Happy V- Week Everyone!!

My favorite soup Meal!

I'm a big fan of Tomatoes but when the winter comes I'm hard pressed to get my hands on a fresh one. When I say fresh I mean grown in the sunlight, beefsteak, tomatoes. Around this time of year the tomatoes are bland, hothouse grown and way too expensive.

In response to this I have invented a Tomato soup meal that is delicious, low in calories and takes a minute to make.

You'll need a can of Tomato soup, a microwavable bowl, croutons or cut up toast, and three slices of Boar's Head American cheese. Simply, pour the soup into a bowl, add half a can of water half a can of milk. Sprinkle the croutons over the soup cover with cheese and microwave four minutes or until the cheese really melts into the soup. Cool and enjoy!

Fashion Nightmares on the U.E.S.

It doesn't happen often in NYC but it does occur. This fashion nightmare was spotted at a local bank on the Upper East Side. The jacket is what caught my eye. Ten sizes two small maybe?

Then the shirt. Why is her shirt hanging out of the bottom of her top like a wet rag? And to top it all off, I don't know if you can see it in this pic but the hem from her pants is hanging out over her foot.

The heels are what makes this a definite fashions disaster. To tell you the truth the outfit could have been saved with a pair of green sneakers. The heels however, pointy, flimsy and black seal the deal. What do you think?

Making History

Well American we made history today. All of us sitting here made history. We are part of something bigger than the man itself and something greater than ourselves. Let us usher in this new era with good will.

Blessings President Obama.

Love is Lost

Sadly, the most famous store in the east village is a thing of the past. "Love Saves the Day" has graced first avenue for as long as I can remember.

And now it's gone.

I haven't been to the Village in awhile and yesterday I hit on this unfortunate event.
It's not the economy that done this it's the greed. In fact the east village looks more like chain store amusement park then a mecca of the new, the unique the unusual the what you can't find anywhere else in the world.

The other closing that broke my heart was the famous restaurant Dojo's. Dojo's introduced me to the idea that a soy burger was a good things. Dojo's fed the artists of the Village with vegetarian recipes that could be found nowhere else. What replaced it was a chain fried chicken joint and a yogurt bar. Wow.. what an upgrade. The landlords got their rent and the Village lost big.
These new chains are places mean that you don't need bother to make pilgrimage to the Village. You can find them in any major and minor city in the world.

Now that the Village is beginning to look like anywhere else it will loose it's mystique, it flavour and it's draw. We have to value in NYC what is unique, and what makes us different from anywhere else. If we don't start to preserve these places we will loose our identity. Once they're gone we can't bring them back.

A Miracle Aiplane Crash?

Yes it's true! A ommercial airplane went down in the Hudson river today. When I think of what could have happened I shutter. The plane could have easily crashed into a building on the lower east side. It very well may have gone up in flames and pieces when landing on the water. The passengers could have floated in the river and downed of hypothermia like the passengers in the Titanic. People could have panicked pushing and shoving causing chaos and death.

Yet, none of this occurred and no deaths have been reported. As far as accidents go this was a miracle accident. The pilot and crew the heroes in this story maintained control and composure and saved all the lives on all those on the plane. Hat's off to them!
It's no leap of faith for me to admit that something other then ourselves was at work here something called God. What do you think?

WOW what a Week!

What a week it was.
1. Oprah, should stop worrying about her weight, she looks great!
2. Bernie Madoff should go to jail. He'll sing like a canary.
3. Please stop with the stimulus packages and let the market ride. We're in overprotective mother mode. Let it breath, please.
4. Let all credit scores revert to zero. Wipe the computers clean. Let us start again, not just the corporations.
5. The Benjamin Button movie was fab but there was really not a lot of acting. Great narration and great action shots but acting? I don't think so.
6. The housewives of Orange county should see beyond their navel and if Gretchen sleeps with her finances son she's only protecting the inheritance he's bound to get when his father dies.
6. Your thoughts?

MUGGING AT CARL SCHURZ PARK TODAY!!!

