Of course I said "yes!" [part 1]

My boyfriend -- errrr, my fiance! -- is the most amazing, creative, unique, loyal, playful, inventive, thoughtful, considerate, intelligent, inquisitive, ambitious, talented, hopeful, determined, supportive, sensible, respectful, dedicated, sweet, and handsome man I could have ever imagined I'd meet someday... much less convince to fall in love with me.

Amazing how dreams we might've had at 16, and perhaps almost fully discarded out of disappointment, can actually come true when / where you least expect them.

HOW JIM PROPOSED:

On Friday (6/22/07), he calls me from work asking if there's anything in particular I wanted to do this weekend. I say I'd love to try the free kayaking on the Hudson River down in Hoboken on Sunday, and possibly see the "Chicago" concert Saturday night. He likes the ideas, and just adds that his colleagues want to meet for lunch in NYC on Saturday, since this will be his last week of work.

Saturday morning, he cooks a wonderful breakfast of scrambled eggs & bacon. As we get ready to head into the city, I consider wearing a new dress I just bought, since I rarely wear dresses. Jim smoothly says no, we'll be walking a bit and I should just dress comfortably in shorts & sneakers. Good point. I ask if he'd like me to take my camera, to which he again smartly says nahhh, don't need it. Yeah, too heavy. Lastly, he suggests we take a bottle of water. Good idea.

We catch the bus to NYC. While we chat, I get the sense that Jim is kind of avoiding facing me straight-on. I decide it must be my breath & I should've brushed my teeth again after breakfast! Damn. I don't have gum.

We get to NYC, and instead of walking to Columbus Circle (about 1 mile uptown), Jim suggests we catch the subway to make it there by 1:30pm. On the train, we both see this black young lady with a big tattoo on the front of her thigh, in cursive letters: "Property of Jermaine Webb". We laugh silently to each other, both simultaneously joking that the tattoo should've been on her bum. Good gracious, could we think more alike? We've gotten used to that phenomenon; it happens often.

Jim says his colleagues are probably running late, so we kill time in Borders Bookstore. He says he's heading to the restroom & asks where to find me. I almost always make a bee-line for the True Crime section, but I don't want to get too engrossed, so I tell him I'll be in the Bargain Books section (which is always near the front). A bit uneasy, he tries to get me to give into browsing my usual section (near the back). I'm a bit suspicious, but hey, he's seriously always been 100% honest. Plus, I like surprises -- even though no one has ever really "given" me any sort of surprise (aside from a wrapped present). I get about halfway to the True Crime section when...

"Would Carolyn Eckstein please come to the front desk? Carolyn Eckstein, please come to the front desk!"

Mmmm-hmmm... Curious. OK, I'm intrigued. Is there a small crowd of Jim's family & friends by the doors? Nooooo... Uhh, where's the desk? The store clerk identifies me, smiles big, and says, "This is for you." He hands me an envelope with my name on it (hand-written by Jim), as a female clerk hands me a ziploc baggie of gorp (almonds, raisins & walnuts). I hesitantly smile & take the items, and they both excitedly say, "Have fun! Good luck!" I open the envelope and pull out a printed piece of paper, with the following handwritten message on the outside-flap:

Mija, [I absolutely adore when he calls me by that pet-name!]
If you are reading this, it means I've left the building (with Elvis). I am somewhere in the City and it's your job to find me. Follow the clues and I know I'll see you shortly! Love you!
Love,
me

Type-written on the other side:

Clue #1
Location Clue:
The punchline to this joke is "Practice. Practice. Practice."
What place does this joke refer to?

Clue as to who you will meet:
Little did I know that when I got tickets for Jim to see his favorite Impressionist piece, La Mer by Debussy, that it would be performed by your hometown orchestra. Who am I?
And no, I am not Jean Valjean!

Carnegie Hall! Tout suite!

As a classical pianist since age 5, I always knew that punchline's joke. Jim's ex-girlfriend, Regina (with whom he is still close friends and I've grown to really like as well), used to work for Carnegie Hall and occasionally could get Jim free concert tickets. She got us tickets to see his favorite orchestral piece Oct 5, 2006 -- and it just happened to be performed by the Cleveland Orchestra, which I had sang a couple operas with in high school!

As I scamper out of Columbus Circle, I curiously glance up towards the 3rd level, wondering if Jim is watching me from the enormous windows. Maybe this scavenger hunt will end back up there, where we once had a date early on, doing Sudoku puzzles on the sofa-loungers. I didn't know it yet, but he was up there watching -- hiding behind a trash bin!

I make it to Carnegie Hall and find Regina, casually leaning against the wall, waiting for me. I greet her with a hug, and coyly ask if she has a clue for me... She hands me another envelope which I immediately tear open & read the following typed message:

Clue #2
Location Clue:
What do these things have in common?
Eve
Sir Isaac Newton
The Doctor that's been kept away
Hint: You'll need to go to the closest one of these to your present location. Ask someone for the address or directions if you need to do so. Anyone except the person who gave you this clue!!

Who You'll Meet:
The following music would be in our iPod's playlists:
Great Big Sea
Butch Walker
DaVinci's Notebook
The Soundtrack to "The Lord of the Rings"
Cali

Sooooo..... I immediately know I'm going to find our married friends, Chris & Amy, as the music list immediately tips me off. But where? I was already getting flustered -- partly just from the wonderful idea of this journey that I knew would end with a perfect proposal, and partly because I was overwhelmed at just how much Jim's friends clearly love him, to be willing to help out in such a huge way. I mean, to give up part of your Saturday, and come into the City all the way from Queens for 10 minutes, just to give their friend's girlfriend an envelope?

It reminded me of one of the first impressions I ever had about Jim, from our first date: As I stood there watching all his friends (and fans?) surround us, praising him for how well he had just performed on stage with his band, and how warmly & honestly they all seemed to relate to him, I thought, "Wow, this guy must be a really good person -- look at all these friends who want to be near him & came out to support him, even at a 7:30 early gig..."

All this emotion apparently blurred my intellect, as I desperately looked at Regina, asking, "Which Doctor does he mean?!? He's been kept away? Huh?" Thank goodness for her patience and understanding that I might be a bit off-kilter with this first clue! "C'mon -- blank keeps the doctor away?" she chimed.

Ahh-HA! Chris, at the Apple Store, of course!
He and I are both graphic designers, and "talking shop" to us usually means chatting about Mac software. They're at the cool-looking Apple Store..... that I've never been to!! Ohhh, but I know where it i-is!!! To 5th Ave in front of FAO Schwartz! Vamos!

