Summer reading and more

Okay. This could end up being a huge mistake, but I am going to actually request that people comment on this post... but that would require people to read this post. So I guess if no one reads this, then no will know that no one else has posted anyway.

I'm looking for books to read this summer... AND for cool places to go (where I will presumably pretend to read my book but really just people watch). I know there are some cool jazz concerts in Central Park I'd like to check out, but I need some other suggestions (for when this class I'm sitting in is finally over). I've also heard the most fabulous take-out Puerto Rican food is on 15th and 8th (La Taza Deoro) so that is a must. 

Here's my book list so far... don't judge me.

1) Rory and Kim - Skinny Bitch

2) That book Jess keeps on the desk called City Chic

3) Hemingway - The Sun Also Rises

Thoughts?!

This can't be summer.

I'm writing this while sitting in a tiny, stuffy classroom in the Woolworth building on a Saturday morning discussing how to handle a crisis and listening to the sirens outside... where I should be. Is this not enough of a crisis? AND it's not even raining yet... so it's probably my only chance to be in NYC's fresh (maybe not so fresh) air. 

Real summer needs to start soon. That entails... the end of weekend classes, which are basically ruining my life. And sun, warmth, days by the fountain next to my apartment building, bbqs on the island, etc. And running... which I have not done in 6 weeks. I am almost completely de-crippified, but only when I walk. I still need to strengthen my calf and take it from there. 

Once all of these things fall into place, my life will be back on track! Until then, I get to sit in stuffy classrooms daydreaming about running on the West side highway and preparing for a rainy commute back home to the EV.  But I did have a solid evening of sangria and wings (caribbean jerk and spicy honey this time) last night. We did mean to go out afterwards... got dressed, did our makeup and hair, sat down on the couch to chat... and passed out. I guess the 10-hr work days are starting to take their toll! 

Maybe we'll do better tonight? If I ever get out of this classssssssssss

I Vow to Be Monogamous.

I've only been back home in NYC for about a week, but I guarantee I will not cheat on New York ever again... or at least anytime soon. London? Bloody good time. Madrid? Always a fiesta. Ghana? Well... uhh, right. But New York is the only city in the world where there ratio of complete weirdos to regular people on mass transit is 10 to 1. And where every Asian take-out you order is the best take-out you've ever had. And where people come running over screaming in Arabic to help you as you fall out of a cab because you have a broken leg and are not coordinated enough to use crutches (hypothetically speaking, of course...).

So this summer will be a celebration of NY (which has almost nothing to do with a big apple). Recession Thursdays in the financial district with all those in need of a morale boost. Jogs (slow walks) in Central Park from Strawberry Fields to the carousel. People-watching the beautiful families out for a stroll on the West Side Highway. Convincing those guys that always barbecue on the East Side highway near the baseball fields to give you a hot dog. Doing everything in your power to stand next to a D-list celebrity, only to make eye contact and pretend you're too cool to know who they are. Buying second-hand Pier 1 furniture on Craig's List and carrying it back on the subway from Brooklyn. Feeling superior to everyone around you in Times Square even though you should have known better than to go to Times Square. Going to the Opera. Going to the Opera and leaving halfway through to get burritos. And, my personal favorite... finding the best happy hours on the island.

So here is to your New York, which is not my New York... but that's why it's the best city in the world.

Just my luck.

After a stressful and whirlwind of a semester, I was very much looking forward to coming home to relax, run, and party with friends for a few weeks before work starts in June. I wanted nothing more than to hit the gym every morning, watch tv, read, and then head to local bars or to the city each night to meet up with friends. 

Well, at least I can do two of those things while elevating my leg on the couch. Yep. I broke my ankle. How? Well... I was being attacked by two mad dogs, so I hopped a fence... after I landed on the dumpster and jumped down a taxi came out of nowhere and ran me over... 

That's the real story. It is totally NOT true that I was walking to the train station in the rain and slipped on a west stone in the pavement. And it is NOT true that a guy who looks just like the obnoxious, skinny, blonde guy on How I Met Your Mother helped me up and I "walked it off" out of embarrassment. 

