Daniella's Misadventures
Sunday, February 29, 2004
Happy Oscar Night

We here at Daniella's Misadventures just love the Oscars. Actually, we love to sit around with our girlfriends, drink champagne and eat bon bons and make fun of Oscar fashions. Because we are very, very snarky.

Everyone is arriving at 6:30 to eat, drink and be very merry. I'm predicting that Johnny Depp will wear something that makes him look very, very dirty. And we like that.

Happy Oscar night to you all in cyberspace.
Saturday, February 28, 2004
Without further ado, we present...

I know you have been clamoring for our semi-occasional series, "What's she wearing." Well, ok, no one is actually clamoring for it. But I know all you anonymous non-commenters are sitting at your computer thinking, "gee, if I only knew what Daniella was wearing today, my life would be complete..."

Wait, you're not?? You actually don't care what I'm wearing. Well, you're gonna find out anyway, bucko.

As it is Saturday morning, and as I splurged a wee bit at our fabulous dinner last night (Corso 98 in Montclair - yum yum! Filet Mignon, rock shrimp risotto and banana creme brulee! Oh my!), I am wearing:

John's old white button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up
Red Josie Natori boy shorts
Ugg boots
bed hair

John calls this my "barbarian look." So, I look ridiculous. I know this. But I'm hella comfortable. So sue me.

What's your Saturday morning outfit?
Friday, February 27, 2004
Won't you please buy the damn car?

Look, I know there's oodles of you out there. I got something like 1100 page views this week. So I know you're reading even if you don't comment.

So, why won't you buy the damn car already? Look, I'm sick of spending $56 per week to put in the Star Ledger, another $20 per week for it to be in Auto trader and god knows how much for it to be on eBay and NJ.com. It's a great car. We just don't need it anymore. I like taking the train to work, so there's really no need to have two cars.

Look, I won't make you leave a comment or anything. I know you're shy. It's a 1998 VW Jetta VRX - that's a V6 with leather and a sunroof. It's got about 63K miles on it and four brand new tires. It's been garage kept most of its life. We're asking blue book.

Please buy the damn car. If you send an email and say you saw it on this blog, I'll give you $100 off the asking price. Just buy the damn car. Please?
Last night's Democratic Debate

As interpreted by my friend Justin. This has to be the funniest thing I have read all week.

Justin, I bow to your genius.
Can a girl have two Great Loves?

I have to admit it. She’s winning me over. I’m falling in love. And not that puppy love-ooh-I’m-so-smitten kinda love either. No, this is the real deal. I get a rush from seeing her, a fluttering in the depths of my stomach—my knees go weak.

What of my first Great Love, you ask? Have I just cast her aside like some forgotten pair of shoes—scuffed and covered in dust? No, I still adore her with every fiber of my being. The way the sun glints just so off of her moss draped trees. The way the sky turns pink in the waning light of early March. She is beautiful in her decrepitude, her faded glory. Like a woman of a certain age seen leaving the apartment of her much younger lover, make up smeared, hair in a tangle, panties tucked surreptitiously in her purse. Glamour past its prime, but glamour nonetheless. That’s my lady. That’s my New Orleans and I love her and always will.

But this love… it’s something altogether new and different. While my first love is languorous and unhurried, this is frenetic. She has to have her way with me. Her skyscrapers touching the sky as if they own it entirely. Yes, New York, I am besotted.

You know that moment. The sweet spot. You’re all strangers on the train. Looking everywhere but at each other. Studying your paper/book/magazine/ipod with determination. I am tough. This interaction will not touch me. Then it happens. A crazy man starts singing off key. A drunk begins to mumble incoherently. It doesn’t matter what it is. It only matters that it occurs. And then the gloves are off—the sweet spot. You can feel the tension, the conscientious lack of interaction, fade. The girl with the NYU backpack catches your eye and rolls hers. The woman clutching her faux coach bag, wearing the cheap shoes, lets out a giggle. The young father and his little girl let out a guffaw. Then you’re all in it together, on this subway deep underground, barreling through the night.

That’s why I’m falling in love with her. That’s my New York. The quiet interaction of strangers.
Thursday, February 26, 2004
Per irs.gov:

Refund Status Results

Your tax refund is scheduled to be direct deposited on February 27, 2004. If your refund is not credited to your account by March 5, 2004, check with your bank to find out if it has been received. Please wait until March 5, 2004 before you contact us again because we are unable to take any action until then.


