Nantucket

Ah, Nantucket. What a lovely little island. It's nicknamed "The Grey Lady" because of the weathered wood shingles on most buildings and for the frequent fog. Everything there moves at a much slower pace (especially compared to NYC), and it took me awhile to slow down.


Steph took me to a fancy party on Saturday night. The view was spectacular, and the food and music weren't bad either!







I enjoyed the cooler weather, the refreshingly cold water, and especially playing with my nieces and nephews. Paige was particularly attached to me this visit, and I just loved it. I got lots of snuggles.

Celebrating America's Independence Day with Canadians

I was fortunate to get to celebrate July 4th this year with my Canadian friends: Lindsay and Peter who live here in NYC, and new friends Lisa and Fiona who were visiting for the long weekend.

We had a blast! It was a laugh-til-you-cry, laugh-til-you-pee, laugh-til-you-spit-your-drink kind of weekend.

Adding a Little Color

A friend and colleague of mine is getting married on Friday. I've enjoyed co-hosting a shower for her and recently made her veil (I sew a bit, but it's really easy). This last week has been hectic for her, and I've offered to help where possible.

I happened to mention to her that I'm going to Nantucket to visit my sister Steph and her kids on Saturday and that I'm more than a little hesitant to get in a bathing suit in public.

"I'm getting a spray tan on Wednesday night! You should come with me!" she enthusiastically suggested. She'd gotten one once before, in preparation for a trip to Hawaii. She said it made her feel more comfortable about her body, and as everyone knows, if you've got a little extra fat, it looks better tan than blubbery white.

I thought, what the hell. It can't be too terrible (other than the fact you have to stand completely naked in front of a woman you don't know who has a cute little figure while she sprays you for 15 minutes).

While I may not admit to looking "good," (I'm of course my own worst critic), it definitely looks better. It's not cost-prohibitive, and it's not dangerous for your skin like tanning beds. It makes my too-blonde hair (another story) pop more, and does help camouflage the cellulite.

Now, if I could only somehow inconspicuously wear Spanx with my bathing suit...

Why I Haven't Posted

Haven't posted in awhile. I have lots of good stories, from my trip and since I've been back, but I just don't have the time or concentration to write about it.

I work all day on a computer, mostly on the Internet if not email, so I don't usually want to get on the computer again for fun. And I’m really frustrated at work. I keep being asked to do more, and I can’t get it all done. I REALLY hate disappointing my clients and dropping the ball on things. It bothers me personally. But I also am feeling like I’m working too much. I was here yesterday from 9:30-7:30, breakfast and lunch at my desk still working, and when I left, I had to go by the grocery store to get stuff to cook, so I’m eating dinner at 9 p.m. I’m frustrated about my weight, and eating late doesn’t help. Plus, when I eat that late, I feel like I need to stay up at least 2 hours, so I didn't get to bed until 12. Then I don’t get enough sleep, and I’m cranky and tired, and I missed a phone meeting this morning. (!$#@*%!)

Oh, and I’m also hormonal, so I just feel like crying about the whole thing.

I'm sure this will blow over, and I'll feel like posting my usual quirky stories again soon.

Pictures from my trip to Wales

Preparing for Departure

Not much to report...it was a quiet weekend. I stayed in most of the weekend to try and get over the last remnants of a cold so I'm healthy for my vacation! I leave on Wednesday for England. My parents are already there, and my sister Jennifer and her family left today. We are all going to celebrate my dear Uncle Ken's 90th birthday at my cousin's lamb farm in Wales.

Of course, between now and Wednesday, I have SO much to do, both at work and at home! I'm really looking forward to taking a break from work, as it's been crazy busy. I'm not complaining, though. I keep hearing of friends or acquaintances who have been laid off. I would rather be busy than worry about not having a job.

One update: I got an email from the Swiss guy (mentioned in story below)! He said he's coming back to NYC in August and wanted to get together for a date...