So anyway... no more running, no dancing, no walking, no wearing jeans or any decent-looking pants, no driving, no shopping, no high heels, no drinking - can't be drunk while operating my vehicle (crutches / swivel chair / hopping around on my good leg). Going to be a fun time! 

And that is all the complaining I will do. That's IT! Done. Now it is time to be positive and focus on recovery and figuring out how to live a normal life with one leg. I have to move into a new apartment. Get oral surgery. Start work. Commute to work. Walk around at work. Get myself to meetings at work. Figure out how to hold something while walking - i.e. lunch at work. Not completely destroy my other leg while hopping around on it. And, lastly, stop worrying myself to the point of sickness that I will never be able to run at full strength again. Oh, and cancel my entry into the NY marathon. 

Positivity starts now. (I'll post when I find the bright side). 

Nae Drinks Ootside Efter Neene

... Written on the inside of a door to a fabulously dingy, cheap, Scottish pub that was pretty much everything I wanted Scotland to be. Translation: No drinks outside after 9. And the seemingly dodgy bar had some of the best live music I've ever heard. Any decent cover of a Jim Morrison tune by a teenager in a Dr. Seuss hat has my vote. 

Edinburgh is exciting, quaint, and charming. The people are genial, warm, and like to have fun. What more could anyone ask for? From start to finish, our holiday was perfect. Quiet, clean, smooth 4-hr train ride, and a surprise from Andy, who was waiting at the station! 

The hotel was on Princes Street right in the center of the city. 5 minutes to the botanical gardens, 10 minutes to the Edinburgh Castle & the Royal Mile, and smack inbetween the 2 main spots for night life. We did the whole touristy sight-seeing thing during the day, and walked along the Royal Mile a bit before heading out in the Grassmarket. 

The Royal Mile is a mile-long street with tons of restaurants, pubs, and shopping. We were noticing that every single place we passed was somewhere we wanted to go. For every meal, we passed about 10 places that we said, "that looks great... stop or keep going? let's just look at the next place..." I'll admit it... I didn't try haggis (traditional Scottish meal... sheep bladder, liver, and other body parts). I wanted to! But not enough to actually do it...

The Grassmarket was filled with clubs, lounges, and pubs. I absolutely love the crazy names that pubs have, especially in Edinburgh. In London, too, every pub is a noun beginning with "The." The noun is always something having to do with Britain or royalty. My favorite was one on the Royal Mile called "The Malt Shovel." After a few drinks, I thought it was called "The Manure Pusher." The place we went to was called The Three Sisters. It was a massive lounge/club with a DJ who was using a fake headset to look cool. Just as Andy predicted, about an hour after we arrived, all of the guys that had been standing at the bar drinking were suddenly forming awkward packs on the dance floor and spinning around in circles with their arms in the air... really innovative dance moves. 

Word of caution - don't go to the Scottish House of Parliament. The only things in it are a gift shop and carpeting swatches from the Parliament House. It's not even worth getting out of the rain... which is the only reason we went in the first place. 

So who knew that the best place to find Mexican is in Edinburgh? We went to Miro Mexicana on Rose St. (right before the pub with live music) and had the best fajitas I have ever had. Good mragaritas too. But, if my Mom were to have tried them, she would have taken one sip, smirked, shook her head, and muttered "weak." After the pub, we went to a really nice whiskey bar, since apparently Scotland is known for their whiskey. So naturally, I had a strawberry beer. The length of time it took Andy to finish his whiskey (about an hour) is proof positive that my beer was a good choice. 

So, other than some rainy weather, a fabulous trip! If I could spend every other weekend in Edinburgh, I'd be a happy lady. I guess Edinburgh is a bit of a hike from NY for just a weekend... 

Going for the Gold

Just wanted to mention... Andy and I ran the Newham Classic 10K on Sunday. And now I can officially say I have run around the 2012 Olympic Stadium in London (even though it is only half built!) 

How cool is that?! Also got to see Andy's school (very nice!). I ran it in somewhere around 50 minutes. Andy ran it in 47. He is a running machine! 

I will be home in 22 days. But I'm not counting or anything.

