pasta until al dente, since the pasta will cook some more while microwaving, yes you heard me, we cheat. Once pasta is ready but firm, put in deep microwaveable container. Melt in 2 tablespoons of butter. Add 1/2 pound of sliced yellow American Land O'Lakes cheese available at the meat counter. Line the slices of cheese underneath the pasta, along the sides of the container and on top. Then stir in ? pound of shredded mozzarella and 8 oz of plain tomato sauce. Stir and then microwave for 5 minutes, stir again and heat for 10 more or until cheese is melted and gooey. You can of course also bake this recipe but the microwave actually combines the cheese well keeping the pasta very moist. Add salt and pepper as desired and mangia!

The Ultimate Macaroni and Cheese
Make sure you have some extra time on your hands for this recipe. Bake time alone is 30 minutes, plus boiling pasta and mixing ingredients.

Ingredients:
1/2 pound penne pasta; 1/2 cup butter; 3 tbsp. minced fresh onion; 1/2 tsp white pepper; 1 1/2 tbsps flour; 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; 1 1/2 cups milk; 1 cup grated Gruyere cheese; 1 cup grated cheddar cheese; 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1/3 cup bread crumbs.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Boil the pasta in plenty of salted boiling water. Drain and reserve when ready. Meanwhile, melt 1/3 cup of the butter in a saucepan over medium heat and add the onion. Cook for two minutes. Add the white pepper and flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for three to four minutes. Don't let the flour brown; lower the heat if it does. Add the mustard and milk and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 10-15 minutes. The sauce will thicken. It should be very thick but not gluey. Add more milk if it thickens too much. Once the sauce has simmered for at least 10 minutes, add the cheddar and gruyere cheeses and half the parmesan. Shut off heat and stir them in. Stir the cheeses in as they melt. Return the pan to low heat if necessary. Working quickly, toss the pasta in the cheese sauce. Toss it well so the sauce gets inside the pasta tubes. Place the pasta in an 11- by 14-inch glass or ceramic baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining parmesan cheese over the top. Melt the remaining butter, stir it into the breadcrumbs and sprinkle this mixture over the top of the pasta. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the top is golden and toasted.
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Question: Why do people swing their arms while walking up stairs?

Apparently to smack me on the nose while on the step below them, making my commute that much brighter.

Reasons why I've stopped seeing some guys
• Bad kisser, big time, I mean it was like an octopus' suction cups or something

• Had bad breath

• Didn't know what speak easy's are or about prohibition

• Too short

• Smoked

• Selfish

• Cried at movies while my eyes were dry

• Wouldn't call or meet when they said they would

• They were Red Sox fans. Just kidding, actually unfortunately for me, most guys I date are Sox lovers and give me crap for being a Yankees fan a.k.a. a winner ;) At least they like baseball though, better than no interest in the sport.

Do you have any real interesting ones???

PS: My partially exposed breasts are now in the blogger Boobiethon for breast cancer. Donate or send your photo.


News: My former press ethics graduate professor at NYU wrote the following article Me Against My Students. You'd have to be an idiot to try and plagerize in his class, afterall he's the Forbes reporter who caught Stephen Glass' fabricated articles.

Always a bridesmaid ... part 2
I'm back from the wedding and it was absolutely beautiful. The inn was amazing, very New England and right on the lake. The setting and classic wedding dress made for a princess fairytale like ceremony.

Thankfully after all the tailoring my bridesmaid dress fit to the T, so no wardrobe malfunctions, phew.

As a gift, the bride's brother made a website for his sister's wedding, which will soon have photos here, but I've uploaded a few myself so you can take a look at how pretty it all was.



News: Nicolas Cage named his son after Superman's birth name Kal-el. I'm a Superman fan but what a freak (read more)

Always a bridesmaid ...
well actually I'm always a maid of honor (once for my mother's wedding and again for our friend Kathy) but this Saturday will be the first time I'm a bridesmaid. The dress I'm wearing is burgandy and gold. Unfortunately it arrived a few sizes too big, so it had to be tailored. I won't know if it fits for sure until I head up to the wedding. Hopefully there won't be a wardrobe malfunction of Superbowl proportions.

The wedding is for my college friend Nicki and it's in Meredeth, New Hampshire at The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls on Lake Winnipesaukee. I've never been, so I'm looking forward to seeing this massive lake and hopefully some changing colored leaves and foliage during my 4.5 hour drive.

Psst...does anyone else think it's ironic to be married in a state thats motto is "Live Free or Die" ?