"A voice exclaimed..." ~ Jane Eyre

It is late Sunday night and I am sipping banana vanilla liquor with skim milk and ice (the bottle came recently as a souvenir from St. Martin) and smelling my new cinnamon platter (another kind gift from my sister's trip), wishing there were lots and lots of words on that platter to take and devour here on this blog. Last night the Prince turned to me, as he has a few times in the past month, bringing up the subject of the blog. "I know, I know" I say.

I know.

Somewhere in this cold winter my voice seems to have gone into hibernation...huddled tightly amidst the cold that brought on by life's tragic circumstances. Though, as days become more manageable, I am beginning to feel a thaw...perhaps a fresh ray of sunlight through all of this...and work to wake up this voice that has been resting.

Tuesday I enter my 31st year, and that is the day that I hope this voice is reborn...

"The cold winter wind had brought with it clouds so somber..." ~ Jane Eyre

Snow is falling on New York City and the surrounding areas, mine included. It is quiet and still outside save a few notes here and there from a few birds eating seed out of our birdhouse shaped like a Victorian three-story home.

I am home, alone, and keeping my own self warm. I am rather cold-blooded and lack good circulation - the Prince jokes that perhaps I am a Vampire. At the moment, I am up to reading the third book in the Twilight series, Eclipse, and just read four chapters this late afternoon. I admit that as hard as I resisted, I have become a fan of this unique series. I suppose it is the passion between Bella and Edward that is captivating, and Meyers has a talent for touching into that deep yearning and longing one feels when she is in love with a Prince. Art imitates life, and the obstacles the couple faces are long and difficult, but they remain a solid unit in the end despite all of their turmoil.

I am bundled up in a grey turtleneck sweater and the heat dial reads 80 and I still have two pairs of socks on. I made soup: Curried Butternut Squash and Apple. I have every intention of spending at least an hour in a hot shower tonight - I just cannot seem to shake a chill I have had since getting home from errands around noon today. Football is on in the background, of course, and I cannot imagine fans watching these playoff games in this weather. I look forward to watching the Giants game tomorrow underneath a pile of blankets next to the Prince in bed.

I would like to take a walk in this snow, but I am too exhausted. In the wake of Anthony's death, I am still drained emotionally and physically from the aftermath. I realize today that its not even one month yet...that what seems so long ago is so close. I am still not able to get warm...

"Improvements in diet..." ~ Jane Eyre

Good Things Monday:

1) Weight Watchers Smart Ones Desserts: I am officially on Weight Watchers as of tomorrow and many of the products that Weight Watchers makes are life savers, mainly the desserts. I have a pretty bad sweet tooth, so I am grateful that I dont have to worry about giving up sweets as I do this!
http://www.weightwatchers.com/index.aspx

2) Valentine Trees: As a child in elementary school, I remember my friend Tea's mom (who is amazingly creative and an amazing cook) keeping up one of three artificial Christmas trees after the holiday and turning it into a Valentine Tree. I did not have time to truly enjoy my tree this year. Aside from that fact, my anniversary with the Prince IS Valentine's Day. So, tonight I am starting to put together my Valentine tree! I am sewing my skirt tonight (black velvet with red roses on it) and will mount the top - a huge heart. I shall show photos when I finish here on my blog. http://www.ehow.com/how_13854_decorate-valentine-tree.html

3) Foot Spahhhhs: Among many of my Christmas gifts from the Prince, I got an at-home foot spa kit for the days when my feet really hurt after having to ride the subway. Forget sitting anywhere with it but on your couch (there is a splash guard on it) while your feet soak in it as you sip some tea. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FHAMXI

4) The New York Times Magazine: The editors noted that the food section each Sunday is going to be an ecclectic assortment to come. I had the pleasure of reading today an article about a food editor's four year old son who LOVES to cook with him...and cooks well! Enjoy:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/magazine/04food-t-000.html?_r=1&ref=magazine

5) H&M: Yes, its not a new store at all. But these days if you dont have money for a new wardrobe, they have the BEST accessories to spice up your current wardrobe. Cheap earrings, scarves, rings, bracelets. You name it! You can change the look of your usual outerware in a matter of moments. http://www.hm.com/us/#/holiday2008/

"Good fortune opens the hand as well as the heart wonderfully..." ~ Jane Eyre



I have decided to start a new Monday tradition - Good Things. I will post for the next few Mondays during this season of sharing of what I think are good things and hope you will experience them as well!