Hell, yeah! Too bad none of this money can actually be spent on swag for us. No, it's all already earmarked for the dreaded wedding expenses. Maybe I should have just eloped!
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Every day, every day, every day, I write the book...

Yeah, baby! Daniella and John get some up close and personal time with Elvis Costello at the Beacon Theater tomorrow evening.

Before that, we will be enjoying the NYC Photobloggers exhibit at the Soho Apple Store. Click here for more info. If you'll be floating around the city tomorrow evening and would like something worthwhile to do, definitely go to the opening.

See you there!
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Nate

Yesterday, I got a strange phone call on my cell phone. I've had the same number for about ten years now, so often I get phone calls from people that I haven't talked to in years who come across my number and call just to see if it's still the same number. It is. Nonetheless, this call was different.

"May I please speak with Nathan Burton?" the caller asked.
"Who is this? How did you get this number?" I felt the familiar knot in my stomach.
"My name is P---. I got this number from an employment application Mr. Burton submitted two years ago."

I explained why Nate could not longer be reached and politely hung up the phone.

When John and I met, we were living in a fun Melrose Place-style apartment building in the Garden District of New Orleans. It was 25 one bedroom apartments surrounding a pool and courtyard area. Everyone who lived there was young and single. We all hung out together, had barbecues in the courtyard and had big pool parties every month or so. Nate lived upstairs and was senior at Tulane University. We were friends.

After graduation, he moved back home to Kansas. After a few months, he called me.

"I'm going crazy here, Daniella," he said, "I can't stand it. It's so boring and I can't find a job."

"Come back to New Orleans." I told him, "Stay with me until you can find a job and an apartment."

So he did. He stayed with me a few weeks, found a job barbacking and moved to an apartment in the French Quarter. We didn't see him much. He didn't have a phone and would only call occasionally to hang out.

Then one day he called me.

"I hate it here. I quit my job, Daniella. They all talked about me behind my back. I'm going back home to Kansas."

This happened a few more times over the next couple of years. He would go to Kansas, call me a month or two later. Or just show up on my doorstep.

Finally, I'd had enough. He showed up last August (2002). He called and was in New Orleans again. He asked if he could stay until he found a job.

"I'm so tired of your flakiness, Nate." I told him, "I can't do it anymore. Just grow up already, for pete's sake. You can stay two nights, Nate. Two nights. I'm sick of your shit."

He came by, we hung out. He had gotten a room at a nearby hostel for the night, but we made plans for him to come by the next morning to get my key.

At 4 AM, my cell phone rang, waking me up. I didn't answer it. The next morning, I checked my messages. He had left a convoluted message apologizing for his "mistakes" and "for being a user" and said he was driving back to Kansas.

Whatever, I thought. I was just tired of dealing with him.

A few days later, his parent's Kansas number was on caller id again.

"What is it this time, Nate?" I answered the phone impatiently. Only it wasn't Nate. It was his mother. Nate was gone.

It was only later that I found out about his disease. Only later that I found out he was hearing voices and not sleeping. I regret not picking up the phone for that 4 AM conversation. Maybe I could have changed his mind. Maybe I could have stopped him from doing what he did.

Please, if there is someone in your life whose behavior is inconsistent and odd, don't give up on them. Get them help. Here is a link to Nate's memorial website. You can get more information there. Suicide kills more young people than anything else. Don't turn away.

Nate, you aren't forgotten and you were always my friend. I'm sorry I turned away.
Monday, February 23, 2004
Help Wanted

Position: Daniella's Misadventures, a slightly readable corner of this internet, is now accepting applications for the position of Senior Web Monkey. The candidate must possess the following skill set:

--Can do all the boring stuff to maintain this website once I move it to a new webhost.

--Can help me design templates, keep my archives doing whatever archives are wont to do, help me upload pictures, keep my links in some sort of semblance of order, etc. etc.

--Must be funny and semi-literate

--Would prefer someone who lives in the greater NYC area (so that you can collect your pay)

Pay commensurate with experience (and whether or not I like you) but will include weekly home cooked meals by my amazing fiance, Daniella's ever-fabulous martinis and my love and gratitude.

Please apply in comments box or by sending me an email.

Kisses!

