Images of Christmas

I should have added these pictures to my post "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas," but I didn't have them yet! On Sunday afternoon, I walked around Midtown for 2 hours taking pictures and window-shopping. Here are some of the best.

This guy sure has big balls! (ha ha...couldn't resist)




From Rockefeller Center:






Saks Fifth Avenue had their windows decorated with these beautiful animated snowmen.



This was outside Chanel, and as you entered this canopied twinkling enclosure, Christmas music was playing.

Pictures from Thanksgiving

Here are just a few pictures from Thanksgiving at Jenn's. I didn't take too many pictures...I was busy enjoying the food and the family.

Here's a nice one of me, my mom and Jenn.








It got cold there...their first of the season, and Jenn and I took the dog and the kids on a long walk. They were excited to try out their cold weather gear, and Colin really wanted to wear the pink hat (he ended up with the blue one, though.)












Finally, here's a picture I took in New Jersey last week to show the color here in the Northeast. So beautiful.

my "Angels"

As my sister Jennifer mentioned in a recent post, I have adopted five "angels" for Christmas.

In the past, I've gotten an angel child from the Salvation Army trees found in mosy malls. But knowing how different things are here in NY, I jumped at several opportunities to help a child this holiday, and all those opportunities came through!

First, I learned through my volunteer group NY Cares that there were children available, so I signed up for two children, and I got a 4 and a 5-year-old girls. Then, my office made a plea, so I signed up for two more and got boys, ages 10 and 17. Last, at church I picked an angel off the tree, a 3-year-old girl. I've had so much fun shopping for them!

Back Home

I flew back to NY today. The holiday sure went quickly.

As my mom had told me, the more times I fly back here, the more it feels like "home." That, and the fact that my cat Sabrina is here. She was very happy to see me.

The only bad thing about coming home was the smell. Seems I forgot to take out the trash before I left!

Day After the Holiday

Last night, I watched "Ratatouille" with Colin and Anna. Colin was glued to my side for the first half of the movie, and Anna snuggled with me for the last half. It was a great movie, made better by all the sweet lovin's.

I got to sleep in Anna's room, and when I crawled into bed with her last night, she moaned and threw an arm towards me so that her hand was touching my arm. When she awoke this morning and saw me, she smiled. It was a great way to wake up.

My parents and I drove back to their house in Houston today. It's a pretty drive where you can see a lot of the Texas countryside. I enjoyed it. My mom and I did a little shopping and got massages and came back to a wonderfully fragrant kitchen. My dad made veal scallopini and veal parmigiana. Excellente!

Heading back to the wintery North tomorrow...

Happy Thanksgiving

Ah, I'm happily stuffed with lots of good food. We had smoked turkey, stuffing with gravy, wild rice, roasted vegetables, corn & edamame succotash, green beans, cranberry relish, and lovely wine to wash it all down with! There was so much yummy food, you could hardly fit it all on one plate.

For dessert, there was pumpkin and pecan pies and freshly whipped cream. We watched Anna dance her ballet dances that she will perform at the recital in December and listened to Colin recite the poem "The Owl and the Pussycat."

When my parents and I arrived several hours ago, Anna ran to me "Emily!" and gave me a big hug. And Colin, who usually is overwhelmed by his emotions and hides shyly when I first arrive, ran to me and hugged on my neck for a LONG time. It was so sweet. I wish they would stay this age.

Headin' Home

I'm going to Texas today! I'm so excited.

Yes, I know it's the busiest travel day of the year. I'm planning on getting to the airport two hours before my flight. I have my liquids and gels in a ziploc baggie. I have my travel pillow and a book to read, and my iPod, of course.

I'm flying into Houston, where my parents will pick me up. I haven't seen them since my garage sale before I left Dallas. Tomorrow, we will drive to Austin to be with my sister Jenn and her family, including her in-laws. I just can't wait to see everyone!

And then there's the food to look forward to! Jenn always makes great stuffing and sometimes does roasted root veggies, Daddy makes the best pecan pie, and Mommy makes delicious cranberry muffins. We only have these things at holidays, which make them all the more special.

I've lost two pounds so far on my diet -- not a huge thing, but it's progress in the right direction -- and I'm going to try not to gain it all back this weekend!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I saw the first decorations go up on November 1st, but over the past weekend, even more garlands and lights went up, decorating the buildings around NYC. There are also shooting star lights on several streets around town, and the stores are putting their holiday displays in the windows. Rockefeller Center has their large tree up, but it still has scaffolding around it.

Although I've been tempted to pull out my Christmas decorations, I have a personal objection to decorating for the holiday before Thanksgiving is over. I think each holiday deserves its due. But once I come back from this week's feast in Texas, I'm gonna be all over it!

SNOW

The forecast actually says rain and snow today! It's bitterly cold with a dampness to it. (I think the rain will overpower the snow...nothing will stick today.)

