1-11-11

oh, hi New Year.

My New Year's Rezzies this year are as follows:

1- Dental care. I will take better care of my teeth and see a dentist.

2- Skin care. I will not let myself become a wrinkled mess at age 30. I will remove make-up before bed always. I will moisturize and use anti-aging creams.

3- Finances. Oh money. I will spend less and save more. Or spend more wisely? Something. Guess I need to sit down with my financial advisor and set a better budget for 2011. Don't want to blow my billions on champagne and ice this year. That's

sooo 2010.

4- I will make amends. With my Uptown Girl Followers. aka you.

UPTOWN APOLOGY & CONFESSION (excuse):

It is hard for me to write and blog when I try to filter myself. I don't like to be guarded with you. I like to spill all my beans and then some. I like to gab away like a teenager loitering outside 7/11 at midnight. Yet, I've been hesitant. I'm not ready to tell you all the deets about mi vida as of late. And when I'm filtering I just have nothing to say slash I clam up slash I get a little writer's block.

I know it's hard to believe that I have this one-and-only flaw.

I'm SO sorry for deserting blogland at large and in particular my 53 loyal followers.

I've been uber caught up in my off-the-grid happenings (dating) that I've neglected to blog... I have thought about what to tell the blogosphere about my boy without disclosing his exact name and address.

LIMITED DISHING:

To start, this is his blog-protected name and addy:

Uptown Boyfriend

UpperWest Sweet Street
New York, NY <3<3

I've been dating a wonderful man. He lives Uptown. Obvi. Would you expect anything less else? Oh, and in case you're wondering - which I know you are - he is NOT the secret admirer-stalker that lives in my building. That would be too cliche in a romantic horror movie way.

I prefer to be cliche in a romantic comedy way. Just call me Sentimental-Susie. That's not my name, but you can still call me that if you want to.

The most wonderful time of the year

Yes, these are dark chocolate Ferrero Rondnoir's. Thank you for noticing.

I'm eating my way through the end of 2010. Delish yet dangerous.
Here's to celebrating the holidays with chocolate!

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This just in...

From YBF aka the Young Black and Fabulous (Fabulous and therefore Uptown Girl-worthy)...

It's on, like Rae Dawn Chong. This is a fabulous show that went off-air abruptly. My roommates and I watch re-runs on BET, but we've been dying to know how it all ends. Dying for some new episodes. Dying for some Tasha Mack.

I'm so ready for 2011 now that I know

THE GAME IS BACK!

note to self

This is a good reminder. I need to buy paper towels. And a snow globe.

I am in LOVE. With a shell.

maybe this belongs on Own It? I mean, does Marcel own it or what?

Gobble Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Last Thanksgiving I was on a never-ending flight to Chennai, India to see the world and visit my brother. Feels like yesterday.

This year we're out in New Jersey, chillin with the fam. Those of us who live in the tri-state area are here, most are sleeping. And in a couple hours my older brother will arrive from Virginia with his wife and 4 darling children. This promises to be a day filled with utter chaos, gluttony, love, and proclamations of thanks. I feel thankful to be here, healthy and surrounded by my loved ones.

What are you thankful for?

My Beautiful View

Ooh la la

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Viva Mexico!

I had a fantastic trip to Mexico with my Mama and my hermana Liza. We tore up the town in Mexico City, touring around with my aunt and cousins. We literally ate our way around. This is a picture of the most delicioso tortillas being made in a restaurant outside the city. I ate that entire stack. Unabashedly.

This is the same restaurant. Everything was so colorful, and the plantlife was so lush and beautifully groomed throughout the country.

On to Cancun...
I had to document a very yummy Tequila Sunrise in our Cancun resort. What better way to start the day? Ahem...

I miss the beach already. Sand that felt and tasted like cookie dough. Amazing clouds that blocked our sun constantly in a blue sky. Water with multiple shades of blue: from turquoise to purple. Oh the memories are almost enough to get me through my day at work. Almost.

Sorbet Shop

Just your tipico Mexican ice cream store. So far we are eating our way through Mexico and loving every minuto!

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I'll Follow the Sun

I need to pack tonight for my trip to MEXICO!

First Mexico City for a few days and then off to sunny (we hope) Cancun.

I can. not. wait.

I'm anticipating a relaxing week in the sun. With plenty of sunblock of course.

All-inclusive restaurants and swim-up bars. Count me in.

I've been missing the sun for a whole 2 days here in NYC. And what with elections happening, it is officially time to flee the country. Imediamente. En Jueves.

Me encanta el sol!

As for what to pack... please send your tips my way and I'll be sure say hola to the sun for you.

Admirer Run-In #1

Remember my not-so-secret admirer? He tracked me down via hand written note, left under my front door. I went on one date with him. And I didn't tell you this part...

The weekend following our date, this Tall Indian Guy (as he refers to himself) texted to see if I would like some wine at his apartment. I know that this is code for something else entirely. While I may be interested in wine, that is where my interest stops with this stalker. So I declined in a clear "No thanks, have a nice weekend" text back.

