It's a cruel and sad reminder, but always keep your eyes and ears open, report suspicious activity, and never, ever take your friends, family and loved ones for granted:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070928franklin,0,2335283,full.story?coll=chi_tab01_layout
Friday, September 28, 2007
Success!
This morning, I went into the deli right by my work where I go ever day for my coffee, and the lady knew my order before I gave it. Which by the way, is "large coffee, milk and sugar."
Success!
Success!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
But Come Back Down to Earth
I know how lucky I am, see previous post, and I never want to take that for granted. I am beyond sad to read that family members of Nailah Franklin, believe she has been found, dead:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/27/missing.woman.ap/index.html
And here is another story that broke my heart: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/27/sextape.search.ap/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/27/missing.woman.ap/index.html
And here is another story that broke my heart: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/27/sextape.search.ap/index.html
A Full-Circle Moment, If There Ever Was One
Like millions of other girls across the world, I hold Sarah Jessica Parker on a very, very high pedestal. I'll probably never be able to separate her from Carrie Bradshaw,and she will forever remain the most ideal New Yorker in my eyes, minus the dramz with Mr. Big because I would have never stuck with him for that long. But I digress.
I also feel a special connection to Carrie, not only because she lived the fictionalized version of the life I want to live in reality (read: successful writer about her own personal adventures, sick apartment, shoe closet to die for), but because I would be lying if I said my move to NYC was in no small way inspired by her. It's not the whole reason I moved, obviously, but I think any girl in their 20s who has moved to New York has done so with the character of Carrie Bradshaw firmly in mind.
On my very first time out to dinner in New York, at a restaurant called Turkish Kitchen, it was like my third day here, I saw her and Matthew Broderick eating out with another couple. To this day, I'm dying to know who the other couple was and how they got to eat with them and I was regulated to sneaking looks at their table by pretending to go to the bathroom. In any case, I was convinced it was an omen. Maybe it was.
Last night, GC and I decided to ride the train home together so we could work on our Tshirt company, we had our first business conference call (Thank you Gina C.!) and he took me around the corner to a movie set.
But not just any movie set. THE SEX AND THE CITY MOVIE SET!
And we stood there and watched Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha filming one of their infamous brunch scenes, where it was very clear Miranda was annoyed about something and speaking to Samantha about it, and Carrie was laughing..and GC was hugging me from behind and I had my own apartment to go home too and I swear to God if lightning had struck me dead right where I stood, I would have been OK with it.
It was all very girly, but all I could think of is that if 22-year old Lia could have zoomed into the future and seen this scene, she would have been very happy indeed.
I also feel a special connection to Carrie, not only because she lived the fictionalized version of the life I want to live in reality (read: successful writer about her own personal adventures, sick apartment, shoe closet to die for), but because I would be lying if I said my move to NYC was in no small way inspired by her. It's not the whole reason I moved, obviously, but I think any girl in their 20s who has moved to New York has done so with the character of Carrie Bradshaw firmly in mind.
On my very first time out to dinner in New York, at a restaurant called Turkish Kitchen, it was like my third day here, I saw her and Matthew Broderick eating out with another couple. To this day, I'm dying to know who the other couple was and how they got to eat with them and I was regulated to sneaking looks at their table by pretending to go to the bathroom. In any case, I was convinced it was an omen. Maybe it was.
Last night, GC and I decided to ride the train home together so we could work on our Tshirt company, we had our first business conference call (Thank you Gina C.!) and he took me around the corner to a movie set.
But not just any movie set. THE SEX AND THE CITY MOVIE SET!
And we stood there and watched Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha filming one of their infamous brunch scenes, where it was very clear Miranda was annoyed about something and speaking to Samantha about it, and Carrie was laughing..and GC was hugging me from behind and I had my own apartment to go home too and I swear to God if lightning had struck me dead right where I stood, I would have been OK with it.
It was all very girly, but all I could think of is that if 22-year old Lia could have zoomed into the future and seen this scene, she would have been very happy indeed.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Nailah Franklin
This story has really struck a chord with me. Perhaps it's because it's a girl around my age, working hard, making her money, having fun....just disappearing without a trace. The main suspect is a man she casually dated, suspected of making threatening phone calls to her, as of late. Her family is begging everyone to keep their eyes and ears open, and to pray for her. Please do so.
Attached, really small, is the most recent article from today's Chicago Tribune. You can look it up here, as well:http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/west/chi-franklin25sep25,0,5348874.story
Monday, September 24, 2007
Moved In...
So I moved into my new apartment this weekend, and despite some challenges and setbacks (no thanks to you New York City traffic police!), I am in, relatively drama-free. Relatively.
However, it was all worth it. Saturday night, post-move in, we were too exhausted to move, so we fell asleep around 2 a.m. which is pretty much when we finished.
But Sunday night, when the first guests had gone and I just couldn't organize/clean anymore, GC and I sat on the couch, ate dinner and a dessert made of ice cream and coffee liqueur and eventually fell asleep watching TV.
