babies and margaritas

Yesterday morning I had a fun filled day ahead of me_> music class with a one year old and baseball practice with an 8 year old. Babysitting for the Wellesley elite is really not all it is cracked up to be. Baby music class started and of course I run in dissheveled carrying in a rich bitches child. Then the gifted freak-o teacher had the brilliant idea of passing around the microphone to each "parent" and their child (even though it is basically all nannies, one father who's wife clearly wears the pants in the family, and me a college student who just wants to make some money). Anyways so the mic goes around and each "parent" sings a heart-felt ballad of old mcdonald or row row your boat. The mic. comes to me and my baby and I can not think of a damn kids song. Nothing... blank. So I start singing "Gimme Gimme More" by Britney Spears. I sang the gimme gimme and i looked to the dumb founded one year old who can barely talk never mind sing and i tell her to say the word more. It was a fabulous duet that left all members of the class speechless... and the teacher probably offended. All in a days work.

Afterwards I was suppouse to take the eight year old to baseball practice. But their mother calls and cancels 10 minutes before Im suppoused to pick him up at his private all boys school (gimme a break) and tells me that she left work early because it was so nice out and she wanted to sit outside during the babseball practice. Rude. So then I grabbed my friends to go to Margarita's in Waltham... at 4:30. Forget the old its 5'oclock somewhere. It was 4:30 and I wanted to sit outside and drink. So I picked up 2 of my girlfriends we sat on the patio of Margarita's downing a few cocktails and baskets of chips and salsa and watched everyone walking by and a couple that was on a very akward first date. The guy on the date was a total scuzzball and kept on staring at us. We all had on dresses and he was in direct view of them and was trying to sneak a peek to see if we had underwear on... we deff. know this bcuz the date caught him said something to him and then left their fabulous date. After a few drinks we decided to leave... we had effiecently ruined one persons "shot at love".

xoxoxo Kristine

Saxophonist Daniel Bennett in Concert with Zyrah's Orange (Cambridge, MA)

By jonbern on Thu, May 8, 2008 9:43 am

The fifth installment of the Bennett Alliance Concert Series has arrived! On May 31, two well known Boston bands will play a double bill at the restored Cambridge Family YMCA Theatre. Zyrah's Orange brings their groove flavored rock, and saxophonist Daniel Bennett will bring his minimalist trance quartet to the stage. The concert starts at 8pm and admission is just $10 ($7 with a student ID). "Avante-Folk" Saxophonist Daniel Bennett is most known for his trance-inducing musical mix of jazz, folk, and minimalism. Bennett has traveled the country, performing at venues like Lincoln Center, Merrill Auditorium, Eastman Theatre, George Eastman House, Jordan Hall, Hale Auditorium, Open Fest, Six Flags Darien Lake, and the Rochester Lilac Festival. The Daniel Bennett Group has shared concert stages with the Charlie Hunter Trio, Billy Martin (Medeski, Martin and Wood), David Fiuczynski (Screaming Headless Torsos), Denison Witmer, and LA-based synthpop group Joy Electric. In April of 2007, the Daniel Bennett Group released the epic full length album, A Nation of Bears on the Bennett Alliance label. Bennett will be joined by longtime bandmates Brant Grieshaber (Guitar), John Servo (Bass), and Rick Landwehr (Percussion). Visit www.danielbennett.net for more info! Zyrah's Orange is the brainchild of well known Boston guitarist Elliot Page. Elliot is also the owner of Boston's leading community music school, Page Music Lesson Center. Zyrah's Orange can be heard all over the country performing in clubs, festivals, and on the radio. The band released the critically acclaimed A Space to Call Your Own in 2007. Zyrah's Orange brings a bold mix of ambient rock and instrumental offerings. Visit www.zyrahsorange.com for more info! Bennett Allianceis a Boston-based record label and production company, serving the northeast jazz scene since 2003. Bennett Alliance was created by Boston Avante-Folk saxophonist, Daniel Bennett. The Bennett Alliance Concert Series is an ongoing concert event at the restored Cambridge YMCA Theatre. Recent Bennett Alliance events have featured the Charlie Hunter Trio, Billy Martin Drum Duo, Jerry Bergonzi, Daniel Bennett Group, David Fiuczynski, Quartet of Happiness, and Joy Electric.

