With beautiful Grandma on her 85th in NYC

A Story: Part I

Ever since I’ve lived in New York I’ve had a peculiar habit of always thinking back to what I was doing a year ago. I can remember my second summer thinking about how it felt like I should be dating Brandon. The only New York summer I knew was with him. My second New Year’s Eve I was super down because I was thinking about the year before; my first NYE in New York and my first NYE with a boyfriend. I couldn’t help but think about the hours Curtis and I had spent in Times Square and how perfect that night had felt.

This habit has gone on year after year. I think it’s something about the change in seasons. The change in temperature, scenery, and smells take me back to what was going on in my life the last time I experienced these things. There is obviously always a strong connection to whomever I was dating at the time, because other than apartments, everything else in my life was pretty much the same. Same job, mostly same friends, etc.

As my last vacation was approaching, along with August, this time last year weighed heavily on my mind. It was almost the exact same day I took off for a two week vacation, during which I’d spend time in California, Utah, and Idaho. I didn’t plan to take the same trip this year, and didn’t plan to leave almost exactly the same date (off by one day,) it just worked out that way. The only real difference is I was only gone for a week this year.

July 30, 2010 was such a happy day. It was a Friday. I left my office around 2pm so I’d have time to go home and finish packing, and then head to JFK to catch my flight. I remember leaving the office and calling my mom and saying, “I’m free!!!” There is nothing like leaving your office on a beautiful sunny summer day and knowing you don’t have a thing to think about for the next sixteen days. My only agenda was to visit friends and family, take part in Aimee and Jerry’s wedding, and spend a weekend in San Francisco with my girlfriends. I stopped by Banana on my way to Grand Central Station and found a few items on clearance.

I can distinctly remember walking through the terminal to the 4/5 and thinking, I feel so happy I could burst. Things were good. I’d spent the summer focusing on bettering myself. I’d been working out regularly and for the first time in years, wasn’t dating anyone, trying to date anyone, crushing on anyone, or letting anyone simmer. I was 100% single and can remember saying I’d never been happier single. I will be honest and say I have never been that girl who says, “I just want to enjoy being single right now. I don’t want a relationship.” To be honest I have a hard time believing any LDS girl who says that post-college. So, of course I would have liked to have been dating someone, but I felt like I had control over all the things that were in my control, and felt the happiest I’d ever been in that state.

I was flying American, connecting in Chicago. I spent the better part of the car ride and time in the airport on my phone making calls about the apartment I’d just found (in which I currently live.) I was returning calls with questions about my income, references, etc and I was racing against the clock to get the calls done before end of business day eastern time.

When I got to ORD I called my dad, as he was flying home from Boston, on United, which is random because he almost always flies American, but wasn’t, and I almost never fly American, but was. We were both connecting in Chicago, so it’s unfortunate we hadn’t been able to coordinate to fly together. We wanted to say hello at least while we were both in the same airport. We met up and chatted for a bit, and then I headed back to my gate where my flight was now boarding.

I was lucky to have a first class seat, so I boarded the plane and sat down and sort of just let out a huge sigh of relief. All my calls were made, I’d been able to connect with my dad, work was off my mind for two weeks, and now I could just relax. I got my things settled and then got up to use the ladies room while everyone else was still boarding. As I was headed back to my seat I didn’t notice the flight attendant behind me. I sat down and he was standing there, informing me I was going to have to go to my seat in the back of the plane. Thinking he must assume I was confused because the Yankees tank, yoga pants, Toms, and messy bun I was sporting didn’t exactly scream First Class, I assured him, “Oh, no, this is my ticketed seat.” He looked a little more stern and said, “Nooooo……you didn’t understand me. You need to go to the back of the plane, all the way to the back, and sit in a middle seat.” For whatever reason I have always had the immediate reaction to believe any sort of authority figure and immediately assume I’m guilty of something. I sort of stuttered something, and looked confused, and then he finally said something like, “They Yankees? Really?” I then relaxed and laughed, and said, “Oh, I take it you’re a Sox fan?” He scoffed. Then I remembered I was in Chicago. (I mean, anyone who roots for any other team hates the Yanks, but I figured this made the most sense.) He once again scoffed and said no. Confused (and not even thinking about my destination of Orange County) I finally asked, “Who’s your team??” He then told me the Angels and I said, “Oh, well you’ll hate me even more because I should be an Angels fan; I’m from Mission Viejo.”

