Its just one of those days where I click around craigslist looking for something.
With another head being spared via a 'google search' in Afghanistan, google can now officially say that they save lives. If you didn't see the article - just google something like "journalist life spared via google search" something like that. I am sure you are bound to find something. I am already in a different screen & too lazy to look it up for you. Plus, you probably already read that last week.
Maybe even last year.
My cousin David is being shipped to Afghanistan next month. It ain't no Iraq, but it ain't no Georgia either.
I was finishing up the planning for my camping trip this weekend, and I thought "why all this planning for one night of sleeping outside?"
Seriously.
Stuart IS right - I DO plan my life like an ant.
He say's its exhilarating to be around.
I don't really believe him.
This morning as I was taking a shower all I could think about was the fact that there is no Lord of The Rings to look forward too. For the last three years, there was this additional excitement and "countdown feeling" in the air. Sure, the autumn breezes were nice, but they were REALLY nice knowing that in November I would be going to a warm toasty movie theatre to watch a warm toasty epic.
I have a screening pass on my desk to "i ♥ huckabees". It's not half as thrilling as the prospect of a new LOTR.
Seems fitting that it would rain on the day of the sophmore Interpol release.
Anyway my screening pass is just staring at me. Waiting for me to make plans around it. I am trying my best not to plan. I really don't want to be an ant. I could do with being an aunt maybe in 5 years, but an ant the insect does not interest me. People step on them and don't think twice.
Youch.
Posted
9/28/2004
Yesterday I had such a nice little Manhattan experience of chance. I was painting an office on Madison.
Hold on, let me back up.
I lost my cell phone. A few hours later, I called my voicemail, and picked up a message from a girl named Alissia who had found my cell phone in a taxi cab. She wanted me to call her as soon as I got the message. So I called Alissia, and we chatted about losing cell phones.
She told me that she is a personal assistant, and last week her boss lost her cell phone. Once her bosses cell phone was found, Alissia lost her own cell phone. On her way to pick up her lost cell phone, she looked down on the cab floor, and found my cell phone.
Strange things happen sometimes.
I told her good things happen in 3's, and she told me to that she was a bartender at Michael Jordan's in Grand Central. I could pick my phone up there.
So I was in the middle of painting, and decided to take a little Madison Avenue stroll and walked down to Grand Central to get my phone. I figured I should get Alissia something special, so I stopped in one of my favorite shops - the MTA Subway shop, and bought the nice girl a deck of I Love NY cards.
Once I got to her bar, I figured as much that she would offer me a drink. She did. I only wanted water. I drank about 3 glasses. Turns out that Alissia is beautiful. We talked about Minnesota (where she is from) and about boys and taxi cabs and losing cell phones. I felt like in some way I was meeting some kind of kindred spirit.
I did have to get back to painting, so I finished my water with lemon, and said good bye to my new friend - letting her know that I would try to stop by every Sunday evening for the weekend nightcap.
So if you are ever at Michael Jordan's bar in GCT - ask for Alissia, and tell her Anise sent you. She makes a refreshing glass of water.
Posted
9/27/2004
This lunch break, I went to a Bergie event. I entered a lottery, and am now wearing the latest YSL perfume.
If you see me today, please request to smell my wrist. You won't be disappointed.
After my free cocktail, I was walking around thinking "there's nothing like a stiff drink in the middle of a day". I am not a big fan of alcohol, but I can appreciate.
On my walk around the middle of town, I passed a psychic and considered dropping ten on her velvet curtains. Mona once told me to never spend money on psychics, so I don't. I follow most of her advice because it just seems like she is really speaking from experience, and because she is so diligent about dishing it. However. I walked against Mona's better judgment, and buzzed the psychic on level 2. Blame it on the recent Diana article in VF this month. What I got was a woman who told me to return in ten. I decided like most things in the past two months, that it wasn't meant to be, and kept my ten.
If I had listened with her and had let someone lightly brush my palm - I would have missed seeing Anna Wintour. Looking a little insecure as she breezed by, she is one of those famous people that cause me to automatically punch the sky and say "yyyyyesss!"
So after saying "yes" I continued walking back to my desk, one-drink-in, carting around my ten dollar untold future.
Posted
9/23/2004
Did you know that old NYC subway cars are dumped in the Atlantic Ocean off the coasts of both New Jersey and South Carolina in order to make artificial reefs to preserve marine life??
