"It was Christmas Week..." ~ Jane Eyre

Photos from Christmas Day.

"Afterwards take a piece of smooth ivory..." ~ Jane Eyre

Yesterday evening I had "Venus De Milo" by Miles Davis on repeat in my stereo.

I needed a break from Christmas carols, and Davis was a good remedy.

Each time I hear this piece, my mind immediately pictures a jazz club in the city; an underground space that is tight with tables scrunched together. Davis is not the jazz of Sunday morning brunches; it is the jazz of the Saturday set at midnight.

Tomorrow I will be doing an entire lesson on jazz in my American Lit classes. We are starting The Great Gatsby, so I thought a nice way to end before vacation would be an entire period filled with music. Since Fitzgerald coined the phrase "The Jazz Age" in the 1920's, it seems only fitting to introduce Fitz this way.

My father is the one I thank for introducing me to jazz music. Part of his Christmas present this year will involve us going to hear some Cajun jazz in the city. My brother-in-law loves playing jazz on Sunday mornings and in pre-Jack days went to jazz venues often. Its great to be surrounded by the music. I shall never understand those who say they "don't like jazz." How can you not like jazz? I think Carrie is so annoying on the "Sex and the City" episode when she tells the jazz musician she is dating that she doesnt like jazz.

Most of my favorite nights out involve listening to jazz music. There was non-prom night when Sarah and I went to the Vanguard and heard James Carter. There was the night she and I were also in Nawlins and saw The Rebirth Brass Band at the Maple Leaf, and then the night we saw them at BB King's here in New York. There was the night Craig put on Jaco Pastorius and it wasn't turned off until early morning.

I think Jazz is going to be part of my New Year's resolution for 2006...

Finding a man who not only knows something about jazz, but who would also appreciate going to jazz clubs with me, would be the birth of something cool. A man who appreciates the steady rhythms in the music but also enjoys the occasional improvisation; a man who understands the diversity in the genre and can appreciate it at all of its points.

And if I do not this year, than I remain patient until I do find him. And in the meantime will just have to recall my favorite lines from a musical: Oh, I'm no one's wife and oh I love my life and all that jazz...

"The cold winter wind had brought with it..." ~ Jane Eyre

Winter and I have a love/hate relationship.

Winter arrives tomorrow, so once again I am faced with the complexities of the season. Each year it is hard to decipher if the good outweighs the bad. Since I will always be a New Yorker, leaving Winter is impossible. I have learned to cope with the bad and accept that side of winter, but winter still frustrates me each year that we meet.

I can be riding high off a great winter moment, such as trimming my Christmas tree, and then winter hits me with a head cold. Talk about passive/aggressive.

This entry pays tribute to winter: the good, the bad, and the ugly blue Uggs.

I. I Heart Winter...

* Despite the fact that my first time on skis landed me in a bush, I love the adrenaline rush I get going down the mountain. I prefer to ski alone; its personal time to just enjoy the scenery as I ride the lift, as well as swoosh down the slope.

* Sleeping in on Sunday mornings is the best sleep-in of the year. Snuggling under the comforter and realizing that technically one does not have to get out from under the covers to do anything or go anywhere until the football games start is quite a wonderful thought.

* Crate and Barrel has been making chocolate covered marshmallows for the past few winter seasons. For those of you who think that is too much to put into hot chocolate, we shall never be close friends. I only surround myself with people who know that there is no such thing as too much chocolate.

* The sun is brightest in the winter after a snow. There are no green leaves on the trees to block the sun, and the reflection off of the snow makes it even brighter than the sun reflecting on the ocean in the summer. The crisp, blue sky is invigorating, which is why I like taking walks after a snow.

* Cashmere sweaters are more comfortable than flip-flops, and knee-high boots are sexier than tank tops.

* I get presents on Christmas in December AND on my birthday in January.

* Two vacations: Christmas Break and President's Week. Ahhhh, its good to be the teacher.

* Wintertime is when one can wear socks without feeling dorky about it.

* The winter flavors at Fourbucks, which include gingerbread lattes and peppermint mochas.

* I get to wear the "f-ck me red" color on the toenails; spring and summertime leave me stuck with pastels and tropical colors.

* There are clementines in abundance at the produce stands; they are a great snack on a cold day because they remind me of summertime when I peel them and eat them.

