LAST COFFEE (FOR A WHILE)

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Detox starts tomorrow. Last coffee today. Decaf. To get the ball rolling. And of course, to support my detox of no caffeine, no alcohol, no processed foods - this month, a Starbucks is opening up 1/2 a block from my home. Thanks, temptation!

OPENING NIGHT

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A candid shot of the post-opening press gaggle in the lobby of our theatre after a tremendous performance of THE MILK TRAIN DOESN'T STOP HERE ANYMORE, starring the amazing Olympia Dukakis. One of my favorite parts of working in the theatre is getting to witness moments like this. And this.

MY HUBBY'S AMAZING

 

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PENCIL DROP

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This is the kind of day my colleague and I were having at the office.  Yeah, you know the kind.

3:43 AM

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They say the pain of childbirth is one that you forget moments after you see that beautiful small face. And for me, that's mostly true. I don't remember much of the pain of giving birth to my daughter... what I do remember are the after effects. The inability to sit up on my own for a while without holding onto something to steady myself, the challenges of something as simple as using the restroom, and particularly the sleepless nights.

I should clarify that last one - it's not so much entirely "sleepless" but rather sleep-interrupted. I remember waking up to the sound of even her smallest whimper, no matter what time of night. And I'd glance at the digital clock on my husband's bedside table, taking a mental note of how many hours she (and therefore I) had slept since the last small whimper, usually only a few hours before.

This week, as my baby girl's been under the weather, we've had a little trip down memory lane and she and I have spent a few sleep-interrupted nights together - mostly around the 3 or 4 AM hour. Sometimes, it's enough to rub her back. Sometimes, it's enough to hold and rock her to sleep. Sometimes, it's not enough until we go into the living room, curl up on the couch together, and doze to Finding Nemo. But it's always enough to make me remember those first few weeks of middle-of-the-night hours together. And no matter how many fewer sleeping hours I get, she's always worth it.

SICKO

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How to tell when your daughter's not well?  Eyes that are glassy, with a nose getting ever closer to the color of her lips. Sick? Yes. But still adorable.

WHERE'S GRACE?

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Baby girl's been sick the whole weekend - but I can tell she's on the mend, because today when I asked her if she wanted to help me fold the laundry, and then put her on the bed with the gigantic pile of warm clothes straight from the dryer... she buried herself underneath and then popped up to "surprise" me with a big smile on her face.  We let the clothes cool off for a while we played "Where's Grace?".

TERRIBLE TOWEL INDEED

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I'm a Steelers fan.  My husband's a Jets fan. And we live in New York.  So this weekend's AFC Championship game between the two teams meant a divided household, and an almost-one-year-old caught in the middle.  She and I sang "Here we go / Steelers / Here we go / Pittsburgh's goin' to the Superbowl" while she and dad clapped "J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets"... but I was convinced she was a mama's girl and that she'd cheer for the Black and Gold.

When she lost her lunch - literally - all over the iconic Terrible Towel this evening - well, I have to admit that it seemed like a clear sign she'd made her own choice.

EVERYWHERE A SIGN

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A friend of mine once took a dozen or so pictures of different doors in her town and then made them into a large, cool, framed piece of art that hung in her bedroom.  A few months before our daughter Grace was born, I passed by a building a block from our apartment named Grace Court - and I had an idea. Take pictures of all the "Grace" buildings in New York and turn them into something cool for my daughter.  Like the Grace Building in Times Square.  Or Grace Church in Union Square.  And Grace's Marketplace.  So many Graces in this city.  Kinda nice, huh?

3rd WHEEL

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No, this is not my picture.  But this moment was just too awkward a thing to take a photo of... being the Third Wheel and all.  Plus, this picture is funnier than any picture I could've taken of this particular event.

