for the birds

For the Birds Has Flown the Coop.

But you can find us here: http://forthebirdsblog.com

Cheers!

Did Somebody Turn out the LIGHTS?

A few weeks ago For the Birds celebrated it's one year mark -- picture me sitting at the keyboard with a party hat on....vodka bottle rolling on the floor...  silly string still stuck to the monitor.. I mentioned in my post that FTB has built a following with over 20,000 site visitors. This is a rough estimate, because  -- come on, really. You don't think that I actually believe that 20,000+ of you are out there reading these almost daily observations... And thanks to all of the lovely comments that I received pointing this out. Side note, I am not that BOARING Ms. Kelly from Kentucky -- and although you don't know how to spell, I might have better things to do with my time but I choose to do this -- and if it's just not that interesting to you -- then STOP visiting. But, keep checking in if you must, I am into all things that depreciate. 

So, getting to the point, I do know -- thanks to those smart heads over at Feed Burner, that we do have a factual regular readership of 25 concrete, real-live people. That's right - a lovely and lucky 25. And to you I am calling out. In the next few days the following will be happening:

1. For the Birds will turn out the lights for a much needed beauty rest.
2. For the Birds will return, refreshed and better than ever—but only viewable at the new (still shiny) URL - http://forthebirdsblog.com
3. The old ugly domain http://designsigh.typepad.com/forthebirds will GO AWAY, so DON'T GO THERE
4. Those of you that have the old domain/URL in your readers, you will need to change to the new domain.
5. For the Birds will only be accessible from http://forthebirdsblog.com
6. This has very little to do with the evil birders over at forthebirds.com 

Unfortunately, I don't have specific timing on this event—otherwise I would fill you in. But the wheels are in motion. We've checked the logs, Batman, and will make a swift return... So, if you happen to be settling in for the evening, and pull up to FTB for some mild entertainment, please don't be alarmed if you receive some sort of error message or blank screen—We are still here... we are coming back—this has very little to do with the evil birders at forthebirds.com AND, the best is yet to come... More shameless self-promotion of multiple personality abundance -  I want you to know but I don't anxiety disorder...  have I mentioned most of us here are geminis? Any questions? Email me - rmsatbwdstudiodotcom.

To Be or Not to Be ... Mr. CO'D

Just in case you knew, marked your calendar but forgot anyway... A very much anticipated return to prime time will be occurring very soon. Armed with the evil fighting, suicide stopping, librarianesche do-gooder of a hot veterinarian background, our very own C to the O to the D will (again) join the ranks of talents such as Gary Sinise, James Spader and other "Movies are great but Television is Money" actors.. That's right. On September 22nd, brace yourselves as Chris(topher) O'Donnell runs screaming into your dens and TV rooms--Not stopping until he has completely facified his new-born five o'clock shadow with your screen. Staring as leading man, "G"-- perhaps for "gentle", "giant", or "ginormous"... Trust me, no stone will be left unturned in the promise of entertaining you with this one as the O'D acts like he's never acted before. NCIS Los Angeles, with your latin-american flair, come as you will. Oh, and BTW... the new and improved anti-porn LL Cool J stars as wingman... Around the Way Girl, now I know you're hooked. (CBS 9/8c).

Cool as a cucumber, CO'D, this one's for you.

365 days later...

Year one has passed!

I began publishing For the Birds on this date circa 2008—wow oh wow have things changed since. Initially, For the Birds was to be a marketing tool for Breakwater Design Studio, and although it does serve that purpose, FTB has also opened up whole new worlds for me... Writing and Internet Social Media. Once shunned—Facebook and Twitter are now common tools that promote, engage... Once feared, writing a very public diary of almost daily observations has given me a personal boost that I never could have imagined... Sharing accounts with readers who then become friends with common interests and concerns... And then my favorite -- sharing our lives with existing friends and family scattered all over the world. In short, connections have become a way of life and For the Birds has allowed my family and I to have a mini piece of the pie—actively participating on an almost daily basis.

So, I guess that I need to thank me for jumping into a way of life that I never knew possible... but -- as I take my place at the podium to accept the award for 2009 Ego of the Year—I really thank all the readers... to date a shocking 23,247—even those that hit the website and went "what the f is this" and x'd the browser out... I have kept my word and emailed everyone back that has commented—and I have kept most comments private... knowing that privacy is still a major player in the evolution of For the Birds.

