Busy Week

Sorry I have not posted. It has been such a busy week, both at work and personally! I had two back-to-back client presentations yesterday, which was the cause of the work busy-ness, and I've had two family visits, which has been really great.

On Monday, my sister Steph and my lovely niece Evelyn came up to visit. I hadn't seen Evie since her birth-day, and she's so sweet and cute! She's very much a Mommy's girl right now, but she let me hold her without fussing for a few minutes. Steph took me to dinner at Gramercy Tavern, which I had heard about but not tried. We had a five course dinner of uniquely paired ingredients artfully placed on the plate. While five courses sounds obscenely filling, they were each very small, and I did not feel stuffed at the conclusion.

I got to see Steph and Evie again the next day for lunch in Soho. It was a warm day, and Evie looked very bohemian in the outfit Steph had dressed her in. It seemed so natural to meet them for lunch, but I didn't want to let them go!

Last night, I met my aunt Cinda, uncle Lee and their daughter Beverly for dinner. They came up to the apartment and ooh-ed and ah-ed over the view, then we headed to Midtown for dinner to be closer to Grand Central, where they were taking a train later. Their son Rob, who's at West Point, told them about the Indian food restaurant I had taken him to. I could tell by their less than enthusiastic responses and facial expressions that they weren't too sure about it, but they each tried everything I ordered and were surprised to find they liked it! At the end of the meal, they thanked me for introducing them to a new cuisine, and we hurried them back to Grand Central.

Lee was a bit flustered that we got to the train station 10 minutes before the train was to depart, but I knew we were close and they would make it. He doesn't travel much, and I think he's most comfortable in his rural setting. I was very proud of him for stepping outside his comfort zone, not only in coming to the Big City but also to try Indian food! (He had seconds of his favorite dishes.) He asked me as we were walking to the restaurant, "Are you used to this, Emily?" referring to the busy streets and people everywhere. I explained that I've always been a City Girl, so I'm comfortable with it. He seemed surprised!

Tomorrow, I will take the train up to West Point to see them again and watch Army play football. It wasn't too sad saying goodbye since I know I'll see them again soon.

The View from Here

Last week, I had dinner with a potential vendor. I had met her while I was at my last company, and I think their product is very interesting so I invited her to present to my new team. She discovered that we both went to the same university, and now that I'm in NYC, she says we Texan girls have to stick together. (She lives in Connecticut, but works for a company in the city.) I told her my biggest challenge has been meeting friends, and she said she wanted to introduce me to a guy from her company -- not as a date, but she said he's a widower and is also looking to meet new friends.

So, she brought him along to dinner. I'm a big believer in chemistry, and right away, I could tell there wasn't any. However, I do need friends, so I just approached it with that in mind. We had a nice dinner, mostly talking about business. This guy lives very near me, and when he said his apartment has a view of Ground Zero like mine (his from the south side, mine from the north), we joked that we would have to compare to see who had the better view.

He and I shared a cab home, since we live so close, and he walked me to the door of my building. It felt strange -- I felt like he wanted me to ask him up, so I said, with doubt in my voice, "did you want to see the view now?" He agreed, so I quietly sighed and led the way.

Fortunately I had recently straightened up, so everything looked pretty good. He agreed my view is better (ha!) and showed me which building was his. That done, I was ready to usher him out, (It was late, and I had work the next day...) when he suddenly said, "Can I kiss you?"

Uh, no! The first thing out of my mouth was, "How 'bout a hug?" which he took.

Then he kept commenting how pretty I am, while I'm trying to smile and guide him to the door. Ok, bye-bye now!

I wrote him an email the next day and told him I was sorry if I gave the wrong impression but I'm just looking for friends. He wrote back with "Ditto!"

Why does it seem that the guys I like don't like me and the guys I'm not interested in are very interested in me?

What I Need

Meme from my sister Steph: Google your name and then the word "needs" and see what you get. Well, what I get is a lot of other bloggers named Emily who have already done this meme!

Here's quotes other than those from blogs:

Emily needs to be told "No, there are certain things that just are NOT allowed"
Emily needs to rely on this system so that she can learn through experience.
Emily needs a new computer.
Emily needs "further tests"
Emily needs to get help.
Emily needs our help picking out undergarments for the dress.

Maybe...or Maybe Not

So, I met a guy last week...we exchanged cards. I was busy with friends all weekend, so we decided to meet for a drink Monday night after the Ishmael Beah talk.

