Yesterday we went to the Bronx Zoo to see Tiger Mountain, but after we got done looking at everything else we were too tired and didn't even see it. The funniest thing was watching a little girl in a stroller screaming at the sight of a camel. The most unbelievable thing was another little girl with sandles that actually squeaked with every step, like a dog squeaky toy. We were looking at some big animal or another when we heard this "squeak-squeak-squeak" sound and realized it was coming from the sandals. We moved on, as it was so annoying. About an hour later, as we were eating lunch outside at the "Dancing Crane Cafe," and we heard it again: "squeak-squeak-squeak." I mean, it was such a disturbance. I commented that maybe it was so the parents could keep track of her, so they would immediately know if she had run off or something. G countered with: "If you can't keep track of your kids you shouldn't be out in public with them." I agreed and went back to be totally annoyed. So we got up and left. Oh, and one of the animal exhibits, I forget which one, was "made possible by Whitney Houston." (I hate that word, "exhibit," used in relation to animals at the zoo!)

I realized after going to the zoo why I prefer just staying in the neighborhood on weekends: the trains are always re-routed or simply not running due to maintainence and you end spending more time travelling then you do at your destination. It's actually pretty draining. We spent a full hour on the 2 train getting to the zoo, and even longer getting home since the train was making local stops, yes, "due to maintenance," on the express track.

CELEBRITY SIGHTING

Hilary Swank and Chad Lowe at Chelsea Garden Center looking for plants for their "sitting room." We were walking in behind them and Hilary announced: "Isn't this fabulous??!!" to some other guy they were with.

I bought a small peace lilly for my desk at work to dress it up a bit and to absorb some toxins. I had a real need for something green and living at in my cube the other day, something to counter all the drab greys and browns and general deadness of the place. We have a lot of light, which is good (we have huge windows looking right over the Hudson to Manhattan), so hopefully the plant will live.

Before the garden center we had a brunch at The Odeon, kind of by mistake. We just happened upon it. It was really nice inside; it felt like a scene in a Woody Allen movie, all art-deco and dark and wooden, a definite romantacized New York feel. All the waitstaff were young and and pretty and seemed like aspiring actors/models. We didn't realize that it was pretty much out of our budget until after we sat down, but decided to stay anyway. The food was delicious though, so at least it was worth it; brought the guilt down a notch. They brought a basket of cornbread, scones, and banana nut bread to the table with some really fresh, creamy butter. I think butter is my favorite food. The breads were moist and just absolutely delicous with the butter on them. I had an omelette with cheddar and "fine herbs," and a bellini. I would actually go back. The woman next to us was really enjoying her homefries, as she remarked to us after the waiter tried to take them away and she said she wasn't done yet, that she was "on Atkins and shouldn't really be eating them, but you don't pass up these homefries when you're nursing a hangover! I'm savoring every one!."