Red, White, and Bike

July 4th, 2009. The weather is perfect for a bike ride, and since some of the best views of the Statue of Liberty are just steps away from my apartment, I threw my camera into my pack.

First stop about a mile south of me I hit the boardwalk near Fairway in Red Hook.

Next stop, the view from the fishing pier at Coffey Park. It's a small park, but the views are unmatchable.

Next, a visit to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. The terminal was empty today as no cruise ships were docked. When you look in one direction, there's this amazing view of Lady Liberty.

Turn the other way and you find yourself in the middle of urban decay. That's New York for ya.

About an hour and a half later, I rounded the corner back onto my own block and suddenly, the left pedal flew off my bike.

Next stop will be the repair shop!

sound test

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Visit Karen's blog at brooklynsbackyard.blogspot.com

Back in the Back

FINALLY! The weather has sprung and I've been back in the backyard.

This year, I got fancier with my so-far-sorta-failed gardening and decided to try my luck at some herbs planted from seeds (rather than buying a plant someone else already nursed), so about a month ago, I planted cilantro (which actually sprouts from coriander seeds) and basil.

The cilantro has really taken off.

And the basil, well, it's got a long way to go, but there are signs of life there. I swear. Tiny, green signs.

Today, I added a splash of color with some hot pink impatients. We'll see how long these last. Everything else I've planted in these spots has withered away.

Meanwhile, I'm not sure what this is or where it came from, but this pretty, pink flower is hiding in my prickly raspberry brambles.

Last year's garlic experiment failed but I decided to try again. This time, I planted the cloves at the first signs of spring. So far, so good.

For the third summer in a row, my tried and true chives have returned. This seems to be the only thing I've planted that likes me enough to come back.

Thanks to no doing of my own but the doing of some wild gardener who presumably lived here long ago, the insane, wild rose bush is back and lush and showing very early signs of hot pink buds!

Here's a close-up of one of this season's first of my roses.

So there you have it. There's no parsley, sage, rosemary, or thyme in this yard. But there's a whole lot of other stuff.

Ms. Electra and the Boogie Woogie Bad Paw

My perfect pup Electra, who's been a part of my life for over nine years now, has recently had me on edge. It seems when a ten-and-a-half year old dog finds it difficult to fight off an infection or two, her mom gets really stressed.

Over the past six weeks, Electra has seen three doctors, been on three rounds of antibiotics, a round of anti-inflammatory meds, and a round of pain killers. She's endured olive oil being rubbed into her nose and Epsom salt being soaked into her paw. Not to mention the Elizabethan collar. Ah, the E-collar (which quite truly cost me about four hours of sleep each night as she purposely banged into my bed for hours on end as though to say, "Take it off take it off take it off!").

All the while, she's been acting entirely fine. Like the Electra we all love and know.

Last week, the kind vet at Gracie Veterinary Clinic performed an operation on Electra's poor little paw. He knocked her out with sedatives and worked his magic. I'm happy to say Electra's stitches come out on Saturday. In the meantime, I'd like to leave you with the sweetest but saddest pic of my patient dog, post-op and drugged like Marilyn Monroe.

Five Seconds of Fame

A producer-friend of mine from the TODAY Show approached me about online etiquette for social networking sites. After a few seconds of hesitating, I decided sure, why not, I'll be on TV for a few seconds. A few days later, I found myself at 30 Rock being interviewed for the TODAY Show. My friends Jim, Kelly, and Robin were brought to the studio, too. We each got five seconds of fame on the show this morning.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Notes from My 6th Grade Yearbook

I came across my 6th grade yearbook today and, among other things, it included a list of "My Favorite Things." I thought I'd type this list out below. (I'm keeping spelling in its original form.)

FAVORITE MUSIC: Bubble gum/Bass/Soft metal

FAVORITE MUSICAL GROUP: Paula Abdul

FAVORITE OUTFIT: Peach Flagies

BEST FRIEND: Tracy Westeyn

MY BEST CLASS: Math/Damianos

MY FAVORITE TEACHER: Mrs. Damianos

I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER My first year in Middle School

THE FUNNIEST THING WAS: When Mr. Wilson got his bell

I DREAM ABOUT: Everything

THE GREATEST DAY WAS: When we had Mrs. Whoknows for a science substitute!

I HOPE IN TEN YEARS I'LL BE: A talk show host or auther.

I'M PROUD OF MYSELF BECAUSE: I was selected Editor of the Knight Writer!/Newspaper! I try my hardest.


Bubble gum, bass, and soft metal, eh? Yet, Paula Abdul was my favorite singer? (Some of my current musically-inclined friends are bound to get a kick out of this. Ahem!)

Now, you might be wondering what peach flagies were and why they were my favorite outfit. I totally remember this outfit. Flagies (maybe "flaggies?") were these genie-style pants. Mine were peach cotton with a thick elastic waistband. And yes, I had a matching top.

I've got to add that I absolutely remember Mr. Wilson and his bell! Mr. Wilson was from Trinidad and he was a generally soft-spoken guy. Looking back, he was a total pushover. He used to jingle the bell and yell, "Students, students. Quiet, quiet." Unfortunately, nobody listened to him. Twenty years later, I feel guilty. I wonder where Mr. Wilson is now.

I cannot imagine why math was my favorite class, other than the fact that Mrs. Damianos was awesome. She was totally misplaced as a math teacher. She should have been an art teacher or something far more creative than... math. Actually, when I was in college I reunited with Mrs. Damianos and she invited me over to a house party she threw while I was visiting my parents for winter break as a college student.

I hope you enjoyed this random blast from the past. Now, go ahead and make fun of me.

Baby Season

It's baby season! Jenn and Phil's baby shower for the upcoming arrival of Sophie Renee Smith took place last weekend. Facebook seems to be inundated with announcements of births and very pregnant people among my friend list.

And just yesterday my friends Heather and Ryan Forrest welcomed their little girl, Teagan Riley Forrest, into the world. Check out their new blog: http://www.teaganforrest.blogspot.com/

Everyone else, send me your baby updates and you, too, can see your names in print on Brooklyn's Backyard.