Well I saw him again yesterday! He was waiting for the elevator when I returned from my run. I was glistening (that's lady-talk for super sweaty). Tall Indian Guy was friendly and polite. He gave me a side-hug even though I was dripping of sweat sparkle. We small talked until the elevator got me to my blessed floor.

If I were to be completely honest with you, which I always am, I'd have to say that: I love first run-ins. I dread them so, but things aren't usually as awkward as I expect. So I prefer to get it over with as soon as possible. I've even had 2 near run-ins with the smelly beard man. I saw him once in Penn Station and once in the subway as he pretended not to notice me. I'm such a big deal that I'm hard to miss, what with all the papa-razzi following and all. Obvi.

Have you had any uber-awkward run-ins? Do tell.

Recycling

I admit that my costume ideas are a little bit lamespice this year. It's all an attempt at being green. Reduce Reuse Recycle = my Halloween motto.

Idea 1- Redo the Facebook costume from 2 years ago.

here we are "updating my profile"

Idea 2- Steal slash recycle my friends' costume idea from 2 years ago and dress as a NYC tourist.

I heart NY t-shirt is a must, plus fanny pack and map. Add sneakers to complete the look.

If I can get some others to join me, we can be a tour group complete with a big red umbrella.

Idea 3- Get inspired by you for a new plan.

I have no picture for this idea. So probs it won't be happening. That's how I roll. Also it's not green to do something new. Everybody knows that.

As evidenced by last year's Halloween posting, I'm kind of a lazy costumer. This is supposed to be a kiddie holiday anyway, right?

Not in NY. Here it is all about the grown-ups getting into some late night tricks and treats.

Do adults dress up where you're from or do you let the kids have all the fun? Do you have a go-to costume?

random

This has absolutely nothing to do with anything.

But I saw it and I thought of you. And that is meaningful, right?

I may now have my costume idea. It would be the scariest costume I've worn in years. Maybe ever. Spooky Snooki has quite a ring to it.

Thoughts on this brilliance?

Safety 1st

Crossing the street can be a very dangerous thing to do.

During my morning commute last week, I witnessed a man walking across the street while a turning SUV sped up as if to hit the pedestrian. It was a very near miss, and the pedestrian was angry. I was angry too. This is New York and there are pedestrians everywhere, so drivers need to pay attention lest they hit one. And on the Upper Eastside, I do not tolerate this sort of behavior. Obvi.

Generally though, when a near-miss happens, Mr. Driver realizes that he nearly killed someone and takes a second to apologize or look embarrassed, or at least has the decency to drive off quickly.

Not this time.

This time, Mr. Driver slowed down to yell at the pedestrian! And as the shocked witness, I can tell you that it was clearly the driver's fault in this instance.

This time, Mr. Driver even pulled over and parked. He was clearly looking for a fight but the victim of his recklessness had already escaped, thank God. Fighting on the UES is base and therefore not tolerated. Unless previously contracted and agreed upon by yours truly, or outside of a bar on 2nd Avenue past 11pm.

As the solid citizen that I am, I noted this A$$hole's license plate so that he can be banned from further UES maniacal antics and banished to Midtown where he belongs. Get this... it was a vanity plate!

It read:

RUDE1

I die.

This is so perfect.

And now you know, if someone has a NY plate that says RUDE1, you should egg his black SUV whilst keeping in mind that Mr. Driver is looking for fights and will most likely try to kill you.

delight

I stumbled upon this photo in my incredible phone (pun intended- it is a Droid Incredible). I snapped it when in NJ with my Mom and sister over Labor Day weekend.

What a warm memory of pretty coffee in a quaint cafe with loving ladies. Simple and simply delightful.

And in 2 weeks I'll be flying to Mexico with these wonder women to sip some more cafe and maybe even a tequila sunrise tambien. I feel carefree just thinking about it, like anything could happen.

What are you looking forward to? Also, I just realized that my last post is about "living in the present" and already my mind is in the future. See how that happens?

This

I've never been a huge country music fan. Admittedly, I get into the poppy sounding stuff. But, for the most part I have no clue what's out there in country-music-ville.

Did you know that Darius Rucker has a new album? Never thinking it was a country sound, I've loved Hootie and the Blowfish for always and forever. Even won tickets from a radio contest to see them in a private(ish) concert a few years ago.

Anywho, I downloaded Darius' new song "This" today and listened to it multiple times.... I'm not saying it is the best song ever or anything, but it spoke to me. And that's what counts.

It has such a message. It hit me and I got the magnitude like woah. Moral of the story: the lyrics are all about how whatever went right in life or wrong in life is what led to this point. I like that.

I'm a huge opponent of the phrase "everything happens for a reason". It is a statement that drives me cra-zy. B-A-N-A-N-A-S. Someday I'll tell you all about it. And I apologize ahead of time for that day. :)

This song, however, is what I think people are trying to say with "everything happens for a reason". That when life happens and things go wrong and big huge moments don't go as planned, hoped, and longed for, we have an opportunity. To grow. To change. To learn and move and pick ourselves up to face another day. And when we do, our lives take a new direction for better or worse. And those new directions lead to this. The now.