I couldn't have asked for anything better.
However, it was all worth it. Saturday night, post-move in, we were too exhausted to move, so we fell asleep around 2 a.m. which is pretty much when we finished.
But Sunday night, when the first guests had gone and I just couldn't organize/clean anymore, GC and I sat on the couch, ate dinner and a dessert made of ice cream and coffee liqueur and eventually fell asleep watching TV.
I couldn't have asked for anything better.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
I am Happy and Life is Good
It's been a little hectic post-family cruise trying to find the time to blog about it, because I've been gearing up for crossing another goal off my life's checklist - finding my own apartment and living alone.
I'm beyond excited to move to Astoria this weekend, with help from the best boyfriend in the world and one of my best friends in the world. It makes me feel good to know that I'm moving into my own space, being helped by two people who have shaped me so much. I know it sounds corny, but it jsut all seems to make sense.
In fact, life is making pretty good sense right now period!
So stay tuned for more, and more interesting stories from the cruise but probably next week when I have time to do it from my couch in my new living room bit**es!
I'm beyond excited to move to Astoria this weekend, with help from the best boyfriend in the world and one of my best friends in the world. It makes me feel good to know that I'm moving into my own space, being helped by two people who have shaped me so much. I know it sounds corny, but it jsut all seems to make sense.
In fact, life is making pretty good sense right now period!
So stay tuned for more, and more interesting stories from the cruise but probably next week when I have time to do it from my couch in my new living room bit**es!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Yay!
I'm back from the family cruise, having, literally, slept my way around the Carribbean. I rose only to get to the bathroom, eat, see a show (even participating in one...I got hypnotized!) and socialize with my family. I was awake, tops, 9-10 hours a day for 7 days straight. It was glorious.
So I got back to NYC today determined to find an apartment and sure enough, I found the PERFECT! one today and I took it. I'm so BEYOND EXCITED. For the first time, I have my own place and it's awesome.
More to come, I'm getting back into the swing..but rest assured there are plenty of drunken stories of my family, dramz, me getting hypnotized into thinking I won 2.2 million dollars...and so on.
In addition, before I left I hugn out with Producer Laura, Hal Sparks, a member of Twisted Sister, and others at Caroline's comedy club. Quite surreal. Quite fun.
So I got back to NYC today determined to find an apartment and sure enough, I found the PERFECT! one today and I took it. I'm so BEYOND EXCITED. For the first time, I have my own place and it's awesome.
More to come, I'm getting back into the swing..but rest assured there are plenty of drunken stories of my family, dramz, me getting hypnotized into thinking I won 2.2 million dollars...and so on.
In addition, before I left I hugn out with Producer Laura, Hal Sparks, a member of Twisted Sister, and others at Caroline's comedy club. Quite surreal. Quite fun.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Family Cruise - The Prequel
We haven't even gotten to the boat, the drinking and hilarity have already commenced.
I met my family in The Brew House of Newark Liberty International Airport where they were already at the bar, ordering round numero uno at 1 p.m. Chuckie, Al, Frankie, Dena, Aunt Shev and Bob wound up having two beers each before we got on the plane. Nancy had two glasses of wine. I had one beer. Tweety had a Diet Coke.
We get on the plane which only has 70 passengers and I immediately lay down across one whole aisle and fall asleep for the rest of the flight.
I awake upon descent to find Aunt Shev and Chuckie (for all those who don't know Shev is Chuckie's mom), speaking in pig latin to one another...from four rows away. The entire family is rip-roaring drunk, having commadeered the back of the plane to chug beers and do shots with one steward who found it all hilarious. He later gave me a dirty look for not being wasted. He slips Chuckie three mini-bottles for the road as we get off.
I should also mention that the sexagenerian crowd on the plane did not like us very much. Maybe it had to do with Chuckie yelling, "Everybody get your hands up!" as the plane began to point down and him and Al rode out the rest of the ride like they were on a roller coaster. He then yelled, "Yeah everybody, we're in Vegas!!!!" Our cruise leaves out of Ft. Lauderdale. No one besides 9 of us seemed to get the joke.
Following the plane ride of fun that I totally missed, we dropped everyone off at their hotels and places they were sleeping and I then made my parents high-tail it to Publix where I got the sub and potato salad I haven't been able to get my hands on for 9 months. I felt like a thirst that had lasted a thousand years had finally been quenched. Florida people will know what I'm talking about. All the rest of you need to learn.
Finally, we all end up talking around the kitchen table like we always do. My dad heads to bed, and then its me, my mom and tweety somehow on the topic of sex change operations. A friend of theirs from back in the day, who met his boyfriend when they were both cross-dressers, now wants a male to female sex change. Problem is the boyfriend had the operation a few years ago and wants him to remain the boy. Tweety and my mom were debating the getting the operation so late in life (the guy is 57), the health problems he'll probably have since he's sick anyways, etc. etc. when my mom says, "Yeah...plus, it must hurt to get your friggin' d*** cut off, too." I'm pretty sure, out of her innocent face, that's the quote to top for the rest of the trip.