I had the experience on the way home from work today of being a monkey in the middle. No, no - not that super fun (unless you're "the monkey") game we used to play when we were younger. A more grown up and much more awkward version of it. A guy (you know they type, the average-looking-but-with-a-cockiness-that-makes-him-thinks-he's-much-hotter kind of guy) was flirting with a gal (think this type from Friends) on the Q train. And normally, I would think nothing of a scene like this and just ignore their gushy words. But it's kind of hard not to take notice of the verbal volleyball when you're the net. It was oh so crowded. I was in the middle of their "conversation". And as they were both taller than me, they were literally flirting right over me.

Here are the things that amaze me about this: 1) They didn't care that I could probably hear what they were saying. 2) They didn't care that several other people could also probably hear their more-than-friendly banter. 3) They were lost in this moment - although packed door to door with people they talked to each other like they were the only two on the train.

So I put my head down and tried to occupy my thoughts with something other than when they might be hooking up.

DETOX

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This morning/afternoon at brunch, I mentioned to my dear friend (and often my peer-detoxer) that I was feeling the need for a detox again.  The fact that I was eating french toast with whipped cream and drinking a mimosa during this conversation may just have underlined the fact that the detox was due.  So this evening, while cleaning up and cleaning out the office in our apartment, I happened upon The 28 Day Plan, a small book I've used to outline a month-long detox for myself several times over the years.  It's not as hardcore as the Master Cleanse.  And it's not just focused on foods; it also includes simple things like the reminder to take 5 minutes for yourself each day and to drink more water and to laugh.  February has 28 days... seems like the perfect month to do it.  Next up: feel better!

A GOOD MIX

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Seems like these days, there's not a place I look nor a place I go without a menagerie of toys appearing.  Granted, I do bring them with me wherever I go... even when I'm not meaning to (like the other day, when I opened my purse at work and inside there was a rattle, a bag of cherrios, and an unused diaper).  And at home, it's becoming "the norm" to have a few toys tucked into every room - a couple in the kitchen to entertain while eating or cooking; a handful in the tub, of course; some books on the bedside table for early morning reading and snuggling; a whole wall in our living room lined with them; and then there's her room.  A year or two ago, a coffee table like this on an NFL Playoff Sunday would've held only snacks and beer.  How boring.  I think the red plastic phone and sippy cup really add a nice touch.

BALTIMORE BABY

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As a Steelers fan, what can I say?  She's her father's daughter.

NUMBER CRUNCHING

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Budgets. Budgets. Budgets.  I have a love/hate relationship with budgets.  I love when I can balance them; I hate when I can't.  Today was a little bit of both.  At least my color coding made them more fun to look at.

EARNESTLY

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Tonight was the opening night of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST and I my beau and I had the pleasure of watching this delightful Wilde comedy.  I remember reading this play in high school and then again in college... but having never seen a production of it, I was looking forward to this particular date night.  And wonderfully, it lived up to everything I might've imagined. 

If you live in NYC - or if you're visiting soon - I'd encourage you to take a night to enjoy this show.  Want a few sneak peaks?  Check out this video. 

JUST MISSED IT

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It was one of those days when my timing was... off.  I got to the subway station this morning having just heard the train leaving the station.  I almost ran into several people on my way to work - literally - whenever I turned a corner, someone was right there!  I never made the light in time to cross the street.  I was running from meeting to meeting all day, not ever able to fully finish just one thing.

And as left work, rushing down the subway steps, already late to pick up my daughter from day care, this picture was the tail end (pun intended!) of what I saw pulling away. 

TEETERING PILE

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This used to be the image of my nightstand... a teetering pile of books that I had read, was reading, and wanted to read next.  But somehow over the past few months, I've not really been interested in reading - or, perhaps more accurately, no books have come across my radar that have peaked my interest.  So, instead, my nightstand now consists of baby books, my smartphone, and our laptop; while it's my husband's nightstand (pictured here) that has the ever-growing tall pile of books - all in some state of having been read, and all intended to be finished. 

DINNER PREP

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Tomorrow night, a friend will come over for a vegan-inspired dinner.  I'll be making two simple dishes from THE KIND DIET.  I have yet to really dig my teeth into this cookbook, but the beet & tomato salad and the warm potato, soybean, red onion dish sounded yummy - so we'll dig our teeth into that instead.  :)  I haven't made a new dish in a while... it was nice to pick a few things out at the grocery store today in prep for tomorrow evening.

