tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372424232012-02-16T22:09:06.399-05:00jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.comBlogger1301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-23874802322980135182009-08-10T15:34:00.003-04:002009-08-10T16:33:57.884-04:00

So yeah. I know I've been absent from this blog lately. I've just been so busy with all things work related that I haven't had time to come to the internets for fun. I hate to be one of those people who uses work as an excuse, but fun and the Internet are a foreign concept when you work for a Web site. In fact, it's an unusually slow day at work that led me here. And in the end, it's all about

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-84649102435980369822009-04-08T10:59:00.000-04:002009-04-08T11:07:06.302-04:00

Lately, all I keep hearing about is how present-day New York is on the verge of becoming the New York of the 1970s--a time when the city was addled by high crime rates, near bankruptcy, and a malfunctioning subway system--but at least things were interesting. So I have to wonder if a return to 1970s-era New York is such a bad thing.Aging celebrities always talk about how much "edgier" New York

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-89611265582311351852009-04-01T15:41:00.005-04:002009-04-01T20:19:01.556-04:00

So it's been almost one full month since Jay and I got engaged. And what have I accomplished since then?Nothing!This is an incredibly overwhelming process that I'm not sure I'm prepared for, and I almost feel like apologizing for not having an answer at the ready for all of the well-meaning questions I'm peppered with: Have you set a date yet? No. Where will it be? Somewhere in New York, I guess?

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-54305418216843728442009-03-09T20:26:00.008-04:002009-03-09T22:31:12.615-04:00

In high school I took a drama class where I had to memorize the most measly part of Sartre's "No Exit." (A play where the underlying argument is "Hell is other people.") I wasn't prepared, and this became abundantly clear to my drama teacher when I had to run off stage to grab my copy of the script in order to finish the scene. And so ended my career as an actress. I never felt comfortable on

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-48577220680756296992009-02-25T15:57:00.005-05:002009-02-25T16:11:03.376-05:00

That is such a cliche, but I totally believe it.Back when I was weighing two job offers--one full-time with benefits, but in New Jersey; the other a long-term freelance contract in New York--I opted for the gig with health insurance and a 401(k), even though I was more excited by the New York gig. How bo-ring of me, right?Now it seems that, for once, my practicality has paid off, as the New

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-32386650868600771392009-02-22T19:38:00.007-05:002009-02-22T20:28:57.562-05:00

This Saturday, Sarah and I went to the American Museum of Natural History, a place I hadn't been to since the first grade. As we walked around, all I could think about was the wherewithal it must have taken my teacher, Miss Devine, to herd 20 or so 7-year-olds onto a bus headed for New York City, chauffeur them around a massive, four-floor museum and not lose a single one. The panic just the

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-72039562681839097902009-02-06T15:08:00.007-05:002009-02-07T09:22:34.830-05:00

Emily Gould (whom I don't personally know) is one of those people whose talent I'm jealous of in the most absolutely depressing of ways. This post is a great example of how and why she has this effect on me. She's worth reading if you're ever feeling introspective, but can't quite put into words why you're feeling introspective.I point out that post because I can relate to it in a very

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-15654874169967455302009-01-10T17:23:00.005-05:002009-01-10T18:13:21.364-05:00

So Jay and I decided that we're going to Puerto Rico (or some other similarly warmly climed place that is not Mexico) for New Year's in 2010--who's with us?! That's not to imply that this past New Year's wasn't fun; it certainly was, and I kicked it off by breaking my no-dairy resolution almost immediately by surprisingly enjoying an incredibly burnt piece of pizza. (Thanks Casey! [That is not a

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-58053433394745731972008-12-29T19:25:00.007-05:002008-12-29T20:06:32.734-05:00

I want to blog. Really, I do. I just don't know what's worth blogging about anymore.Is anyone really interested in hearing about the day's banalities? I don't have a problem reading about other people's banalities. I just read about how one friend is going to ask her midwife to strip her membranes, while another shared the story of a heart-to-heart while eating Kashi's Heart-to-Heart oatmeal. But

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-40119407461808766682008-10-14T11:31:00.004-04:002008-10-14T12:05:34.564-04:00

I thought by taking a job editing, I'd be more inspired to write, but instead I just find myself picking out typos in everything I read. Bo-ring.Which is what life has been lately, though I know those of you in more exciting and far off lands check here for updates on life in New York, so I'll do the best I can in trying to make an unexciting existence sound remotely interesting.We caught up with

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-14915846973027297852008-09-04T22:58:00.004-04:002008-09-04T23:25:39.353-04:00

I think I speak for both myself and Jay when I say how flattered we are that our trip to Spain inspired so many of you to one-up us. We love that you didn't let us bask in the glow of our extended vacation for too long, taking away our comeback high with more exotic life happenings like "moving to China" and "exploring the world," not to mention totally stealing our thunder by blogging about it

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-14272963500938064672008-08-08T09:42:00.006-04:002008-08-08T10:11:34.916-04:00

This is the best news I've heard since I read this a few months ago:TheWB.com, now in Beta testing, will launch on August 27, offering classic series that aired on the now defunct WB TV network along with new web series ... The online video network will offer classic WB series Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Veronica Mars, Smallville, Gilmore Girls, Everwood, Roswell, The Wayans Bros., Friends and The

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-90368001293450182922008-08-04T16:46:00.005-04:002008-08-04T17:47:00.745-04:00