I'm so glad this is a short week...I'm counting down to my flight on Wednesday, but in the meantime, I have so much work to finish!

Today, I'm going to an all-afternoon meeting at another agency, and since the location is close to my apt, I'm working from home. Other than the constant construction noise, it's nice to be here with my cat Sabrina.

(Sorry I can't think of anything more interesting at the moment. As peevish calls it, BloMe is getting rather old.)

Good Workout

It takes me so much longer to run errands here. This is when I miss my CR-V.

My mom gave me a great canvas bag with wheels that folds up very compact. However, I busted it this weekend. I went to the farmers' market and then to the wine store and loaded it up. Walking down the street from the wine store, I heard a CRACK! The plastic part that held the wheels broke. I was one block away from K-Mart, so I limped along to there.

I hauled everything into a grocery cart and found what I needed from K-Mart, including a wire basket cart that folds for easy storage. Perfect, I thought.

After I purchased it, I assembled it in the store. I transferred all my purchases, which now included not only the vegetables and wine but also kitty litter, to the new cart. I took it on the subway and headed home.

I found the elevator in the subway (never used that before) and made it up to the street level. CRACK! Oh no...yep, the wheels on this new cart have plastic spokes. Well, it's still moving along, just a little wonky. Let's see if we can make it through the park and home.

CRACK! Off came the first wheel, and CRACK! again, the second split into smithereens. Who makes spokes out of plastic anyway?

The front wheels were still intact, so I just had to lift with my forearms and push. This also caused me to be closer to the cart, so I'm shuffling a bit. I finally get across the park and across the street. I can see my building...just a little further...my arms are going to fall off...

As I enter the building, the doormen can tell I'm frazzled. One of them helped me up to my apt with my load and commented that this was a good workout! (I don't recommend it.)

Recipes

Barely making this post today...it's 10 minutes until midnight. So, I'm going to post the Tiger Chocolate recipe and will tell you more tomorrow.

Tiger Chocolate
1 lb (2 cups) white chocolate
12 oz. (1 1/2 cups) extra crunchy peanut butter
1 lb (2 cups) semisweet chocolate chips

In double boiler, melt white chocolate. Add peanut butter and stir until fully melted and blended. Pour onto waxed paper lined cookie sheet.

Melt chocolate chips in microwave. (I usually put on high for 1 min., stir and 1 min more)

Pour melted dark chocolate over white mixture and swirl with knife. Refrigerate to set. Break into pieces.
(I like to keep it in the fridge so it stays hard and cold)


Tomorrow, I'm making another family recipe, Sudie's Squash Casserole, for my church's potluck lunch, and then my boss and his family are coming over for dinner. I'm going to make my dad's recipe for meatballs.

Quiet Please

[I will post the Tiger Chocolate recipe this weekend...just haven't had a chance to look it up.]

I'm so freakin' tired. I love my beautiful apartment, I love the view of the Hudson, I love that I have a washer & dryer. But THE FREAKIN' CONSTRUCTION NOISE IS DRIVING ME CRAZY! As you may recall, I have a great view of Ground Zero, where they are busy constructing the new Freedom Tower.

City noise in general doesn't bother me. When I used to visit NYC on business, I would even open my window at night to hear the city and get the cold air into the stuffy hotel rooms.

But the jackhammers!!! EVERY DAY (even weekends) they start at 7 a.m. and last night, continued well past 11:30 p.m. I bought a sound machine that creates white noise, but it doesn't drown out the pounding sound.

As much as I hate to even consider moving again, I'm thinking about it. I'm so tired, and it's starting to affect my daytime mood and productivity. It's hard to relax in my own place because of that noise.

What Classic Movie Are You?

don't have time for a proper post today...

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Guess I should see this someday...

The Lunch Bunch

It's now been three months since I moved to NYC. I'm still struggling to make friends. I have a couple people that I've gone out with once or twice, but it's not like we're confiding in each other or anything. I also find that everyone is so busy, even if you are really good friends with someone, you don't see them very often. One of my colleagues said she only sees her best friend once every six weeks or so.

Back in Dallas, there were four of us girls who used to work together that coined ourselves "the Lunch Bunch." Most days, we'd just get out of the office to share challenges or personal stories that were going on in our lives. Once we all went our different ways, we only got together on each of our birthdays and for Christmas.

I missed the first Lunch Bunch birthday this month. It really bothered me. I guess we've been doing this now for...6 or 7 years? We've seen each other through a lot, and I miss the easy camaraderie I have with them.

At Christmas time, we get each other gifts. My gift to them is always Tiger Chocolate, a homemade candy made with semisweet chocolate, white chocolate and peanut butter. I've been making multiple batches for so many years, I can't stand the stuff, but my friends love it. Whenever I've hinted that I might do something different, I get passionate pleas for Tiger Chocolate.