I'm lightly galloping along 57th St, thankful for the sneakers. It's a breezy 72 degrees, such a beautiful day to be in the City, which I had just gushed about to Jim at Columbus Circle. However, I'm starting to "shfitz", or perspire. And I had just told Jim a couple weeks back that girls want to remember their proposals as them having looked beautiful in the moment, not all sweaty or dirty! But I was worried he had put some sort of deadline timing on each clue, since the first one had "1:30pm" written on the envelope and said "I'll see you shortly!"

I arrive at the Apple Store, but amidst the crowd I can't locate Amy & Chris. I think, they wouldn't meet me inside, right? Wouldn't they be by the front doors? I cautiously head down the glass tower's spiral staircase. I don't want to appear dim, though it's all still exciting. I return upstairs & search all the shaded tables & chairs. Ahh-ha! They're perplexed by how they could've missed spotting me earlier. We greet with hugs, and they hand over an envelope:

Clue #3
Hyper, boundless energy, "talks too fast" are words used to describe me.
If you can't understand what I say, don't worry, Katura will translate for me.
Some people would say that I'm dating Mr. Right,
You and I will soon become family on a cool October night.
Who am I? Come over to my place!!

Jim's cousin, Kristina! I know it as soon as I see "Katura" (Jim's sister, Katie) and then the reference to Mr. Right (Kristina has been dating NY Mets cute phenom, David Wright). Plus, she's one of the only people we know living in Manhattan. But where? I don't know where she lives! I know it's on the East Side, but upper? midtown? I don't even have her phone number, do I?

Something makes me turn the clue over. In the tiniest font-size appears, "P.S. - I'm in your phone". Wow. Jim thought of everything!! I find her entry and press Send with Chris & Amy still there with me. "Your call cannot be completed as dialed." Huh? I try again. Same error. I check the number -- it only has 9 digits (not 10)! But alas, Chris saves the day! He had asked Jim for Kristina's number, just in case. Bloody genius! I call her up & coyly (again) ask her where she lives. She asks if I'm going to catch a taxi, to which I decide sure, why not. I'm still thinking there's a timeframe... Amy & Chris notice and say, I don't think there's a time-limit or that you need to hurry." OK, maybe...

[cont'd in next blog post]

Of course I said "yes!" [part 2]

I walk over to Lexington Ave. & hail a cab down to Kristina's apartment in Murray Hill. I'm half expecting to find Jim's friends & family assembled on her rooftop, this being the final clue. I use the time to powder my nose & cool down in the open window's breeze. I want to burst, tell the driver that I'm about to be proposed to! BUT c'mon, he barely speaks English. He'll probably just nod, whispering to himself, "Crazy nutty American girl."

I call Kristina from the buzzer-door, asking for her apt number. She buzzes me in & I hop into the elevator, breathing deeply. She welcomes me in with such cute cheer, yet so casually. She hugs me, then gasps, "Oh my god! You're shaking!" I guess I was! I was inching into the apartment so cautiously, imagining people might be hiding in the bedroom. Kristina nonchalantly offered me to sit, relax, drink something cold, and freshen up in her bathroom. It only took about 30 minutes, but I calmed down a bit & cooled off. We chatted about everything, from makeup to dating, family, work and graduate school. Oh, and she also played me a voicemail -- which was an audio clue:

Clue #4 (paraphrased)
[Jim's voice] "Hi, honey. This is an audio clue, and it's also the next-to-last clue. See if you recognize these voices....."
[Jasmine's voice, Jim's roommate & band bassist] "Hey, girl! You know who this is? Come meet us where we first met! But where's the food?"
[Jax's voice, Jim's band keyboardist/backup vocals] "Yeah, there's no food in this place, man!"
[Nicole's voice, Jim's band singer] "Hey Carolyn! See you soon! Bye!"
[Jim's voice again] "OK, so you'll probably be getting here around 3pm. Bye!"

Wow. Again. This man knows how to plan! And I already know where this is going to end! So, it's down to Arlene's Grocery, a bar where Jim's band has performed a few times -- and the location where I first met Jim & saw his band perform that very first evening. To the Lower East Side, giddyup! Yalla!

No costly taxi this time; I have time to catch the subway. I ride the 6-train downtown & transfer to the F (after watching 3 D-trains pass, grrr!). I notice a text-message on my cell phone. Jim writes, "If the next people are running late, wait for them." Of course -- musicians, ya know... LOL! I get to Arlene's around 3:15 to find Jax waiting, trying to figure out how to relay the next clue to me. She manages to say, "If Jim were in this area, where would he be?" just as Nicole comes running out of a taxi, waving an envelope & blurting to Jax, "Did I miss it?! Did it already happen?!?" She didn't even recognize me standing there. Ha! We hug & she hands me the envelope. I open it to confirm the clue's answer is what I'm thinking, and it is. Six letters scrambled on six small pieces of paper:

A / A / B / B / D / R

D.B.A. Bar is where we had the actual "first date." We had first met up at Arlene's, and Jim agreed to join me for 1 brief drink at DBA before he had to return for the gig. He & I had walked the few blocks on that hot August day nearly 2 years ago to one of my favorite bars, as it's one of the only places I know that serves unique international beers like my favorite, Aventinus. Curiously, they didn't have it in stock that day, nor did they have Jim's favorite, Fuller's London Porter. So we both enjoyed Guinness -- a sign he might be a keeper! But I digress...

Just then, Jasmine appears with her SUV parked at a failed meter. She asks, "So, you know where you're supposed to go?" I reply, "Definitely! To DBA!" Jas confirms that I'm right, then asks, "So, you know where that is? Because we don't!" So we jump into her car & I direct her to 1st Ave just above 2nd St. Pure serendipity. There's a parking space right out in front.

I walk in, anticipating what's about to happen. I see Kristina through the bar's open window. Then as I step inside, I start recognizing Jim's aunt Terry, and aunt Angie, uncle Dominick, and there's Regina, and Chris & Amy, and Jim's close family-friend Charles & Galit..... I twirl around, having a hard time adjusting from the bright sun outside to the darker light inside, and taking everything in -- but looking for Jim... where is he? There are a couple of bartenders & a few patrons, but I don't see Jim. I'm smiling, trying not to appear "fake surprised" since everyone had to know I knew this was coming. But where's Jim? I turn around, and there he is.....

