What if we just walk?

I had a wonderful weekend of being irresponsible and having fun. Quite a bit made me smile.

1. Friday night was both productive and fun which doesn't usually happen. Being motivated to work out until 10:30 on a Friday night and then go out is pretty impressive. Also, only having to work a half day was very nice.

2. I love the weather! I can go out at night and not wear a jacket and we can walk everywhere. It is so nice to be able to not have to take the Subway or a cab and to enjoy it.

3. Stitch, it's a pretty cool bar in Chelsea, strange mix of music and I'm pretty sure that they were allowing guys to dance on this stage thing (unheard of in California) but it was still fun.

4. Breakfast on Sunday mornings - - milkshakes to be exact in one of the most phenomenal apartments I have been in the city.

5. Walks to the grocery store, gotta love D'agostino's.

6. Walks home...from Chelsea to Murray Hill. A roadie is a must even at 3 pm.

7. Having a clean apartment although the amount of time it took to clean was ridiculous. Note to self: do not wait this long to do intensive cleaning.

8. Clean sheets to sleep on and a nicely made bed.

9. New neighborhood friends that don't mind grabbing a beer at 1 in the morning on a Sunday, because I earned it.

10. Good conversation until 4 in the morning.

11. Making it to work the next morning - -and only an hour late.

12. Getting to leave for Baltimore for work today.

Sand, Sun, Spring!

1. I can't wait for the actual Spring to come because it means that summer is that much closer. I already have a lot on the agenda as far as things I want to do when this weather changes, and I am really excited. Pretty sure that I went out last night without a Jacket!!!! Amazing! Plans I have for Spring and Summer that make me smile: Miami, Coney Island, the beach, Jersey Shore (I'm giving it a second try because I really wasn't impressed the first time around), learning how to sail, the triathlon, Central Park, ahhh the possibilities are endless. I really can't wait.

2. Muchos gracias to all the compliments I've received on how I look lately, apparently loosing 20 pounds is quite noticeable and I appreciate the lovely feedback. Now just 10 more to go and I'll be happy. haha Oh and there I go again being a girly girl. Sorry.

3. I'm so thankful that I have an accommodating boss. He makes my life so much easier and is very understanding. He gives me opportunities that most people at my level don't get. He is eager to listen to my suggestions and my input. I complain a lot about my job, but I have zero complaints about my boss. Either of my bosses for that matter.

Bad at Games

1. I am dreadful at dating games. I don't have it in me to be coy and to say one thing when I mean another. When I have time to call someone I do, when I want to call someone I will. I've found that some people love this about me and undoubtedly some people probably don't. If I don't like someone I will tell them I'm not interested in dancing with them because I'm dancing with my friend. Sometimes I am too honest and I think that is great. Sometimes it just makes me laugh.

2. Baluchi's Indian Restaurant: My coworker treated me to a yummy Indian food lunch. It was really good and I don't think I've had Indian food since I lived in San Diego...I forgot how good it tastes. The place was very cute...decorated nicely and the staff was quick with the food. Lunch is half price too, Monday thru Friday, can't beat that.

3. Uggs, my new uggs finally made it! I know that really they aren't the cutest choice of shoe, but comfort...amazing! I'm not taking them off...I had my last pair for almost 5 years which is the longest I have owned any shoe. Love em and I don't care what anyone says.

~~And I forgot to mention my new favorite game from this weekend...soccer with snow...makes the walk so much more entertaining...and I guarantee people will want to join in.

Ignorance Might be Bliss?

1. Craigslist makes me laugh really hard. I find it very entertaining.

2. Beer pong at Off the Wagon. Gotta love a little healthy competition and a trip back to college life. Oh and its also fun to walk home from China town to midtown at three in the morning.

3. I'm reading "The Learning Gap: Why Our Schools Are Failing and What We Can Learn from Japanese and Chinese Education." So far, this book is really interesting not even in just a I'm going to be a teacher way but for anyone. Did you know that Asian schools make the kids clean up the entire classroom, they don't have janitors, and they also take turns serving lunch to their class so their cafeterias and classrooms stay clean? I didn't.

