Sitting at the sidebar

I'm in one of those moods again...

Permanent pressure

When the word Unbalanced appears on the washing machine, for a split second I take it personally.

Am I eight steps away from love?

Eight days away, eight seconds away, eight kisses away?

Or do I have all I need right now?

Who...

... wouldn't love the baby Screech Owls of New York City?

Looks like mid-life to me

Annie gave me a pink and black bracelet that says, "Girl Power..." and I wear it.

Sitting at the sidebar

I served primarily as cook and caterer during Annie's sleepover, but when the girls played this song by teen idol, Miley Cyrus, not only did I partake, I was dubbed Best Dancer of the Night.

Happiness

With the girls out walking the dog, I get to read and have my second cup in peace.

Seeing red

When I was a kid studying martial arts, I dreamed of being a red belt. Not a black belt, a red belt. It's as if I wanted to be successful, but not that successful.

Did I actually say that?

Tonight at her sleepover, Annie asked if she and her friends could close the door and talk in private.

I replied, "As long as you don't cuss or talk about boy's parts."

I don't know

Annie: "Why do you have these National Geographic magazines beside your bed?"

Me: "Why do you have 20 questions for everything in existence?"

Annie: "Why do you have answers for none of them?"

Just a thought

Sometimes we have to walk through again before we can walk out again.

Sitting at the sidebar

Dreaming of Trees, from Pat Metheny's latest album, Day Trip.

In real time

Up early for Saturday, Annie is fast asleep in my bed. Coffee brews at the counter, and a beautiful morning brews just outside.

I know it's wrong...

...but every time I hear or read the words, "Angry drunk," I can't help but laugh.

Gift

There is one person in my life who, whenever I ask him the question, "Will you do me a favor?," he immediately answers, "Yes."

Alex Grey

A metaphysical artist whose work I often display.

Please click here for more.

In my dreams

Last night I dreamed I was suffering and a voice whispered, "Heal." Just then an image entered my mind, a flag with my name on it waving in the sky. In that moment I felt comforted, but when I saw it was only half a flag, with only half my name, I was overcome with the sense that something was missing.

Gone in 60 seconds

Annie: "I read that some Native Americans would ignore a member of their tribe, and the person being ignored would actually die. Mom, you'd be dead in a minute!"

Headline

click to enlarge.

Choking me with science

Annie: " Did you know that an average of 100 people die each year from choking on ballpoint pens?"

Me: "Where did you learn that?"

Annie: "Science class."

ELF

Sometimes I want to strangle this puppy, then I remember she is an Enlightened Life Form.

Message to Larry

I see you walking on a fine California day, your wife and children at your side, a smile on your face and a long life ahead.

Sending an abundance of New York City love,

Katie

While I was sleeping

Last night I woke up every hour with the strangest feeling that I was falling in love.

Secret

I adore beautiful shoes, but for some reason they intimidate me.

You're a New Yorker when...

You don't call it "Manhattan," you call it, "The City."

You know what a "regular" coffee is.

You cross the street anywhere but at the corner and yell at cars for not respecting your right to do it.

You move 3,000 miles away and 20 years later, when you open your mouth, people still know where you're from.

When you return east, the first thing you want is a slice of "real" pizza.

Your internal clock is permanently set to know when alternate-side of-the-street parking regulations are in effect.

You know what a bodega is.

When someone bumps into you, you check for your wallet.

You pay only $300 a month to garage your car.

You cringe when people pronounce the street Houston like the city in Texas.

You can nap on the subway and never miss your stop.

The deli guy gives you a straw with your beer.

Where there's smoke

Annie: "Daddy, I'm an air sign and you're a water sign."

David: "And what's Mommy?"

Annie: "She's fire. Obviously!"

Best laid plans

No coffee. OK., only one cup. Meditate daily. Well, at least every other day. Lights out by eleven. Oops, OK., midnight.

My First Crush

A Kingston University student interviewed people about their first crushes, then made it into a short film that I recently found... and fell in love with.

Enjoy.

Fact #678, 333

Today I spilled coffee in my shoes.

Dress for the occasion

An astrologer told me I will have a brief but intense romance in June.

Now, what to wear?

Who shall remain

A recent post at Aerophant inspired me to share the top 10 names I would chose from, should I someday wake and find myself nameless. Apparently this is a phenomenon that often occurs in California.

1) Jane
2) Eve
3) Anna
4) Ivy
5) Nora
6) Grace
7) Francis
8) Maya
9) Paula

Bad words

Yesterday I posted a comment on friend's blog, and the word verification code was BUMFUK.

Sitting at the sidebar

Spring is Here, in New York City and by Bill Evans.

Looks like mid-life to me

Every so often I feel the urge to buy a new pair of Chuck Taylor's.

Rolling over

I remember the "old days," when commercials first started being shown during preview time at the movies. Back then it was an outrage, and with the uttering of hisses and boos and popcorn tossed at the screen, audiences let their disapproval be known. But as time went by we got kind of used to the commercials, they weren't so bad after all, and some even possessed a bit of artistic value, don't you think?