I was upset recently because I'd really like to be in a relationship and it just doesn't seem to be working out, nor does it ever work out as planned in my very smart brain. I get so sick of first dates: that nervous uncomfortable feeling, the way I make every goodbye awkward, and how I generally turn out to not like the guy anyway!

I confess that I had a pity-party where I mourned the past and doomed the future. I spilled my guts and my tears with my roomies who helped baby-step me back to reality of life and love, and the life I love.
[aside: maybe I took too many baby-steps, because today I can think of a zillion reasons why I'm happy to be single and not in a relationship. Happy to be in the here and now with me, myself, and I.]

Living in the present moment is practically impossible. I've attempted to do it all my life and still can't seem to stay in today for more than an instant. When I do though, I can be nothing but grateful.

Grateful for my mother.
Grateful for my family and my friends. Who they are and who they have helped me to be.
Grateful for my health and my life.
Grateful for getting past all those terrible days and for the path I took to pass each one by. Whether it be a family emergency, a break-up, a bad haircut, or a pity-party. I'm glad I'm in today rather than those days!

And I know those days will come again. Suffering comes to all.
But for right now I'm grateful.

Pieces of lyrics I liked from "This":
"Maybe it didn't turn out like I planned
Maybe that's why I'm such a lucky man
...
All the doors that I had to close,
All the things I knew but I didn't know
Thank God for all I missed
Cause it led me here to this"

Monday Subway Story

I suppose a lot of you fellow commuters have the day off for Columbus Day. However, I (like Christopher Columbus) came into work today. And the strangest thing happened on the subway. Eerie, really.

Instead of yearning for my bed and wallowing in self-pity slash jealousy on this national holiday, I'm rejoicing in the fact that NO ONE TOUCHED ME on the subway! I mean, there was no butt on butt action, no one's arm against my arm or purse strategically resting on my leg. You could say it was a miracle. You could definitely say that.

[An empty subway car is Urban Legend. This is an optical illusion created for the purposes of exaggeration only. Do not be disturbed. A middle-aged drunk man in a suit is no doubt sleeping under one of the seats.]

Granted, there were enough laborers en route to fill the seats and leave standing-room-only, but that is A-ok with this Uptown Girl. Namely because if I sit for too long during Morning-Commute-StageII of The Sleep Cycle, I'll surely seep back into REM.

It's science. Simple science.

With that in mind, please enjoy this holiday. I thank you for the breathing room this morning. It was special.

photo documentation

Here we have photographic evidence of the events described in the post below. Next time you should come join us in some fabulously fun flirty escapades...

rbar

(aside: rbar is not a fave spot of this Uptown Girl. Great tunes, but there are poles. Poles! How tacky.)

Atlantic Grill

good friends + good food = great times

brush that dirt off my shoulder

I may have told you this before... I'm kind of a big deal you know. Lately I've been busy busy busy with fun, active, and glamorous life pursuits.

More active than ever before in my life:

- hot yoga classes -
- kickball team -
- rollerblading -
- dating -
- running -
- indoor soccer team -

And, of course, dancing. No, not dance classes. Ok I did rock 1 hot Zumba class and will return when my schedule allows. My dance has been in posh bars with my best besties. Rocking out to all sorts of tunes. Last weekend I think I heard Ace of Base played 3-4 times between RBar and Lit Lounge. If you ever go to Lit Lounge, please be advised that they have a great DJ yet hot as Hades temperatures. And I'm not saying hot people. I'm saying sweaty people. Picture that.
Delightful.

All this action has been exhausting. And rewarding. It may be all the endorphins typing, but I'm happier and more at peace than I was in my former sedentary days. Don't worry, I still find the time to sit on the couch and watch DVR'd tv for hours and for going out to eat. Often.

In the glamour department: I ate delish shellfish at Atlantic Grill on Monday night with my roomies and Jenny May of Swede Records (fellow bridesmaid in Liza's upcoming wedding). She was here for the weekend and if I get my way, Jenny and her Swede will be moving to the Upper Eastside come springtime.
Aside: do you know that Jenny has 978 followers. Un-be-liev-a-ble.

Does anyone have a picture of this blogathering?

What have you been up to blogland? I'm so behind at my blog reading!

subway horror story

I stepped onto the subway this morning to a horrifying (yet not uncommon) sight. Picture this. A teenage boy and girl in an intimate embrace. Holding onto each other rather than the bar. And then they made out. Like teenagers in a dark movie theater. Except they were on the train with a myriad of commuters and an Uptown Girl. Hi.

This behavior is not ok.

It is a Monday morning. Were you aware?

I now realize why, when I was in high school, adults on the train hated my friends and me(!). At the time I thought "they" were ageist freaks! Now I know that it is the other way around: teenagers are little psychopaths trying to ruin my Monday. Technically I already knew this tried and true fact, but it seems like fresh information right now.

I will not let this ruin my day. I will move on and forget the inappropriate PDA that started my work-week. I will get a lot of work done. I will persevere. I will pledge to end the week with some PDA of my own.

Why should the teens get to have all the fun?