Post Removed

Some people just don't have a sense of humor and take themselves VERY seriously. Too bad, cause it was a fun party even though it started slow.
Saturday, February 21, 2004
Ugg, Ugg, baby

Finally got my ugg boots. Yes, I know I ordered them back in December. They arrived yesterday from Australia and it's true what you've heard. They really are that comfortable. I feel like my feet and legs are encased in a cloud. I wonder if I get can a pair of ugg pants?
Friday, February 20, 2004
Ruminations on... Ruminants?

Last night we supped, we rocked and we rolled with PFrank, Ken-daddy and several other interesting folk. Here's the lowdown:

I surprised myself by knowing that an animal with a multi-chambered stomach is called a ruminant. Where the hell did that nugget of knowledge come from?

Ken is learning the fine art of being bitterly unemployed as a way to get laid. Trust me, guys, there's something strangely appealing about a broke-down, bitter man--I mean, you don't date them, but.... (By the way, is anyone looking for a brilliant, insightful technical copywriter?)

When asked if I wanted to be a big fish in a little pond or a little fish in a big pond, I suggested that I would prefer to be multi-pondal.

A random woman complimented John's rear end. He wore a goofy grin the rest of the night. I loved it.

Go to 50 Carmine. No, really, go. Have the lasagna or the chestnut ravioli. You won't regret it.

It has been decided that PFrank is going to be attending Hudson University Law School come fall. Yes, I know it only exists on Law & Order. Shut up.

Finally, bloggers are cool people and they rock. I think I'm starting to enjoy this whole New York thing. It still sucks to have to go back to New Jersey every night. Leaving your evening activities at a reasonable hour, but still getting home at 2 AM on a work night because you live all the way out in Jersey sucks even more.

Thursday, February 19, 2004
In happier New Orleans news, the 2004 Jazz Fest Schedule has been released

The Jazz and Heritage Foundation has released this year's schedule. You can access it here.

John and I will be going down the first weekend (April 22 - April 26), which will coincide with our one year anniversary of getting engaged (April 23rd) and our swanky engagement party hosted by friend's of my parents.

For those of you who are planning on attending the Best Thing about New Orleans (no, not our engagement party... that's by invitation only and while I love all my anonymous internet strangers... well, I don't love you guys that much!), I have compiled for your reading and listening pleasure, Daniella's Non-scientific, Highly-opinionated Best of the First Weekend of the Fest List (and, no, I'm not providing links, you can use Google as easily as I can!):

Friday, 4/23:

Bonnie Raitt
Emmylou Harris
Galactic - white boy funk
Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen - blues
Corey Harris - blues
Henry Butler - jazz piano (f'ing fabulous--he played at my friend, Stephanie's wedding)
Theresa Andersson - roots rock/folk
Trombone Shorty Andrews - brass band jazz
Olympia Brass Band - brass band jazz
Lil' Stooges Brass Band - brass band jazz

Saturday, 4/24:

Irma Thomas - jazz
Macy Gray
Branford Marsalis - jazz (and I went to high school with him!)
Rebirth Brass Band - brass band jazz (my favorite brass band!)
John Mooney & Bluesiana - blues
Ivan Neville & Dumpsta Funk - funk
Irvin Mayfield - jazz
Batiste Brothers - funk/jazz
Los Calientes - latin jazz
Little Freddie King Blues Band - blues
Mahogany Brass Band - brass band jazz
Ingrid Lucia and the Flying Neutrinos - jazz/swing (and the runner up to be the band to play at our wedding)

Sunday, 4/25:

Dr. John - funk
Ray Charles
Etta James - jazz
Zigaboo Modeliste - funk, baby, funk!
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band - brass band jazz ("do whatchya wanna!")
Kermit Ruffins & The Barbecue Swingers - brass band jazz (awesome!)
Ellis Marsalis - jazz
Chris Thomas King - 21st century blues (probably the best show of Jazz Fest 2002!)
Monk Boudreaux & the Golden Eagles - mardi gras indians
Supagroup - rock (and my former upstairs neighbor!)
Jeremy Davenport - jazz (a la Frank Sinatra)
James Andrews - jazz (kick ass trumpet!)
NewBirth Brass Band - brass band jazz


I have personally seen every artist listed above play (except Ray Charles, he'll be a first time!) and I can tell you everyone listed above is amazing. If you are planning to be in New Orleans April 22 - 26, send me an email or drop me a comment and I will hook you up with all the info on where to eat, where to stay, where to drink and where to experience the full New Orleans experience!
Horrifying

Last night four innocent bystanders were shot, one fatally, on the corner of Josephine St and St Charles Avenue while watching a Mardi Gras parade. This was my corner. My friend Catherine rides in the Muses parade, and we would have most certainly been out there watching it. Six people have called me this morning to let me know that they were happy that we no longer lived on that street as they, too, would have been with us watching the parade last night.