1) A Good Blog: A close and dear friend of mine, whom I have known since fifth grade when we rode the school bus together, has started a new blog: http://senseandsensibilites.blogspot.com/ I am enjoying a side of him I never knew, even after all these years: his writing! Its a good thing, and I am tagging him (and all you other bloggers) to post your own "good things" this week on your blogs!

2) A Good Eat: My dear sister Missy knows my sweet tooth all too well, and she bought me a favorite goodie around Christmastime: Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark! Its definitely a lovely item to serve after Christmas dinner, paired with a hot chocolate bar, of course! http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/fd471/index.cfm

3) A Good Bargain: I am a fan of the dollar store around this time of year. They have quality gift bags and plenty of good wrapping - there is no need to spend a lot on trimmings, and I find that the wine gift bags at my local dollar store are so lovely - they look like velvet covers. I even bought a few decorations for outdoors (I will post photos in another entry). A good website to help stay frugal in these times is here...I read it daily:http://www.walletpop.com/

4) A Good Cause: It is wonderful that so many people donate to charities this time of year. Sadly, so many are hurting because corporate sponsorship is down. I am still advocating donating to sarcoma research in hopes of a cure to this terrible form of cancer. You can donate here: http://www.curesarcoma.org/

5) A Good Read: I have been reading many food essays lately, and my favorite collection is something you will want for your collection. I devoured this book last month during my commute to and from the city each day. It is called Alone in the Kitchen with Eggplant. The essays are all about dining alone. http://www.aloneinthekitchen.com/ Oh, there are some great recipes for nights you are home alone, too!

6) A Good Article: Being Armenian, it is important to always remember the struggle of my ancestors. This is a great article from yesterday's New York Times Magazine by an Armenian-American author I admire and whose works I have read, Peter Balakian. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/magazine/07lives-t.html?_r=3&ref=magazine

7) A Good Song: Lately I have been downloading some classical Indian music. Dating the Prince has opened me up to a gorgeous culture, and the music is as intoxicating as his aura. You can do some of your own listening here...performed by American college students at Wesleyan! It is as perfect as any Indian musical performance! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwdDm3UO5WM What these students have accomplished is mind blowing (make sure you read the lovely comments).

8) A Good Laugh: Jack has been watching reruns of the old Muppet Show that my sisters and I watched as kids. This particular montage, "Mahna Mahna" makes him laugh hysterically: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTXyXuqfBLA

9) A Good Burger: Two weeks ago the Prince and I did date night: dinner and a movie. We saw the film Twilight, and beforehand we ate at Five Guys Famous Burger! It was quite indulgent, but a great burger. Hopefully you have one in your area...I do recommend it for date nights! Oh, get the Cajun fries...those are a good thing! http://www.fiveguys.com/home.aspx

10) A Good Look: Commuting in the cold now makes me eye sweaters, but not just any. Not only do I love the Old Navy Sweater commercial from last year with a song that makes me always think of the Prince ("The Way I Am" by Ingrid Michaelson). Check out this good sweater from this season in a great colors: http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?cid=43069&pid=611846&scid=611846082