I met my family in The Brew House of Newark Liberty International Airport where they were already at the bar, ordering round numero uno at 1 p.m. Chuckie, Al, Frankie, Dena, Aunt Shev and Bob wound up having two beers each before we got on the plane. Nancy had two glasses of wine. I had one beer. Tweety had a Diet Coke.
We get on the plane which only has 70 passengers and I immediately lay down across one whole aisle and fall asleep for the rest of the flight.
I awake upon descent to find Aunt Shev and Chuckie (for all those who don't know Shev is Chuckie's mom), speaking in pig latin to one another...from four rows away. The entire family is rip-roaring drunk, having commadeered the back of the plane to chug beers and do shots with one steward who found it all hilarious. He later gave me a dirty look for not being wasted. He slips Chuckie three mini-bottles for the road as we get off.
I should also mention that the sexagenerian crowd on the plane did not like us very much. Maybe it had to do with Chuckie yelling, "Everybody get your hands up!" as the plane began to point down and him and Al rode out the rest of the ride like they were on a roller coaster. He then yelled, "Yeah everybody, we're in Vegas!!!!" Our cruise leaves out of Ft. Lauderdale. No one besides 9 of us seemed to get the joke.
Following the plane ride of fun that I totally missed, we dropped everyone off at their hotels and places they were sleeping and I then made my parents high-tail it to Publix where I got the sub and potato salad I haven't been able to get my hands on for 9 months. I felt like a thirst that had lasted a thousand years had finally been quenched. Florida people will know what I'm talking about. All the rest of you need to learn.
Finally, we all end up talking around the kitchen table like we always do. My dad heads to bed, and then its me, my mom and tweety somehow on the topic of sex change operations. A friend of theirs from back in the day, who met his boyfriend when they were both cross-dressers, now wants a male to female sex change. Problem is the boyfriend had the operation a few years ago and wants him to remain the boy. Tweety and my mom were debating the getting the operation so late in life (the guy is 57), the health problems he'll probably have since he's sick anyways, etc. etc. when my mom says, "Yeah...plus, it must hurt to get your friggin' d*** cut off, too." I'm pretty sure, out of her innocent face, that's the quote to top for the rest of the trip.
Friday, September 07, 2007
Lot's O'Updates
All's been quiet on the LiaLand front because I have about 10 million different things going. But they are all mildly interesting, so here it goes.
1.) As previously reported, I'm on the hunt for new apartment. This may be the single most horrific undertaking a person can take on in New York City. Never will you meet as many shady, personality-devoid freaks in your life, as you will when you are dealing with NYC brokers. More on this to come, because the stories are so unbelievable, you'd think I was lying, except I've been taking pictures. Oh yes, I've been taking pictures. It also takes up a lot of time. Time I should be blogging with.
2.) I'm leaving tomorrow for the 2nd Annual Family Cruise. 16 family members. 10 rooms. 1 ship. 3 islands. Hilarity to ensue. 3,000 passengers who should be very familiar with us come vacation's end, one week from tomorrow. pictures will be posted.
3.) Tshirt company plan in full swing. GC and I are taking on the industry. and we're going to wrestle it to the ground, beat it senseless. kill it. bring it back to life. and kill it again.
4.) AG has bedbugs.
5.) I went a paltry 9-15 in my first week college football pool.
So that's the short version of life the last week or so. If I can, I'll blog from the cruise, where last year, I heard quotes like the following:
Dad: squealing like a small child: It should be illegal to have this much fun!
Mom (in response to a complaint from someone who didnt want to attend the muster drill): I bet on the Titanic they didn't want to do the muster drill either. Think about that.
1.) As previously reported, I'm on the hunt for new apartment. This may be the single most horrific undertaking a person can take on in New York City. Never will you meet as many shady, personality-devoid freaks in your life, as you will when you are dealing with NYC brokers. More on this to come, because the stories are so unbelievable, you'd think I was lying, except I've been taking pictures. Oh yes, I've been taking pictures. It also takes up a lot of time. Time I should be blogging with.
2.) I'm leaving tomorrow for the 2nd Annual Family Cruise. 16 family members. 10 rooms. 1 ship. 3 islands. Hilarity to ensue. 3,000 passengers who should be very familiar with us come vacation's end, one week from tomorrow. pictures will be posted.
3.) Tshirt company plan in full swing. GC and I are taking on the industry. and we're going to wrestle it to the ground, beat it senseless. kill it. bring it back to life. and kill it again.
4.) AG has bedbugs.
5.) I went a paltry 9-15 in my first week college football pool.
So that's the short version of life the last week or so. If I can, I'll blog from the cruise, where last year, I heard quotes like the following:
Dad: squealing like a small child: It should be illegal to have this much fun!
Mom (in response to a complaint from someone who didnt want to attend the muster drill): I bet on the Titanic they didn't want to do the muster drill either. Think about that.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)