Nature...nuff said

Darlings have you been to Alaska? It's a completely different sort of beauty. Not the type that a City girl experiences. I actually remember once crying on a trip out to the Hamptons (circa 1995) because I hadn't seen trees in a year.

Well, Alaska is majestic.

We were there for a photo shoot and one of the art directors, the photographer and I walked along the hiking trail in the rain. Those 40 minutes were so grounding and some of the best moments I've experienced in my life.


We searched for 4-leaf clovers....


Do you see any?


We didn't search for bears, though there were rumours that this was Bear Country...


I can't explain how grand it is to stand amongst trees that are so tall and beautiful that they remind you what life should be about. The rainforest was so perfect. I wish I could bring you all there.

And now, I'm back in New York. I really missed mi esposo and my Uma. Today I stopped by to hang out with my father for a bit. Also, Uma + I walked this AM with my neighbor/friend and her puppy - those are some of the things that make New York worth it.

Well, Saturday I'm marrying my friends Lynda + Jeff. They are so fabulous! It promises to be quite the event! There will be a parade through their part of Williamsburg and a ceremony in a lovely restaurant followed by bacchanalia! Mi esposo promised to take lots of pics, so I'll share those on Monday.

Better get some rest - Lynda's put me on throat rest for the ceremony.

New York today: Thumb up
The planet today: Fabulous!

Nighty night!

I have returned...

In a word....amazing. Alaska is so beautiful. Tomorrow I will actually deal and upload my pictures for you all to see. Right now I am so tired. And yes, everything is still rocking (I feel like I'm still on the ship)!

Nighty night!

See you on the slopes....

Well not really...I'm heading off to Seattle in 5 hours or so. As usual, my esposo completely helped me pull my things together. This week has been so hectic and to add a little drama into the night, I just realized that my newly purchased memory card (for the newly purchased lil' digital camera) was stolen!

That's right some SfQ#$51*#! guy at Paragon "checked" my bag because it was beeping at the security gate and guess what winds up missing? If you guessed all the AA batteries, you're absolutely wrong. The jerk took my memory card! Damn, damn, damn!

So instead of being all cuddly with my esposo or mellowing out, I'm pissed! At least the stream of obscenities has trickled down to a few "jerks"

Well writing is obviously cathartic; I'm starting to feel a bit better. Is it the bossa nova I'm listening to or is it the comfort of knowing that I have better ways to utilize my energy (score: 1 for clarity, 0 for anger).

From Seattle, we're off to Alaska. That's right! And I'm so excited. There might not be any pictures to show but at least the memories will keep me happy.

Yesterday was one of my closest friend's birthdays. That's something to celebrate.
Also, I went to my samba class this evening - which was so much fun. Hmmm..it was a great week - lots of friends, family time (my favorite thing with my father) and now some cuddling with my sweetie!

Today in New York: (in retrospect) thumbs up
To the guy with my freakin' memory card: he should have his thumbs removed. okay that's too harsh. or not?

Nighty night + speak to you when I return!!!

Gone

They are gone. Until last year whenever I looked over from Brooklyn to Manhattan, I saw the Twin Towers. Maybe I couldn't let go because they were completed in 1972 - the year I was born (as well as most of my friends). Whatever the reason, I saw their shadows for years after they fell; it was almost as if they were ghost buildings.

Last year for the first time, I didn't see them. I tried to will myself to see their outline and eventually I could sort of imagine where they had been. Today, I cannot.

We all have stories from that day. That morning, Uma and I walked to the park. It was a beautiful day. I remember the moment I felt the ground shake in Fort Greene park. I was chatting with a neighbor and this young woman ran past us mumbling something about a plane and the Twin Towers. I scoffed - she obviously didn't know what she was talking about.

Now that I think back on it, there had been a few people randomly entering the park (without dogs - which is weird for that time of morning) and going up on the hill by the monument. We climbed the hill and took our place beside the other dogs and people. All the dogs were silent and sitting. My first conscious thought was of the poor messengers and Fed Ex workers.

Within seconds I was running down the hill because I thought of two of my best friends. One lived a few blocks north of the Towers, the other worked a few blocks south. I knew the building was going to fall and would go either north or south. I knew they both had to get out.

They both did.

Mi novio (we weren't married then) rushed to meet me. His mother called and told him what had happened (funny how the news reached other countries faster, huh). We walked home with Uma and spent the rest of the morning in disbelief. I refused to look out of our bedroom window to watch the Towers fall. I just remember the relief of hearing that my father was safe at work, my sister was safe, our families and all of our friends were safe.

We lost one person from our class at high school. He was too young.

This September 11th, I was glad to spend time with my dog, my new friend from New Orleans (she escaped the other tragedy - Katrina), my esposo and my father.

I miss New York before that day.

And I miss those buildings.

Must...sleep..now

Too tired to write tonight. Went to two amazing art openings though. Okay, maybe I can write just a bit...

I've never participated in the Chelsea art madness, all I know is that ever so often I have to wade through throngs of raving art lovers - just to make it off of 10th Avenue. Today, Barb mentioned that there were two openings and I must say they were up my alley.


Aperture opened with an exhibit of Lola Alvarez Bravo's work. She was a Mexican photographer/artist/filmmaker and a friend of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera - her black and white photos are stunning!

In this overly saturated, technicolor world I'd forgotten the beauty of black, white, gray and shadows. Her work ranged from political to funny to breathtaking beauty. I want to take mi esposo's mom.

