At a dinner party that would make any New Yorker jealous (except for the unfortunate few setting next to us) the fabulous four (The Darlings, My gal Friday and myself) decided that New York deserved 7 wonders. This was decided after none of us really knew what the 7 wonders of the world really were. Then we thought there were also natural wonders. And apparently there is search committee to find the modern wonders of the world since no one seems to remember the old ones. So it is with great pride that I announce the 7 wonders of The Marvelous City of New York.
(drum role please)
7 WONDERS OF NEW YORK
STATUE OF LIBERTY
THE SUBWAY
CENTRAL PARK
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
THE FOOD
THE PEOPLE
There they are. The a list of all A listers of NYC. It took the entire dinner from the first bottles of wine, through the appetizers, and well into the entrée before the list was finalized. There where heated debates, attempted vetos and lots of laughter. The people are definitely my favorite of the 7 wonders of NY and in particular the ones at our table last night.
Cheers,
Lucky
Friday, July 13, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
My Meny
List of Men I have dated/gone on a date with/excluding all those not permitted to date by their wives
German Med Student
Italian Investment Banker
Current weatherman then high school junior
Current f-up and then high school drop out
Compulsive Liar
American Italian teacher
Librarian
Indian Pilot
Hippie
Sports Photographer
Bosnian
Accountant (was a write off)
Forrest Ranger then Marine
Bouncer
Hedge Fund/Philanthropist
Redneck
List of Men I have fallen in love with
Scottsman
German Med Student
My Best Friend Dean
German Med Student
Italian Investment Banker
Current weatherman then high school junior
Current f-up and then high school drop out
Compulsive Liar
American Italian teacher
Librarian
Indian Pilot
Hippie
Sports Photographer
Bosnian
Accountant (was a write off)
Forrest Ranger then Marine
Bouncer
Hedge Fund/Philanthropist
Redneck
List of Men I have fallen in love with
Scottsman
German Med Student
My Best Friend Dean
Monday, July 9, 2007
Best Weekend Ever
So I really started the weekend on Thursday. My soon to be ex company threw a party. Some of the clients were old pals from my former employer. I invited some of my fabulous girls as back up against the crazies at my office. We all looked gorgeous. After tons of hellos, a few beers, lots of good music and public humiliation from my current boss/fascist dictator I went home. I was the first one in the office the next day and the only one until 11:00am.
Friday. By the end of the day I was able to talk to Mussolini and he informed me that “I was not as smart as he thought I would be but he thought I had potential”. I was almost ready to inform him that I was potentially out of there but I let it slide.
Off to the Soho house to meet one of my old colleagues for a drink/advise/and a little fabulous sun by the pool. She became my new mentor. I informed her of Muss’s depiction of me and our conversation. We came up with a plan, and then I noticed the shoes of the gent next to me. Pink. Hmm I thought. My mentor got up to use the loo and I commented on my neighbor’s footwear.
“Nice Shoes”. I said.
“Thanks, they are Kung Foo shoes”. He said
Now I consider myself somewhat of a shoe guru. But never in my travels amongst Ferrigamo, Choo, Manolo, in an endless world of pumps, sling backs and kitten heels had I ever heard of Kung Foo shoes. I was intrigued.
“What makes them Kung Foo shoes”? I asked.
“They have a flat surface as the sole”. He said with a half grin.
I didn’t really understand. They looked like pink keds attached to a thirtysomething year old man with an eccentric grin.
“These are Kung foo shoes then”. I said confidently.
I pointed to my black wedges.
“They are flat on the bottom you see”?
He grinned.
My mentor returned and introductions were made.
“Fabulous mentor this is Kung Foo Irving”
“Kung Foo Irving this is the most fabulous woman in new york who just agreed to be my mentor”.
Both smiled.
Mentor had to run off. We kissed in the air near our cheeks and she was off. I returned to my Kung Foo friend.
Then there was the call. My twin, on of my best friends from DC was on the phone. She had just arrived in New York and was coming downtown to meet me. Kung Foo Irving had a great idea.
“Why don’t I put your friend on the list”? He suggested.
“Sure”. I replied.
“Twin, Kung Foo Irving..whom you haven’t met yet…my new friend is going to put you on the list. Just tell the cab driver to drop you off at 13th and 9th Ave in front of the Soho house. Tell them you are on the list and come up to the roof”.
This was fabulous. My twin should come to NYC for the weekend and start at the top of one of the coolest clubs in the city.
“I am wearing a tank top, flip flops and jeans is that ok”. She asked.
“You look gorgeous in whatever…..but….if you have heels to change into that would be great, and maybe change your stop”.
“Done”. She said and we hung up the phone.
I thanked my new friend. He was cute.
Not five minutes later my fabulous twin bound up the stairs and across the deck spotted with euros and yuppie new Yorkers.
