1999 cab

So, I cracked open a 1999 Cab Sauv this evening to share with a girlfriend of mine. She came over for some girl time, and I decided it was a good moment to celebrate making it through the week. It was a tough week- I've taking out some major giants...and I am glad to say that I survived.

And, I've kinda been saving that bottle for something special. Not that I haven't tried to open it in the past...I've actually planned on opening it several times, but never actually did. I think tonight was the best night! Making it through life until this absolute moment is worth celebrating! And being able to share it with a good friend- even better.

I remember getting that bottle:

It was 2002- my Senior year at UNC. I was living alone in an apartment complex in Carrboro, and had invited some people over for a dinner party. This bottle of wine was a gift from one of the guests. We had some different options that night, so this particular bottle never got opened. And has been on different shelves in different houses waiting to be opened....

...until tonight.

oh well

One of the things that I love about traveling is the food. It is always so much fun to try new flavors- in fact, I think that tasting new foods or trying new restaurants is a really easy way to be adventurous. And you know that I love to adventure...

Anyway, a while ago- I was headed somewhere, and a friend of mine said, "take pictures of the food." (Thanks, Sarah!) And I realized that was a brilliant idea. So many people eat the same thing over and over again- because it is safe. So, maybe, people might enjoy living vicariously though me with food as well.

So, I started taking pictures of food. And people really love them. I always get comments on them- if not written, then verbal. Makes me giggle.

But on this last trip to NYC, I learned that sometimes I don't get a picture taken before the food is eaten. In fact, some of my favs this time around had no hope of getting captured digitally, because they were in my mouth too fast.

The picture you see here was my superb Colombian lunch: arroz, frijoles, chicharron, aguacate, arepa, carne y platanos maduros. Muy bien! I completely forgot about my camera as I was scarffin' it down. I didn't even think to take a pic of Erin's yummy Colombian-style chicken soup.

There was something else- the Chinese Paper Cake that I discovered in China Town. Oh my goodness- so good! I will make that one of my regular stops each time I am in NYC China Town area. Yummy-goodness for only 65 cents- BRING IT ON! I ate 3 of these things: 1 on the first day of discovery, and 2 on the second day when I went back to the bakery. On both occasions, I forgot to take a picture.

My point?
I will try to have more self-control when I am about to eat something particularly tasty and make sure that you get a well-defined picture next time.

accountability

Funny enough, the audience is there...listening.
So, I just have to say something.

Why does anyone think I have something to say- isn't that really the funny thing?

Sadly, it is because I've said I do (have something to say)...so maybe that suggests that I am the funny component to this situation.

Hmmm...

NYC 2009

I cannot begin to tell you how much I love New York City. I love it. In some ways, it is still a big part of who I am- or at least, I love coming back "home" to it.

And, Christmastime in New York? One of the best places to be at the best time! (At least, that is my humble opinion.) There is so much fun in the air- just breathe it in deep; and you can't help but smile.

When my boss told me that I needed to book a hotel reservation for the first weekend in December, I was thrilled. (Actually, I was like "you're kidding me right?! We have only 3 weeks to get everything planned! But after that- I was excited!)

I am here with him, his wife and a co-worker- it is a business trip. But a fun one. And I am the only one who's ever been to NYC before, so I've gotten to show them around. And we've done a fairly good job of it.

let me try this again

So, I've tried cutting my right arm off before. In fact, in the past, I've very decidedly made a stand- I took the knife, sliced through my skin, cut through the bone, and let my arm fall from my body to the ground. I've looked at it sadly as the blood oozed into a puddle around the violated area. I've even gotten to the place where I've turned by back to the forsaken arm- a symbolic act of a purpose to move away from the arm.

But, I am always scared to actually leave it behind.
So, I turn back to it, pick it up, dust it off, and do my darnedest to reconnect it at all costs. And that's what I've been doing-

But not this time.
I've made the cut.
I've turned away.
And I am trying to take consistent steps away; trying to forget that my right arm is an invaluable asset-