* Sitting by the fireplace and feeling like a piece of toast is a buttery feeling. I was fortunate to have a fireplace in my home as a child, and I can roast myself at Missy's when need be. I remember that my father didnt want to use the starter logs for the fireplace, so during cold nights we would take trips out to the backyard to get firewood. It was quite Little House on the Suburban block.

* Within the past week I have discovered that having butt warmers in one's car is absolutely fantastic, and I shall miss it dearly when the weather is no longer cold.

* NYC is the coziest place to be in the winter. Although the harsh, cold streets are difficult to walk down at times, there are always dozens of warm and inviting places to go get warm in. Some of my favorite winter warm spots in the Big Apple are Artisinal, Balthazar, the MET, the boutiques of Soho, and Second Avenue Deli.

II. I Hate Winter...

* I will be the first to admit that I have succumb to the pressure of wearing Uggs. I asked for dark brown Ugg clogs for the holidays. However, some of the Ugg colors make winter plain ugly. If anything, they are the color of Easter eggs! Baby Blue? Baby Pink? Baby, get some taste in fashion! Uggh!

* The reason why places such as Bath and Body Works need to have amazing smells for their lotions is because women like me are constantly pouring globs of it all over our dry skin. I have nightmares about drowning in globules of cranberry-scented lotion.

* The runny-drippy-red nose look is not sexy. Period.

* I am not able to drink margaritas or any other tropical drink with an mini umbrella in it.

* It is easier to rationalize eating comfort foods like mac and cheese and red wine without feeling any guilt.

* While snow days are delightful, shoveling snow to get out is detestable. Sometimes after shoveling on a snow day, I go right back inside and change back into my pajamas.

* Ralph's Italian Ices is closed.

* I am always misplacing scarves and hats.

* I get peeved that bears get to hibernate and I don't. Grrrrrowl.

* My car gets dirty every other day from salt on the road. This winter I will be especially anal in making sure my car is clean at all times. I saw a little splatter of mud by the tire this morning and had a meltdown.

* I take more hot showers and baths, which then leads to more dry skin, which then leads to more lotion, etc. What a vicious cycle.

* My toesies have to be saran-wrapped after a pedicure to get back into my shoes without smudging the polish.

* There are now flowers. My favorite flowers are African daisies, sunflowers, and roses.

"And an excellent taste for music..." ~ Jane Eyre

The other day I asked Ed if he would take Jack to see The Nutcracker when Jack was older.

Ed got a mischievous smile on his face and replied, "Only when he is old enough to hate it."

We had a good laugh, and of course I look forward to the trip we all take to Lincoln Center one day with Jack. Ed hasn't seen it either, and I know he will love it.

Sarah will laugh at me the day we get tickets. I swore that I will never, ever go to that ballet again! After three Christmas seasons of performing in the Eglevsky's Nutcracker (two of which were with Sarah), I admit that I was a bit cracked out from it all. However, Tchaikovsky's score to the ballet is irresistible.

Some of my best memories of Christmastime involved the years I was a tiny dancer in the show. I remember after the first audition the dance directors told us immediately that we had made the role of angels. I went out into the hallway to tell my mom, and she was so excited that she picked me up, spun me around, and screamed in delight. My mother and father certainly treated me like I was the Sugar Plum Fairy those years; they were there each performance, bringing friends and family and always bringing flowers. Missy and Robin were always supportive, even though I think they got a little cracked out, too!

Some of my fondest memories as an angel...
~ getting to wear makeup at 7 years of age
~ practicing in the dance studios at City Center with the older members of the company
~ the costumes which had hoop skirts as big as Scarlet O'Hara's
~ the company party we had where we got autographs from the dancers
~ the sugarplum party after a performance where we would meet and greet the children who came to see the show in our costumes
~ getting chosen to stay onstage during all of Act II with Clara during a performance; it was an afternoon show and out of the corner of my eye I kept looking at Grandpa Krikor and Grandma Anoush
~ missing school to go to a dress rehearsal and having an official note from the dance company to give to my teacher

Some of my fondest memories as a soldier...
~ having Sarah there (she was an angel that year)
~ getting my picture taken with Sara for the Williston Times
~ the toy rifle I had as a prop
~ the red dot stickers that were placed on my cheeks before showtime
~ being smushed into the small cabinet before entering onstage; the tree grew next to us and it was always cool to watch
~ the crescendo of music that built up to our entrance
~ the fact that I got to wear pants as a costume, not anything frilly
~ the dressing rooms were with the older girls who danced in the party scene

If I could pick one favorite scene from the ballet, I think its the dance of the Snowflakes. It happened right after the soldier's danced, so I would remain in the wings and watch the snowflakes fall.

