New Book

From talented author, artist, musician, photographer, stylist, actor, poet and generally wonderful person, Bobby Miller (who also happens to be my uncle's partner):

I am pleased and excited to announce that my new book of photographs of NYC downtown life circa 1973 - 1983 with text by Terence Sellers is now available for purchase at:

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/251050
It can be ordered in paperback , hard cover and hard cover image wrap and shipped directly to you. I hope it brings back many great memories about life in Manhattan then and a scene that we all once knew and loved.

Best to you all, Bobby Miller

Bobby's first book, Fabulous, really lives up to its name. I can't wait to see the new one!

Safety notice

Note to friends and loved ones: Don't move anywhere I've lived. First the was the shark attack across the street from my Solana Beach apartment. Then there's this:




When I first moved to New York in August 2003, Michelle and I lived at 314 E 91st Street between 1st and 2nd avenues. That's my old Duane Reade on the corner. I could have been squashed picking up some dryer sheets or running out for a KitKat! My heart goes out to the families of the two construction workers killed in the collapse.


Note to self: Look for cranes and other large, potentially hazardous machinery when searching for your next apartment.

Day 24: Wakefield, MA - final destination

I'm baaaaAAAAAack!

4,433 miles from Rondinelli Manor to Casa LeClair. Someday when I have the time and the guts I'm going to go over my bank statements and see just how much I spent on gas.

It's remarkably easy to slide back into life at home. Before I saw anyone I stopped at Marshall's and bought 2 pairs of shoes. Then I picked up 2 Dunkin' Donuts iced coffees on the way to my sister's house. I got to squeeze my nieces chubby cheeks and giver her a fraction of the kisses I've wanted to over the last 5 months. Back at my parents' house I finally unloaded my car and quickly made my bedroom look like a federal disaster area. After a dinner of steak tips with my father's famous marinade (all I know is it contains both BBQ sauce and Welch's grape jelly) I headed to my friend Lisa's new place. Then it was time for some Sex in the City! A-maz-ing. Don't want to give away any spoilers, but I can't wait to see it again.

There are somethings I forgot about Boston that I wish I didn't have to remember. In DC I got a taste of what I was in store for with guys out in Nantucket reds, flip flops with whales on them, sunglasses on the back of their necks...We get it. You summer in the Vineyard. Every member of your family has at least one Black Dog tee. We get it. No need to tattoo it on your forehead.
Last night we watched as a fight broke out between a bouncer and someone a little too liquored up. The bouncers were out of control and looking to flex whatever muscle their jobs give them. The guy was tanked and didn't have friends who cared enough to pull him out - for his own sake - and shove him in a cab. There were people hopping over the bar and guys pulling each other's polo shirts; Journey was on the jukebox. Ah, Boston, you're my home.

Today I've got a bridal shower for a friend from high school. Watch out ladies - I'm killer at bridal word scrambles! The rest of the weekend will be filled with exciting events like mowing the lawn and cleaning my room. I'll try and blog every exciting detail.

Thanks to all those who supported my road trip and made me feel at home in so many ways, in so many places.

Day 22: Northampton, MA

Mass at last. I only had to drive 200 miles yesterday - piece of cake! I gave NY a brief kiss on the cheek as I passed over the Tappan Zee bridge and onto the Merrit Parkway, but I'll have to wait for fall to enter into another full-on lust affair with the city I learned to love. The rain held off except for a 5 minute shower to rinse my car before I pulled into Leeds, MA.


I began the process of winding-down my road trip and preparing to re-join a somewhat normal life. I did laundry, and the psychological benefit of not having a car full of dirty socks and underwear cannot be overstated. I wrapped the various gifts I picked up for people along the way and am pretty pleased with how they came out.


I used the maps from my trip - eco-friendly, economical, and thematic.