This turned into the talk of where we’re from, where we went to high school, etc. It turned out he lived in Las Flores and graduated from Mission Viejo High School. I could tell he was a tad bit older than me, so I didn’t ask what year. He told me he’d played water polo there, as well as at Long Beach State, and asked if I’d played sports. I confidently said, “Well, I was a cheerleader, so, yes.” I got the expected reaction and we continued the trash talk until he needed to get back to work.

I didn’t think anything of it. I also didn’t think anything of it when I used the ladies’ room again mid flight (those bottomless drinks in first are lovely) and he stopped me to ask me about what I do in New York, what I do for fun, where I’ve traveled to, and just made general conversation. I also took no note when he stopped to make a comment every time he served me something to eat or refilled my drink. He later told me he’d had a Yankees executive on one of his flights who’d offered him tickets the next time he was in New York. I told him he was so lucky and he should definitely take him up on the offer. He then told me the next time he was out he planned on it, and I should go with him. I still wasn’t thinking anything other than, Wow, I’d love tickets to a Yankees game.

He asked me if I was busy while I was home (I’d explained to him that I was home for a week, then heading to Utah, then Idaho, then back home, then to San Francisco.) I said yes, but no, and explained that every time I came home I always planned every second away and didn’t relax, so I wasn’t making any plans and was just trying to take things as they came and was spending time with my family. It wasn’t until he said, “Well…..that’s not exactly the answer I was hoping for,” that I thought, Is this guy hitting on me? I laughed and told him sorry, but that I had promised my mom I would take it easy for the most part.

Before I got off the plane we exchanged phone numbers, you know, for the Yankees game, and I was on my way. I remember glancing back at him before I stepped off the plane and finally realizing, Wow, he is handsome. And tall. And dark. And seems pretty straight. (Keep in mind his profession.) That night we texted a bit and he was very friendly and sweet, and told me to let him know if I had any time for him while I was home.

I can’t remember what I did the next day but that night I went with my parents to a very crowded wedding reception for a guy in the ward I grew up in. He comes from one of those huge families that’s been around forever, and knows everyone, so of course the reception was a zoo and everyone from the tri-stake area and then some was there. I caught up with so many friends who are now married and living in the area, and all the grown-ups I’d gotten to know in my youth. I got the same questions and comments I always get when I’m at home, especially at weddings: Are you still living in New York? Wow! You are so lucky/brave/adventurous/crazy! Are you dating anyone? I can’t believe you’re not married! or even better Why aren’t you married yet?? There is such an awesome guy out there for you, I just know it! The men are intimidated! To be fair, I have not gotten the question or statement about being married in a really long time, and at this point I just laugh when I get it. But, for the record, that whole “the men are intimidated line” should really be banished for anyone over the age of, oh, I don’t know, 19? We single girls appreciate the gesture, but, let’s get real, there are plenty of absolutely beautiful, successful, talented girls who date all the time or are already married. Face it, it’s not that all the guys are intimidated, it’s just the situation. Some of us are simply just “still” single.

Anyway, for the most part, I really don’t care about those questions, but it never gets fully comfortable to go to weddings with your parents as your date, in your late 20s, congratulating what looks like a child bride (no offense…) and then just sorta hanging with Mom and Dad when things get awkward. (I have tried to make a point to leave before the bouquet toss, you would not believe how people insist I stand awkwardly amongst a group of beehives, fighting over a bouquet.) I appreciate and love my parents, especially when my mom shares my dad so I can have someone to dance with, but I still always leave weddings feeling a little down.

My parents and I had talked about going to see Inception after the reception, but as parents sometimes do on Saturday nights, they got tired, and didn’t feel like going. So there I am, twiddling my thumbs on a Saturday night, feeling like a loner after having been reminded how Single! I am. So, I did what anyone else would do and texted the guy who’d hit on me the day before. “Hey! I’m sure you’re probably out and about tonight?” Nope, he was just at home watching a movie, and asked if I was free. Perfect. He asked if I drank wine (we’d discussed the Mormon thing on the plane) and I said no but am happy to go somewhere and have something else to drink, and didn’t feel uncomfortable with others who drank. (A concept that really confuses me but people always ask if I mind if they order a glass….polite, but unnecessary.) He said no, we’d go somewhere else. I offered the idea of Golden Spoon. Ya know, keep it light. He asked if I wanted to meet at his house or at GS. I may be a little adventurous but I’m not stupid. I told him I’d meet him at GS in thirty minutes, gave my mom his full name and number, and off I went.

