Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

The energy and excitement of NYC. It's never been a place I had a desire to call home, but I love visiting. This trip reminded me that I want to visit in December. The decorations were going up and it felt so festive. I've never done Christmas in NY. Yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas spirit feels abundant this year and maybe a little early, but I'm feeling it too.

I've started my holiday shopping. I'm having fun with it this year.

A successful trip to NYC, an excellent December for Katz Consulting and a return spring trip in the works. 

Mike's birthday was the day after I left, but we celebrated over the weekend with takeout Thai and presents. His last gift arrived on his bday as if I planned it that way. His trio of Hub's peanuts was a hit. Hub's are also another sign that tis' the season. The chocolate covered are insanely delicious.

 

Sister Hazel Mae missed me while I was gone. Really missed me. She protested by sleeping in a basket of my sweaters and was not here usual loquacious little self. It's so good to be loved by Hazel.

 

 She's not letting me out of her sight since I've been home.

 

Celebrating my mil's bday this month too.

 

Family is coming to town from Long Beach and Austin for Thanksgiving next week. I'm so looking forward to some cousin time. I think we're all feeling the more the merrier.

A catch up call with my uncle last night, and a nice long chat with Meryl tonight.

Holiday hints...a wheel of Rush Creek Reserve, a wine delivery, Trader Joe's Mini Mint Star Cookies and a twinkle lit ivy wreath, Frasier Fir candles, and cinnamon tea just for starters.

 

Sarah Snook in It's All Her Fault. She's so good! 

Ted stopped by to get a car. After basketball, he's coming back to hang with me. I like a little mom/son Friday pizza and movie night. 

Toll House Bars with extra chocolate chips. If 2 cups are good, 4 cups are better. I only had one, but I hope the guys at deer camp are enjoying them.

Violet roses in a blue McKenzie Childs vase for Sue's b-day, and her thanking me for being Kristinized.

  

Soup weather. Mike is now the maker of Lasagna Soup because he makes it best. Lily requested Broccoli Soup when I returned Saturday evening.

 

 

 Cats in the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

In The City

Oh hey. I'm back after a quick trip to NYC...mostly for work. I wasn't sure that the travel would be a go with both O'Hare and La Guardia affected by the air traffic controller situation, but the flights were seamless. I say that only to contradict myself and say that no matter where you go these days, it's almost always a full day of travel, and thus, not fun or pleasant. I left my house at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning and arrived in NY at dusk. It was a direct flight.

 

We stayed in mid-town at a new to us hotel called The Library. It's definitely the place to stay for a bibliophile. If only I had time to explore their collections. Each one of the seventy rooms is an homage to a literary genre. I spent two nights in Erotic Lit and two more in Travel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I met Linda for dinner night one at the hotel restaurant, Mason and Vine. It was a hopping spot and the food was quite good especially the olives (in my dirty martini), the Caesar salad and the pomme frites. The chicken Milanese was yummy too. I was in bed with my book for a comfy and solid night's sleep.

 

Wednesday we had lunch at Juniors before heading to NBC. My corn beef sammy was so good that I didn't even touch my soup and split pea is a favorite. When in NY you just do the deli. Eat the meat. We took cheesecake(s) to go because Linda has the world's most insatiable sweet tooth. On the way to 30 Rock, we picked up tickets for a Friday night show. We are both serious theater buffs so we always fit one in.

 

 

 

 

 

We made it to Rockefeller Plaza where the tree is getting blinged behind the scaffolding. We set up for our Thursday morning presentation in record time, took our annual rickshaw ride back to the hotel which was extra festive this go around thanks to the Christmas tunes and the chill in the air and then we met for aps and drinks at the roof top bar. It was early to bed because our big day was Thursday.

 

 

 

 

We had a very good day at NBC so we made reserves at Benjamin, the steak house down the street with no idea at all of what we were in for. What we were in for was maybe the best steak I've every had in such a swanky spot where we were treated like royalty because Linda often has that affect on people. Our drinks were comped, our dessert was comped and our porterhouse was 100 percent perfection. The tenderloin rare for me and the sirloin medium for her. Here's where I swear by going with the flow. In a city of some of the most acclaimed restaurants, we happened upon one of the best steak houses in NYC and the concierge was able to get us last minute reserves.

 

 

After a couple hours of work Friday morning, we made our way to the Winter Village at Bryant Park for some shopping and a little lunch. The Christmas Market filled me with holiday spirit. It was such a quaint experience in the middle of the bustling city. A real gem. The artisans had unique pieces and I wanted to buy them all. I exercised great restraint, and boy I'm regretting that. We did our fair share of street shopping on our way home. We are all good this winter with hats and scarves and gloves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We did a quick change and caught a cab to the theater for Death Becomes Her. I laughed often and out-loud. It was a clever cast and a witty plot and not our first choice, yet a good one. Again you can plan and plan or go with the flow and not let perfect ruin perfectly good.

 

 

  

 

We ate late night cheeseburgers just before our hotel restaurant closed..NY is no longer the city that never sleeps. It was a quick sleep because I had to wake up early to pack for another full day of travel.

 

It was a different kind of trip because we never ventured from mid-town and we did far less walking than usual. Linda just cannot do it anymore. It's just strange to be close to so many attractions and not have the time or the ability to explore. I managed to fit in a walk about one evening that left me buzzing with energy and longing for more.

 

 

 

 

 

 I was also longing for home and happy to return.

 

No Reason

 

Today is the kind of day that makes me feel like writing. It's broody and gloomy and just perfect for picking up a pen. I was up early for my annual physical. I've been putting it off as I do every year even though that just causes anxiety. I left feeling relief, a spring in my step and with an order for physical therapy for my problematic knee. It's not something that was on my radar, but at this point it makes perfect sense.

I was up early yesterday too. Two days in and I'm remembering why I like being an early riser. Ted spent Sunday night in his old room after spending the day because Meryl had to go live at 2 a.m. Monday. I got him downtown in time for his first morning call. 

We celebrated Grandma Pat's birthday Sunday. Mike made a huge pot of stick to your bones lasagna stoup and I baked a focaccia round. There were leftovers for all, which is a good thing because we are enjoying some prime soup weather.

It's also my favorite walking weather. Last night I went out after work. It was already dark, but the waxing Super moon and the egg yolk yellow trees cast enough brightness to expose a few deer lurking on the edge of the woods. I was giddy that I could see my breath and that my knee held out for three miles. I'm grateful that it feels good today too.

I was also grateful that I turned in early enough to read a few chapters of a new book, and also that I gave myself permission to abandon the two that have had me stuck, stalled. I waste too much time thinking I have to finish what I start even when it's not working for me. I have my daughter to thank for giving me the nod I needed. She recently decided to reduce screen time for pages. It got me thinking about better uses of my precious time. 

And isn't it the truth that the way we spend our days is the way we spend our lives? It's not so much about accolades and accomplishments as it is about the little things that matter big. Things like showing up every day for the people I love myself included. I take care of myself and then I take better care of them.