How could such a thing happen? Mardi Gras in New Orleans is the largest free party in the world. Every year, people from all over come together to revel and enjoy, and, yes party and partake. It is an unusually peaceful event. A few years ago, other cities such as Seattle and Chicago tried to hold their own "Mardi Gras" -- there were riots and looting. New Orleans has been doing this for 150+ years. Most years, the arrest records speak for themselves--people are arrested for drunk and disorderly or DUI or minor petty theft. There is virtually no violent crime during Mardi Gras. If you don't believe me, check the NOPD's own stats.

This was reported as an altercation between two groups on teenagers from another city neighborhood (not the LGD). These teenagers started shooting at one another, hitting four people just as the third float of Muses rolled by.

I just don't know what to say as I sit here, at my desk, 1200 miles from my home. This is the worst possible scenario for the City of New Orleans. If tourism dies off because of this and other alarming rises in crime in the last two years, it will be the final nail in the coffin of the New Orleans economy. On a personal level, I mourn the loss of feeling safe in my own neighborhood.

I don't have words to express how I feel right now. I'm shaking.
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Hot in the Hoodie, Hot in the Hoodie, toniiiiight...

I finally got my Neighborhoodies! I ordered them a few weeks ago and they came today. And, gawddamn, I'm so hot in my neighborhoodies. Everyone needs to run, not walk, to get yourself a femme and a yogi.

Mine is black with baby blue letters that say "LGD, 70130"--let me know if you need clarification as to what that refers.

Kara--baby, this link is dedicated to you and Cap'n Ken. I can see ya'll in East Atlanta neighborhoodies right about now. Click to your heart's content and let 'em know I sent ya.

(pictures may get posted if I ever get around to moving to a new blog home, aka "blome")
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Need Your Advice

As of this Friday, I would like to officially move to a new blog home (a "blome"?). I have a beautiful new design (sorry, kiddies, you'll get to see it when you see it!) and it needs more bandwidth than the free blogger site is willing to offer. Plus, I would like to have pictures. Don't you want to see pictures???

The most important part is that, while I love all of you and know that none of YOU are creepy, scary perverts, this site is getting 300-500 individual new hits per week, and it's time to genericize it a bit.

So, my question for all of you is:

Who has recommendations for a webhost? Who hosts your site and what kind of experience has it been for you? I would like a host with accessible tech support as I am not a web monkey. I would like a host with whom it is easy to do business and who is not too expensive as I am (obviously) not a commercial site.

Also, I'm taking suggestions for a new domain name. And yes, daniella.com is already taken.

So, my little baby (Daniella's Misadventures) is all grown up and ready to get her own first home. We can all wipe a little wistful tear from our eye.
Gandhi? Gandhi?!@?



What Famous Leader Are You?


WTF???@#$? This is about as un-like me as it gets...

Thanks to Paul for the link.
Monday, February 16, 2004
Tax Refunditis

Used my day off to get a few major projects completed (what? You thought I would be relaxing?). We rearranged the crawl space that we use as storage, put away the behemoth MacIntosh desktop computer that we never use to give me more workspace in our office/guest bedroom, steam cleaned the kitchen floors and I did our taxes.

Once I realized that combined John and I would be getting back nearly $4,000, I was ecstatic. But... let's look at that, shall we?

There's nothing to get all that excited about, is there? It's MY money and has been all along. I have merely been giving Ol' Uncle Sam an interest free loan.

So, what's the gubmint done for Daniella this year? How come they deserve to get an interest free loan of MY money?

Next time you feel yourself start to get excited about your impending tax refund--keep this in mind.

Let's all say it together now:

"It's been MY money all along!"
Sunday, February 15, 2004
The morning after conversation

Me: Tell me something, something sweet, ok?
Him: uh, I don't know. What do you want to hear?
Me: If I knew what I wanted to hear, I wouldn't ask you to tell me something.
Him: ok, ok... let me think
Me: well, if you have to think about it...
Him: no, wait. I know. You were really cute last night.
Me: cute? I was cute? How?
Him: you get really animated in social situations. You just light up. It's cute. And charming.
Me: yeah, that WAS sweet.
Him: (kisses me)

Happy Day-after-Valentine's Day, ya'll.

