Brunch, More Brunch, The Strawberry Beret, Movies, and Tea

So let me summarize my last week...I've been back on working out, which is wonderful because my arthritic knee decided to throw a tantrum, and I've been sans cardio for a month. Yikes. Well, the day before Mother's Day, my family took my mom to Bedford Post, owned by Richard Gere. Haha. It was good, but not something I'd go out of my way to get to. In true Southern Westchester style, it was Anglo-Waspy-mania up in there! But that's okay. The following day, I met up with Terry-a, Steven, and Seren. When I went to Seattle, I found this super cute kid's hat that looks like a strawberry. I bought it and planned to give it to Seren. I've received two photos of Seren with it on, so it's safe to say she likes it! Marcus and I watched "You Don't Know Jack", an HBO movie starring Al Pacino that chronicles the life and career of the controversial Dr. Kevorkian. It was pretty good, and I've always wanted to know more about him and what inspired him to really lead the human euthanasia movement. And who knew he was also an artist and musician?! Apparently he's had his stuff in galleries, and he released an album once. Then I watched "Flashdance" on TV which I was excited about because I've never seen it in its entirety. I watched part of "Heaven and Earth" again yesterday, and once again, it's such a great, but seriously depressing film. Today I met up with my friend Liz again. We grabbed some lunch and tea at The Adore. We both ordered lapsang souchong, a black tea. She described it perfectly...she said it tastes like ashes from a fireplace! It's this good smokey, black tea. Before meeting up with Liz I went to a couple of places in search of something simple...plain black socks with no polyester. Who knew that would be so hard! I went to a couple of places before I found them at DSW! I thought I was going to have to buy horrific socks with cartoons of animals and teeny bopper phrases on them...

Reunions, Bruises, and Disasters

Okay, so I have not been on Facebook or really been interested. I found out I actually have an account, and recently, I wanted to contact some friends that I lost touch with. And this Facebook thing really came through! The other night I met up with Julie and Jindallrae, my old friends from my Access Hollywood days. I have kept in touch with Jindallrae, but I had not seen Julie in about 8 years! Well it was great to see her, and to hang out all together. She's now a news reporter in Philly. Impressive! Then I met up with Liz, an old high school friend who I lost touch with and had not spoken to in maybe 12 years! She's an artist and living in NYC now! It was like we barely missed a beat. Hanging out was just as easy and natural as it was back in the day. I also saw my trainer and we did some kickboxing and as usual, when I work with kicking and knee-ing punching bags, I get bruised (thus the ugly photo). Love 'em! Then yesterday I worked as a per diem veterinarian in NYC. Hmm...I don't know if I want to do that again. Things were a bit hectic, stressful...I didn't like walking into a situation where I had no idea how to use the computer system, didn't know anyone's names, and didn't know how things went at that hospital...augh!!!

Sleepover Time

Yesterday my good friend Christina, who I met during my internship, came over and we had a sleepover! It was a lot of fun. She's also a veterinarian, and one of the few people I trust to deal with Gustaf, our cat, on a medical basis. She's helped me draw blood on him in the past and has been my go-to girl for a sure-shot blood draw or urine sample! Well, yesterday we bummed around the West and East Village and ate dinner at Caracas Arepa Bar. It was good stuff. I love arepas! We then went home, and had plans of going out again, but we were beat! We watched a movie on TV with Marcus, then went to bed. This morning we went to the Smyth Hotel's new restaurant, Plein Sud, to have breakfast. What a cute place! And the food was pretty good. Then we went to MoMA and checked out the much talked about "The Artist Is Present" performance art installation, complete with live nude artists. It was pretty cool; I'm not a big performance art fanatic, but I can definitely respect the intensity and devotion it takes to do this kind of this. My favorite parts were film reels of male performers humping green grass on a hill, the artist Marina Abramovic aggressively fondling her own breasts, and women dressed in traditional Baltic dresses in the rain lifting their skirts and getting their nether regions wet...and why? Apparently, this was an expression addressing the old Baltic myths that if men masturbate to the Earth it will become fertile, and that the rain would stop if women expose themselves to it...and there was something to do with the breast fondling, but I forgot! I think fondling them would bring rain. Then there was another short film where Marina and her long time performing partner where locked lipped for minutes, breathing in and out from each other, which eventually became basically carbon dioxide, until they almost passed out. Intense! We then headed to my favorite---the permanent collection, where I got to see my beloved Matisse masterpieces. But there were way too many people there, and we were getting annoyed (well mostly I was) so we left, and went back downtown. We grabbed some lunch and hung out at home.

