The morning after drinking...
the things that I do not particularly relish:

Smelling the light perfume mist that I happily walked into the night before, which now lingers in the bathroom, causing nauseousness.

Going up and down my ladder.

Having to force my eyes open in the morning, since they are apparently stuck with some sort of invisible tape.

Forcing myself to drink water and greasy food after waking up (well the greasy food isn't much of a chore, just the chewing part ;)

Cleaning yesterday's glasses left in the sink which still have the syrup of liquor on their rim and stem, despite the quick rinse from the night before.

Yesterday's worst pick-up: "Hey ladies, I need a woman's opinion," not a bad intro, but then he proceeded to tell an elaborate story about how his 'friend's' girlfriend found a shoe box with photos of an ex-girlfriend, which resulted in an ultimatum and how would we react? Then pretended the phone call he received wasn't in fact from his girlfriend. Our consensus by the way was as long as the photos of the ex weren't on a mantle or something, then whatever. I have some pictures of my exes and even though I don't have feelings for them any longer, I wouldn't want to have to give them up if I didn't want to.

Yesterday's best icebreaker: Leans in though the crowd and says "How am I gonna be able talk to you with all these people in the way?"

Pink Champagne...check!
So only a month after my 2005 resolution deadline, did I finally complete my last lingering resolution from the year before--tasting Pink Champagne. I've always wanted to try it, ever since Affair to Remember, but it's not something usually ordered or around much, so I kept putting it off or forgetting about it altogether.

When I recently posted a recap of my 2005 resolutions and their outcomes, one of my male coworkers gave me a few Rose suggestions ranging from 39-69$ per bottle in price and Hiromi at Just Another Week posted some excellent suggestions in my comments section as well, actually they both mentioned the Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Rose.

While on vacation I spotted the Moet Rose for the duty free price of $60, but I couldn't bring myself to spend the 60 bucks that I had just fought to earn and hold onto in the casino on something liquid. Then again, I did put $15 towards the Brinley Vanilla Rum, which I had a little glass of last night before going to Pastis for K's bday dinner where I finally ordered a glass of pink champagne.

I ordered the only sparkling Rose option they had available, Rose Cremant De Loire, which was a little darker in color than I expected, more on the orangey reddish side. Other then it not being really pink, it was yummy, sweet and bubbly, very similar to regular colored champagne, but just a little more fun because I knew it was different lol. It couldn't rival the awesome crisp fries and hangar steak rare, that I ordered though. Yum! The New Year can really begin for me now that I finished up last year's to do list. This year I don't have a list, just to keep up my old ones like trying to eat veggies and going to the gym. The rest I'll make up along the way.

Quinky-dinks
The sun did in fact make an appearance on the last two days of my 4 day trip to St. Kitts, although the constant gusting winds did not let up. But ce la vie, I still managed to get a bit of a tan and some natural highlights. Most of all, I chilled with my mom and that was nice. I also acted like a kid in a candy shop at the duty free shops, buying rum and Clinique, then add in the unique island jewelry that I kept buying from the friendly vendors, equals the re-allocation of my casino earnings, but again ce la vie. I'm wearing a fun wooden necklace today, which is cheering me up even though I'm back in dreary New York weather.

Oh so my mother and I were looking for some um... ganja to enjoy in the evening (we were on vacay and all ;) but only came across someone 'in the know' a of couple hours before I was leaving for the airport, so I was forced to pass. She, however, emailed me at work today informing me that she got two rolled joints for $5 and that there isn't any wind on the island now either. Brat!

Now here's the coincidence part that I mention in my post's title. On my return flight from St. Kitts to San Juan, seated in a very compact and cramped plane (being 5'2 at least has it's benefits) I started a conversation with the guy seated next to me or more like on top of me given his 6 foot frame and tiny tiny seats, poor guy his knees were hitting the seat in front of him, anyway I digress, it turns out he was two years below me at my undergrad, Wheaton College in Massachusetts. Now, the small private college had fewer students than my high school and I happen to sit right next to a student from there on a small afternoon plane leaving St. Kitts? How weird is that?

Being terrible with names and faces (good thing I'm a journalist!) I didn't recognize him, not that he remembered me either, but we learned that we sort of knew some of the same people and that I had watched him play in the Wheaton baseball games. He was on a family business retreat and headed back to Boston after San Juan and me back to JFK.

Don't you love random meetings like that?

Tonight, off to celebrate K's birthday at Kanvas.

Rain Rain Go AWAY!
77 F / 25 C
Mostly Cloudy


I'm online during my mini vacation because the weather has been crappy :( Lots of clouds, the sun just peeks through enough for us to run out to the pool then run back after being pelted with rain once we lie out on the lounge chairs. The 29 MPH winds have been constant, no stop and go, but more like a hair dryer, always blowing. Definitely not good hair days, but whatever it's at least warm.

On the upside the food is great, we had fried lobster and the amazing local Brinley vanilla rum--I'm gonna be bringing a bottle back home. The place is beautiful too, that is when you aren't being bombarded by the wind or having your drink blown on you.

I'm also up $60 in the casino so far, I was up a lot more but started spreading out my bets too much on the craps board. I did win by rolling a hard eight (my lucky combo), 1 to 9 odds too. Due to the weather, I'll most likely be back there this evening.

We rented a car so explored the highland during the bout's of rain and clouds. From the back of the fun, but tiny Charade smartcar we spotted many "wild" goats, tree monkeys and cows on the peninsula, sometimes hidden in the trees or brazenly crossing and blocking the road.

We took several snap shots:




News: Meanwhile the tech PR firm that I work at, Horn Group, was named TOP PR AGENCY IN NEW PRSOURCECODE STUDY .

Escape
"I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up DOES rejoice. Still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they're gone. I guess I just miss my friend." -Red Shawshank Redemption For the last six year (shit has it been six years?) January's have been a difficult month for me. It brings memories and flashbacks of last holidays celebrated with my dad and then later his unexpected passing while I was home watching the Golden Globes hoping Friends would win and planning on seeing my dad the following day after school like always--neither happened. The night I found out that he died in his sleep drowning in his own fluid that was filling in his lungs, there was a terrible snow storm making the funeral a few days later even more miserable and difficult to accomplish. Four days afterwards I tried not holding my breath or scream as I passed his coffin, climbed the carpeted church steps and gave his eulogy at the high perched podium. Two weeks later, my mother took me to Cancun to help clear our heads and try to get us far away from where we were. It helped, her gesture and bonding even more so. Yesterday I went to a friend's father's wake, seeing her pain brought that week even more to mind. This Tuesday is the 6th anniversary since my dad's death (he'd only be 51) Tomorrow we leave for St. Kitts away from the cold, away from familiar surroundings. My mom and stepdad are going for 7 days but I'm only tagging along for four.

I think this should do the trick, don't you?


Be back Tuesday night.