Last night I had a delicious dinner with my Aunt and we caught up on family gossip (Steph and Mary - nothing good). This morning I slept in and then cocooned myself in the hammock on the front porch with a fleece blanket, a mug of hot tea, and Middlesex. I love the lazy life.


After breakfast I took a bike ride, which was much more difficult than I had thought it would be. I clearly underestimated how out-of-shape I am, and thoughts I had previously entertained of borrowing my sister's bike and cycling to work this summer dissipated with a quickness. The afternoon has been spent browsing the shops of downtown Northampton. I absolutely love it out here. When I was little I would complain about going to visit my aunt who lived "in the boondocks" and "didn't have cable" [gasp]! Then I grew up a little and realized how amazing this area is. Amherst College wait listed and then ultimately denied me (fuckers - not that I'm bitter, but man did they miss out), and I turned down life as a grad student at UMass in favor of NYU. Still, there's something I'm drawn to out here, and I wouldn't mind a sweet tenure track job at one of the 5 schools. In the meantime, I'm doing my part to support the local economy with the purchase of a cute, gold-ish short trench for $15, some belated and up-coming birthday gifts, and a 7-day smoothie with orange and mango juice, banana, ginger, coconut and frozen yogurt.

Forecast for tomorrow? More of the same.

Day 20: Quick update

Sorry for not posting consistently, it's been a busy week, but I thought I'd give a quick update. I had an awesome time in DC; it was so much fun to catch up with Kiley and get to spend some time with Matt and Parker. We even got to have a girls' night out Friday that involved lots of mojitos. I woke up Saturday morning with a hangover and a Guatemalan bongo player stalking me via text message.

Saturday I drove up to New Jersey to hang out with my other friend Beth from college. We spent the last 2 days on their boat drinking, eating, hanging with friends, and drinking some more. I have a very burnt patch on my elbow but other than that did okay in the sun.

Tomorrow I'm driving to my Aunt Donna's house in western Mass, and it's my last stop before settling for the summer in the greater Boston area.

I hope everyone had a fun and safe long weekend!

Don't mess with Texas

I have a confession to make. I am totally prejudiced about the South. Being a self-righteous, well-educated liberal I basically believe that everything I believe is right and true and if only people could read the right books and get their heads out of their asses they could be as enlightened as me (but not necessarily as witty or well-dressed). I have always assumed everyone from the South is a gun-toting, redneck Jesus freak, and to be fair, that's not wholly inaccurate.

Still, I chose the southern route across the country for a reason, and I'm glad I did. I love it and can't wait to go back to many of the places. I was particularly pleasantly surprised by Texas. Texas has lots of great features, including:

• Austin
• 80 mph speed limits, 75 for trucks
• separate, 65 mph speed limits for night time - totally reasonable
• drive-thru Starbucks - genius! (also saw these in LA and FL)
• wind farms

New Orleans offered the best face for southern hospitality, while Savannah won my heart as a place for strolling and sitting.

Conversely, Virginia is for losers. Don't get me wrong, I love the people I know here, but when you're driving up I-95 and the speed limit drops from 70 to 60, and then keeps going back and forth between 60 and 55, it really impedes your progress. Lest one contemplate speeding, there are cops everywhere, including unmarked cars, and signs reminding drivers that radar detectors and the like are illegal. Having nipped speeing in the bud (which I'm sure does save lives) maybe they could focus on getting the murder rate down a little.

Day 17: Washington, DC

I hauled my lazy ass out of the 'burbs today and into the capitol (I drove, of course). I hadn't been to Washington, DC, since my marching band performed in the Cherry Blossom parade in 1997 and thought I should have a look with more adult eyes. There really is something special about being in a city - there's a certain electricity that runs through the air. I'm definitely going to 'burb it up this summer, but in the fall it's back to NYC - I'll just have to be suburbalicious in the city.