Dinner, Coffee, and Ambiguity

By The_Sagest on Thu, May 8, 2008 12:11 am

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So after reading a good review in The Globe, the girlfriend and I went to the Highland Kitchen for dinner on Wednesday. It was a truly ambivalent experience, with most menu items being a mixed bag of positive and negative attributes.

We started with a bowl of Texas chili and the veggie special of the day, grilled artichoke hearts with tartar sauce. The chili was alright, with a kick brought on almost certainly by chili powder and maybe a bit of cayenne. It was definitely Texas style with no beans, and it wasn't runny or filled with veggies, but the flavor just seemed too pedestrian to merit much fervor. The dry corn bread and overlarge slips of greens (chives? cilantro?) didn't help matters.

The grilled artichoke hearts were much better, smoky flavor and tender texture throughout, and a nice large portion. Combine that with a spiced tartar sauce (either paprika or cayenne pepper and diced bits of pickle in a looser than normal sauce). I don't normally go for artichokes in any way, yet I found them delightful.

The entrees were each hit or miss in their own ways. My Rueben, on French Bread, just didn't have the spicy zip it would at a place like Sammy Lagrassa's or the All Star Sandwich Bar. maybe the dressing wasn't zippy enough, or the bread was too flaky, or the meat wasn't as seasoned as it could've been. It just felt like another entry into the almost-but-not-quite sweepstakes. And the shoestring fries, which seemed handcut, and fresh, were just too mushy to enjoy thoroughly. My girlfriend's pasta Bolognese had plenty of meat and a tight, non-watery sauce, but the noodles used were wider and thicker than suited the dish. It felt chewy, even though it wasn't overcooked.

We took a look at the dessert options, more to please our server than anything else. The chocolate pudding with roasted nuts seemed like a fine idea and turned out to be another pleasant surprise. Served with whipped cream and a soft chocolate on chocolate chip cookie and garnished with a mint leaf, it was a dense and satisfying end to a merely average meal.

It's a shame the food at HK was unremarkable in the main. The space is a neat blend of elegant and casual, including a better than average juke box (Charles Mingus AND The Pogues?). The service was attentive and circumpsect. And while there was nothing blatantly wrong with the food, it just didn't wow like it could have if the cuisine were pushed a little further.

After dinner, and some Davis Square window shopping, we stopped into the True Grounds Coffeeshop. We ordered a couple of coffees and a slice of coffe cake. My Vietnamese iced coffee was good, if a little sweet and undermixed. My girl's mocha (she's totally embraced her mocha addiction BTW) was good, if also a bit undermixed, as evidenced by the chocolate sediment visible when she began to see the bottom of her cup. The coffecake was the surprise star, thick, moist, and filling, we each only managed a bite before packing it away for later.

So all in all, it was an uneven dining evening, with highs and lows in oddball places. Chalk it all up to experience, I suppose.

The S is certainly a chili buff, with the chili cookbooks to prove it. Nothing ever excuses mediocre chili... not even great chocolate pudding.

and ppl thought I was the scumbag? sheesh.

By can_I_haz_new_job_plz on Wed, May 7, 2008 11:06 am

so, maybe I strolled in a little l8 yesterday reeking of margaritaz and cor0naz, etc. and my eyez may have been a little red/ puffy, but that'z b-kuz of allergiez. I wazn't out celebrating cinco de mayo until the sun came up, I'm not even french or whatevz! anywayz, I don't think my boss thought I was an outstanding associate yesterday...

anywayz, it's like 9:00am 2day, and I run out to Au Bon Pain, b-kuz I refuze 2 eat NEthing in our cafeteria, and when I get back, I noticed whole floor smelled like the border cafe. Some jerk t0tally made an Amy's All Natural Enchilada at 9:30am. Who does that in an office? we're obviously going to find you ... either in your cubicle or in the bathroom. :(

Haven't you heard of a bagel? Does Pauly Shore work in my office?

I'm going to but a leg of lamb in the microwave, and step out for a bit.

My boss is totally out sick 2day... now I'm in full-on career search mode. It's so hard to have the monster.com monster dancing all over my screen when my boss sits next to me.

oh, btw we3kly dig, thankz for the links on the side. I was trying to adjust the screen, and accidentally clicked on the Phone Sex ad for 1-877-389-SLUT. Really? "SLUT" had to appear in the phone #? Thankz... for some reason, I feel like the next call I have will be from Human Resources.