Since they are already having to live without me close by, I don't think I can force them into Tiger Chocolate withdrawal, too. I've decided to have a Lunch Bunch weekend in December, so I can personally deliver their sweets and enjoy their company once more.

Another Thing That's Different Here

I'm growing weary of NaBloPoMo. Damn, I just realized it's only the 13th...I'm not even halfway done.

I can't believe I post something as controversial as "Knocking Yourself Up" and only get one comment. You lurkers out there should consider throwing me a bone every now and then.

******

One of the things that NYers do differently is laundry. Or, should I say, mostly they don't do it.

Most NYers send their laundry out to be done to a Fluff and Fold service. This amazes me. I can't imagine having someone else wash your underwear. Ew. One of my colleagues told me she regularly sends out her laundry and there's always something missing and occassionally you get someone else's item. She gave the example, "Who's thong is this?" Now, I realize the items have just been cleaned, but that still bothers me.

Fortunately, I have a washer and dryer in my apartment, so I continue to do my own.

Knocking Yourself Up

(Inspired by this article)

It's something I think about sometimes...having a baby on my own. I know it's not ideal, but although I can live with the idea that I might never get married again, I can't give up on my dream to have kids. Or at least 1 kid.

I also consider adoption. I know several people who have done that and have had wonderful experiences. I know I could give a child a safe, loving home.

But there's something alluring about the ability to create a child within your own body. I know there are less pleasant aspects of pregnancy (Paula reminded me this weekend), but there's also so much wonder. Plus, I'd like to see some of my genes passed on.

Now, don't panic, this isn't something I'm planning on doing this weekend or anything. It's just interesting to me that there are more and more women who are in my situation -- financially stable and successful that haven't met the right partner -- who are choosing to make their destiny instead of waiting to see if it will happen.

Quick Post

Ack! Almost forgot to post...I'll just post about one good thing that happened today and get to bed.

I auditioned for a small singing ensemble today after church and passed! The organist of the little church I've been going to is in charge of all the music. There isn't a choir, but soloists rotate singing the anthems each week. I knew I wanted to get back to singing, so I asked the minister about it last week. He made the ensemble idea a reality.

Our first rehearsal is in December, and our first performance is already on the books for January!

Cousins

Often when I think of calling my relatives in the UK, it's too late in the day, and I realize they are most likely sleeping. This goes on for weeks until I finally think about it and have the time to call during the morning here, which is early evening there.

I called my cousin Paula this morning just to chat and get the news about her life. In theory, she has a blog, but her time and her limited internet connection don't match her wit and humor, so she doesn't post with any frequency.

I caught her just as she was leaving the pharmacy. She's got a stomach virus (yuk) and had just picked up what she later described as disgusting tasting ("like piss") medicine. It's usually the bad tasting ones that work, though, right?

Other than that, she didn't sound at all sick. She was her usual bubbly self. I congratulated her on her incredible weight loss with Weight Watchers (24 pounds!) and she encouraged me as I start mine.

It was lovely to catch up with her. It always seems we just pick up where we left off, like no time has passed, and we joke that our similarities must be due to heredity. It's great having cousins.

And, in that spirit, I'm preparing for another cousin's visit. Rob is coming down from West Point this weekend.

It IS Easy Being Green

It is becoming increasingly more important to me to be "Green." Unlike Kermit the Frog used to sing, it IS easy to implement some small steps to becoming a greener person.

On Monday, I attended a talk held at my church by a guy who wrote a book for city planners for the post-carbon era. He shared some of the tactics cities like Portland have taken and shared the statistics that forecast an impending energy crisis with oil production dropping and consumption increasing.

Being Green has become a topic of conversation at my office, too. Since I moved here in August, they have added recycling bins for paper, plastic and aluminum, and we have scrap paper printers. (I go around turning off the lights in empty conference rooms, too!)

My sister Jennifer and her husband Anthony are inspirations to me in this area. They have their own compost, solar panels and wind generators. They recycle everything they can and have shared these values with their kids.

After Jennifer told me about a blogger's experience of carrying around the garbage she created for a 2-week period, I have become even more aware of what I throw away. The large piles of garbage bags that can be seen around NYC also serve as a reminder.

In addition to turning off lights when they're not needed and unplugging appliances, I've recently bought some handkerchiefs to reduce my tissue consumption and I now wash and reuse plastic water bottles, rather than purchasing bottled water. (Fortunately, NYC has some of the best tasting tap water in the country, and my apartment building is Culligan filtered.)

What do you do?

Online Dating at its Best & Worst

My new friend L told me about PlentyofFish.com -- a free online dating service. In the past, I've tried Match.com, Yahoo Personals and eHarmony, so I thought a free one sounded pretty good.

