How I'm Gonna Die

How Will I Die Quiz You will die at the age of 78 You will die in a freak accident involving Ryan Seacrest Find out how you will die at Quizopolis.com

The Beer Garden

A couple of weeks ago we went to the Beer Garden in Astoria - and I thought I'd post a few pics. If you're not in em, wish you were here!

Foxwoods (yes, more gambling)

I should just call this blog "Jen's Chip Count" because half of the postings I do are about gambling. Between poker games and trips to AC this year - I have been quite the degenerate gambler. Now a week ago, I went up to Foxwoods for the day, and I didn't have a chance to post about it due to catalog strain here at work. But the readers of the blog wanted to know, "Where is the post on Foxwoods?" So what the people want, the people get! Here it is:

On Saturday (7/15) Kim and I took the new wheels on a long drive up 95 to Foxwoods, CT. And damn its far. Forgot how far it was until I was in the sixties exits, thinking I was getting close, and then talked to Drapo on the phone and found out it was exit 92. After some traffic and slow idiots on the side roads, we finally made it.

And it was worth it. Foxwoods is massive, a lot like a Vegas casino. There's tons of guest rooms, lots of casino, and pretty much a whole mall inside. Drapo was waiting for us in the Atrium Lounge. We had a drink, then headed to the Hard Rock for lunch.

Side note: I will always stop in a Hard Rock Cafe wherever I am because I have this weird hobby of collecting pilsner and hurricane souvenir glasses from them. I have a whole bunch now, let's see if I can remember: New York (obviously), Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Orlando, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, New Orleans, San Juan, London, Munich, Amsterdam, Rome, Paris, Reykjavik, Copenhagen, Madrid, Barcelona, San Antonio, Atlantic City, and there may be more but I can't remember. Anyway, you get the idea! (I know, I'm a freak).

So after lunch we hit the tables. The day consisted of Craps and blackjack - Drapo and I would play blackjack together and Kim and I would play the craps table together. Here are the highlights:

- Kimble making her gambling debut. I don't know how she's survived in the Stevens family this long without gambling, but it was definetely time to bring her over to the dark side. She learned the game quickly, and made herself quite a bit of money with some good rolls!

- Our stickman (that's what they're called seriously) at the craps table. He was very funny, and kept Kim and I laughing with his sarcastic comments, like when a player tried to change money for chips, but wouldn't put the money down on the table like he was supposed to according to casino rules and the stickman said, "The first step is letting go."

- Drapo being "cavalier" in his blackjack moves. He doesn't play by the rules, he hits when he wants to hit, and stays when he wants to stay.

- The weird Asian guy at our second blackjack table. He kept us cracking up with his victory noises, "Brrrrrr!" (Think pigeons cooing) and calling the young dealer his son whenever he dealt him a winning hand.

- Me telling Drapo whenever he won a hand that I set up for him that he owed me a steak dinner. "A steak dinner for $15?" he said. Ha. See you at Peter Luger's my friend. :-)

- Kim saying she was going to take the casino one way or another -if not in winnings than in drinks. In vodka alone, she cleaned up that night! :-)

Kim and Drapo, thanks for the awesome weekend! Let's do it again soon!

Dress Kevin

Today's fun activity is this:

www.dresskevin.com

This guy in Hoboken decided that when it came to dressing well he was clueless, so he took pictures of his entire wardrobe, put it up online and now let's the public decide for him. Kevin tells you where he's going, and then everybody submits their vote on what he should wear - right down to the accessories. Then the votes are tallied and the shirts, pants, shoes, etc with the most votes wins.

I don't know if this guy has a girlfiend or not - but if/when he does - I'm willing to bet that this site/endeavor is eventually going to be a problem. But until then, vote away!

The Devil Wears Prada

I went to see this movie last night with my sister and my Mom. I was looking forward to seeing it just for Meryl Streep - who I heard was awesome as the pain in the ass boss. And she was - the movie was pretty funny, Meryl had some great lines and I was entertained the entire time.

But there was another aspect of this film that really interested me - and that was the modern day dilemma of work vs. personal life. This movie raises the question - in an over the top and exaggerated way, "How much of your personal life do you have to give up to be good at your job?" The answer is different for everyone, but there was a line in the movie that really rang true for me. Anne Hathaway said to to Stanley Tucci, "My personal life is going to hell." And Stanley Tucci said, "that's how you know you're starting to do well at work." And my job isn't the worst in the world, but at the same time, I've gotten calls from my office on my day off, I've called in myself on my day off, I miss dinner with my family every night because I get home between 7:30 and 8:00, you get the drift. And my friends - some of them have crazy jobs. One of them is working this weekend - he's been working every third weekend of the month for over a year. Plus long ass days to begin with. I have friends who work twelve hour days, all the time. blah blah blah.

I'm not really sure where I'm going with this - just felt like musing a bit. I guess what I hope is that someday I have a job that I love so much that I won't mind working whatever hours it throws my way. Cause God knows, the work day sure isn't getting any shorter.

Bullitt

Caught another movie at Bryant Park last night - this time it was Bullitt starring Steve McQueen. It was badass night at Bryant Park. I arrived a little after six-thirty and found Eric and Alex on the 40th Street side of the lawn, pretty far down to the front. Kudos on the great spot guys! The key to a fun (and comfortable) night at Bryant Park is not only getting a good spot, but getting a spot with a lot of space so you have room to stretch out in the five hours you'll be spending there. Eric and Alex secured their spot around five - and they had two blankets out, enough for everybody to lay down on.

We agreed that the hours before the movie flew by. But it was a gorgeous night - not hot, and just a hint of cool breeze. We talked and read and wrote and worked on computers. Here's what went on before the movie:

Eric pointed out a woman who was walking around with a laptop strapped to her. She walks around taking orders for a food place - sends them to the place from the computer, then leaves a numbered flag by your picnic spot, and that's how the place knows where to deliver the food to. Eric and I shook our heads and said, "Only in New York."

Another guy walked around with a clipboard stopping and asking everyone if they were registered Democrats. Everyone was shrugging him off, and he seemed a little peeved. "Of course I'm a registered Democrat," Eric whispered to me. "I just don't want to fill out paperwork." He looked around at all the people on the lawn, skirts and beards and long hair and said, "In fact, I know there isn't a single person on this lawn who isn't a registered Democrat."

We worked on a tagline for Alex's screenplay. I could tell you what it's about, but then I'd have to kill you.

Dusk approached and it was almost time for the movie. Eric and Alex had brought pillows and everything- I've never had a sweeter setup at Bryant Park. We told Alex about the ritual - the HBO dancing, which he got right into. They show that old old promo for HBO - I can't really describe it, but if you saw and heard it you'd know it. And everybody gets up and dances. It's very odd, and very Bryant Park Summer Film Festival.

Then the fun starts. A cartoon! Duck Dodgers to the rescue! And then the movie starts. I'd never seen this whole movie - I'd seen bits and pieces like the chase scene, but I'm glad I got to see it here. Watching a movie like this at Bryant Park is fun because everybody's into it - and whenever Steve McQueen says something suave or rough everyone cheers and whistles. We were so far down front that we were able to lay with our heads propped up on pillows and still see. It was awesome.

Thanks guys for getting such a great spot and a fun night!

New Car!

I am pleased to announce that I am now the proud owner of a 2006 Saturn Ion Sedan 2. (or I will be once I pay the down payment and pick it up on Wednesday). But as of today all of the paperwork is signed and done! I can't wait to drive it home!