Airline Fail

Oh Delta, you have managed to keep me grounded in the worst possible place on the face of God's green earth...Los Angeles. Okay, for those of you who might read this and live here, I am sorry that you do actually live here. New Yorkers are known to loathe this West Coast city, and keeping with the trend, so do I. So why am I stuck in smog city? Well, I wish I could tell you. For some reason, Delta decided to move my 2:00 p.m. flight (Pacific Time) to 6:45! Patrick and I checked the weather in Kauai this morning, and it looked like smooth sailing and clear skies. So, I am left to ponder the question of what happened for 6+ hours since I landed at 11:30 this morning (PT). Now I have the pleasure of arriving in Kauai at 9:45 (Hawaiian Time...not sure if that is the correct time zone name, but you know what I mean) which is about 3:45 a.m. back on the East Coast. My trip thus far has not seemed to pan out the way I have wanted it to, but I guess, as the saying goes, it can only go up from here. Well, Kauai, you better bring your most beautiful weather, landscape, friendly natives, and lots of leis my way because now I am expecting the best. Good thing I know this little island will live up to my high expectations, because the laundry and Delta have surely let me down this week. I promise, my next post will be full of happiness, pictures, and the spirit of ALOOOOOOO-HA!

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Laundry Fail

Well folks, today has been a productive day for me thus far. I woke up a little earlier than the usual, ran 3 miles, got myself together, and bought a new piece of large luggage. I also got about $30 worth of quarters from the bank just so I can do my gazillion loads of laundry that have piled up over the past week and a half. By the way, Patrick and I are leaving for Hawaii tomorrow, and today allowed itself for a perfect day of laundering our clothes. That is until I went downstairs and my super told me, in his ever so gentle and kind way, that all of the machines were just removed from the basement to be fixed...for a week. I, literally, missed my window by 5 minutes! I think I felt my heart poop out on the floor in such dismay that I almost wanted to cry. "Oh, I am so sorry my dear," said the super. "Can you wait a week?" My reply was a sad little, "No...I am leaving for a trip tomorrow." He proceeded to tell me that the nearest laundromat was 4 blocks away. Feeling downtrodden, I pushed my basket of dirty cloths back into the elevator and returned to my apartment. So, being a social worker, and having a pretty good sense of humor, I laughed off this ridiculous situation and began to problem-solve. Patrick and I have decided that one suitcase will carry dirty clothes and the other our clean, and I will just have to do laundry when we get to the Westin Villas in Princeville, Kauai. Ok, so it not the ideal way to begin our vacation, but it is kind of a funny way to do so. After we made up our plan, Mr. Superintendent comes knocking on my door and offers to take me to the laundromat himself. He felt so badly for me, but I refused his kindness as graciously as I could because he has better things to do than cart me around to wash my clothes. I told him that I procrastinated, which made him laugh. He said he wished he could have let me know sooner that we would not have the washing machines weeks ago, but the guy he was working with was shady and a liar. Oh boy...at least he will be looking after our apartment to make sure it is safe when we are away. He really is the nicest man I know. I am never sarcastic when I talk about him...if you met him, you would love him too. So, now I suppose I better sort through my dirty laundry and pack for this trip. Never thought I would say that to anyone...

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Cancun

About two weeks ago, I went to Cancun with Patrick, my mom, and step-dad, Kirk. For years, we have talked about going on a vacation together, and we finally made it happen. It was the perfect time of year to go since April is the shoulder season (the time between spring break and summer). It wasn't very crowded and we got some amazing rates for our hotel rooms at the Westin Lagunamar, situated right on the Hotel Zone in Cancun. With a pristine beach and clear aqua water, it is the perfect setting for relaxation, fun, and sun (when we had it). The Westin Lagunamar is located across the street from a large shopping complex and there are lots of restaurants within walking distance. Being from New York, proximity to the necessities is important! All of the larger attractions and historical sites are quite far from the Hotel Zone, but those are a must see when visiting Cancun. We decided to venture to Chichen Itza via CARM tours, one of the wonders of the ancient world, and a fascinating place it is! Our tour guide was full of facts (maybe too many since he sucked up a lot of our allotted time and we ended up ditching him so that we could explore the sacred grounds), and our drivers got us back to enjoy some tacos! Here's a fun fact about Chichen Itza: If you stand in front of the stairs and clap, the sound travels up the stairs and echoes a bird sound back as it bounces off the top of the temple. So cool! My birthday just to happened to land on our final full day in Cancun. How did that happen? The day started with going to the Westin Resort and Spa (located on the other end of the Hotel Zone) where I had a wonderful hot stone massage. It was my mom's first time ever going to a really nice spa, and I think I converted her to the lap of luxury. She had a 50 minute facial, and she looked radiant afterwards! Once we were all nice and relaxed, we headed back to finish up some last minute shopping and pool time before heading over to Fred's House for a tasty seafood birthday dinner. I had crab soup and a lovely house salad with fresh goat cheese, but I did manage to try some grilled octopus that Kirk had ordered. Dinner is always a fun occasion with my mom and Kirk because we pass around our food, wanting to sample everything we have ordered. Kirk usually kicks this off with his statement, "Oh my God, Lin (my mom), you gotta try this." He says this as a utensil piled with food is right under my mom's nose. "No thanks," she politely declines. However, being a true Italian, he insists and my mom eats the food and repeats, "Oh my God. That is so good." Thus we all are inclined to sample one another's food with much laughter and lots of happy stomachs. So here are a few pics from our trip. If you are ever in need of a good vacation, check out the Westin Laugnamar. Each room is a villa equipped with a full-functioning kitchen complete with pots, pans, and anything you would have at home! The resort also has activities for families such as a kids club, themed buffets, pool games and contests, a water slide, and DVD rentals. Make sure you go during the slower seasons to get better rates and you too can say "Bienvenidos a Mexico!"