To this day I still remember the choreography to those to dance roles. Its unbelievable, but I still remember the music counts and the exact steps.

There are still some remnants of those days even today. There is the ballerina ornament on my tree; one of the last things Grandpa Krikor gave me before he died. There is the soldier ornament on my tree, which I had John hang this year as we trimmed my tree. And of course, there is always the music...

"My dear children..." ~ Jane Eyre

I saw him earlier this evening and we exchanged big smiles.

The Top Ten Things I Love About My Nephew, Jack:

10) He brings out a side to Missy I love. This side includes baby talk!
9) He humors me when I read books to him.
8) He loves to eat. (Though this is all baby Armenian boys, I think)
7) He has cute little back hairs already. (Though this is all baby Armenian boys, I think)
6) He has chubby cheeks that are good for kissing.
5) His musical tastes are already for classical music.
4) He tolerates me singing off key and doesnt complain about it at all.
3) His middle name is Krikor.
2) He is as calm and chill as his dad.
1) He picked me to be one of his aunts.

"A new chapter in a novel is something like a new scene in a play.." ~ Jane Eyre

It is the nature of my craft to transpose the literal to the figurative.

Lately I have been reading about Feng Shui. Over the past year I have subscribed more and more to the theory that there has to be balance in one's physical environment in order to have balance in one's head.

Can one see this metaphorically and apply it to people?

I hesitate comparing a person to a piece of furniture, but at the same time, our bodies are a type of home. If there is an imbalance in our inner space due to a person not fitting in properly into our lives, shouldn't one practice the art of feng shui? Repositioning is ideal, but sometimes removal is necessary. Human beings have a tendency to hang on to things that are not good for their well-being; we want to believe somehow that we can find a space no matter what, denying the fact that something broken cannot be hung up or denying that something built for temporary purposes cannot last permanently.

I am very fortunate to have a solid group of people in my life who are so embedded into my inner space that they cannot ever be removed. They are the ones that give me balance in the first place. I decorate my soul with wonderful drapes of love from all of them. When things in my life get stormy and windy, they are there to blow it all away. When I feel as if I am drowning under water, they are there to bring me to the surface.

Over the past year, there have been a few individuals who entered my life who have one foot in the door of my inner sanctum and one foot out. This has been the cause of great imbalance. The more I ponder this, the more I realize that as hard as I have tried to be a warm and welcoming hostess, it is time to close the door. I don't see this as burning bridges because I am not angry at any of them.

I see it as keeping peace in my home.

I don't want freebirds hitting my windows, I don't want jugglers tossing my heart around on the floor, and I will not answer my phone New Year's Day to one I view as a permanent nomad who has no appreciation for my house. I wish them peace, which is what I desire the most for myself and others.

"For I was beginning to be hungry" ~ Jane Eyre

Last night's dinner after trimming my Christmas tree was delicious, if I do say so myself.

I made cream of mushroom soup, filet mignon with a mushroom ragout, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and the best stuffing I ever made: sourdough bread stuffing with mushrooms and bacon. Wine was Beaujolais.

I purchased truffle oil for the first time. It was ridiculously expensive, so now I need to look for and cook recipes that utilize it. Still, I feel like a more sophisticated chef now that truffle oil is in my repertoire.

Here is the stuffing recipe. I think it is possible to substitute pancetta with the bacon and I will probably do that next time. I also halved the recipe.

1 1/4 pounds sourdough bread, crusts trimmed, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 12 cups)
3/4 pound bacon (about 12 slices), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 cups chopped leeks (white and pale green parts only; about 2 medium)
3 cups chopped celery
1 pound mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 tablespoons dried sage leaves
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 1/2 cups (or more) canned low-salt chicken broth
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder


Preheat oven to 325°F. Spread bread cubes on 2 baking sheets. Bake until bread cubes are dry and crisp, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes. Transfer bread to large bowl.
Saute bacon in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat until brown and crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels and drain. Pour off all but 1/4 cup drippings from skillet. Add chopped leeks and celery to skillet and saute until tender and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add mushrooms, sage, thyme, salt and pepper and saute until tender, about 10 minutes. Pour mushroom mixture over bread cubes. Add bacon and toss to blend. Mix in 2 cups broth. (Stuffing can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

Preheat oven to 350F. Butter 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Beat eggs and baking powder in small bowl to blend. Mix eggs into stuffing; moisten stuffing with more broth if stuffing is dry. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Bake stuffing until cooked through and golden brown on top, about 1 hour.