Down on one knee. He has the pretty curved, velvety red box I remember from the jeweller in his hand. And I think he's trying to say the words, but all I see are the tears welling up in his eyes. It's an instant reaction in me -- I well up with tears, and before he can manage to say anything, I'm incoherently mouthing, "Of course I will!" I just want to put Jim out of his "misery", the anticipation! I know it's not from pain, but the sight instinctively or inherently makes me want to reach out for him & kiss away all those tears.

Looking back now, I really, REALLY wish I wasn't wearing this shirt that makes me look like I'm 12 months pregnant!! Please disregard the overly poofy peasant blouse. I am NOT hiding any secret love-child. I swear.

All that he went through to put this together...!!?!? It simply overwhelms me. The thought, the planning, implementing, asking friends & family to participate (a full month in advance!), remembering the significance of each clue-site, the timing... Didn't I say he is amazing? Not to mention how incredible his family and friends are! He even tried to get my good friend, Michelle, to be there at the proposal -- but Jim & I didn't see each other for 2 weeks before this weekend, and he couldn't get Michelle's phone number until that morning.

Jim already had an Aventinus waiting for me (they had it in stock!) and a Fuller's London Porter for himself. In stock? Kismet! Jim tells everyone about each of the clues, how tricky it was to keep the plans a secret from me, the significance of each stop, including DBA Bar, and even brought the tank-top I wore on that first date. That story deserves a blog-post all its own, but here's the pic:

To cap the perfect evening, we then walk down to Little Italy and are treated to a wonderful dinner at La Mela (a famous Italian restaurant) by Jim's aunts & uncle, cousin Kristina, Chris & Amy. Amy & Chris then treat us to some excellent wine-flights in SoHo & great wine education. Jim definitely got his buzz on that evening! And rightly so, considering all the anxiety & anticipation he had been keeping secret from me for several weeks now!!

The newly engaged couple finish off the perfect weekend by briefly kayaking (for free!) in the Hudson River on Sunday afternoon, enjoying Jim's favorite pepper tuna sushi, and discovering some great homemade ice cream in Jersey City -- with flavors like avocado, green tea, ube, mamey, jackfruit... We had Coconut Almond, Vanilla Peanut Butter & Strawberry Cheesecake. YUM!

As my friendly doorman, Danny, said to us, "Now you'll have to really keep working to top that, for your anniversaries!" And like Jim often (jokingly) laments to me, he's just foolishly "setting the bar higher each time" without thinking of the consequences. Awwww! But you've never disappointed me!!!

And from what I've seen of his loyal friends & family, he has never disappointed them either.

Of course I said "yes!" [video]

Here is a video clip from the actual proposal moment.

No, we're not deaf-mutes. We just have a secret language spoken at such a high frequency that most humans can't hear what we're saying. Just tiny dogs, and a few dolphins.

If you listen carefully, you can hear me sqeak towards the end (at a lower frequency, of course).

Of course I said "yes!" [ring]

.....and now, the engagement RING, of course!!

I designed it, with some guidance from the wonderful jeweller. It's an amethyst (my birthstone), with a unique princess-cut (which is difficult for such a soft, heat-sensitive stone), surrounded by pavé-diamonds on a white gold body.

Bill Maher: The World IS Mel Gibson

Wow... just two weeks since my last post? Not bad...
So, this post is a bit of a political one. It's from Bill Maher, who I don't always agree with -- but here, he's friggen' brilliant. In vino veritas, man.

Bill Maher: The World IS Mel Gibson

I suspect I'll have plenty more to say about Mel Gibson when Real Time returns to HBO on August 25 (PLUG!!!), but in the meantime a couple of thoughts:

As I watch so much of the world ask Israel for restraint in a way no other country would (Can you imagine what Bush would do if a terrorist organization took over Canada and was lobbing missiles into Montana, Maine and Illinois?) - and, by the way, does anyone ever ask Hezbollah for restraint. you know, like, please stop firing your rockets aimed PURPOSEFULLY at civilians? - it strikes me that the world IS Mel Gibson. Most of the time, the anti-semitism is under control, but that demon lives inside and when the moon is full, or there's been enough alcohol consumed, or Israel is forced to kill people in its own defense, then it comes out.

I've heard Mr. Gibson say he's sorry, and that he's wrong, and others say, well, he was drunk, he's got a disease, etc. But my question is, what is the root of this, Mel? I mean, we all say crazy things when we're drunk, and we've all undoubtedly had ugly moments when we're superstressed out and then drunk on top of it, I know I have - but what comes out at that moment isn't a tirade against the Jews. Yes, liquor releases demons, but I want to know why the demon in Mel Gibson is hatred of the Jews to begin with (I know, the father). Why, when Mels's id is released, its about the Jews fucking everything up, just like it was with Hitler. Except Mel Gibson, when his id is in check, I believe, really knows how wrong that is, and how stupid. He, I believe, at least fights with himself about this.

But he'll never win as long as he's so religious, because, I hate to tell you, the disease isn't alcoholism, the disease is religion. But that's another essay.

For now, let me just say again: the world has their simmering hatred of the Jews under check most of the time, but do watch them when they start weaving on PCH.

And Mel, let me remind you: The Jews have not started all the wars in the world. But they have greenlit all the movies.

Israel & Lebanon: one woman's truth

After a long hiatus (of laziness), I'm back. I came across the following via email, and wanted to share it here. Take from it what you will, but keep an open mind. Thanks!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Brigitte Gabriel Speech at Duke University
Remarks of Brigitte Gabriel, delivered at the Duke University Counter Terrorism Speak-Out

I'm proud and honoured to stand here today, as a Lebanese speaking for Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East. As someone who was raised in an Arabic country, I want to give you a glimpse into the heart of the Arabic world.

I was raised in Lebanon, where I was taught that the Jews were evil, Israel was the devil, and the only time we will have peace in the Middle East is when we kill all the Jews and drive them into the sea.

When the Moslems and Palestinians declared Jihad on the Christians in 1975, they started massacring the Christians, city after city. I ended up living in a bomb shelter underground from age 10 to 17, without electricity, eating grass to live, and crawling under sniper bullets to a spring to get water.

It was Israel who came to help the Christians in Lebanon. My mother was wounded by a Moslem's shell, and was taken into an Israeli hospital for treatment. When we entered the emergency room, I was shocked at what I saw. There were hundreds of people wounded, Moslems, Palestinians, Christians, Lebanese, and Israeli soldiers lying on the floor. The doctors treated everyone according to their injury. They treated my mother before they treated the Israeli soldier lying next to her. They didn't see religion, they didn't see political affiliation, they saw people in need and they helped. For the first time in my life I experienced a human quality that I know my culture would not have shown to their enemy. I experienced the values of the Israelis, who were able to love their enemy in their most trying moments.

