We're so glad the footage made the nightly news...

OK. If you are a RENT fan, you know that line.


SO anyway, this morning around 3AM, Anna bursts into my room, yelling "Alina, I think someone is having a fight! It's really scary!" And, of course, I say, "ANNA! Be quiet! Just call 311 and be quiet!"

Literally 30 seconds later, we hear INSANE pounding on the door so we come out to the front room and a NYPD officer is yelling at us, telling us to evacuate the building. I think, at some point, I yelled at her "WHY????" Clearly, I was still somewhat asleep because I usually don't yell at strangers or law enforcement officers. But thankfully, I was awake enough to grab my coat and some shoes. Some people didn't even do that. I still don't understand how I slept through the first hour of it

Anyway, it turns out there was a fire in the building. Schizo Sharon, as I like to call her, in 5S, had been tearing her apartment down to pieces since 1:30AM. Cops were called on a noise complaint and didn't respond. Then, Schizo Sharon started throwing paint cans and electric appliances and clothes out her window onto Columbus Ave. Again, cops were called and did nothing. Our neighbor then ran downstairs and pulled a cop from the street and they came in and tried to get her to stop breaking things and making so much noise. Then, she started yelling that she was on fire and she needed to get to the airport and was locked in. That's when the fire department was called in. Then they carried Schizo Sharon out and she kept resisting, to the point where there are now claw marks along the walls in our staircase. She had lit paint thinner on fire. Then, the tried to escape the cop car, so the officers had to form a barrier around her to keep her from destrying the rest of the city.

We had to stand outside FOREVER until the doorman of the luxury building next door told us we could wait in the lobby. THEN, we had to wait in the lobby forever but that was OK because we got to play with puppies. Then, at 5AM we came upstairs to find our apartment had some water damage and there was broken glass EVERYWHERE in the building. Even in my bedroom. I'm still not sure where it came from because nothing in my room was broken. Thank goodness our apartment was fine. I just kept thinking about all the stuff I didn't grab on the way out (like all my pictures and Playbills and little treasures)... what a scary experience! I am really, really glad I couldn't hear the first part of it because I have the weird talent of recalling situations with exactness and it would have given me nightmares.... For real.

Our apartment building is now quite literally a sea of broken glass. Tony the super was super and got everyone out safely and I have no doubt things will be taken care of quickly.

I am lucky that I didn't lose anything or was not in any danger. It was scary being outside and waiting to hear how bad the fire was and how many apartments it had damaged. On the plus side, we got to know all our neighbors REALLY well.


See news story here: http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local&id=6731250

Someone tell me why...

Kids grow up so fast. My little munchkin nephew is now a year old. Where does time go? Seriously? It seems like just yesterday when I was at nationals frantically checking my cell phone between events to see if my mom had called me to tell me he was born. I'm just glad he's such a happy, healthy baby. He adds so much to our family and I love his adorable little personality. He will walk any day now...

Sometimes my sister is the only one who gets it...

Maya: SNOW DAY!!!

Me: What? In NY?

Maya: No, in Florida, stupid.

Me: Shut it, Fringey

Maya: Don't be such a girly swot!

Me: Why don't you just go to a clown car convention, oh portly one?

Maya: I found Maoz!!!

Me: I went there the other day and stuffed my face with pure deliciousness...

Maya: That's exactly what I did!

Me: Good for you, furry freak.

Maya: Your mutti

Me:Why don't you go off and polish your rambler's badge or arrange your owl collection?

Maya: I will as soon as you take down your poster of Reeves and Mortimer in the nuddy pants.

Me: Whatever, go off in your airing cupboard with Our Lord Sandra and Pantalizer doll

Maya: You are just a cheeky buddhist practicing to get things...


And though none of that makes sense to anyone (except for maybe Anne, Anna and Allison)... It's enough to let me know she's doing well.... I looooove my sister!

I love to see the Temple...

Why I love New York #1

One of my favorite things about living in NYC is that I live on what I like to call "Christmas Tree Lane." I live across the street from the LDS Manhattan temple, so I always have a beautiful view... but adding to that are the Christmas lights that stay on year-round on Columbus Ave and 67th St.

HAIR, HAIR, HAIR

Tonight I got to attend the first night of previews for HAIR. It was an interesting experience because:

A. I knew NOTHING about it except for "Let the Sunshine In"

B. I won the first lottery ever (thanks to G's good karma)

C. I knew someone in the cast


This much I will tell you for free: It is an amazing, energy packed show and there is so much talent... It's so weird to know Gavin outside theater and then to see him belt out songs on stage and command attention like that... Well, I was speechless. That man can sing. One of my favorite things about it is that the cast interacts with the audience a lot. It keeps things interesting when they are parading up and down the aisles...

Gavin, if you're reading this, you're amazing and I love you! I'm glad you liked your teal, tacky flowers.

To my fellow Mormons: Consider yourselves warned. This show is SUPER scandalous and it is not one to bring your conservative mom/dad/mission president to...or children... WHY, why, why would people bring their kids to that show? I don't get it.


ANYWAY.... I am sure they all got fabulous reviews. I can't wait to read what they are saying about Gavin, Will Swenson and the rest of the cast. They were fantastic.

Thank you, Sir Anthony

For sending me this... It put a little sunshine in my horrible morning. I think it's funny, even if you don't.

Loved and missed

Two years ago today. I still miss him all the time. But I know he's still watching over me! :)

Oscars and Crepes

For Oscars night, Kristin put together a little crepe party with a few friends. It was probably the most exciting Oscars night ever, considering the fact that I usually forget when they are on and never usually watch them. Karene helped by putting together an awesome Oscars Bingo game which was actually really fun to play. I won something for once in my life.

Rustin, me and Kristin making crepes. Or really, more like Rustin and Kristin making crepes and me looking at Facebook and checking my email while they made said crepes...

I don't know why I look so thrilled that Rustin is about to beat me with that spatula... And yet, another picture where I am holding my phone in my hand... New goal: pictures of me NOT holding my phone.

KLR and Rustin

Rustin concentrating hard on not messing up. PS. He messed up...but it was still a good crepe. It looked kind of like a shopping bag/Cyclops (the Greek mythology one, not the X-Men member).

And then he made another where he didn't mess it up...

Chris, Karene and Kristin

Chris was super thrilled to be at this Oscars party. He told me so 12 times.

This was probably my favorite part of the entire night...it was brilliant. (A little long, but funny)


And lastly, I am really glad Kate Winslet won. She's really my favorite actress (ever since The Holiday AKA my favorite movie...well, okay, one of them).