Serves 12.

"Can you understand her when she runs on so fast?" ~ Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre travels everywhere by foot.

I travel everywhere by car.

On Monday, I will be traveling in a new car.

I am ecstatic over this new vehicle; I test drove it and fell in love with its design, pickup, handling, and feel. It is a 2006 Saturn Vue in silver. I was literally jumping up and down in excitement when the financial officer from Saturn called me this morning and told me I was approved for the lease. In the end, I am sad to be giving up my red coupe; that car served me well. I have become attached to it. But its time to move on, and I cannot wait to drive the newbie.

I am dreaming tonight of the first road trip I will take in it when Sarah and I go to the Chocolate Spa in January. I am thinking about how nicely all the food I cook for Christmas will fit in the trunk. I am thinking about all the room I will have for beach chairs and coolers in the back during the summer months, and how comfortable I will be driving in the snowy months. I have more room for passengers, and I finally have some speed: its a V6 engine with great pickup. The first CD I am going to blast is the new Madonna CD.

I will practice driving the car in empty areas for a while because I am not used to the dimensions, and I will practice parallel parking since I am worried about quick parks in the city that I do all of the time and will now be hesitant to do.

Tomorrow I am going to buy the biggest red bow I can find and hang it in the car on Monday!
I deserve this Christmas present for myself from myself. I leased the car all on my own and did the insurance all on my own. It feels great.

All you women who are independent, honk your car 's horn and speed up...

"It was beginning to snow..." ~ Jane Eyre

What a perfect snow day it has been.

I took in a breath of delight when I opened my door this morning. I didn't realize it snowed, so it was a surprise. Since it is the first snow of the season, it is extra special. The snow is stuck to the trees and and the sky has been grey all day.

I started this day off pampering myself at the salon. It was decorated with gold Christmas bows and beautiful pine. It was relaxing; I was the only one in there. I felt very relaxed under the hot water of the sink with my head getting shampooed.

Once the salon trip was over, I had another trip to make. This is Jack's first snow day, so I had to go visit him. I went to Kitchen Kab to get breakfast for me and Missy: cappucino, mochacino, a carrot cake muffin, and a croissant. The Kab was filled with the smell of coffee and omelets. Everyone was in snow attire: boots, hats, gloves. There was a sense of excitement among the customers there; it was bustling.

I arrived to Missy's and my BooBoo was sleeping. Fortunately he awoke as I was making some scrambled eggs. Missy brought him down and I scrambled over to him to give him a big kiss. He was wearing the cute blue onesie with skating penguins on it that Missy and I picked up for him at Baby Gap. We put him in his seat and he ate breakfast with us at the table. As Missy spent time fixing the home for Christmas, Jack and I hung out. We looked out at the snow, we discussed the future snowballs he would throw at me, we danced around to some music, and then he fell asleep in my arms as we watched The Polar Express.

I came home to watch the Giants win, and now I am getting the apartment ready for Christmas. I moved some furniture so the tree can fit. I can't wait for next Sunday when I get a tree to trim. I am baking chicken for dinner tonight, and making some butternut squash soup. I am going to Target later, and I am finishing up my Christmas cards.

This day has been as soft and gentle and rich as the snow on the ground.

"They apply to friends, I suppose..." ~ Jane Eyre

English Teachers Gone Wild: Ladies Night Out - A Tale in Numbers (ironically)

Beautiful and Smart Ladies Dining: 8

Alcoholic Beverages served to Table: 18

Spinach and Artichoke Dips served to table: 2

"Oh My Gods!" gasped: 25

Women at table seeing the SAME therapist: 4

Noting ugly attire of random women in restaurant: 6

Candles on table: 2

Men with baggage and/or issues discussed: 6

Brunettes at table: 8

Blondes at table: 0

Desserts brought to table: 5

Books discussed: 0

"Stubborn?" he said. ~ Jane Eyre

It seem that in order to be considered a true "blogger," one must write a completely narcissistic entry. I am one to always be true, so here you go...