I'm about as country as Jessica Simpson, but it should be said that I spent the first six years of my life with cows for neighbors. My parents eventually upgraded to a town with a convenience store within walking distance, but the people without teeth still remained.Back in those days, probably until I was about 10, the can't-wait-for event each summer was the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show,

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-80293589282991337002008-07-27T21:14:00.003-04:002008-07-27T21:52:30.063-04:00

Earlier today, I was lamenting to my neighbor about how life always seems to present two opportunities at the same time and of course the pros and cons of those opportunities always negate one another, therefore not making the decision process any easier.I know you're waiting for some insight here, but it's not coming.So seriously, what is up with that? And FYI, the response "because life is not

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-71175560617508733902008-07-14T13:35:00.004-04:002008-07-16T11:11:32.685-04:00

...Trying to upload this video. I'll spare you the details, but it involved fights with a font program, beguiling moments on Blogger and numerous break-up threats since the video was supposed to be posted within minutes of landing at JFK.I'll admit, I'm a little ashamed it took me almost two months to get this up. After all, I'm the Type A one. But I also think it's fitting, since the Spanish are

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-14240636555855707032008-05-30T06:36:00.002-04:002008-05-30T06:36:01.873-04:00

The editorial staff of See Jenn Blog has developed a questionnaire for guests, fielded the night before they leave, to get their impressions of the city. We always knew we would inflict this ritual on ourselves and when our last Friday night in Seville turned out to be a rain-soaked mess, we broke out the cava we had been saving for a special occasion, put iTunes on shuffle and commenced our

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-73224889809311031522008-05-29T12:03:00.005-04:002008-05-29T12:36:44.388-04:00

Yesterday, on my last jog along the Guadalquivir River, one of my all-time favorite songs, "Chocolate" by Snow Patrol, came on my iPod. The first few lyrics are: "This could be the very minute/I'm aware I'm alive/All these places feel like home." Reader, I teared up. But only a little. Here are more things Jay and I will miss about Seville, in no particular order.Jay:1. Tapas. It’s not just the

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-70486927623777606272008-05-27T08:36:00.007-04:002008-05-27T11:54:22.454-04:00

All over Seville you can spot the curious cipher, NO 8 DO. Sometimes it's conspicuous, on a police car for instance; but more often then not, it's less so, as on a bike rack. The above photo appeared on a park railing.The symbol stems from the 11th century, when the Catholics launched a reconquista in an attempt to take southern Spain back from the Moors. When the war went on for too long, as

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-329800240056694572008-05-23T06:12:00.002-04:002008-05-23T06:14:35.099-04:00

Jenn: I'm a little bummed to be missing out on Memorial Day weekend. I keep getting all these auto-replies to my e-mails about how so-and-so will be out of the office until May 27.Jay: You've been out of the office for three months.

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-50756039519346698682008-05-22T06:01:00.004-04:002008-05-22T06:14:14.931-04:00

You guys remember Quino, right? Some of you even met him and were privy to his kindness. Well, as we're about to hightail it out of here in nine days, we thought it would be nice to get him some sort of small departing gift for said kindness, plus his awesome restaurant recommendations. The thing is, we have absolutely no clue what to get him. From our limited conversations in Spanish, this is

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-2388245961703180222008-05-21T13:39:00.018-04:002008-05-21T14:38:47.995-04:00

When Jenn proposed today’s top-five list—“foods you need to shove down your gullet before leaving”—I thought it would be easy. Then I rattled off more than 20 dishes in the same number of seconds that would vie for only five slots.Sadly, Telepizza did not make the list. It was a tough call.To narrow it down, I’m including only things with ingredients that aren’t readily available back home or

jbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704672646572049160noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-35878963339011305142008-05-20T13:46:00.004-04:002008-05-20T14:28:39.523-04:00

Over the last few days I've been going through a self-inflicted detox of absolutely no alcohol. Frankly, I'm a little alarmed about the ferocity of which I've been able to toss 'em back lately--and barely catch a buzz. For Pete's sake I kept pace with Casey when he visited! And for those of you who don't know Casey he's no wisp of a man. So, I've decided to give up the sauce and get back to being

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-30257190137579664192008-05-20T06:59:00.012-04:002008-05-21T14:39:52.654-04:00

There is NOTHING* left to write about. We've seen all Seville has to offer. And Spain? Over it!** We're ready to shake this little town for the city that never sleeps. (Actually, given how many times those damn kids on the Alameda woke me up with their 5-a.m. antics, Seville may have New York beat on that one.)No matter! Who says you can't go home? Certainly not Jon Bon Jovi, and he's been around

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-720617374675406682008-05-19T09:34:00.005-04:002008-05-19T10:27:41.493-04:00

All things must come to an end and so it is that it is our last full week in Seville. My, how time flies! It seems like just yesterday I was worried about shoving three months' worth of clothing into one suitcase. Now I'm concerned about shoving three months' worth of clothing plus three months' worth of souvenirs into one suitcase that doesn't work properly.We expect the following days to be a

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-31048804651161255292008-05-17T06:51:00.003-04:002008-05-17T07:56:59.741-04:00

Two articles on the Times web site today particularly interested me and it wasn't until I was flipping between one and the next that I realized how starkly different, yet interconnected, they are:The first, "Five Basics for Building a Solid Financial Future," caught my eye because I’ve been thinking that, oh, I don’t know, maybe I should start accumulating grown up things like health insurance