I created a basic profile yesterday. I've already gotten a dozen or so messages. Some seem nice and normal, but others....well, I'll let you judge for yourself:

Bachelor #1: "You are looking at the light coming from your screen, reading my words on the inside you begin to realize that something feels very different. There is a real feeling of curiosity and you want to know the answer. And the question is why is this so interesting. Why you Desire more? You are just so bored with all the others. They are so predicable and easy. Don't stop wondering and you may discover so much more."

Bachelor #2: "A position is opened in sweetheart department, send your resume to apply for it! --Love Administration"

Bachelor #3: "Hello, i am a great guy, i love to have lots of fun. Yes, i am genuine, classy, and romantic. I love going to the movies, dining, lil' shopping, photography too. So, on that note, just give me a ring at ###-###-####, ok."

Bachelor #1, again: "I have been told that I am excellent lover by more than a few women. Women enjoy that I have great staying power. "

*******
In other news, the food in my Nu diet is really good! Very tasty and lots of variety.


We had a Freeze Warning last night!
Today's Hi 49*
Lo 34*
Sunset 4:45 p.m.

My "Nu" Diet

Today is my first day of my new diet. After reading an article in AM New York -- a free newspaper I get upon exiting the subway -- I decided to sign up for a month's worth of meals from Nu Kitchen. This way, I don't have to worry about calories or portions. I just eat what they give me.

Each day's meals are delivered to my doorstep in the middle of the night, kept in an insulated freezer bag with ice packs. I get breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks.

Breakfast this morning consisted of Egg Scramble (looked like whites only) and French Toast with Berry Coulis. It was very tasty!

******
Today's High: 50
Low: 32
Sunset: 4:42 pm

My Cat Does [Some of] This

Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJnEgTAa23I

Lately, though, it's been me who wakes up in the middle of the night. Last night it was 4 a.m. Fortunately for me, Sabrina (the cat) doesn't mind if I wake her up by petting her, and her snuggling and purring helps me calm down and fall back asleep. Eventually.

This is Hilarious

One of my oldest and dearest friends, Amie, sent me this via email. I laughed so hard I cried, then I went online to find the original post:

Strap in, shut up and hold on. We're going back.
Last weekend I put an exhaust fan in the ceiling for my wife's grandfather. After a bunch of hours spent in The Hottest Attic In The Universe, he had a ceiling fan that ducted to the side of his house.While my brother-in-law and I were fitting the fan in between the joists, we found something under the insulation. What we found was this:

A JC Penney catalog from 1977. It's not often blog fodder just falls in my lap, but holy hell this was two solid inches of it, right there for the taking. I thumbed through it quickly and found my next dining room set, which is apparently made by simply adding upholstery to old barrels:

There's plenty more home furnishings where those came from, however I'm not going to bore you with that. Instead, I'm going to bore you with something else. The clothes.The clothes are fantastic.

Here's how to get your ass kicked in elementary school:

Just look at that belt. It's like a boob-job for your pants. He probably needed help just to lift it into place. The belt loops have to be three inches long, for god's sake. And way to pull your pants up to your armpits, grandpa.

Here's how to get your ass kicked in high school:This kid looks like he's pretending to be David Soul, who is pretending to be a cop who is pretending to be a pimp that everyone knows is really an undercover cop. Who is pretending to be 15.

Here's how to get your ass kicked on the golf course:This "all purpose jumpsuit" is, according to the description, equally appropriate for playing golf or simply relaxing around the house. Personally, I can't see wearing this unless you happen to be relaxing around your cell in D-block. Even then, the only reason you should put this thing on is because the warden forced you to at gunpoint.

Oh, there's more! Read the full post on 15 Minute Lunch.

Grand Opening

There's a new CVS that just opened last week near my office. There are drug stores on just about every block in NY, but this one does seem nice. I've stopped by there twice so far, and it's bright, spacious and everyone is VERY friendly. There are multiple cashiers, so the lines are never very long. There's even a greeter when you walk in! His whole job is to welcome you in and say thank you when you leave.

My colleagues and I discussed this one day at lunch. We all agreed the uber-friendliness won't last long. Pretty soon, it will be just like the others...crowded, no-nonsense and no smiling.

making do

My internet connection is not working at my apt, but it's NaBloPoMo. Hell if I'm going to be sacked this early in the game! I'm typing this on the incredibly small Blackberry keyboard.

Prepared a pot roast this morning, anticipating having my boss and his family over for dinner. It made me a little late running out the door to church, but I totally forgot about the time change! Instead of being 10 minutes late, I was 50 minutes early!

Later, my boss called to say his youngest daughter was vomiting and they had to cancel. Of course I completely understand, but I made a lot of food for just me! I've invited my neighbor Bobby to come join me.

Good End to the Week

I was so tired yesterday after unexplicably waking at 3:30 a.m. Most people who know me know I am NOT a morning person, but here I was waking very alert at 3:30 feeling for sure it was 7 a.m. I closed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep. Woke up...3:35. Again, closed my eyes, surely it's 7 now? Nope, 3:45.

