Aerial Arts

Yesterday, Jayna and I sullenly left work together and just lingered outside the office. We were stircrazy and wanted to just DO something, but it was such cold and annoying weather. The other day we walked to the Chelsea Piers and hung out on the seaside, looking at New Jersey, but it was too cold to stay for long. We were talking about how much there was to do in New York and we wanted to get out more than an occasional happy hour. I remembered the Groupon for NYC that day: an Aerial Dance Class, and I brought it up jokingly, but we bought it anyway. So, redeemable at a time of our choosing, Jayna and I will one day soon be taking a class in the aerial dance arts... that's the kind where you wrap yourself up in the curtains and all. Should be... interesting! There's always something to try out, and I'm glad I have Jayna in the same mindset to venture out with me!



I am LOLLING everywhere imagining us trying to do this.

In other news, lately I've been learning: shit happens. There's no other choice but to dust yourself off and pick yourself up again. There's no easier place in the world to do this and get lost in the mix than New York City

Where Is My Mind?

Sooo, the last hold out on joining our fitness website was Jenny... and guess who just joined?? YES, we have converted the last nansayer! The best part about this thing is that it's impossible not to get sucked in. The minute you start seeing how much you eat actually adds up to, it's impossible not to care or be cautious. And just look at the picture Jenny put up for her profile:



This is why I love her!

Last bit o' news: my latest song obsession is "Where Is My Mind?" by The Pixies. Just like The Helio Sequence, the rambuctious beats and electric riffs with the cynical lyrics help me to get through the day.

A Breath of Fresh Page

I would like to start by saying that I was pleasantly surprised yesterday by learning that I won the March Madness bracket between me and my friends back in San Diego!! They consider it all blood money though, since the clincher was the fact that I correctly guessed UConn to win over SDSU and I am a vile traitor to their SDSU hearts. To be fair, in my work bracket I took SDSU even further, and I was just mixing it up and optimizing my chances! Looks like it worked, eh guys?



Gaucho F'in Locos, right on top like I like to see!!

In other news, yesterday I went to the Barnes & Noble in Greenwich Village to finally cash in on the $50 gift card I got over the holidays from my boss. (I just love the Village, I think it's my favorite neighborhood in NYC.) Originally I was thinking about buying Waiting for Superman, that book about the educational crisis in the US, but I have never gotten over my love of classics and literature.

I've read a lot of these modern day pieces that are highly praised like Life of Pi, but I would still prefer to read Jane Eyre or Anna Karenina a dozen times before trying to pick up a contemporary novel, although I just enjoy reading enough that I will get to them eventually. So as a bit of a compromise, I picked up the long-recommended to me by Pam Shantaram, and Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. The first time I ever picked up such a meaty book was when I undertook a Tolstoy in the summer of 2007 when I had just returned from France and had really nothing to do. Having such a thick volume in your hands is so satifying, and working through and turning each page is it's own little reward. So can you tell it's been awhile since I've bought a new book?





So happy to have the start of my subway / summer reading secured. Shantaram sits expectantly in my purse as I type this up.

March Sadness

Even though the semi finals haven't even been played yet, with the 27 brackets submitted, my work has already declared a winner... and it wasn't me! Wah wah wah.

On Sunday at noon, Steven Apple (affectionately called Sapple by staff), who has been tallying the brackets, had sent an update email which included the following bulletpoints of possible scenarios:

1. Kentucky beats North Carolina and VCU beats Kansas: Khadija would take the lead and hope that UConn doesn’t win it all. Experts do not favor this scenario, but as CBS’s Gus Johnson* would say, “ This is March Madness!”
2. UNC beats Kentucky but Kansas loses to VCU: Kristin Kelley would win if UNC wins it all. Experts think this could happen, but isn’t likely due to the KU-VCU component. But again, this is March Madness!
3. UConn wins it all: Caroline “Pick ‘Em” Smeallie wins the pool. She is currently tied for 15th, thus proving that if she can still win, it really is March Madness! Experts seem to be coming around on this one as a real possibility.

There are tons of scenarios for 2nd ($25) and 3rd ($10), but as far as yours truly can decipher, only Daniel “Senor” Rojas, Khadija Moorehead, Kristin Kelley and Caroline “Pick ‘Em” Smeallie have a chance to win the pool ($100).