I guess I will start packing up my desk. :(

Aquage me

By cranbarry828 on Tue, May 6, 2008 12:15 pm

So.. being an intern is fab.. can anyone say free hair products? Love it. The Loft salon and spa on Newbury dropped off some hair products by Aquage which are to die for. Travel size hairspray, mousse, and straightening gel which probably would cost as much as a parking space on Landsdowne during a Sox game. So I threw the hairspray in my hair last night before going out for some Cinco de Mayo celebrations and I was fly-away free. Best part is this morning I was still able to brush my hair unlike most hairsprays that leave me with a rats nest in the am. Cheers to free hair products! xoxoxo Kristine

FREE Pizza & FREE Big Band Concert! This FRIDAY! - Roland Jazz Orchestra LIVE!!!

By chiharuboston on Mon, May 5, 2008 12:55 pm

This Friday, 8:30pm, Roland Jazz Orchestra LIVE!!! May 9, New England Conservatory, Brown Hall Free, www.rolanddavis.com, www.myspace.com/rolanddavismusic (watch video)

Attention Artists! Stop the Orphan Act!

By weeklydig on Mon, May 5, 2008 12:23 pm

Two bills were submitted to congress at the end of April — one to the House and one to the Senate — called the Orphan Works Act of 2008. Congress is looking to have this act passed and signed into law by George Bush by June 8, 2008, less than two months after it was introduced.

In a nutshell, this act may put many of you creative people in a tight spot when it comes to copyrighting your images and jeopardize long term royalties.

There's a good audio interview with artist Brad Holland of the Illustrator's Partnership about it: http://www.sellyourtvconceptnow.com/orphan.html

For additional information about Orphan Works developments, go to the IPA Orphan Works Resource Page for Artists: http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics/article.php?searchterm=...

juzt an0ther manic depressive munda1.

By can_I_haz_new_job_plz on Mon, May 5, 2008 11:35 am

am I the only person who didn't callout sick 2day?! EVERY1 is out! I think I even have janitorial duty listed on my Outlook calendar!

This weekend was the WORST. Thanx, Boston meteorologiztz. It stopped raining at liek 5pm yesterday! At least I lost 2 poundz, but that was all alcohol w8.

My boss t0tally just made a duck sound, if you know what I mean. :'(

I had to type up a report about a particular investment, but I kept typing "incestment", because I am SO freaked out by that sp0oky Austrian guy. He kind of looks like Vincent Price. Can someone call the police on him? He's pretty bad, according to the CNNz :(

It would be nice if I could get this Digitalism song out of my head:

I'm pretty sure none of my HTML kodez are working, so you probz think I am crazier than that Austrian guy. :(

First day on the job

By amherstgirls on Mon, May 5, 2008 3:46 am

http://discreetrendezvous.blogspot.com

The latest from Brunette Bombshell's Blog. You have to read the comments on her site. They are hilarious.

I woke up extra early to make myself a power breakfast. Pancakes with real maple syrup not that Aunt Jemima sh*t and a side of fresh fruit (strawberries, melon and blueberries). I packed a Cherry Yoplait yogurt (the only brand I like and not the fat free one either) for lunch and a bottle of water (I know I need to buy a refillable bottle). I rushed out the door wearing black bell bottom high waist pants, a navy blue blouse, a pair of $20 black heels, my hair in a chignon while carrying my Louis Vuitton Alma bag (which did not match my outfit). I was ready to start the beginning of my “experiment”.

I arrived at the office smelling like fresh lemons. It’s a new scent I picked up from CVS (drug store) for $4 15 minutes in to my drive this morning because I forgot to put on perfume. I never leave the house without perfume. I even have a trial size of Victoria Secret Dream Angels in my car, but I ran out of it and didn’t replace it. Speaking of running out of things, did you know that those f*ckers over at Bath and Body stopped selling Green Clover and Aloe body spray? Didn’t they realize that stuff is a hookers dream? Clean and light, perfect for the summer. F*CKERS! All right, enough with the foul language. Anyway, initially the lemon scent was refreshing, but by lunch I was tired of smelling like Lemon Palmolive and dashed over to Target to pick up baby wipes to get it off of me. It didn’t work (me and my bright ideas).

