You have a really pretty smile

When I was walking home yesterday, some guy said to me: "you have a really pretty smile".
Yes. I do, don't I?

However.
I wasn't smiling.
It must be this dude's only line. Truth be told, he wasn't my type anyway. At-all.So, I turned up my iTunes and kept walking. I started smiling soon after though, because, hello! it was pretty hilario if I do say so myself. And I do. I say so.

Have an awesome blossom weekend and remember, as they say... smile, it won't mess up your hair!

can't focus

I can't focus all of a sudden

although I need to get some work did

like it's* nobody's business.

NEED-TO-FOCUS

Just thought you should know.

.

.

*can someone please explain how to use it's versus its?

Food Tour

This morning I was running late to work. I'm not sure why. All I remember is that I didn't want to get out of bed. But I did get out of bed and that is what counts, right? Apparently that is not what counts to my boss. She wants me to swipe in on time. This ensures a stressful start to my day Monday thru Friday. Rude.

Anyway, like I said, today I was running late and this translates into: I didn't have time to stop and get coffee. Sad, I know. I thought I would get into work, swipe in, and go back out for my beverage... but it didn't happen like that.

Now, I know you are wondering, "what in the heck does this have to do with the Food Tour?". And I am wondering why you are so impatient sometimes. Alas, it is all connected little one.

Having missed my morning coffee today, I'm living on the memory of The-Best-Coffee-of-My-Life that I sipped slowly on Sunday during the Food Tour (see: connection made).

On Sunday afternoon I left the comfort of my home, the Upper Eastside, and trekked all the way to the Lower East Side (LES) with my friend David (the group grew to 4 ppl by the end bc it was so irresistible... keep reading). We embarked upon an adventure: our very own food tour. First stop on our personal Food Tour was a place called Cocoa, on Clinton Street just south of Houston. I had a Chocolatte. I think it was actually pure cocoa that was added to my latte because it had a bitter taste. I know that sounds ick, but let me tell you, it was amazing. A-ma-zing. The memory of my Chocolatte is carrying me thru this coffee-less Tuesday. Literally. Carrying me.

We then went to a place nearby for thin-crust pizza. As I am a Pizza-Snob, I will not even bother describing said pizza. It isn't worth my time. Or yours. I must say that the place had a cool ambiance and fireplace tho. That does count for something, right?

Next we headed to the coveted Clinton Street Baking Company for their pancakes and huevos rancheros. Yum. The pancakes were fluffy, light, filled with and topped with blueberries. I give them an A- on my pancake grading scale. The parts of the huevos rancheros that I tasted were delish. However, I only had a couple bites since I have a diagnosed fear and aversion to runny yolks. It's a thing.

What could we do next but head next door for creme brulee at Dessert Truck Works? If I start thinking about the rich, creamy, sweet, cute, and custardy creme brulee right now I will start to drool on my desk. Since the desk is covered in paperwork I should be doing, this must be avoided and I need to go eat either my arm or some lunch.

Next time we are taking the Food Tour on the road. That's right, we'll be taking the crosstown bus and checking out some Upper Westside eateries. Any suggestions or faves? We'll prob focus on more salty than sweet next time. Just to be fair.

I am Uptown Girl

Sort of like Superman. One could say I'm like the superhero of the Upper Eastside. One could say that. One would be right.

Here I am high above Manhattan in my ultra-chic mask. You know, to protect my alter ego identity.

And here is a pic of my friend and counterpart Brooklyn Girl. She is a little more BoHo, flying barefoot. I wear heels when flying because, after all, I am Uptown Girl.

In the words of one of the greatest bands of all time...

Hold on for one more day.

..

[warning: if you have to work this weekend,

please consult your doctor before reading this post]

..

We

have

made

it

.

FRIDAY!!!

One more day til freedom & relaxation station. To be honest, I have a lot on my plate this wknd: a lot of fun.
Saturday I'm going running and I'm gonna volunteer for the coolest organization. It's only my second time lending a hand for this group, so I want to make sure I have staying power before I tell you all about what I'm up to, brag about how giving and wonderful I am, and make you jealous. It's very thoughtful of me while cryptic and exciting at the same time, right? I know.

Anywho, back to my freedom plan. Saturday night I have two - count them 2 - bday parties to attend. It can be a little awkward for someone like me to attend a party for which I am not the guest of honor. I try to look at it like this: at least I can celebrate someone else's aging process rather than my own. I'll drink to that.

