Don't be a hall-o-weeny!

3rd Annual Pumpkin Carving Party...and here are the participants with the pumpkin heads behind us!  Oh my god i love carving pumpkins!  The party was full of pumpkin guts, seeds, snacks, drinks, scary movies, music..etc. Oh October...Oh pumpkins...Ahhh Humanity! 

Jump to the next week week and here is me and my roomate Chris for Halloween!  Can you guess who I am? Let me give you a hint..."Nooo wire hangers...EVERRRRRR!!!!"  Ha ha awesome.  Sal and Katie threw a slammin' party and we danced and dranks many beers!  Good times.  

I've got 18 miles to go...

So...last year, ok well actually, I do this all the time, I came up with a list of goals I want to accomplish.  I make lists all the time of things I want to do or see, etc.  On my list was to run the 18 mile race in Long Beach Island, NJ.  Yes, 18 miles.  LBI is where my Grandfather has been living since before I was born and where I have been going every summer since birth.  My Aunt Nancy has run the race and I also wanted to take on the challenge.  This past year, around February or so, I began training.  At first I could not run more then one mile and a half.  But then slowly and steadily I was running more and more and by the end of the summer I was running 6 or 7 miles with ease.   The day of the race was October 12, 2008 and my good friend Sal also ran the race with me.  It was a beautiful day for running 18 miles.  

My mother, sister, grandpa and Laura all came out to cheer me on, along with Sal's family and wife (and friend) Katie.  Around mile 15 I thought I wouldn't make it but...I did.  I crossed the finish line running in 3hrs 12min.  My personal goal was to finish in 3hrs, so I'd say I was pretty close.  Not going to beat myself up over 12 minutes.  I am proud of myself.

2 Serious Events

Richmond, VA September 27, 2008

I drove down to Richmond, VA with some friends on Friday September 26 to attend a very exciting event.  Jay and Heidi's Wedding!  woooo hooooo yeaaaaaa!  It was a lovely and fun wedding and I am so happy I got to see one of my oldest friend marry the woman he loves!  In 9th grade I got my first detention because of this man and now look at him...incredible. 
And then....a week later...my magical friend Patrick came through again, and somehow got us on the list to see the Pretenders!  I can't even begin to explain how much I love Chrissie Hynde.  She is my #1 favorite female rocker.  She rocked so hard and she looked amazing!  I am seriously considering altering my look to be more like her.  She is so AWESOME!  

Catching Up Part 3-Summertime Fun!

Ohhhh Yeaahhhhhh!!!!  Tubin' down the Delaware River on a lazy Sunday afternoon.  Woo Hoo!

On one of the last Sundays in August me and 10 friends drove 2 cars out across the Jersey line into Pennsylvania for some fun summertime tubing.  It was AWESOME!  Great weather, great company and a couple of cold brews as we floated 3 hours down the river.  I love getting out of the city whenever possible and it was great to have a group of friends get out together.  After the river we checked out a local bar called AppleJack, where we all scarfed down hot wings, fries, pizza and other delicious bar food.  An all around successful outing!  Next year will be second annual!  

After tubing I got dropped off at my father's house in Jersey for a little family getaway to Baltimore, MD.  My father, brother, sister and I drove down for the night in celebration of my father's birthday, which is in February, haha.   We stayed in the Inner Harbor, went to the aquarium, the science center and got to check out a baseball game at Camden Yards.  We got to sit right on the first base line!  This is the first game I had been to in years and it was alot of fun.  I love stadiums!  Music, yelling, beers, dancing, the wave, more yelling! So exciting. 

Catching up Part 2-Don't go Chasin' Waterfalls

At the end of July my dad came into the city to take a little boat ride and check out some waterfalls.  Yup, i said waterfalls.  All summer long waterfalls were implanted in NYC care of Olafur Eliasson.  My dad and I took a half hour long boat ride out of the South Street Seaport to see all 4 waterfalls up close.  I think it's great that we, who live in this city, get to experience art installations of this size.  It was a lovely day to be out on the water in the city.  

Catching up Part 1

Hello friends!  Well...it is now October 13, 2008.  I have been slackin' a little on the updates in the last 2 months, so I thought I would write up a re-cap of all that has been going on in the last few months.  Here it goes...At the end of July I spent a few days in LBI with my mom, aunt nancy and my sister.  All of our time was spent relaxing on the beach and chillin' by the grill.  It was a lovely little getaway.  

Then...the next weekend...I went tubing with my friend Ellie, on the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.  The trip was amazing and led to another venture out there, which you will later learn about.  Anyway, this is a New Jersey sunset we encountered on our way home.  We were just leaving the famous WaWa when we were overtaken with the beautiful jersey sky. 

More to come....

Manchester Baby!

Today I got an email from my friend Ted, who just got back from being on tour with the band SeaWolf.  Ted was playing in Manchester and came across this poster that is still up in one of the venues.  I used to play in a band called RedSparowes and this is the poster they used when they played in the UK in 2004.  I never played with them on the UK tour, but my picture has been up in this venue since March 2004.  How awesome is that?! I recorded the first record with the band called, At the Soundless Dawn when I was living in Los Angeles.  Our friend Jeremy Weiss took this picture of us.  Look at my hair...totally disheveled!  But still pretty awesome.  

Fireworks, rain and sickness!