DC has free parking near the monuments - who knew? - and it was a gorgeous day so I strolled around the mall for a while. I distinctly remember the heavy feeling of disappointment when I first came to DC at age 12 and found out that the mall was not, in fact, a large shopping center. Walking around with the omnipresent Washington Monument dominating the skyline I pondered the meaning of the nation's capitol having a giant phallus as the visual focal point of the city. (And one might wonder about the international Oedipus complex, with Paris' Eiffel Tower and London's Big Ben).

No wonder we end up with so many dicks in office.

Truer words, never spoken

After a tedious 585 miles, the majority of which was on I-95 N, I made it to Reston, VA. I'm hanging out with my friend Kiley, who left NYU for her dream career as a producer for a small company in the DC area. Her husband, Matt, is a researcher for the government, which sounds so cool; sadly, he can't talk that much about his job, or he'd have to kill us; and their 2-year-old son, Parker, is my new best friend (for the next 1.5 days at least).

While Parker was napping this afternoon I had a chance to read, cover-to-cover, the current special double issue of Entertainment Weekly all about the Sex in the City movie (which, courtesy of Lisa, I have tickets to see on the night it opens). They discuss the process of getting the movie made, the impact of the show, the evolution of the characters and their fashions, and give an episode-by-episode recap of all 6 seasons, including "best sound bites." My favorite has to be SJP's final words as Carrie Bradshaw:

The most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love you you love, well, that's just fabulous.

Day 14: Savannah, GA

Ladies and Gentleman, I've reached the Atlantic Ocean! Last night around 11pm I crossed back into the Eastern Time Zone. Mississippi and Alabama are mercifully narrow and easy to cross, but Florida goes on forever, I-10 seems to have road work throughout the entire state, thus reducing the speed limit, and while the bugs seem to be smaller than their Texan counterparts their sheer quantity is astounding. I've got the remnants of a Floridian massacre on my windshield.


I'm a little weary from travel, and the temptation to stay in was very strong. I forced myself out for a short walk around the Historic District and am now resting in my hotel room. Savannah is beautiful - a city designed for long strolls and resting in the shade on park benches. My inner Southern Belle yearned for a parasol.


This is my last night alone on the trip, and the timing couldn't be better - the American Idol finale starts in 30 minutes! I had a nutritious dinner for oatmeal and a chocolate milkshake, and I've got wine and Doritos for snacks.

Day 13: N'awlins

The South is really changing my conception of what constitutes a city, and this coming from a girl who vowed to go below the Mason-Dixon Line (vacations in FL excluded). I never thought I was a city girl, but it turns out I just need the right city. London would be great if it weren't for all the rain (and the state of the dollar). Austin was awesome, but I don't think my hair could handle the constant heat and humidity. New Orleans - all I can say is I can't wait to go back. I was lucky enough to have a friend of a friend to stay with, who also happens to be an artist, so I got a whirlwind car-tour of the city focusing on the architecture. I had no idea there was such a large Irish population! (pictures here)

Monday wasn't the greatest day to be in town because the museums are closed, but I breakfasted on beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde before strolling around the French Quarter. I shopped til I dropped and then had the obligatory tourist moment sitting on a balcony above Bourbon St. and sipping a hurricane.

Days 8.5-12.5: Austin, TX

After exploring the great outdoors in New Mexico I was craving some urbanism so skipped through Marfa, TX, and headed right into Austin, TX, to hang out Sarah from NYU who's down here doing research. I was okay by myself, but it's so great to be back with friends! We've stuffed ourselves on diner food (twice), Mexican, BBQ, and ice cream. We went shopping on South Congress, watched the world's largest urban bat colony take flight, cooled off at Barton Springs, and swung by the farmers' market where I found some adorable hand-printed silkscreen Ts. This is my type of city.