100 Things About Me.

1. My twin sister and I are 5 minutes apart; I was born first. Whether I was kicked out or I was pushing my way out depends on which sister you ask.

2. Anytime Sarah and I are on vacation together, people assume we are sisters or twins.

3. As a child, my favorite author was Dr. Seuss. I can still recite How the Grinch Stole Christmas perfectly. Ironically, as an adult I am not a big fan of Gertrude Stein.

4. Joey DiCapua proposed to me in my backyard in East Williston. He was 7 years old and I was 5 years old. There was no ring, but he did get down on his knee. Yes, I said yes.

5. My hair is naturally curly and naturally brunette. I have a love/hate relationship with my curls, but not my coloring. I love being a brunette and am the anti-blonde. I own a tee-shirt from Urban Outfitters that quips, "Brunettes Have More Fun."

6. I am an exceptional cook. My favorite dish to make is my Bolognese sauce on a cold Sunday in the wintertime.

7. I love my job as an English teacher, but I hate going to monthly faculty meetings. My colleagues love to hear themselves talk. One day I want to stand up and shout like Romeo does to Mercutio and say to them: "Thou talkst of nothing!" Sadly, some of my colleagues don't have a life and don't realize I have better things to do than listen to them gripe about kids not having hallway passes.

8. I am a chocoholic, but there is chocolate I do not like. I don't like any white chocolate, Lindt chocolates, or any chocolate with almonds.

9. I was "Tzeitel" in Fiddler on the Roof during senior year of high school and, subsequently, I have had a three Jewish Weddings.

10. I think Harry Potter is hot.

11. I still get mistaken for a student by the hallway monitors in my building. I have been teaching for six years. Even yesterday, security yelled at me to get out of the hallway.

12. I love watching South Park; Cartman is my favorite character and my favorite episode is the "Tooth Fairy" episode.

13. Theodore Roosevelt is my favorite president. Bully!

14. I love wine. My favorite white is chardonnay and my favorite red is cabernet. Sometimes I will have rose in the summer months.

15. Sarah and I keep a food diary of our restaurant adventures. Our first entry was New Green Bo in Chinatown many years ago, and our latest is Almondito from this past August in the Hamptons.

16. Carrie Bradshaw was my favorite of the foursome on Sex and the City.

17. When the Wonder Years was on, my mother and I watched it together each week; it was a ritual, just like taking walks after dinner. Just the two of us.

18. I love doggies. Cleo, Ed's rottie, will always be my favorite pup. I really want a male British Bulldog named "Watson."

19. I hate cats. Any creature that defecates in the house and leaves it there to sit just skeeves me out.

20. I love smelly candles from Yankee Candle, especially the summer scents like mango and coconut.

21. I was a young dancer in The Nutcracker for 4 years. I danced the role of an Angel, a Soldier, and a Gingerbread child.

22. Boston would be my second favorite city after New York if only the Red Sux were not there. Hence, my second favorite city is Las Vegas.

23. I am a die hard Yankee fan and Giants fan and am into sports as much as a frat boy is. The only difference between me and a frat boy when we watch a game is I lust after the players.

24. I own a Jeremy Shockey jersey (#80).

25. I like horseback riding.

26. Shakespeare rocks my world.

27. I saw Frank Sinatra in concert when I was 12 years old with my Grandmother.

28. I love shopping with my sister, Missy.

29. I have never been able to lift any free-weight heavier than 8 pounds at the gym.

30. Last year I trimmed my Christmas tree all by myself for the first time in my life, and I loved each moment of it.

31. In the second grade, Tamara and I built our own diorama of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory made out of candy.

32. I am adamant about getting a manicure once a week and pedicure every two weeks.

33. I drink Glaceau Smartwater.

34. I miss the Joanne's Gourmet Pizza (honey mustard chicken slices) and movie nights with Cassie.

35. I have eaten in the Cadet Mess Hall at West Point (thanks to David R., who was a cadet at the time).

36. My eyes are hazel.

37. I like singing along with Barry White anytime I hear one of his songs.

38. If I could have lunch with anyone tomorrow, it would be Martha Stewart.

39. The best sleep I ever had was when Robin and I stayed at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London. The bed was feathered down, and I fell asleep and woke to the sound of Big Ben.