Yes, it is July 17, 2008 and I am posting about July 4, 2008.  Ha ha.  I am really trying to stay disciplined.  Really! So this past Fourth of July was spent in Greenpoint, Brooklyn with my friends Kim and Jake and my roommate/pal Greg. It rained and I was sick.  I was sick for almost 2 weeks after this.  Booey Hooey!  I realized recently that July 4th doesn't hold that much interest for me anymore.  Maybe it never did.  It's fun to see the fireworks, but i wouldn't be upset if i missed it.  So here is a picture of our view.                                                                          Sparkletacular! 
 And here is a lovely shot of me, greg and the many neighborhood people behind us.  

Happy Record Release

Happy Record Release!  

Well here it is...the anticipated, highly anti-climactic album from... LaGrecia called "On Parallels".  Although friendships were lost during the production of this record I am still proud of my playing on this record and am happy it has been released.  Thank you Suburban Home and thank you Sal for your time, effort and artwork, being so amazing, etc.  I hope now we can put our issues to rest and come to peace with all that has happened.  

Thunder and Lightning

Ok, well i am not on top of updating this blog as things happen.  Yeah...I'm about a week off.  haha oh well.  Anyway, so the Renegade Craft Fair happened at McCarren Park Pool the weekend of June 14 and 15.  Here is a lovely picture of my good friend Kimberly, who was a vendor at the fair.  You can check out all of her cool, awesome goodness at chez sucre chez.  I went on Saturday and it was crazy, sweaty hot.  The fair was amazing with lots of really cool vendors.  We ate ice cream, caught up with old friends, danced around in the tent and we wore these funny pins (picture below) I made for us the night before.  They are what we like to call, conversation starter pins.  Pretty funny and ridiculous. 
Did they work?  Ummm...no not at the fair, but it doesn't mean they won't work in other venues.  I think they are hilarious.  Kind of like a pick up line, but really just a way to start a conversation. Either way, we had fun. xoxo

Oh yeah,  we also got caught under her tent for 2 hours while it thunder and lightning outside.  Crazy lightning, thunder and windy.  Luckily none of her merchandise got ruined.  We got totally soaked, but it was fun times!  Lots of singing and clapping.  

Lucky number...

On Friday June 13, 2008, the only friday the 13th in the entire 2008 calendar year, I got the number 13 tatoo-ed on my right wrist.  Three Kings Tatoo shop was offering the number 13 for $13.  The number 13 has many meanings to me.  I am love13bird, my dad's birthday is on the 13th, and many good things have happened to me on 13's.  So here it is, my new impulsive last minute addition to my body and i love it. 

MIA McCarren Park Friday June 6

My magical friend, Patrick. got us in to the MIA show last Friday night for free.  It was soooo fun and awesome.  MIA is a great performer!  There was so much great music and dancing and the overall vibe of the crowd was fantastic.  The weather was great and everyone was dancing and having fun together.  We danced our asses off!  woo hoo!  Thank you Patrick!  Fun Times!

Fruit-tastic!

Summer time is officially here.  The 97 degree weather, sweating my butt off has lead me to believe so.  So...that means it's fruit smoothie, fruit granola and yogurt and fruit on cereal time!!!! Hurraayyyy!  One of my favorite things about summer is buying up fresh delicious fruit and berries, washing them off, chopping them up and then putting them in either the freezer or fridge for fruit goodness.  Ahhhh...I love waking up in the morning and making a fresh fruit smoothie.  I make them only with frozen fresh fruit, soy milk and honey and i blend it to the consistency of ice cream so it is a healthy delicious treat!  Fresh fruit truly makes me happy.  So aside from fresh fruit a few other things that make me happy about summer.  The beach, swimming, outside concerts, riding my bike, ice coffee, the park, and going to the movies during the day because it's too hot outside.  Like The Carpenters said, "It's only just begun" and I hope summer last forever this year. 

dana-vs-williamsburg bridge

A few years ago my friend, Pav, moved to Santa Barbara for school (PHD).  Upon leaving the city he graciously left me his bike.  This bike has been one of the greatest gifts I have ever gotten.  I ride it everywhere!  Last summer I rode it over the Williamsburg Bridge for the first time, and yes, I bought a helmet!  Helmets are super important! Anyway, i felt like I was kicking that bridge's ass!  This summer so far, I feel like the bridge is kicking my ass!  Crap! So I am riding over that bridge at least once a week.  It's a great challenge and great exercise.  If you haven't ridden over the Williamsburg Bridge or any other bridge in the city, I highly recommend it.  It is exciting and makes me feel super strong.  I love summertime and it has only just begun!  

Cross Stitchin' in Brooklyn

Well here it is...my very first cross-stitch project.  My lovely and talented friend Kimberly taught me to cross stitch the other week.  It was easy to do and so rewarding! Just look at my new friend Mr. Squirrel!  Kimberly makes and sells these "how-to" cross stitch kits so just check out her blog chez sucre chez.  She creates and sells many delightful items.  I think this week I am going to purchase some cross-stitch materials and get started on my own projects.  I feel so inspired and excited to start creating art! 

The Philadelphia Art Museum

I took a trip to Philly Sunday May 4 with my father and we went to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit.  It's rare there is ever a huge collection of her work being shown like this, so I had to go!  She is one of my favorite artists and the show was amazing and inspiring.  My two cousins, Lindsey and Arielle also met us.  It was a lovely day filled with fantastic art, cheese steaks, family and South Street. 

my very own blog

Hi friends.  Soon I will be deleting my xbuild site.  www.love13bird.xbuild.com

I think it's about time I end that pathetic excuse for a website.  and since i don't have an official website yet, this blog thing will have to do.  i'm kind of a computer reject and managing a blog is actually easy.  so...ta-da! here i am.  soon i'll update the blog with pictures of my recent artwork, updates on my job search and maybe i'll post some overall jibber jabber.  because thats just what i do.  love you! xoxo