"A border of gold lace..." ~ Jane Eyre

Autumn gold is in full force here on the north shore of Long Island - also known as the gold coast. I am sipping a gold chardonnay in the mid-afternoon with the windows open as fresh, fall air enters my apartment. Lately, with the new job on Wall Street, the balancing of life has become as asymmetrical as the trees in autumn- not one is the same hue. Still, life is golden and I am thankful for my job at the bank that is now the custodian for the government, my family who is doing well, my friends who are celebrating all kinds of milestones lately, and my beloved Prince who is, himself, golden in my eyes and in my heart. I am hoping that the golden candidate in my eyes becomes America's prize on Tuesday night, for him being elected right now to lead our nation is priceless. I hope that Americans realize that it is time for change, just as autumn changes the landscape of the earth, we need to change the landscape of this country. In the darkest winter ahead, he will keep us protected until spring arrives. I glance now at my voter registration card, anxious for it to be Tuesday already so I can place my finger on the bar that has the name of the first African-American candidate in history. What an amazing milestone it will be for me, in that voting booth, in that particular moment. Golden...just golden. The mere thought makes me hopeful and less anxious about the future, and I feel more relaxed in this moment and once again able to enjoy life again just a little bit more.

"Sorting of currants, grating of spices..." ~ Jane Eyre

Its an early autumn afternoon and the sun is shining as the wind directs leaves to blow against my windows, making a crackling noise before they fall back to the ground. I am sipping spicy Indian chai with a splash of milk and the apartment smells like fudge brownies. I made them for this evening - the Prince is cooking dinner for us and I decided to bring something sweet to eat as we dine in and watch the Giants go for another win. Ironically, I am listening to "Spring Dance" by Ravi Shankar even though it is the quintessential fall day. I am making a list of cupcakes to order from Crumbs bakery in the city since we are celebrating Halloween once again this year with Jack (who shall be Thomas the Tank Engine). I just called Bistro 33 to make dinner reservations for next week to celebrate the engagement of my cousin and her fiance; it is quite an exciting time and they shall marry in one year at the end of October. I think a fall wedding is perfect, and I wonder if the Prince and I will marry during the fall season one day at Onteora. I am slightly anxious to hear back from my cousin, Amy, who was married this past July, and gave birth to a daughter two days ago. The baby was premature and is 3 pounds, 7 ounces. I am sure she is in great care and will be just fine, but I do wish I was in San Francisco right now giving support to my cousin. She is being very positive, so I shall do the same and try not to worry. So, I will sip some more tea and distract myself for a bit with some cooking shows on PBS...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erLZ-zW9Ti4 (George Harrison's sitar lesson with Ravi Shankar)

"Eat when excited..." ~ Jane Eyre

One of the more poignant scenes in Sex and the City is when Charlotte breaks down in front of Carrie, hysterical crying after Carrie calls her out on a fear she has. She can hardly speak through her sobs, but she manages to say that life is too good, too perfect, and too wonderful right now and something has to go wrong...how can one be so blessed with such happiness? Carrie reminds her that she has been through enough pain in her life, and its time to enjoy the joy. And in the end, Charlotte does.

I think the movie addressed the issue that it is possible to have your cake and eat it, too. The etymology of that statement is an interesting one. It dates back to 1596 as a metaphorical idiom for what is impossible - you cant eat cake and then have it because you already had it! Still, what we think is impossible in our daily lives may be possible. Its a simple kind of hope that is as plain as a vanilla cupcake, but also as sweet as one.

I feel like Charlotte in this moment - I am so thankful for all of my blessings, but at the same time I fear having it all because life is seemingly perfect right now. I expressed that to my cousin, Steph, the other evening. The eve of my thirtieth birthday was one of the darkest moments of my life, and everything seemed impossible to obtain and turn around and fix both personally and professionally. And then, as if it were the exact moment I made my wish on that piece of birthday cake, the impossible became possible and my dreams were sliced like a cake because they soon became the best reality.

And so, readers, there is a moment in Jane Eyre where Jane leaves her career in education for good and comes into her own wealth as she looks towards her future with Rochester. This is the moment where I leave education and move on to making real money in a new job. I have a new career, I have my Prince, I have the best family and friends, and I have been given the ingredients to make a cake that I am going to have and eat, too. As tempted as I am to cry like Charlotte and worry that this will all be lost, I remember that this was not given to me. I worked for this, just like I will work to make this cake and sweat over it until its ready for the taking, and will enjoy the sweets of my labor...

