Family Heirlooms

This past Thanksgiving my sisters and I started laying claims to family heirlooms from our childhood. Were we fighting over priceless china? Jewelry perhaps? No, we were fighting over a green plastic alligator medicine spoon. Whenever we were sick as kids (ok, well into our teenage years) we took our liquid medicine from this alligator spoon. He has legs, he's fancy.

I am happy to say that I got the alligator, my argument being, "I was the sick one". I've never been so happy to have been susceptible to ear aches, bladder issues and a variety of other ailments in my life!



To make it up to my sister's for stealing a priceless heirloom I bought some alligator spoons from a medical supply company. If you come visit, I have some spares. Don't you want an alligator medicine spoon, or, "cuchara para medicamentos" of your very own?

Ab and Whit - cereal sugar shaker. It's on.

Summer Day in NYC

It's gorgeous in New York today. I'm cooped up at home since I'm feeling under the weather but I left the apartment to mail our rent checks and it's about 70 degrees out. I love that its so nice out but it feels weird to listen to Christmas music in the grocery store when I'm wearing flip flops. Do people in warm weather climates feel the same way? I want to go see the tree at Rockafeller Center this weekend but can you really enjoy Christmas deocrations when it's warm out? Oooh. Just checked the weather, it's supposed to drop 20 degrees Saturday. Phew.

Go 'hawks!

Tip of the hat to the KU Men's Basketball team!

Thank you to everyone who did not rub in the fact that my team lost to (gulp) Oral Roberts a few weeks ago. Regardless of that, the Jayhawks sought their vengence on #1 rated University of Florida on Saturday. While they did lose their lead, several times, they ended up on top after 1 OT. I'm not saying they're the best team out there, but they do deserve some respect.

Saturday was a great day to be a Jayhawk.

B&N Needs New Marketing Department

Hooray for Book Club!

I finished Jane Eyre for book club about a month ago and I really regret never having read it before. Had someone sold it to me as a love story I probably would have read it before now. If you ask me, Barnes & Noble is not doing a good job of selling this book under their "Barnes & Noble Classics" line of books. With this as its description, who would read it,

"Poor and plain, Jane Eyre begins life as a lonely orphan in the household of her hated aunt. Despite the oppression she endures at home, and then later at the harsh boarding school she is sent to, Jane manages to emerge with her spirit and integrity unbroken. She becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she finds herself falling in love with her employer, the dark, impassioned Mr. Rochester. But an explosive secret tears apart their relationship, forcing Jane to face poverty and isolation once again before finding happiness"

Additionally, since Wuthering Heights, which was written by Charlotte Bronte's sister Emily, has to be the MOST DEPRESSING book I have ever read, this also probably factors into why I have not read it. Overall, two thumbs up.

Midwestern Ignorance

Big "Wag of the Finger" (thank you Steven Colbert) to annoying girl in the Minneapolis airport. I know the Midwest isn't the hub of all action, but don't profess your ignorance to the masses of people likely from the Midwest. "I like, totally don't even KNOW where, like Minnesota even is". Not knowing where it is, fine, boasting about it, not cool.

I've Been Bad...

Ok, I haven't blogged for forever and a day so thought I'd get on it.

I'm back in the land of leggings after a lovely trip to South Dakota to see the fam for Thanksgiving. It was probably my most productive trip home in ages seeing a bunch of family and friends. I was barely home which I will blame for the lack of blogging.

For those of you in the Sioux City area, you must go see the new Minerva's. The Karpen clan went there for lunch the day after Thanksgiving and it was absolutely beautiful. Big shout out to my old employers for making it pretty.
Back to the leggings. I saw 3 pairs on my flight, and another 1/2 dozen or so Monday. When the fad began, I absolutely hated it, it's sadly starting to grown on me. Now, I HAVE NOT purchased any leggings. I still can't think of what I'd wear with them besides a long sweater that covers my butt a la 6th grade. Hopefully the trend will be over by the time I am persuaded to buy some.