Plan of action upon return:

1) eat pancakes at Grandma and Grandpa's

2) tell my life story to friends (and Kay) over an excessive amount of wine

3) get wisdom teeth out 

4) try not to die

5) get an apartment

6) shop til I drop 

Speaking of shopping, I'm off to the DSUK designer sale on Brick Lane. Cheers!

a much needed update.

It has been forever. I haven't had a moment to post! Every time I think about posting, I remember how far behind I am in my reading and how many essays I was supposed to write and haven't written yet.

BUT since I have so much work to do tomorrow I am going to be super productive and... run a race. I'm running the Newham Classic 10K run (for charity I think?). Let's hope I can keep up with Andy! I've done a bit too much drinking and a bit too little running this semester to be in any condition to race. Nutritionists don't generally recommend diets of meat pies and late night sausages while training. It will be more of a leisurely jog for me. 

I meant to do lots of essay writing today, but it was 60 degrees and sunny! I read Oscar Wilde in Gordon Square instead. Definitely a much better use of my time. 

So... quick update. I went to Sicily. and my parents took their very first trip to London. Sicily first: Italy = paradise. I don't think that Sicily is my favorite spot in Italy, but it is still beautiful. It seems that in Italy everything and everyone is just beautiful without any effort. Even something that is not supposed to look beautiful... like a desserted alley with old laundry hanging on it... looks like a work of art. While we were there we ate pasta, pizza, gelato and panninis, drank wine with every meal, walked around the piazzas, went to the beach, and shopped. So basically, the ideal holiday. And we were lucky enough to get there a few weeks before the summer season really begins, so not too many tourists and really reasonable prices. What more can you ask for?!

Only downside to Sicily, as with the rest of Italy... completely inefficient. Train is supposed to come at 9:00, you're lucky if it's there at 9:15. We waited an hour for a train that we were running late for in the first place. And, of course, the trains stop running at 9:30 p.m., so to get home from the city, a pricy cab ride is the only option. But all in all, a wonderfully relaxing break from the fog.

Holiday number two: being a tourist with Mom and Dad in London. We did so many things that I haven't done before (even after 3 months), like Shakespeare's Globe, Tower of London (pointless), and St. Paul's. St. Paul's was absolutely breathtaking... I'm surprised I didn't know  that sooner since I work across the street. We saw Les Miserables, which was absolutely unforgettable... something I will remember forever. And supposedly the London theatre is ranked higher than NY's broadway, so it's very possible I just saw the best show in the world. But my favorite has to be Shakespeare's Globe, only because I am a Shakespeare dork. It was great to see where all the magic happens. And very typically English. Our tour guide told us everyone would come in drunk, watch a vulgar show, be sloshing around in the rain, probably get into a few fights, and then do who knows what after the show. Yep, that's the English for ya. I'm actually going to go back and buy this beautiful decorative masque (like the kind you might wear to a masquerade) from the globe and hang it in my apartment when I get home... just so I can say "oh that's from Shakespeare's globe" very nonchalantly when people ask about it. 

Only downside of the trip... not the best weather London has ever seen (not that London ever sees great weather). But, my poor Mom who so looks forward to holidays of sun and cocktails on the beach was stuck dragging her suitcase through puddles while trying to hold onto her umbrella with the other hand. At least we did have two days of sun. So Dad fell in love with the pubs (obviously) and made it perfectly clear that he wanted ale and a meat pie for every meal. Mom found the cute streets with the restaurants that I had been searching for (of course) and even found probably the only mafia hangout in London. Leave it to Mom to travel to a city she's never been to... where I live... and teach me things. For example, now I know that if I'm feeling sick I can legally stock up on Advil with Codeine since it is OTC in the UK. 

AND the best surprise of the trip was Andrew! Based on a five minute chat late Friday night, he hopped on a plane and met us at Camden markets Saturday morning. I know my parents were so glad to catch up with him, and I was ecstatic! Definitely made the night life more exciting for the week. And, of course, Andrew showed me the best view of Big Ben at night from Trafalgar Square that I had never seen before... If everyone keeps teaching me things when they come to visit, I guess that means I'm super oblivious? 

Only thing missing from the trip was Kay, but I plan to photoshop her floating head into some photos... which is really all that matters on vacation anyway ;)

And on that note, I'm off to watch Ocean's 12. Cheers.