The Best & the Worst

My Canadian-turned-NYer friend Lindsay and I had quite a fun day on Saturday. Well, at least the evening was fun.

Have you heard of Meetup.com? It's a website where you can join groups of like-minded individuals to meet people related to a hobby or cause. There's a singles meetup group that Lindsay joined, and she learned they were having a barbeque on Saturday. We decided to go and mingle.

Oh. My. God. I haven't seen such a collection of misfits since the Anti-Valentine's party.

We didn't stay long. Lindsay kept giving me the look that told me she was debating between laughing or screaming and running outta there. She got stuck talking to this woman in her early 40's that is DESPERATE to have a child and was describing all the ways she's going about hunting down some sperm. Very strange.

Later that evening, Lindsay came downtown (she lives in the Upper West Side, or UWS as it's known for short), and we had a lovely dinner at one of my favorite neighborhood places. We asked the bartender for recommendations on a dance club, and he suggested Marquee.

After choking through the $20 cover, we noticed it was a hip place with good music and many good-looking guys! We ended up talking to these really nice guys from Switzerland and had a blast.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Match

I've had this song from Fiddler on the Roof stuck in my head since I interviewed and signed on with a matchmaking service late last week.

"Matchmaker, Matchmaker, make me a match!
Find me a find, catch me a catch!"

Years ago, I tried Great Expectations in Dallas, the service that was parodied on Saturday Night Live as "Lowered Expectations." I agree with the parody. It was expensive and not at all a successful venture for me.

What I like about the one I've just contracted with is:
1) they do background checks: confirming divorces, ensuring there are no criminal records and a credit check
2) there was an extensive personality profile and two hour-long interviews where they asked in-depth questions to get to know me and what I'm looking for
3) they've been around for 30 years and have many success stories

They are currently doing my background check, which may take 1-4 weeks, and then they will send me some matches! Exciting!

What Would You Do to Meet the Right One?

Finding, or meeting, "quality singles" is difficult when you're a thirty-something singleton.

In your early twenties, when you're still in college, it's a bit easier, I think. Everyone around you is in basically the same stage of life. But as you experience things, and add layers onto your trappings, it becomes more challenging.

I've also found that as a woman, as I've moved up in my career, my potential "interested's" narrow.

People give you lots of advice. I've tried almost all of it. But I'm definitely in a different situation than most of my friends and family. So I wondered...what would you, dear readers, do to meet the right one?

Would you go to a different church because it is bigger than yours and has more single people? (abandoning the choir you helped establish and the friends you are just starting to feel comfortable with?)

Would you try online dating, speed dating, blind dates?

Would you pay a significant amount of money to a matchmaker?

Sometimes, I'm afraid to hope for someone to share my life with because I don't want to be disappointed again. Mostly, I focus on the positive aspect of my life, and there ARE lots of things I love about living on my own and answering to no one but myself. I like my independence, but I miss having someone to share it all with. A dichotomy, I know.

I Love 80's Music

Everyone said it would happen, but after weeks and months of loneliness, I admit I had my doubts.

NYers would tell me, hang in there. Pretty soon, things will just click for you.

I think the "click" happened on my birthday, because it feels like I haven't stopped since! After that wonderful weekend, I've had something to do or people to meet up with every day. The rare day when I have a moment to myself is suddenly cherished. Such a difference from just a month ago.

This weekend, I braved the heat wave to get out and do some shopping with my friend Lindsay. (She moved here from Toronto just two weeks before I moved here from Dallas.) We bought a few suits, pajamas and other odds and ends. I shopped for my Gemini nieces and nephew. We had yummy Thai food for lunch and multiple bottles of water to try and replace the gallons of sweat we emitted.

