Something Prettier

Just so you dont have to be subjected to the graphic nature of those hawk pictures. Butterflies are prettier.

Also, I just saw my friend Becca last night who stopped in NYC on her way back to Austin from a week in Ireland. We went out to dinner with Alison and Sarah for a 6 course tasting menu I had a voucher for at Elsewhere and didn't get home until nearly 1am. On a Wednesday. We laughed, we cried, we hiccuped and we made great friends with the waiter when he brought us complimentary salted chocolate goat cheese truffles. Girls nights are the best.

Happy Thursday.

Nature: NYC Style

Let it not be said that us New Yorkers don't get exposed enough to nature. True, we do have to travel to Central Park in order to see more than 300 square feet of grass all in one place. And in an average day, the only flowers you see are the ones for sale at a bodega. If you're lucky, you walk down a street that has trees planted in intervals along the sidewalk, which is lovely, except for the way the roots of those trees push against the concrete and create mountains and valleys in the sidewalk that you can twist an ankle on in far less than a New York minute. Dogs and cats are about as wild as it gets animal-wise. (And yes, I have seen a cat on a leash). No deer passing through to eat your garden. Mostly because your garden is on your fire escape 6 flights up. Well, I suppose there are pigeons of course. And they are wild in their way. Particularly if you've watched them nearly fly directly into you as they attempt to make a dramatic exit from eating the last of that bagel that someone dropped while crossing the street. And yes, let us not forget The Great Squirrel Episode of '08. But beyond that, this is a man-made urban jungle, not a natural one. Concrete, smoke stacks, sky scrapers, cars, bridges, iron, steel and brick.

So imagine Geoff's surprise, when he gets up from his desk this afternoon and walks past this guy, hanging out on top of our living room air conditioning unit.


Yes. That is a hawk. And yes, he is ginormous. To give you perspective, that is a pigeon he's having for lunch. Can you believe how HUGE he is? I mean, he's nearly 2 feet long from beak to tail feathers at this angle below. I can't get over it. I'm sorry to the queasy, please forgive the carnage. But that sure is nature, isn't it? See, we get plenty of nature. Plenty. As Geoff said, this guy was just really going after that pigeon. Just eating him like it wasn't even wrong.


I like how he's clearly judging Geoff in this picture. "ExCUSe me? Pointing? Really? Oh please, One does not POINT."


And here, clearly contemplating Geoff's finger for dessert.


I think he kind of looks like a muppet. Except for the blood and guts part, of course.

In Comes Company

Last night we went to the film premire of COMPANY, which I cast for the NY Philharmonic. Some of you may remember me mentioning in this post that in addition to the 4 live performances in NYC April, it was filmed and will be showing at movie theatres across the country in June. So whether you live in Austin TX, Boston MA, Denver CO, Statesboro GA, Richmond VA, Louisville KY, Honolulu HI, NYC, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Alaska or nearly any other state across the country, you too can see it. It's also being shown in Canada. The performances are great, and besides, Stephen Colbert and Martha Plimpton have a wrestling match right there on stage and what is better than that?? Click here to find out when it's playing near you. It's playing in most theatres June 15, 16, 19 and 20, but there are a few places with other date options I think. Plus, if you do go, thrill of all thrills, you can see my little name right there in the credits. It's small, but it's there. Note to self: Get an agent and get better billing next time so my parents don't have to squint to see my name.

AND, you can also see the cast perform one of the numbers from the show live on the Tony Awards this Sunday June 12th at 8pm on CBS. Think Stephen Colbert, Neil Patrick Harris and Jon Cryer in a kick line. I know, not to be missed, right? Set your DVRs for Sunday and book your tickets to the movie now!

I Am Not Lost

I am here. I am alive. I have been absent far too long. For good reason, but still. It has been beyond busy. And much has been afoot. And it's June 1. Which means, wedding season is officially underway and life is about to get even crazier.

But I just wanted to say I'm here. I've not forgotten this place. I want to spend more time here. And there is much to tell you. It needs to wait another week or so, since this week is super nuts and I really want to have time to write about it and really do it justice. So be patient. And I will fill you in on all you've missed.

Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend!