Time Does Not Fly

Two whole months since my last blog! My gal pal reminded me that I hadn't blogged since Valentine's Day. I was actually doing the whole "if you don't have anything nice to say" thing. I really didn't. I had many things to complain about, strep throat, bronchitis, flu, lack of ambition, gray ice masking every surface my vision covered. Sounds like a fun read huh? Okay on with the updates for my gal pal.... Well, the Other is back (this is where my friends all boo and hiss and heckle me to get off the stage). As a self professed voyeur my assessment is he seems to be forcing down his real self and grasping at a phantom self and I must say, I AM DIGGIN' IT! He doesn't just rinse the dinner plate off and set it next to the sink; he has taken to rinsing all of the dinner dishes and placing them into the dishwasher. (Moment of silence for this momentous occasion) So moral of the story, does the Other like being somewhat domestic? We all know the answer to that. Does it matter if he's seething inside...I guess, but for now, I'm just happy that I now have time to actually say hello to my children versus running around like Rosie the Robot (this dates me now, someone figure out this reference..." a place for everything and everything in its place"....oh Jetson's your outfits were soooo cool and futuristic) Update on niceness. So I took a little look inside as I do every now and then (daily). I thought to myself, what's one thing I can do more of. It doesn't have to be big, but I'd like to be nicer to strangers. An easy experiment. So my way of doing this has been to hold the door open for people who are much further away from me. I've expanded my door holding from say five yards to 15 yards. If I was a true sociologist this would be my term paper. Seriously. You would not believe the response! I held the door for a gentleman at the U of M and his response was "see there are still good people out there" and he thanked me three times. For holding the door open. Is that all it takes??? It made me happy and sad. Happy that I held the door and restored this guy's faith in the human race and sad that people aren't holding doors for people. So I've done this maybe 10 times in the past couple of weeks and each time have gotten extremely kind and friendly responses, most of them centering around "hey, thanks very much! you didn't have to do that". I wonder what would happen if most of my interactions were like this. Hmmmm project is still in motion, be on the lookout for more keen insight into the human psyche from myself, a completely unlicensed self proclaimed analytical everyday human. Movie Review: Due Date OH MY G. Zack Galifinakis (sp? sorry, don't feel like Googling for his correct spelling, isn't that terrible? oh well I held the door folks!)...anyway that guy with a perm and a stage name. Robert Downey Jr. in, well in L.A. I'm so handsome attire. Lots and lots of "F" bombs. Juliette Lewis as a pot dealer. I love her. I've loved her ever since she was the Mallory to Mickey. Her part did not last long enough at all. The movie, well it was Planes Trains and Automobiles amped up to the 100th degree. Add enough "F" words to make Richard Pryor blush and a masturbation scene that made me get up and leave the room. I'm a prude. It was weird. That's really all I got on it. It ended and I thought, well, thankfully it was only a dollar. And then I thought, dammit, $1.o7. If it had been the dollar I would have been fine, but to be taxed on it, well I never! It was one of those movies where when I laughed I felt guilty. Until next time peoples. Bring on the sunshine!

The Big V Day

I think I may really dislike Valentine's Day. I dislike the expectations that I should buy candy and items that will rot my children's teeth and stick to my carpet. I dislike the mounting pressure that simmers beneath the surface when you're asked "whatcha doin' for Valentine's Day". If I actually answered with what has happened the answers would go as follows: 2009 after making dinner and cleaning the kitchen I then made a second dinner of filet mignon and cleaned the kitchen for a second time. I think I was done cleaning right around 11pm and by 11:30 was asleep on the couch. The gift that year, I think I got a card that had a joke about putting up with the Other, the picture on the front is of a guy falling off of the couch and snoring. Nothing says romance like laziness and a card that says "hey I am completely aware that I'm lazy, but I got you this card sooooo...." 2010 received a gift certificate for a spa, this would have been a completely unexpected thoughtful gift had I not witnessed it being handed to the Other by his mother. I thanked HER profusely. This year, well this year I spent it solo. The Other is off finding hisself in the southern suburbs of Minnesota. I ate dinner with the 3 munchkins, forced them to bed early and finished watching Jungle Fever. This brings me to the important stuff...movie reviews!

1) Inception: I figured it out pretty quickly; I'm not bragging or trying to show how intelligent I can be while watching film. It was entertaining. I'm not a big science fiction film person but I liked the concept. I liked the actors. Also, I need to keep up on Leo's career in case this whole thing with Bar Rafaeli doesn't work out and he happens to be at the Cub in Bloomington Minnesota and he happens to say "hey, can you reach that orange juice" I would say something like "oh, you like Simply Orange too" He would respond with something that would bring us closer and then we're married and I'm not blogging about Valentine's Day any more because I'm living in LA part time and the other part we'll go with Italy. Yes, Italy. They need more strong women over there to protest that prime minister!

2) The Kids are Alright: I LOVED it. Maybe I loved the sunny streets of California, Julianne Moore in cool T-shirts and specifically Mark Ruffalo. Oh Mark- if you're reading this, and you happen to become follower #5, can we get coffee? Anyway, can I meet a guy who likes organic farming, drives a motorcycle, likes children, lives in California, has Petit Syrahs in his cabinet in his cool green house with a cool garden and runs a restaurant? (oh why trade that when you can have a guy who drapes over a couch and once a year gets you a card to remind you of how well he drapes over that couch?) The Kids are Alright, yes, they are. Go see it.

3) Black Swan- well well well, Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis (I'd date her and I'm not gay, just sayin', she's done with Macauly Caulkin, might as well check out the territory) anyway, Barbara Hershey, ballet, dark ominous music, a bit of self mutilation, freaky images, subways, New Yorkish gritty feel. Very arthouse. I imagine Andy Warhol and his buddies were the real deal and this movie is a more entertaining version of the insanity behind being THE ballerina of the minute. Did I mention Winona Ryder, whooo she does not look great with a 95 haircut.

Cool It Baby, You've Got Time

For some reason I'm feeling a sense of urgency. I need to make decisions and make 'em fast. Long term decisions like will my daughter go to Harvard or Yale. Will she be on the rowing team or the chess team? Will my middle son get a full ride to Shadduck (sp?) and if so would I retire early to watch him play year round? My oldest, he's right around a B- average, do I get him a full time tutor (i.e. me? where will the time come from? I have about 6 and 1/2 seconds of free time a night). So many huge things in my mind. I feel the things I say to my oldest will shape his attitude for the rest of his life, a B MINUS? WHAT? Did Bill Gates get B minuses? I don't think so buddy!! And the reason his grade average slipped so low, C- in BAND and C- in some sort of class about health and well being. He gets A's in Science and Math and I'm just about to pull my hair out because he doesn't feel like practicing the dang trombone. He told me his music teacher put on Lil' Wayne during free time and then he proceeded to rap it out to me, complete with the missing parts where swear words and the "N" word would be. I felt like smacking him and saying, don't you know that if I was Chinese you would be doing nothing but practicing that trombone EVERY NIGHT. Instead I said something like "see your band teacher is cool! Why don't you participate???" This leads me to the article "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior"...now let's be honest, superiority in itself is subjective, which leads me to all kinds of other thoughts. I basically share the article title so you parents out there can take a look. I found it incredibly interesting and took it with a grain of salt. No, I don't plan on berating my child and telling them they're garbage if they get B's. However, I admit, deep deep down, I am cursing with rage and do expect A pluses, there, I've shared my inner truth.

Next: watched a great PBS documentary on Jeff Bridges. Why do I pay so much for cable?

Next: Watched an even better documentary (maybe not better but absolutely bar none, more important, life changing, riveting) called Every F___ing Day of My Life. It is a must see. If only because you share the notion that I did prior to watching that abused women can just call the police. That is what I thought, a man punches you in the face, you wallop him with a frying pan or what not and then call the cops man! Well this is a stark look at reality and that calling the police may not be a reality for some people. Not when you're front yard is rigged with cameras that can show your lips mouthing "HELP ME" to an officer. Anyway, please please please watch it. Its on Youtube in 10 minute vignettes.

Next: the Other said the "N" word. Its been a while since I've had to deal with anything racial and let alone deal with it with my own partner. I've always felt mixed, biracial; I've always checked the box "Other" for my ethnicity because there is no box for a little Mexican, a little French, a little German, 1/2 Finnish, and the rest Black. However, I never felt more black in my life then when I heard my full caucasian partner utter that word. It felt like someone punched me in the stomach. No, he wasn't talking about me. (or was he??) No he wasn't directing it at me. (or was he??) Well that's what it felt like. I can't seem to get past it. Yes, he's apologized. And because apologies are scarce with Other, I can take it to heart but for the first time, it's not enough and I can't get past it. I want to scream in his face YOUR CHILDREN ARE N*GGERS! I AM A N*GGER. So its a tough one. I've been meditating. Speaking to God. Calling to Buddha. Allah, anyone, any entity, any being. I need some help on this people. I have a family to keep together.

And finally, speaking of family. My oldest son's biological father has popped up. Its been 11 plus years and the ol' change of heart has happened. Can you say what the??!!!?!?!?!??!?! He wants to see "his son" as he says. Hmmmm "his son"...I find that intriguing since they are actually less connected than say, me and the guy I say "hey" to when I go get gas at the Holiday up the street. The Other is not taking it well, as you can guess by the whole N word thing. (is the story coming together? I'm a bit scattered, so sorry). So what do I do? Do we meet at a mall and sit and stare at each other with the only sound being me sucking down a strawberry julius? Do I tell him to come to a hockey game and risk the Other taking his rage out on the guy? So far I've employed the ignore it method.

That's all I got...oh oh oh, I'm reading The Late Homecomer, i'm into more to come

Its Cold and I'm sick of it

Freshly fallen snow right before the holidays makes for great picturesque Christmas cards. Snow post Christmas incites a litany of swear words for me. I am tired of stepping outside holding my daughter and navigating the ice so I don't drop us both on our heads. I'm tired of shaking snow off of my pant legs. Although I deeply love my new Uggs, I miss flip flops. Will I head to Florida with the rest of the snowbirds? Nope, Stillwater it is. Hockey game 9:15pm. NINE FIFTEEN PM. At 9:15pm on a Friday I should be staring at the TV while sipping the 2008 petit verdot I've held onto since Christmas day, (I mention this because holding onto wine really ain't my thang). I originally planned to hit the red box and lose myself in Eat Pray Love to see what the fuss is about and to see James Franco. Oh James, I heart you. Did any of ya'll see him in drag for Candy magazine?? WOWZA. Anyway back to the reasons I distrust winter...it makes cars do funny things. For instance when I go over a speed bump my shocks sound like I rolled over a giant Funyon. I can't get my car washed because I hate washing my car before snow/rain/ice storm and one of those things seems to be ALWAYS happening. UGH, winter, you've got me by the cajones and I can't stand it.

Hmm, so I've been thinking of sending a friend of mine a message on FB and then I thought, I should call. I haven't broken a friendship since my days at William R DeAvila in San Francisco. My pal LaRae thought it would be funny to pull my Cabbage Patch doll's hair (mmm hmmm, she did have the nerve!). Yea, that stunt pretty much cost her my lifelong friendship sooo really, its gotta be big. I have a pal I've known for (I just counted in my head and its freaking me out) twenty years! However, for the past year, she has had one ailment or another whenever invited to do something. She's cancelled, via text no less, to the past I guess its 6 gatherings she's been invited to. The most recent set me over the edge and it being the new year, the new year of no b.s. I figure eh, I've had it, I'm done. This brings me to a question, do friendships run their course? Perhaps she and I have just drifted so far into each other's own lands that we're just not friends anymore. I guess I'm not mad, confused yes, but not mad. I'm confused, because who wouldn't want to hang out with me right?? Riiiiiight???

So new things I'm noticing:

1) Could you buy Xmas presents people don't want, they go back and return them and because of all the sales turn their one gift into many??? Hmmm I'm pondering this.

2) The 3yr old started preschool, I asked him about his day, his response "moooom, we can talk about this at bedtime"

3) Thank you North Face for providing me a warm, unbulky, lightweight jacket. You're the best, now I've got to find a mountain to climb.

4) I no longer accept this: "that's just how men are" (insert anything in place of "men")


5) Need a girls night RIGHT NOW!

6) Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. She is stanky blues to the core with a bit of rock and roll and i love her. I love her before she got Gwyneth Paltrow's hair that she has now. She can sing me to sleep or sing me to dance any night of the week.

7) Okay, PioneerWomanCooks, have you not gotten on the website yet?? My word, made another of her homecookin' recipes aptly names Comfort Meatballs with mashed potatoes. Winter, comfort meatballs, I smell happiness..................

Musings and other Frivolities

Well 2010 is coming to a close. Unlike other years where I've been known to say toast a rastafari w/ an espresso martini while looking over the Gulf of Mexico, or count down to midnight in front of the MGM Grand with 30,000 of my closest friends, this year I'll be spending it with the Other and 7 children ranging in ages from 11 to 18mos. I'll be toasting a miniature root beer and probably playing Wii at midnight because I've rediscovered why Super Mario Bros. is the most awesome video game in the world dude! (sorry about that little reversion to my adolescence). However, there's a tie in here folks (when I say folks I mean the 4 loyal followers I have, to whom I send my deepest gratitude). This brings me to a quick recap of Christmas, otherwise known as Excessmas. We got a Wii from my parents, SO MUCH FUN. Can't wait to go home...may end post now...okay, not gonna, have more to say...I didn't go to church, the 2nd Christmas in 4 years and boy do I feel some good ol' guilt from that. I mean last year I went with the parents, carrying my 6mos old daughter who peacefully closed her eyes and was lulled by Silent Night being played on a harp by a woman who looked like Joni Mitchell (are you catching the mood here) anyway didn't go so that's that. Aside from my lack of piety, I did have one of THE best days with my family. The kids in their jammies eating marshmallow candies at 8am, the Other wrapped up a dishwasher, seriously. Woke up and there in there in the middle of the living room were presents stacked to the ceiling, the bottom the dishwasher, at the very top, a tiny box filled with an Ipod Nano for the oldest, in Orange, only available in one store in Minnesota. It was a magical day. The family was hilarious as usual. We did the whole white elephant thing, however one person who will remain nameless did not bring a gift but still wanted to play, my sister was not having that one bit! This provided great entertainment. The food, mmmm, the food...who cooked? Yea, me. Beef Tenderloin baby. The recipe, thank you to the website PioneerWomanCooks.com, she is the rockin'est chef out there for me right now. Loooove her, check her site out!! The babe got a kitchen set its actually turned into a gift for me, I'm in the kitchen, she's in the kitchen, wait a second...I should've gotten her a book on how to become a CEO or something, dang it! Will rethink gift for next year!

Let's switch speeds here shall we and get back to musings and frivolous things and here goes my 2010 countdown:

1) Best Band of 2010: The Black Keys (was there a doubt??? C'mon! They are ridiculous and I can't say that enough)

2) I learned that even if I had a third hand it wouldn't be enough. A fourth? Yes, a fourth might just do it.

3) I learned that I too have faults and can point them out to myself, attempt to change them and keep moving on

4) 2011 resolution: 7hrs of sleep a night, egg me on I dare ya!

5) Gas is expensive, 4X4's are awesome, combined gas and 4X4 vehicle means, my car costs half my mortgage

6) Leggings do not work on 90% of women.

7) Yoga pants work on 90% of women

8) I love being a mom waaaay more than I ever could have imagined and I also cherish alone time waaaaay more than I ever imagined.

9) I've accepted I get to see only movies put on Red Box

10) Buy used. I got the $250 kitchen set for my lil' girl for $12.00 + tax. TWELVE DOLLARS people!

Okay, I'm boring myself here and its raining ice and I need to go spend my Macy's gift card sooooooooooo that's that.

Oh wait 2011 resolution #2, be more interesting and get one new follower! I'm on it.

48hrs of me time? WHAAAA?

Success! My left ovary is gone, no I didn't bring it home in a jar to look at because that would be, well...let's just say it, gross. Operation went grrrreat. Most importantly just as I expected all the ladies asked me about my nails, because I'd painted them for once! The Other asked me if I was painting my nails for the surgeons and I responded with "nope, just want nice toes if I die on the operating table" He didn't think that was funny, but a big large laugh from the Other is quite rare as it is. Anyway funny thing happened (not funny in the ha-ha way either) Apparently the Other confirmed with the doctor I can still get pregnant. He's been home what, a coupla weeks, and he's concerned about more kids????? Aaaaack! We almost (I stress the ALMOST here) had a talk about that. He, in his dillusional state (i.e. normal state) thinks 5 is a good number. Not that I need to remind my audience here of all the reasons why MORE children is NOT the best idea, but here is what went through my head 1) I'm so f'n' sure 2) I'm already behind around $100k on funding college education for the ones we do have 3) I'm so f'n' sure.

When he starts pontificating about how great the kids are I have only one billion completely logical counters to his "but I want 'em" argument and one of them is I'M TIRED but we can move forward from that. For once, I decide that saying nothing is the best route because as noted by many, yes, I am the verbal champion in pretty much every debate between the Other and I. I know this because I come from a sane place and the Other shushes me when two hockey players are about to fight as if biiiig things are happening. Really though, in my arsenal are about 50 reasons why having no more children makes sense but there's plenty of time for me to share those and then wasn't the time (Wait, pause, have I changed? Has my ego deflated a bit? I better get back to watching Long Kiss Goodnight, hot damn that Geena Davis kicks butt!) Anyway I know, I'll just save up all my massively good points until it comes to cutthroat time, which I estimate will be when the wee lil' gal turns 2.5yrs. Okay so I put that off, onto the next....

Took the kids to Applebees last night to kill time while the biggest kid was at hockey practice. Who knows why the heck I thought taking a 3 and 1yr old out to dinner would be EASIER than cooking something quickly at home! First, the 1yr old has decided like our human predecessors and folks from around the world that the spoon just inhibits her ability to shove food into her mouth (I can't say I disagree, it just ain't that becoming). I can tell she thinks it really is just an annoying apparatus that her mother forces her to use, bah! I see her thought process as it happens, first she looks at the mashed potatoes, then the spoon...and then, with her whole hand she grabs a handful of the mashed potatoes and manages to fit her entire hand into her mouth. Once that's accomplished, she casually runs her hands through her hair...ooooooh yes, mashed potatoes in hair anyone have a baby wipe that will work on this one??? Next, we're about 2 bites in when the 3yr old stands up on his booster seat and pronounces loudly "I GOTTA GO POOP RIGHT NOW!" and then proceeds to take his boots off and head for the bathroom (he does know where it is because we've ALREADY VISITED IN THERE FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES IMMEDIATELY AFTER ARRIVING!) I look around apologetically with a bit of a sly smile. Hell, I'm at Applebee's, this ain't Bar LaGrasa folks. Sooo we spend about 25 minutes in the bathroom while our food sits. So in an hour and ten minute Applebee's visit I spent nearly 40 minutes of it in the bathroom. Although reasonably priced for American run o' the mill fare, a $30 bill for an extensive bathroom break does not financially make sense no matter which way ya play it!

Sooooo here's my recent updates:

1) As previously mentioned watched Last Kiss Goodnight oldie but goodie, my sister's favorite movie. She's right, its like Bourne Identity but with a cool hot chick, totally dig it and want to rewatch. Another movie, Dryland with a guy I've never seen. It's about an Iraq vet who returns from the war with a bit of PTSD (is there such a thing as a "bit" of that? probably not) liked this one lots. America Ferrara is actually really good in it and Wilmer Valderrama looks hot with a marine haircut.

2) Had an Amazon gift cert for answering surveys holllaaaa! Bought Black Keys cd Magic Potion. My gosh, has any band since Zeppelin put out only brilliance? I want to marry both of the Black Keys members just to keep them makin' music in my basement. They rock so hard man! Blues, soul, or as my dad would say "those white dudes is cool" ...sooo good. Buy any Black Keys cd's you can but only under these circumstances: you like smokin' electric guitar riffs, your soul craves good ol' blues music, you're super awesome.

3) Heard UGGs are now bad for the feet, apparently the sheepskin can cause foot fungus so not only should you drop $150-$250 on the boots but buy some insoles too. Ummm yeeeea, I'm going to say what really makes sense, they're winter boots NOT shoes for marathon running. If you've got that bad of a foot sweat thing going, insoles and socks will not help. I mean I'm no podiatrist or anything but who goes long distance walking/running in UGGS???

Well that's all I've got, over for now!