I got to the creepy darkish parking lot a little after 10 and reminded myself why I love living in a city that stays open past 10pm on a Saturday, and called him to let him know it was closed and asked if we could meet somewhere else. (I’d beat him there.) He said he’d be there in just a couple minutes and to just wait. Like a good paranoid girl, I stayed in my car, not even getting out when he pulled up. He came over to the car, and I told him the Golden Spoon in Foothill Ranch was open until 11. We ended up deciding to go to another yogurt place in the Kaleidescope, which was close by. He asked if I wanted to ride with him and I smiled and said no, that I would follow. He then said, “Oh yeah, this is our first date huh?” I smiled again and said, “A girl’s gotta watch out for herself.”

Off we went for what was one of the best first dates I’ve ever had in my life. It turned out he’s fourteen years my senior, which was surprising and I didn’t believe until he showed me his driver’s license. I would have guessed ten. This only attracted me more than I already was, as even though the biggest gap in age I’d ever had was only six years, I’ve always been attracted to and felt much more confident and comfortable around older men.

We chatted away until the shop closed, and then moved outside to listen to the live band and keep chatting. I felt so comfortable by the end, I was sort of hoping he’d kiss me goodnight. I don’t think I’ve ever had an official “I don’t really know you” sort of a first date that ended well enough to warrant a kiss. However, he was a perfect gentlemen and just gave me a hug and asked me to text him when I got home safely. He even called while I was on the drive to thank me for meeting him, and tell me how much he enjoyed the evening. I was seriously swooning.

The next day is when I got the first phone call that was like someone pulling the rug out from underneath me.

Vacation's over

Ryan, 7

Megan, 4 1/2

A week packed full of traveling from city to city (eight beds in as many nights) seeing friends, little sleep, and hanging with family. I'm exhausted but it was totally worth it. More soon.

SJP on NYC

The beautiful thing about New York is, you have to expose yourself to other people the minute you step outside the door. There is no choice. And I love that.
-Sarah Jessica Parker

My evening with Mitt

I realized I never blogged about this and if I don't do it now it probably won't happen. Below is the email I sent my family...

What a fun event. It was held on the 80th floor penthouse in the residence side of the Mandarin Oriental hotel. For those of you familiar, it's located in Columbus Circle, that little area right on the south west corner of Central Park. There's the huge round-about and it's 9 blocks south of where I live. There's two really tall buildings that look exactly alike. We were at the top floor of the north building.

I don't think in all my life I'll be in a more expensive apartment. It was incredible. I tried to find details online but couldn't find anything I knew for sure was specific to this apartment. I read somewhere an apartment like it in the building recently sold for $30,000,000 and the square footage is 12,500.

To say it was incredible would be an understantment. I didn't have time to see the whole place but saw the kitchen which I would say is about 2-3 times the size of Mom and Dad's, if that gives you an idea. The place was basically all floor to cieling windows, and had a complete 360 view of Manhattan. I'm including a picture I took with my phone of the view of the park. I was standing in the living room where Mitt spoke. Oh yeah, the elevators opened up into the apartment also. That's something I've always thought was so cool when I'd see it on tv but I've never seen in real life.

There were about 75 people there and they were all very old-money, Republican types. Everyone was dressed so nicely, huge diamond rings, and tightly botoxed faces. The entrance fee was $2,500. When I went to work that day I was thinking I looked so cute but I think it was pretty clear I knew someone at the event to get in. (I didn't get invited until midday, otherwise I would have dressed nicer.)

The event lasted about an hour. Mitt spoke probably 20 minutes or so, and took questions for 10-15 minutes. It's crazy to see people in real life. Like most people I'm only used to seeing on tv, he was shorter than I expected, and looked older. That being said, he's still a handsome man.
It was neat to hear him speak when he knew he was in a group of Republicans and didn't have to try to be diplomatic. He didn't say anything new or groundbreaking, but he was funny and I found myself laughing out loud a handful of times.