He works in the financial district, near where I live. He seems very smart and well travelled. We had a nice conversation, but I think he's too into me. Or he's too agressive. Or maybe I'm just not that into him.

We met at a cute French bistro in Soho. It was warm in the restaurant, though, and I mentioned, "I'm hot," as I took off my suit jacket. He smiled and said, "Yeah, you are!" Huh. Not so cool, dude.

I also felt like he was evaluating me like a piece of meat. You know those restaurants where you can pick out your steak before they cook it? Yep, I know how those slabs of beef feel now.

The final straw? He admitted he's not quite divorced...just separated, but on the way to a divorce. Yeah. Call me later, when it's finalized. Or you know? Maybe not. Let's just be friends.

A NY Opportunity

Months ago, Starbuck's promoted a book titled A Long Way Gone, Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah. I was intrigued not only by the content but by the author's glowing, hopeful face on the back cover. I bought the book and was amazed by this young man's positive outlook despite the incredible tragedies and adversity he has experienced.

After sharing the book with my sister Jennifer, she asked if I wanted it back before moving to NYC. (We usually pass books along through all the women in my immediate family, and I was down-sizing for NYC.) I told her I definitely did, since the book remarked that the author now lives in NYC and I might have a chance to meet him someday.

Last Monday, volunteering at the Reading for the Blind organization, I picked up a YMCA catalog of events and Ishmael Beah's name jumped out at me. For a small price, I was able to hear him speak last night. He was amazing. His optimism and wisdom belie his young age (26). He signed my book, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to talk to him, if only for a moment, and to hear him speak.

Familiar Faces

When I am walking along the streets in NYC, I often see someone who reminds me of someone I know back in Dallas.

This past weekend, however, I got to see two friends from "back home." On Thursday and Friday night, I had the pleasure of seeing my friend Renee, who was my manager during some of my time at my old company. She was in town for business, and we went out to dinner each night. The first night, we ate at Nobu, which has fantastic sushi. On Friday, we found a little Italian place tucked in the Village, and after a great dinner, we enjoyed wandering around the unique shops.

On Saturday, I had brunch with some of the girls from work and went to the farmers' market. Exhausted from several hours of walking, I had just arrived home and was considering a nap when my phone rang. A friend (and previous massage therapist) was in town visiting her daughter who lives here, and they invited me out for an early dinner.

It was so great to see her! My brain must hunger for familiar faces. It just feels like a little piece of home getting to see each of these women, and it was nice to talk to someone who already knows me.

The Fringe is not City-Friendly

Several months ago, I asked my friend Jenn-Em what I should do to change my hairstyle. I like her sense of style and trust her judgment. But when she suggested I get bangs -- or "fringe" as my British cousins call it -- I debated and thought about it for a few months before taking the plunge.

It takes much more effort to have bangs. More product, more use of styling applainces and more time, but it did look pretty good, and Jenn-Em joked that the bangs were the deciding factor in my new company hiring me!

However, the bangs are NOT City-friendly. In NYC, the wind whips around and through the buildings, even on a day that's not particularly windy. The subways are humid and stuffy, even on beautiful, cool days. The humidity and wind do a number on my hair, so even if I look great before I leave my apartment, by the time I'm at the office, I might as well not have done anything. The bangs especially looked bad -- either flat and glued with sweat to my forehead or swinging out like horns on either side of my head. Not the look I'm going for.

My sister Steph, who I swear has never had a bad hair day in her life, suggested I use more product, or different products, to keep my hair looking good from apartment to office. (Is that her secret?) I tried several and different combinations. I could get it frozen in place, but when the wind blew in my face, my bangs shot up like a bad toupee.

So, I have decided to start the slow and arduous process of growing them back out.

Remembering

It's hard to believe it's been six years, and then it's hard to imagine the complete devastation of life and property that occurred on September 11, 2001.

Walking to the subway this morning, my fellow NYers were somber and quiet. From the World Trade Center site, I could hear music. I'm not sure if it was live or taped, but it was beautiful: a children's choir singing the national anthem in 4-part harmony. It sounded angelic.

One of the World Trade Center buildings (there are several) placed a large American flag facing what we now call Ground Zero.

In the office, the president brought bagels and opened one of the meeting rooms for any who wanted to stop by and watch some of the coverage of the memorial service. So many names read...so many lives cut too short.