"By a sheet of ice..." Jane Eyre

At the moment I am feverish and eating small bites of mint chocolate ice cream. I haven't eaten much for the past two days except for some rice and pretzels, but this evening I had the sudden craving for ice cream and just ran to Baskin Robbins for a single scoop; it may not get my fever down, but it certainly is refreshing. Its not chocolate chip, either. It has chocolate crunchies laced through the mint ice cream; even better, I say.

Lately, my associations with ice cream relate to Jack. He only eats vanilla, and he gets rather excited and shouts out "ice cream" anytime its offered or he knows its coming in a restaurant. I admit that I love indulging him with it. His Aunt Maimy loves nothing more than to take a scoop of Haagen Dazs and plop it into his Le Petite Prince bowl and then proceed to spoon feed him as he watches Curious George before bedtime. Le Petite Prince, indeed.

As you know, when I was a young girl visiting my grandparents' home, my grandmother Anoush never let us leave without eating something. Many times this something was an ice cream come. She always kept cones in the pantry and I remember my favorite flavor being a Dolly Madison orange and vanilla creme that she stacked oh so well. She made sure that she pressed the ice cream into the bottom of the cone. Her freezer always had ice cream in it, and during summers after shish kebab dinner, my sisters and I always enjoyed big bowls of rainbow sherbert that she served in lime green plastic bows as we sat outside on the stoop.

My mother always teased me because I always managed to get chocolate ice cream on my t-shirts in the summertime when I was a child. She said it was a continual pattern. I loved when my chocolate ice cream got almost soupy in the bowl and I would work hard to get it all on the spoon; it never ever quite stayed on the spoon, but my mother was always very understanding. She has to be; my chocoholism is inherited from her.

The first song I ever heard performed by Sarah McLachlan was "Ice Cream." I remember by friend Tea playing it for me and felt an instant allure to her voice and to the lyrics. Though at the time I was a teenager and scoffed them; how could anything be better than my beloved cookie dough? Well, as I have gotten older my views have changed and tonight I especially empathize with her lyrics. I am so feverish and miserable tonight and wish I could give up this ice cream and have him here instead. He is better that ice cream..he is so much better.

View: Ice Cream - Sarah McLachlan

(*Please tell me your favorite ice cream flavor when you comment...*)

"As he took the cup from my hand..." ~ Jane Eyre

I am watching the latest BBC production of Persuasion on PBS and am disappointed that they thought a remake 11 years later of the amazingly rich version with Ciarian Hinds as Captain Wentworth would be something authentic Austen audiences wanted. It an acceptable version, but not nearly as great as the one made by the BBC in 1995. Still, I sip some rich hot chocolate and am content to be viewing this beauty and sophistication of Jane's dialogue after watching such a brutal game of football this early evening. I am, though, thrilled that my Giants won but have become exhausted after the intense game. Fatigued, I am looking forward to climbing under my covers shortly and reading Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama. I went to Barnes and Noble this morning to pick it up and have already read fifteen pages. I hope that tomorrow morning I get to stay under my covers for a snow day; the New York tri-state area is expected to get four inches. The nice part about Academia is that snow days exist in its world just like they do in public schools. I have my snow chain list next to my laptop, praying it gets utilized in the morning. I hope that we do get enough snow tomorrow so Jack can use the snowman making kit I gave to him at Christmastime. It comes with a scarf, hat, buttons, a plastic carrot nose; all you do is add snow. I could use a snow that puts life at a standstill for just a moment; things have been so hectic and complicated lately. So hectic that didn't even think to stuff the top of my mug with marshmallows. You know life is busy when you don't have time or forethought to add marshmallows to your red mug filled with hot chocolate...