So you can imagine all the hope I had for North Carolina!! Tough break, and now I didn't even crack the top 3. I guess this is why they call it gambling!

P.S. Happy 25th Lady Gaga! Yes she is younger than me O_o

Eleven for Eleven!

Last night I attended the March happy hour for work. I have never missed one of these monthly gatherings at the Triple Crown downstairs yet! And I've been attending them since May of 2010. And this isn't including the supplemental summer bracers and end of summer celebrations and holiday party. It's always so nice to socialize with coworkers coupled with a few free drinks.



Also, I don't know if it's in my head, but I actually feel like my clothes are fitting me better? Could that be true after 4 days?? Anyways, I need to go buy a scale because I am supposed to weigh in with this program I'm doing, and the problem is that I actually have no idea how much I weighed to begin with, so I won't be able to measure how much I've actually lost. However, EVERYONE at my work is getting into this thing so it is AWESOME!! It's so fun that we're ALL doing it now, and they say you lose 3X the weight when you do it with friends.

Oh, and at happy hour I was glued to the TV screens once I realized the SDSU and BYU games were on. I had both SDSU and BYU to win. Ouch. It's amazing how your perspective of a game changes when there's money on it. Even so, still sad for SDSU. I forever love my Riverside boy #15 Kawhi Leonard.

FaceTime!

Did I mention that I finally got an iPhone 4 on Tuesday of this week? HOLY. MOLY. I have paid my dues though. I have been using an iPod shuffle and had a no-name Nokia phone from the '90s for the past few years, so needless to say this is a HUGE upgrade! I was so overwhelmed and scared just handling this thing, but I used a birthday giftcard to buy a fabulous OtterBox case for it, so I feel better about it. Last night I was able to FaceTime with my mom and sisters as I made dinner. Soooo crazy! Talk about technology, but I'm so happy with it. I feel like this phone has so much potential that I'm not using. Can anyone recommend some apps or anything for me to look into??

An update on my fitness regime? AMAZING! It has been SO MUCH EASIER every day to be watching what I'm eating and working out. I really think that I just needed to take that first step, and it seems to be going great! I'm eager for time to pass and get really used to these habits and it be integrated into my lifestyle. By the way, on my fitness website, I was encouraged to find a "motivating picture" and I wasn't sure which end of the motivation spectrum I was supposed to pick, as in what I look like now or what I want to look like (lulz) but I went with this one below, taken in June 2008 at the rehearsal dinner of the De Mint wedding I was a bridesmaid in. This is my goal!



Last of all, I walked outside this morning to a light dusting of SNOW on everything. What the heck! It's officially spring! Last Friday it was in the 70s here... and suddenly the trees are outlined in white, Central Park ground is all a thin layer of white... what happened?? I'm not THAT upset about it, but I'm looking forward to colorful spring skirts without wool stockings soon. One day!

Happy Birf Mama : 200!

Not 200 years old, but it's my 200th post today on this blogosphere. Wowee zowee.

(Les Chevaux des Girodins in Bordeaux, France)

Soooo happy birf Mom, I hope you're not at work reading this and get fired. Lulz.

Operation: Washboard Abs

Okay. I caved and did it. I can't say caved, because I've wanted to get fit for a long time, but I guess I finally accepted that I need to take this to the next level! Jayna and I found a fitness website that helps you track your food, exercise, gives you meal plans, etc etc. I just signed up yesterday and I already figured it would be soooo hard, I was thinking about food ALL DAY but actually it's been pretty doable and I really like it!! And it's free so whatevs. Combine it with my Zumba and I'll be Gisele Bundchen in no timeeeeeeee (see below)



It's definitely making me watch every little thing, and it's not so hard. It helps with portion control and nutrition, and I'll eat less just so it's easier to type into my food diary. I really REALLY need accountability though because I feel like I'm just going to fall off the wagon really fast if someone doesn't keep up with me (Jayna will go back and forth) and it might be a fleeting phase, but ughhhhhhhh I have so many clothes from a year ago waiting to be worn again...!