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-79728700740952671052008-05-15T07:03:00.008-04:002008-05-15T07:27:23.656-04:00

"She takes soy milk in her coffee. He thinks pork fat is a perfect pizza topping."All the more reason why I wish Jay and I had run into Gwyneth Paltrow--perhaps my favorite actress no matter how many people hate her--and Mario Batali--absolutely Jay's most favorite chef and restaurateur no matter how much people mock his penchant for orange Crocs--as they take a foodie road trip through Spain for

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-21149506421840112112008-05-15T06:25:00.004-04:002008-05-15T06:47:57.460-04:00

I've previously documented the dreadful dreams I've been having since arriving in Seville, and now, it seems they've become contagious.First, it should be noted that I am a very light sleeper. The slightest wiggle of a bed mate's toe will cause me to immediately come to consciousness. So I wasn't surprised to be woken up when a fully asleep Jay shot upright in bed late last night."Are you OK?" I

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-29060079792282691672008-05-07T04:47:00.003-04:002008-05-07T05:02:34.169-04:00

This news comes after 10 weeks of living on a crappy conversion rate, with only three more to go:After six years of stumbling against the euro, the dollar may be showing signs of getting back on its feet. And another thing...I've read so much about the amazingness that was Monday night's ep of "Gossip Girl" that I decided to brave the craptastic streaming video capabilities here to watch it. Alas

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-25457038274736127892008-05-05T06:00:00.000-04:002008-05-05T06:00:03.913-04:00

The editorial staff of See Jenn Blog has developed a questionnaire for guests, fielded the night before they leave, to get their impressions of the city. We were very conflicted about the arrival of Casey and Kristen, our final guests. It’s not that we weren’t thrilled to host them; it’s just that we knew the end of their trip marked the beginning of the end for our time in Seville. Now that they

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-45690500610787020122008-05-04T04:54:00.005-04:002008-05-04T15:41:26.968-04:00

Scores of you have asked whether Jay and I are sick of each other yet, given that we've been in one another's company essentially nonstop for the last 60 days. The answer is, saccharinely, no. In fact, just this morning I received the following e-mail, which warmed my heart:To: Jennifer MerrittFrom: Jason BoehmerSubject: A band from NJIt's after midnight on Saturday, and you're sleeping in the

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-70281341028058881602008-05-03T10:18:00.002-04:002008-05-05T06:00:44.603-04:00

The editorial staff of See Jenn Blog has developed a questionnaire for guests, fielded the night before they leave, to get their impressions of the city. Rick, who has visited Seville before, was an unexpected guest, arriving under the arms of Casey and Kristen, but he earned his keep by offering up delicious and cheap restaurant recommendations, accurate city observations and flawless driving

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-54137012559623001932008-05-02T09:00:00.002-04:002008-05-02T09:25:12.329-04:00

Most people know Rick Steves from his PBS television series on European travel, his line of guidebooks or, perhaps, any number of rallies at which he promotes the legalization of marijuana. He’s American, affable, geeky and roughly my parents’ age. He also makes a terrific travel companion. Or, at least his books do.Last Wednesday, the five of us, along with Casey’s luggage that approximated my

jbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704672646572049160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-5336597626129963922008-05-01T05:20:00.006-04:002008-05-01T05:35:00.809-04:00

Not only have we been living above a grow shop for the last two months, but we just recently caught on to the fact that "women of the night" (and day, in this case) hang out around the corner from our apartment, right near our favorite gelato shop. And yet! None of this phases me.I feel so bohemian, circa 1970s East Village.

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-81039721814837861752008-04-29T08:51:00.003-04:002008-04-29T08:31:19.738-04:00

Ever since I arrived in Seville, I’ve been having really disturbing dreams. Like, for reals. One was about the natural death of someone close to me, another involved me letting someone die for the sake of saving myself, while another had me at a round table interview with Gwyneth Paltrow, my lovely friend and editor Dawn, and my dad, who totally monopolized the interview with thoughtful and

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-90205566014568631382008-04-27T15:44:00.010-04:002008-04-30T06:55:50.797-04:00

We haven't forgotten about you, dear readers, it's just that we're in the midst of 20 straight days of visitors, with whom we've been traveling around Spain; plus our bosses still expect us to work during the week--if you can believe that audacity--so please forgive the sparsity of posts as of late. The good news is, all of this has produced a wealth of material--that is, once we have the time to

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-73066981315112342042008-04-20T10:15:00.004-04:002008-04-20T10:43:19.311-04:00

The editorial staff of See Jenn Blog has developed a questionnaire for guests, fielded the night before they leave, to get their impressions of the city. Sarah, our second guest, was a very willing participant, prefacing the interview with, “Can you guys get your shit together and ask me the damn questions?”Jenn: What was your favorite thing about Seville?Sarah: Sevici. The bikes, absolutely.