"You will fly, too..." ~ Jane Eyre

This year felt like I was going high speed on subway car - the time flew and I cannot believe that next week I will be making mistakes on checks and office emails by writing 2007 instead of 2008. I liked that my good friend Charlie took the time to reflect on the year with his favorite moments on his blog, and I think I am going to borrow that concept and present it here with 29 of my favorite moments from 2007 since I turn 30 in 2008:

The Twenty-Nine Best Moments of 2007:

1) Typing my resignation letter and leaving the building I taught in for seven years for the very last time.
2) J. Sarah's wedding and all of the moments of preparation.
3) Meeting the beau on March 24th for the first time at Novita wine bar.
4) Any and every moment I have spent with Jack; each time he hugs and kisses me, I always get teary when I get a hug or kiss.
5) Fishing with the beau and eating crabs caught in a pot thrown into the canal of his parents' backyard on the Great South Bay of Long Island.
6) D.R. graduating Ranger School.
7) Meeting all of my new girlfriends at work: they are fun, sassy, and have already shown a lot of loyalty.
8) Staying with Cassie at her house in Carmel for a few days in October.
9) My Tiki Party in the summer and setting one of the tables on fire with defective citronella candles.
10) T.R. bar nights with my crew from Summer Rec.
11) Seeing Bruce Springsteen live at MSG.
12) Day trips to Brooklyn with the beau, such as going to Smith Street and drinking all night or visiting the MTA Transit Museum. (see photo above)
13) Sister dinners with Missy and Robin that are lovingly crashed by my brother-in-law.
14) The Fourth of July party at the beach with the beau and his family.
15) Happy Hour Fridays with my new colleagues at The Peddler.
16) Seeing Mary Poppins on Broadway with my mommy, my sisters, and my grandma.
17) Registering for my first Library Science class.
18) Summer Sunday afternoons at Meades Gastropub.
19) My visit to Lime's in Virginia back in October for a weekend and her teaching me how to make earrings.
20) Dressing up as Captain Hook when Jack was Peter Pan for Halloween. (Robin was Tinkerbell and together we equaled two crazy aunts)
21) St. Patrick's Day in Long Beach with Charlie and having fun for the entire day with random strangers.
22) Going away to Gettysburg with the beau and being on the battlefield itself.
23) All the Jewish holidays with J. Sarah and her family.
24) Getting my huge desk at work and fixing it up nicely.
25) My new boss calling me in to his office for "important" matters for an hour: checking NFL scores and fantasy football league standings.
26) Cooking dinners for friends and family.
27) Jackson Heights food crawls that included UFC: Korean fried chicken.
28) The Caribbean-style BBQ I had with Moo this summer and all the cooking we did together after our hike at Sands Point.
29) Wine tasting with Robin on the North Fork - we both played hooky from work and just went out to enjoy ourselves.

"The fact is, I was a trifle beside myself; or rather OUT of myself, as the French would say..." ~ Jane Eyre

I am dealing with post-holiday blues tonight with all things French. Because what makes you feel better than something that is Francais? I made a croque-monsieur for dinner (no bechemal, very little cheese, cooking spray instead of butter but it was still tres fantastique) and am sipping a Cabernet Sauvignon. I am catching up on French gossip pages and reading about Sarkozy getting cozy with a new Italiano mistress. I am looking at French recipes for my thirtieth birthday getaway weekend to the North Fork at the beginning of February. Savory crepes? Coq au vin? I told J.Sarah that I want to make brandade just because I saw Jacque Pepin make it and it looks so good. This afternoon, my brother-in-law made reserves for tomorrow night at Artisanal for my sister, my boyfriend, and me so we can have a big pot of fondue. Nothing like drowning the blues away in a big pot of melted, hot, bubbly cheese.

I am not sure why I get post-holiday blues. Its not that I don't see my family each week; sometimes we even see each other each day. I suppose it has more to do with a spirit and feeling more than anything else; Christmas is a time that takes you the closest proximity back to the memories of your childhood and a time when you were with the ones you loved who are no longer alive. It was a time when my sisters and I still lived together under one roof; as much as we share now, you couldnt help but share more when living together in one home. We work so hard to pay it forward to Jack and ensure that he experiences the same blessings we had from our parents on Christmas and each day of the year, but I know that it will never be exactly the same. Its all very Le Petite Prince, mais oui?