She looked gorgeous. She was wearing jeans, and black top, and read and tan 1950’s like pair of heels. She looked amazing.
“Twin I would like to introduce you to Irving”.
We all sat around had a beer and then head off to my favorite Italian restaurant. It is one of the only Bolognese restaurants in New York, with home made pasta, great Sangiovese and a wait staff that never changes we were off. Kung foo had been invited but he had a pressing engagement at home. Something about an ex girlfriends dog.
My girl Friday met Twin and I and we had a fantastic meal. Stuffed we took a cab all the way home and crammed into my very full at this point queen bed.
Not a bad way to start the weekend.
Friday had to move to Brooklyn the next day so she went home to pack her belongings.
Brunch.
So Twin and I met up with my somewhat famous artist friend that happened to be doing work at Madame Trousseau’s wax museum in Times Square. He met us for breakfast at a little Brassiere on 53rd that we found out that was open 24 hours a day. He had little French donuts, and red wine. Twin had eggs and a large coffee I had yogurt and granola and one of his donuts along with my big cup of coffee. We walked around town for a little bit, got rid of the artist who had to go do some research at the museum and Twin and I headed downtown to the West Village to hang out with my oh so glamorous, fabulous friend Perry. Perry who is gorgeous, intelligent and lives in the very posh part of town invited us over to lay out on his roof. Unlike the soho house to ascend to the roof deck one had to shimmy up the fire escape. We got our towels, our beer and our glamour and shimmied right up. All of New York was in front of us.
“Let me give my grrlsss the tour”. Perry started.
Twin beamed she already loved him as much as I did.
“There she is the empire state building. She sits right next to Ms. Chrysler building”. Perry often used the feminine instead the simple neutral and boring article “the”.
“And if you look closely”. He continued.
“Look toward those three buildings over dere, the small one on the left”. He stated.
“Dat is where Ms. Nicole Kidman lives”. He smiled.
Twin and I loved it. We ate lunch, laid out and drank really good Belgian beer Perry’s new drink thing. We left the west village drunk, tired, sun kissed and fabulous.
“How else she be”? I ask joo.
We went home and took a nap and woke up late. We got dressed. I dressed Twin in a beautiful black cotton dress that one of my Darling friends designed. We met Friday and Friday’s soon to be ex-room mate with her soon to be fiancé after he broke up with his soon to be ex-wife. Very Very confusing. We went to Martigenti’s a very European fun bar/restaurant in lets call it soho sud. It really is in Little Italy but we will ignore that slight detail since the place was in its own little world anyway.
I realized by the end of dinner that I had left my ATM card in the ATM this AM. Oh no. I had enough cash to pay my bill then I called my bank and put my funds on hold and went to the next bar. Since the soon to be fiancé of Friday’s soon to be ex roomie was from London we took gang to Puck Fair and upscale kind of pub in Soho proper. After a few pints we headed home.
Twin and I woke up, went to my favorite brunch spot in Harlem. I treated my twin and myself to a wonderful brunch. Since the weather had been perfect all weekend we decided to go for a walk in central park. We walked around the conservatory gardens. We joked about the soho house, kung foo shoes, somewhat famous artists and fire escapes.
We were truly lucky. The both of us. I took her to the subway where she made her way back downtown to get a bus and go home.
I had just received a text from Kung Foo Irving.
“Did you and DC have a nice time this weekend?” He asked.
“Best Weekend Ever” was my reply.
Friday. By the end of the day I was able to talk to Mussolini and he informed me that “I was not as smart as he thought I would be but he thought I had potential”. I was almost ready to inform him that I was potentially out of there but I let it slide.
Off to the Soho house to meet one of my old colleagues for a drink/advise/and a little fabulous sun by the pool. She became my new mentor. I informed her of Muss’s depiction of me and our conversation. We came up with a plan, and then I noticed the shoes of the gent next to me. Pink. Hmm I thought. My mentor got up to use the loo and I commented on my neighbor’s footwear.
“Nice Shoes”. I said.
“Thanks, they are Kung Foo shoes”. He said
Now I consider myself somewhat of a shoe guru. But never in my travels amongst Ferrigamo, Choo, Manolo, in an endless world of pumps, sling backs and kitten heels had I ever heard of Kung Foo shoes. I was intrigued.
“What makes them Kung Foo shoes”? I asked.
“They have a flat surface as the sole”. He said with a half grin.
I didn’t really understand. They looked like pink keds attached to a thirtysomething year old man with an eccentric grin.
“These are Kung foo shoes then”. I said confidently.
I pointed to my black wedges.
“They are flat on the bottom you see”?
He grinned.
My mentor returned and introductions were made.
“Fabulous mentor this is Kung Foo Irving”
“Kung Foo Irving this is the most fabulous woman in new york who just agreed to be my mentor”.
Both smiled.
