Biking NYC, Running Central Park

It amazes me that I can still find things to do here that I have never done before. Usually after living in a place for 4 years, you start to run of "new" things to do. Not that doing a repeat of stuff is bad - just that New York is so versatile that you really can find new things all the time.

I have biked in Manhattan before, but it was only to ride to work. This was a few years back - on the weekends during tax season I would ride my bike when it was warmer from the Upper East Side to the World Trade Center. It wasn't really a leisurly ride. It was a means to an end: a chance to get some excercise on my way to work.

But, today was different. A highschool friend of mine, Eric, was in town visiting from Florida. The night before, Fernando had said that he was planning on going on a bike ride on the river trail around the island with a friend. It sounded like fun and Fernando and I thought it would be a really good way for Eric to see the city. So, Saturday morning, Eric and I rode the train with bikes to the World Trade Center then began our trek to meet up with Fernando. We headed through China Town, Little Italy, Union Square, Gramercy Park, then Herald Square/34th Street, Times Square, Bryant Park, Central Park, and then hit the Upper East Side where we stopped for a bagel. Back onto the bikes we headed down to the 59th street bridge where we met Fernando. The three of us biked along the East River, past the United Nations and all the way to the South Street Sea Port where we stopped again - for Pizza. Then, we headed through Wall Street and up to Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty.
At home, I mapped it out and we did 18 miles.

Sunday was another physically challenging day. I met up with Fernando early in the morning and we went for a run in Central Park. He ran 8 miles...I DIDNT. I ran as much as I could. My guess would be that it was about 5 miles. Then we went to meet up with some of his friends and threw around a football and softballs for a while.

I have to give my props to Maggie and Dan for making me get shoes. I used to run track in high school and for a few years after that. Well, I guess I can't really say that I "ran" track. My main goal was to be in good enough shape to look good in a bikini when the summer hit. I really wasn't too concerned with winning any track meets. Good thing, 'cause I never won! I was actually probably the WORST track person in the history of TC Roberson High School. My event was the 2 mile run (actually, they did it in kilometers but I can't remember how many it was and am too lazy to calculate it out). You always knew who I was because I would be at the end of the line (assuming no one had lapped me already). Well, I wasn't at the very end, there was one girl who was always behind me but she was somewhat mentally disabled. And even she beat me once. I remember that day - she was sooooo happy to have not come in last. It was almost as if I had done some kind of good deed - but I didnt LET her win. My nickname will never be speedy. Anyway, back the real story. My knees started to hurt after a few years, and I ended up stopping running. I haven't really run much since then. I have been bored with my workout lately and really wanted to change it up. Maggie was always running on the treadmill at the gym but I never ran with her because every time I tried my knees would bother me. Then, I was talked into venturing off my cheap tennis shoe kick and actually purchasing shoes that were made for running. Nike. Woo hoo.

I still didn't run. Then one day at the gym I felt like I had a boundless amount of energy. You know those days? You go to the gym and you just need to get all that energy out of you? Like its just too much trapped inside your body? So, it was one of those days. I got on the treadmill and ran about 3 miles. I figured I was going to hurt after that, but I didn't. So, I kept running when I went to the gym. It has really worked out nice since a) the gym closes at 8:30pm and is not open on Sundays - I can run after those hours in my neighborhood and b) Fernando runs so we can do it together. I always find that having someone to work out with is much better motivation than always going by yourself. Back on track - Maggie was my gym partner, but now she is gone. Boo hoo.

That a) b) thing I just did - that's all Maggie. You ever notice how when you hang around the same person a lot you pick up on their mannerisms? Maggie and I used to do that all the time. Instead of saying "By the Way" she would always say BTW. She always says "hells yeah" too. Funny how that works.

Ham and Cross Cake

Willy D, Me and Vince


I have noticed that my blogs revolve around my weekends. It's almost a little sad that all the great and fun things in my life seem to happen in only two days of the week. Damn work!!! I am very grateful though, that I do have my weekends to enjoy. I am even more grateful that my weekends always seem to be filled with happiness and joy.