MY BRUNCH DATE

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With me being in tech rehearsals until midnight, my hubby's been a single parent this past week.  So - this morning, Grace and I slipped out of the house and had a breakfast date while Dad got to sleep in.  We shared a Belgian waffle.  We sang some songs.  We charmed the pants off the waitstaff.  How could we not?  My date was super cute.

1st SNOW

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Well, okay.  Not THE first snow... but the first one I saw in NYC.  We were in Ohio for "The Blizzard of 2010" and came back from our holiday vacation to the aftermath of sludgy (but mostly plowed) streets and a shoveled driveway (thanks to my in-laws!).

But today was the first snow I got to see.  And it was just beautiful.  At least from the warmth of my office and the lovely view out the window.

IT'S HAPPENED

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It’s happened.


5 days into my Year-in-Pictures-Project, and I’ve forgotten to take a photograph.

Damn.

I blame the fact that I was only half awake after being at tech very late the night before and then worked a full day and then went to another long day of tech.  I also blame the fact that my mind is still completely preoccupied with thoughts of tech week and the upcoming first preview.

Or - more accurately, this was bound to happen MUCH sooner than the time my friend (and the blogger who inspired these daily photos) missed a day.  She made it to 200-some days.  What a show-off.

DROID

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Smart phone?  More like GENIUS phone.  It's like the personal assistant I always needed but could never afford.

AND it has Angry Birds!  :)

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Okay, okay.  I realize that 12:05 AM is technically a picture-of-the-day for Wednesday the 5th, but this was the end of my work day on Tuesday the 4th... a long tech day.  A "ten-outta-twelve", as we say in The Business.  This was actually the very earliest I've ever gotten out of the theatre on a 10/12 day - although it may seem late - and I was already in a cab by this time!  It was a nice end to a long day.

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Some days are just plain harder than others.  And when those days happen at my office, I take a look up at my wall, and I'm reminded that LIFE is much more than just work.  And then the day gets easier.

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While putting away Christmas things, I took a moment to read this book from my mom to me (and Grace)... it might just be my favorite present this year.

SOMEDAY
By Alison McGhee & Peter H. Reynolds

One day I counted your fingers and kissed each one.
One day the first snowflakes fell, and I held you up and watch them melt on your baby skin.
One day we crossed the street, and you held my hand tight.
Then, you were my baby, and now you are my child.
Sometimes, when you sleep, I watch you dream, and I dream too...
That someday you will dive into the cool, clear water of a lake.
Someday you will walk into a deep wood.
Someday your eyes will be filled with a joy so deep that they shine.
Someday you will run so fast and so far your heart will feel like fire.
Someday you will swing high - so high, higher than you ever dared to swing.
Someday you will hear something so sad that you will fold up with sorrow.
Someday you will call a song to the wind, and the wind will carry your song away.
Someday I will stand on this porch and watch your arms waving to me until I no longer see you.
Someday you will look at this house and wonder how something that feels so big can look so small.
Someday you will feel a small weight against your strong back.
Someday I will watch you brushing your child's hair.
Someday, a long time from now, your own hair will glow silver in the sun.
And when that day comes, love, you will remember me.

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Another year, another blogging idea.  Not mine, of course.  Stolen - as many good ideas are.

I'll be following in the footsteps of my good friend and embarking on my own Year-In-Pictures project.  One picture for every day of 2011.  I've so enjoyed following her journey through 2010... and I love the idea of looking back on January 1, 2012 at 365 memories - be they exciting adventures or just everyday things.  So here goes...

Today's photo is a good visual of how I spent most of my New Year's Day - at tech rehearsal. 

This is my table - looks like it has everything one might need for tech rehearsal: laptop, venti latte, snacky foods, notebooks, dinner in a to-go bag, phone charger, and my camera.

Except for maybe a pillow (to cat nap during the dinner break, of course!), this was a pretty good set up.