Mentor had to run off. We kissed in the air near our cheeks and she was off. I returned to my Kung Foo friend.
Then there was the call. My twin, on of my best friends from DC was on the phone. She had just arrived in New York and was coming downtown to meet me. Kung Foo Irving had a great idea.
“Why don’t I put your friend on the list”? He suggested.
“Sure”. I replied.
“Twin, Kung Foo Irving..whom you haven’t met yet…my new friend is going to put you on the list. Just tell the cab driver to drop you off at 13th and 9th Ave in front of the Soho house. Tell them you are on the list and come up to the roof”.
This was fabulous. My twin should come to NYC for the weekend and start at the top of one of the coolest clubs in the city.
“I am wearing a tank top, flip flops and jeans is that ok”. She asked.
“You look gorgeous in whatever…..but….if you have heels to change into that would be great, and maybe change your stop”.
“Done”. She said and we hung up the phone.
I thanked my new friend. He was cute.
Not five minutes later my fabulous twin bound up the stairs and across the deck spotted with euros and yuppie new Yorkers.
She looked gorgeous. She was wearing jeans, and black top, and read and tan 1950’s like pair of heels. She looked amazing.
“Twin I would like to introduce you to Irving”.
We all sat around had a beer and then head off to my favorite Italian restaurant. It is one of the only Bolognese restaurants in New York, with home made pasta, great Sangiovese and a wait staff that never changes we were off. Kung foo had been invited but he had a pressing engagement at home. Something about an ex girlfriends dog.
My girl Friday met Twin and I and we had a fantastic meal. Stuffed we took a cab all the way home and crammed into my very full at this point queen bed.
Not a bad way to start the weekend.
Friday had to move to Brooklyn the next day so she went home to pack her belongings.
Brunch.
So Twin and I met up with my somewhat famous artist friend that happened to be doing work at Madame Trousseau’s wax museum in Times Square. He met us for breakfast at a little Brassiere on 53rd that we found out that was open 24 hours a day. He had little French donuts, and red wine. Twin had eggs and a large coffee I had yogurt and granola and one of his donuts along with my big cup of coffee. We walked around town for a little bit, got rid of the artist who had to go do some research at the museum and Twin and I headed downtown to the West Village to hang out with my oh so glamorous, fabulous friend Perry. Perry who is gorgeous, intelligent and lives in the very posh part of town invited us over to lay out on his roof. Unlike the soho house to ascend to the roof deck one had to shimmy up the fire escape. We got our towels, our beer and our glamour and shimmied right up. All of New York was in front of us.
“Let me give my grrlsss the tour”. Perry started.
Twin beamed she already loved him as much as I did.
“There she is the empire state building. She sits right next to Ms. Chrysler building”. Perry often used the feminine instead the simple neutral and boring article “the”.
“And if you look closely”. He continued.
“Look toward those three buildings over dere, the small one on the left”. He stated.
“Dat is where Ms. Nicole Kidman lives”. He smiled.
Twin and I loved it. We ate lunch, laid out and drank really good Belgian beer Perry’s new drink thing. We left the west village drunk, tired, sun kissed and fabulous.
“How else she be”? I ask joo.
We went home and took a nap and woke up late. We got dressed. I dressed Twin in a beautiful black cotton dress that one of my Darling friends designed. We met Friday and Friday’s soon to be ex-room mate with her soon to be fiancé after he broke up with his soon to be ex-wife. Very Very confusing. We went to Martigenti’s a very European fun bar/restaurant in lets call it soho sud. It really is in Little Italy but we will ignore that slight detail since the place was in its own little world anyway.
I realized by the end of dinner that I had left my ATM card in the ATM this AM. Oh no. I had enough cash to pay my bill then I called my bank and put my funds on hold and went to the next bar. Since the soon to be fiancé of Friday’s soon to be ex roomie was from London we took gang to Puck Fair and upscale kind of pub in Soho proper. After a few pints we headed home.
Twin and I woke up, went to my favorite brunch spot in Harlem. I treated my twin and myself to a wonderful brunch. Since the weather had been perfect all weekend we decided to go for a walk in central park. We walked around the conservatory gardens. We joked about the soho house, kung foo shoes, somewhat famous artists and fire escapes.
We were truly lucky. The both of us. I took her to the subway where she made her way back downtown to get a bus and go home.
I had just received a text from Kung Foo Irving.
“Did you and DC have a nice time this weekend?” He asked.