(kisses all of you)
Saturday, February 14, 2004
More stuff than anyone would ever want to know about me

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, I give to you my list of a 73 things about me.

1. I was born in Riga, Latvia.
2. I live in Montclair, NJ.
3. New Orleans will always be my home and the place where my heart is.
4. I am an only child.
5. No, I was not spoiled.
6. I love sushi, thai food and Vietnamese food, but I hate Chinese food. Go figure.
7. I am very competitive. If it's not worth doing better than everyone else, it's not worth doing at all.
8. I am getting my MBA.
9. I am really, really good at school and I don't have to try really hard.
10. I am extremely outgoing and can talk to anyone--people on the train think I am insane.
11. I am not Carrie, Samantha, Miranda or Charlotte--I am a mix of all of them.
12. I have been in love three times. The first two were never "quite right" in my heart of hearts.
13. This time, it is.
14. I adore traveling and try to do so as often as possible.
15. My favorite place to visit is Italy.
16. I love shoes and have over 200 pairs. I know it's a cliche, but I can't help it.
17. I've been a wild, wild girl in my twenties, but now I've settled down and found it very liberating.
18. I can curse like a sailor, drink like a longshoreman and dance like a go-go dancer.
19. I don't really do any of those things unless provoked.
20. I am very tough, but I am very soft, too.
21. I am the best friend you will ever have. I will hold you when you cry, fix your hair when you have to run into your ex, drive you to the airport at 4:30 AM and buy you chocolates and flowers on your birthday.
22. I will never forget your birthday. Ever.
23. I've had the same two best friends since sixth grade and the same overall group of friends pretty much since high school. We all went to college in different places, but we all stayed friends.
24. I am in awe of my parents--what they've accomplished in their lives is amazing. They came to this country with nothing and have built great lives and great careers. They are extraordinary people.
25. I don't think that I will ever live up to their expectations of me, but I try nonetheless.
26. I'm getting married in October to a man that makes me feel safe and loved.
27. I'm constantly amazed by him.
28. I've broken my leg and my toe.
29. I've had more sprains than I can count.
30. When I was a sophomore in high school, I took a dare and jumped off my friend's parent's third story roof into their pool. It hurt. A lot. No one else would do it.
31. I have two cats who are the spoiled-rotten joy of my life.
32. We're planning on having a child soon.
33. John is going to be an awesome dad. The jury is still out on me as a mother.
34. I'm really, really scared of that.
35. I read voraciously--once I start a book, I read it all the way through in one sitting. If I start a book at bedtime, I will still be awake at 6 AM, finishing it up.
36. I have had to call in sick to work for not going to sleep because I was reading a book.
37. I try not to start books at bedtime anymore.
38. I'm addicted to Law and Order. I've seen every episode at least three times, but I watch anyway.
39. I'm also addicted to Trading Spaces, but that's waning.
40. I love lipstick, but I rarely wear makeup.
41. I never blow dry my hair and never put any "product" in it.
42. I'm a tomboy and a girlie-girlie rolled into one.
43. I really like my future in-laws. And I'm not just saying that, they don't know about my blog.
44. Planning my wedding is making me insane. I'm ready for it to be over already!
45. I am an anal retentive neat freak. Just like my mother.
46. Sometimes it borders on compulsive. My friend Skip used to come over to my house, wait until I went to the bathroom or otherwise left the room, and rearrange all the throw pillows on the couch. I would come back in and wordlessly rearrange them back to the way they were. For a long time, I didn't even realize I was doing it.
47. I can't cook worth a damn, but when I was single, I would only date men who could cook.
48. It paid off as John is an amazing cook.
49. I've gained 40 pounds since we moved in together.
50. I've lost ten in the last few months and will lose at least another twenty before the wedding.
51. I have a ballerina's neck--long and thin. I think it's patrician.
52. I hate my breasts and plan on having them removed, er... reduced, after I finish having children and breastfeeding.
53. I love to dance and I'm good at it.
54. I love to sing and it sounds like cats being tortured.
55. I do it anyway.
56. I can recite Jabberwocky anyway you want to hear it--slow, fast, backwards.
57. I aim to be a woman of substance.
58. I can be both frivolous and deep.
59. I have planned my future down to the minutest detail, but I'm smart enough to know that it probably won't work out like that.
60. I have really dark eyes and I know how to use them.
61. When my last serious boyfriend cheated on me, on my birthday, I had the locks changed and all of his clothes bagged in garbage bags on the doorstep within two hours of finding out.
62. I know a little bit about a lot of things (you get extra points if you can tell me what song that line is from!).
63. I love my godson, Hudson, with a ferocity that scares me a little bit.
64. I am not allowed to go grocery shopping without John. I will buy fancy cheeses, expensive wine and berries. I will spend $300 and come home with two shopping bags.
65. I live on my cell phone, but I know when to turn it off.
66. I hate having nothing to do. I'm a go-go-go kind of person.
67. I've had two ulcers before I was 25.
68. I never say "no" to additional responsibility at work.
69. I've gotten the highest performance rating allowed in my company for the last three years in a row.
70. I've doubled my salary in the last three years.
71. It's not good enough.
72. I want to be a successful marketing executive, I want to be a great wife and I want to be a wonderful mother.
73. I want it all.



