In the depths of winter, I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer. -Albert Camus

On Radiohead's new album:
Swirling love, treacherous love, knock me on the ground love. Its Radiohead, so its certainly not love in any conventional terms. 'Videotape' is sublimely heart wrenching.

On Napkin, my cat:
After two years and a move to our new home, Napkin has decided that she wants to be a snuggly cat after all. She's always been the cat that chills next to the action, but now she's my best coworker.

Everything else:
I was made for the fall. Also, due to a horrific haircut this week, I will be wearing a hat or headscarf for the next four months. Does anyone have any haircut horror stories? Share them please.

My recommendations for things to do in New York City:
1. Broadway show
2. Dinner at the Rainbow Grill
3. Staten Island Ferry
4. See a rock show at Irving Plaza
5. Hang out in Washington Square Park
6. Empire State Building
7. Greenwood Cemetary in Brooklyn
8. St. John the Divine cathedral
9. UCB Theater

Also this:

Britney needs a hug, y'all.

Here's the thing about Britney Spears: so showing your va-jay-jay to the world and partying with Paris Hilton aren't really mommy behavior, but this whole shaving her head business?

Oh yeah, Britney shaved her head, in case you hadn't heard.

I don't know what motivated her actions, but seriously, we've all done crazy things completely sober too.

At the tender age of 20, a boy I thought was THE WORLD not only broke up with me, he cut off all ties one day. DIdn't say why, didn't call back ever again. He cut me out of his life, he cut all his friends out of his life. I was totally devastated by the whole debacle. Looking back now, the whole situation was kind of messed up, but is utterly irrelevant now. In response to this person cutting me out of his life, I didn't shave my head, but I acted out and did things I (or anyone else) wouldn't normally do. One night, I was seeing a few local bands play (a show he and I were planning to attend together) and realized that: A) I don't want to be at this show, B) I need to get out of this town right now, and C) I need to do something unexpected.

Do you know what I did? I hopped in my car alone, drove to Madison, WI and got my septum pierced. You know, like the little bull ring? I put a piece of metal in my face there. That little ring still lives there, but most people I meet these days never have any clue of its presence. Most of the time, I forget its there even. Putting a hole in your nose or shaving your head aren't permanent changes. Holes will close, hair grows back. Obviously, unrelenting people with giant cameras trying to make big money by following my every move aren't a daily occurence in my life either.


So when Ms. Britney Spears decides to shave her head, I'm gonna cut her a little slack because sometimes you need to do something drastic like shave your head. Or do whatever makes sense in that moment. If she's on drugs, I guess that's a whole other ordeal, but I should think shaving one's head is far less destructive than harming yourself or your children.

Honestly, I've had some pretty awful hair days where I've thought, "I would like to shave my head." Or when its so hot that I don't want anything at all touching me ever, I've honestly thought, "I want to shave my head right now." I'm thinking this summer maybe I will.

Cooking with Jen!
Hey did you get me a subscription to Eating Healthy magazine? If you did, thanks! Here's my new favorite
non-salad salad recipe (use your tastebuds to determine how much to add):

brocolli florets
red pepper cut into bite size pieces
yellow pepper cut into bite size pieces
just a little bit of chopped onion
radishes chopped into pieces
mandarin oranges
feta cheese crumbles

Mix everything together. Toss until coated in Orange-Oregano Dressing.

Orange-Oregano Dressing:
1/2 cup orange juice
1 tsp. freshly grated orange zest
3/4 tsp. of dried oregano
1/2 tsp. of dijon mustard
1 tbs. of extra virgin olive oil
(Shake everything together)

Yum!