40. I get my stubborn streak from my Grandpa Krikor.

41. My bedroom has Egyptian accents such as prints of Pharoahs and, ironically, cat statuettes.

42. I get excited when I go shop at Target.

43. One day I would like to drive a Porsche Boxter.

44. I have really long eyelashes; you know, the kind that hits sunglasses.

45. I have spent all day at the beach and left only because it got dark.

46. I think lingerie is beautiful and I like wearing it, especially pink satin.

47. I dream in color.

48. I love the smell of the Armenian Church.

49. I have become great at parallel parking in the city.

50. My favorite beers are in this order preference: Hoagarten, Purple Haze, Lindemann's Framboise.

51. I once had a dress made for a Halloween costume: I was Rose from Titanic my junior year at Hofstra.

52. I think the movie Braveheart is among the worst movies ever made.

53. I played the cello for eight years. My favorite piece to play was Beethoven's 9th Symphony because the cello section got the beautiful melody.

54. I have tons of salad dressing bottles in my fridge, but I don't like eating salad.

55. Tic-tacs are my favorite mint.

56. My hands are quite small.

57. My pet peeves involving grammar are when a person says "I'm good" when it should be "I am well" and when my students ask "Can I go to the bathroom" when they really should state, "May I go to the bathroom?"

58. I have no shame in correcting a person's grammar and do so often.

59. I think dried roses are beautiful.

60. I must have written Sarah at least 200 notes during junior and senior year of high school.

62. I believe in using a charcoal BBQ; gas is cheating and it just doesn't taste the same.

63. The first video I saw on MTV was Sting's "All This Time" when we got cable tv in the house when I was a freshman in high school.

64. My upper left ear is pierced.

65. I can't stand reading novels that don't have women in them. It is unrealistic and annoying. Got that, Melville?

66. I admire Jackie O. and Oprah Winfrey.

67. I spent almost a grand on Missy's baby shower cake from Sylvia Weinstock without any regrets.

68. I was given a backstage tour of the Les Miz theatre by the actor who played "Marius" at the time, Craig Rubano, who still remembers me to this day as his groupie.

69. As a child, I had an ant farm and sea monkeys.

70. John coaxed me to watch Clint Eastwood's movie "High Plains Drifter." I didn't want to like it, I shouldn't like it, but I really like it.

71. I think Fred Astaire is a better tap dancer than Gene Kelly.

72. I love taking really long and really hot showers.

73. I refuse to try on clothes at Lohmann's. The communal changing room is not my style.

74. I once watched the 6 hour BBC version of "Pride and Prejudice" twice in one weekend without any fast-forwarding.

75. My idea of the perfect couple is Han Solo and Leia Skywalker; two very strong, very independent, and very witty people.

76. I don't own anything plaid and I don't think I ever will.

77. The perfume I wear is Coco Chanel.

78. I wear my great-Aunt Nevart's engagement ring, circa 1938.

79. As a child, we had a pool in the backyard and I would float for hours, daydreaming that I was a Mermaid.

80. I ruined the family vacation to Washington DC when I was 7; I got an ear infection and ended up in the ER the night we got there; we went home the next morning.

81. I get woozy when I look at snakes.

82. I loved dinosaurs as a child and can name at least 10 types off the top of my head.

83. I drink my coffee at home out of a Shakespearean insult mug that Cassie got for me.

84. Hosting parties is one of my favorite things to do.

85. I own two Betsey Johnson dresses and loved my experience trying them on and purchasing them in Soho.

86. I like to sit in the sun and tan.

87. I have a thing for men who wear glasses.

88. My proudest moment as an artist was directing Dracula.

89. I have become addicted to the Pita Chips at Trader Joe's, hence I don't buy them anymore.

90. I still don't have Easypass.

91. I don't like horror movies and can't count the ones I have seen on my fingers.

92. I prefer to ski by myself.

93. I love handbags and change them often. However, the handbag I use now I am in love with and want to wear it forever. Its a rose colored leather by Kenneth Cole.

94. I love fishing.

95. My sister and I were the only two girls on our little league team.

96. I am a patient person in all aspects of my life except for men with issues; I lose my patience fairly quickly.

97. I hate olives; eating one sends a chill down my spine.

98. I already know what diamond engagement ring I want: a cushion cut with diamond channel setting.

99. I love weekend getaways.

100. I think the fact that Jane Eyre is twenty years younger than Rochester and they are having a love affair is very sexy and erotic.