I was lucky enough to be able to meet him and shake his hand. I was more nervous than I'd anticipated. I kept thinking I was going to accidently call him President Obama. Thankfully I just introduced myself and called him Mr. Governor and thanked him for what he was doing. And then we got our photo. It's not the best. We've been having a heat wave and the apartment was actually pretty warm as well. I felt bad for the men in suits.

Shortly after my friends and I needed to head out. We were standing and waiting for the lobby and wouldn't you know it, Mitt and his entourage show up and share the elevator with us. He held the door and let all us ladies out first. I just kept thinking to myself, "What if one day I can say I rode the elevator with the president?"

Anyway, it was a really fun night and I felt super giddy to be there.
I didn't intend for this to be so long but you all know by now how I ramble.

I've included the pic with Mitt, the pic of the view, and a pretty bad pic of Mitt with John Whitehead. I'm embarrassed to say I didn't know who he was at the time. For anyone else naive like me, he served as the Deputy Secretary of State in the Reagan administration, was a chairman of Goldman Sachs, and the Chairman of the Board of the NY Fed. He'll be 90 years old next year which was shocking to me. He looks great. Someone affiliated with the Jets was there as well, and spoke with us for a minute, but now I can't remember his name! It wasn't Woody Johnson but I guess he does go to some Mitt events.

Much too young to feel this damn old

Tonight I leave for a week of vacation. It'll be a whirlwind, as usual, but I'm so excited. I've got a lot going on with making it to Salt Lake City, Boise, Rexburg, and California within eight days, but the main reason for the trip is to attend my ten year high school reunion. I can't believe it's been ten years already, but it also feels like a hundred since I was living these carefree days.

With Denos and Cindelle at graduation. The very first friends I met after moving to California when I was ten years old.

OOoooooh Kevin. I thought we were going to get married after this amazing night. Senior Prom.
We probably have 24,453,756 cheer photos together but this one with G and Meg is one of my absolute favorites.

I'll be spending this evening

with this handsome man, and I couldn't be more excited.
Romney 2012.

Quotes

From Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close:

-So many people enter and leave your life! Hundreds of thousands of people! You have to keep the door open so they can come in! But is also means you have to let them go!

-What if the water that came out of the shower was treated with a chemical that responded to a combination of things, like your heartbeat, and your body temperature, and your brain waves, so that your skin changed color according to your mood? If you were extremely excited your skin would turn green, and if you were angry you'd turn red, obviously, and if you felt like shiitake you'd turn brown, and if you were blue you'd turn blue. Everyone could know what everyone else felt, and we could be more careful with each other, because you'd never want to tell a person whose skin was purple that you're angry at her for being late, just like you would want to pat a pink person on the back and tell him, "Congratulations!"

-It's hard to say goodbye to the place you've lived. It can be as hard as saying goodbye to a person.

The first time I experienced this was the last time I walked out of my bedroom in apartment 304 at the Ridge in Rexburg. I'd lived in that bedroom for 22 months. The walls had been papered with pictures and keepsakes and suddenly I was looking at a completely barren bedroom, as if no one had ever been there. As if I'd never gossiped with my closest girlfriends, had arguments over the phone, cried myself to sleep, stayed up all night kissing my boyfriend, stressed about money and school and what I'd do after graduation. It was as if none of it had ever happened. As I walked down the hallway I cried, and even more so as I drove down the hill from Rexburg and looked in my rearview mirror. I can't imagine what it will be like one day when I leave my little apartment here in New York, my very first home that is all my own and which I love so much.

-It was the first time I had ever cried in front of him. It felt like making love.

I can remember perfectly the first time I cried in front of a boyfriend. I was 21 and in college and in his bedroom and we'd just argued about something and I cried. So embarrassed and so bonded from this first experience.

-You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness.

-I put my hand on him. Touching him was always so important to me. It was something I lived for. I never could explain why. Little, nothing touches. My fingers against his shoulder. The outsides of our thighs touching as we squeezed together on the bus. I couldn't explain it, but I needed it. Sometimes I imagined stitching all of our little touches together. How many hundreds of thousands of fingers brushing against each other does it take to make love?

My love language is physical touch and this sums up my feelings so perfectly.

-I looked at everyone and wondered where they came from, and who they missed, and what they were sorry for.

Does anyone else see people and make up little stories about them in their mind?

-...it broke my heart into more pieces than my heart was made of...

The most painful feeling.