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Not at Home

What I am about to reveal may come as a shocker to some of you, but it is the truth. I am a homebody. Don't get me wrong, I love to travel, as you well know, and I love seeking out new adventures. I also love coming home that first night from a long trip and sleeping in my own bed, with my own pillow, in my own sheets that smell like Gain detergent which cover the squishiest mattress that I simply adore. My daily routine consists largely of me staying inside my home because I have a lot of favorite indoor activities that I like to do every day. I actually have to force myself to go outside just to get some vitamin D and a nice jog. But, usually, I stay inside until I have to go to work in the afternoon. This may sound silly, and it may sound lame, but it is who I am. When I was a little girl, I was the quiet one who preferred to read for long periods of time rather than play with the neighborhood kids in our alley. If I did go outside, it was to chase squirrels, sit on the back deck with just my dog, or once again...read for a long period of time. I was never lonely, and it never bothered me. In fact, I reveled in my stealthy ability to escape all forms of society, especially when my mom would suddenly realize she hadn't seen me around for quite some time and would shout, "Beth? Beth? Where's Beth?" I rarely answered her and would smile briefly before returning to my book pages. I suppose that being a homebody has cultivated a wild imagination for me. I still like to dream up stories and personal adventures, and I am rarely bored because of that. It has also helped me balance out my travel pursuits, knowing that even if I go far away to exotic places, there is no place like home and it is always waiting for me. My particular case of preferring to stay in my home environment does not ever keep me from staying in one place for very long, however. I still retain that impish itch to find the new, the alluring, the charming, the delicious, the fun, the adventures that call my soul into searching. Yet when those longings subside, I am ever-content to knit, paint, read, and watch Pride and Prejudice for the gazillionth time in my home. Yes, I love my home. Tonight, I will not be sleeping at home, but it is only for a short while. Fortunately, I am only a few blocks from home tonight (working this weekend babysitting my favorite little ones while their parents are on vacation) and I was able to swing by my apartment today to pick up my pillow. If I can't have my whole bed to sleep in tonight, at least I will have my pillow that smells like home, for the time being. Speaking of not being home, I will be sure to post about my recent trip to Cancun, Mexico!!! It was a super fun one, and staying at any Westin almost feels like home to me. Ha! I even thought that as soon as I walked into the lobby and smelled that signature Westin odor. Well happy weekend!!! Here's to thoughts of home.

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Brooklyn Day

Every once in a while, Patrick and I need a Brooklyn day because it is really a great borough and sometimes we really miss it. My favorite place in all the city is perhaps the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, and this time of year the cherry blossoms are beginning to bloom. Just like D.C., they have a cherry blossom festival, celebrating the beauty of the blossoms and partaking in the Japanese tradition of Hanami, which is the art of staring at the cherry trees in full bloom. If you go when the trees are in peak bloom, you can understand from where this tradition came. Not only are the cherry blossoms out, but we also viewed a variety of spring time flora including, lilacs, hyacinth, daffodils, and magnolias.

I am having difficulty with the new format of blogger, and so I apologize for the weird placement of my paragraphs. Hopefully they will fix this problem. Anyways... After the garden, we took a stroll through Prospect Park into the Park Slope neighborhood where we had a late brunch at the Stone Park Cafe. I had shrimp and grits topped with a poached egg, and Patrick ordered the best BLT he has ever consumed (specially made with Berkshire pork belly instead of bacon). It was a lovely day spent in Brooklyn.

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Dim Sum is Some Fun

I have had many a culinary experience whilst living in New York City, save for a very essential one...Dim Sum in Chinatown.

I woke up this morning not wanting to leave the warmth and coziness of my bed. I knew it was going to be a cold and rainy day, and with this knowledge, it makes it very difficult to leave the comfort of slumber. Alas, Patrick made me an offer I couldn't refuse. If I got into the shower, he would make coffee, otherwise it would have been the other way around. I relented and trudged my sleepy self into the bathroom and got ready to meet up with our friends, Tanya and Jeremy, for our dim sum date.