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-39441577804771763302008-04-20T08:51:00.006-04:002008-05-06T09:27:10.007-04:00

There is a first time for everything and it just so happens that a lot of firsts occurred with the visit of our friend and my former roommate Sarah. (She's an adventurous gal, so it makes sense.)These first times included, but were not limited to, biking through Seville's city center (exhilarating, as we usually stick to the designated bike path); a bullfight (nauseating--or so I hear);

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-2720428262593933752008-04-20T06:06:00.002-04:002008-04-20T06:08:58.633-04:00

On March 30, 2008 at 2 AM, the residents of Spain turned their clocks forward one hour—all the residents but us. For two weeks, we operated on Jay And Jenn Standard Time (JAJST), unwittingly sharing the Greenwich Mean zone with Iceland and parts of the Atlantic Ocean. All the while we would say to each other, “I’ll never understand the Spanish schedule.”

jbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704672646572049160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-17108073619288572352008-04-15T16:38:00.002-04:002008-04-15T16:42:29.567-04:00

The mosquito problem is over thanks to a little contraption that plugs into our outlet. I didn’t read the manual, but I assume it emits some sort of vaporized insecticide. Now, when mosquitoes fly into its deadly path, the noxious vapors stop them mid-flight, forcing their little mosquito carcasses to plummet upon our sleeping bodies. Though our bed is converted into a mosquito graveyard by

jbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704672646572049160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-39471637995483359252008-04-15T06:58:00.002-04:002008-04-15T07:00:41.643-04:00

Actually, the serenity took place yesterday, on the way back to Seville from Cordoba.

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-42548546691373488652008-04-11T12:27:00.004-04:002008-04-11T12:29:55.911-04:00

General Franco is alive and well, and he is working at the candy kiosk on the south end of the Alameda de Hercules. I discovered this a week ago. It was a normal Friday evening in Seville—sunny, warm. The locals were enjoying tapas and vino at the cafes that dot our street. I, the lonely stranger, an American, stepped into the night to buy wine at the liquor shop. Jenn’s last words reverberated

jbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704672646572049160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-37950088899418448552008-04-10T15:08:00.005-04:002008-04-10T15:33:25.810-04:00

Last night, tired of cooking and sick of tapas, we decided to try this sushi joint we stumbled upon a few weeks ago. Big mistake. It was as if, in lieu rice, they soaked white bread in water and wrapped it around the contents of a California roll. Further adding insult to injury, this sushi's craptasticness only made me long for the indomitable Watawa in Astoria.So it's back to tapas, which

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-90795950110532551172008-04-07T10:41:00.002-04:002008-04-05T17:43:35.431-04:00

Aliens (aka upcoming visitors) land on earth (aka Seville) and say they're going to make you (not really) attend a bullfight (aka bullfight), the same day you caught glimpses of a bullfight on TV and decided you couldn't handle it. What do you do?Seriously. Bullfight season is in full swing and when Jay and I happened upon a televised fight at a bar today, I started tearing up the minute the poor

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-79506065169590163802008-04-05T16:04:00.003-04:002008-04-05T16:11:43.536-04:00

Since arriving in Seville, I noticed about 30 percent of the patrons at any given café will be drinking what looks like Sangria on the rocks with a lemon slice. However, a confused exchange with a local bartender revealed that many Spaniards prefer another wine-based cocktail instead of the famous drink many Americans associate with Spain, and some with Mexico (for no apparent reason). Our

jbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704672646572049160noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-53712855235003714122008-04-04T21:31:00.001-04:002008-04-05T06:34:05.665-04:00

Ed. note: This is my last whiny media-related post, I swear. Well, at least for a while anyway.It ain’t easy freelancing. Those of you who are successful at it, I salute you, because honestly, I do not know how anyone can earnestly earn a living at it anymore, given the inconceivably crappy pay days I’ve come across as of late.* To wit, a recent smattering of compensation rates I’ve been

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-73765305573872704662008-04-04T16:57:00.002-04:002008-04-04T12:08:43.892-04:00

The editorial staff of See Jenn Blog has developed a questionnaire for guests, fielded the night before they leave, to get their impressions of the city. Corrie Dosh was, as she put it, the “first visitor to J&J Music Factory.” Here is a transcript of her exit interview:Jay: What was your favorite thing about Seville?Corrie: The food—fantastic food. I love the idea of tapas, just crawling around

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-64843921306397403582008-04-04T16:37:00.000-04:002008-04-04T11:38:26.533-04:00

Our guests' visits are sort of evolving into a "Choose Your Own Adventure" series and in Corrie's case—who is the perfect guest because she is so c'est la vie—the trip culminated into "Spain: The Land of the Free." During her time here we netted complimentary jamón croquettas, a round of drinks, a separate round of shots and entry to Italica, the nearby Roman ruins. With the exception of Italica,

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-76331266578086146792008-04-04T10:48:00.003-04:002008-04-04T10:57:14.347-04:00

Juan Luis Cayuela Bachiller is the third-generation luthier in the guitar-making dynasty Cayuela family. From his workshop in Seville, he handcrafts beautiful instruments for many of Spain’s flamenco greats, delicately bringing dead wood and nylon strings to life.When I stepped into his shop this week, he was sitting in the corner hammering out a flamenco tune on one of his flawless instruments.

jbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704672646572049160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-57984666731436762122008-04-02T10:06:00.008-04:002008-04-03T09:14:29.025-04:00

Perhaps this is only interesting to my fellow travel writers, but here goes..."Skyrocketing fuel prices. Unmanageable airline budgets. A declining U.S. dollar. International instability and America's increasingly dismal reputation abroad. The new age of travel is about more than waiting in line so that a sixty-year-old TSA biddy can wave a security wand in front of your crotch. In coming years,

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-83527382092609614492008-03-31T17:22:00.004-04:002008-03-31T17:55:32.033-04:00

Antonio works across the street from our apartment at a café called Las Columnas. That's him in the picture, and here are 10 things I like about him: 1) He always greets us when we walk into the café.2) He knows what we drink and readies one beer and one white wine the second he sees us.3) He talks to us, though we never understand what he's saying, since he seems to speak some

jbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704672646572049160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-23928525303583984252008-03-31T16:16:00.001-04:002008-03-31T17:54:01.712-04:00

jbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704672646572049160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-60403995528524059022008-03-27T05:32:00.003-04:002008-03-27T05:39:18.220-04:00

...I can become a dancer at a vegan strip club. It would be like penance for all the bits of ham I've had since I arrived here. 