“Best Weekend Ever” was my reply.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
The Weekend
Friday I left work and was able to have a few cocktails with my new co-workers. We sat outside in a typical New York sidewalk bar. I had an aproicot martini and we all laughed and joked about the weekend. A friend of one my the guys stopped by to say hi. “You might remember him from the Dockers Ads, he is a Dockers model”. I said “Oh, Nice Pants”. He smiled. He didn’t get the joke. Typical model. I hopped in a cab and went downtown to the gourmet garage (a little food store that has a pretty good selection of cooking staples). I picked up some mozzarella, basil, tomatoes, brie, strawberries, string beans and decided on pork chops for the main course. I was cooking dinner that evening for my fabulous friend B. B. is gorgeous, intelligent and is a truly kind individual with a great apartment in the West Village. Apparently though he was not much of a cook because his kitchen lacked pepper and olive oil and his oven I do not believe had ever been turned on. No matter. I cut the brie and strawberries, he opened the wine and we talked. We laughed through three long courses separated by glasses of wine and double bock beer. I always love the walk back to the subway from B.’s house. The cobble stone streets glisten in the dark. The little boutiques windows are always list, shining on purses, shoes and dresses looking for their match. I went home and fell into a deep sleep in my soft white comforters and plush pillows.
Sat. I woke up somewhat uneasily. Threw on a dress and walked out the door. Ended up running to the train station, getting on the wrong platform and seeing my train pull away. “NOOOOOOOOOOOO”! I screamed, cursing the metro north. I went back down to the station, readjusted, got a cup of ice coffee and sat on a bench and called my best friend and read the NYtimes. I got on the train and arrived at my Dads an hour later than expected. It was a good thing I didn’t tell him I was coming. We went to the diner and then rented a movie that I slept for half of.
I returned to the city, Dad walked me to the station. When I make my train I love train stations and the act of waving as a train slowly pulls away. Unfortunately that day I left my handkerchief at home.
I got home and changed for dinner with three of my favorite people in the whole world. My girl Friday and two of my most darling best friends. We will call them the Darlings….like in Peter Pan only imagine two of the most fashionable, and fun gay guys that you have ever met. We met at my favorite restaurant in the west village that reminds me home. The food is from central Italy, Bologna in fact. The wine is from central Italy and the owner is imported as well. I met my tres chic trio on the corner. I am always meeting people on corners. No comments please. This time was due to the simple fact that I gave the Darlings the wrong address. One we all were together we enjoyed a fantastic sampling of cheese, grilled vegetables, pasta, chicken, scallops and of course wine. We walked back to the subway highly content with the culinary experience we just had. Kisses and the boys were off. How lucky I am to have them. They keep me grounded, fabulous, positive and most importantly happy.
Friday and I got some ice cream and decided to walk around Washington Square Park. Sat. night are interesting nights in the city. They are no longer going out nights in New York. They are meant to be spent at home, or at a casual dinner with friends. The reason being is that Sat. nights the city is flooded with outsiders using the city as an excuse to let go of all their inhibitions. We watched.
We decided to grab a drink. I called another good friend, Fergus. Everybody knows Fergus. He was at a bar downtown. We went down and sat had a few more drinks and laughed watched as the parade of people went by.
Friday and I left, grabbed some greasy burgers and fries and got on the subway going all the way north, home. One subway we plugged ourselves into my ipod and jammed out to U2, Fall out boy and other random, high pumping music. Everyone else was asleep on the train.
We crashed. Put on the TV and fell asleep.
Sunday I did not want to wake up. I finally got out of bed. I decided to go for a walk and get some exercise. It took about three hours for me to motivate myself out of the house. I listened to U2, fall out boy and other random high pumping music to work out to. I came back, showered and went downtown.
I got a frozen pomegranate margarita across the street before heading over to Lincoln center. I got my ticket from Friday, who works at the ballet. I sat 11 rows back in the center and watched some of the most talented ballet dancers in the world perform. I am awestruck every time. I sat next to a little girl and her mother who obviously were regulars at the ballet.
“What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon”. She said.
I couldn’t agree more.
Friday and I left, and grabbed some coffee down the street.
“I could not get up this morning” She said.
“Yeah me either’.
We sat and drank our coffee out of our coffee bowls.
Kiss Kiss goodbye and I went up and she went east. I stopped at the Gourmet Garage uptown. A store I discovered while dating an upper west side piece di gourmet garbage. But hey, there is something good from every experience. This one included pasta, fresh hummas and fresh fruit. I got back to my house. Rearranged my furniture, and had a mini dinner party with my good friend Dre and my neighbor party girl who stopped to have a mini dinner with us. The pasta made up for the chaos and clutter of my studio apartment in duress. By the end of the evening, I had had a wonderful meal, clean dishes and a new set up in my pad.
Dinner, a pub, conversation, ice cream, long walks, the ballet, coffee coffee coffee, wine wine wine home made pasta in a newly rearranged home and there you have the ingredients of a fabulous little weekend. Compliments of my incredible friends, a few Italians and lovely city of New York.