Its nights like this when I know I need to think pink: La Vie En Rose. I have Edith on the CD player and am thinking about procrastinating even further tonight (I have so much on a to-do list right now) and looking into flights to Quebec in February. Even the idea of waking up in a city where hot croissants and cafe au lait is the only way to go for breakfast makes me less blue. I may head out tonight to the bookstore because I realize that Jack has yet to read Babar, and we all know that French elephants make the best of children's stories. Though as great as it is having the memory of an elephant, I do wish I could forget the past a little tonight and be less bleu.

"The world-redeeming creed of Christ...." ~ Jane Eyre

Christmas Present: Stealing a few moments at the computer. The Yule log is on tv. I am still in pajamas after making breakfast for my parents - sunny side up eggs with bacon and toast with lots of coffee. Last night's revelry at my boyfriend's parents' home was lovely: warm, cozy, and festive. I made a stuffed shrimp dish that everyone finished, which made me happy. My favorite gift was the beau's Christmas card to me, even above the teal blue Ipod Nano he gave me, which was an amazing surprise. Robin called from England and was eating the minced pies she made with our family friends. D.R. called from Iraq and is serving dinner to his men today as they celebrate the holiday in Baghdad. Jack called this morning and gave me a "concert" on his new baby grand piano. After that "conversation", I am trying to locate ear plugs for tonight's big dinner. We are having ham, potato gratin, creamed corn, and biscuits. A change from our usual lamb dinner. Dessert is the present cake from Williams Sonoma, a pumpkin cake I just whipped up last minute and is in the oven as I type, peanut butter and jelly cookies I made, and pignoli cookies that the beau and I made. (*All recipes and photos of the dishes will be on epicurean escapades tomorrow*) I am making peppermint hot chocolate and waiting for this cake to finish so I can get ready for another lovely evening celebrating this special, holy day.

Merry Christmas to All!

“And let it dash...” ~ Jane Eyre

If writing is like cooking, I think most of my entries are methodical recipes. This one is going to be a dash of this and a hint of that and a sprinkling of some things and a spot of other things as I try and get back into the groove of cooking up entries in this kitchen.

~ Yesterday marked one month here at my new job, and I have loved all twenty days of it so far! I love my colleagues, office space, and work. This campus is stunning right now as the cooler autumn air descends and the leaves begin to turn a hint of light orange. I find myself missing students less and less because there are so many that I am now working with here...all are sweet and fun.

~ Today marks the first week I have spent in my new apartment. Its a lovely little place on the North Shore of Long Island. The beau calls the place Bohemian; I call it my new home. Moving was exhausting, unpacking is so perfunctory, but the end results will be worthwhile.

~ Jack turned two September 1st. I do believe I shall never be Aunt Amy to him, but Aunt Maimy. His birthday party was the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend; my sister and brother-in-law made it farm themed and even hired a small petting zoo to come for the kids. It was precious.

~ I love each minute I spend with the beau; we are looking forward to autumn together. In November we are taking our second weekend getaway together, this time to Hanover at a Bed and Breakfast. I cannot wait. I have always wanted to go see Gettysburg, and when he proposed the idea, I was elated.

~ I will begin classes for my M.S. in Library Science this spring and am looking forward to that very much.

~ I do not miss teaching. I miss the literature here and there, but all I have to do is dive back into it and enjoy it for myself for the first time instead of worrying about how others will enjoy it!

~ I have not cooked in three weeks and have decided to plan menus out for the next few weeks. The beau is challenging me to making a duck ragu; I am confident that I can do it!

~ I have not written practically all this year, but as soon as I settle in just a bit more, I hope that my writing goes places where it has never been before...kind of like where my life is at the moment!

"And, having reflected a few minutes..." ~ Jane Eyre

I was tagged by Frumteacher( http://frumteacher.blogspot.com/) to write about eight random facts about myself! Thank you for the tag!
I tag all readers right now to do the same on their blogs. And away we go...