Of course, when 7 finally rolled around, I was exhausted. Figures.

I found this great little restaurant here in my TriBeCa neighborhood. I usually eat alone, and this place has a great round bar with about 8 chairs, with the bartender in the middle. I've met two of the bartenders, and they introduce me around to everyone else at the bar. It's great...it's like not really eating alone (which gets old).

The Friday bartender is REALLY hot. He's my age, and only bartends one night a week. The rest of the time, he works as a personal trainer or personal coach of some sort. I'm still trying to learn more about that. To put it mildly, there are definitely sparks between us. Mutual sparks. Very cool.

After some great wine and a tasty pork dinner there, I met my new friend L and her gay friend P...we went to this great 80's club. It's packed with gay guys and straight girls (whatever) and all they play is 1980's great hits. We had a blast, jiving on the dance floor, singing at the top of our lungs to each other to Thriller, Debbie Gibson and Paula Abdul!

I got home late (or early, depending on your perspective). One of the ways I know I'm getting older is that I can't sleep late in the morning, no matter what time I went to bed.

Too Much Interest

When I came to NY in July to look for an apartment, the hotel concierge recommended a great Indian restaurant. Since I was staying at a hotel near my office, I remembered where it was and have gone several times, taking colleagues and visitors.

The first time I went, the manager took a liking to me and gave me his card, which was subsequently lost in the move. Every time I went, he would pay me special attention and give me freebies -- an appetizer or dessert.

"He's CUTE!" One of my colleagues said, "You should ask him out. He obviously likes you."

I debated. He is cute. I've never dated an Indian guy, but I have several friends from there and appreciate their culture and especially the food. Ah, what the hell!

So I gave him my card and agreed to go out with him.

We were having a perfectly nice time, just talking over drinks at a jazz bar, getting to know each other, when he blurts out, "I think I love you."

WHAT?!>#?

I said, "It's our FIRST date."

He tried to explain but just continued digging a hole for himself.

I said, "You don't even know me."

We moved on to other topics, but then he said it again!

Needless to say, our first date was also our last. But now I can't go to the restaurant. Except on Mondays (his day off).

***********************

I am missing Comments. Is anyone reading this? Several posts have ZERO comments. It's pretty disheartening.

It's Here: NaBloPoMo

My sister Jennifer has inspired me to do many things in my life. As my older sibling, she encouraged me to crawl and walk. She helped me learn to read and taught me cross-stitch. (I also think she may have had a hand in teaching me to cartwheel, since that is the only thing I do that lefthanded.) She also inspired me to join her in adventure races and then the triathlons.

Now, it's NaBloPoMo: National Blog Posting Month. "All you have to do is post every day during the month of November," they say. Sounds easy, but for days now I've been stocking up on ideas for stories for those days when I'm tapped out.

Today is easy. Here is a picture of me and my boss at the end of the day yesterday. That's right, he dressed as Tinky Winky from TeleTubbies. (His 3-yr-old daughter helped him choose a costume.)

Then I went to the parade with my colleague shown here, dressed as Sen. Larry Craig from Idaho in the Minneapolis bathroom stall, complete with said stall, appropriate grafiti, and dragging his pants around his ankles! (People either completely got it or didn't, but those who did really appreciated his humor and creativity.)

The parade was fun, but we walked and walked and walked. My choice of boots was not the best for so much walking on hard concrete, and I finally cried "Uncle" at 10 p.m. We saw so many amazing costumes, here are just a few. Halloween night changed the City...people talked to each other and commented on costumes. People were friendly. Alas, the costumes are now put away, and we are back to ignoring each other on the subway and as we pass on the street.

Happy Halloween!

I'm recycling my past costumes since no one here in NY has seen them. Later today I will be dressed as a vampire, complete with teeth, and I'm going to the NY Halloween Parade!

Recharged

Children are such great role models for unconditional love.

I spent a few days in the happy home of my sister and brother-in-law and their kids, Anna (6) and Colin (4). The kids clamored for my attention and to hold my hand or sit beside me. It's nice being the Auntie.

I enjoyed seeing Anna's snaggletooth smile. She is missing both top front teeth and does a mean impression of a vampire, "I vant to suck your Blooooood!"

Everyone enjoyed the authentic bagels I brought, and I enjoyed filling my suitcase with TexMex staples. The kids loved their NY gifts. Anna exclaimed, "NY clothes!" and Colin loved the miniature replication of the 4 subway train that I take to and from work, "It's my number!" (He lays claim to the number of his age.)

It's starting to feel more like "home" when I come back to my apartment in the City. It was great to get to see family and friends over a long weekend, but I was glad to come home to my lonely kitty, too.

Lost in Transit

This is Anna's depiction of what happened to my luggage on the way to Austin.