Honey & Lemon

I'm still sick. It could not come at a worse time with the sunshine and warm(er) weather outside. The funny thing is, with 24 years in California, I thought it would take me a few seasons at least to ever become adapted to the new weather extremes out here. Yet I'm already phased in. The bitter cold became bearable and normal, and 50 degrees feels like bikini weather. That was easy.

Anyways, my throat is still KILLING ME. My throat alone is the basis of why I don't go out because it's so painful! I have Lipton's Lemon & Honey tea and add in lemon and honey... and I'm on my last lemon and towards the end of the honey jar!



It's been like fiiiiiive days now, I'm really ready to kick this :(

Springtime!

Somehow I miraculously managed to get ready and go to work today. I was NOT feeling able, but felt it was necessary after being gone last Friday, and only having worked 2 days this week. I don't know why I'm here. But at least I can survive and don't have to use my sick days.

So? Beautiful news: It's warm!!! It is so gloriously warm here, and even the breeze is warm, it feels amazing, I can't describe what it's like to go outside without the bite of an icy chill. It's apparently only 74 but I feel like I could cook an egg out there. For lunch Jayna, Jenny and I went and ate at this outdoor patio down on 29th Street in the sun, where there is a huge big screen TV above and watched some March Madness games. Our work here is doing a bracket pool and actually I'm not doing too bad! This morning I was ranked #10 out of 27! Not bad for someone who picks purely based on how much I like a name! What do I know about their defense or starting line or average points scored in a game or how many field goals they get? (joke).

Oh, and a belated birthday present came in for me today: an Apple TV.



Just in time too. I can be able to sit back in bed (sick) and use my Apple TV while the beautiful weather and New York City goes on outside my window. Such a bad weekend to be sick!

Happy St Paddy's Day?

That's a question mark that you read right, because I have been deathly ill and still here in bed achy and nauseous and feel as sad as this dog looks



I'm very sad I can't celebrate, and even more so, it sucks being sick in New York City! I can hear the sounds of everything outside and I want to be out in it and it drives me crazy that all I can do is toss and turn in bed and get up to go to the bathroom. I'm missing March Madness and the Irish Celebrations argh!

I also got a new manager in January, and he must think that I am such a slacker! I RARELY take days off work, and since he's come in the middle of January I've had 2 1/2 days off for my sister visiting, a personal day for Vegas for my bday, and now 2 days off sick. Yikes. Whatever. This sickness is LEGIT and I know if I can go to work tomorrow I still won't be 100% sooooo he can see then. Go Gauchos in the March Madness!

364 Days Left

...until my next birthday.

I had a great day, and was sad to see it over! At work we had lunch delivered and a delicious buttercream cake from Whole Foods. I got a card from my mother (for a 5 year old, but she drew a '2' in front of it), a gift card from Aunt Patricia, and tons and tons of love from everyone via text messages and Facebook. After work I went home to relax and change, and then went out to a restaurant/bar on the Lower East Side for a birthday dinner with Ronnie, Jayna and Casey. Raspberry martini and sliced tomato with feta salad. Below is the inside of the Anyway Cafe



Ronnie, who tries to buy me something useless every year, ends up buying me something I love, and this year it was 3 pairs of earrings, 1 pair of green rhinestone chandelier earrings, one gold and purple disc earrings, and 1 pair of large gold owls with rhinestone eyes, which I am wearing today! After dinner, Betsy met up with us and we went to karaoke in the East Village. So much fun! This morning my coworker Kimberley brought me a birthday gift! It is a gold pewter box with an owl face, and inside it says "Hoot!" because she knows I am obsessed with owls. It was so beautiful and thoughtful. I was spoiled.

Happy Kiki's Birthday To You!

There's always that overall feeling of surrealness and excitement on your birthday (or is that just me?) and so far today is great!

This weekend in Las Vegas was FAAAAAAAAAABULOUS! I only love Vegas more and more the further away I am. The beautiful desert and the palms and all the hotels and the strip! We stayed at the Palazzo again (connected to the Venetian), went out to Surrender at the Encore, watched SDSU beat BYU at the Mountain West Conference finals, walked the strip and gambled galore. I wasn't doing so hot at blackjack but I sat down at a slot machine with tired legs, put in a dollar, bet 80 cents, and immediately won $51.20. Vegas Baby! I then proceeded to cash out immediately.