NY Sights

Last Thursday, I bagged bingo with the seniors to ride free with some of my colleagues on a NY tour bus. (Ok, I do feel a little guilty about ditching bingo, but I need to become more familiar with my surroundings, too.) My boss and one of my employees were also going, and it was fun to "act like tourists" and get the view of the city from the double-decker bus. It was a beautiful night, too. I actually started thinking about a jacket because it got a little cool.





The entrance to the Diamond District is framed by these pillars.





This mosaic was really breathtaking. The picture doesn't do it justice.













Picture of just a few of the skyscrapers we saw.

The City made me sick

Sorry for the absence...I've been sick with a nasty virus. It started around 3 a.m. Friday morning and held me captive all weekend. I'm marginally better today and made it to work, although I'm not my usual self.

Damn subways! I know I caught someone's germs. And yes, I do carry antibacterial gel with me everywhere and either wash my hands or use the gel after every subway ride. But that can't stop the airborne germs...

[cough, cough]

The Human Touch

After reading my friend's blog, ColeBugsMommy, about her recent teaching experience with autistic children rubbing her back or her arm to feel her silky shirt, I thought about how much I miss human contact up here.

It's strange to feel so lonely in a crowd of people. Each morning as I walk up the steps from the subway, I'm part of a throng of people moving in the same direction. But no one looks at each other, let alone smile or talk. It's serious business.

And when I get to the office, I know several people now, and we smile and exchange pleasantries. But of course, there's no touch involved.

There was a study years ago done on rhesus monkeys. (It's horrible to think of now, when we are more sensitive to animal rights, but it proved a point.) Two infant monkeys were placed in separate cages with "surrogate mothers." Both surrogate mothers give food and water to the infant monkeys when they want it, however one mother is made of uncomfortable wire, while the other one is made of soft cloth. The monkey with the soft cloth mother does better than the one with the wire, but neither thrived as much as baby monkeys with their monkey moms.

Other studies have shown that infants who are rarely touched have brains 20% smaller than those who are touched a lot (Scholastic Early Childhood Today). In a Harvard Medical School study of an overcrowded orphanage in Romania, researchers found that babies who lay for hours without physical human contact suffered stunted growth and had abnormal levels of cortisol. I always felt my volunteer work in the neonatal ICU was so important because of this. Even if I was just holding an infant, I knew it had some beneficial effects for them.

Since I was a young girl, I have always been very affectionate. My mother warned me as I started getting into my teen years that I should be careful because boys might take my affectionate nature the "wrong way." Of course, at the time, I didn't understand what she was talking about, but looking back, I see what she meant. :-)

I am thankful that I have a very affectionate cat, Sabrina. She is my snuggle buddy, and "body slams" me when I come home. If I don't sit down upon entering the apartment, she meows at me until I do, so she can sit beside me and purr.

But I miss hugs from friends and family. I love being around my nieces and nephews because of their spontaneous affection. Even sitting on the couch with Colin watching TV, I enjoy feeling him lean into me.

A Weekend of Parks

As expected, my cousin Rob arrived from West Point on Friday. I took him to an Indian restaurant for dinner since he had asked me about it. I ordered a variety of dishes, including Chicken Vindaloo, their spiciest dish. The waiters couldn't believe I would order that for someone who had never had Indian before, but Rob loved it!



On Saturday, after sleeping in, we met two of my coworkers (who are sisters, how cool!) for brunch. The restaurant wasn't quite open when we got there, so we walked around Washington Square Park and NYU. These pictures are from the park.



The brunch was divine: I had Proscuitto Eggs Benedict and Rob had Creme Brulee Vanilla French Toast. Both were delicious!



























Rob went to meet up with a buddy from West Point for the afternoon. I went to Union Square and came upon a street fair. I bought some handmade jewelry and visited one of the bargain stores, Filene's Basement, which happens to be on the third floor! I got this great view of Union Square from their windows.

On Sunday, we went to church, then headed uptown for lunch and Central Park. We walked around for three hours or so, exploring the different areas and enjoying the beautiful weather and greenery. The Lake is full of boats, and I was surprised to see a gondola!







Here, Rob talks to Grandma. We gave her a call just to say hello and check in on her. She also allowed us to talk to Sudie!















The Reservoir, at the north end of the Park, was breathtaking. There's a running path that encircles it, and the views of the city across the water were just asking to have their picture taken.