Christmastime Revisited

First of all, welcome back to the city, self! The flights were easy and absolutely painless. I watched Inception on the flight to Newark and then spent the rest of the time sleeping. When we landed, I was thinking "where is the snow?" then I realized I was looking at snow, not concrete, and it had been shoveled off just the runway paths and there were curbs of snow lining it.

After a lengthy and expensive cab ride into the city, I didn't even recognize my corner when we got there because of the snow! It was piled up to my waist around cars and trashcans and the corners, and very narrow diagonal walkways up the curb at intersections. I tried to unpack a little, to air out my place a little, and to crash early, but I was still exhausted this morning.

THANK GOODNESS FOR MY TIMBERLANDS!! I was even slipping and catching ice walking in those this morning, and it felt weird just head out in the neighborhood, but next to huge mounds of snow lining the streets, while otherwise it was clear blue skies and no snow left in the trees or on buildings. And welcome to snow in the city: trash in it, over trash cans, and slushy and black in the streets. There are a few pretty piles left though, and I haven't seen Central Park yet...!

It's hard being back in the city, so far away. Last night was hard to come back to my place alone after my time surrounded by friends and family at every turn. Coming into work was nice though, and I am slowly getting adapted to being right back where I was before and I'll be taking it one day at a time and exploring the city and my new life.

Sadly I forgot to bring a camera home so I only have a few pictures from my time there. But here is what I have at my disposal right now since my updating hiatus


From the company holiday party, this is the Student Services team along with Kam, our Asias admissions ally!


The Fabulous Student Services Dream Team


Dancing up with Joe, the last piece of Student Services Dream Team who came too late for the rest of our nice pre-drinks pictures!


Just me, dancing away


Just us at grandma's, preparing my famous Greek Salad, which is not at all in keeping with Christmas cuisine. Still, it's so fresh and healthy, and no lettuce, and I like that


Whose glasses were those?


The Kelley's at Aunt Patricia and Uncle Steve's vow renewal


Kathleen and I agreed that the festivities of the wedding of our aunt made us all feel more festive and like the holidays, and it was great to have those sides of the family together in one place. It was small, intimate, fun, and beautiful, and I am so so so happy for Aunt Patricia and Uncle Steve. This picture of all of us is the first of its kind!

It's nostalgic to look at these and then be back in New York City, but I'm getting through it like I did before: one day at a time. And it's great to know the people supporting me who will always be there whenever I am home.

From Phoenix, Arizona

My mind is on fire with the events of the past days… of the people I saw, of the places that I went to, of the nostalgic conversations and the feelings I felt as I revisited it all. I missed it all, I missed them all, and there were still so many people I wanted to see that I didn’t get a chance to.

I love Riverside more than ever, now that I don’t live there. It’s a wonderful place to go home to. The only thing that is weird is how I don’t live there, and now it’s a vacation destination, and I can only see as many people as I can cram into different dinners and coffee dates. Everyone asked me, with a serious tone “Are you happy out there?” and the truth is that I am very happy in New York City. I love being in the center of the world. I love that city, and the events, and the life there. It is hard being away from the comforts, normalcy, and yes even slower-moving life in southern California. But I know that it’s still there for whenever I come home, and the life I have on vacation that I love is not the life I would lead if I was a resident there in the normal grind of life. So I just take it one day at a time and it allows me to be in the present fascination of the new adventure of my life.

I’ve always loved the desert landscape, and I always love these stopovers in Phoenix where I get to stare out at the orange and red rocks and mesas and palm trees, it’s my halfway house and it’s my haven that marks my way both to and from home. Off to a new adventure, or coming back to the comforts of home, I see both of that in Phoenix. And as of now, I’m not sure which stage I’m in, because I was a little homesick for New York City already.

All the family, the aunts, uncles, cousins, my only grandma, my sisters, the cats, all my friends in San Diego, Orange County, Riverside, and beyond… thanks for a warm homecoming and see you all again in the future.

Casual Friday

If anyone deserves a casual Friday today, it's our team at the office here. The festivities yesterday started around 11:30 and wine and beer were included in the catered lunch, with plenty of amazing desserts (cheesecakes and gingerbread and chocolate mmmmmm) and then Student Services had our own karaoke session with me and Jayna entertaining ourselves with Dirty Diana and Total Eclipse of the Heart

We got ready at work and took a cab to the Latin Quarter, and the open bar there more than did us in but it didn't end when the lights turned on... instead we all jumped in cabs (I happened to be in a cab with 5 people in the backseat alone) and went to a swanky club called Greenhouse in SoHo. I lost all concept of time but it sure didn't feel like I slept long when I had to get up this morning to get ready and finish cleaning up my place... and then lugging my suitcase on the subway with me. We all went and got breakfast this morning and are just trudging through the day.

I leave tomorrow!!

Ready for Home

Lately, all I can think about is coming home. I guess once I hit about two weeks to go, it became all consuming to get a break from the city and come back to wide open (and warm, sunny) spaces. Everything is just annoying to me, and the days at work are stretching into long, mindless hours, and I can't seem to focus on anything in my free time to unwind or relax either: not music, not reading, not watching Seinfeld. All I want is to be out of this cold and home in California :/

Tomorrow is an entire day of holiday parties and celebrating, including the nighttime gala for my company at a place called Latin Quarter on the Upper East Side. So I'm sure an open bar will take my mind off of things :)

And also, the San Diego Chargers are playing the San Francisco 49ers tomorrow in the middle of the party (darn Eastern time!) so I am giving my Chargers support now!! Let's see it Rivers ma boy! (Where you at, Sri??)



Three days... just three days and I will be out of the cold and back in a land where I can see the horizon and mountains...

The Snow Stuck

Last night it didn't look like the snow was enough to do more than melt on impact with the ground, or just fill the cracks on the sidewalk, but when I left this morning, there was a light dusting of snow everywhere! Cars, sidewalk, streets, plants, the park.

So, so beautiful... even if I do need warmer and more snow-treading shoes

Buon Natale

I had an easy Monday. After work I went down to Little Italy to do some shopping. It wasn't too crowded, it was cold on my face but I felt cozy in my coat and earmuffs, and I went around Little Italy's little streets doing some shopping under all their Christmas lights.



I stopped in Chinatown for some Chinese food before coming home, putting on a Christmas movie and baking cookies and watching the snow outside. I mixed the dough in my cooking pot since I don't have a mixing bowl, and since I couldn't fit them all in my few Tupperware bowls, I had to eat a lot :/

It's so beautiful to see snow in the city!

5 days

The New Soundtrack

When I hit a slump, what usually picks me up is NEW MUSIC. I love new music! And I love music! And there's a time and a place for all kinds, all genres!

I caved in and bought Ke$ha... the poor man's Gaga. Sorry! I couldn't resist, but it's FABULOUS, plus it's great work out music! A few singles were thrown in there as well, including the blast from the past Monica's "Don't Take It Personal (Just One Of Dem Days)" and it's made a great soundtrack for my rainy Sunday.

Six days! Six days! Six days!