Austin is very cool, I like it here a lot, but it's about to get very hot (high 90s) so I'm headed off tomorrow morning for New Orleans. I've realized one of the problems with a road trip is you can't really back out. You can't get 1/2 way through and decide, "Oh, I'll fly back." It's been awesome, and I've got more to see, but the driving is getting old. The next set of friends is in DC (and from there it's smooth sailing). Can anyone recommend a fun place to stop in between NOLA and DC? I was thinking Atlanta, but a day by the water in Savannah might be more my pace. Suggestions?

End week one

At the end of week one I'd been in 3 states, 4 different hotels and driven about 1700 miles. I saw some really neat animals - lizards, bats, quail, road runners, hawks, deer, porcupine, goats, and lots and lots of cows. I learned that Roswell is not only the alien epi-center of US but also the dairy capital of New Mexico. I decimated a fair amount of the bug population of western Texas with my windshield. But one of my favorite things about the trip so far has been the road signs. I try and have my camera ready so I can snap shots right from the car. I've passed dozens of brown "historical marker ahead" signs, which usually prompt me to think, "That's great, but what I really need is a gas station and a bathroom. In Roswell, NM, I admired the campaign strategy of this guy:



He's honest about being short and bald, but what about his politics?



There were several of these as I drove through the Ruidoso region:



What is that, a caribou? An elk? You'd think you'd see that coming and wouldn't need the sign.



And my personal favorite, from back in Tucson:



Do they just toss you on the BBQ?

Day 6 - New Mexico

It's the first day on my own. This morning I say good-bye to Mia and Andy, [sniff], and drove off into the Tucson sunrise with a course for New Mexico. I opened another one of the gifts from my stash, a pink and white "New York" baseball cap - love it. I stopped off at The Thing, a service station/tourist trap, and then headed into the Gila National Forest. I arrived just in time for the tour of the Gila Cave dwellings (pictures here). Interesting, and a good dose of culture for the day. I had a no idea corn cobs weren't biodegradable.

There was a bit of a scare when the gas tank hit empty and I was miles from civilization, but the good news is that a) I was going downhill for a significant part of the journey, so just popped the clutch and coasted, b) my car can apparently do 40+ miles once the light comes on, c) Dave from AAA stayed on the phone with me for almost 20 miles, d) I did make it to a gas station (I'd never been so happy to spend $50+ on gas).

I had planned on going to one of the local mineral baths, but after the almost-running-out-of-gas-in-the-middle-of-the-desert I just wanted to get to my hotel. I know rule #1 of traveling is to keep an open mind, but this afternoon left me feeling slightly jaded towards rural areas. Instead, I have opted for a night of room service, tv and internet. Elephant Butte, NM, has a nice view, but it's about as exciting as, well, the backside of a large pachyderm.

Days 3 & 4

What a trip! Yesterday Mia and I explored some of downtown Tucson. Not exactly what you'd call a bustling metropolis, but some cute cafes and shops. We both had an iced mint mocha - delicious - and bought some cute sundresses. Yesterday afternoon we lounged at the pool (we've moved hotels), and Mia's husband, who'd been working the past 2 days, joined us for dinner at Blanco Tacos + Tequila. It was some of the best Mexican I've ever had - not at all greasy, and you could taste all of the yummy, fresh ingredients:

Today we satisfied our outdoorsy appetite with a moderately strenuous 5.5 mile hike in Catalina State Park. (Okay, so the hiking guides list the difficulty of the trail as "moderate", but we're not exactly experienced hikers. The fact that we didn't bring enough water also made it slightly more strenuous.)
We were rewarded for our efforts with a quick splash in the Romero pools at the top before heading back down. The views were amazing, and it was definitely worth the effort. Mia might even be the first person to complete the hike while carrying a Coach bag! More pics here.

Right now it's nap time, and then we'll do dinner and possibly even a club! That would probably require me staying up past 11pm, however, so I'm not so sure. Tomorrow Mia and I are getting a little spa pampering, a great way to wrap up the first leg of my trip. That foot scrub is going to feel like a dream after today's hike...Oh, and Mia and Andy just came in with a prickly pear margarita for me! This is the good life.