From The Help:

**Warning, final quote is a spoiler.

-...he talked and talked, his words fell through him, trying to find the floor of his sadness..

It is a wonderful thing when you have someone with whom you feel safe enough to purge all these sad feelings, trying to find the floor of sadness.

-Cause that's the way prayer do. It's like electricity, it keeps things going.

-I don't know what to say to her. All I know is, I ain't saying it. And I know she ain't saying what she want a say either and it's a strange thing happening here cause nobody saying nothing and we still managing to have us a conversation.

-I used to dash by, feeling like a dartboard, a big red bull's-eye that Mother pinged darts at.

-No one tells us, girls who don't go on dates, that remembering can be almost as good as what actually happens.

There is nothing like the day after a great kiss, being at work, unable to focus, and replaying it over and over and over again in your head. It really is almost as good as what happened.

-Right in the middle of the Robert E. Lee Hotel Restaurant, he kissed me so slowly with an open mouth and every single thing in my body -- my skin, my collarbone, the hollow backs of my knees, everything inside of me filled up with light.

Heaven.

-I always thought insanity would be a dark, bitter feeling, but it is drenching and delicious if you really roll around in it.

-He moves closer and leans down so I will look at him. And I feel sick, literally nauseated by the smell of bourbon on his breath. And yet I still want to fold myself up and put my entire body in his arms. I am loving him and hating him at the same time.

I don't know if there's anything worse a person can feel than equal parts in love and hate for someone.

-There is so much you don't know about a person. I wonder if I could've made her days a little bit easier, if I'd tried. If I'd treated her a little nicer. Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us.

-"Are you sure it's alright? If I leave you, with everything so..." "Go to New York, Miss Skeeter. Go find your life."

-Because it's like I had this exact conversation five years ago.

Summer by the numbers

74

The current temperature, at 12:31am. I love summer nights in the city.

4

Seasons I've embraced. I am officially a seasons person. Earlier this week it was insanely humid and I didn't even care because this is New York in the summer. I love it all.

5

Mosquito bites on my right foot. I do not love those suckers. I get eaten alive in the park.

570

Steps from my apartment to Central Park.

7

Weekends I've been out of town since April 22nd.

4

Weekends I'll be out of town from now until Labor Day (not counting Labor Day.)

76

Percent of The Help I've read on my Kindle. Loving it.

10

Days until Maria moves to Utah. I hate it.

4

Number of sisters who will be in New York in a week (my mom and her sisters...and my grandma! Wahoo!)

14

Days till a full week off of work for vacation.

10

Years since I graduated high school. The reunion is in three weeks.

85

Years of my perfect grandma's life we're celebrating this month.

10:22

AM train my friends and I will be taking to the beach tomorrow.

40

Minutes I waited in line just to get into the Alexander McQueen exhibit at The Met tonight. Totally worth it. It was insanely beautiful and haunting. The best words I can think of to describe it.

So true.

I can't tell you how many times I've told people I went to school in Idaho and they start asking me how I liked being in the midwest.

Date night

7.7.11 @ Koi with two of my very favorite friends, Britt and Maria.

This weekend

This photo pretty much sums up my weekend. It was filled with way too much junk food, and hours, yes, hours, spent watching Jeter coverage.

The highlights:
-walking home through the a very empty Central Park with Court due to the rain
-dinner at my favorite mexican joint, Harry's Burritos
-running into Phil, one of the nicest guys from my Wall Street days
-both of us (Courtnie, not Phil) passing out at my place, and then convincing Court to head to Hell's with me so I could get my favorite concrete at Shake Shack, the It's Pretzle.
-sleeping a hard, uninterrupted ten hours
-brunch with some of my favorite girls, Ash, Britt, Maria, Alisa, Court, and Jen at one of my favorite places, Agave.
-getting home one inning too late....:(.....to see Jeter's 3000th hit live, but then watching most of the rest of the game, as well as lots and lots of replays, coverage, interviews, etc.
-late nap
-stroll through Central Park to the east side
-picking up Sprinkles for Maria's going away party
-Maria's party with way way way too many treats (we were told to bring our favorite NY treats since Maria's moving to Provs.) Yes, I'm aware Sprinkles is originally a west coast thing, however Maria just had it for the first time and is sad to leave it behind. I also think their red velvet cupcake is the best cupcake I've ever had in my life. And, how can I buy any other cupcakes now that I know they make Yankees cupcakes??!!
-a run in with Jamar
-watching more Yanks/Jeets coverage from 11:30pm-1am
-getting almost caught up on the shows which have been on my dvr for about two months and have managed to not automatically delete
-slept in again (oops)
-watched CC throw a complete game, first time I've seen that as far as I can recollect.
-fourish hours in the park reading
-Shake Shack for din
-caught up with Mattgician, whom I've successfully phased into the friend zone. Booya.