Each of us went home to clean up and nap and then we met for a late dinner and dancing at this great 80's bar Lindsay found. (I'm still amazed that you can go for dinner in NYC at 10 or 11 at night and the restaurant is full and busy as if it were 7 p.m.) The 80's music was fantastic, and they played the videos on the big screens. Everyone in the bar was singing all the words. Lindsay's sister and a friend were visiting from Toronto, and the four of us girls had a blast. None of us were interested in getting picked up by any of the intoxicated guys around us, and one persistent guy kept trying to butt into our group by going from one to the next. The other girls were more polite than I was, but he obviously wasn't getting the idea that we weren't interested. They happened to be playing "Mony Mony" by Billy Idol. You know the part where he sings "Yeah" and the backup singers reply "Yeah"... This guy would lean into our group and sing the Billy "Yeah" part and I just looked at him and sang the backup part "No."

"Yeah!"
"No."
"Yeah!"
"No."

It worked. The girls cracked up, but he left us alone!

This is New York

As I'm riding in a packed subway car, trying to avoid looking at others, I notice one of Barnes & Noble's advertisements where they quote famous poets and authors. This one resonates with me and makes me feel understood:

There are roughly three New Yorks. There is, first, the New York of the man or woman who was born here, who takes the city for granted and accepts its size and its turbulence as natural and inevitable. Second, there is the New York of the commuter – the city that is devoured by locusts each day and spat out each night. Third, there is the New York of the person who was born somewhere else and came to New York in quest of something. Of these three trembling cities the greatest is the last – the city of final destination, the city that is a goal. Commuters give the city its tidal restlessness; natives give it solidity and continuity; but the settlers give it passion.

E.B. White, Here is New York

Study: Bachelors Afraid to Make Mistakes

Just had to write my spin on a Reuters article I read titled "Men prefer being solo over a bad marriage." A survey was conducted by a long-time bachelor in Syndney, Australia to help him discover why he and a "growing number of eligible men were steering clear of marriage."

The findings?
"Men are 10 times more scared of marrying the wrong person than of never getting married at all," Weisman told Reuters in a telephone interview.
Weisman said his online survey found there are three groups of bachelors -- about 8 percent who never want to marry, 62 percent want to marry but of which half won't settle for anything less than perfection, and about 30 percent who are on the fence.

My reaction to this was two-fold. First, that 62% who are waiting for perfection? Forgettaboutit.
Second, I'm sure most of these men are willing to take calculated risks in other areas, like finances or pursuing job opportunities. Life is about risks. Jump!

Although I'm not proud of having two divorces, at least I'm not afraid to give it a try.

Sex and the City, the Movie

I love good books and good shows. I identify with the characters and miss them when the book or show is over.

I was SO glad to see my friends Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha again on the big screen last night. Although the critics panned it, I loved it.

I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it. 

The only thing I'll mention is that I was thrilled to recognize my building in one of the scenes!

A Couple More Birthday Pictures

Two of my friends -- and sisters to each other -- invited me for a picnic lunch on the roof of their apartment building on Sunday, complete with cake!

It was so windy, we couldn't light the candles on the rooftop, so we came inside for the cake portion.

I had so many calls and text messages from friends and family near and far for my birthday. Thanks to everyone. I felt very loved.

Fleet Week

NYC gave me a great birthday present...Fleet Week! I went on a pub crawl with several girls and decided to try and get my picture taken with as many men in uniform as I could. Very fun.

Grateful but Perplexed

I've been neglecting my blog. If you're reading this, thanks for checking back.

I watched my niece and nephew go through a bounce-house obstacle course at their local Deutchenfest last Sunday, and I feel like I've been going through something similar lately here at work. Just as I finish one small task or come to the end of a [mostly productive] meeting, I get hit by another obstacle and turned in another direction. It's like I'm treading water but not making any progress towards the shore. Well, at least I've still got my head above water!

As our country slides further and further into recession, and I hear about friends of friends here in NY that have been laid off, I'm thankful I have a good job and no lack of work. And with the ever-soaring gas prices, I'm glad I don't have a car!

