Nothing like a dose of California!

Ah, I am rejuvenated. Eternal thanks to my peeps for the soul food. I am joyously reminded of who I am in this world - sister, daughter, friend, mom - and have returned to NJ with a renewed sense of strength. Ha, more like balls-to-the-wall determinism. Drove to NY yesterday (ALONE!) to round out the friend tour. Pretty sure I would not have done that 2 months ago, even if it wasn't snowing. I just feel like I'm back in my own skin, and dang, that feels so good.

I drove through the Lincoln Tunnel (that's a trip), and promptly spent 20 minutes stuck in traffic in the Theater District (could have cared less, it was so awesome), took a few minutes to stare at the beautiful ceiling in Grand Central Station (the image of which has been 'created' in so many books I've read), wandered through the Rose Reading Room at the NY Public Library smelling books (remember, I love books more than shoes), enjoyed a delicious lunch at Le Pain Quotidien in Midtown, and took a little stroll down 5th Avenue, oh and past Bryant Park (Project Runway junkie!) - all of this with my dear, dear friend (from California, of course). When I left, despite the specific instructions from the Concierge of how to get back to the Lincoln Tunnel, I missed a turn and ended up right in the middle of Times Square! I've been to New York a few times, but I'm still one of those 'wide-eyed' WOWers. It's just so vibrant, and different, and crowded, and has an unmatchable cool factor. I can't wait to go back!

Happy Green Day and catching up

I'm just enough Irish to love St. Patrick's Day! Not the Green beer kind of celebrating, but Cereal with green milk for breakfast, Corned Beef & Cabbage for dinner and Green Cupcakes for dessert. I know, the food coloring is disgusting, but the kids love it! Everyone left the house today wearing a bit'o the Green and we have a few Leprechaun traps around the house, so we'll see what happens!

On to the random thoughts: Alexander sprained his ankle last week at recess. It's not bad, but it is his first injury, so enough pain to freak him out. He's wearing an aircast (preventatively) and thinks it's pretty cool. Sprained ankles are weird, if you don't let the first one heal really well, you'll be prone to them for the rest of your like (right Shawn?).

Andrew finally got a hair cut - strike up the band! His shadow-fro was starting to scare me! He usually prefers to keep it short, so letting it get 'big' has been interesting. I swear if he had combed it out, it would have been 4 inches deep. Other news, the Crew team finally got on the water yesterday, maiden voyage on the training barge. Andrew said it was great! And, he's been inducted into the National Honor Society. A good week already!

William is enjoying his new karate class. Looks like the months at Hiruko have paid off, he's got a mean front kick. Karate is different from Tae Kwon Do, but he's coming up to speed quickly. He's reading too, so light bulbs are going off left and right. It's so exciting!

You know what's coming when crave meat, and not chocolate ... after how many years, and I'm still surprised by this phenomenon. Not to mention the ensuing mood E-Ride, I swear it gets worse as I get older. It's a good thing Thomas is traveling, he escaped just in time. My poor kids, they must wonder where their 'real' mom went! Don't worry darlings, I'll be back, the Leprechauns hijacked me!

Just got tickets to see Jay Mohr at Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, so I know we'll have a good laugh in a few weeks.

xoxo
P

Adrenaline

Last Friday night, while slightly Martini-ated, I agreed to workout with one of my NAFs (that's New Acquaintance-Friend) and her personal trainer this morning. I need a jump start, she'd be happy to have a workout partner - sounds great, right? My NAF goes to her gym @5:30am to warm up with cardio, and her trainer works her out @6am for 24 minutes, to be exact. It's a hardcore, no stopping, full load workout that sounded great to me, so I said 'yes' - actually I think I said, 'in the words of Michael Jackson I'll Be There' (what a goober). Anyhow, I got there on time to do cardio and then met Jen - the trainer. No one should be that upbeat @6am, but she was, and with a big smile and an awesome handshake. So no joke - and I'm not a wimp, honestly - within the first 2 minutes of jump rope - I was winded. I'm talking the double foot jump, no hops in between, Sugar Ray Leonard type of jumping rope. I actually had to single foot it a few times just to catch my breath. What a start! From there straight to push ups, then these heinous lungy squat things called "Spider Mans" ... there was a lot more after that, but I'll spare you the details. Either I should have had a little bite to eat before I went, or a sip of coffee, or I'm just pathetically out of shape, but I got home @6:45am, wow, and flopped on the floor until I no longer felt like I had to barf. Geez! And am I going back? You betcha! It's called Adrenaline, check it out!

Being the glutton for punishment that I am, I followed up with a 2 hour walk with another NAF. It'll be interesting to see if I can walk tomorrow!

xoxo
P

Trader Joe's - FOUND!

Yipee, there's a TJ's in Westfield, New Jersey - it's only 1 hour away. I have no clue where I'm going; have Garmin, will travel. I'm so excited! I don't know how my kids have survived without my last minute gourmet meals (ha) - they think I really 'make' the Fettucine Alfredo and Gnocchi. OMG, my mouth is kind of watering, Lime Basil Basamati Rice - Israeli Couscous - YUMMO! And I'm sorry, but if they don't have the black bean taquitos I'm going to be so mad.

Side note: no alcohol - WHAT? Oh well, I'm still a Happy Girl!

xoxo
P

Blogger's Block

Not sure why, but I have Blogger's Block. I've written half a dozen partial blogs, re-read them and deemed them really boring. Now that we're really 'Here', and I've already shared so much, to chat at you about my day seems so weird! I'll try to keep it interesting, but bear with me, 'cause afterall, I'm still just a girl trying to find a place in the big East, right?

Of note: we did survive our first nor'easter. About 1 and 1/2 feet of snow in less that 24 hours with wind chill temperatures that would surely chill you to the bone. The kids enjoyed a Snow Day and a half with plenty of snowball fights and lots of hot chocolate. The days since have been gloriously sunny with the sky a brilliant blue - a freindly reminder of warmer days to come.

In celebration of the sunshine, I bought some flowers and have begun investigating where I can plop a few tomato plants when the time comes. William, my garden assistant, has been wondering 'where are we going to grow stuff?' - love it. In California, we spent hours in the garden, not that either of us are green thumbs, we just like digging in the dirt. To me, a freshly tilled patch of dirt is simply beautiful.

I guess 'sunshine' is the topic here - yesterday was downright warm. We sat on the front porch basking in sunlight (nursing tiny Martini hangovers), while the kids pummeled each other with slushy snowballs. Three soaking pair of shoes later, we grabbed our scooters and headed to the park. Nothing like warm weather to put a friendly smile on people's faces - no, I'm serious - markedly different vibe when the sun is out around here. Smile and Wave people!

But, not to get too excited, it's supposed to rain for the next three days. It's a good thing to have enjoyed it while it lasted!

xoxo
P