A Little More Light

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." - J.M. Barrie

Make a Friend With a Boat: Part III

New friends!

Magical things can happen when watermelon margaritas and Zac Brown Band are involved. While I was enjoying both of these things this weekend, I met my very own, delightfully Southern, friend with a boat!

Okay, so the boat is on a lake somewhere in Georgia, but my new friend Mary Raines said that I can totally come hang out on the boat whenever I’m in the South. She also promised me that if I do move to the South, there will be plenty of cute, straight, gentlemanly men who will be just dying to marry me and have lots of blue eyed babies. As long, she added, as I don’t mind moving to the South.

Well, that is NO problem, new friend!

I’ve always believed that my soul is Southern.  And I can totally picture myself going to the South -- a New Yorker who doesn’t quite fit in at the beginning of the story, but ends up falling in love and line dancing in a dive bar by the end. Um, so, pretty much just like Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama, minus the part where she’s actually from Alabama to begin with. But, the point is that my Southern story would end with a happily ever after, maybe some sweet tea, pecan pies, and homemade wine... and also, definitely, a boat.

Shut Up and Drive (Remixed)

My 5 hour pre-licensing class was yesterday, and I learned quite a lot. Some of the highlights:

·         It is very, very easy to kill someone while driving.

·         It is very, very easy to get killed while driving.

·         My glasses might be cute, but they will get me killed. My 62 year old instructor (a total look-alike for Marie from “Everybody Loves Raymond” btw) said, and I quote, “you can walk around looking pretty in those glasses. You can wear them to the club. But don’t you dare wear them to drive.”

Um, ok. More anxious now than ever! But my driving test is scheduled for 8/2, so I’m going to do my best to get past it before then... we'll see? In any case, I guess I'll be wearing my contacts that day.

Some things I'm thankful for today

Vacation days
Babies wearing sunbonnets
Inky pens
"Pleases" and "thank yous"
A sea breeze on a broiling day
Beach bags and sandy toes

Shut Up and Drive

Today I’m finally starting driving lessons. And I am TERRIFIED.

The first and last time that I was behind the wheel was five years ago, when I was living in Phoenix. It was the first time that I’d ever lived somewhere that you really need a car to get around. And it was a major shock. I was lucky enough to have wonderful roommates who were constantly driving me around. But still, it was difficult to have to depend on other people for rides all the time… or to risk heat exhaustion walking myself around.  I would be dying for a NY Times and a frappucino, but the nearest Starbucks was about two (hot, dry) miles away. And sure, I walked it many times, but it was definitely unpleasant.

So one day my roommate Joe tried to teach me how to drive. We took our trusty old Nissan, Ms. Grace, to a completely empty parking lot. I just knew it was going to be great.

And it was a disaster. The car would inch forward, and I would get nervous, screech, and slam down on the brakes.  I would try turning a little bit to the left, get nervous, screech, and slam on the brakes.  I’d see a person walking three blocks away, get nervous, screech, and slam on the brakes.

Disaster.

Luckily for me, Joe is the nicest guy in the world and was way more patient with me than I deserved. But still, there was only so much screeching and braking I could subject him to.  It just wasn’t worth risking our friendship and/or permanently harming Ms. Grace’s frail old brakes.  So that was the end of driving lessons, and it was back to sweaty walks to Starbucks for me.

Fast forward five years, and I’ve finally decided to brave it again. I know that driving will help me to feel more adult and more independent.  So many things would be easier - I’d actually be able to buy as many groceries as I want without worrying about how I’ll carry them home, run out for lunch if I want to without depending on a coworker, rent a car on vacation… And maybe most importantly, where I live now I have to take a BUS to get to Starbucks. That’s just not working for me.  Imagine one day being able to drive myself there anytime I want a latte… the world would be my oyster.

But first, I have to face the terror of lessons again. Hopefully by now I’ve grown up enough to refrain from screeching at the instructor? I guess we'll see!

Make Your Own Cooking Class

Next goal up  -  Cook a different recipe once a month for a year.

I wouldn’t say that I’m a bad cook, but my repertoire is definitely limited.  Limited, and also a little odd – my expertise includes tofu stirfry, eggplant parmigiana, and a delicious apple crumble pie. I find myself making the same things over and over, and many days, feeling bored with my choices and calling for delivery.  But now I’m trying to eat healthier and depend less on take-out, so it seems like a good idea to master some new meals.

My DIY cooking classes started tonight with a recipe I found online for Skillet Cajun Spiced Flounder. (Although I made it with tilapia instead of flounder because I had some in the freezer.)  The recipe was so easy, and so delicious! It had just a little bit of a kick to it, and totally tasted like summer.  I made some brown rice with it, and sauteed spinach with garlic on the side. 

Recipe #1: success - but next month I have to work on my plating!

Make a Friend With a Boat: Part II

This weekend was our annual family trip to Wildwood NJ. Sun, sand, family, ferris wheels, ice cream cones… so many of the things I love, and what could be a better setting to continue my quest for a friend with a boat?

All weekend long, I searched high and low, smiling my friendliest smile everywhere I went, trying to send out good vibes and telepathically communicate to everyone around: “will you be my friend with a boat? Will you? How bout you?” But, I had no luck.

Until, that is, we went to Morey’s Piers amusement park, where finally I found… this guy!

He might be an imprisoned, drunken pirate, but come on, I’m open to all sorts of friends. Especially if they happen to be a friend with a boat. And this guy watches over thirty or so pirate ships at a time! Making him, clearly, my new bff.

