All Hallows Eve

I remember being young and getting ready to Trick or Treat on Halloween. My mom always made some elaborate and amazing costume for me and my sisters. Black cats, mermaids, Cleopatra, belly dancer, Toucan. Generally, aside from decorations, Halloween only took place on October 31st. We'd trick or treat then race into our rooms to escape seeing our dad looking quite frightening in his hunchback costume and creepy mask. There was, however, the year we threw the amazing Halloween party at my house complete with a fortune teller, dry ice, a haunted house, face painting and crazy games...I think I was 10.

Now that I'm older, Halloween seems to span the length of a full week, depending on when October 31st falls. This year, it falls on a Wednesday so the Friday and Saturday before provided plenty of costume party options. I hate to say it, but Halloween's have been lacking for me since leaving college. This year, however, could prove to change that. On the official day of ghosts, goblins, ghouls and everything in between, I will be attending the Village Halloween Parade in NYC with a good friend of mine. It has been voted as one of the Best Events in the World, and something I look forward to checking off the list of Festivals to see before I die.

On that note, Festivals I hope to see before I die (list continuing to grow):
- Carnaval in Rio. Check
- Village Halloween Parade, NYC. Soon to be checked
- Full Moon Festival, Thailand.
- Burning Man, Nevada.
- Oktoberfest, Germany.
- Mardi Gras, New Orleans
- St. Patricks Day, Dublin.

Stay tuned for photos from my upcoming NYC Halloween.

Note: A "ghoul" is the original word used to describe what we now call a "zombie"...in case you were confused.

Cause and Effect?

Weather cools, leaves change.
Birthdays pass, wisdom grows.
Sun shines, smiles appear.
Warmth given, judgment passed.
Food cooks, smells waft.
Sports played, losers blamed.
Rain falls, umbrellas open.
Friends join, bonds strengthen.
Life pauses, time doesn't.

You are what you eat?

Recently, I've gotten into a few conversations with various people as well as thinking about it myself - the thought of whether we are what we do for work, if work defines us, or if it is separate. I do not believe that work defines me. Work is something I do to enjoy other things in life. Work does have a major role in my life solely based on the amount of time it consumes. I spend a minimum of 8 hours a day, 5 days a week doing it. Each year I spend at least one entire month logging over 70 hours a week, I usually work 8-10 weekends every year, I usually travel over a dozen times a year solely for work. So yes, work does consume a good quantity of my life. But my life is not defined by it...I do not live and breath my work, I do not get emotional over my work, I do not let work dictate the pleasures I enjoy in life. I let work be a catalyst for other endeavors, rendezvous, free vacations.

Work and life may walk side by side, but they do not necessarily hold hands in my mind. When I leave work, I leave work. I rarely talk about it outside the office because, lets be honest, who really cares about the fact that I had to place a multi-thousand dollar order for electricity and plumbing for a 20x20 footprint for 2 days, as well as setting up calls with 8 retailers to discuss their store layout and capabilities? Especially people who aren't in my work field, it means nothing to them. Why is it though, that so many people leave their office and continue to spend the rest of their evening whining over their tough day, or talking to someone about xyz when that person doesn't even know what xyz means? Life and work are like Church and State...they will always co-exist but should never have an impact on each other. It is one thing for your life to inspire you at work and for your work to inspire you in life. But I say, don't take your life into your work, don't take your work into your life.

The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on the Plain

Yesterday I was starring out my office window at beautiful blue skies and an almost visible crisp fall air. Today I look at gray skies, drizzling rain, gloomy thick air. I think back 24 hours to when I said how much easier it is to sit at my desk when the weather is gray. Well, perhaps I was wrong. I sit at my desk thinking about how great it would be to be curled up on my couch with my latest bookclub book in hand, a little jazz or classical music wafting through the air, a freshly made cappuccino beside me, Oliver curled up by my head purring gently.

Perhaps it's not the weather that determines my desire to sit at a desk all day. Perhaps I just get listless, hour upon hour spent sitting at a computer screen. Perhaps I get bored, waiting for answers from clients, phone calls from vendors, files from the designers. I hate wasting time in transit, I equally hate wasting time in waiting.

Case of the Mondays

I've been really into the blog lately, and am loving it.

At the current moment, I'm sitting at my desk, looking out the window at what is one of the most beautiful days all year, yesterday being it's toughest competition. Days like this make me have a serious case of the Mondays. When it's raining and ugly out, I don't mind being stuck at a desk, starring at a computer screen all day. When there's a soft breeze, that crisp fall air, mid 70's and not a cloud in the sky, my desk is the last place I want to be. Sitting outside on Church w/a cup of tea and a good book. Taking a little drive, maybe doing a short hike. That is what I want to be doing right now.

At any rate. This past weekend was one of the more fun weekends of Fall so far. It began with one of my favorite things - Round Tha Hood, the south-end block party that is in it's 2nd year. The themes this year were Fireside at Emi and Kev's, Fraternity Party at Jessica's, Jazz Lounge at Sheehan's, Shotsville at Soe and Colin's and the British Pub at my place.

Fraternity Party!