Friday, February 13, 2004
There's nothing like

There's nothing like

taking a sip of your 4 PM cup of piping hot earl gray, with just a touch of honey 'cause you're watching your girlish figure get less girlish by the day

looking dreamily out the window at that magical new york skyline that beckons you

as your fingers clack-clack-clack on the keys with such a reassuring sound

and your printer (the new one 'cause you're Somebody now and 'cause you got up the nerve to ask for a new one) prints-prints-prints with such a reassuring sound

and the sun is sinking in the sky and you have the latest new yorker to read on your train ride home

and that new scarf your mom sent you is so-so-so sassy with its shades of steel and dusk

and your hair is shiny and you have a man you love who's gonna kiss you and smooth your hair back from your eyes in a way that breaks your heart (in that delicious good way) every time he does it

and there's a long weekend ahead with all kinds of things that you have to do, but you might rebel and NOT DO ANY OF THEM

and you just know

you just know

you're ok

The Transformative Properties of Sushi

Yesterday, I was down, down, down. I was feeling out of sorts and overwhelmed. John called my bluff and took me out for sushi. My sushi addiction is infamous. I MUST eat sushi at least weekly or I have withdrawals. Sushi is the new black, fashionistas.

Now, I'm up, up, up. I also found out today that I'm getting a nice raise and an even nicer bonus. Plus, we finally chose our band and the site of our rehearsal dinner for the wedding. These were decisions that we had been discussing and discussing for far too long.

It was like a weight has been lifted from me. And it was all because of the sushi, I tell you.

Cue music:

"I did it all for the sushi, the sushi, the sushi..."
Thursday, February 12, 2004
Oh, and one more thing...

Email from my Business Communications Professor:

Daniella,

May I use your executive summary for teaching purposes tomorrow night?
Almost everyone wrote their summaries as narratives of the article without personal opinion or clarity as to their role in writing. Clearly you did. It was a joy to find someone who did. I will use it to point out tone and writing perspective...not format except for subject line.

If you agree, I need a copy in file format. I have already marked your paper and don't want to show my comments.

I have done this before in my classes and found it to be the quickest and easiest way for students to "get the lesson."


Yeah, I may be burned out, but I still rock.
May I present to you

The weirdest dead musician I've encountered in quite some time. Enjoy.
Do you ever get that "not-so-fresh feeling?"

I don't know what it is, but lately I feel like my creative juices are just being sapped. I'm a little overwhelmed. I work about 50+ hours a week, I'm in grad school full time, I am trying to plan a long distance wedding-from-hell (not that my wedding is from hell, just planning it to appease everyone who wants it to be what their vision of "a wedding" is making me crazy) and I'm running the administrative side of my soccer team (I'm the captain).

Is it too much? I don't know, but I thought that I could handle it.

I'm a classic overachiever, y'know? What ever gets thrown at me, I handle and then I go back for seconds. In my senior year of college, I waited tables four nights a week, bartended one more night a week and took 21 hours so that I could finish without having to take one more semester, all the while trying to prop up my dying 8 year romantic relationship (which subsequently finally died a horrible death about six months later). And I got through it with suprisingly good grades.

But I'm just drained. Last night I had a melt down. It was 9:30 PM, I had just walked in the door after working from 8:30 - 5:30 without taking a lunch break, going to class where I had to present on my paper and I had to look at a messy house when I walked in (well, at least messy by my standards).

Am I really not capable of doing all of this? Am I too old to take on this much? What am I going to do when I have a child?

I just don't know anymore. I'm so exhausted.

