Garanimals

Do you remember Garanimals? It was a clothing line that helped children learn to dress themselves yet still match. A top with a monkey tag could be paired with shorts or pants with a monkey tag. I have no idea if this product still exists but I thought it was brilliant.

Yesterday I went to the bank and the grocery store. Some adult people in this town need Garanimals.

I fantasize about Garanimal tags with the X through it. That would mean: Never wear this again!

Since I work from home, I am guilty of choosing comfort over fashion. When I leave home, I try to step it up a notch but I often fall into my rut. Black pants and white t-shirt. White pants and black t-shirt. Jeans and a black or white t-shirt. Adding kicky shoes or accessories is about as far as I go.

I was meant to live in New York.

Celebrity Hunt

Whenever I travel, especially to the east or west coast, I am constantly scanning the people around me. I'm looking for celebrities. I don't want an autograph and I don't bother them. (A year or so ago, I almost knocked Abby down on a NY street because Chris Rock was standing next to us.)

In this silly but harmless quest, I've been rewarded. I have seen and/or met:

OJ Simpson in the Dallas airport (while he was an athlete and before he became a murderer.)
Teri Garr in a CA hotel.
Jane Seymour in an airport.
Henry Winkler in a NY restaurant.
Kelly Ripa walking down a NY street.
Brooke Shields and Chris Henchy with their daughter in NY.
JFK, Jr. riding his bike in NY.
One of the Wilson brothers (Luke or Owen) on the subway.
Vincent Price, Jane Pauley, Ted Koppel, G. Gordon Liddy in various places.

There are many more.

Last night, the husband and I went to one of our favorite haunts. He stopped in the men's room so I headed to grab a couple of seats at the bar. I ordered us each a glass of wine and took out my notebook to jot down some thoughts. When he joined me, he asked, "Did you see who you're sitting next to?"

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts Quarterback and Superbowl MVP two years ago. Local celebrity of huge magnitude. Big brother of Eli Manning, Superbowl MVP in this year's game. I've met him before but never bellied up to a bar next to him.

As usual, my head was in the clouds and my nose was in a notebook until the husband reeled me back to the real world.

The oldies lived with us when our Colts won the Superbowl. She would've been so impressed that I was sitting next to Peyton.

How about that NY Gov?

I wish the Belle and I were sitting at my kitchen table. She would have much to say about the allegations of the governor of NY involved in this high-priced call girl sting. As I'm watching the news, I can actually hear her in my head.

I'm always amazed at the wife standing stoically by his side. Do they practice this in the mirror? I cannot imagine. It's one thing to have a disaster in your marriage. It's another situation when you are a public figure.

By the way, can you show me a marriage that hasn't been through disasters? The idea of it being all over the web and the media makes my skin crawl. The Belle would be appalled.

A New York State of Mind

I love my home. I love the seclusion and the wooded peace of our patio.

Every once in a while, I start going a little stir crazy. I need Manhattan. I need the madness, the cultures, the food and the subway. I need to see a show on Broadway. I need Little Italy, Soho, Chinatown and Wall Street. I need to go stand where the Twin Towers used to loom. I need to nod to the Statue of Liberty.

The husband has always had business connections in NYC. We've had many fun trips. I have a friend from college who lives there now. I invite myself. If there's an appropriate business conference, I look at the location first. If it's NY, I'm in.

I love the pace. I love the fact that you can get anything you want at any hour of the day or night. I love Central Park. I love looking for celebrities.

Many years ago, we took my parents to Manhattan as a Christmas gift. A couple of times, my dad almost lost a leg when he didn't get into a cab quickly enough. Even with those situations, they both had a great time.

We celebrated a girlfriend's significant birthday with a trip to NY a few years ago. I'm not sure any of us slept.

Although I was just there in April, I'm getting antsy. Start spreading the news... I'm looking up ticket prices.