How cool is that? If you think it is super-cool, you can actually go on a scuba diving trip that will teach you about the whole process. Score 2 more for the Jerse.
 Don't you think that Ben Affleck is starting to resemble James Gandolfini??
I tried watching "The Wire" last night. I want to get into another HBO show, because I love the BO so much. I think I am going to have to start at the beginning tho. How about Entourage. What a show. I like it as much as I like watching those VH1 shows about how much Brit spends to get her hair done or how Paris & Nicky & Ritchie go shopping and how they all shuffle through their bags for the nearest credit card at the register - paying not mind to whose is charged.
Posted
9/23/2004
A car like my car, only its not the same color.
 I have been thinking about getting personalized plates. I thought it might be tongue-in-cheek to get: MY 1 BMR (my first beemer) but then tongue-in-cheek is so over, so I have decided maybe on just ANISE or ANYC. but ANYC has only been around for like 9 months. I was thinking things like ILIV4SPD or SELLKIDS would be amusing. Lee suggested I get $1BMR. Feel free to drop a suggestion.
Again people. I am going to the DMV on Monday. I need more input on the license plate ideas.
state rules:
1. it can be 2 to 8 characters.
2. you can use letters, A through Z, numbers, 0 through 9, spaces
3. you can also use @, and NY offers the state of NY image.
Posted
9/17/2004
Last night or rather this morning, all I wanted was a remote controlled window. Or maybe a window with a timer - so it will shut after like 2 hours, once I am fast asleep. If I were married to Wayne Szalinski he would definitely invent something like that for me.
The problem is that I like going to sleep with my window open because I like fresh air and my neighbor sings me too sleep. Good thing.
HOWEVER. I want to get a remote control for that sucker of a window because my OTHER NEIGHBOR (who is probably from Long Island,) has been using her LOUD air conditioner all summer. Even last night in 60 degree weather & I HATE getting out of bed once I am rested.
So yeah, my window needs a remote or a timer, or just Wayne Szalinski will do.
Posted
9/16/2004
I found this fun interactive map letting you know what the leaves will look like on what weekend in Vermont. I am planning a trip for the weekend of Oct. 2 & 3. I like yellow leaves - so that seems to be the prime time viewing for the yellers.
Posted
9/15/2004
Yesterday was Robin's first day of school. She attends the most progressive private school in the city.
They do yoga during math.
No kidding.
So this year she is in the 3rd grade. This year is supposed to be the year that she starts getting homework assignments. The school has been preparing everyone in her family for this since she enrolled. 3rd grade is the year to start hitting books.
So yesterday I unpacked Robin's back with high expectations. I pulled out her homework folder and it contained a blank piece of paper.
"What is your homework?"
"I have to get my dad sign that piece of paper."
"What? Seriously. That is your homework??"
"Yes. They said I could draw whatever I wanted on the paper - but my assignment is to get my dad to sign the paper."
"Oh my. Doug? You are never going to believe this one..."
So Doug gives a shrug and signs the paper, and Robin started doodling. After about 5 minutes she got bored and we went to the pet store.
Posted
9/10/2004
I left work happy to have an umbrella because it properly hid an unexpected fit of tears. Seeing a very dim night ahead of me, I bit my lip, and stuck to my plans of attending an exclusive Vanity Fair/Audemars Piguet party. I don't know how I got the invite - but I did, and it ended up being one of those nights where you look around and say, "This is why I love New York."
And here is my poem:
I asked my home-girl to a party
She accepted.
We dressed like virgins at an art show
We had it going.
On.
We drank Moët
We ate paté
Sugar daddies roamed the floor
marveled laughed giggled gaffed
Franklin showed us the door.
-anise 2004
In closing, I left the party proud & refreshed. I stopped by a pharmacy and bought glow in the dark stars for my bedroom. I thought about sticking them on the ceiling in a heart shape. I got home when I felt like getting home. I jumped around.
And here is my snap:
Posted
9/09/2004
OKay. I am being serious. I seriously just saved a serious amount of money on my car insurance by using Geico. Seriously. Maybe they will give me another discount for mentioning them on my two-bit blog? You will never guess what I am paying, and you will never guess the sweet ride I am driving; so I will just tell you.