I made it to Austin from Dallas just fine, but when I boarded the plane, they said the overhead bins were full and they HAD to check my bag. In addition to all my clothes and makeup, it held all my gifts for Anna & Colin and bagels for Jenn. (Anna has drawn wrapped presents with an arrow to show they were inside the bag.)

After many calls to Baggage Services over a 24-hour period, it seemed it was lost for good. I relented and bought some clothes and makeup and told the kids I would send them a care package from NY.

Then, just after midnight last night, they called! Seems my bag went to Los Angeles. So, the bagels from the East coast travelled all the way to the West coast before being eaten in Austin.

Rain, Rain, go away...

Yesterday, today and for the next couple days, the forecast is rain. I don't mind it, but NY in the rain is SO gray. Everything is gray. The buildings, the pavement, the sky. Most NYers carry black umbrellas and wear black or gray raincoats. Several people have rubber rain boots in bright colors, though. I don't have rain boots yet, but I have a lavender umbrella that I like to think brightens the streets a bit.

I'm also not too concerned about the forecast because I'm headed to Texas tomorrow! First to Dallas and then on to Austin. I really can't wait to see everyone, especially my beautiful niece and nephew. I'm hoping to stock up on snuggles, hugs and kisses.

Painting the Town

It's been warmer lately. They call it "Indian Summer." I was thankful there wasn't rain last Saturday, and grateful for the breeze as I joined thousands of other volunteers across the city in NY Cares Day.

I was assigned to a school in Brooklyn. I followed the directions and took the subway lines suggested, and I was surprised and delighted to find it was in a nice neighborhood. Although I was disappointed that we weren't painting anything as interesting as a mural, it was a beautiful day to spend outside, and I enjoyed talking to the other volunteers.





We scraped and painted the black iron fence around the building. Although you can't tell much by these pictures, it made a big difference in the appearance of the school. The assistant principal was on hand to thank us and feed us pizza for lunch.

And I made a new friend. :-) She's originally from Mexico, and she's sending me information about a cultural event next week celebrating the Day of the Dead. She told me there would be authentic Mexican food. Mmmm...

Hot, Sweaty but Looking Svelte

(I can't believe my Ben Affleck post - below - got no comments! Where are you guys?)

Ugh. The subway was disgustingly hot, steamy and crowded this morning. After all my primping in the bathroom, fixing my hair and makeup, I sweated like Niagara Falls on the subway ride. I was sandwiched between three people, so close our bodies were pressed up against each other, and not in a good way. I kept trying to tell myself, "it's only 3 stops...it's only 2 more stops..." When I only had one more stop to go, a seat opened up, and usually the closest person to it grabs it. The guy who was closest to the seat took pity on me and offered me the chance to sit. That helped a bit, as I could pull a makeshift fan out of my bag to create a small breeze for myself instead of having to focus on my balance.

Walking the couple blocks to work should help, but it's a muggy, gray day here around 72*.

On a different note, I love SPANX. If you are a woman and aren't familiar with this product, you should check it out. Besides the fact that it was created by a woman for women, it really works and is quite comfortable.

SPANX is a line of products designed to control the various bulge, jiggle or extra curve you don't want to showcase. I have tried almost all their products, with my favorites being the Power Panty, the Bod-a-Bing pants and the Bod-a-Bing shirt.

I'm also trying Weight Watchers again. Bring on the veggies! But until I reach a weight I'm more comfortable in, I'm glad I have SPANX!

Actor, Screenwriter & Director

So last night I met Ben Affleck. Ok, maybe that's overstating it. I attended a NY Times Talk event watching him be interviewed on stage by a overzealous journalist. But I was in the second row, and it was awesome.

The journalist was, as my colleague described, "prickly" to say the least. She hammered him on mistakes he's made in his career, how he might have learned from choosing those kinds of projects and how he's grown after being a "Kick Me" target by the media.

Ben was a really good sport, and he was quite funny. He never got ruffled by her questions, although sometimes he tried so hard to be politically correct in choosing his words, he got a bit tongue tied.

He was most eloquent when speaking about his new project, Gone Baby Gone, in which he wrote the screenplay based on a novel and directed. He was obviously more comfortable talking about his work rather than himself.


I was impressed. He seems like an intelligent guy, a normal guy, and his new movie definitely piqued my interest.

These types of events are so common in NY and make me really glad I can take advantage of them!

What Famous Leader Are You?

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

ha ha ha!

Focusing on Me

After my visit to Dallas a couple weekends ago, I realized that just as life has gone on for my friends there, I must move on with my life here and not spend as much time pining away for what I left in Dallas. I still miss them, but I decided that I can either focus on grieving or I can focus on what's my new reality.

I had a busy weekend. I went shopping on Saturday. The stores here are having boot sales, and after wearing my favorite black ankle-boots on Thursday in a downpour, I discovered the right shoe was no longer waterproof. I also had another pair of ankle-boots (in brown) that are quite shabby and need retiring, and I found great deals on some comfortable new pairs.

