Another Reason Why Target Is Awesome!

Target Springfield, VA, originally uploaded by j.reed.

As a New Yorker, I don't go to Target that often, mostly because the closest ones, in Brooklyn and Queens, are far away and almost always a mess.

This weekend, however, I had to return some extra badminton raquets left over from last week's Dinner and Badminton party. The problem was that in my haste to set everything up for the party, I tossed out the receipt. This vexed me, mostly because I didn't need a $33 dollar Target store credit. What would I spend it on? Isaac Mizrahi clothes? No thanks.

Imagine my shock then, when the gal at the customer service counter simply swiped my debit card and refunded all my money. Leave it to Target to have a system that looks up receipts by credit/debit card numbers. The cash is even already in my account!

I think I'm in love.

News Flash: Writers Write

I'm back on the writing bandwagon this week with a new column on The Simon. Enjoy!

A Few Observations

1. Running through Grand Central station is always a bad idea, especially if you are a finance guy in a suit. No one will feel sorry for you when you trip and fall on your face. I'm sure there's another train to Scarsdale in 20 minutes. What's the rush?

2. If you bring a small child on the Metro-North on a Friday afternoon during rush hour, do not give said child a beeping video game. That way, other riders won't have to get up and ask you to turn it off. Don't make me look like a Grinch.

3. Please don't ask a party host why their Evite guest list has been kept private. In the days before Evites people came to party based on whether or not they were free that day, not because of who had already RSVP'd.

4. When buying real estate, please stop telling your friends that you were "priced out" of that Classic 6 you wanted. Face it, you just didn't have enough cash.

Hugs and kisses,
Pauline

New Haircut: Lookin' Sharp

Despite having no less than 300 things to do on any given day, I found time to get my hiarcut on Wednesday. I think this is one of the best cuts I've ever gotten.

Smooove.



OK. Now no more slacking on the blogging, I promise.

La Pauline! The Podcast!

Many of my fans/stalkers read this blog but have never actually heard me speak. (Consider yourselves lucky?) If this has ever been a dream of yours, behold:


Pauline Millard: Meet the Bloggers

In which I try to sound smart and talk about citizen journalism. (Interviews at 3:00 p.m. are surprisingly difficult for me, although I do make a good joke about Millard Fillmore.)

My segment starts about eight minutes into it.

Dave's Summer Party!

Last night the ladies and I headed out to Hoboken for a party. Yes, Hoboken. No, I'm not losing my touch. Hoboken is a great place for a good time. And any time Dave throws a party I am there, toute suite.

Some of these photos are a little grainy. Methinks my battery might be dying.

Early in the evening, when my hair still looked good.


Everyone fills up at the bar.


The Dirty 30 crew reunites.


Allison et Moi


Carey even made it out. Yay!


Allison stays abreast on current events.


Dave + Ladies + Shots = Good times!


This is our new friend Pete. He claimed to be a skilled dancer but no one would step to him.


Allison as Femme Fatale (as opposed to bathroom reader)


Cold lampin' in McDonlads


The 1:00 a.m. banquet


This is your brain on McDonalds


Self-portrait, McDonalds style


Late night, Hoboken


This is where we left Anthony at 2:00 a.m. For all we know he may still be there.

Is Any Body There?

no fly zone _ revised., originally uploaded by muha....

I know, I know...I've been MIA for a few days. What can I say? I'm a busy gal. The week has been full of dinners, a show and I started teaching a new class. I've been out and about.

By some fluke I have a free night, and so I'm in my local coffee shop abusing the free WiFi. So how about some links/news?

First off, check out Kacie Shiek, and up-and-coming singer/awesome person. I saw her perform on Tuesday at The Cutting Room and she tore it up.

Here is today's Pauline Pick about the Financial Times.

Graduation Parties...Le Sigh...

Yesterday afternoon found me at a graduation party for the daughter of one of my mom's friends from the 1970s. Graduation parties have a unique way of reminding you of your age. Put it this way:

I remember when the graduation girl (one half of a pair of twins) was in utero and her mom came over to tell my mom she was pregnant.

I personally stuffed the gift card with cash.

I was overtly referred to as a "grown up."

I graduated college long before MySpace, Facebook or i-anything (pods, phones, tunes, etc.) I thought it was cool when I could get my grades over the phone.

The college kids didn't ask me to join them in their beer bong games.

I handed out business cards to the graduates and told them to call me for lunch if they are ever in NYC.

Once Again: New Kids On The Block Will Never Be Ironic

I was just walking down the street, pre-coffee, when I saw a group of college kids walking towards me. Goodness knows why they were up this early. More distubring, though, was the 19-year-old guy who was wearing a New Kids on the Block T-shirt, circa 1989.

I've said it once, and I'll say it again: NKOTB will never be ironic. Boy band resurgences never work. Do we not remember The Monkees comeback tour from 1986? Case closed.

Also, when life imitates telenovellas: a telemundo anchor is being placed on leave because she's been dating the Los Angles mayor, who is leaving his wife for her. Best part? She reported it on her newscast, failing to mention that she's the homewrecker. See, cheetahs never prosper.

Off on a Sail!

A few days ago I went for a sail in the Long Island Sound with many Millards. Not only was it a good way to hang out with the fam, but I also got to try out my new Olympus camera. The best part about all these shots was that because the sun was so bright, I couldn't see exactly what I was shooting half the time.

My mom is not much of a sailor. She wore the life jacket the whole time and when we got really good wind screamed and tried to climb off the boat. I wish I was kidding.


A big sail.


At one point during the trip the birthday card for one of my uncle's gifts flew off the package and into the water. Most people would just have let it sink to the bottom of the ocean. Not us. We had a man overboard drill until we retrieved the card. It was soaked and torn in two, but the birthday wishes had to be delivered.


The Manhattan Skyline


It was the most perfect say for a sail. Here is Le Doug digging the serious wind.


I don't know much about raising sails or rigging jibs,. Luckily, other people in the crew did.


See! Other people were out on Sunday, too.


This photo was taken by a nine-year-old girl. Not too shabby.


Le Doug et moi, on the open sea.


Moi, Apres-sail

Quick Links

Happy Fourth of July, everyone. Here are two quick links to enjoy between burgers and beers:

An interesting post that questions what Dave Eggers did with all the dough people sent him for subscriptions to McSweeney's, etc. Personally, I was never into the whole McSweeney's schtick. If I want to read good, undiscovered writing I can check out my own journals.

Derrick J. Lang has another great video up about video games.