So the job, well lets just say I don’t think I’m going to survive there for more than a few days. Numero uno: They play country music ALL DAY. I mean really have some consideration for others (mainly me) and play a mix. It doesn’t have to be R&B, but soft rock or pop music would be acceptable. Numero Dos: My coworker who is a female looks like a man. I couldn’t stop staring at her and get this SHE’S MARRIED to a MAN. It’s official I’m jumping off of the BU bridge because I am the last single woman standing. As my ex best friend Caroline use to say “even she’s married!” lol Numero Tres: Again my coworker looks like a man or a lesbian, a butch lesbian I can’t decide on which one (btw I love my lesbians, so please take no offense). Numero Cuatro: I have to file. I don’t think you understand I don’t file. Every since I was a teenager and worked at Newton-Wellesley Hospital after school I would get a headache while filing. A headache so severe that I would almost faint. I felt that way today. I was 16 all over again ready to pass the f*ck out. I need an admin. Oh, I forgot that is now my job. Christ!

The highlight of my work day was when my boss showed me pictures of her oompa loompa looking daughter who just got MARRIED last weekend to a black guy she met on eHarmony. eHarmony? For the rest of my workday I stayed baffled at the fact that people actually do meet, fall in love and get married from eHarmony. eHarmony! What’s with me and the marriage thing today? I don’t even want to be married. I don’t believe in marriage. No one I know is happily married. No one!

After work I went to Newbury Street, our shopping Mecca actually The Natick Collection is now giving Copley Plaza and Newbury Street a run for their money, but my appointment was there not at TNC (abbreviated by me). I was running late to my laser treatment I’m a hairy muther f*cker (oops no more cursing). I get lasered on my mustache that no one knows I have and my armpits. Where was I? I am so busy explaining every detail that I forgot the main point. Oh, oh yeah I remember so I’m hauling ass (running) down Newbury St. (already 10 minutes late) and all of a sudden I heard SNAP and my body went flying to the ground with my purse wide open and most of my belongings all over the side walk. JESUS CHRIST! Not only did I miss my laser treatments, broke the heel on my cheap $20 shoes (that’s what I get for buying them in the first place), fell face first on the concrete, embarrassed myself in front of the best dressed people in Boston, BUT condoms fell out of my Louis Vuitton bag in front of a NUN. A BLOODY NUN! Shoot me now! Just kill me! I quickly jumped to my feet, grabbed my condoms and the rest of my items off of the ground while smiling at the nun and limped my way back to the top (which is actually the bottom but everyone says the opposite) of Newbury to my car. What was I suppose to do next? Eat of course.

I was sitting in my car hairy, heelless and starving. Abe & Louie’s was around the corner, but I certainly couldn’t go in there without a freaking heel. So, I decided on Boca Grande a Mexican fast food restaurant for a Chicken Colorado burrito with no beans, no guacamole, no sour cream and no rice, just chicken and salsa. Yum, I could taste it before I got there. I arrived ready to order and guess what? They ran out of it. You mean to tell me that everyone in Brookline had ordered Chicken Colorado? Are you sh*tting me? So, I settled on grilled steak and salsa. I was not satisfied. I’m still not satisfied, which is why I’m going to eat an entire carton of chocolate Breyers ice cream as soon as I finish writing this post.

Phone rings

TD&H wants to have a talk “pronto” and not over the phone. I have no idea what this is about, but I’m not in the mood to be summoned. Perhaps he’s come across my Blog on the Weekly Dig (a local newspaper) courtesy of my U Mass Amherst readers (hi girls) and figured out it was written by me. Could you imagine? Him “You’re a whore? How could you do this to me?” Me “Hello, we f*cked on the first date. Did you really think I was a saint?” lol Just kidding.

Forget the ice cream. I need a drink, a martini, scratch that I’m stopping at Jer-Ne for a Hennessy on the rocks before I cross the street to visit with TD&H. He sounded very serious on the phone.

I’ve already had the day from hell. Any more incidents tonight and I’m submitting my life story to a production team for a sitcom.

Have a nice weekend. XOXO-Brunette Bombshell

May 15th LATINA PRIDE PARTY from Queer Women of Color and Friends

By spectra on Sun, May 4, 2008 5:07 pm