On another note, I really want to acknowledge a few other blogs out there that have given me the courage to share in this open forum... In no particular order:

Dooce
Mighty Girl
Suburban Bliss
Gotham Gal
Designing Moms

I don't think that any of these authors are aware of me or how much they have influenced... If they were aware—I'm sure that restraining orders would be issued. At any rate, I read their posts with the hope that someday FTB will boast it's own URL (damn you—you evil birders at forthebirds.com) and claim a regular readership. Until that day—keep stopping by—I promise generous helpings of almost daily observations... blood, sweat, tears all mixed with a fine selection of mundane tribulations.

PS. If you want to hear me talk more (The floodgates! Typepad you're killing me!)—visit me at Twitter.

Triumph de Royale

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

I am not one to write television reviews... but for those of you that were looking for a follow-up to the must see, anticipated premiere of Royal Pains... here 'tis...

not so bad.
funny.
completely unrealistic.
groundless.
why do I watch this junk.
could be much worse.
waste of time.
southampton hospital is not that scary.
get a life.
did not watch the extra 17 minutes.
might tune in again.

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you know it.

Tea, anyone?

A few weeks back we mentioned the various filmings that were taking place in our Hampton neighborhoods... there were explosions and mysterious goings-on behind white sheets being held up by large men with headsets. Well... all for not, it appears that Royal Pains, staring Mark Feuerstein, is being picked up by the USA Network.... and THANK GOODNESS -- with the economy down and financial schemes becoming so unfashionable as of late -- we were worried that the Hamptons rep of unbridaled selfishness and gluteny would suffer. At least we can count on a realistic prime time series to keep up appearances.

Hey Kids—Here'some corn, go get lost...

Hank has returned to his Water Mill field for the annual Pumpkintown celebration. Kids, wear your sneaks, puffy vests and sunscreen (for the nose). Parents, be prepared to stand around while your Golden Pear purchases make you vibrate. Passers by, be prepared to sit still among pumpkin rubberneckers taking in the scene. Our son Will is not yet old enough to enjoy Pumpkintown, but we are rather intrigued....

This year Hank returns with his Maze of Maize. This idea a--mazes me... I'm sure it's fun... but as a product of the '80's (aka warped mind) and not originally from an area that celebrates dried stalks...  I can't help but get thrown back to a more simpler time when..... we avoided the corn.

(P.S. Hank - please see us about a new website.)

In other news...  The Town of Southampton Rocks, but that doesn't reall mean anything (Read More...), and a Designer's procrastination... The Pattern Foundry.

Never a dull moment.

They are shooting another scene here in Bridgehampton today, right next door to our Studio. Loud explosions, smoke, tons of security. There isn't anywhere to park, which is cramping our style somewhat, but the big BOOMS are keeping us awake on this dreary day. From the information we have gathered... this seems to be an HBO series pilot that originated in the UK. We think they are just about to blow up that Escalade (pictured below - pre-demise.) .

Back to the BOOMS... One has to wonder.... HBO was able to get permits to blow up buildings and cars on Main Street in Bridgehampton - yet our allowance to have a sign hung outside our place of business is still under scrutiny.... Am I out of line?

   

Christmas is tomorrow.

Time is precious. We all know this - it goes way too fast. I mean - it is already 10:45 am! How did that happen? Scheduling events also speeds things up. We were just invited to a wedding on December 5th, so I rushed to book my parents to babysit. This is one week and a day after Thanksgiving. Christmas comes a few short (getting darker) 20 days later. What am I going to wear?

The local retailers - more specifically the dreaded grocery store, has already stocked it's shelves with Halloween candy and pie crusts for Thanksgiving.... I even spied a Christmas wreath on a top shelf.... A barrage of holidays all piled on top of each other in a very disorderly fashion. I think it may thunderstorm today.

In other news... A film crew has moved into Southampton to shoot a new series pilot called Royal Pains, staring Mark Feuerstein.... Thus adding fuel to the already hugely magnified stereotyping of our community. Apparently, Mark plays an NYC MD down on his luck that goes to a party in the Hamptons and wakes up to  be a fabulous personal physician... or something along those lines. I happen to know that my Hamptons doctor never cleans his fish tank and enjoys throwing em' back at the Publick House.