I spent 22 days at that hospital. Those days changed my life and the way I believe information, the way I listen to the radio or to television. I realized I was sold a fabricated lie by my government, about the Jews and Israel, that was so far from reality. I knew for fact that, if I was a Jew standing in an Arab hospital, I would be lynched and thrown over to the grounds, as shouts of joy of Allah Akbar, God is great, would echo through the hospital and the surrounding streets.

I became friends with the families of the Israeli wounded soldiers: one in particular Rina, her only child was wounded in his eyes. One day I was visiting with her, and the Israeli army band came to play national songs to lift the spirits of the wounded soldiers. As they surrounded his bed playing a song about Jerusalem, Rina and I started crying. I felt out of place and started waking out of the room, and this mother holds my hand and pulls me back in without even looking at me. She holds me crying and says: "it is not your fault". We just stood there crying, holding each other's hands.What a contrast between her, a mother looking at her deformed 19 year old only child, and still able to love me the enemy, and between a Moslem mother who sends her son to blow himself up to smithereens just to kill a few Jews or Christians.

The difference between the Arabic world and Israel is a difference in values and character. It's barbarism versus civilization. It's democracy versus dictatorship. It's goodness versus evil.

Once upon a time, there was a special place in the lowest depths of hell for anyone who would intentionally murder a child. Now, the intentional murder of Israeli children is legitimized as Palestinian "armed struggle". However, once such behaviour is legitimized against Israel, it is legitimized every where in the world, constrained by nothing more than the subjective belief of people who would wrap themselves in dynamite and nails for the purpose of killing children in the name of god. Because the Palestinians have been encouraged to believe that murdering innocent Israeli civilians is a legitimate tactic for advancing their cause, the whole world now suffers from a plague of terrorism, from Nairobi to New York, from Moscow to Madrid, from Bali to Beslan.

They blame suicide bombing on "desperation of occupation". Let me tell you the truth. The first major terror bombing committed by Arabs against the Jewish state occurred ten weeks before Israel even became independent. On Sunday morning, February 22, 1948, in anticipation of Israel 's independence, a triple truck bomb was detonated by Arab terrorists on Ben Yehuda Street, in what was then the Jewish section of Jerusalem. Fifty-four people were killed, and hundreds were wounded. Thus, it is obvious that Arab terrorism is caused not by the "desperation" of "occupation", but by the VERY THOUGHT of a Jewish state.

So many times in history in the last 100 years, citizens have stood by and done nothing, allowing evil to prevail. As America stood up against and defeated communism, now it is time to stand up against the terror of religious bigotry and intolerance. It's time to all stand up, and support and defend the state of Israel, which is the front line of the war against terrorism.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
For even more of her remarks, read her speech at Columbia University on "Indoctrination in the Arab World and Propaganda Advocacy in America’s University Classrooms".

Blizzard 2006

Back in February, we had an insane blizzard that dropped a record-breaking 27 inches of snow here in New York City. Interestingly, an acquaintance from Israel was staying with me for a few days, and coincidentally had her return-flight scheduled that Sunday afternoon -- the heart of the blizzard! Her airline, El Al, whom we couldn't reach until after 9am anyway, of course wasn't announcing any departure delays. So, off we trudged to JFK from my warm abode in NJ. The local news cautioned viewers to stay inside, not attempt to drive unless absolutely necessary.

My car sits in a huge outdoor parking garage, one level down below (but still in open-air since we're situated on a cliffside). I drove my car through the gate, and gunned the gas up the curved driveway's hill. Alas, I made it to the top -- and then got STUCK. At this juncture is not only the entrance I just came up from but also the ground-level parking lot's entrance and the entrance-drive from the street, forming a flat area open to the elements, creating an enormous snow-drift. Everytime I rocked backwards, shifted & tried to gun my car forward, I'd swivel a few more degrees to the left -- until I was a full 90-degrees pointing the wrong way for my apt building's front doors, where my friend was patiently waiting with her luggage.

This went on for at least 20 minutes.

I called the front desk concierge, wondering if they'd seen me on the cameras. Meanwhile, a maintenance worker, slightly amused by my plight, continued to shovel an area of the driveway several yards away. I asked Oscar if they could send out someone from staff to simply push while I gun the gas. He said OK. I wait, keep rocking back & forth, not making any progress. 7 minutes pass. I call Oscar - "Is no one coming out to help me?" His response? "They say no, they won't help. Too dangerous." I'm bewildered. He puts the building manager on the line. I explain that I'm no longer on the driveway's hill, so no one will get "crushed" or anything. I simply need some muscle. She says, "We'll see what we can do."

Meanwhile, I'm now blocking all entrances, including a jeep coming in from the deserted street. Two young guys jump out, ask if I need some help. I tell them of my building staff denying me help, and they suggest we attach a chain to my front bumper. I say, "All I need is a simple push!"

They say ok, and voila! Who woulda thunk it? A fricken' simple push, man! That's all I needed! And hell, that's all I've been asking for for over 30 minutes now! Don't mess with a girl from Ohio! I mean, I know snow! Good lord! Is it so hard for people to extend themselves just a tiny bit, to help out a stranded soul?

For a little comic relief, the following few seconds...
I didn't want to lose momentum or get stuck again, so I rolled down my window as I drove forward to my building's front doors, waving my hand out to thank the kind fellas that helped me out. A maintenance guy seemed to appear from nowhere, snowblower in hand. Serendipity: he propelled a whole load of snow smack dab in my face, through the open window. Wap! And no apology! All I could do was laugh. What more, God, what more?

The rest of the trek was uneventful, for the most part. We loaded up her luggage, and drove the rest of the hill up to the traffic light. Wouldn'tchya know it, maintenance hadn't gotten around yet to shoveling here either! I got stuck again. But five minutes or so of strategic rocking got us over the hump, and away we went, to JFK airport 20 miles away.

Here I am, relieved to get us there in one piece! (...and maybe excited cuz this means i can now head over to my boyfriend's to burrow in for the rest of the weekend, since there's no way I could make it back down my garage's driveway without slamming into the brick wall on the curve... lord knows they probably hadn't salted it until Monday, I'm sure!)

Why can't blizzards happen on Sunday nights? Mondays trudging through the snow to get to work SUCK.

One of the cutest kids ever!