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-27777506816645806142008-03-26T03:19:00.007-04:002008-03-26T03:33:59.730-04:00

Because of that damn bug (which has turned out to be a mosquito, by the way--yay, multiple bug bites are fun!), I have:caught up on e-mailshad some green teawatched the sun risedone yogaand now, blogged And it's only 8 a.m.Meanwhile, Jay still has another three hours of sleep ahead of him. Slacker.

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-57110263446217487952008-03-25T11:06:00.008-04:002008-03-25T11:23:33.387-04:00

After reading Sam Kashner’s article in Vanity Fair, “Here’s to You, Mr. Nichols: The Making of The Graduate,” I’m totally crushing on Mike Nichols.The quotes provided by the 76-year-old director made me laugh and contemplate things in a way that only a rich man who’s had the time and the means to reflect on life can. My favorite (and the article’s penultimate) quote is: “There’s nothing better

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-91935204543843840742008-03-23T15:03:00.005-04:002008-03-23T15:14:57.622-04:00

I’ve been thinking a lot about how a few of my favorite street musicians in Seville could join up and form a band, or really a supergroup—not unlike the Traveling Wilburys or Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. I propose we call them The Seville Street Musician Supergroup, or as converted into Español by FreeTranslation.com, El Músico Ambulante de Sevilla Super Grupo.So, without further ado, here they

jbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704672646572049160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-11200632541210542142008-03-22T12:24:00.006-04:002008-03-22T15:38:50.590-04:00

Are we boring you yet?Alas, it is Easter and the end of Holy Week. Thankfully, Thursday's rain let up and we were able to see that night's processions, said to be the holiest of all Holy Week pasos, going all night and into the the wee hours of Good Friday morning.The video and most of the photos are from La Macarena, put on by our quarter's church with some 3,000 Nazarenes, and representing

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-39019336449707178872008-03-20T14:38:00.005-04:002008-03-20T14:49:02.029-04:00

Jenn and I have detailed how the Spanish enjoy their pork, but the ingredient list on a can of lentils with chorizo—aka lentejas con chorizo—further affirms this cultural assumption:Ingredient #1 Lentils So far, so good. You’d expect lentils to be the dominant ingredient in a can of lentils.Ingredient #2 Cooking WaterOkay. Makes sense. It requires a good amount of both cooking and water to

jbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704672646572049160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-43855938818558168312008-03-20T11:33:00.006-04:002008-03-20T11:54:16.090-04:00

Evidentiary Support A: After two and a half weeks of beautiful weather, today is our second straight day of sogginess, quite literally raining on our parade, since rain = cancellation of the final and most revered of Holy Week processions.Evidentiary Support B: Jay got visibly peeved at me today. (I emphasize "visibly" because it's very likely he's already been annoyed by me and I just didn't

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-14748142684923531272008-03-19T07:25:00.007-04:002008-03-19T08:30:06.112-04:00

It is half past noon in Seville on what is sure to be another sunny and 70-degree Wednesday*. Meanwhile, the Lincoln Tunnel is backed up, making it tougher and tougher for those Jersey commuters to get to their New York City offices. When those commuters exit the Lincoln Tunnel, they will find it is raining and a brisk 41 degrees Fahrenheit.How do I know all this?Jenn is listening to WCBS radio.

jbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704672646572049160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-41139850350394917182008-03-17T15:37:00.004-04:002008-03-17T15:45:04.731-04:00

I’ll eat everything. If you know me, you know this to be true. I will not eat everything. If you know me, you know this to be true. It has been said that the Spanish eat everything on the pig except for the oink. I’ve joined them. I’ve eaten my way from the hoof to the hip with fine slices of jamón serrano. I’ve gotten all up in the pig’s face with tasty bits of carrillada, or pork cheeks. I’ve

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-59585412446636062222008-03-17T14:22:00.010-04:002008-03-17T15:47:36.856-04:00

I’m a pretty non-violent person, even going out of my way to avoid stepping on ants on the sidewalk, but as of late, my attitude toward those of the bug variety has changed.For the past week, just as I am in the throes of a deep sleep, this fly* has come buzzing around my head like the Red Barron, causing me to flail my arms like a three-year-old in the midst of a temper tantrum. The rest of the

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-31593895363092995932008-03-16T15:07:00.005-04:002008-03-17T10:22:41.021-04:00

Palm Sunday marks the start of Semana Santa, or Holy Week, which for the Sevillianos, is a tradition of some 2,000 processions, some dating back to the 13th century. Today, we saw our first of what will likely be many pasos this week, and we were so moved by what we saw we may even go to church next Sunday. I’ll let you know how that turns out.Here are some pictures from today’s paso, La