Then on Sunday, I'll go to church and then on a food tour of NYC. What better way to celebrate the Lord's Day than via my taste buds? My friend and I still need to map out our route to fatty heaven, but let's just say that I'm dreaming in butter and chocolate. [aside: chocolate can help prevent strokes ... I read that in Redbook so it has to be true.]

In closing, I'd like to quote another great song that was most likely referring to Friday...

Friday, you make me feel like a natural woman.

off track blogging

I read a great quote in "Women's Fitness" today. I decided I would blog about it. I then gave the magazine away. Oh well... I do have multiple issues piled up in my apartment of that and several other magazines.


I don't even remember subscribing to "Women's Fitness"(to be fair: I am a woman, and I do care about fitness). Allegedly I sign up for mags on the daily. It's kinda my thing. But, I don't always read them slash I have a two and a half foot pile of old mags to reduce, reuse, and recycle.


Moral of the story: I don't have that quote for you but I do have an old issue of Redbook with your name on it. Would you like to read all about the freshest winter holiday decorations in Elle Decor? I'm your girl. I'm also offering some Easter coloring books complete with bunnies and eggs colored in a lifelike way with pastel crayons by yours truly (and my roomies) last spring. We're a very artistic bunch. Just saying.

Who Doesn't Love a Tape Worm?

I want to "EAT EAT EAT & ALWAYS STAY THIN".

Good deal.

Jar Packed Tape Worms here I come!

hi there

Hello Blogland.
.
I'm uber busy at work this week - a good thing because I have less time to be bored and less time to dream about and search for other jobs. Although I'm def considering doing that. But, there are SO many factors involved in a change that I go .. p r r r e t t y .. s l o w l y.
.
There is less time for me to obsess about the boy I like who hasn't called me. Is he dead? Deathly ill? Did his phone and computer both break? Did he lose his mind? Laryngitis?
.
Next!
.
I also have less time this week for my blogging passion. That means you. Hi you. Miss you ;)
.
For all you worriers, please rest assured that my voice is back at about 90% and I'm feeling much better. Still have a slight rasp. It just makes me sound sexy. Even more sexy, if you can imagine that. Wait, don't imagine it, that's creepy.
.
I'm so busy I can't even write a great post about how I'm going to happy hour after work tonight. A happy hour I planned but I'm not paying for. Be jealous.
ttfn!

At least I can type

I'm at work with laryngitis (one symptom of my current allergy cocktail). It is pretty hilarious actually. My job is about 75% talking on the phone to patients, insurance companies, pharmacies, and medical professionals. Today? Zero percenta talking on the phone. I'm listening to messages and asking other people in the office to make calls for me. Bossing others around happens to be one of my best sports. In the meantime, I'm getting lots of backed-up paperwork done, sending faxes, and emailing (work-related of course).

I just saw one of the doctors in the hallway and attempted to give him a message. He asked me "do you have something wrong with your voice?"... since I was basically whispering. I told him I have laryngitis and the doctor replied, "oh ok, cuz I thought you were worried about people snooping". In a medical practice everything goes back to HIPAA. Always.
.

Most everyone at work that finds out about my disappearing voice has said, "oh, were you doing something fun this weekend?" To which I respond by whispering, "yes, but nothing that would make me lose my voice". I mean, what fun activity would make me go hoarse? A heavy metal concert? This isn't the early '90s. I have yet to think of any other fun voice losing activities but maybe I'm just lacking creative juices today. Studies show that creativity and voice are linked traits 83% of the time. I just made that up to show I have mad creative skills even on an off day.

idea

I might start thinking about possibly maybe buying a bike. And riding it.

PROS: fun. feels like flying. outdoorsy. cute. can sing DoReMe and pretend I'm in the Sound of Music.

CONS: storage. fear of riding bike down hills. inability to ride bike up hills. sometimes I fall off of bikes when trying to stop. don't understand concept of gears.

I want this one.

I can be like Barbie.

.

.

But a nice beach bike is prob not the most practical for riding in NYC. I need something practical. And lots of armour: helmet, knee pads, elbow pads? Who knows.

.

Anywho, just an idea I'm thinking about. My friend Lovey and I might rent bikes for a day, ride around the hood (the Upper Eastside to be specific) and see how it goes. I should prob do this and find out about bike storage in my building before I buy one. Also, do you know about this 10-speed thing? Sounds tricky.

Happy weekend!

- enjoy it - live it - own it - move it - do it-

as promised

This is the best pic of me, post-race. I don't even look as gross as I felt (in this particular shot!). You can tell it was hot by my rolled up sleeves and red face.

Looks like I'm doing a touchdown dance of sorts. Everybody does that, right? If you don't, then you should try it. Believe me. It's hot.

Give away!