Name that Rockstar...

Who is this cool girl you say? Umm, that's my little sister Whitney Rose who has been profiled on the SDSU student profiles page. She's pretty much a rock star. This is only ONE of the many publications she's been featured in (no, not Playboy kids) for her mad mechanical engineering/music/dimple wearing skills.

For those of you in the New York metro area she will be making a trip to this fair city in early March. Ms. Karpen is scheduled to make various appearances at bars and restaurants downtown and will be staying at an undisclosed establishment on the UES.

Big Beautiful Brooklyn Bridge

I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time on Saturday. My friend Marc and I ventured out from his apartment in Park Slope (in Brooklyn) and headed toward Manhattan. I've been meaning to go for some time and couldn't have picked a more beautiful day.

We didn't get there until after the sun had set and walking toward Manhattan was breathtaking. (Yes, I'm being dramatic, but it still was). You can see most of the East Manhattan and it's getting easier to pick out the buildings I know. The lights were lit up against the black sky and if you look West you can see the Statue of Liberty in the distance. For anyone coming to New York or if you've never walked across the bridge I strongly encourage you to do this.

Part of what spurred me to action on this was my NYC Documentary series. The last disc I watched (#3 for those who choose to Netflix it) they dedicated about 30-40 mins talking about the building of the Brooklyn bridge. Trivia fact: Did you know that architect of the BB died of gangrene after a runaway ferry boat crushed his foot? This all happened before they had made any headway on the bridge. His son had to take over.

Next NY adventure I have planned...ferry boat to Staten Island. It's free and I hear it's got a beeeee-u-tiful view of the city!

Star Spotting #2

Woo hoo! Star spotting number two. I walked by Mr. Elijah Wood on Spring Street on my way to the subway after work today. The girls in front of me got about half a block away before one of them said, "Was that Elijah Wood?" My idiot grin confirmed it for them. When I was a safe distance from the spotting I called my sis Whitney since of all the people I know she would enjoy the news most.

Deeeeeliveries

Ordering thing online has never been so easy since I moved to New York. All the retailers must have distribution centers right outside NYC to take care of Greater New York. You order something from Barnes & Noble, it's delivered within 24 hours if you live in Manhattan. I ordered from Drugstore.com late yesterday afternoon in an effort to not have to pay RIDICULOUS prices for basic toiletries and I got notice that it's set to be delivered later today. That's bizarre! Even NetFlix has a 1 day turnaround on getting me new movies.

Hurray for Internet shopping! Even though it gets here so quickly, I will still probably have all my Christmas packages shipped directly to Mom and Dad's so I don't have to schlep all my packages all over New York.

Update: Received drugstore.com package at 11:15 am EST. Psyched. That's faster than I can make time to go to the drugstore and buy stuff.

Big Beautiful Blue Wall

Ok, I've been promising forever and thanks to a little prodding from mom I finally posted the pictures of my new blue wall. True, it's at different times of day but hey, you get the idea. It's really pretty when natural sunlight is streaming in but you take what you can get!

Before

After

Totally feels like trading spaces.

Why Doogie?

Doog, it's over. It's been a 16 year love affair. It started in 1990 when I first saw you playing the child prodigy and was cemented upon the purchase of a poster with your smiling face in a blue plaid shirt in front of a hot pink background. Le Sigh.

Yes, you were my first love. But given the fact that you just publicly announced that you prefer men, I have no other choice than to break it off. The picture above should have been my first indication but love makes you blind. It's been wonderful, goodbye my love. (Tear)

Friend Test...30 or You are Out

Kids, it's geography day! Get out your thinking caps, it's time for a quiz! (As an aside, in 1st grade, we actually had thinking caps. It was a piece of paper you maneuvered to put around your head. If you have one of these, feel free to put it on.)

For the rest of you, I have decided that in order to be my friend you should be able to identify at least 30 of the 48 of the states on this quiz. I don't care which 30 but it would be GREAT if you could identify South Dakota. It would mean a lot to me if you could also identify Kansas but since it looks a lot like Nebraska I won't put a lot of pressure on you.