Cheers,
Lucky
Sat. I woke up somewhat uneasily. Threw on a dress and walked out the door. Ended up running to the train station, getting on the wrong platform and seeing my train pull away. “NOOOOOOOOOOOO”! I screamed, cursing the metro north. I went back down to the station, readjusted, got a cup of ice coffee and sat on a bench and called my best friend and read the NYtimes. I got on the train and arrived at my Dads an hour later than expected. It was a good thing I didn’t tell him I was coming. We went to the diner and then rented a movie that I slept for half of.
I returned to the city, Dad walked me to the station. When I make my train I love train stations and the act of waving as a train slowly pulls away. Unfortunately that day I left my handkerchief at home.
I got home and changed for dinner with three of my favorite people in the whole world. My girl Friday and two of my most darling best friends. We will call them the Darlings….like in Peter Pan only imagine two of the most fashionable, and fun gay guys that you have ever met. We met at my favorite restaurant in the west village that reminds me home. The food is from central Italy, Bologna in fact. The wine is from central Italy and the owner is imported as well. I met my tres chic trio on the corner. I am always meeting people on corners. No comments please. This time was due to the simple fact that I gave the Darlings the wrong address. One we all were together we enjoyed a fantastic sampling of cheese, grilled vegetables, pasta, chicken, scallops and of course wine. We walked back to the subway highly content with the culinary experience we just had. Kisses and the boys were off. How lucky I am to have them. They keep me grounded, fabulous, positive and most importantly happy.
Friday and I got some ice cream and decided to walk around Washington Square Park. Sat. night are interesting nights in the city. They are no longer going out nights in New York. They are meant to be spent at home, or at a casual dinner with friends. The reason being is that Sat. nights the city is flooded with outsiders using the city as an excuse to let go of all their inhibitions. We watched.
We decided to grab a drink. I called another good friend, Fergus. Everybody knows Fergus. He was at a bar downtown. We went down and sat had a few more drinks and laughed watched as the parade of people went by.
Friday and I left, grabbed some greasy burgers and fries and got on the subway going all the way north, home. One subway we plugged ourselves into my ipod and jammed out to U2, Fall out boy and other random, high pumping music. Everyone else was asleep on the train.
We crashed. Put on the TV and fell asleep.
Sunday I did not want to wake up. I finally got out of bed. I decided to go for a walk and get some exercise. It took about three hours for me to motivate myself out of the house. I listened to U2, fall out boy and other random high pumping music to work out to. I came back, showered and went downtown.
I got a frozen pomegranate margarita across the street before heading over to Lincoln center. I got my ticket from Friday, who works at the ballet. I sat 11 rows back in the center and watched some of the most talented ballet dancers in the world perform. I am awestruck every time. I sat next to a little girl and her mother who obviously were regulars at the ballet.
“What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon”. She said.
I couldn’t agree more.
Friday and I left, and grabbed some coffee down the street.
“I could not get up this morning” She said.
“Yeah me either’.
We sat and drank our coffee out of our coffee bowls.
Kiss Kiss goodbye and I went up and she went east. I stopped at the Gourmet Garage uptown. A store I discovered while dating an upper west side piece di gourmet garbage. But hey, there is something good from every experience. This one included pasta, fresh hummas and fresh fruit. I got back to my house. Rearranged my furniture, and had a mini dinner party with my good friend Dre and my neighbor party girl who stopped to have a mini dinner with us. The pasta made up for the chaos and clutter of my studio apartment in duress. By the end of the evening, I had had a wonderful meal, clean dishes and a new set up in my pad.
Dinner, a pub, conversation, ice cream, long walks, the ballet, coffee coffee coffee, wine wine wine home made pasta in a newly rearranged home and there you have the ingredients of a fabulous little weekend. Compliments of my incredible friends, a few Italians and lovely city of New York.
Cheers,
Lucky
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Surprise, It’s Memorial Day!
So it was a nice little weekend. I had dinner Friday night with my girl Friday and her family. Then we sat at Lincoln center, by the fountain. We watched the stars as we waited for one our friends to pick her up. We were convinced that one of the stars was moving in circles. No it was not a plane and it was not wine induced…we think! We went and got Starbucks and then our friend arrived.
I got up early on Sat and rushed down to Port Authority bus terminal. Terminal is an appropriate term for this station. Dismal would also be accepted. I got on a bus and headed to Bethlehem PA to help put together a surprise birthday for a good friend. 40 balloons later, well 38, 36 (a couple revolted and flew away) the party was ready to go and his sister/my adopted sis and I were proud of the décor we accomplished with just a few balloons and happy birthday sign. The beautiful pool, and finely manicured lawn and gardens helped. He was surprised. He was really surprised that all of his friends came from all over to spend his birthday weekend with him. Little did he know none of us would have wanted to spend our Memorial Day weekend any other way. 16 attendants, 36 balloons, 168 beers, one grill, one pool….Priceless. I did notice one thing. The older we get the more we revert back to infancy. Although I am not sure this crew ever left.