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-56973406842582281782008-03-14T10:51:00.004-04:002008-03-14T12:05:56.241-04:00

The weather is warming here and so are we.We can now navigate ordering at restaurants and the market in full Spanish, though the experiences have not been without mishaps. The other day, I attempted to order a vodka y soda at a cafe, subbing the pronunciation of the "V" as "B", as the Spanish do—only the bartender could not decipher what I was saying. Finally, he got it. "Ahhhhh, VODKA," he

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-68275400569132143512008-03-13T11:14:00.003-04:002008-03-13T11:25:07.261-04:00

This is the best thing my cable-deprived self has heard in a very, very long time:"Rich kids are back: CW plots '90210' spinoff"In other good news:"Trouble Cooking for Ray Show"Try as I might, I cannot understand why this woman has the career that she does. I've never met a single person who enjoys her dumbing down of "EVOO" and "yum-o."

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-61233684420368174712008-03-11T14:57:00.002-04:002008-03-11T15:04:02.764-04:00

We all learned back in our freshman Spanish classes (or, in my case, French—why did I take that?), that quite a few languages apply a gender identity to many words—some words are masculine, some are feminine and yet others are total trannies. In the course of navigating this strange and wonderful and confusing and frustrating language, I've noticed something odd.Beer, or cervaza, which is

jbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704672646572049160noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-22270188450001660512008-03-11T14:03:00.005-04:002008-03-14T11:12:23.010-04:00

First, before I forget: bring a pillow. We have plenty of extra blankets and towels, but lack an abundance of pillows.Second, details on navigating the Avé. Oh, the Avé. Luckily we made all the mistakes so you don't have to. To wit:Though it is possible to purchase the tickets online prior to arrival, we decided to forfeit that option, as we thought it a tricky proposition, given that tickets are

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-31112657187469175322008-03-10T16:28:00.003-04:002008-03-10T16:38:37.155-04:00

When traveling in a country where the language is not your own, it’s important to have a fall-back plan, i.e., one of those embarrassingly touristy phrase books, or more covertly, an electronic translator, which if spotted in dim enough light, can look like a Sidekick.We have both of these things and they have been occasionally helpful but more so completely useless. At times, the questions and

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-6029322405819888202008-03-09T14:25:00.003-04:002008-03-14T11:23:52.058-04:00

After a few days here, between the walking and the biking and the tapas and the shopping at the fresh food markets and the generally smaller portions severed in restaurants, one starts to think, "I'm soooo going to become one of those skinny European bitches."But then I forget that my version of the Mediterranean Diet involves vino, and when I have too much of it, I get ravenously hungry. Not

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-24056162645770513092008-03-05T13:23:00.007-05:002008-03-14T11:37:36.487-04:00

In New York they take to the streets with their fanny packs, cameras and IHeartNY t-shirts. They walk slowly, stretched four-long on the sidewalk, meandering and impossible to pass. The tourist is a scourge to New Yorkers.After six years of living in that city, I’ve joined the throngs of locals who have grown weary of them. Unfortunately, I’ve brought that mentality to Spain. I am, more than

jbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704672646572049160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-27560056802441458362008-03-05T13:18:00.006-05:002008-03-14T11:30:37.824-04:00

As different as they are, it's hard not to compare life in New York with life in Seville. Today, the weather was reminiscent of a crisp and cloud-free fall day in Manhattan. Except I was in Seville. See what I'm saying?Anywho, Seville has this community bike program, Sevici, that for just a few euros gives users access to numerous pick up/drop off bike stations around the city. Jay and I jumped

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-41951239484752985072008-03-04T16:36:00.006-05:002008-03-05T06:20:49.518-05:00

We made a friend! His name is Joaquin--or Quino, as his friends (like us)--call him. He doesn't speak very much English, but whatevs, he is patient with our inconsistent Spanish. He owns a café bar steps from our apartment and he has a dog named Pipa (short for Josephina) who just roams around the place looking for attention. And he, like, totes invited us to his bar's anniversary party on

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-82199202219595218812008-03-04T11:39:00.006-05:002008-03-04T12:33:28.683-05:00

It's no secret that the thing I dislike most about New York is its frenetic pace. I'm pretty go-go-go myself, but I've learned being a go-go-go person in a go-go-go atmosphere is exhausting. Which is why I was so eager to move to Spain, the land of siestas and drawn out mini-meals. I hoped, no matter how ridiculously, that the Spanish pace of life would rub off on me, effectively changing a core

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-1768758554172104112008-03-03T12:55:00.008-05:002008-03-05T13:18:37.416-05:00

We made it, though the journey was not without its trials. But I'll get to the complaining later. Seville is wonderful. It has been 70 degrees and sunny everyday so far and I didn't realize until our first day here that I'd forgotten what the sun felt like. It's true what people say about Seville being what you imagine Spain, and Europe in general, to be like. Narrow cobblestone streets taken

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-19652390703554473702008-02-28T10:53:00.007-05:002008-02-28T11:00:26.263-05:00

What a great time it was. We drank, we ate, we practiced flamenco and no one cried. Which, now that I think about it, kind of pisses me off.Party pics here.(Special thanks to Ilyse for creating the hilariously embarrassing invite.)And now, my photo homage to everyone who could not be there and was very much missed. (Some of these photos are ooooold, which means we need to hangout more. If you

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-6255530795894273082008-02-26T17:10:00.009-05:002008-02-26T17:40:58.395-05:00