Nothing really new on the dating front. I've been amazed and a bit overwhelmed with all the profiles being sent to me from eHarmony, but nothing has materialized into a face-to-face meeting yet. One of the things that strikes me as funny about their site is the "Close Match" function. Either party can decide to close the match for a number of reasons. I try to be honest with my reasons, such as "no chemistry" or "feel our values are too different." I don't take it personally when someone closes a match on me, but I keep getting the following message:

One of the hardest things about any new relationship is deciding when or if you should continue forward in a relationship.
[Guy's name here] chose to permanently close communication with you for the following reason(s):

• Other

What the hell?!? Can't you be honest? (They have 18 different responses to choose from.)

A Family Full of Tauruses

Man, it's freakishly early. I'm blogging from my blackberry, which is always a challenge, sitting at the Newark Airport, waiting for my flight to board.

I got up at 5:45 this morning. Ugh. But I did it because I love my family so much, and I'm so looking forward to seeing them all.

Yesterday was my sister Jenn's birthday. Today is my dad's birthday, and Saturday marks my nephew Colin's 5th birthday.

Bras and Baseball

What do these two things have in common? Nothing, except they were the highlights of my weekend.

On Saturday, I made it uptown to the Upper East Side to a lingerie shop called Intimacy that I've seen featured on How to Look Good Naked and What Not to Wear. True to everything I had read online, they personally fit you for the right bra by looking at you, naked. It was more than a little uncomfortable, but I left with some beautiful lingerie that maximizes my assets.

On Friday, I met a couple who are here for the summer from England. (Their company has offices in both countries and is letting them work from NY for three months) We hit it off, and they invited me to join them in enjoying some free tickets they had gotten through a colleague for the Mets game on Sunday. The seats were really unbelievable. We were in the first and second rows just off the field behind first base. I'm not a huge baseball fan, but we had a good time shouting with the crowd and enjoying famous Nathan's hotdogs. I'll post a pic of Sarah & Scott later.

7th of May

1. This is the first week I haven't had to wear a light jacket. As everyone told me, spring is beautiful in the City. I'm enjoying the blooms and sunshine.

2. The warmer weather means the subways are starting to get warmer, too. The air just seems to petrify down there, and the humidity makes the air feel heavy. It's amazing I still have any makeup still on by the time I get to work.

3. As much as I'm enjoying springtime here, I have been pretty homesick lately. May is full of family birthday celebrations, Mother's Day and fun gatherings back in Texas. Plus, my grandmother and great aunt are facing another difficult transition as elders. My heart aches to be with everyone. At least I'm going for my nephew Colin's birthday in a couple weeks.

4. I've heard from a few people over the years that occasionally, eHarmony will tell someone they can't find them a match! (Wouldn't that be awfully depressing?) They send me new matches every day, and I'm weeding through the profiles. Hopefully more to report soon...

5. I found out I'm allergic to latex. Not pleasant! Fortunately, things that are made from latex also come in other varieties.

6. I love living alone, but there are times when it would be helpful and much appreciated to have a man around. In general, most men do seem to be more mechanically inclined than women, and there are always little things that stump me. Like how do I get the stopper out of my bathroom sink so I can clear the drain? I know I could ask the super in the building, but it bothers me I can't figure this out.

7. I'm a decent cook. I have a few recipes that really amaze people. But I don't enjoy cooking as much when it's just for me. It's so nice to have someone to cook for. Fortunately, a certain friend has come over once a week in the past couple weeks to indulge me.

NY con mi amigo Daniel

I had so much (too much?) fun with Daniel this past weekend. It was great having him here and showing him around, but I really felt my age (12 years older than him)! I'm exhausted, but happy.

He arrived on Friday just as I was finishing up work. We took the subway down to my apartment to drop off his stuff, and he remarked how impressed he was that I've figured out all the underground transportation. He also said many times that he personally just could not NOT have a car. (He loves cars.)

We were out late on Friday, visiting many different fun, happening places. Saturday was a bit rainy, but we went up to Central Park and later had dinner at this Italian restaurant that had been recommended to me. The food was great, but as your typical NY restaurant, it was a small place (long wait time), and the wait staff was pretty snobby!