1. I am paying 280 every six months, and
2. I will be driving this:
Say hello to the car that Mona & Miles let me drive during my senior year of college. The 2002 BMW TII. We called it "The Beemer".
This car was the car that taught Eric Botell how to drive stick shift in a parking lot. The car that had a crank sunroof and baby-yellow paint job. The car that we would drive around Connecticut during October, because it just seemed appropriate. I had a crush on the car, but alas it was not mine - and we had to part. From that point forward, I was forever thinking about possibly buying a car just like it, upon leaving NYC.
So I emailed Big Miles and was asking him about this other BMW that I was interested in. He emails me back and says: "P.S. I want to sell my car. Do you want it??"
I write back and say he has a deal.
So those 2 things on top of a nice apartment-fixing morning really made Tuesday Terrific.
Posted
9/07/2004
New Slang by The Shins
Gold teeth and a curse for this town were all in my mouth.
Only, i don't know how they got out, dear.
Turn me back into the pet that i was when we met.
I was happier then with no mind-set.
And if you'd of took to me like a gull takes to the wind.
Well, i'd 'a jumped from my tree, and i'd a danced like the king of the eyesores
And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well.
New slang when you notice the stripes, the dirt in your fries.
Hope it's right when you die, old and bony.
Dawn breaks like a bull through the hall,
Never should have called
But my head's to the wall and i'm lonely.
And if you'd of took to me like a gull takes to the wind.
Well, i'd 'a jumped from my tree and i'd a danced like the kind of the eyesores
And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well.
Godspeed all the bakers at dawn may they all cut their thumbs,
And bleed into their buns 'till they melt away.
I'm looking in on the good life i might be doomed never to find.
Without a trust or flaming fields am i too dumb to refine?
And if you'd 'a took to me like, well i'd a danced like the queen of the eyesores
And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well.
Posted
9/03/2004
 The Canine Chronicles. I have been dog sitting. Here are my thoughts about it.
Yesterday I went home and Kenai the dog was waiting for me on all 4's.
I have been waiting to say that all week.
Actually when I got home yesterday she was particularly HYPER. She immediately wanted to go out. Once I got her leash & treats, I opened the door and she stopped short at the pile of recycling.
poke her nose at the bins - look at me
poke her nose at the bins - look at me
Finally I looked at the pile and realized that she was directing me to get her Frisbee that was wedged behind the recycling bin.
I grabbed the Frisbee and she snatched it out of my hands, and ran down the stairs to the front door!
Once outside she continued to drag me to the park.
As I attempted to drag her to our usual spot - she fought me the whole way. I finally gave up, and she led me through the park.
After about 4 minutes of being led by a dog, I looked up and discovered that we were in a small fenced-in field behind the reservoir path. She dropped the Frisbee and looked at me. I then removed her leash in astonishment.
We played Frisbee for a while, and then I sat on the rocks while she sniffed out random trails of random.
**
I was writing clips for my portfolio. Good music was playing and there was slight breeze through the open windows. I had already taken Kenai for a walk that afternoon, but at about 8pm she started pacing - so I put down my work and took her on another walk. As we were out walking I couldn't help but take in deep gulps of the new September air, and realize that this is what I envisioned when I thought about moving to New York. Slipping on your top-siders to mosey through the park on your writing break, with your yellow dog.
**
Sometimes the presence of a dog makes you realize just how quiet your life is. I talk to her and get no response. The other day as we were going outside, she would take two steps and then look back at me ~ I would look at her and so on.
In that silent exchange - both of us feeling helpless in our communication barriers not knowing what the other wanted - is when I realized how quiet life is sometimes.
**
Again, the dog is smart. I can take her off her leash when we get to her block, and she will go straight to her stoop, and wait for me at the door. She knows her stoop! Gets me every time.
**
Every time an ambulance would turn on its sirens, she would start howling this low gutteral howl. Luckily there weren't many ambulances around (I could see getting tired of that) so I would start howling with her for fun. We would be sitting on the couch watching TV, and howling at the sirens. Thats what I call five minutes of fun.
Posted
9/02/2004
Hooray for Bloggers!! Elliot's snaps have done it again, and are way too good for words!
Posted
9/01/2004
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Among my group of friends, the first New York Baby has arrived.
This past weekend I made my first video. (clip on left.)