Fish, Flowers, And More Coffee

So on my last day in the Pacific Northwest, Stacy and I grabbed some breakfast at a cafe near the water. Then we headed down to Pike Place Market. It was pretty interesting. Tons of beautiful fresh flowers, mostly tulips, and crazy, crazy fresh seafood. Geez, if I lived in Seattle, all I would do is buy fresh caught fish and drink coffee! There were some vendors selling crafts, pasta, local cheese, and jams. But by far, the fish situation was impressive. Of course I grabbed a couple of cups of coffee, and then before going to the airport we went to an internet cafe where you got a great deal: buy a drink, get a half hour of internet! And what did I eat at the airport? Halibut, of course! So in summary, it was wonderful to see Stacy. We saw each other all the time in vet school, and now we live on opposite sides of the country. But it is good to know that I'd want to visit Seattle and the surrounding area even if I didn't know someone there. The coffee is gorgeous, the food, especially the seafood was spectacular, and the weather was entertaining. Seattle is a very clean city, with friendly people. I'd definitely recommend Seattle as a great place for a long weekend. Oh and I saw that Space Needle building from the beginning of the show "Frasier", but we didn't go in it and do the whole tour (Stacy offered, I declined). Again, if you like coffee and seafood, this is the place for you!

Coffee, Weather, and More Coffee

On Tuesday Stacy and I headed to Seattle for an overnight stay. One thing I instantly noticed about this part of the country were the curious weather patterns. I figured because it was always raining, people would be walking around with umbrellas. But my entire trip I only saw two people with them...the reason? I think it's because in one day, it'll be sunny, then rain a little, then hail a little, and then be sunny again! And this happened while I was there. And coffee joints, I mean GOOD coffee joints were everywhere! It was heavenly. And I have always loathed Starbucks, so I avoided those. But there were plenty of excellent coffee shops. And my theory on that? Well, since Seattle is kinda a sleepy city, in that it's always sort of cloudy with a little rain, you get a little snoozy... and need some coffee! The only place I've been this impressed with the coffee has been Bogota in Colombia. Anyway, we went to this pizza place called Serious Pie. And this was no joke---gourmet pizza all the way. This pizza was so good, I would have to say it's the best pizza I've had here in the U.S. Apparently this place was boasted about on "The Best Thing I Ever Ate", a Food Network show, if that validates if for you...ha ha. God that was good food. The rest of the day we walked around and checked out some shopping. We briefly checked out the shops by Pike Place Market, and passed the original Starbucks. Did you know the original Starbucks lady on their logo is topless? I guess they had to clean it up to go mainstream.

The Pacific Northwest!

I just got back from a short trip to the state of Washington. I went to spend some time with my very close friend Stacy. So as I have done with previous trips, I'll try to best chronicle the day-to-day with a couple of posts! Well, I got there this past Sunday, and Stacy picked me up from the Seattle airport and we headed for Olympia, a suburban town about one hour outside Seattle. There, I got to see Stacy and her husband Casey's home. And I got to meet their two dogs, Charlie and Doji (see the photo)! We headed down to the farmer's market and ate some pretty good food, and got my first taste of the wonderful coffee over there in the Seattle area! It was at Dancing Goats Coffee Bar...yummy! We went to the in-laws house and met a bunch of friends, and took part in a carrot cake tasting event. Nine people baked carrot cakes and we all judged them, prizes and all. The next day we bummed around Olympia, ate some Thai food and of course I got some coffee! That night Stacy, Casey, and I went to this great seafood restaurant called Anthony's and I had some pretty decadent local salmon. After dinner we watched "Breach" at home, and it was a pretty good movie.

Across the River

Today I went to an interview at a hospital in Jersey City. The trek was unexpectedly long! I can see Jersey City from my apartment, so I figured all in all it would take me maybe 45 minutes door to door. Well, it took an hour and a half! Because of the hospital's location in Jersey City, I had to take two New Jersey Transit trains, one of which only runs every 20 minutes when I was heading over there. But I liked what I heard at the interview, so we'll see. A plus: I was in the heart of a Filipino neighborhood, so I grabbed some yummy baked products on my way back to New York. Then, a somewhat surreal and disturbing event unfolded before my eyes: I was back in my hood, and passing the Whole Foods we shop at, down in Tribeca. Then a whorl of flashing cameras was crossing my path into Whole Foods. I took a closer look and it was Jessica Alba trying to act as normal as possible while 6 men with flashing cameras were hounding her. It was really appalling. I guess the price of fame, but really crazy.