Day 2:Tucson, AZ

It was odd to wake up to the loud music in the room next to me (and if you're going to play something at an unsociable volume at 5 am, at least choose something good) rather than a baby, but then I found out Jason Castro got kicked off American Idol so it was a good start to Day 2.

I was excited to see a little lizard in the stairwell this morning. I bent down to take a picture, and as I zoomed it I started thinking this lizard was oftly still - they're usually quite skittish. Then I realized I was taking pictures of a dead lizard. Fortunately, there were lots of live lizards later on. Mia and I got an early start and headed over to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The flora the desert can produce are really amazing, and the general scenary was postcard perfect. Here are some of my favorites:

The rest of the pictures are here. Tomorrow we're switching hotels and probably going to spend some more quality time poolside, but adventures await us on the weekend.

Day 1

It's started! After 6 1/2 hrs, 2 pit stops for gas and windshield washing (not a lot of bugs in San Diego, so was a little shocked when they started going ), and one border patrol check-point I've arrived in Tucson, AZ. It was not easy saying good-bye, but Ronnie the Rabbit road shot-gun with me, and I celebrated the arrival at the hotel by toasting a brownie with Mia.

I also opened 3 of my presents - one when I left this morning, the second after I crossed into Arizona, and the third when I got to the hotel. I got a refillable tissue box that clips to the sun visor, a bottle of energizing eucalyptus body moisturizer, and a box of cheese flavored, whale shaped snack crackers - yum!

We lounged by the pool this afternoon and are going to take it easy tonight since it's been a long day of travel for us both. More updates once I've actually done something.

Cinco de Mayo - 2 days to go

After last week's going away party emotions were running high, and this weekend was no exception. Aunt Mary came down from LA to help me pack - a task I accomplish by throwing everything I own into piles on the floor and then attempting to get them into various forms of containing devices. I started to get slightly overwhelmed and anxious - about the amount of crap I own, about not knowing when I'll see people here next, about the middle third of my trip being more up-in-the-air than I would like, about what I'm doing with my life once I get back east - lots of things. Today I'm feeling a little more calm; my 60 minute chirosage helped. The pedicure was good, too.

Everything is packed up at the old apartment, and tomorrow I'll stop by one last time to feed the fish (Paul's away) and collect my suitcases. I've got last minute errands to run, but I'm feeling good about things and am excited to get started on my trip.

While some things are still tentative, here are the approximate dates for my "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" Spring Tour:

• Tucson, AZ - May 7-11
• Truth or Consequences, NM - May 12
• Carlsbad, NM - May 13
• Marfa, TX - May 14
• Austin/Houston, TX - May 15
• New Orleans, LA - May 16-19
• Atlanta, GA - May 19-21
• Chapel Hill, NC - May 22
• Washington, DC - May 23
• Reston, VA - May 24-25
• Morristown, NJ - May 26-28
• Leeds, MA - May 29-31
• Wakefield, MA - June-August 2008

I'll try to post as often as possible with stories and pictures. Send me your address, and I'll send you a postcard! This shoe addict is ready to hit the gas...

Surprise!

Last night I had plans for dinner with Toni, the mom I'm living with. We just wanted some girl time. I thought it was slightly weird that she was craving Buca di Beppo, since this was an opportunity to get away from "family-friendly", but she is 5 months pregnant.

SURPRISE! It was a going away party with my favorite moms (and a dad - Carleton was a real trooper.) I was, indeed, surprised; I really had no idea. Not that I would ever doubt the planning and creative talents of Toni and Meredith (she's the one that did the puppy party back in the fall), but I'm impressed they were all able to keep it a secret, especially Sarah (she's a wonderful mom but doesn't have a great poker face)!