...because she's on ABC!You'll have to go here to see the actual video (seems ABC isn't quite as technologically savvy as CBS' Andy Rooney). She was selected for the segment based on her outstanding volunteer work with the New Jersey chapter of the American Chronic Pain Association. (She also has her own alternative therapy practice.) Moms has become quite media savvy over the last few years; so

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-54653397970436466082008-02-26T11:51:00.005-05:002008-02-26T12:37:55.659-05:00

Ever since the announcement of The Move 2.0, Jay and I have fielded a lot of the same questions about the decision. They are, of course, all valid, as our friends don't share the same brain, but because I'm procrastinating packing, I've decided to round up the eight questions we're consistently asked, for your inquisitive reading pleasure.Q: How did you guys decide to do this?A: Well, the

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-17576536212587378902008-02-25T22:06:00.006-05:002008-02-25T22:52:19.604-05:00

The day I returned from my month-long stay in England, my parents, driving me home from the airport, asked what I wanted to do on my first day back in the states. "Go to a diner," said I, a born-and-bred Diner State girl, and the 'rents promptly obliged. Therewith, I proceeded to pig out on mozzarella sticks, potato skins (this was pre-vegetarianism) and other various and nefarious fried foods

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-35209036867983214662008-02-22T13:47:00.005-05:002008-02-22T14:02:22.578-05:00

The New York Times writes a laudatory article about a subway ad that properly uses a semicolon (a lesson we know a few of you need to revisit), only to have to later amend the story with this correction:

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-14327458423552640462008-02-21T09:23:00.004-05:002008-02-21T09:35:16.862-05:00

"The first year and especially those first few months can be really isolating. Sometimes just getting out for a cup of coffee can be the most entertaining thing of the day."That's a source I recently spoke with for an article. She was talking about having a baby, but I think it also speaks well of going freelance. Does this mean I'm ready to be a mom now?

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-55058638375352798362008-02-20T18:04:00.004-05:002008-02-20T18:15:07.149-05:00

Witness the cannoli-filled cake that wishes us well in French for our upcoming trip to Spain. Bit internationally schizophrenic, but delicious nonetheless.

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-69819704742476750552008-02-10T20:48:00.001-05:002008-02-10T21:09:05.348-05:00

Does anyone actually enjoy Andy Rooney on "60 Minutes"? If you do, please tell me why, because I'm having trouble understanding how this dated, unfunny old man still gets paid. To wit, his recently aired segment on the Super Bowl:

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-54909621112869210722008-02-07T16:40:00.000-05:002008-02-07T17:29:40.276-05:00

I've always complained about the poor-quality produce in Astoria, which is why I'm so excited about this:"...[Dan Wood and Amale Andraos have] convinced P.S. 1 to let them fill the museum's courtyard with... um, crops. Wood and Andraos have won the institution's Young Architects Program competition, which means that by summer, they will have stood dozens of giant cardboard tubes on one end,

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-10550022448816283142008-02-06T20:27:00.000-05:002008-02-06T21:14:59.072-05:00

This post is at risk of over sharing. Consider yourself forewarned. Around that time of the month, I tend to get severe cravings, usually for chocolate or salt, which, as every menstruating woman knows, is a big no-no, as caffeine and salt only make cramps worse. This month, however, has been different--I'm craving meat.As a vegetarian, I know that having meat on the mind usually means I need to

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-39479273324647440242008-02-05T15:43:00.000-05:002008-02-05T17:40:42.337-05:00

...Of our apartment in Seville! I've been meaning to post these photos for a while and I figure my standard 3 p.m. procrastination hour is as good a time as any. Behold:The living room, with what we hope is a futon so that when people come visit, we won't have to share a twin bed (more on that later).The uneventful kitchen. Since I don't cook, its sparsity doesn't bother me much, though I'm not

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-81924644156612300722008-02-04T10:17:00.000-05:002008-02-04T10:35:32.614-05:00

The Giants just had to win the Super Bowl, because I couldn't stand the thought of Tom Brady pulling off the unbelievable trifecta of knocking up Bridget Moyhahan, leaving her to bang Gisele and leading an undefeated team to a world championship win.Plus, last night's win managed to raise my father's excitement decibel from Eeyore to Charlie Brown.Good work, team.

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-51310382630697579182008-01-30T14:20:00.000-05:002008-01-30T14:32:12.947-05:00

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-91199635231764514232008-01-28T15:09:00.000-05:002008-01-28T16:20:50.013-05:00

My instinct is to hate this blog. Reading it generates the same "ugh" feeling I got after taking in a few pages of Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love." (Truth be told, I didn't hate the book, just Liz's pig out across Italy. Her determination to successfully meditate at an ashram was much more fascinating to me.)Why all the hate, you ask, especially since I'm about to embark on my own similar

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-87260829449525265582008-01-22T12:52:00.000-05:002008-01-22T13:04:45.185-05:00

A magazine I used to work for tended to get a little out of hand in its pursuit of the "exclusive" slug, tagging it on items as meaningless as some exec saying they might maybe do something about that thing soon. But none of that matters, because this Us Weekly "Exclusive" takes the cake, and makes me so happy that I am not required to be that inane for a living.