Some others who get it

I don't think New York City is like other cities. It does not have character like LA or New Orleans. It is all characters. In fact it is everything. It can destroy man, but if his eyes are open it cannot bore him.
New York City is an ugly city, a dirty city. Its climate is scandal, its politics are used to frighten children, its traffic is madness, its competition is murderous. But there is one thing about it -- Once you have lived in New York and it has become your home, no place else is good enough.
-John Steinbeck

The true New Yorker secretly believes that people living anywhere else have to be, in some sense, kidding.
-John Updike

found at A to B

At the company summer soiree Tuesday

Not a shabby view.

A splendid weekend

It was an absolutely perfect weekend. I had minimal obligations which was exactly what I wanted. I did almost everything I wanted to do, and nothing I didn't really feel like doing.

Friday night Emilee and I both worked until 10pm. That probably doesn't sound like an ideal Friday night, however, it was perfect. We both had the kind of work to get done that is easier when you don't need to answer phones, or quickly switch to another task because someone's asked for something. It was nice to have the office to ourselves, and be able to just chat while we talked, verses IMing each other. Not to mention, a $30 dinner allowance and cab ride home isn't too shabby. Plus, I'm always super tired on Fridays and I had no plans, so it's not like I was giving up too much.

Saturday all I really wanted to do was sleep in. And then I woke up at 8:30am. Not exactly what a single person without obligations considers sleeping in. Luckily I fell back asleep until about 10:30am, which was perfect, because I didn't want to waste too much of the day. I got ready and went back into work and was able to finish everything I needed to do in two hours so not bad at all. I then hopped in a cab and headed to SoHo for some shopping. I had some giftcards from my birthday (and Christmas!) and some coupons that were going to expire so I treated myself to a little belated birthday shopping. I found too many cute things. Oops. I rushed back uptown to change, and then head back downtown for dinner.

I probably shouldn't put this on my blog because I'm sure it will freak out my parents, and it's the sort of thing that rarely happens but when it does it gets everyone who doesn't live here all up in a tizzy, but, oh well. Now that I walk to work and have become an UWS snob I hardly take the subway anymore. I was actually excited to take it, and chose to take the local, because I had a little extra time and wanted to read my book. We were at 18th Street, one stop away, when suddenly everyone started getting off the train. Of course I was in my bubble like everyone usually is on the subway, music in ears and book to my face, but I did notice everyone getting off the train. On the weekends this usually means one thing; there's a service change and everyone's getting off the subway because it's going to pass their stop. I took my earbuds out to hear what the change was, and then realized everyone was sort of panicked and I hear some people right outside the train yelling, "POLICE! POLICE!" I stepped out to see a crowd gathering at the subway car right in front of mine. I then heard some people saying there were some people fighting. I stood there for a minute trying to see what was happening, and then I saw the guys punching each other. It was basically the sort of thing you'd see in high school and everyone would get excited about. I don't know if it's just that I'm becoming older, or haven't seen a fight in a while, or because I live in New York, but I was pretty unnerved. I started thinking about what I would do if someone pulled out a knife or a gun. (Which must mean I wasn't that scared because in actual emergencies I have a really hard time thinking clearly.) It seemed like only a couple minutes before things broke up and I just got back on the subway. It was at that point that everyone started acting like regular New Yorkers, wondering aloud when the doors would close and when we'd be back on our way. I was just about to leave and walk the rest of the way, when the doors closed and we took off for 14th Street. I'm really glad no one was seriously hurt, and I'm really glad I wasn't standing twenty feet south when the train picked me up at 66th Street, otherwise I would have been on that car. I also kept thinking how glad I was I'm not dating Curtis anymore, because he is absolutely the guy that would run to the guys and try to break them up. It's a noble effort, but I'm not trying to see my boyfriend get shanked.