Christmas shopping, Boots, and going to the Woman Doc

Well it hasn't quite been a month but what a heck of a couple-a weeks here! Recap of November for all you inquiring minds who've been missing a KB update. I'm big into numbering items because the libra in me likes to see the decisions I need to make in some numerical order. This doesn't actually help me decide it just makes my brain feel more organized. So here goes alllllll the decisions that are still looming in front of my foggy brain:

1) 11yr old wants an Ipod Nano because "its so awesome mom, look at that touch screen". Dilemma: he already has a blasted Ipod. Has consumerism and the spirit of giving gripped me so hard that I am actually going to spend $150 on a an item that does pretty much the same thing as the $150 thing he got less than 2 years ago just to see his face explode into little beams of lightness??? Probably. Still thinking it out though. I'm also avidly checking Ebay, Amazon, Apple, Google for any sign of a cheaper friggin deal cuz dang. $150 bucks is ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS! To me that translates into any of the following: a week of groceries, fifteen sweaters at Marshall's (gee I love Marshall's, TJMaxx, and any other store where I can buy a soy based jasmine scented candle, a large Wolfgang puck fry pan with cover, and Puma socks for the kids), or forbid, a little savings money...audible gasp! Anyone know where to get a $20 Ipod Nano that isn't stolen? Lemme know.

2) Went to the woman doc, his words "we gotta get that damn ovary out"...and then he said "forgive me for cussin'". Me, forgive someone for cussin'? He must have read his audience. So I'm going under the knife. I'm a bit nervous after hearing all these stories of people going in for "routine" (routine? really, how many people out there think any surgery is routine?) surgery and ending up on their death bed. Heck, one of my pals we'll call him DG said his friend went in to have a small piece of his tongue cut out and boom bam! DEAD two days later. Aaaaah run for the hills...this makes me think, eh, what's a cyst that's bigger than my ovary, who cares? I'll just deal with it forevaaaaaaa...but alas, modern medicine wins and I want to be pain free so there ya have it. I'm going in same day and comin' out. I am right now giving my right ovary a pep talk and preparing it for battle it sounds something like "you may be going in a team but you're comin' out alone, be strong and stay calm".

3) I want some knee boots. I'm only 5"4'...sure my license says 5"5'...and my weight is 120 with a wet sweater on...hahahahahahhahahahaha I'm dying laughing here. Anyway back to the knee boots...I want some big time baby...I've got skirts just dying to be paired with a great pair of knee boots! Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) I have what appears to be abnormally large calfs. I blame it on those sturdy Finnish women of my past and 12 years of soccer. I'm resigned to stretchy knee boots made of plastic which all my pals know does not fly with me. I don't do plastic. Last time I wore plastic shoes I also carried a Cabbage Patch named Diana after Diana Ross. I once had a pair of Cole Haan knee boots (this was of course prior to having 3 children because those boots could support the family for a month). Black. All leather, pull up, no zip knee boots. I loved those boots like a sibling. However, the left one had a faulty heel (had I paid full price I'd a been a lot more po'd, but I didn't.). Anyway I had the left boot in my trunk and it was in my forward looking business plan to get that heel replaced. Well my car was stolen, in it the f-ing boot! What was my first question to the insurance agent after they found the car? Well, first, I asked about my 100 cd's, one, a bootleg of Led Zeppelin! But second, second was "Didja find the boot?"

4) Last but not least I'm ignoring discussing the Other for fear of retribution from all my supportive women friends who think the Other is a piece of you know what and does not belong home.

5) Oh wait that wasn't last! I submitted to Pei Wei to blog in Asia for 3 weeks and eat delicious cuisine and take pictures and be enigmatic. Oh can you imagine....a mixed gal in Asia? Would I be the first?

6) Oh wait wait, one more, I'm reading Pope Joan (thanks to the Other's mom who has really really good taste in books, have I mentioned how cool she is? She's sewing Christmas pillow covers for me! Oh I've become so Good Housekeeping. What's next a short haircut?) Anyway Pope Joan. Looooove it. Intriguing, wonderfully written book. She's brave, she's smart, she's benevolent. No, women could not (I'm not sure about now, but pretty sure the rule is still the same) become Popes during midieval times...so you can guess how "she" becomes a Pope. Can't think of the author...I'll try for next time.

7) Okay this really is the last one. I've moved from Belgians to Nutbrown Ales. Why oh why do I like beer so much? Surprisingly enough Leinie's is doing a nice job with that Fireside they've come up with. Its much less than the $10 a sixer Frambozen from New Belgium, $10, a sixer? What is this New York?