I had some free time today, so after wondering what I should post after yet another long delay since my last entry, I decided to dedicate this one to my nephew, Eitan. He's my sister's little boy. His birthday was back in October, and we had an awesome time!

Can you honestly say you've ever seen a cuter kid? A more handsome fella? No way! So, the beer bottle is a bit distracting, considering this is a 2-year old's birthday party! But he'll be following in his daddy's footsteps soon enough, with a fervent appreciation of hops.

"Thanks, uncle Ricky, for the wicked cool new ride!" Yessiree, that's an official John Deere 2-speed & reverse Power-pull Tractor and Cart.


Eitan and his mommy (my sis) love that new toy, even if he is too afraid to push on the gas pedal! In this photo, you can see the very special smile he only seems to give me -- nose all scrunched up, smiling high up to his gums -- she hasn't seen him really do this sort of smile for anyone else. Awwww! :-)



Cake for breakfast...



...and some old fashioned choo-choo train fun all morning long!

Why so busy?

So, I wanted to pre-date this entry because I'm such a loser! Yes, February has come & nearly gone already, and I've only managed to post one measly blog entry. Pathetic. I know. Is there nothing but a black hole between my ears? No, I'm pretty sure I do actually have thoughts - maybe as much as one or two a day, man.

This is turning into a confessional, huh? Forgive me father, for I have sinned. It's been over 3 weeks since my last confession. Well, OK - it wasn't any sort of real 'confession', nothing juicy at least. Just a list of stuff that sucks. And anyway, I'm Jewish! We don't confess. We just kvetch, bargain-shop & eat. (OK, well, not me really, since I'm far from your average jewish-american gal, I hate complainers, and I'm usually a healthy eater. But I do love to bargain-shop. That stereotype is definitely true.)

So, what's been going on? Too much. And yet, I still feel like the laziest lump half the time. There's so much I want to do - and sometimes I feel so accomplished - but most of the time I just wish for more time. They just released another study about how we Americans are such a workaholic culture, that we don't get nearly enough sleep. And when you don't get at least 8 hours, everything in your life suffers. But what a waste! To spend 1/3 of your life sleeping? I mean, don't get me wrong -- I looooove me some sleep! But if I could operate on or re-awaken via a couple Duracell that I just pop in whenever I'm feeling ragged, I'd invest my life savings behind a miracle product like that!

OK - yes, I totally realized as soon as I got to the battery part of that sentence that it could all so easily go straight into the gutter. But I refrained. Sometimes I'm such a dorky 13-year old boy.

So, I'll end this pointless post with yet another list - this time, just some stuff I need to get around to writing about, the things that have been keeping my life so busy...

1. (Hoping to) pursue a masters in Forensic Psychology this fall
2. Taking undergrad pre-req psych classes in the meantime at Community College (woo-hoo! Go HCCC!)
3. My consulting work - not the boring "what I do", but the amusingly stupid, silly & juicy stories about clients and colleagues
4. My recent birthday celebration!
5. Recording the music that's been locked inside my head for over a decade
6. Kickboxing, losing weight, and learning to love all my "wobbly bits" (thank you, Bridget Jones)
7. My much-loved, eclectic friends from every corner of the globe
8. Family - the good, the bad, the ugly, and the fall-on-my-ass funny (when all you can do is laugh)
9. My boyfriend's band, Excuse Me - getting to live vicariously (at least for now) through his gigs
10. Seeking, doubting, pursuing, and finally finding love - the kind that poets & songwriters describe so sappily, and you finally can comprehend just what they were talking about all along... Yes - I now am a cheesy, converted & certifiable (in more ways than one) believer!

Things That Suck (#1)

A lot of time has passed since my last post, and much has happened in that time. I think I need to take 'baby steps' in this new blogging hobby, just posting little tidbits when an opportunity arises, instead of always 'planning' topics I just keep seeming to put off.

So, my brief post for today...
Things that suck (as in "Man, how the hell can gas stations sell gas cheaper heading into the Holland Tunnel than those located 1 block away, driving out of the tunnel? NJ sucks, man." -- and yes, I plan on posting "Top Ten Reasons Why NJ Sucks" soon, possibly followed by "Reasons Why NJ Ain't All THAT Bad"...)

1. One name: Dubya.
2. Insane price of textbooks college folks must buy (who, logic would suggest, generally aren't that well off - else, they wouldn't be pursuing a degree, but rather earning some dough)
3. Commuting for more than 40 minutes (unless it's a simple, straight commute in which you can read, work, sleep...).
4. When your supermarket hasn't restocked yet, and the only milk carton you can find says it'll expire / go bad in 2 days.
5. Potholes you can't avoid b/c of parked cars on both sides.
6. Carson Daly & Ryan Seacrest's hosting skills.
7. Wedgies.
8. How a Cinnabon never tastes as good as it smells.
9. Frizzy hair; being a slave to my salon's magic serum.
10. Health insurance plans that make me get a stupid referral slip from my doctor every stinkin' time I want to see a 'specialist' (translation: ANY doctor that isn't her). Ummm, am I still in 2nd grade? Will I need a hall pass to piss, too?
11. The asian girl who rode my subway this morning -- with large Louis Vuitton purse & Henry Bendel bag in hand, 7-diamond engagement ring on. Awww, honey... What -- did Jeeves catch the flu & couldn't pull the limo around today?
12. Sleep deprivation.
13. People who insist on talking super-loud on their cell phone during my bus ride home, or actually seem annoyed you want to sit with them. Did you honestly think you'd get to keep taking up 2 seats while ten folks stand???
14. Air-brushed, super-long, curved, acrylic / artificial fingernails (though it is funny watching the beeyatches struggle to swipe their Metrocard, pick up loose change, scratch an itchy eye...)
15. Sitting in one position so long that when you try to get up, it takes your butt at least 10 seconds to re-adjust its muscles so you don't scream out in pain.

Get fired - or at least get the wisdom

OK, kiddies... It's been too many moons since I last posted (forgive me, father, for I have sinned... and it was grrrreat! j/k), but I just didn't feel inspired enough about anything to commit to paper - or disk space. It's not like my mind has been an empty bucket or anything - I have been inspired, but it usually involves or references others, and I don't exactly feel right broadcasting my thoughts when it could embarrass or hurt someone I care about. Perhaps I'll grow into this more confidently soon...