Do you struggle with this stuff or am I the only crazy person who is overwhelmed by her life?
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Back, back, back

I love my absolutely amazing, brilliant friends. I love my hometown, the ever lovely, ever decaying La Nouvelle Orleans with its charming decrepitude and laissez faire attitude. But you've heard it all before, haven't you?

Here's a brief recap of my trip home for those of you that sent me emails asking me about it:

I got delayed at Laguardia (of course!) and missed my connection in Charlotte. My anticipated arrival in New Orleans did not occur at 11 AM as planned, but rather at 5:30 PM. Which sucked. Ass.

I spent Friday evening with my dad and my best friend Jane, who looks amazing after becoming Madame Workout since she started grad school this past year. I cooked dinner. I know, I know. Those of you who know me in real life are spitting out your food in disbelief, but I actually cooked dinner for three people. And it was good. I made sheepshead (fresh from the Gulf of Mexico), dry rubbed with kosher salt, black pepper and cayenne, sauteed in olive oil and scallions, steamed brussel sprouts in lemon butter and a salad. Dessert was organic blackberries and raspberries cooked in white wine made into a gooey cobbler. I mean it, it WAS GOOD.

Saturday was gorgeous--65 degrees and sunny. I got my haircut (finally!) and headed over to see my godson and his sisters. Hudson is getting so big and very, very serious. The first words out of his mouth were, "you missed my birthday, Danwella!"

Saturday night was for the Krewe du Vieux (links below). Jane and I had so much fun seeing everyone and watching the parade. This year's Revelers theme was the Year of the Monkey and everyone costumed in various monkey inspired garb. You haven't lived until you've seen about 50 people dressed as monkeys parading down Frenchmen Street to the beat of tribal drums. It was hilarious. We second lined behind the Lil Rascals Brass Band with my friend from the North, Tiffany--until someone mistook her for Paris Hilton (the funny thing was, she took it as a compliment -- what can I say, she's young!). The night ended at the ever-fabulous R Bar.

Sunday was my favorite day of the trip. I had lunch with my grandparents, had tea with my aunt and cousin and had a girlie night with the most fantastic gal pals a girl could have. The ladies arrived at my parents' house at about 7 PM (my poor father was relegated to the upstairs bedroom, not to be heard from for the rest of the evening). We drank copious quantities of wine, ate cheese and pastries and made fun of the outfits and performances at the Golden Globes. It was great night and a great trip. Best lines of the night: "Oh, shut up you talentless Canadian hack... oh wait, we have her on mute!" "Christina Aguilerra has a poodle on her head!"

I would share more, but my mother reads this blog. Blame her for the G-rated version of events.

Thanks, La Nouvelle Orleans, thanks, Dad and thanks, to the coolest friends who walk the earth for a FABULOUS TIME!!! See you all next month.
Thursday, February 05, 2004
And, She's Off...

Well, that's it kiddies. I'm off for some R&R in New Orleans for the weekend. I will be hanging out with my dad, my Babushka and Dedushka and my friends. I will hopefully get to enjoy some mighty fine sixty degree weather!

Blogging will be sporadic, if at all, because my parents are in the dark ages and still use dial up internet access, and, well, I'm just not that patient.

For those of you in New Orleans, I'll see ya'll at Krewe du Vieux and the Revelers party!

Laissez le bon temps roule.
Wednesday, February 04, 2004
Dead on!

My favorite Alabama blogger, Sugarmama, skewers the ladies-who-lunch and their younger version, the debutante.

Mom, this link is for you.

Read it here. I wish I had written it 'cause it's soooo perfect.
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
No, I'm not a red-eyed rabbit!

Because I am supremely lazy and because I rarely wear make up, I went to bed with mascara on Sunday night post-Super Bowl. I woke up yesterday with bright red eyes. Swollen lids. Scary, bloodshot eyes.

It was there again this morning. Oh my god, I thought, I have pink eye! Ew, gross.

So, I went to the nurse (isn't nice that I work for a company that has a nurse on site?). She said it's not pink eye (yeah!). I apparently irritated my eyes by getting little, microscopic flakes of mascara under my eyelids.

A few days of moisturizing eye drops and I'll be A-OK. But my eyes are still scary red. And, no, it's not cute.
Monday, February 02, 2004
I'm not as geeky as I thought

Thanks to Kara for the link to this:

You are 31% geek
You are a geek liaison, which means you go both ways. You can hang out with normal people or you can hang out with geeks which means you often have geeks as friends and/or have a job where you have to mediate between geeks and normal people. This is an important role and one of which you should be proud. In fact, you can make a good deal of money as a translator.