New friendship locked down, and here I am, sailing happily off into the open seas.

Thank you Katie for taking so many awesome pictures.
 And also to the rest of my family for humoring me.

Some things I'm thankful for today...

• My dad, and his dedication to family traditions
• Running on the beach
• Pine nuts
• Diet Sprite
• “Starships” by Nicki Minaj
• Bocce ball tournaments with kooky cousins
• Black and white ice cream sodas

Make a Friend With a Boat: Part I

I am dying for a friend with a boat. All summer long in Rockaway, I watch boats float around. On the bay, on the ocean, up to the bars... And I just know it – all those people on all those boats must be having THE best time ever.

Actually owning a boat, though, seems like a lot of work. So the best answer, to me, is to make a friend with a boat. They can take care of the upkeep, figure out what to do with a boat in the winter (where do they all go anyway?), and I can provide long afternoons of charming company, delightful conversation, and maybe some pink drinks.

This past weekend I was lucky enough to be invited out to my friend Theresa’s family’s home on Glenwild Lake in New Jersey.  ‘The group started the day with a group tour of the Newark Museum, which unfortunately I missed. After hearing about the tour I know I need to get there soon. I’ve never even heard of this museum, but it’s super close to the city and actually has the biggest collection of Tibetan art in the world. Some of the art is considered to be sacred, and people actually make pilgrimages from all over the world to see the collection. And I’ve never been! 31 before 31 perhaps?

So I met up with the rest of the group at the lake house. AKA one of the most beautiful places I have ever been! The lake was so pretty and so peaceful. It was hard to believe I was only thirty minutes outside of Manhattan.

And the best part is… THEY HAVE A BOAT!

Ok, so it was a canoe, maybe not quite the party boat of my dreams. But we all agreed that I need to start somewhere.  Theresa, Beth, and I went out for a twilight cruise around the lake. Since there were only two oars and two seat, I got to sit pretty in the middle and be rowed around. My adorable new puppy friend Olly, who is terrified of the water but loves to be in the canoe, came along for the ride as well. Hopefully Olly and I were delightful enough company in return for all their hard work. (Thanks, friends!)

It was such a great day, and our canoe ride made me crave more time on the water. Step one: made a friend with a canoe. Step two: what could be next?! Help me out, universe! (And also, help me out any friend who might have a friend with a boat?)

Another goal (part of the way) accomplished. Ta-da!

Just a Little Light

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine." - Anthony J. D'Angelo

Hello, Brooklyn

I've lived in NY for 28 years now. In real life, I've probably seen the Brooklyn Bridge from every possible angle. On movies and TV, I've watched lots of dramatic moments happen on the bridge. (# 1 favorite/most dramatic: Miranda and Steve reunite at the end of Sex and the City: The Movie, # 2 favorite/most absurd: Ramona makes a string of increasingly and terribly mean comments to Bethenny in Real Housewives NY).

Anyway, after 28 years of watching from afar, I finally walked across the bridge myself!

My wonderful friends Mallie, Nick, Elliott, and  Hayley met me on the Manhattan side early Sunday morning. We were lucky enough to get a beautiful, sunshiney morning. The views of the city and Brooklyn were just unbelievable, and it was fun to share the walk with both gawking sightseers and exercisers alike. How amazing would it be to have your morning jog or bike ride take you over the Brooklyn Bridge! We were more of a strolling type of group, but we all managed to work up a healthy appetite for a delicious brunch at "Bubby's Brooklyn."

And, I am happy to report that not one single mean comment was exchanged along the way (unlike Ramona and Bethenny).

Me and Mallie, still friends on the Brooklyn side.
 Love you Mall, and thanks for the great pictures!

Dance Dance Dance

Second goal accomplished - African dance class!

My friend Rachel and I went to an African dance class at the Djoniba Dance Centre by Union Square. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves in for, but we loved it! The class was packed, everyone had such great energy, and the teacher did not let us relax for a moment. The best part was that we got to dance to live drumming, which totally let me imagine myself dancing in Africa (or, an episode of the Real Housewives of Atlanta). So much fun, and I can't wait til the next time I go out with Rachel and impress everyone at a bar with our new moves!

Here we are, right after class, right before my face returned to its normal shade of pale!

I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar

First goal accomplished – I went to my first boxing class!

 I’ve been wanting to try boxing for a while. I’m not sure exactly where the idea came from… but it might just possibly have come from reading every single one of Jillian Michaels’ self help books. (She loves her some martial arts, and I will do anything she says.) I’ve been to some cardio kickboxing classes before, but I really wanted to try actually hitting something.

 So thanks to a groupon deal that my thoughtful parents got for me, I finally got myself to a mixed martial arts studio in Tribeca. I walked in to the studio, feeling cute in my sweats, pink tank top, and pretty headband.  And I almost walked right back out.

 Everyone else in the room was wearing full-on white martial arts outfits, boxing gloves, looking so profesh and SO intimidating. Luckily another woman who was new came in soon after me, and someone from the studio worked just with us throughout the class. It ended up being almost like private training, which was very cool. And, I LOVED hitting things!!! I found myself putting everything I had into kicking and hitting the mats. It felt amazing. Instead of getting tired and weaker, I actually found myself feeling stronger and fiercer throughout the class.

 I don’t really think of myself as strong. I definitely don’t think of myself as a fighter. But as my punches landed, I felt strong. Powerful. Confident.

 I bet Jillian would be proud.