I also went to the farmer's market at Union Square. It's great, bustling with people and lots of fresh fruits and veggies. There's also a local winery (I haven't yet tried it) and honey, jam, cheese and farm-fresh lamb!

My big excursion this weekend, though, was with a new friend - L. My boss casually mentioned a few weeks ago that one of his old colleagues -- also a single thirty-something -- had moved to the City when I did and was also finding it hard to make friends. I insisted he introduce us right away! We hit it off, and we actually have quite a bit in common, not the least of which is being new to NYC. L and I met an acquaintance of hers and had a nice Italian dinner, followed by bar-hopping in a somewhat gay neighborhood with a gay friend of hers. There was lots of laughter and a good time was had by all.

L and I also spontaneously stopped in to a neighborhood psychic and had our palms read! It was interesting. I was told that I need to focus my energies on me right now, that I'm a little too scattered. :-) There was also the hope of a "soul mate" maybe next year and the possibility of two kids. I was also told I will have a long life and die of natural causes.

Explanation for Why NY-ers Seem Unfriendly

Read online:

Dr. Hallowell says that in a 1970 paper called "The Experience of Living in Cities," the psychologist Stanley Milgram foreshadowed what many of us are now experiencing. Intrigued by the 1964 murder of a New York City woman named Kitty Genovese, who was stabbed to death as 38 people watched from their apartments and didn't call the police, Milgram was able to show that the more data we process, the more we're forced to screen out. It's why people who live in small towns tend to make eye contact and say hello when they pass each other on the sidewalk, while people who live in cities pass each other blankly. Milgram said people's "span of sympathy" decreases as the amount of data they have to process increases.

full article: Crazy at Work?

Fall is in the Air

It's finally getting cooler and hopefully staying cooler this time. The shops in NY have great fall fashions and cute boots. People are already starting to bundle up, wearing jackets and scarves.

Yesterday, a couple coworkers were advising me to buy heavy jackets and multiple scarves, hats and gloves. And fuzzy boots that are waterproof. Everyone keeps warning me of the impending winter, but I am looking forward to it a bit. They said it's usually nice until January, and then gets gray, cold and miserable Jan-March. A good time to plan a beach vacation!

I was introduced to a great burger place last night, PJ Clarke's. Supposedly, it was Jackie O's favorite burger restaurant. It was yummy.

Quick Trip to Dallas

It was great being in Dallas again, if only for a couple days. It was nice to look around and know where things are. My BF picked me up at the airport, and we went straight to my favorite restaurant, Mi Cocina! Yum. It was almost surreal, though. The food tasted so familiar, it was like no time had passed.

On Saturday, I met up with Wendy and Lauren and Lauren's newest daughter, Ellie! Wendy and I had fun getting lots of snuggles from Ellie, who was 12 days old on Saturday. We had a good brunch...I had a chile relleno breakfast. So good.
















Then I had a massage, which I needed so much. The Chinese massage thing here in NYC is different and interesting, but I still like the deep tissue Swedish massage style best.

On Sunday, I got to meet another new little baby girl. My friends Ian and Lori had their second child, Nora, just two days after Lauren had Ellie. I also had fun playing with their son Jonah, who is 13 months.

BF and I had lunch one more time at Mi Cocina before she took me to the airport. I cried on the plane again, but not sobbing like I did when I moved here. It's weird, but I now don't feel like I belong there in Dallas and not quite yet here in NYC.

Just Another Day in NYC

I'm a little down today. Could be hormones. Could be that I'm in a lot of pain (my hip and back have been bothering me from the scoliosis...the chiropractor I found up here is not as good as the one I left in Dallas). I found myself a little claustrophobic this morning with the crowds in the subway and on the street walking to work. I thought of my uncle Lee's comment last week and all the wide open space they enjoy in Texas.

I find myself so jealous of other people and their social lives, even the small things you take for granted like having someone to eat meals with.

I continue to throw myself out there in attempts to make friends. Last night, I volunteered at a transitional housing unit, reading books and doing crafts with kids. A girl of 10 chose me, and she was a very good reader. She told me all about her family -- she kept interrupting her reading to talk to me -- and we had a good time painting pumpkin cut-outs.

I have been counting two things in my time here in NY: rat sightings and celebrity sightings. I'm currently at 4 rats, 2 celebs. The rats are gross but somehow fascinating to me, and the celebrity sightings always give me a thrill. (The first was Mario Cantone, second was Danny Devito)

Football, Cadet-Style

As I mentioned, I was invited to join my aunt, uncle and cousins at a West Point football game last weekend. It was beautiful weather and the campus was really striking.
All the cadets were in uniform and looked so smart. They were very spirited throughout the game, which was almost comical due to all the errors on both sides. But, the Black Knights pulled it off, beating Temple. (Army is ranked 115/117 in their division, and Temple is the 117th)

After the game, the Texas parents hosted a Tamale Cookoff. We had Shiner beer, imported from Texas, real tamales with beans and rice, and Blue Bell ice cream, also imported. It was heavenly!