This weekend was a 4 day weekend for me. God bless the 4 day weekend. Good Friday was the day that made this one a long one. I took off Thursday. Friday morning, Fernando and I headed to Atlantic City. My dear friend Maggie has a house there and had offered for us to stay there for the night. Fernando and I gambled in the casinos (no win). We headed back to the house for popcorn and a movie. The next day, we decided to take a walk on the boardwalk, then gamble a little more. We went to the roulette table and he bet on my birthday - it hit twice for him and he made some bank. Technically, it hit three times, but he didn't bet on it again. That'll show him. You got to bet on ME BABY!!

Also, I have a great picture from that day. We headed to Hooters for some wings (I love their wings) and some cheesy camera guy came around and took our picture and made it into a key chain. I'm a sucker. I bought it. It was such a cute picture of the two of us. Too bad I can't scan the keychain for my blog.

Sunday was Easter. Fernando and I decided to make Easter an easter dinner ham. We invited his two Jewish friends (Vince and Willy D) over to dine with us. I know, I know, Jews aren't supposed to eat ham. But it was ok - these two aren't that strict. So, just to be funny, I decided to turn the cake I was making for dessert into the shape of a cross. Fernando and I decorated it - put peeps on the outside with toothpick swords guarding the cross that said "He is Risen". We thought that his Jewish friends would enjoy the effort. Fernando and I conspired to tell them that I worked really hard on the cake and was so proud of it, and that they were not to laugh when I brought it out.

I can't remember a dinner get-together as fun as this one for quite some time. We all had a few glasses of wine, chatted it up, joked about silly and stupid things, and just had a good time. The wine induced buzz caused me to want to prove to Vince that I don't hit like a girl. Vince is into Kung Fu so I thought he would be the right one to show - this was all while I was wearing the Tiara (see last blog). Also, I do believe that I trapped Vince in conversation for an abnormally long period of time - the most of which I spent confessing to him how much I adore and love his friend Fernando. Then, later in the evening, laughing too hard at something I happened to hit my face on the wine glass and gave myself a nosebleed. Always a nice touch at a dinner party. You can't say it wasn't fun or memorable.


Me and Fernando

Lava Gina

A week or so ago I got an email from my friend in Jersey City Christine inviting me to a birthday party for our friend Catalina. The email said something to the effect of we're going to go to dinner for sushi at such and such place and then head over for drinks at Lava Gina. Then she included the websites. Looking at the web link, I realized that www.lavagina.com really looked like La Vagina. Hmmm. This prompted a reply from me to the distribution list saying only "La Vagina"? and then several others put in their cracks at the name. Despite the name, the evening was still planned.

There were 16 of us and we first headed over to Avenue A sushi in the village for a very long dinner. I had invited Fernando* and his friends - Vince* and Rickybobby* as well as two of my friends from work - Jessica and Barbara. Dinner was pretty good, but we didn't order enough food. By the time we got our food it was too late to really order anything else so I had to go get a slice of pizza afterwards. The most important fact about dinner: a) Catalina seemed to enjoy it and looked beautiful for her birthday b) we learned about jelly made out of jameson whiskey from Sarah (a pastry chef and acquaintance) and came up with an idea to inject it into donuts to make Jameson Jelly Donuts. Now THAT"s a DONUT!!!

Later, we made our way over to Lava Gina. Standing outside, the triangles should have been a give-away but we went in and then realized after about 2 minutes that it was a lesbian bar. Not that a lesbian bar is a bad thing, but it just wasn't our dealy-o for the night. Not sure how we EVER didn't come up with the idea that it just might possibly be a lesbian bar based on the name. Looking back, it seems REALLY obvious.

So, we went across the street to the Porch and had a few drinks. It got late and it was time to go. In the cab on the way home, a bachelorette party tiara fell onto me out of nowhere and I put it on and officially declared myself Princess Rebecca. I wore it the rest of the evening. No buzz involved in that decision. And that's all she wrote.

*Names changed not necessarily to protect identity - but instead to be funny.

Bunch of Brooklyn

Ironically, a pretty decent chunk of this weekend was spent in Brooklyn. But first I went to Queens...

Friday after work, I went over to see Fernando. It's sickening, I know, but I enjoy spending every free second I possibly can with him. We went to the gym and worked out, then back to his place and ate and just chilled and listened to music. It was one of those nights where you just veg out and do absolutely nothing but is absolutely perfect. I love days like that.