We had a big brunch at a Scottish tea room. I had scones with Devonshire Cream and Lemon curd! YUM. And then I left to visit family. I got lost, surprise, surprise and arrived to a homemade apple pie. Could a girl get any luckier? My best friends parents/my adopted family and I had a wonderful dinner. I slept like a baby. Memorial Day, American Flags were hung high outside the wood frames of the beautiful farm house owned by two former teachers. I realized the reason why I most likely had “God Bless America” ringing through my head the day before. We grilled, had martinis and sat on the patio while old war movies echoed in the back ground. They are normally there (a war movie fanatic is one of the residents), but this time it seemed to make sense. Cary Grant was hot even in black and white. The uniform doesn’t hurt! I thought. There was a little shopping too. If the New Yorkers I rolled with only knew…that my fashions came straight from the runways….well the aisles of Pennsylvania. They would be shocked. I saw a few dresses in the store that were designed by a friend of mine. To me it was like spotting a celebrity across the room (if I cared or noticed celebrities). I was thrilled that someone “I” knew helped create this beautiful item. It was the greatest finding I have had in a while what a surprise.
I stayed Monday night and took a 5:30am bus back to New York. It amazes me that in under 2 hours one can leave farm land, unlit roads, and strangers who say hello and look one another in the eye and arrive to a city of millions of strangers who are somehow related within the chaos and beauty bordered by steel buildings and streets that never dim. I got home, dropped off my bags, slipped on one of my new dresses, and headed back downtown. I was the first one to arrive in the office. I made my coffee and started my day.
This Memorial Day was both surprising, simple and oh so sweet.
Happy Memorial Day.
I got up early on Sat and rushed down to Port Authority bus terminal. Terminal is an appropriate term for this station. Dismal would also be accepted. I got on a bus and headed to Bethlehem PA to help put together a surprise birthday for a good friend. 40 balloons later, well 38, 36 (a couple revolted and flew away) the party was ready to go and his sister/my adopted sis and I were proud of the décor we accomplished with just a few balloons and happy birthday sign. The beautiful pool, and finely manicured lawn and gardens helped. He was surprised. He was really surprised that all of his friends came from all over to spend his birthday weekend with him. Little did he know none of us would have wanted to spend our Memorial Day weekend any other way. 16 attendants, 36 balloons, 168 beers, one grill, one pool….Priceless. I did notice one thing. The older we get the more we revert back to infancy. Although I am not sure this crew ever left.
We had a big brunch at a Scottish tea room. I had scones with Devonshire Cream and Lemon curd! YUM. And then I left to visit family. I got lost, surprise, surprise and arrived to a homemade apple pie. Could a girl get any luckier? My best friends parents/my adopted family and I had a wonderful dinner. I slept like a baby. Memorial Day, American Flags were hung high outside the wood frames of the beautiful farm house owned by two former teachers. I realized the reason why I most likely had “God Bless America” ringing through my head the day before. We grilled, had martinis and sat on the patio while old war movies echoed in the back ground. They are normally there (a war movie fanatic is one of the residents), but this time it seemed to make sense. Cary Grant was hot even in black and white. The uniform doesn’t hurt! I thought. There was a little shopping too. If the New Yorkers I rolled with only knew…that my fashions came straight from the runways….well the aisles of Pennsylvania. They would be shocked. I saw a few dresses in the store that were designed by a friend of mine. To me it was like spotting a celebrity across the room (if I cared or noticed celebrities). I was thrilled that someone “I” knew helped create this beautiful item. It was the greatest finding I have had in a while what a surprise.
I stayed Monday night and took a 5:30am bus back to New York. It amazes me that in under 2 hours one can leave farm land, unlit roads, and strangers who say hello and look one another in the eye and arrive to a city of millions of strangers who are somehow related within the chaos and beauty bordered by steel buildings and streets that never dim. I got home, dropped off my bags, slipped on one of my new dresses, and headed back downtown. I was the first one to arrive in the office. I made my coffee and started my day.
This Memorial Day was both surprising, simple and oh so sweet.