4. Billy Blanks...he kicked my ass last night but I love it!

5. Wii ~ I"m thinking about getting one because boxing in a video game--so much fun.

6. Life is making me smile, I'm so excited to almost be moving on to new things. There is something very exhilarating about starting a new project...especially when it comes in the form of a new job.

Thanks to the Irish!

Thankfully I had a wonderful weekend sipping green tea and vodka (might be the new dirnk of choice) anyway, here is the superficial fun pictures, the heartfelt things that made me smile will come tomorrow...

Pictures!

Sorry for the lack of posts, this turned out to be a mildly unsettling week. In the midst of it all I'm going to try and muster up a few things that made the week better.

1. I finished the book Into Thin Air, it is amazing. I absolutely loved this book and was inspired. It made me think about all the petty shit that we think are big problems and realize that it is all just petty shit. There are greater things in this world that we may encounter than the mundane day in and day out.

2. I went to a meeting for the Teaching Fellowship and I am even more excited to get started (and stop working this job).

3. Thankfully I have a wonderful family that keeps me grounded and sane . . .even from thousands of miles away.

4. Thankfully we had beautiful weather for two or three days this week.

5. Taking amy's niece out and the jello shots that may or may not have been consumed.

6. Vacations...i'm in need of one.

7. The wonderful friends that I have who never cease to amaze me. I've realized in the last 10 months who I will know forever, the type of people that I seek out, the people that know they can count on me forever and the people that I call when I have trouble. The people that are always up for an adventure, the ones that will be there when I cry. The ones that will talk some sense into me. And most of all...the ones that make me laugh. I am so thankful for the people that have made me a greater person.

Here's to a quarter life crisis

1. Celebrating my friends big 25th birthday. Fun times as always, but even more fun when you have something to celebrate. 2. Little West 12th. Very cute restaurant, a little datey, decent dj playing music while you eat. Good food, I recommend the ceviche (sp)appetizer it was amazing. And apparently the chocolate souffle was competition for good sex (I didn't have any so I can't attest to that statement). I'll post pictures of the night later. 3. Getting some exercise on the way home.

Text Me

1. One of my favorite things in the world to do is reminisce. Whether it is about the night before or 4 years before, I think it is so much fun to recap on memories that just make you laugh or smile. That might be half the reason I started this blog, to appreciate things even on bad days and so that someday years from now when people ask me what I was doing in NYC, I'll have an accurate report. Don't get me wrong I'm sure I'll make up some stories just to make things more interesting, but at least this will be a starting point.

2. Text messages. I'm sorry to all the people who hate that people text message entire conversations instead of just calling, but I love it. There are many times when I can't/don't want to talk on the phone and it is so much more convenient. Also, it gives some extra time to think about exactly what you want to say and how you want to put it instead of being on the spot. I am a major fan of texting and it might be the only reason I can't give up my cell phone and just get a home phone -- which is the ultimate goal.

3. I'm broadening my horizons. Not to say that I haven't experienced a lot of what the city has to offer: parades, clubs, free events, parks, biking, the rec center, shopping (as much as my budget will allow), dog parks, etc etc, but...I haven't really gotten a taste for the nice food the city has to offer. I can appreciate Ess-a-bagels, Stromboli's pizza, DIP, Buttercup's hummingbird cake, and the Lychee martinis from that yummy Thai restaurant in west village; but the new plan is to grab the girls at least once a month and splurge on a nice restaurant.

Love for 33rd street

1. I am quite fond of being spontaneous. Especially when plans don't go exactly how they were supposed to. For instance, when you attempt to go swimming but realize the pool hours are completely different on the website then in real life.

Often times I'll be the one saying "Lets just do it" (in an ambitious, seize the day way; not in a sexual way). Last night proved no different and what I can say is that drunk runs in Central Park at night are fun and a couple miles seems like nothing after a vodka and diet coke. There are also plenty of places to go to the bathroom if you find out during the run that you must pee immediately. Ah crazy nights.