Saturday morning Gizzy went to the groomers. He was sooo cute when I went to pick him up. They had put a little bow tie around his neck. I thought this was much cuter than the bandannas they always put on dogs. And, I am sure he liked it much more than the time when they put bows in his hair and dressed him up like a girly-dog. He was such a boy that day - kept biting at the bows and trying to rip them out. He definitely defended his manhood on that occasion.

Saturday afternoon I went on my first trip to the Brooklyn Museum of Art with Fernando. They were having an exhibit on Coney Island and another one on Feminist Artists. Coney Island was pretty standard. The Feminist Artists on the other hand...whole other experience. Being a woman, I can understand to an extent the whole feminist movement. I can appreciate many of the ideologies that are valued. But, intrisically, we are all women. I think it is nice to be held equally in many respects, but also nice to celebrate our difference from men. I think that feminism can definitely go too far and be brutal and hardcore. And, I especially don't like those feminists that cannot be open enough to accept the fact that some women don't want to be as gung ho about feminism as they are.

To give you an example - Salt Lake City. I used to live there and the culture there is very family oriented. Many of my friends were women who went to college and then ended up staying at home to raise their families. I completely respect their decision to do that. The hard core feminists chastise them for their choice and say that they are giving up their identity and throwing away their education, not considering that it may be what the women truly want to do with their lives.

Ok, now that you have my 2 cents, back to the "art". There were several very interesting female artists. The one that I liked the most used string and stitching on canvas as her medium. Here is the site: http://www.gagosian.com/artists/ghada-amer/. And then there was another artist. The display was a formal dining set up. Each place setting was dedicated to a great woman in history like Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, etc. Every plate had a different "flower" on it that ironically resembled the female anatomy. Hmmm. Not quite something I would want to eat off of. Not so sure that some of these famous ladies in history would enjoy knowing that they were being honored in this way. Call me a little old fashioned but it wasn't really my thing.

On to Sunday. Fernando and I got up and headed back into Brooklyn at 7am! My friends Christine and Carl were saying goodbye to Brooklyn and moving to Long Island. Their baby is due very soon and they have a house to start their life in together. I think it has been very cool to see them move along in their life together and wish them the best of luck. Sad to see them leave Brooklyn though. We didn't see each other enough as it was!!

Wonderful Weekend

So, I have no juicy stories to tell you about this weekend, well, at least none that I can share on my public blog. But, I did have a very nice weekend. So, for all of you who are procrastinating doing something else (preferably at work)... here is as summation of my weekend.


Saturday I went to my friend Christine's baby shower. It's official: All my closest friends from way back when have kids. (Well, at least will have them in a few days). She was pretty much the only one left holding out. It's always so strange to me to see my friends having kids. Not sure exactly why. I think it is the whole grown up thing - because I always knew them when we were young and being silly with no responsibilties. Funny how it's not strange to see them get married or move up the corporate ladder ... it's always the kids that put them into this different realm. Off the topic..So, one thing to note, we played the doodie diaper game. Love that game. Makes me laugh. (for those of you who don't know, you put baby food or melted candy bars in the diapers and then people have to guess what it is - usually by smelling it).

After the shower I went with Fernando to meet up with his sister, her boyfriend, and his mother at the Met. Never met any of his family yet, so this was a first time deal. I never had any doubts in my mind that they would be good people, and I wasn't let down. And NO, I am not just writing this because he will probably read it. Ha ha. We had some wine and cheese at the museum, then decided to go for dinner at a Turkish restaurant. At dinner, Fernando totally shut me down on one of my cool moves to try to schmooze a little. He had told me before that his mom had this saying about how little people talk about people, mediocre people talk about things and great people talk about ideas. Well, that whole thing came up at dinner and I got to use it but he totally busted me. It was actually pretty funny. He told his mom I was brown-nosing. Note to self... save some good stuff for when he meets my family.

The next morning, Fernando and I had brunch with his sister and her boyfriend at Foxy's Diner in Queens. Then food coma set in and we spent the next several hours (5 maybe???) watching TV on his couch. It didn't help that it was cold outside which significantly reduced the urge to do anything else. There was a St. Patty's day parade in his neighborhood that we were going to go to, but the couch won that battle.

So, that's about it. Pretty straighforward weekend but, as always, oh so wonderful.