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-5874192947919213912008-01-18T11:46:00.000-05:002008-01-18T12:18:03.725-05:00

JEOPARDY! is not my game. Usually I'm a Wheel watcher, mostly because it requires less thoughtful effort. But this week, I happened upon JEOPARDY! and managed to kick ass in one category, "Landing at JFK." I got every question right, and while I was elated at first, my usual stupidity in every other category quickly set in, which made me feel less smart and more like a female version of Tom Hanks

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-62867061119897532912008-01-09T10:11:00.000-05:002008-01-09T10:45:11.555-05:00

First poop, now this: "Chinese inspectors found eight mice, dead and alive, on a United Airlines flight [from Washington, D.C.] to Beijing after the airline reported the stowaways to local quarantine officials upon landing Sunday afternoon, Xinhua news agency said." I'm not so concerned about mice on a plane, per se. They're kind of cute, minus the tails; and really, any diseases these rodents

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-38059502868034436902008-01-01T22:16:00.000-05:002008-01-01T22:52:24.292-05:00

...And I feel somewhat different. Mostly, hungover. But, in other news:• I severely fell off the vegetarian wagon New Year's Eve, thanks to another of Jay's stupendous stylings in the kitchen: these delectable little ham croquettes (pictured here). Yes, they look suspiciously like Jay's famous risotto balls, but these croquettes are on another level. Never have everything I usually avoid

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-74144245298528812582007-12-22T11:24:00.000-05:002007-12-22T11:52:10.595-05:00

I'm the type of person who looks for signs. Signs that what I'm about to do is the right thing; signs that I did the right thing; signs that I missed an opportunity. Sometimes they appear; more often than not, they don't. But when they do appear, I feel a confidence that no person or words can otherwise give me. Whether these signs come from God, fate, the universe, or are just mere idiotic

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-80022244591197934292007-12-19T20:08:00.000-05:002007-12-19T22:16:21.904-05:00

Jay said it best upon our arrival at Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland: People don't even honeymoon this good. Below, a video of our suite (forgive our giddiness, we had just arrived) and here, photos. Now the run down:Day 1Despite its royal reputation, Gleneagles is anything but stuffy. (In 2005, the G8 Summit was held there, and in 2014, the hotel will host the Ryders Cup on its

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-82541400357699455902007-12-06T10:48:00.000-05:002007-12-06T11:06:23.883-05:00

I've already gotten my second congratulations-but-sad-to-see-you-go e-mail about this news from BizWeek: "The Wall Street Journal hires Jennifer Merritt (jennifer.merritt@wsj.com) as 'CareerJournal' editor."Sadly, it's a success of JM 1.0, not my own. Truth be told, it's slightly annoying having to deflect these e-mails, as it only reminds me of how stunted I am in my current position. For sure,

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-19312465658313356852007-11-29T10:26:00.000-05:002007-11-29T11:27:26.809-05:00

On Yahoo!: Tourists, theatergoers, shoppers and pub patrons in London's West End can now text the word "toilet" — and receive a text back with the address of the nearest public facility.Leave it to our friends across the pond--where public toilets abound (albeit for a small fee)--to come up with loo-finding technology. If you've ever spent more than an hour with me, you know how small my bladder

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-13124868274046319562007-11-26T13:50:00.000-05:002007-11-26T13:55:50.274-05:00

Driving in the slow lane, five miles under the speed limit, on a highway you used to do 85 mph on just a few years ago; cringing the entirety of the hour’s drive, not just because it’s been a few months since you’ve driven—let alone on a major highway filled with raging New Jerseyians—but also because your driving skills now resemble that of your mother. Also; buying eye cream.

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-47369274735211628382007-10-04T17:11:00.000-04:002007-10-04T17:35:34.931-04:00

It appears the planets are aligning for mine and Jay's plans to temporarily move abroad next year. Like, for real: Scorpio (aka me): From now on, Mars will be in your long-distance travel/foreign people and places sector, so something big seems to be brewing for you in this area. You may travel abroad in coming months (very likely) [Ed note: Given the job, duh] or you may get special help from

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-84679203950919375802007-09-19T22:16:00.000-04:002007-09-19T22:34:46.056-04:00

(From L-R: Blair, Dan, Serena, Nate, Chuck and Jenny)Anyone who knows me well knows how much I love a deliciously cheesy teen drama. It all started with 90210, moved on to Dawson’s Creek (Jen Lindley being the only blond temptress I’ve ever sympathized with), graduated to Felicity, then, after a too-long dry spell, the gloriously witty O.C. (the first season, anyway) and lately, during my second

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-80453105294688300562007-09-05T20:41:00.001-04:002007-09-05T21:53:34.518-04:00

The last time I was in Hilton Head, SC, I officially entered womanhood, receiving my first-ever visit from the now much-loathed Aunt Flo. I was 12. So it somehow is fitting then, that on my second visit, 15 years later, my biological clock starts ticking.It's Jay's own fault, really. First, on Friday, there was his friends' wedding. These things inexplicably get to me, making me think "Oh, I want

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37242423.post-64256230503339527152007-08-26T23:29:00.000-04:002007-08-26T23:29:35.143-04:00

So clearly my recent trip to Budapest is not something I would have been able to accomplish on my own meager salary, even though my boss continually likes to position her staff as “experts in the luxury market,” when in reality, on particularly bad days, my coworker and I go in on lunch together, splitting a slice of pizza and meticulously dividing up a can of Diet Coke from the vending machine.

jmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05004692009342379601noreply@blogger.com0