Happy Memorial Day.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
The Daze of the Week
Wednesday night. Just a Wednesday. So I got up. Picked a black dress, red and white polka dot shirt, and beige and red shoes. Made breakfast (whole grain English muffin). Went to work. Got coffee. Went back to work. Emailed friends. Got a nice phone call from a friend. Organized the office. Learned some new programs. Filled a prescription at the drug store. Went to the park. Had a sandwich and soda. Came back to work. Suppose to meet a friend for dinner. They cancelled. Decided to go to a movie after work. Saw a French/American film playing in the lower east side. Left the office. Got a butterfinger tasty de-lit. Walked downtown. It was cool, sunny and breezy. Perfect day in the city. Got on the subway. Found my way to the theater. Took off my sunglasses. Sat in the middle of the theater. Watched a movie that made me cry at times. Because my life has been more beautiful than even the carefully calculated stories and images set in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Remembered with whom I spent my last days in Paris. Remembered the smell. Remembered the love. Left the movie. Tossed my hair. Decided between French onion soup at Bathazaar or Tapas at a place called “Oliva” down the street. Chose “Oliva” because I liked the name. My girl Friday called. She was at Balthazaar with her parents. No surprise we think the same. I asked if she had the onion soup. She didn’t. She met me. I could hardly hear her over the sound of the live band. We drank house wine and I ate tapas for dinner. We got on the subway. We went uptown to the launch party of Hampton Magazine's new season. We got to The Pink Elephant. We were on the list, they couldn’t find us, it didn’t matter, it never seems to matter, they smiled and opened the velvet ropes and we walked in. Friday was wearing red. We gave money to an African Water project they were raising money for in the hall. We felt good (due to wine or charity I am not sure). We got black wrist bands with white writing on it. We walked into the crowd of designer dresses worn my 20somethings, trust fund children with no smiles. They always look annoyed or angry. Why not be happy with everything you have? We walked onto the dance floor. I tripped and fell onto a model wannabe. Ooops. I laughed. There was a step down that was hidden, had nothing to do with the wine, I think. I ordered two glasses of Champagne that turned out to be Dom Perignon. It tasted sweet, crisp, easy. We danced some more. Sipped our champagne. Looked around the room. Made fun of models and then went home. “Only us” I thought. Took a little nap on the subway. Woke up on my block. Went to bed. Woke up. Picked out a black shirt, pair of capri’s, and Friday’s tan belt that I stole months ago. Put on my tan and blue heels (a present from a friend) my friend called as I was putting them on. Made breakfast and thought “Not bad for a Wednesday”. I shook my best friend. “Friday time to get up”. "It’s Thursday".
Your girl,
Lucky
Your girl,
Lucky
Movin on Up
I just read in the most horrible book, which will remain unnamed…,a quote. This is the solitary passage of writing that is worth taking the effort/time to read of the entire work. I will paraphrase. It asks:
“Why do people move? The answer is simple as well as universal. They move in search of a better life”.
I recently moved. Not from my home (surprising since I packed up my belongings and moved 6 times with in the past two years). I have lived in my mothers house, resided in an old farm house, lived in a renovated loft, a friends apartment, my fathers apartment, with 2 ½ crazy roommates and currently reside in a beautiful Harlem studio. But that is a whole other story.
I recently moved offices. I went from a larger, stuffy, mahogany and forest green colored office spotted with ecru colored cubicles. Even the color “ecru” does not hide the retched nature of people boxes. I think who ever invented cubicles should in a very “Twilight Zone” like manner be forces to live the remainder of his days (it was a man…we all know it was) in a city of cubicles. Back to the office, it was 3 floors, had a garage and was located in the mall capital of a New York City Suburb. Donald Trump had moved in while my sanity moved out. Everything that is wrong with America can be found in this town. Image Image Image surrounded by a demographic of both Walmart shoppers and Neiman Marcus hounds. And yes I did myself give into Walmart more than I would care to admit but I was always aware of the impact and influence of it’s presence.
I became the center of this somewhat dysfunctional large family of lawyers, HR personal (I don’t think the word person should even be used remotely relating to HR), cleaning folks and a president. I found the people I was drawn to (few and far between but ranged from the interns to the president).
So where did I go?
I moved to an office in midtown Manhattan. My commute changed from 1 hour to 20 minutes. I now work for a company of 15 people in an office with no cubicles. Systems are different. I get in, in the morning. I make a jumbo cup of coffee. Talk to the people in the office. Do a circle around the loft and smile.
First Day. Shocker! Only way to put it. I was scared. I was use to the metro north, to taking the train and sitting with lots of space around me and the company of one of my best friends. Then bam I was taking the very loud, very crowded subway standing up. I tried to figure out how to get the wires of my new ipod not tangled in the handles of my purse or in the way of my Starbucks. All this occurred while speeding underneath the concrete city. I got out of the subway 20 minutes later and there I was. “Toto I don’t think we are in Kansas anymore”. No Suburbia only city. Concrete blocks lining my way like soldiers on either end of my path to my office. I had walked these streets hundreds of times, I knew the area well, why did it feel different? It was during the day and this was my new home.
Was I dressed ok? I am a pretty confident gal. I feel comfortable at pubs and the opera as much as eating alone in a restaurant or sitting in a park. But there was a different air. Daylight….not a weekend…..daylight in New York.
I walked into my office. Wood floors (trouble with my heels) walls being knocked down. People were just laying about, talking having coffee. Work Hard Play Hard oozed through the pipelines and tin ceilings of my new home.
I was scared. I might have found a girl even more obsessed with herself than I. I sat down at my new desk and the computer played a montage of model posses of the previous face of the company. At least I make sure I have friends in my pictures so it doesn’t look like I am as narcissistic as I truly am. She just put it out there. Also no instructions, no friends, starting at square one…it was scary.