The other day I was in the car with my friend Bruce and he said, "Looks like gas is cheaper here than where I live." I glanced at the Shell station sign.

"Wow!" I heard myself say. "$3.01 per gallon, that's not bad!"

And in that moment I realized the commercial had played long enough for me, not only to adapt, but to actually start seeing the value of being ripped off.

Spooning

I once shared a bed with a male friend and as he began to fall asleep I announced, "I don't like sharing a bed with you!'

"Oh!" he said startled, "I'm so sorry, should I go in the living room?"

"No!" I barked, "but being in a bed with you is like having a pint of Haagen Dazs Peanut Butter Fudge and no spoon!

Someday he'll come along

When Annie was very little she had a serious obsession with Elmo, and David joked that we shouldn't be surprised if she grew up to marry a funny looking man who was covered in red hair. But as she got older, and after she saw the movie Grease, we noticed her taste in men began to change.

One day the phone rang in my apartment, I had gone to the market and Annie answered. The man on the other end of the line thought it was me and shouted, "I love you!" Annie decided it was a wrong number and quickly hung up, but when I returned she exclaimed, "Mom! I think John Travolta just called!"

Recently, when Annie joined me to fold clothes in the laundry room, I made a comment to which she replied, "Your accent sounded just like John Travolta in Hairspray!" And three weeks ago, after her first swim class, she jumped out of the pool and walked toward me with a big smile on her face.

"My instructor is so cool!" she said. "And doesn't he look like John Travolta?!"

So, should I tell David not to be surprised if our daughter grows up to marry an Italian-American actor from New Jersey whose childhood nickname was "Bone"and is now a devote Scientologist?

I think I'll keep that thought to myself and let him believe there's a sweet, funny looking red-haired monster on the horizon.

Just a thought

When I was feeling particularly troubled, my parents used to tell me that my intelligence would pull me through. But I believe it is our minds that create most of the trouble, and when the pain subsides, like the passing of winter, it happens at the hands of a force unseen and unknown; like a constant and mysterious ally.

Please

Click here to help Tibet.

Hush little ego

Me: "I can't accept that I have to share the earth with other women."

David shrugs.

Me: "I can't accept that a man I want will want other women, that I will never be the only attractive and interesting woman on the planet."

David: "Listen, there's Humphrey Bogart and there's Jimmy Stewart. There's room for both of them."

Me: "But they're men."

David: "OK., so there's Katharine Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot."

Me: "I want to be Brigitte Bardot."

David: "My point is this, there's room for all of them. There's room for Spiderman and Superman, and there's room for Katie Bowen. There's room for you."

Secret

I have plastic dinosaurs in my bathtub... and they don't belong to Annie.

Sitting at the sidebar

I never wait in vain, because what I want is already mine.

The hair and now

Me: "I'm mad at Annie because she cut off the fur between Honey's back legs."

David: "Well, did she hurt her?"

Katie: "No, but nature put that hair there!"

David: "Yeah, but nature also put Dick Cheney here!"

Am I eight steps away from peace?

Am I eight minutes away, eight pounds away, eight breaths away?

Could be.

Good Friday in real time

At Dave's, cold day, I make Annie and Giselle a late breakfast.

Value

Annie: "Miss Mann taught us how to shrink heads."

Me: "Human heads?"

Annie: "Yeah, first you kill the person, chop off their head..."

Me: "...what in the world are these teachers teaching you?"

Annie: "Mom, she's a substitute!"

On Broadway

Last week Annie and I were strolling down the street when she turned to me and said, "Mommy, you need theme music when you walk!" This immediately reminded me of one of my favorite opening scenes from one of my favorite films.

Thoughts in real time

Do those dishes.

My daughter is a remarkable girl.

Time to get back on track.

Sex without love is masturbation, only complicated.

Start reading Shantaram.

Life without music would be no life for me.

Big Sur?

I particularly like when women respond to my blog.

Wonder what's next.

Am I eight steps away from enlightenment?

Are you?

Maybe.

Sitting at the sidebar

Home tonight writing, it's Mercy Street by Peter Gabriel and I think I feel a phase coming on.

Dollar signs

Katie: "Aries man and Leo woman, this coupling is consistently referred to as a match made in astrological heaven."

David: "My match made in heaven is a billionaire old lady who's ready to drop dead."

Online film festival

Dear Half Note readers,

My film, Cold Tea is part of Earth, Spirit & Love, an online short film festival dedicated to short movies about what matters most. And what matters most is that you partake in the voting of my film and give it a "10" rating, OK?

1) Go to earthspiritlove.com and register as a "Community Member."

2) Receive an email saying that you have been activated.

3) Click on the"Love" Category to find Cold Tea, or it might be easier just to click here .

4) Watch the trailer.

5) Watch the film.

6) When the film ends, scroll down until you see the 10 stars below the screen. Rate this film a 10 and you will be assured a place in heaven.

It's inconvenient, but if you haven't already seen the film, here's your chance to see it, and if you have seen the film, well, here's your chance to help me.

Goodnight and good luck, and thank you.

Katie