Not knowing what to expect, I went along merrily (the shower and coffee woke me up and the excitement overtook any ideas of sleep) wondering what I was about to encounter. Patrick and I found our friends in the Grand Street subway station, and coming from two different areas of the city, this was quite an amazing feat that we unknowingly accomplished.

Traveling through the streets of Chinatown is like being in another world, and I love it. Store fronts are decorated with roasting ducks and animal parts that are too strange to figure out. Fruit and vegetables of unknown origins peppered with the familiar apples, tomatoes, and oranges line grocery doorways. All signs are labeled in Chinese, and some are kind enough to have English translations so you know what you are getting yourself into. And let's not forget all the jewelry, handbags, watches, and sunglasses that are offered every 10 steps you take. "Nice lady, you want handbag?" Good thing I have mastered the art of ignoring people who are trying to sell their wares.

Upon entering our restaurant of choice called Jing Fong, I was in awe of the dim sum experience immediately. As soon as you step into the foyer, you hop onto the forever long escalator ride into a Chinese wonderland of glitz and glamor. Gaudy and sparkly chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and there are hundreds of tables covered in fresh white linens, and of course there is red and gold in all of the decor.

The four of us were seated, and Patrick and I sat back as Tanya and Jeremy began requesting our food from the steam baskets that contained all sorts of dumplings, spring rolls, pork products, items wrapped in leaves, seafood stuffed rice wrappers...you name it, they had it. To keep track of all that we ordered, we were given a piece of paper (our bill) and they stamped it for each item we took off of the cart. And I must not forget the tea! Everyone is given Chinese tea, and they refill it as many times as needed. Here is a fun fact for you. Dim sum in Cantonese means "drink tea."

It was a wonderful way to begin a Saturday morning.

I am eating rice and pork wrapped up in leaves. So good!

Patrick was given a fork after struggling with his chopsticks

Jeremy and Tanya enjoying their dim sum! Good times with good friends.

I call this one the open faced crab dumpling. It was super delish.

One of the waitresses with her cart o' steam baskets.

Thanks to Tanya and Jeremy for asking us to do this with them. We had a blast with ya'll!

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It's Almost April!

Spring is in full swing here in the Big Apple, and I love it. We may be experiencing cooler temperatures for the moment, but everything around me suggests that the warmth has returned for good. Spring is one of my most favorite times of the year! I love to watch the flowers slowly peak out from the once frozen ground, bringing brilliant colors of violet and yellow, or notice the rosy pink of the blooming buds on cherry trees burst forth in fluffy flowers that adorn the branches as I walk along Riverside Park. I took such a walk just yesterday, and here is what I saw!

Have a happy spring-filled Friday afternoon and a great weekend!

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The Many Faces of Noelle

Last week I was able to spend almost a week with my sister, brother-in-law, and their new little dear one. She is growing so much every day, and I am glad I could capture some of her facial expressions.

hehe...Tori and I couldn't help but laugh at this little funny face.

She is so cute, isn't she? Okay, I am slightly biased, but still...look at that face!

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Travels..as of late.

For those of you who know Patrick and I, you by now realize that we love to travel. We are constantly on the go, and although it can be quite exhausting at times, I enjoy visiting places new and old.

This past weekend we went to Arizona to meet up with Patrick's mom and sister, Emily, for some spring time excitement. On Saturday, which was St. Patrick's Day as well as Patrick's birthday (yes, that is why he is named Patrick), we hit up the Rockin Rodeo, dressed in cowboy boots and all, and supported the Hospice program that is a part of Tucson Medical Center. Every year they throw this event and raise money via silent auction and gaming tables where all the proceeds go to this charity. It sure was fun, boot scootin, black jackin, and eating lots of delicious cowboy type fare.

Me and Emily

Me and Patrick lookin' good.

Mom and Emily two stepping'

Patrick swinging his partner, Emily, round the floor.

Back at the Homestead, we surprised Patrick with a cake! Happy 27th Birthday!

After we celebrated Patrick's b-day, we hit the sack and slumbered like there was no tomorrow. Enough with the cowboy lingo...The next day we drove to Phoenix to go to a spring training game to watch the Angels play the Dodgers. Patrick is having a difficult time letting go of Mr. Pujols, although he won't outright admit to it, so we had to see him play for his new team. Just to let you know, Patrick is still an avid Cardinals fan, but saying goodbye is difficult to do.

We thought the game was going to be rained out, and yet the sun decided to shine through 5 whole innings...just for us :)

So excited to watch the game!!!

Trying to stay warm...rain and hail were coming our way!

Albert Pujols...there he is. Patrick took many pictures of him that day. We were quite close to him (our seats were along the first base line...for a reason).

This week I am heading down to Jersey to spend time with my sister, brother-in-law, Noelle, and lots of other family members! My twin cousins are in a school musical, Lil' Abner, and I cannot wait to see them shine on the stage. It is going to be a great week!

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