Yesterday, our choir performed at church. I was really pleased with our performance. I still get a bit nervous just before the service starts, and I'm still a bit surprised I'm now singing soprano, and regularly hitting F's. There were 6 of us -- 2 sopranos, 2 altos and 2 men. And the harmonies are really coming together.

After church, Daniel and I went to the Statue of Liberty. It turned out to be a gorgeous day, and we took many pictures.

[Added later]

Quote from this weekend:

Daniel: There are a lot of BEAUTIFUL people in New York. And there are a lot of ugly people.

Me: We've got something for everyone!

How They Reel You In

Recent emails from eHarmony:

"Your Soul Mate may be waiting and we don't want you to miss out on meeting him. "

"I noticed that you have received matches but have not yet reached out to communicate with any of them. Are you a skeptic?"

"eHarmony's Compatibility Matching System™ has found this highly compatible match for you based on our rigorous 29 Dimensions scale."

How can one resist?

April Celebrations

Some of my favorite people have birthdays in April. [I STILL think of my niece Anna as an April baby, even after 7 years. She was originally due in April but surprised us all by arriving early at the end of March.] My new friend Kelly -- Jersey Girl -- celebrates her birthday in April, as does my gay boyfriend Daniel, and my old college friend Greg, aka Mr. Aggie, who I only speak to twice a year but think of much more often.

Kelly had a bunch of us join her in a bar crawl in Jersey City on Saturday. It was a great casual and fun get-together. Kelly and I always laugh a lot when we're together, and she seems to attract a lot of really nice people as her friends.

Daniel is coming to visit me this weekend! I can't wait. We've been casually bringing it up since I moved here, and finally, he's on his way. (He likes to sing me that song "Hey there Delilah" substituting my name) There's so much I want to show him, but I think we're going to have to narrow it down or wear ourselves out!

Fashion Style: Who, Me?

One of the things I love about NYC is that every individual style is tolerated and even embraced. (I know there is a high society here somewhere and they probably judge each other on what they wear, but I'm not part of that society, probably never will be, and let's face it, don't really want to be.) In general, I have found NYC is a very accepting city.

As you may know, NYers are known for wearing a lot of black. Not sure why...maybe it's because we walk around the grimy city so much, sit on subways, and are surrounded by so much taxi exhaust? Of course, some venture out a bit from all black, wearing gray, brown or navy, or --ooh! daring! -- khaki.

I was approached on the street one morning by a colleague as we were both walking towards our building from the subway.

"I knew that was you," she said. When I inquired how -- or what she meant by that -- she said it was my bright red, tiered skirt. "You always wear bright colors!"

Looking around, I did seem to be the only one on the busy street with any discernible color.

Several other coworkers have recently commented on it, too. One day I'll be wearing green, another day pink, and people stop by my office to comment on how well I wear color and how "springy" I look.

In Dallas, I never felt like I quite wore the right thing. Never fashionable enough. And here, I'm being heralded for my sense of style! LOL

Friend+

WARNING: As parental units are prone to read this blog, this is your warning: you may not want to read this post. [it mentions SEX]

Some of my friends and family have mentioned my life, read through the blog, sounds like "Sex and the City." I have retorted it's been more like "Celibacy and the City." Besides the distinct lack of dates, I'm much more choosy than in my past, and I just don't feel comfortable picking up some guy at a bar for a one-night stand. So, it's been awhile.

Now, (another disclaimer), I'm in my mid-thirties, and obviously have been married before, so I'm no virgin. And women have needs, too! And this blog is supposed to be about what's it's like living as a thirty-something singleton...So!

I had drinks and dinner last night with a guy I met months ago that works in a building I visit often. We've spoken several times, although just briefly, and always had great conversations. We've tried to get together a couple times for drinks, but our schedules didn't mesh. He's been very candid with me that he's still recovering from a bad relationship and break-up, but I assured him I would appreciate having him as just a friend.