Anyway, I came across a short essay that really speaks to one aspect of "where I am" right now in my life. I was furloughed (translation: you're fired. But we hope once we assholes find more money that you'll graciously forgive us & come back! Please, come back!) from my job of 7 yrs in Sept '03. And let me tell you - best thing to ever happen to my career (and maybe even my social life?).The challenge now is to find & surround yourself w/ others who share that same "place" as you, or are in a place you aspire to reach. I hope I can be a positive influence on others reaching this goal -- b/c it's a nice place to be, at least for now, and as long as I can enjoy sharing it w/ someone else...

In an interview in More magazine (Dec/Jan 2005), former 60 Minutes producer Mary Mapes discusses what she learned from being fired.

"No job will ever snuggle me in bed, stand with me beside my mother's casket, help me raise my child or love me when I am at my worst. Only my husband can do that.

"No job will ever call for me urgently during a thunderstorm, write me a carefully scrawled Mother's Day card or tell me he wants to marry me when he grows up. Only my son can do that."

Those are wonderful ideas, and I really hope Ms. Mapes knew them before she was fired. I like to believe that we all recognize that our jobs are not our essence. I've yet to read an obituary where the "Survived by" includes spouse, children and their beloved corporation. We all know it's not real, even if we don't put it into words. We all intuitively recognize the truth of Ms. Mapes' statements.

But acknowledging that truth and living in a way that exemplifies it are two dramatically different things.

I don't know Mary Mapes. Perhaps she crafted her life in such a way that it reflected this wisdom. Or perhaps she was caught up in the excitement of her job - the travel, the power, the important issues. Perhaps there was very little time to look at that Mother's Day card. Maybe she found the perfect balance. I don't know. But I do know that most of us don't. Many people - men & women - put their careers first, no matter what they say. Just check the number of hrs worked. Listen to their conversations. Observe their social relationships. Many people put much more time & energy into doing their job well than they do into their marriages or children. And it exacts a cost.

Although being fired can have serious financial consequences and be a tremendous blow to our self-esteem, it is also an opportunity to re-evaluate and start anew.

Did I really stay focused on my goals? Did I create the kind of work-family balance I desire - the kind I promised myself I would? Am I focused on the most important relationships?

I'm not advocating that we all get fired! I'd like to learn the lesson without that pain. We need to recognize and internalize the idea that even the most meaningful job is just that, a job. We need to take more pleasure in the simple gifts and accomplishments. We need to maintain perspective that working 24/6 doesn't usually allow us.

We need to go out and throw the football with our children. We need to go for a walk in the park with our spouse. We need to put our work in perspective, and hopefully we won't be forced to hear those ominous Donald Trump-ian words, "You're Fired."

"Alone"

This is a poem I wrote over 10 years ago, but it seems somewhat fitting at this particular moment - albeit, a bit overly dramatic. Let's just say I'm glad the holidays are finally over. It's just been a little bit too quiet in my apartment & rainy outside for my liking.

There is a feeling

you will never understand

until that moment when

it creeps upon you,

slowly manifesting itself

into every vein of your body.

"Loneliness" is not its name,

for the torturesome blow it deals you

bruises far darker,

cuts far deeper, and

leaves you far more empty.

Alone.

A sensation you feel

in your nerves

in your heart

in your tears.

Your chest, weighted down

from the heavy burden;

Your arms, hang level with your knees

because they have

no body

to wrap around.

It is the sense that

God

doesn't believe you are

worthy anymore

and refuses to admit

your existence.

Celebrity love match

Took a silly quiz on ivillage, passing time waiting for someone to call...

Who's Your Celebrity Love Match?

The Artful Loner: Johnny Depp

You've always been a fan of Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights: the rugged and surly loner who wanders the moors, looking for his one true love. In this case, you've found him: tall, dark, and intense, scribbling stanzas of poetry on a coffeehouse napkin. Your relationship with such a quiet genius will never be typical, and it's always wonderful to feel like someone's muse. But not every woman can tolerate this solitary man's penchant for moodiness and antisocial behavior. Even though you may be joined at the hip, you'll never unravel all of his mysteries.

Other matches: Harrison Ford, Ethan Hawke, Joaquin Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, Prince

What?!!? No Edward Norton? Robert Downey Jr? Stupid quizzes...

Quotes for the day

It's Christmas Day! And do you know what that means? Nothing! Yup, boring day in bed watching senseless TV or, if lucky, a few good DVDs -- at least that's what it means to the good little jewish girls of the world.

So, I decided to rummage through a few old things. Had a mini emotional breakdown reading a few old letters from an ex I never realized at the time had honestly given me his entire heart (and I sooo F'd that one up); and then came across a few scribbles from high school. Whenever class grew boring or a teacher said something remarkably stupid yet profound, I'd scribble down 1-liners. Here's a few from my '92 datebook (hope to find stuff from college soon - I had some really good ones then!)...

When you reach for a star, there's a long way to fall.
Life works in all gears -- except reverse.
Men are the thorns that pierce the soul.
Death is just God's way of saying, " Hey! You're not alive anymore!" (a teacher honestly said that)
Recognize and savor the comedy of drama & drama of comedy.
Why should we sip from the teacup when we can drink from the river?
Jealousy symbolizes the bond two people share by magnifying their differences. (I'm not too sure about that one)
Few make it to the green, while others fight their entire lives out of the sandtraps.
Performing artists are flawed gems in the crown of life. (huh?)
Love... it's free, but not always accessible.
No one wants to go to a restaurant that has no cars parked outside. (Oh, soooo true. And wisdom that can be applied to other aspects of life, even dating...)

And my favorite (of the bunch):

If you fill your heart with hope, there won't be room for hurt.

Then, there are the philosophies, or more aptly, truths, more so than merely 'quotables'...

Change is the only constant in the universe.

Men come to love the women they're attracted to, while women become attracted to the men they love. (Words ain't never been spoken more true!)

D-d-d-d-dat's all, folks!

Why are these pig smiling?

I snapped this photo in Barcelona.

Do they normally look like that when they die, or did the butcher do this on purpose?

Sick sense of humor.

Spain - March '05 (part tres)

Here's the final email I sent to my family while on vacation alone in Spain this past March (read parts uno & dos before continuing - I added a few photos, so check them out)...

Sent: Monday, Mar 14, 2005 5:00 PM
Subject: Greetings from (my final day in) Barcelona!

Hola, at last!
My 'vacation' is nearing its end, as I fly back home tomorrow morning w/ a brief stop in Madrid. Yesterday was my 2nd day of the tour bus deal I purchased. They drive you around on 2 different routes (you can hop on & off), and starting March 18 (unfortunately) they add a 3rd route. So, Saturday I did the northern route, as prev. mentioned -- saw Park Guell (park way uphill designed by Gaudi - lots of mosaic pieces & stone shapes)...