All in all, fabulous trip with great company...

This morning I got my free Starbucks birthday drink (venti, baby), my desk at work is all confetti and balloons, and overall it's a good day today. Tonight is dinner on the Lower East Side!

This is the quote on my Office calendar for today (my birthday... did I tell you?)
Andy: Erin "Go Braugh"
Erin: Andy "Go Braugh" to you. Nice knit
Andy: Thanks. It's actually my sister's old field hocket skirt.

And the March 14 Bible Verse of the Day, which I love, it is comforting to be reminded that God is more understanding than we could ever be.
Job 36:5 Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding. (NKJV)

And why is the urban dictionary word of the day for today "workout imposter"? It's exactly what it sounds like. And it's coincidentally on my bday.

Sleepy Kiki

This week has been so exhausting, and I don't even know why. It's my birthday on Monday, I'm leaving tomorrow for Vegas, and I just have no energy or motivation to get my nails done, get my eyebrows threaded, buy a new dress, or anything else. And 25 seems so significant...!



I'm sure I'll be way more motivated once I'm actually in Vegas, but right now all I want to do is just go home and do NOTHING. Like, legitimately NOTHING! Except, maybe watch The Hangover again and get more excited for Las Vegas, baby.

CADBURY MINI EGGS

It is Easter time. The one time of the year that these Cadbury Mini Eggs come out, and I can (and do) shamelessly eat them without mercy. So how hard is it to find these things in NYC?! It is damn. near. impossible!!!! I am going crazy!!



Duane Reade is the huge pharmacy out here, it's exactly like CVS, but it's way more prevalent. I thought it was a joke that they weren't carrying any at the one across from my work, but in my trek through the city I have stopped in 6-7 Duane Reade's looking for these things, but THEY DO NOT CARRY THEM!! Why is this?! There is a whole aisle of seasonal stuff, and they carry Cadbury candy, but why not these?!

I even went so far as to searching out all the nearby Walgreens, RiteAids, and CVS stores, but to no avail. And when Mini Eggs are in season, nothing else will do... not M&Ms, not Hershey Eggs, not even Cadbury Creme Eggs. New York needs to learn a lesson, and for some reason I feel like being the one to do that.

The Haps, Shaps.

Well my father has come and gone from last week. We had a great time walking around the city, going to movies, getting dinner and general hanging out of his company in NYC. We had a fancy night where we had dinner at the 21 Club and then went and saw a Broadway show (Memphis). Good, not great.

This week has been rough as far as work goes, and it only proves to get more intense. We had an intake of over 100 students from Saudi Arabia alone, and they're all generally very sweet and kind, the problem is that their agencies told them we would provide housing for them, so they're all showing up on the spot and looking for places to live immediately. Overall, they're also just very high maintenance in general. One of them clearly had a cleft lip that was restored by surgery and has just one tooth, and combine this with low English and a thick accent, and it is frustratingly impossible to understand him (not his fault!) but it takes the whole staff to come try to decipher even one of his questions, and he seems to have a lot.

Waking up this morning I was already looking forward to sleeping in this weekend but then I remembered: oh shoot, I can't, because this weekend is VEGAS BABY. Just six days til my birthday

Alif Baa

Is everyone aware of Groupon? The amazing group deal-a-day as an individual? I bought one for language classes last summer when I first moved here, to have something to do and maybe meet people. I ended up always having something to do and kept deferring it until it was about to expire! So my first Arabic class was last night.

Talk. About. A. Headache. Our entire book is solely the Arabic alphabet and sounds. There are 28 consonants in the Arabic language, and 14 accent marks to place above or below that denote the vowel to follow. Not to mention, the letter has a different shape depending on if it comes at the start of a word, in the middle of the word, or at the end of the word. Yikes! "Alif Baa" is the name of our book and it means "A B" (as in the first two letter of the alphabet).

Assalaam alaykum!

The Beautiful Curse...

...of NYC is all the guests! They're neverending, but who can complain? Today, my dad gets into town for a few nights.

How is it already March? They say it comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion, but so far it's come in like a lion. I'll let you know if it leaves like a lamb.

Happy Birthmonth to meeeeee!