I finally met up with my friends at Shanghai Market for some delish Vietnamese food. For real, I would go back in a second. (And I had turkesh for lunch today. Who am I?) The service was awesome. Our first appetizer was on our table within four minutes of ordering. Seriously. Some of my friends have been there a lot and they said the food starts coming within five minutes of ordering without fail.

We were there to celebrate the awesome news that Maria got into BYU Law school. I can't talk much about it because it will make me cry. Maria was one of my first true friends I made in the city and has been through a lot with me. Okay, that's all I can write for now because I'm getting sad. I'm sure there will be a mushy post later.

After dinner some of us went to Stand, home of the toasted marshmellow shake. I had that shake once. It's weird, it's like you're drinking a toasted marshmellow. This time I opted for the chocolate peanut butter and didn't regret it for a second.

Sunday I headed to church and then met Mikey Perkey for an amazing brunch, pictured below. Mike was in town for work and it was so great to see him. We ate at Sarabeth's and I really can't believe it was only my second time because it is so good. I got the lemon ricotta pancakes and they were to. die. for.

Next I did what I've been wanting to do for weeks. I took a blanket and my book and parked it in the park. It was glorious. It's easy to get distracted because there's a bazillion people in the park, especially on a lovely Sunday, but I made a small dent in my book. I'm about half way done with The Help now. I seriously love it.

And yes, it is kind of ridiculous to post a photo of yourself but.....I'm sitting here writing about myself so I suppose a photo isn't too different?

After about three hours in the park I headed home and sat down to watch Bull Durham. A couple weeks ago a friend stayed with me and sent me the dvd as a thank you gift. We'd gone to two baseball games that weekend, and discussed baseball all weekend long, including this movie, which I mentioned I'd never seen. I attempted to watch it four times last week, but could never stay awake. (Not because of the quality of movie, but because I just have such a hard time staying awake in any movie.) I figured if I started at 8pm I'd stay awake. It got a little iffy but I held out. It was an entertaining movie, but I had mixed feelings. I loved Kevin Costner's character, Crash Davis, and now understand why my 11th grade history teacher (who was also the baseball coach) gave his son the middle name Crash. I had a hard time getting past my annoyance for Susan Sarandon's character, however. It was too unrealistic for me to believe that some woman who's a big baseball fan can give a pitcher better tips to help his game than his manager or someone on the payroll could. But, that's just the anti chick-flick part of me.

All in all, I enjoyed the movie. I love pretty much any sports movie, especially when it's a true story. I requested some good baseball movies on facebook and got the following responses:

Major League
Fever Pitch
For the Love of the Game
Field of Dreams
A League of Their Own
Sandlot
Rookie of the Year
Sugar
The Natural
The Pride of the Yankees
'61
Angels in the Outfield
Eight Men Out

I think next up will be For the Love of the Game, The Natural, The Pride of the Yankees, and Eight Men Out. I haven't seen any of these except The Natural, but I only saw that once, and it was about 10 years ago. (Wow, was I really in the dorms in college ten years ago?) I sort of would like to read the book The Natural first though. Hm...I have too many "to read" books on my list for how slowly I finish books. I guess I should read Torre's The Yankee Years first, since I stole it from my dad a few months ago...

Does anyone else not know how to end a post sometimes?

Help

I have no idea why blogger is publishing my posts with such massive spaces in between paragraphs, it's driving me nuts. I only put a single space in between each paragraph in the last post and it looks like there are two spaces. Then I went back and edited the post so there were no spaces, yet, once I published, it still looked like that. It's really annoying me. Does anyone know why?
Also (apparently this is my open forum to ask for help) lately I cannot for the life of me comment on anyones blog who has their comment settings set to make me choose a profile before I comment. Does anyone know why???
HELP!

Hudson River

I decided to mix i t up on Monday and go running along the West Side Highway trail instead of the Reservoir. I can't remember the last time I went running on a straight path, versus a loop. It was weird not being able to just look how much further I had to go, and at some point just deciding to stop and turn around. Not sure I like that.

I did enjoy the change in scenery, and you can't beat the view of the sun setting.

Last night Em and I rode our bikes down to the Shake Shack for a birthday get together. It was so nice to be on my bike for the first time this year. I thought it was the perfect way to enjoy the longest day of the year.