1) In addition to taking ballet classes, I took tap dance classes. I loved the sound of my tap shoes on the floor. As a child, I watched many Fred and Ginger movies with my grandmother, and the photo you see is from Swing Time - a favorite of mine. I shall always assert that Fred Astaire was a better hoofer than Gene Kelly.

2) I love making lists. I am very detail oriented, so I am always making lists that are both personal and professional. I have a very specific type of notepad that I use. It is a mini legal pad with that is college ruled and white in color. The pads come in yellow, but I prefer using the white.

3) I cannot sleep late. Sleeping late for me is 9am, and I hate the feeling I have when I get up at that hour. Thankfully, my boyfriend is also a morning person. On weekends, we are up drinking coffee together no later than 8am. I love having long weekend mornings because it makes the day more relaxed and filled with time in the afternoon to do lots of fun things.

4) I am five minutes apart from my fraternal twin sister, Robin. I was born five minutes before she, and at times I really do feel like I am the middle child! Having a twin is an amazing blessing, and I am fortunate that I am so close to both of my sisters. They are beautiful women.

5) My favorite toys and hobbies as a child were my ant farm, sea monkeys, microscope, and dinosaur models.

6) I used to draw all of the time as a child. I used to draw princesses and designed all kinds of gowns for them. My collection was at least 150 within a year. In high school, I took art classes and loved each moment of those experiences. I wish I had continued painting...perhaps one day I shall.

7) I could never date a man who didn't watch sports. That is a deal breaker for me. Baseball is too much a part of who I am, and football Sundays are romantic in my eyes. Thankfully my boyfriend loves baseball, football, and hockey. Lately we have lazy afternoons at Meade's in the city - a gorgeous open bar by Southstreet Seaport - and sit watching baseball as the breeze hits us, sipping Raison D'Etre beer (him) and pino grigio (me).

8) As gregarious as I am, I am someone who also needs alone time. I value that time for reflection and composure, and I like planning little adventures for myself, whether it is the beach, a park, or even seeing a movie. I really like going to movies by myself, as odd as that sounds! When I ski, I also prefer to do that alone. Riding the lift with someone is fine, but I do not like having to wait for a person or have a person wait for me on a slope - I like doing my own thing.

"And while seeming to be busy with my sum..." ~ Jane Eyre

This elongated winter weather has frozen my hands at the keyboards and I wish to thaw as the ground outside has, for the warm breezes and daffodils ground my soul. There are many lovely things growing around here of late, so this is a piece of my garden...

~ My Jack is becoming a beanstalk who grows each day from a baby to a little person. I am kept in awe as we plant seeds of words and ideas and actions in his head that he retains and projects out. His vocabulary is advanced, of course, and his curiosity blooms as big as a sunflower does on a hot August day. A few days ago we took a walk together and I had to hold him back since he was trying to chase a squirrel, calling after it!

~ I keep my resumes for various applications divided into packets like ones that contain seeds. Some plants are slow to grow, but the continual brightness I feel as I send them out and the waterfall of opportunities are flourishing. No word yet from interviews, as I am realizing that corporate is as slow as a snail sliding along in a garden! Still, I know I will be rooted elsewhere shortly in complete content.

~My spring cleaning inside and out has lead me to think about setting up a raised garden in my backyard this year. After cleaning and setting out my patio furniture and barbecue, I thought about how nice it would be to grow some herbs and vegetables. As much as I dislike raw tomatoes, growing them to make into sauce to place into jars at the end of the summer would be quite an enjoyable endeavor. Most of my free time in the past two days has been spent on the HGTV website reading about raised gardens and such.

~A new romance is budding, and it seems rather apropos that one of our first meetings was underneath the arch in Washington Square Park, where Harry met Sally...or rather, where he met Amy. How often does one find a man who loves nero d'avola as much as you do? I find myself drawn to him despite my jadedness and apathy towards romance of late, and he brightens my day since he is the kind of person whose wit is so great that he makes you laugh until it hurts.