Ladies, please be careful. There was a mugging at the Carl Schurz Park in broad daylight. It occur ed just off the boardwalk by the Mayor's Mansion this afternoon. Please be safe and take a buddy with you when you enjoy this magical place and bring your cell phones. The problem is that when you get mugged in a Park it can be very difficult for the police to locate you so be aware of the street crossings when you're out and about.
Also, watch your back and be aware of your surroundings. If you see someone suspicious just turn and walk the other way. And please turn down your I Pod's so you can hear what's going on around you.

Blessings, Ms. ObsHERvation

Nip/Tuck Female Mutilation?

You know my thoughts on the high heel phenomena that cripples women and renders them helpless to male aggression but the show Nip/Tuck has really got me worried. I've just been watching the trailers lately and I've been bombarded with dancing girls in frilly blue short skirts and white puffy hair reminiscent of the wigs of the English Renaissance. These carbon copied dolls dance to twirling scalpels. and ending their show by ripping off the red ribbons from their porcelain white revealing a necklace of stitches like you see in the picture of the eye above.


As the trailer of blood and scalpels and cutting continues in Jack the Ripper style there is one shot that makes me sick to my stomach. There is a naked woman grabbing a knife and trying to cut off her breast. Come on people. This is sick. Remember Larry Flint? The guy who published Hustler magazine? He put a picture of a woman going through a meat grinder and caused a uproar from the Feminist American woman of the world. What I don't get is why, as women and men we're just sitting here as images of self imposed female mutilation are celebrated?

Do we want our young girls and boys exposed to this and accepted as a lifestyle? Is this some serial killers fantasy?

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!

SAVE The CHIMPS !!!!!

Save the Chimps is an organization run out of Florida by Dr. Carole Noon, who rescues Chimpanzees from research facilities, the pet trade and entertainment companies. If you and your children need a great New Year's Eve project that will hold the imagination for years to come I recommend you go and adopt a chimp.

These are incredible animals who have all been abandoned by their human counterparts and some have spent decades in windowless cages waiting for their fate to unfold.

Because this is a sanctuary and the goal is to give these animals peace in their golden years it is not open to the public for tours but their website keeps you up to date and even offers a kids section to visit.

Please take a look ....the stories will blow you away. www.savethechimps.org

Retails Sales... What Sales?

I can't tell you how the rest of the retailers in New York City are responding to the after Christmas sales rush, but I can tell you that on the Upper East Side in Yorkville the place is virtually sale free.

In search of post Xmas sales I began by scanning the local drug stores seeking those wonderful bath and body gift sets which I usually get for half price. Unbelievably, I could find none. I also observed that the in store Xmas sections where last year there were deep discounts this year... forget-about-it.

I also visited a collection of shoe stores scattered on 86th street. I was enticed in by the big signs with huge letters screaming 70% off and above in tinny tiny letters.."up too". Ignoring my past experience with such signage I took a walk into these stores. No surprise I couldn't find any of that "specially marked merchandise" that was actually 70% off. Someone must have bought out the entire two pairs of shoes that would legally protect the store from false advertising. I was foiled again.

Sadly, in my humble opinion this was the worst after Xmas shopping that I have ever seen and I'm beginning to think that maybe these retailers and us shoppers are locked in some kind of retail tango. Are we the shoppers holding out for bargains by punishing the retailers? Are the retailers in retaliation punishing us shoppers with crappy sales? Maybe so. Get out there and let me know what you think.

The Birth of Jesus at God's expense

At the Midnight Mass last night the atmosphere was festive and musical. Red and white poinsettias covered the altar, harp and horn players complimented the choir. The priest, Jennifer Linman talked about the purpose of the celebration the birth of Jesus. The man that came to change the world...and did.

Ironically Jennifer was about six months pregnant herself and confessed to a new found affinity for this most precious birth.

As she talked about the love and magic and mystery of giving life as a woman I wondered to myself what did this birth mean to God, the father of Jesus.

The closest thing I have to experiencing the innocence and love of an infant is misplaced in my little Chihuahua Henry. His innocence I want to protect, my heart simply bursts with love when I glance at him and the thought that I would choose to give him away to someone else to be ultimately tortured to death made me shutter. It also helped me understand, finally understand the great sacrifice God made for us. He gave his son. That little son he so loved and wanted to protect and nurture and wanted to be safe and happy. He gave that son knowing what his end would be, the suffering he would experience the pain and horror of mankind in action. Who among us could give our infants over to such a journey willingly, knowingly and with love. Not me.

