Reflecting.

Beginnings and Endings.

This past week, something very poignant happened... a beautiful old woman I knew left the earth and an adorable baby girl joined it. The two events occurred within 24 hours of one another and I was struck by just how circle of life-y it made me feel. Because the universe can be incredibly confusing at times, challenging us, delivering struggles and causing pain, but this was amazingly clear: sometimes the universe must do out with the old and in with the new. And both events were uniquely beautiful - celebrating the end of 97 years of life and adoring the first few hours of another. It's rare to have things like this coincide so exactly, but on some other-worldly level, Mollie's departure and Marie's arrival seem very much a sign that the universe is in fact thinking of us and asking us to keep the faith. I'm going to try to remember that.

Have a wonderful weekend my merry friends!

On old balls.

Ask Marilyn- lounging on the couch is the height of glamour

Remember THIS post when I proclaimed my old-ness because of a decision to pair a work outfit with gym sneakers for a walk home? Well move over fashion faux pas, there's a new sign of old balls in town. You see, it's Friday and even though Sis has invited me to a one-more-night-in-costume Halloween party at a bar (and you know how much I love Halloween), I kinda, sorta, want to stay... in. Someone register me for AARP.

This morning, as I peeled myself out of bed and stared in the mirror at "good luck with that concealer" levels of dark circles under my eyes, I started to think about the awesomeness of Friday and my post-work plans (gotta get through the work day somehow!) Staring down the barrel of a drunken night in costume while I brushed my teeth, I fantasized about yoga, take-out noodles and cleaning my apartment. That's right, I am now daydreaming about a pile-free kitchen table and 75 minutes of stretching. WHAT!? Based on these visions, it would seem, I'm at precipice. Though I've always prided myself on boundless energy and being extremely persuadable, my tastes are apparently changing. Relaxing by going out and feelin fly now has solid competition from staying in and wearing sweatpants... That's what I call old balls right there. And while there's definitely still a chance I'll "(wo)man up" and throw on my Dracula cape one more time tonight, if this rain doesn't stop and there's a good movie on TBS... somebody get me an order of drunken noodles and let's call it a night. 

I want to go to there.

Have a wonderful (and relaxing) weekend my merry friends!!

A Manhattan Moment... tales from 4:45am

Damn you hooligans!!

Last night, as Dr. H and I were peacefully attempting to sleep off our first-day-back-from-vaca exhaustion, we were startled awake around 4:45am by a thunderous crash. "What the hell!?" he says. "This can't be for real" I reply. Already accustomed to the occasional garbage truck or screaming college coed late at night, we knew this was something new... and ongoing... and f'ing loud. We clicked on the sound machine and I popped in my ear plugs. Reverse beeping, asphalt dumping. Now I'm out of bed, opening up the terrace door, observing in horror a full-fledged construction scene four stories below. I'm pissed. Hell hath no fury like a woman woken from deep slumber (and who is now stuck in bed with a tossing and turning husband). I needed to take action. I needed to complain!!

As I spelled out my street address to the lady on the other end of my 311 call (who sounded exactly the way you'd expect someone working the pre-dawn shift at 311 to sound...) I thought to myself "holy crap, I am that crazy lady!" I'm that lady calling to lodge a complaint, demanding an explanation, snapping pictures with my cell phone and mentally drafting a heated letter "to the authorities" while I attempt not to foam at the mouth. I think this makes it official folks, I'm old.

Hump Day Distractions

Do not surrender! We're halfway there!!

Welcome to Wednesday my merry friends! It's all kinds of toasty here in NYC so I suggest we turn up the AC and hump this week out together.

* Pluto hasn't been a planet in over five years (and other things that will make you feel OLD!)
* Obviously I taste as I go (who doesn't do that!?) but I'm making a ton of these common cooking mistakes... until now!

* Dog vs. Bubble

* A great read about the relationships we form with our Nannies (of the caregiver, not grandmother variety)

* "I think it's a book about a haunted theme park and it stars a magical magic guy and he's good and evil and he's trying to get rid of the ghosts" - a 6 year old's guess as to the plot of The Great Gatsby based on the cover art.

* Take me to the dollar store, I have dishes to make! (Has anyone ever tried this? Does it really work!?)

* Looking for fifteen friends to take a bike ride in Des Moines, Iowa with me. (via IowaGirlEats)

* When it's time to sleep, it's time to sleep (doggy style).