It all went very smoothly. The conversation was easy, and I never felt like he was judging me for what I said or didn't say. We have many similarities, and both have a good sense of humor. He told me a bit more about his last relationship. I told him about some of my past doozies. I'm not sure how we got on the subject of sex, but it was brought up in a very platonic sort of way. I made him laugh with my "Celibacy and the City" comment, and he mentioned it had been a long time for him, too. Then he mentioned how in the past he's had a couple "friends with benefits," and I agreed that sounded like a nice idea. And he raised his eyebrows and intimated he'd be open to exploring that with me. I wasn't sure if he was serious or not, so I kept asking him questions, and, I must admit, stalling a bit, trying to decide if I wanted to do that. I mean, I WANTED to, but I also really value his friendship. (I'm not exactly overwhelmed with friends here, and it's so nice to have someone to eat dinner with and chat.) So we agreed on a few rules, and giddily headed back to my place (closer than his).

It was good, great even. It will be interesting to see if this works. One of the rules is, if either of us starts to have more serious feelings for the other, we will be upfront about it and discontinue the "benefits."

"Bed"

Remember the Sex and the City episode where they go to a club called "Bed?" I went there last night!

It's actually called "Duvet."
At Duvet, couches are passé and instead, large custom beds with room for 8 to recline take their place (“Who’d have thought a slumber party could be so sophisticated?” – New York Moves). Come experience Duvet’s cool glass “Ice Bar”, peer into their 800-gallon custom-made jelly fish aquarium, and even visit the “Water Lounge” – the voyeuristic coed bathrooms where one-way mirrors are strategically placed on the doors to the bathroom stalls...don't worry, only the people in the stalls can look out!

I went for a networking happy hour with my friend Kelly. She did a bit of networking. I was mostly there for the happy hour part and to gawk!

Writer's Block, aka No Dates

As you may have noticed, I haven't had much to write about lately. The stretches between posts seem to be growing.

Yesterday, I caught up with a girl who also moved to the city last fall. She mentioned she's had a couple dates in the last week that were promising, and I asked, how are you meeting all these guys? (Everytime we talk, she mentions a couple more!) She said she's meeting them through eHarmony.

Now, I've tried just about every online dating service, including eHarmony. Granted, I was narrowing my search to the Dallas area. Perhaps the larger pool in NYC would give me more/different/(dare I hope) better results. (The last time I tried it was in 2005.)

Unlike most online dating services where you post a picture and profile and then "shop" through others' profiles to find a potential match, eHarmony arranges connections for you. After a thorough survey, they pair you with others who have similar traits and values.

So, I'm giving it some thought. I think I would need some new pictures of me, but other than a monthly membership fee, what have I got to lose? It can't be as bad as speed dating!

Spring in the City

Everyone keeps telling me that Spring is the best time in New York. (I quite enjoyed Fall and Winter, too, but ok!)

It is nice to have more daylight, and I'm always amazed when I leave work after normal hours that there's still a little sun. I've also been enjoying the blooms. Here are a few pictures I've taken in my wanderings.

Down Home Time

I was given the opportunity by my company to attend a management training conference in Dallas. It was held at the Gaylord Resort in Grapevine, a fabulous complex with a magnificent atrium.






While they kept me very busy with the conference and I was also stretched to keep up with project work back at the office, I did get to see some of my dearest friends. Daniel (my gay boyfriend!) came out to the resort for a drink and visit. And the next night, I was able to see my girlfriends at my favorite Tex-Mex restaurant, Mi Cocina.



After dinner, I went by the hospital where I used to volunteer. I had called ahead and learned the nurse I worked with, Lily, was working that night. She was completely surprised to see me! It was great. She let me hold two preemies and feed them. I stayed for a couple hours, loving on these little ones and visiting with Lily.

I went back to the hotel exhausted but with a full heart. It was great touching base with these people I love so dearly.