My new boss is amazing. He is able to stay positive, energetic, personable and organized. He can fix everything from account management issues to broken chairs. He rocks.
Dogs roam free around my new office. I get 25 phone calls oppose to 425. I still am in the center. I still like finding out what is going on in all aspects. I still am me just in new locale.
Lucky Girl. I am a lucky girl. I left a place where I adored quite a few spectacular people and moved to a city with the potential to house a few more.
I don’t really miss anything from my old life of one week ago. I am settling in with my new self. My New York Casu-gal self. OK the Casual doesn’t really agree with me but I make it work.
The new family is as dysfunctional as the old one. But I wouldn’t feel at home if they weren’t.
People take a plunge, jump and try new things in hopes of a better life. My life has been pretty good thus far. We’ll see where it goes from here. Either way I am “Moving on up” or in this case down..town.
Your Girl,
Lucky
“Why do people move? The answer is simple as well as universal. They move in search of a better life”.
I recently moved. Not from my home (surprising since I packed up my belongings and moved 6 times with in the past two years). I have lived in my mothers house, resided in an old farm house, lived in a renovated loft, a friends apartment, my fathers apartment, with 2 ½ crazy roommates and currently reside in a beautiful Harlem studio. But that is a whole other story.
I recently moved offices. I went from a larger, stuffy, mahogany and forest green colored office spotted with ecru colored cubicles. Even the color “ecru” does not hide the retched nature of people boxes. I think who ever invented cubicles should in a very “Twilight Zone” like manner be forces to live the remainder of his days (it was a man…we all know it was) in a city of cubicles. Back to the office, it was 3 floors, had a garage and was located in the mall capital of a New York City Suburb. Donald Trump had moved in while my sanity moved out. Everything that is wrong with America can be found in this town. Image Image Image surrounded by a demographic of both Walmart shoppers and Neiman Marcus hounds. And yes I did myself give into Walmart more than I would care to admit but I was always aware of the impact and influence of it’s presence.
I became the center of this somewhat dysfunctional large family of lawyers, HR personal (I don’t think the word person should even be used remotely relating to HR), cleaning folks and a president. I found the people I was drawn to (few and far between but ranged from the interns to the president).
So where did I go?
I moved to an office in midtown Manhattan. My commute changed from 1 hour to 20 minutes. I now work for a company of 15 people in an office with no cubicles. Systems are different. I get in, in the morning. I make a jumbo cup of coffee. Talk to the people in the office. Do a circle around the loft and smile.
First Day. Shocker! Only way to put it. I was scared. I was use to the metro north, to taking the train and sitting with lots of space around me and the company of one of my best friends. Then bam I was taking the very loud, very crowded subway standing up. I tried to figure out how to get the wires of my new ipod not tangled in the handles of my purse or in the way of my Starbucks. All this occurred while speeding underneath the concrete city. I got out of the subway 20 minutes later and there I was. “Toto I don’t think we are in Kansas anymore”. No Suburbia only city. Concrete blocks lining my way like soldiers on either end of my path to my office. I had walked these streets hundreds of times, I knew the area well, why did it feel different? It was during the day and this was my new home.
Was I dressed ok? I am a pretty confident gal. I feel comfortable at pubs and the opera as much as eating alone in a restaurant or sitting in a park. But there was a different air. Daylight….not a weekend…..daylight in New York.
I walked into my office. Wood floors (trouble with my heels) walls being knocked down. People were just laying about, talking having coffee. Work Hard Play Hard oozed through the pipelines and tin ceilings of my new home.
I was scared. I might have found a girl even more obsessed with herself than I. I sat down at my new desk and the computer played a montage of model posses of the previous face of the company. At least I make sure I have friends in my pictures so it doesn’t look like I am as narcissistic as I truly am. She just put it out there. Also no instructions, no friends, starting at square one…it was scary.
My new boss is amazing. He is able to stay positive, energetic, personable and organized. He can fix everything from account management issues to broken chairs. He rocks.
Dogs roam free around my new office. I get 25 phone calls oppose to 425. I still am in the center. I still like finding out what is going on in all aspects. I still am me just in new locale.
Lucky Girl. I am a lucky girl. I left a place where I adored quite a few spectacular people and moved to a city with the potential to house a few more.
I don’t really miss anything from my old life of one week ago. I am settling in with my new self. My New York Casu-gal self. OK the Casual doesn’t really agree with me but I make it work.
The new family is as dysfunctional as the old one. But I wouldn’t feel at home if they weren’t.
People take a plunge, jump and try new things in hopes of a better life. My life has been pretty good thus far. We’ll see where it goes from here. Either way I am “Moving on up” or in this case down..town.
Your Girl,
Lucky
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)