The second show was radically different - a friend of a friend of Barb's (how many degrees separated is that one?) makes these large "paintings" out of carved wood. Confused? Well, so was I until I saw it. She carves different woods and pieces them together like a jigsaw puzzle. The contrasting colors result in images like a traditional painting. The process is called marquetry - isn't it refreshing to learn something new everyday.

I am quite pleased to have joined in a New York ritual that I habitually shun. Funny enough, I'm on a roll...tomorrow I plan on checking out the Dada exhibit at MOMA with my mom in law.

On a much lighter and more superficial note I saw the car of my immediate fantasies on the road today - twice. Oh Toyota, how I covet your FJ6. I originally thought New Yorkers would be horrified by the design and shy away from it, leaving me enough time to save up and buy the puppy. Hopefully it won't become too popular.

Anyway it's really past my bedtime. More manana.

New York today: Thumbs up (who knew - thank you Chelsea art scene)

Nighty night.

Let's just forget the whole ikea incident...huh?

Well mi esposo and I made the...hmm how do you say - HELLISH trip to Ikea this weekend. It got ugly my friends. I went through many moods during the journey and I ended on simply hating Ikea. The darn bookcase that I was sooooo desperate to own (hello we even measured it) was oversold.

As the bitchy saleswoman informed me "We have negative 2 in stock."

Um..am I the only one who has a problem with that? Is Ikea at the nexus of the universe, is it some strange place where negative objects exist? Me thinks not, idiot.

After the nightmare, we did come out on the good side. Mi esposo and I went to see his mom (she's so incredible!) and we hung out. I'd stopped by the Labor Day Parade to pick up some comida for her - curry chicken roti...yum...curry goat...yummier!

The parade was great. I bumped into a lot of my neighbors and even decided on a digital camera to buy for my trip to Alaska.

I am so excited for the trip. Ever since my friend Nona and her daughter visited Alaska, it's been on my list of "must sees."

Well, it's late and we just walked the Uma.

New York this Labor Day week (including yesterday + day): Thumbs up
New Jersey - home to ikea elizabeth: The finger (I'm sure my love affair will be on again in a week or so...)

Nighty night.

Friends...the good, the great and the chain emails

New York Today: Thumbs up!
It is raining like crazy here in the City. Welcome to NY, Hurricane Ernesto. Not so bad really, just wind and a bit of sideways rain. The umbrellas Baba bought us from Bloomies are fantastic. The streets are littered with the pathetic shells of cheap ol' umbrellas. I think I actually heard my "Rain Shedder" scoff... or was that my hangover?

Last night, our resident jazz trumpeter extraordinare called - he was sitting in on a set at Night of the Cookers . Now, the esposo and I have never really understood why everyone and their mama seems to LOVE this place. When we walked in last night it hit us like a ton of bricks - it was like walking onto the set of Love Jones . It was so adult and the vibe was perfect. There were definitely a few ball players there (football? basketball? I don't know).

When the band started up again - Maurice caught everyone off guard. The man blew! He is amazing. And while that damn Katrina did so much harm, we should be so thankful that it brought Maurice + his girl into New York.

See him before he's too famous for you to afford tickets people! That's an order.

Well, the esposo was pleased...much better than going to sleep early, eh? My good friend (Maurice's girlfriend), the esposo and I chatted and had a blast. And they reminded me about my old standby - the vodka gimlet. After the show, we picked up our pup, Uma and headed to their apt. to listen to music (and have another gimlet - yum). Great night!

Today I met with a friend from my design class at F.I.T. She's launching her line of bags, which are lovely! We met at the new French bakery on Lafayette and Grand (+1 for our hood). She was telling me about her process in getting to production + she gave me a ton of good advice!

On the other side, I just got another freakin chain email (hello are we still in grade school?) from a friend of a friend. I think I'm gonna have to put a little block on mail from her ass.

Now, we're relaxing...the esposo is playing Metal Gear Solid 3, Uma's on her bed and I'm heading to mine!

Nighty night!

My First Posting

So this is my first blog posting! I am so happy. Years ago I faithfully kept journals with the idea that one day they'd be discovered (well one day in the DISTANT future) and the readers would find out about life as I know it. Then someone created blogs and now I can still keep the journal but using our handy dandy iMac (thanks Baba!).

I will share my love/not-so-in-love relationship with New York, talk about design, my business, dogs (love them) and things that strike my fancy and inspire me.

Today (and yesterday) I give New York a thumbs up...ACTUALLY there was a (gasp now) roach on the subway, so that takes a heap of points away from my love of the City. Anyway, the fabulous esposo and I attempted a trip to IKEA but alas were deterred by all the freakin traffic. Out of bad comes the good, so we decided to track down our sweet dog Uma's grub (easier said than done, Uma's eating innova senior dog food - hello, $15 for a 6 pound bag?). Thankfully I remembered The Pet Bar on Thompson Street in Soho - our old hood. The store and it's crazy pink awning were still there. That is ridiculously comforting in this City where the turnover for stores and even buildings is completely out of control.

I'm also loving a little New York because I went to Miss Jessie's to see Miko and get my 'hair did', then I went to Brown Betty's and had an amazing sandwich.....my new hood has finally arrived - let's just hope we don't get priced out of it.

I've got my samba class tonight (woo hoo)! Then I'm hanging hard with the hubby. Enjoy your Friday night!