You know everybody loves a blog give away. I mean, really, does anyone not love a give away?


With that in mind, I would love for you to give me something.


I've been reeeeally wanting a song for my iPod. "The Call" by Regina Spektor.

The problem? I can only download the song if I buy the whole. freaking. album. And it isn't a Regina Spektor album. It's on a Chronicles of Narnia album. Sooooo clearly I have no need for any of the other songs on that soundtrack. I saw the movie, but I just have zero desire to get the soundtrack. Zero. Well, minus my desire for "The Call".

I propose that if any of you loyal followers are also Regina Spektor followers, and you already have the album, that you give me this one little track.


To enter:
1-Leave a comment with a way I can contact you.
2-Become a follower and comment to let me know for a double entry.


I will be sure to use that random pick thing for fairness.


This is a great give away right? I think so.

Ran my 10K

I did it. I ran my race and I won! finished.
I even ran at a faster pace than I expected. Less than 11 minute miles. Yes, this is fast for me! Most runners would say this is pretty slow, but for me it is an improvement.

As I ran I thought about all that stuff I said in my last post and I was so grateful for the ability to move and run and enjoy it all. I also thought about the finish line and my peeps waiting there and cheering me on (thanks peeps). My mom even came into the city and surprised me by coming to my race! It was a very sacot moment and I had a wonderful day riding that high I always get after races.

This 10K was my running goal for the entire year. A milestone. I did it and I'm super excited and proud of myself (as always, wink wink). It was pure raw ownage.

Thanks again for all of your encouragement and love. In return I would like to encourage you:


Also, when my lovely Mom figures out how to download from a digital camera and emails me a picture (she took about 200 - true story) I promise to post an uber sweaty and gross shot of me after the race... you're welcome ahead of time.

Dare You to Move

I have my 10K (6.2 mile) road race on Saturday. Tomorrow. Yikes stripes. And I've never run more than 5 miles before. Yet, I know I can.

I can do this.
My body can do this.
My mind can do this.
My spirit is yearning to do this.

Which begs the question... who the heck am I? For almost my entire life I was a sedentary person. And proud of it. My exercise of choice was walking or sunbathing (I'm sure laying in the sun burns lots of calories because it sure makes me sweat). While I still enjoy both, I now have a new love. Did I say love? Yes.

I have always always loathed physical exercise and avoided it with a passion. Even starting with awkward stupid gym class in middle school. I was voted off my 8th grade field day team because I was that bad. In high school my gym teacher was so lamespice that I luckily had a choice of playing whatever sport was happening (in our gym slash basement that had lots of poles going thru the middle to hold up the rest of the school) or walking (check) or lying on the floor (check check). Woops, I mean doing Richard Simmons Sweating to the Oldies videos or random old ab workout videos and sometimes lying on the floor instead of participating. Obvi.

Clearly I've always had a rock hard body. That is a lie. I always despised exercise while carrying on a juicy love affair with food. I've never embraced my flab or anything like that, but I guess I just hated working out hated slash gained weight with diets never wanted to do all that hard work to get rid of the flabby parts. I mean, have you tasted ice cream? I love ice cream more than I hate flab.

Anywho. When I started running last year I never expected it to become something I'd actually enjoy. I do. I enjoy it, look forward to it, and I schedule running into my week.

I do my best thinking while running, showering, or lying in bed. Now mainly while running.
Some people may figuratively run away from stuff and try to escape their problems in life. I used to do this in mind and spirit as much as humanly possible - deny or avoid problems. Until I didn't. As I realized that denying and avoiding problems didn't make them disappear (more like they come back to bite one's ass) I was forced to start facing my real life stuff and dealing with issues. That is a story for another post, but let's just say I became a girl with gumption.

It is that gumption that led me to tie the running shoes and start running. Running in turn has helped me more than I can say. Ok, I can say how much: this much (picture me openning my arms real wide). Running has become an extension of my therapy. A place where I think about and face all my problems from work to family to grey hair. I now face all the crap that comes my way in body, mind, and spirit when I run.


Where can you run to escape from yourself?


Yeah, that's the best line in "Dare You to Move" by Switchfoot. It speaks to me today. I'm not running away from life these days. Nope. I'm running towards something. Towards myself. Towards freedom. Towards something greater than me- towards my Creator who made my body so able to move and to run. [Thanks for the book about spiritual running Mom!]

Today is Good Friday. A big day for Christians everywhere. So, fitting with the day and also the theme of my post I'll share this sweet quote from Hebrews 12:1...

Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.


And with that, I dare you to move.

Dare You To Move - Switchfoot