Art After Dark

Friday night I had a date with one of the guys I met at Speed Dating. He invited me to join him at the Guggenheim Museum for First Fridays, where you can jam to loud music spun by a DJ as you enjoy the art in the incredible building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The exhibition currently on display is one by Cai Guo-Qiang, a Chinese artist known for his "creative transgressions and cultural provocations."

It was interesting.

Traffic was congested, as usual, so I text-messaged that I would be 10 minutes late. No matter, the line to get in was around the building and down the block. When I found my date, he introduced me to his friend from work who was there and mentioned another friend was joining us. I was surprised, as I didn't realize our plan was for a group event.

We waited in line for 90 minutes before we were allowed in. No kidding. At least the weather was nice, but it was time filled with awkward conversation and many silences. Weird, to say the least.

Once inside, despite the ear-splitting music, both the exhibition and the people-watching was very entertaining. But I felt out of place. I'm not into music that loud -- oh, and did I mention my date was checking out every girl in sight? I felt strangely too old for this scene. Although there were others my age or older, the majority of the crowd seemed in their twenties. Besides, it was late and the end of a long and busy week for me. (By the time we got into the museum, it was 11:30 p.m. The event goes until 1 a.m.)

I'm glad I went and experienced something new. But I doubt I'll go again.

Need Your Input for a Snappy Response

Two of my doctors -- or pseudo-doctors, a chiropractor and a dentist -- have the same annoying habit. I guess they are trying to be flattering, but it leaves me without anything good to say. I thought I'd open it up to the general readership for ideas.

I saw my dentist today, and he says, "So how come no one has snatched you up yet?"
My chiropractor had a similar [stupid] question, "I can't believe you're not married. You don't even have a boyfriend? How can you not have a boyfriend?"

It's so frustrating! So please, readers of the blog, (obviously intelligent people with good taste), got any ideas for a smart ass remark to put these guys in their place and let them know how insensitive their questions are?

Dining Solo

I'm sitting at a bar at an Italian restaurant not too far from Union Square (trying a new place). The bar is crowded with groups. I'm the only solo patron.

I'm enjoying a fabulous glass of Italian wine, and the bartender, after taking my dinner order, asks me, "So how come you're lonely tonight?"

I replied, "I'm alone, but who says I'm lonely?"

"Touche." He replied, and clinked his glass to mine.

Turning Seven

This past weekend, my niece Anna -- my first niece -- turned seven years old. She especially invited me to her party, which turned out to be a whole weekend of celebrating, and told me it was very important to her that I be there. I haven't missed a single one of her birthdays yet (something I unfortunately can't claim for the other four nieces and nephews), and I've been looking forward to it.




I still remember the day her mom, my beloved older sister, called to tell me it was time. It was so exciting, more so because she arrived 2-3 weeks earlier than expected! She was absolutely gorgeous from the moment we laid eyes on her. Even one of the doctors asked if she had been born by Cesarean section (her head did not have that squished, just-born look).

She has grown into a young girl with a vivid imagination, a curious nature and a compassionate heart. She is a delightful little person to be around.

In addition to her party, I was able to watch her rehearsal for her upcoming ballet examination and celebrate in style at a local Greek restaurant. The ballet exam that is coming up is very serious business, and these small girls have had to memorize each position of hands and feet and what to do at the brief announcement from the judge. It was very impressive and entertaining to watch.

The Greek restaurant was a blast! This is a neighborhood place that my sister and her family frequent, and the owner knows Anna well. There was also a belly dancer that evening, and Anna did an impromptu dance with her! I could see the ballet influence in her movements, and her face just lit up with the excitement of the spontaneous performance. At the end of the meal, the owner told Anna that in Greece, they celebrate momentous occasions by breaking a plate and asked if she'd like to break one. Her eyes got huge as she said Yes with amazement that she would be purposefully doing something that would be considered unthinkable at home. We all yelled "Opa!" as they threw the plate down together. Much giggling ensued.

It was a terrific weekend, and I realized I had as much or more fun than I do on some of my own birthdays!