And I thought to myself. For all the celebration that we have on the day of the birth of Jesus, it must have been a very sad day for God.

When in Doubt get off your A** and Merry Xmas

Whenever I feel like my life is in the dumps, when I bitch and complain about what I should have, where my career should be, the time I've missed , the chances I've lost ,I turn to my church.

Not only do I find God here but I find the best Homeless feeling program in NYC. It takes place at the Church of the Epiphany on 74th and York and is run by Jeanette Gautier- who feeds over a hundred people ever Wednesday of the week, ran or shine, sleet or hail. Hat's off to Jeanette!

This Xmas Eve Peter and I volunteered to help. Not only is the food top quality but we've even got a Zagat's rating. See our very pregnant Priest Jennifer Linman in a group shot to the right and Deacon Horace White below saying the Lord's prayer.

Merry Xmas to all.

Kennedy for Senator?

How to Get your Name in PRINT.

Have you even picked up a video and read the movie review printed on the back and front? Let me do you one better. Have you ever looked at the names of the people doing the review and noticed that they come from some of the most obscure radio stations and newspapers around ?
Well, I have and I have uncovered a very deep and dark writer's secret.

The fastest way for a writer to get their name in print is write a review for a really really bad movie. Call it ,"fantastic"," the best movie ever", " spellbinding" and don't forget "Oscar worthy". This should insure that your name gets published on video covers and distributed throughout the world.

Happy Hanuka to All!!

Happy Hanuka! To all my friends. Please keep in your heart good thoughts for the many Jewish families and charities that have suffered due to the financial tragedy that has occurred in their community.

SHOES Galore

For all you cozy upper east siders who don't like to travel on the subway (like myself)this trip is a no brain-er, and well worth the bother. There is a store called Shoe Mania on 14th street which is having and unbelievable sale. When I say unbelievable I mean unbelievable. Every shoe in the place is 50% off- no exceptions. They have every brand that you can imagine from Rockport, to Mephisto, Reebok and Nike. It's all there!


I walked up from York to 86th and Lex., jumped on the four, and expressed it down to 14th street. In all, it took me twenty-minutes. My husband and I scored two pairs of Doctor Martins for eighty bucks. I felt like I was stealing them. Finally I was able to relate to the woman in the Ikea commercial that looks at her bill, sees it is so low, and madly runs out of the store in case they catch the non error.


I like the Docs because you can't wear em out. They are a sturdy shoe that can take the city potholes and the ice without breaking my neck. ( I'm sure you all know how I feel about heels!).

I suggest that you pick up a pair of shoes or two and then head across the street to a winter wonderland shoppers delight. You'll feel like you're in Santa's Village with cute little shops offering unique gift ideas for all budgets.

SAVE THIS DATE.. Sun Dec 7th at 5:00

The tree lighting at the Carl Schurz Park is here. Come neighbours and friends bring babies and doggies too.

The festivities start at 5:00 sharp and there will be caroling, hot apple cider, cookies , music and singers.

I've been going to this for years and it keeps getting bigger and bigger so I suggest you dress warm and come a bit early.

This is a great way to meet your neighbours and start the Xmas season off right!!!! SEE YOU THERE.

I saw The Amazing Journey Again. It WAS AMAZING

PART ONE OF MY JOURNEY

Remember when I told you about the show I saw at the Logos bookstore over the summer called The Amazing Journey of Juan Diego by Luce Amen? Well, I went to see her perform again tonight at Studios 535 in something called the Square One Series.

Peter and I took the 1 train on the west side and got off at 42nd street. And were we glad we did.

The bright lights of the city couldn't be brighter and the energy buzzed like a hornets nest. That's Peter to your right in Times Square.

The show was a series of experts from different shows from opera to Broadway and theatre works in progress.

Luce began the show and I really urge you to get her C. D. Her songs will move you because not only are they good but they are truly inspired. As if that wasn't enough the quality and sincere commitment of the other performers was top notch! This is not something you can see every day. It was a wonderful evening and I look forward to attending other events at the Square One Series
That's Peter and Luce to your right!

http://www.amazingjjd.com/