yum, yum give me some!

it's good to have friends...it's even better when your friends are great company...an added bonus if your friends are amazing in the kitchen. i had the pleasure of having homemade, smoked pork butt, collard greens, and beans...the corn bread looked amazing, but with my recent gluten free diet, i had to pass. i HAD to showcase all of the deliciousness.

this pork was heaven. so delicious. the collard greens slightly spicy, the beans--so tender...seconds were had by all.

i also received some helpful dating advice from one of my favorite couples. best to learn over a fantastic meal and a nice bottle of wine.

it also reminded me how much i love to cook. i have to get back to that. dinner party, anyone?

march is going to be a good month...let's say it together!

sunset in brooklyn

um...more snow?

i really don't know what to say...more snow? i know, i know...it's pretty...it's lovely...now where the hell is spring?!?

snowy weather makes me want to drink hot toddies and hot toddies make me want to eat foods that i shouldn't. why, oh, why is it still snowing?

dana tried to convince me of its beauty yesterday. i decided not adopt her positive outlook. instead, i ate an entire package of chicken sausage...ouch, coconut milk ice cream, yum and ouch...and popcorn for breakfast.

please make the snow stop so my waistline will as well.

today's image comes from the ball field off of hudson on the way to work. i always love the way it looks in the snow.

stay warm this weekend...i hear another storm is coming on tuesday. hide the junk food!

trudge

so, i am ready for spring...there, i said it. usually, i adore the snow...can't get enough of it. this year i have had it. i am tired of looking at it. the sky matching the sidewalk is getting incredibly depressing.

i was desperate to see something vibrant on my slide to work this morning. between this killer sinus infection and just having a bad couple of weeks, i knew if i saw something it would at least curl my smile a little. sure enough Magnolia Florist pulled through.

i think they must be the best florist in the city...they have a way about them and their flowers. in the spring they often have these amazing lavender plants out on the street. i like to rub my hand over them. i love walking by their window and mugi loves walking by Zoomies, right next store. I think it's her favorite dog store in the village. I know it's mine. maybe she has a crush on shu shu the store yorkie...pics to come on her.

here you go...a view from my office and Magnolia's cheerful window. now, snow, snow go away!

oh, and i am totally taking those antibiotics...

the little things

so, i admit yesterday i was not so happy. it had been a tough day and i was feeling under the weather. i stayed home from work today and went to the doctor. the doctor that some like to refer to as my "hippie doctor." she's a real doctor. she just tries to avoid medication unless absolutely necessary. i kind of agree...so, don't ask me for my doctor's name if you want drugs. if you go in wanting drugs she will most likely tell you to take some fish oil and drink water...and when you feel really crappy and you just want your mom to take care of you...not so much.

i have a sinus infection and she told me to use saline spray, a neti pot and to steam. she gave me a prescription just in case...see, she's a real doctor. she does have the worst bedside manner EVER! let's not talk about the neti pot, k?

sooo...the great thing about my doctor is that her office is a block from the flower district. i decided not to cash in on prescription. instead i bought the last bunch of ranunculus. they were a sad looking bunch...a little scraggly and missing some blossoms. they were perfect. i love how they wrap the flowers in brown butcher's paper and seal it with masking tape. there is something really lovely about that.

i brought the sad little guys home and with a little love and care trimmed them up and i have two arrangements. and, that makes me happy. i think that's better than some antibiotics that might work...and who wants to give up wine with the girls on thursday?

how i wish...

A song for you today...

Walking to work after kind of a blah weekend, aside from yoga and dinner with friends last night, Yeasayer's Tightrope came on my ipod. I love the opening lyrics...Actually, I am in love with the song in its entirety.

So you're wishing that you never did
All the embarrassing things you've done
And you're wishing you could set it right
And you're wishing you could stay the night
But then I go again, wishing never solved a problem
If you wanna get it big time, go ahead and get it get it big time

One of my friends asked me if my blog was inspired by dating in the city...He said, "...you know, like, there he is through the grit..." or something like that.
Well, it wasn't my intention. My original idea was seeing beauty or happiness through the grit of the city...it was finding a moment of peace, bliss, or awe. I wanted people to see some of the amazing things that I see on a daily basis...Maybe it was just something simple that made me stop, even if just for a moment...barely stopping at all.

I suppose this posting is inspired by dating in the city...God, yes! I wish I could take back all of the embarrassing things I have done! Even a few of them. There have been several in the past few weeks. Dating can make you a little crazy, ladies and gentlemen. You can feel like you are completely sane one minute and the next you are filled with emotions that are overwhelming. Maybe it's just me...but I am putting it out there for all of you who have experienced this too.

The one thing I can advise is that if you have multiple dates with someone and set the stage one way make sure the curtain goes down in the same fashion as the play was set. It is just a common courtesy. Another thing I can say is...there are going to be a lot of dates out there...it doesn't happen immediately for most of us. There are going to be disappointments and small heartaches. But, but, but!!! You have to pull yourself up and try again even if it seems impossible.

Maybe I will post a happy picture later. I feel a little better now.

For now...Yeasayer for you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GziH8s7ksMo&feature=player_embedded

the only cat i love

Typically, I believe that cats would kill you if given the opportunity and if they could figure out just how to do it. There is one cat who I do adore. His name is Le Mimi.

He makes me smile when he greets me with a sweet meow and his silly haircut. When I saw him today he was hopped up on catnip. He was a little stoned and not very excited to have his photo taken. We did the best we could with treats. He is just so damn handsome, stoned and all.

feeling cheesy

I got up early today and I am so glad I did! I had dropped my laundry off a week ago and just never got around to picking it up until this morning. I was having anxiety about it being stolen...22 pounds of laundry! I thought the laundromat opened at 7am...the sign said it opened at 7am...locked. Well, it was a good thing! I thought I would kill some time walking around in the not freezing temperatures (yay!) when I stumbled upon this great set-up.

I laughed out loud when I saw it. It reminded me of a few months ago when I was out with a friend. I was over everything. We were having sushi. I think I tried to order anything fried on the menu when I said to my friend, " I just don't care anymore. ..I ate a jar of cheese last night." We both burst out laughing and she stopped and said, "Where does one buy a jar of cheese?" Well, friend, here you go...someone else is over it and eating a jar of cheese! Hang in there pal.

wicked feet

One of my big sisters of the city, Jlo, and I went and had much needed mani/pedis. I chose my usual red...the shade always changes...the color stays the same. J chose this amazing green. I couldn't stop laughing at her feet in the floppy yellow slippers. It was like Big Bird met Wicked. I wouldn't allow it on her fingers...we both got, the ever sexy, Body Language. I want the job of polish namer as my next career.

Look at me!

I walk the streets...mostly the same streets day in and day out...but sometimes something catches my eye. A pink umbrella caught in a tree, a puddle of milk on a cobblestone street, a tiny bird just inches from my foot...and this is what makes me smile.