Normal: Tell our geek we need him to work this weekend.


You [to Geek]: We need more than that, Scotty. You'll have to stay until you can squeeze more outta them engines!


Geek [to You]: I'm givin' her all she's got, Captain, but we need more dilithium crystals!


You [to Normal]: He wants to know if he gets overtime.


Take the Polygeek Quiz at Thudfactor.com

Classic...

It's the Most Annoying Things of 2003 and this is just too funny!

Thanks to Skillzy for the link.
Breastgate at the Super Bowl

Gotchya! No, I'm not going to discuss Janet Jackson's sad expose of her breast at the halftime show. Nor will I discuss the game, the commercials, what I ate, what I drank or what I wore. It's all been discussed ad naseum.

I will, however, enlighten you on how some folks have found their way to Daniella's Misadventures.

Today's search terms which have led people here:

Does Jake Delhomme have a girlfriend - yes, I believe he's married. Next question.

Naked pictures of Jake Delhomme - uh, nope. Not here.

Jake Delhomme pic - sorry, nope again.

Ugly regrowth from plucked eyebrows - yep, had that, but now they've grown in quite nicely, thank you.

Saturday anal husband farm swing - eh, what's that you say?

Masturbation oblivion - dude, do that somewhere else, ok?

"My toes" stiletto 2004 - why, why, why did you put my toes in quotations? I know, I wonder about strange things.

So, no matter how you got here to Daniella's Misadventures, you're welcome to join us. Pull up a monitor and read away to your heart's content. Just don't bring your Saturday anal husband swing.
Sunday, February 01, 2004
Outlandish in the Outer Boroughs

Yesterday we forayed into the Outer Boroughs - namely, Brooklyn and the Bronx. I had not been to Brooklyn since the mid 90s, when my best friend Alison lived in Park Slope. I had never been to the Bronx. John, on the other hand used to work in the Bronx area known as Hunt's Point (no, he was not a tranny hooker, their actually is industry in Hunt's Point that isn't prostitution).

Anyway, armed with several real estate listings of apartments we could actually afford, having spent the better part of Friday evening realizing that a two bedroom, two bath could not be had in Manhattan for our paltry price range (and that goddamn, John and I need to earn a boatload more money!), we sallied forth to check out some neighborhoods. First up was Prospect Heights in Brooklyn. Nice neighborhood and the townhouse was on a quiet block only steps from the W subway line. Then we walked a few more blocks to get a feel for the 'hood. Holy shit... we were steps from the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic - the proposed site of the new Brooklyn Nets arena and one hell of a busy intersection. Even on a Saturday afternoon, the din of people laying on their horns was deafening.

Next up, Kensington... we walked and walked and walked down Church Ave, accidentally interrupting a drug deal as it was happening. Finally we got to the area, but found that the townhouse was actually located on Ocean Parkway - a huge multi-lane highway. Uh, no.

Finally, after fortifying ourselves with the best pizza I have ever tasted at Grimaldi's under the Brooklyn Bridge (and freezing our asses off walking there from the subway station), we headed to the Bronx on the 1 and 9 subway line. The riverdale area of the Bronx was lovely and vibrant, even after dark. Although we could not figure out which buliding the apartment was in (the internet listings only told us which block), the neighborhood seemed very nice and the apartment is well within our price range and particularily large (1400 square feet) by NYC standards. I am calling to schedule an appointment to see it next week.

I have to note two strange things that I saw which appalled me during the course of our Outer Borough travels. First of all, at Grimaldi's, we were seated next to two well dressed, obviously upper middle class teenagers on what appeared to be a date. I watched in horror as the boy picked up his fork in a fist and stabbed his pizza all the while hacking at it with his knife. I don't think he knew how to properly use a knife and fork. I blame the fast food industry. Second, as we stopped at the Columbia Presbyterian subway stop in Harlem, I witnessed a homeless man take the beer that he was drinking, unbuckle his belt, unzip his pants, pull out his erect penis and proceed to pour the rest of his beer on it. I'm still not sure which thing bothered me more; the homeless man or the teenager with the atrocious manners. I really am becoming my mother!

We also enjoyed the end of our evening by having drinks with my two favorite denizens of the Lower East Side - Melissa and Sam. Always a good time.