House Hopping Ladies

Kev enjoying the wood bench at the Jazz Lounge

Scenes leading up to my finger being engulfed in a blue flame

It was a very successful event despite the torrential downpour and various other antics including, but not limited to a wood bench photo scene, Zima's and wine coolers, Colin poking people in the eye, Christina sliding down stairs and handles of Scotch.

Saturday was pretty much a wash due to Fridays antics, although I did manage to witness a french fry eating contest between Bannister and Isaac. My money was on Bannister and she came through in the end consuming just over 28 ounces of McD's fries (GROSS).

Isaac looked like he was experiencing serious vertigo at ounce 26 so called it quits.

After surviving witnessing that event, I met up w/Becky and we enjoyed a very delicious dinner at Tiny Thai. Apparently the host really liked us as he ended up seating us before people that had been waiting for 20 minutes. Good laughs and great convo, as always.

Sunday was one of those days that can't be beat. I woke up early, cleaned the house, walked to New Moon for coffee and a muffin and reading my NY Times, strolling and shopping on Church, riding a horse, baking and cooking then a little soiree at the Square for Mr. Wasuck's 31st. Good times rehashing the Round Tha Hood and listening to Bannisters words of alcohol wisdom - "Every season is drinking season".


Epic weekend complete. I'm in pretty much an amazing mood and feeling really great, really happy. I love fall.

Doors and windows

Sometimes I hesitate when I hear a knock at the door...only opening it a crack, weary to open it all the way for fear of what might come whooshing in, out of my control. Sometimes I open a window and peak down at the door, see what's knocking. Once in a while, when I'm sure I know exactly what's at the door, I let them come in on their own...locks undone, door wide open. Am I too worried about what lurks in the darkness or realistic about what bad could come from a false sense of safety? Is it better to just leave the door unlocked and let the ways of the world take their course...fight off the bad, embrace the good?

I had a neighbor in college who used to sneak in and take things without asking. Did it make me more protective? Perhaps. Although I knew the items were in good hands, hands I trusted, maybe they took one too many items and changed my view.

Although I keep the chain on my door and remove it slowly, once I do remove the chain and let fully in, the door is always open, day or night, rain or shine, whether I'm home or not. An open door for me is an open ended ticket, all country pass to wherever you desire.

Passion

Last night I saw "Across the Universe" at the Roxy.
It was a really great movie...a nice change from the movies of late. In some ways it reminded me of Moulin Rouge with its musical outbursts, dances amidst the normal story telling, general dialogue intermixed with flashbacks and dreams and floating objects.

I think one thing that really stuck with me about the movie was that era...the 60's and early 70's. It was a time when people believed in something and didn't just internalize those beliefs...they did something about them. The most obvious of that being the opposition to the Vietnam War...the protests and rallies and anti-draft actions. It makes me sad that, when in a similar situation (minus the draft), a war that so many people are against yet a generation that is proactive, we aren't as passionate about showing our opposition as they were in the 60's. They were fearless. Jail, police, tear gas, death...none of the potential consequences of their actions deterred them.


Not only was that time about passion for their feelings of the war, but passion of everything. Whether it was for sex drugs and rock and roll, or art, or a cause, people had passion and a lot of it. Society didn't dictate what they did like it does now. Sometimes I wish I lived then...a time when love was free and hitch hiking was safe. Art was less commercialized. Anti-establishment was a way of life. Peace and harmony were truth.

Fall = Food, fun, films, flings, festivities

It's almost as if the earth's axis makes a full 90 degree change with the onset of Fall. I can feel it in the air, I can taste it in the food, I can sense it in the company of others. For me, Fall becomes a time of bundling up on the couch with a good book or movie. A time when my cooking goes into high gear and I even engage in some baking. A time when the bars get replaced with a close group of friends in a cozy living room with plenty of wine and spirits. A time when the chill in the air brings people together. A time when I relish retreating to the dark cave of movie theaters and enjoying an escape from reality, if only for an hour or two.

This past weekend a group of close friends celebrated the big 3-0 for Elisa. It was pretty much a perfect Saturday gathering...wine, a cozy home, lots of good food, hanging out on the couches, mingling.

I loved spending the whole day shopping for food then baking and cooking. The gloomy outside made me so pleased to be indoors, enjoying wafts of warm air from the oven filled with the smell of spices. Fall ignites the senses within me...colors liven up, smells deepen, tastes soften, touches warm the soul. It's really a great time of year.

Appreciation

It is a very true thing that sometimes we don't realize the value of something until it's gone, or soon to be gone. Sometimes it takes knowing that something will not be within reach to realize what it means to you.

Recently, news came to me of a move. I knew it was a possibility but it was still a bit of a shock. Not long after shock, I began to realize a lot of things. I realized how much this meant to me. I realized the things that had been shared. I realize the laughter that had transpired. I realized the doors that had slowly begun to open, obvious or not. I realized the warmth and comfort. I realized the honesty. I realized the companionship. I realized the consistency. I realized how different it had been, how much it had changed me. Realization then led to sadness. Sadness that it took the soon-to-be-removal for me to realize these things, appreciate these things. It made me sad that it means the finality of one aspect, the potential. Regardless of the capacity they exist in, it made me sad.

"Some people come in to our lives and quickly leave. Others stay for a while, leave a footprint in our heart and we are never ever the same."