...La Sagrada Familia (enormous cathedral originally started by Gaudi in 1896? and being continued today & for the next 20 years -- climbed 706 steps b/c the elevator was closed [arrived late], then had to descend another 706 steps!), and a few stops in between.

Then on Sunday, did the southern route, stopping at Joan Miro museum, the Olympic ring / park, and a few stops in between. I also bought a ticket to a concert in the Palau de la Musica (near my apt) to see the European Union orchestra performing Bach, Haydn & Mozart. If you can imagine or believe, I think I've been averaging 10-18 miles a day, considering I'm on my feet (and most of the time walking) for at least 8 hours each day... Aside from the chocolate croissants (!), at least can't say I haven't been getting my exercise!!

Took a really HOT bath last night, for my feet. I definitely think there is some conspiracy on Sunday mornings with the hot water. Just like last week when mom was still w/ me in Seville, I had NO hot water - not even warm! just freeeezing cold - in the morning. There surely is some sort of nationwide Spanish conspiracy going on, or at least a shortage on the church morning. And then the shower curtain fell down. There's nowhere to hang a wet towel, and the maid has never entered my room (and I believe, never even the apt), so I tried slinging it over the shower curtain's rod. Mistake. Decided to try putting it back up this morning (successfully, thank goodness), since I couldn't manage the IKEA-thing w/o making lots of screeching noise. Didn't want the sewage smell [from their newly installed bidets] & fallen shower-curtain rod to really give me away as the worst hotel guest ever...

Anyway, today (Monday) was quite the good day. I slept in a bit, sort of - woke up as usual around 7am, but kept deciding to go back to sleep for another 20 minutes. Finally got out of bed around 10:30, and got ready for my day out. Eduardo (the handsome charmer who has been emailing from the B&B business) stopped by in response to my most recent email. He believes, it turns out, that the sewage smell is from the bidet in each of the bathrooms, since they've never been used, and any water in the pipe's curve is just sitting there, sending gross smells up to us. Thank goodness - I was afraid they'd think my emailed compaints were a mask for my own smelliness.

I told Eduardo I feel like I'm constantly complaining in these emails, and that I don't usually (considering how low-maintenance I am), but that other future guests won't be as such. He said he appreciated all the 'complaints' and considers them as 'advice', that he wants me to continue & feel free to tell him everything I suggest. Hmmm, I hope that isn't just European BS b/c there's a lot more I could suggest. I at least got to ask about the non-existent maid, and he said they only do the common areas (kitchen, living room) unless you specifically request cleaning your area. Wha...? Insane. Didn't tell him about the shower curtain rod, but got the point across by raising issue about there being nowhere to hang the wet towel, that w/o maids we need more towels, considering we've been using the SAME towels for 5 days w/ nowhere to hang them when they're wet, etc. Plus, no dishwashing soap. We're just 'dry-wiping' them. Oy. And oy again.

Now, back to the good day. Stopped by Bijou Brigitte (that jewelry store, sis), and bought a necklace & headband. They even had earrings to match the ('lifesavers') necklace I bought w/ you, but decided I didn't want to look like a 50-year old lady or a Christmas tree. Then I walked up to a Gaudi building "Batllo House". Viewing the main floor, attics & chimneys was 16€, which is rather steep (though I had a 20% discount coupon from the tour bus). I decided to go ahead - and let me tell you, WELL WORTH IT. Amazing things! I want my house built just like it, one day when I 'make it big'. Couldn't stop taking pictures. Then walked over to the other Gaudi building nearby, but decided only to take photos from outside, and check out the gift shop to see postcards or books with photos of the inside to see what I was missing. Another definite must-see next time, or at least to buy a book on eBay with lots of pictures...

I started walking back & found a sort of artisan mall, even though this was still the rather more expensive shopping area of town. After some window shopping, decided to stop in a jewelry/beauty product (like 'Crabtree & Evelyn' type of stuff) store. Let me tell you, [sister], you'd have a ball with this stuff, I think. I ended up loving a LOT of stuff but felt it was all too expensive. I chose to walk away & think about it. After 20 minutes I decided it'd be one of those things I'd really regret not buying, so I went back. The lady (Monica) & I had chatted before, and we continued quite a lot more - she ended up saying if I'd come in earlier in my trip, we would've gone out for drinks. She's originally from Belgium, and her husband & his family are originally from Lodz, Poland! His name is Cornblum - sound familiar maybe, DAD? [my dad's birthplace] She said he also grew up there around WWII. She only had 2 lines of jewelry in the store - PILGRIM (www.pilgrim.dk) and an Israeli line (which I recognized & know is really huge in Israel right now), Michael Negrin, I think. So, I bought a ring (27€) & bracelet (39€), though I would've bought more if the Euro/dollar ratio wasn't so bad.

I ended the evening by taking the subway to Barceloneta, an area known for its seafood restaurants, splurged a tiny bit on a full dinner, and found a nice cafe w/ 1 computer for internet. Heading home soon (in cab, no doubt - I'm ready to put my feet in casts) to pack & hopefully (!) wake up in time for my flight early tomorrow.

Hope you found some amusement from my trials & tribulations once again. I'm sure there's lots more funny to write, but I'll keep some embarassments to myself... Love,
- me

Spain - March '05 (part dos)

Continued from previous blog post: part uno...

Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 3:14 PM

Subject: RE: Greetings from Barcelona!

I´ve had a lovely day, really, but seriously cannot move my feet another inch, and may have done serious damage. Nawwww, just kidding (I hope...), but damn do my dogs bark! They keep cramping, especially when I sit for a few minutes & then start walking again. I have to stop & stretch my SHINS, if you can believe that. Oh, and [sister] - that problem you, me & [your friend] mentioned briefly on the first day -- you know, when she was pregnant? -- well, I think I´m having a serious medical issue with that. It happened again -- maybe 2 minutes warning -- and then I had to go all the way back home b/c of it, right in the middle of the tour-bus´ northern route. I should see a doctor when I return. Oy. Don´t know about adding that little tidbit in the travel book...