Since moving to the Northeast, I have met a lot of people who refer to the Midwest as "the square ones in the middle". For those in the Midwest, don't act all superior as I have heard the NE referred to as "the little states in the corner". I feel like this quiz is needed so EVERYONE can familiarize yourselves with the rest of the country. Good luck!!!

Thanks to Alicia for originally having this on her blog. Hopefully it won't be too much of a Friday distraction.

Gabrielle and Colin take on Halloween

I can't believe I haven't posted pictures of my niece or nephew yet. It might be because I'm constantly sending you all links to show you how cute the babies are. I thought I'd actually post them in their Halloween costumes so you can see first hand.

Miss G went as a golfer; just look at that fierce stare. The girl is a natural model. She already has the look down.



Mr. Colin went as a cute, little, round, happy pumpkin.



Such cute kids! If you want to see more pics of the kiddies, click here.

Best Show Ever!

Wicked was the most amazing thing I have seen and if anyone is in NYC and going to a show, you HAVE to see it. I laughed (a lot), cried (a little), and it was just amazing. The cast was fantastic.

Ana Gasteyer played Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West) and absolutely stunned me with her voice. I only knew her from SNL but apparently she started in theatre. She did an amazing job as did the actress who played Glinda. I had goosebumps for all 3 hours of the show.

I read the book 3 years ago and while the stage takes a lot of liberties with the original novel I think the changes were good and didn't detract too much from the story.

Like I said, amazing. My words don't do it justice.

NOTE: Shout out to Sprint/Nextel for hooking me up!

On Brooooaaaaddway...

Guess who is going to go see Wicked on Broadway tonight. That's right...this girl! My former coworker from Kansas City called and said, "I know it's last minute but a coworker of mine got sick and we're going to see Wicked and have an extra ticket. Would you like to go?"

I admit I hesitated because I had other plans and had to call the person to make sure it was ok that I went. But I'm going and I'm so excited. Woo!

Port Authority's Midnight Surprises

I got to New York from DC at 12:15 a.m. Monday morning and was somewhat concerned about what undesirables would be waiting for a bus there at midnight on a Sunday night. I was so pleasantly surprised by the people that were giving me directions.

I stepped off the escalator and began looking for a sign to get to the street and a man with a disheveled appearance said, "What are you looking for honey?" when I said, the street, he said, "Right up the escalator". Then, while riding up the escalator, another man missing half his teeth asked me, "Looking for a cab?" I said yes and he said, "Take a U-turn off the escalator onto 8th Ave and those gentleman will help you." I'm kind of sad that I still look like a tourist, looking for signs everywhere, but was so impressed by all the nice people! Even in the middle of the night. Sigh.

Today is rather gushy so I might have to wait to talk about DC until tomorrow. Geez.

BTW - if my writing sounds weird it's because I'm reading Jane Eyre for book club and I've found that I'm inverting my sentences and using weird phrasing. For that, I apologize. :)

I'm known!

I was going to wait to blog until I had my pictures posted from the weekend but I still have to add titles so you'll just have to wait for tomorrow!

I'm so excited that someone that I don't know, knows me in NYC. The person who says "Hello" to me every day on my walk to work, or actually, "Hola" sells the New York Post in front of a cafe on Spring St. and Broadway. While I don't think about it until I see him, it's nice to have a familiar face walking around town.

This week has been gorgeous in New York! It's been in the mid to upper 60's and sunny which means I can pull out the jean jacket and fall skirts. Everyone is outside trying to suck what could be the last beautiful days out of Fall. After being in DC this week I forgot how beautiful the trees are there in the Fall but am surprised how diverse the colors of the trees are here. I could go on for another paragraph about how pretty it is to watch the leaves fall from the trees while walking but hey...that's kind of boring and not worth it if you can't see it. So, yada yada yada, Fall is pretty in NYC.