I don't normally do this...

...but what is one night of karaoke, right??

Apparently UN General Assembly delegates need a little time to de-stress, as a certain president of a certain country *cough* President Vaclav Klaus of the Czech Republic *cough* did that by joining karaoke night at Keats yesterday. This is the man who vetoed the Lisbon Treaty, may be a climate change skeptic, and is an ardent admirer of Vladimir Putin. I forget sometimes that behind the hype of politics and everyone's wild opinions and crazy actions, there are also ordinary people who want a night out once in a while.

Celebrity-ness

I saw Carol Burnett this morning. The poor woman had an entourage of four or five people who had to close ranks around her so she could walk five feet from my building into her waiting car without being physically knocked over by the paparazzi that were trying, apparently, to physically meld themselves to her. It looked absolutely miserable and she was graceful and made a joke anyway, but that's been her life for the last several decades and I don't envy her at all.

Although, I do wish I had four staff members to write my blog. It would probably be wittier and more reliable...I have been doing stuff, and cooking food, and taking pictures, and those posts will be coming soon, I promise!

Homesick? Yes, We Can (fix that)

Just when I was missing D.C. a little bit, the President's motorcade zoomed past me while on my way home from work. The only other time I've seen the presidential motorcade was when two years ago while I was on my way to work in D.C.

Thank you for the thoughtful gesture, Mr. President

And to think that I saw it...

First I find out Waverly Place really exists, and then I learn Mulberry Street is only a few blocks away! New York City really is magical.

Changes

I stepped outside today and it was suddenly my favorite day of the year, when the suffocating scents are replaced by the sweet and crispy smell of drying leaves and a light breeze tempers the heat on our skin. The first day of fall is here!

Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives

I used to call this show "dumpsters, dive-ins, and drives" because all the D's kept getting me confused, but it continues to be one of my favorite shows on the Food Network.

Which made this morning SUPER AWESOME because Guy Fieri, the host of the show, was just chilling out in my office building's lobby this morning. I didn't talk to him (partially 'cause I find him personally annoying) but I was totally grinning afterwards and told everyone in my office. The sad, jaded New Yorkers didn't care. I thought it was awesome.

And this is after running into Jason Mraz last week while he was signing autographs. *sigh*. I don't like either one personally, but celebrity is celebrity and me recognizing them in and of itself deserves a cookie.