Will write more tomorrow (monday) - done everything I´ve really wanted to do / see, except 1 Gaudi house, which I´ll see tomorrow. Just relaxing & walking (ugghhhh.) more around the city, maybe a little shopping. Love,
- me

A bit of clarification: the embarrassing "thing" that happened? Yup. Peed my pants. I admit it. Hello?!! Why is it I can go a full day at work & even a few hours into the evening without so much as a teeny tiny tinkle, or even on a 12+ hour flight to Israel not get up from my seat even once -- and yet, the urge hits harder & faster than a Mack truck on the NJ Turnpike when I'm in a foreign country on a bus with no toilet on board and it's officially "siesta", when most every store & restaurant has closed for a couple hours?!?! OK, so that day was probably the one instance I was relieved (no pun intended) to be travelling by myself.

Oh, and my sister's compassionate response?

Two words -- Kegel exercises.

Spain - March '05 (part uno)

I was looking back at some old emails, and came across a few funny ones I had sent to my family while I was travelling in Spain this past March. My sister celebrated her 5th-year anniversary in Sevilla at the same hotel that hosted their wedding. It was basically an excuse for a fun weekend of partying w/ 20 friends in Europe. I continued by myself to Cordoba, Madrid and Barcelona. It was a great trip, for the most part, but I decided from this vacation in particular that it'd be the last time I travel alone - at least, for a while. It's just not as fun, or safe for a girl alone, for that matter.

So, when I wrote these emails - which was tough enough just finding an internet connection - my family thought some parts were so funny, I should make my trips more of a business by writing humorous travel books. Now, I don't know if they were that good, but at least they amused the family... So here I share my embarrassing tribulations for your amusement. Enjoy!

Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 5:12 PM
Subject: Greetings from Barcelona!

Oy!

It´s been an overcast, freezing, and freezing-cold-rainy day (9 degree C? Felt like 0.). Arrrgghhh! Kind of speaks to the kind of chaos I´ve had to deal with my B&B situation. It started with me emailing to notify them of my flight arrival info 2 days before going to Barcelona, since they mentioned in the reservation to contact them w/ that info. The next day (on which I didn´t check email) they responded, saying they had a problem w/ my reservation, changing my location, but that I´d have a double en-suite room w/ full bath and kitchen & living room, which was an upgrade from my orig reservation. Thank goodness I was able to check email a few min before my flight from Madrid b/c of the new B&B address...

I get to Barcelona, and no one is there to greet me outside the apt. The store next door won´t let me use their phone, and it´s already 30 min. past the time I said I´d arrive. I find a payphone, call, re-call, re-call, etc. I get ¨try again later¨, then busy signal, then busy again, then finally get through. At this point I'm out of change. A woman is sort of yelling in English,¨I´m coming - my cell phone battery is about to die, but I´m on my way!¨ So I say I´ll be waiting. Another 20 min passes and I´m nearly peeing my pants. Seriously. And all the while, I´m thinking, [my sister] would be laughing at me right now. I don´t know, just feel like it´d be a judgement thing. Anyway, I´m also thinking all the while, if they ever arrive, how would [my sister's husband] handle this - meaning, effectively make them feel like crap w/o actually sounding mad or yelling. Well, all I could manage at this point was to pretty much start crying. I had to pee, after all! I thought, could I find a hotel that wouldn´t charge 200 Euros at this late hour? I couldn't even find a bathroom!

Anyway, a guy finally shows up almost 1 hour late - Eduardo - extremely (I mean damn!) handsome, and extremely embarrassed & apologetic. He doesn´t have the keys, and can´t reach the girl who does. So, long story short, he brings me up to an apt very similar, but is being worked on by the handyman. Apt looks like straight out of IKEA (and actually is...). Very nice, interesting. Says we´ll put you up here for the night. I say, I really don´t want to have to switch over again (keeping [my brother-in-law's] ¨stick-to-it-tiveness¨ in my head), and I also ask about the en-suite, since he´s showing me the room that has to share a bathroom w/ another room. I told him about the email I got, and finally convinced him. He puts me there, gives me keys, shows me on my map stuff to see & avoid for the next day, etc. and leaves. I decide not to go out for dinner, to just get into bed & read book. I´m in pajamas... and the girl rings the bell (she´s with the handsome fella), and chats me up about the "mix-up", tries to get me to agree to move again tomorrow, but I'm not budging. I'm tired & embarrassingly in my PJs, and they left me out in the cold, dark & strange city all by myself for nearly one hour w/ suitcases in hand on the street, no bathroom in site... very unprofessional for a B&B. She's a bit more stubborn than Eduardo, but the facts convince her.

Anyway, lovely room, and I start trying to go to sleep - and I hear keys in the door. So, turns out other guests (I met them this evening - nice couple from Germany) are put in one of the shared-bathroom rooms. Weird, no? And the guy opens my bedroom door & quickly closes it when he realizes he sees me in bed!

So, this evening I finally check my email, and find that either Eduardo or Paula (the girl) have written a brief ¨hope you are really enjoying the place¨ email - no other words. And I respond with a lot of thanks (in preparation for my soft-tone tirade about to come...). I re-iterate why they need locks on the bedroom doors - not just the surprise stranger last night, but also today I found the apt door open & lights on, but no one inside. Just open there for anyone to come in & steal stuff. I also mentioned the funny smell in my bedroom & bathroom (I think I just realized that what I believe is probably glue or some other handyman´s material smells strangely similar to the seafood at the open-air market).

Stop laughing at me, [sister]. This didn´t happen to me b/c I´m cheap! Yes, I found them on RatesToGo, but they had good reviews & great photos. And the 2 other places I stayed at turned out more or less OK. This apt IS beautiful. The young folks running the business are IDIOTS. Not everyone is rich, my dear, and some of us have to save up for a year in Israel, possibly unemployed. So, gggrrrrrrrrr to you!!! ;-)

I´m hoping tomorrow is SUNNY. Enough gloom & freeeeeeezing!! I´m going to buy the 2-day tour bus pass, since it takes you everywhere, practically, for 21 Euro. That´ll allow me to do all the tour stuff Sat & Sun (want to see all the Gaudi stuff), and leave Monday for shopping & relaxing (my feet are dead!! muscle spasms daily). I walked a lot today, down to the harbor & up through some of the Barrio Gotic. The old bullring doesn´t seem to even have off-season tours, unfortunately. I walked there (2 mi each way) b/c the tour bus doesn´t have it on its path. I also went to the Picasso museum - I thought it was great - a lot of his stuff from age 14-19 (though they don´t let you take photos like they do in the Prado Museum, those meanies...).

OK, enough finally!! Hope you enjoyed my trials & tribulations. I´ll need a foot-spa soak when I return, for sure. Love,
- me