Beverly and Robert posed for me outside the hall where we ate. In the background you can see the Hudson River.

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.

"I am a New Yorker who Cares"

[and I don't mean "who cares?"]

In my quest to meet new people and join the community in New York, I have joined the volunteer organization NY Cares, which brings together caring volunteers with needy and worthwhile organizations. I attended my orientation on Tuesday night, and have signed up for my first activity: Bingo with seniors! I love the description the NY Cares organization provides:
Come gamble the night away with lively seniors from Flushing House. Volunteers will call bingo numbers and assist any resident who needs help. This is serious group of bingo players so be ready for some fierce competition.

******

For this weekend, my cousin Rob is coming down from West Point. I'm so excited to have someone to pal around with!

Tennis in Top Form

When I opened a bank account here in NY, (my Dallas bank didn't have a branch here) I received two free tickets to the U.S. Open. Knowing how much my parents, especially my dad, enjoy tennis, I couldn't wait to call him, and ended up waking him early that morning to tell him he was going to the Open!

Everyone always thinks airline benefits are the ultimate, and while they are great, the downside is you can only travel if there is space. And unfortunately, my dad found no seats available to any of the nearby airports from last Sunday until Wednesday, the day of my tickets.

I was disappointed that my parents weren't coming up, although I know we will find another time for them to visit. Mostly, I was disappointed they were missing this opportunity.

I offered the tickets to my employees (I have three who report to me currently), and one of them said he'd go with me. The others agreed I should go. So I went, taking my dad with me in spirit.

It was a festive atmosphere at the stadium, at the end of the subway line in Queens. Booths offered U.S. Open apparrel and foodstuffs. The tickets were for the Arthur Ashe stadium, the main stadium, and outside it is a gigantic flat screen showing what's going on inside.

I hadn't checked before going to see who was going to play in this early round, and I was thrilled to hear we were going to see Serena Williams and Roger Federer! They were both stunning to watch, athletes at the top of their game, and Federer in particular made it look effortless and graceful. My coworker and I felt sorry for his opponent!

(See pictures below)

tennis pics

Church in New York

So last Sunday I decided to go to a nearby Methodist church. I had searched online and found one just 4 blocks or so from my apartment. Turns out it's the oldest Methodist society in America, organized in 1766! The building they are in now is not the original, but it is certainly old and historic. The sanctuary (and probably the rest of the building) doesn't have air conditioning, and they had placed oscillating fans throughout the area. I was glad to be near one! (It wasn't too hot Sunday morning, but it was a bit stuffy.)

The congregation was small, maybe two dozen people were there, of all ages and ethnicities. The pastor reminded me of John Corbett (Aidan Shaw on Sex in the City and a pastor in Raising Helen) with his long brown hair and youthful looks. The sanctuary doesn't have a sound system, but the pastor has a booming voice, easily heard by all in the room and probably some out on the street.

There was no choir, although they do have an organ. I recognized most of the hymns we sang, but I was frustrated, and a bit tickled, that the organist played them so slow. For the anthem, they had a soloist, and he blew me away. In addition to being incredibly loud (again, without a mike) he had a beautiful voice. He sang the well-known songs in a Broadway style, and I wouldn't be surprised to learn he's actually performed on Broadway. It was fantastic but still a bit strange to hear traditional religious songs performed in that style.

The Chinese Massage

Yesterday, I wandered around China Town. I'm a little hestitant to eat at most of the restaurants, but I trust the Zagat guide and have eaten at two. The one I chose yesterday wasn't bad, although I still got a little squeamish about the mystery meat in the dumplings in the wonton soup. I also had the garlic chicken, which was delicious, although I had to pick around the bell peppers (I'm allergic).

One of my coworkers had told me about a place in China Town that she goes to for cheap but clean, no frills massage. She told me how to find it, and as she had predicted, I wondered what I was getting myself into to as I walked down the steps from the sidewalk into a dimly lit, pink-walled room. A petite (although aren't they all?) Asian woman met me and led me back into one of the "rooms." I use quotes because the walls between the massage areas didn't reach to the ceiling. They were just over my head, but I'm sure a taller person could have easily seen over. The front of each room has a curtain hung on a thin rope.

I laid face down on the table. The woman came in and asked, "You like strong?" I do and was thinking to myself how much I enjoy when a massage therapist uses their elbows to really dig into my back muscles. Well, I was amazed that she not only used her hands and elbows, but also her knees and feet! With a towel covering me from neck to feet, she spryly jumped up on the table and walked on my back, rocking back and forth from foot to foot on my butt, back and thighs. She had amazing balance.

I have been getting massage for years, usually the Swedish massage method. This massage was very different than I'm used to, but I enjoyed it and left feeling lighter and very relaxed.