My little friend Ginger added some special moments to the evening, like when she dragged her dad and me off to see the bust of the pope (slightly strange decor) yelling, "Daaaaady, Aaaaamy, we've got to go turn the pope on!" To which Toni replied, "that just sounds wrong." I tried to explain to Ginger this pope statue wasn't like her My Little Pony that sings and wags it's tail when you press its foot. (Although an awesome pope doll might be just what the Catholic Church needs to up enrollment! - Meredith, you should contact the marketing direction at the Vatican!)

They even bought me presents! These gorgeous roses were sitting on the table, and I have them in my room now:

Then there's a photo album filled with pictures of the families I babysit for, with amazing shots of the kids. They could not have created a more perfect gift. Toni even spelled out "We [heart] Amy" in Christmas colored gobstoppers on her carpet for a cover shot:

I also got chocolates, a really cool shirt, an iTunes gift card, a spa gift certificate for a mani & pedi for when I get back to Boston (how well do these women know me, huh?!). Then Meredith had a story for me to explain the rest of my presents. She and her husband took a 6-day round-trip drive to Texas with their 3 kids, all under the age of 5. Someone suggested to her to wrap up lots of little presents., then every couple of hours the kids could open a present to keep them from getting bored and make the trip more exciting. So I have two big bags of presents to open along my trip - how exciting is that? They let me open two last night. I got a fuzzy journal and a giant princess pen so I can jot down my thoughts, feelings, and even all the qualities I'm looking for in a man so that the universe can send me my prince:

I also received this road trip photo album which I love, and if you look closely you can see the picture in the frame on the front is the map of my route that I posted to my blog yesterday. I had never even shared my blog with Toni until last night during the Idol Results Show - we had to do something to keep from falling asleep.

It was simply amazing. I did a pretty good job keeping it together, but it was hard not to get teary. These moms have given me so much; they've let me into their lives and the lives of their children, who are some of the most amazing people I've ever met. They are smart, bright, fun, kind and loving, and they've taught me more about who I am and what I value than a lifetime of academia ever could. I love them all so much, and feel so lucky to be a part of their lives and to have them in mine.

And if this all wasn't enough, I got an e-mail this morning letting me know that DSW has launched a website! My life is truly blessed.

Shaping up and shipping out

The plans for my trip are really taking shape. I leave a week from today. Here's a brief glimpse of what my route is going to look like:


View Larger Map

After I leave Tucson, I'm going to head to Truth or Consequences, NM, to soak up the hot springs, stopping off to see the Gila Cliff Dwellings on the way. I'll spend the night in Elephant Butte (he he), then visit the White Sands National Monument to sand surf and Roswell, NM, to pay homage to my early-teen obsession with the X-Files. Carlsbad Caverns will be my last stop before heading into Texas. I've prepared for my trip to the Lone Star state by purchasing Grant Lee Buffalo's Mighty Joe Moon album and listening to Track #1 repeatedly and sporting TexasLash mascara by Cargo.

Stay tuned for more updates!

More good news

This morning I secured a job for the summer, and it comes with a free gym membership! I had e-mailed a woman on Craigslist a few weeks ago about babysitting this summer, and after chatting a few times it seemed to be a good fit - little Ava will be 9 months by the time I meet her, I'll watch a few kids in the morning while her mom's working out and then get to use the fitness center myself, I'm going to try and speak some French with her, and I get Friday's off!

Also, I got an e-mail from a former student. She's in Gallatin, NYU's individualized program, and as part of her graduation requirement she has to complete a colloquium and has asked me to be on her faculty panel in the fall. It's always awesome to hear from old students, and I was so flattered she asked me. Her topic is "discussing globalization in a cultural viewpoint (especially the way it is exported by way of media) and its effects on South Asian women." Very proud of her.

While I've been enjoying some real free time, it's nice to have some small bits of structure to shape the life I'll be leading back in Boston and then in New York. Knowing I have financial security and academic mentoring in my near future will (hopefully) allow me to embrace a carefree spirit for my big trip!