2. As much as I like finishing a book, I also love to start new books. I'm reading the Hobbit and hopefully all three of the Lord of the Rings books that go after it. I have refused to see the movies for however long they've been out but I decided if I can get through all the books I will concede and watch the movies. Although, I can't promise I'll like them.

3. I love the fact that I can take the local 6 and avoid all of the crazy madness that happens at Grand Central on a weekday around 5 pm by getting off at 33rd street instead. 33rd street makes me smile.

Monday

1. The bike ride up the west side to the George Washington Bridge. The roads are so nicely paved and although you have to detour thru some shady streets it's going to be amazing when they finish it. And the view is pretty nice as well.

2. I'm reading the book Teacher Man by Frank McCourt. I'm almost done and I have to say that although the book should discourage me from how hard teaching is going to be, it actually makes me excited for a new challenge.

3. The fact that I feel safer walking home by myself at midnight here then I ever did in San Diego.

Sistertime

Friday:

My sister and her boyfriend came back from a trip to London and Ireland and decided to stop off in NYC for some Chinese food and quality sistertime. I love being lazy with my sister and I love even more that some visits are non-stop and some are soooo relaxed.


Saturday:

1. My sister decided to extend her stay an extra day so it was nice to get to spend some more time with them.

2. There is something so wonderful about seeing someone you care about happy. I have never been a jealous person, and I never understood girls that get jealous when their friend has a boyfriend. That is just isn't me. I used to wonder if my sister's boyfriend was really right for her, and I love knowing that he is. They are so happy and cute in their own way and it makes me so happy to know that they are "right" for each other.

3. Sister and I have a book of 2001 things you are supposed to do before you die. It has everything from ordering yourself a birthday cake to climbing to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. We love it and usually every time we are together we try and get something from it done. We also call each other to brag or "inform" each other when we get something new done. We've nicknamed it "our bible" not in a sacrilegious way, just because everyone tells us that we are too hung up on it and it's supposed to be an inspiration not a list of things to check off. Well screw that!

Sunday:

1. Atlas Shrugged: by Ayn Rand - - I have finally finished the 1063 page 4 size font book that I started months ago. Well I have to say I was quite impressed for a lot of reasons. I love the fact the idea behind the novel and the fact that if some utopia/Atlantis land existed it would be full of intelligence and production. I was a little disappointed That Eddie Willers didn't make it to the Valley but it made sense that he didn't. I wish that Francisco had ended up falling in love with someone purely because i think if I were Daggny I would have picked him over Rearden and Gault but that's just me. And, I wish that James Taggart would have died in a more dramatic way. Overall I liked it, I just wished that she put the story in 500 pages instead of 1000+

2. I'm going to Miami in May! The trip is booked and I couldn't be more excited.

3. Getting back into the routine (read: training) after a relaxing two days.

I really do like to drink.

1. It's funny that I can justify drinking after I've worked out. I am pretty confident that I went into this week determined to cut down on drinking and not go out as much. After all I'm training for a triathlon, and down to zero hours I can take off from work (meaning there is no way I can turn my alarm off hungover and go back to sleep for a couple hours). Instead of following my plan, I drank wednesday and thursday and I'm pretty sure I'll drink again on Saturday. I really do like to drink it's fun and although this might be a warning sign I'm ignoring it...after all the alcohol counselor told me I was just a young social drinker...So that's my story and I'm sticking to it.


2. I love reading blogs. The fact that people can be so entertaining all the time and have crazy stories is so entertaining. There are several times I laugh out loud just reading what people I don't know write. Crazy.




3. Oranges. Yummy...it doesn't bother me that they make your hands smell. I love them...and the fact that my coworker brings me them each morning for breakfast doesn't hurt either.


**Oh and as a little extra, I'm planning a vacation and travel is what I look forward to.

On Wednesday,

The three things that made me smile:

I am smarter than my boss. I am leaving my job in less than three months. There is a chance I am going with the fam to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu this summer.