Finally

I was able to see a Yankees vs Sox game with my two favorite Sox fans on Wednesday. I still haven't made it to Fenway but will one of these days. It was a brutal series, and you can probably tell the humidity was brutal as well.

On tap for the weekend

Tonight and tomorrow. We are hurting after the second straight sweep from the Sox. Sheesh. Thank goodness it's only June. Come on Yanks.

Surprise!

It all started a few weeks ago when Emilee told me she and Courtnie wanted to take me to dinner after my birthday since she and I would both be out of town on the 4th. The last month or so has been really really busy for me. It's all been fun busy, but busy. We decided on the 7th, I put it on my calendar, and didn't think anything of it.

We didn't ever really discuss where we'd go, time, or anything, but since they're two of my closest friends I figured it wouldn't be an issue. We all get off work about the same time and I knew we'd figure it out. I hadn't seen Courtnie in a couple weeks and needed a proper catch up, and we'd all had eventful weekends so I was mostly just looking forward to being able to chat and get caught up on each others' lives.

Yesterday morning I was walking to work thinking, "Where do I want to eat tonight??" I seriously could not think of anything. Nothing jumped out at me. All day it wasn't really discussed, but I knew Courtnie was really busy at work, and Em sits 10 feet away from me and we IM all day so at some point I asked Em if we were still going to dinner. She said yes, and had decided on Lombardi's and Rice to Riches. I was so thrilled because it sounded so perfect! Pizza is my favorite food, I've never been to Lombardi's and had recently mentioned to Em I wanted to go, and we all know my love for R2R. (If you don't believe me, just ask Aimee or Emilee, or the good people at R2R.) More than anything, it made me happy that my friend would know what would be perfect for my birthday (hence, yesterday's post.)

As the end of the day approached Em and I had discussed maybe running to Bloomingdales, or Barneys, and never really had a concrete plan. Emilee and I have both complained about having to go out on weeknights at times, because we like to leave our evenings open to work out, do things around the apartment, etc. I asked her if she felt like backing out, and gave her a hard time about it (even though she insisted she wouldn't) and when I found out she had a headache I told her I 100% would understand if she wanted to reschedule for another night. I myself considered canceling because my eyes were driving me crazy. (Did I mention the last two and a half months I've been dealing with keratitis? I was miserable yesterday afternoon. We finally figured it out just before I left (a little before Emilee) and then the three of us met up.

We were in midtown until about 7:30 or so and then headed downtown to Lombardi's. When we got off the subway I made a quick call and Emilee took off in a rush. I was confused but didn't think much of it. When Courtnie and I got to the restaurant there were people spilling out of it, waiting to be seated. Great, I thought. It's going to take foreeeeeeveeeeeer to be seated. I decided to use the ladies' room and thought to myself, I really hope Em flirted and used her charm and good looks to get us a table. (Wouldn't be the first time.) When I came out Courtnie was waiting for me and said, "Em got us a table in this random room in the back." I chuckled to myself, knowing of course Em had pulled through.

We walked to the back, through the kitchen, and then up the stairs. I really wasn't thinking anything, and as I turned around suddenly a group yelled, "SURPRISE!" I can't even tell you what I was thinking because I was so surprised. I think I just felt confused, surprised, happy, and disoriented. It took time to sink in, and I actually felt myself becoming a little embarrassed.

I realized all the regulars were there, and suddenly I noticed Aimee! And Jerry! What??? Who planned this and how did they get in touch with Aim? Slowly things started making more sense as I kept asking questions. I felt so flustered. Apparently they'd all been there since 7:15pm and it was now 8pm. Oops. I felt so badly! Em and Court said they'd tried to get me downtown earlier but didn't want to be too obvious. (They did a good job because in hindsight I can see how they tried, and if they would have persisted any more I probably would have gotten annoyed because in my mind, what was the rush??)

It was so great to see everyone, and I honestly felt so overwhelmed with love and appreciation. With all our friends it's always someones birthday, which makes birthdays feel a little less special because it seems like every couple weeks we're going to dinner for someone else's birthday. Last night felt far from routine. I felt really special. I am so thankful for my friends. I feel incredibly blessed. The one regret is not getting any photos. I kept telling myself to take pictures, but I was just too frazzled.

Thank you so much Emilee, Courtnie, Kevin, Tom, Colin, Aimee, Jerry, Dave, Logan, Brittany, Jason, Maria, and Jenn.