Turning over a new leaf or two

Not a ton going on since my last post. I did a whole lot of nothing last weekend....except working all day Saturday. Ugh. Not my idea of a fun weekend.

Last week there were a few people from Dallas in town, including my dear friend Jeff and my old boss Mark. We all had dinner on Valentines. Tuesday night a few people came to my crib to see it. Then we tried a new place on Park Ave called The Hurricane Club. It's Polynesian food. It was just like I'd been transported back to Maui! Ok, let's not get carried away....maybe not...but it definitely had a tropical vibe. We had a fabulous appetizer platter with deviled eggs, fried peppers, coconut shrimp, and a couple other things. Then I had a gigantic short rib. I'm a sucker for short ribs. It was really good. I'm not sure it's worthy of a parental visit just due to the type of food....but very very good. Supposedly stars have been sighted there too. It's just a few months old. Then Wednesday we had a going away party for a guy in my office who is being transferred to Singapore (like me, he asked for it...sucker). It was a decent time. Then we went and had italian food that isn't worth me blogging about. : /  Anyway, always a good time seeing some of my Dallas buddies.

This past week was NOT a good week at work....for several reasons. Was just ready for the week to be over. The 3 day weekend came just in time. Friday the weather was unbelievable. We walked home from work for the first time in a few months. The highs were in the 60's. We didn't stop and eat or anything this time. I had my rolling laptop bag because I had taken it to the shop Friday morning. There's nothing more annoying than rolling a laptop for 3 miles up the island of Manhattan. Saturday I went to my neighborhood Borders book store for their going out of business sale. I'm not a big book reader at ALL....but from time to time I find myself wrapped up in one. I got some cooking magazines, an Us Weekly (of course), "Eat, Pray, and Love" (or whatever it is), some novel called "Prague", and then a best seller called "New York - The Novel". It's american history fiction...which means it's based on real history, with fictional stories woven in. So far I've learned how Manhattan got it's name (the Indians called it Manna Hatta, which means 'the island'), as well as other really neat facts. It's starts in the 1600's and goes up through present day. And did I mention it's 900 pages??? I'm on page 50 and the british are invading the island, currently owned by the dutch. Exciting, eh?

Saturday night I decided to go up to the Madhatter (something else I learned, the dutch used to make hats made of beaver pelts, and they would have to use all these dyes. they would sometimes go crazy when the dyes got into their systems...so they were mad hatters. Should I have saved these nuggets for the "Things I've learned" section?). There were 3 of us, so we walked up the street to the Alabama bar at halftime to watch the game with them. Pretty uneventful evening. Sunday I did stuff around the house and then Sunday night I met my coworker John for dinner at one of my neighborhood spots, Benjamin's. Then we went to the movies to see "The Kings Speech". I have always liked Colin Firth, but he's generally in movies that I am not that in to (romantic comedies). I saw him on Inside the Actors Studio a couple weeks ago and fell in love (literally and figuratively). So with all the hype about the movie, and my realization that I more than "like" Colin, I had to see it. WOW! Such a great film. It was visually stunning, a true story, THE best acting I've ever seen....just FABULOUS! I expect it will win the Oscar for best film. After I saw "True Grit" I thought it would load up on the Oscars. At this point I think the best shot for True Grit is Supporting Actress for the little girl in the movie. Best Actor? My man Colin has it wrapped up like a Christmas present.

Today, I had to wait for the cable guy to come. Mom, you'll be happy to know that the TV in my bedroom is working perfectly and in HD now. I have been dreaming of Nobu sushi in Dallas lately, so I figured I'd try one of the Nobu's here since it's restaurant week ($25 pre fixe lunch). So, I went to the one in Tribeca. I had sashimi salad (I think it was seared ahi tuna), and then assorted sushi (no idea what I ate, except there was some tuna and salmon involved), and the dessert was terrible. I was comprised of two things I greatly dislike....tofu and apricots. BLUH! The sushi was good though. Then I went to Mac Cosmetics for a little makeover. I've never worn alot of makeup, don't need to, and don't want to....but from time to time I'm in a pic with other girls and I look so washed out compared to everyone else. So, I go in and tell the girl exactly what I just said and she stared at me for a good while and said "well it's hard to help someone that doesn't know what they want". WHAT!?! Excuse me lady, but I obviously just said in so many words that I need my features to "pop" a little more. Then when I was putting on lip gloss she said "it would help if you put it on correctly". Waynch. I needed the products she suggested, I'm just sorry I had to buy them from her.

So, in the big middle of all that's been going on, I decided to start the "Couch to 5k" running program. The title says it all. It gets you off the couch and running a 5k in 8 or 9 weeks. I accidentally did the week 2 workout the whole week of week 1, so I just finished week 3 even though I've only done it for 2 weeks. It's AMAZING how much just 6 workouts will change you. I don't get winded when I run after the subway or go up the subway stairs or when I walk up Murray Hill. The first day it was all I could do to run 1.5 minutes and now I'm doing 5 minutes. It's sad as an ex college athlete that this is a big accomplishment, but that's just how it goes. Plus, running up and down a basketball court is much different than treadmill running. Needless to say, I'm really excited about the program and looking forward to my first 5k on June 16 in Central Park. I ALSO started weight watchers at the same time. Hawaii pics had me saying "ew" when I saw myself...and just need to get back on track in general. I want to look cute in my summer clothes, too! Getting rid of one of my chins will be a bonus as well. I don't think I'll do ww but for a couple of months. Once you know the points value of   most things that you eat, you kind of get the idea of what you should be eating. And the fact that all fruits and veggies are 0 points now makes the program more fun. I'm a fruit and veggie eating machine right now!

Wednesday I leave for New Orleans. Gonna spend a couple days with Sugar and my precious Caroline....then Thursday night - Sunday with my girls from Dallas. I'm very excited, but I'm afraid the weight watchers and couch to 5k programs will need to take a back seat for a few days. Oh well, it's the getting back on track when I get back in town that counts. And I WILL.

Here's a couple pics I took today after yet another snow. We are up to 60 something inches for the winter now.

looking up 3rd Ave

Colin thinking about me...because it's my blog and I'll post what I want to

I haven't learned all that much since my last posting, but I'll take a stab at it:

1. Before giving a homeless man a granola bar, make sure that he has the teeth to eat it.

2. Don't let out of towners pick restaurants

3. After yet another try, another confirmation that they just don't do good Mexican food up here

4. The new bite size peanut butter snickers are worth 3 weight watchers points. I have confirmed for the rest of you, it's not worth it.

5. No place is off limits for dogs to use the restroom in this town. Including CVS.