Snowy Saturday

This was the extent of our Saturday and after several hours of wondering what I could do to make it more fun, more exciting, I gave up and just surrendered to the snow. We walked to the playground and tossed some snow at each other and the girls made slushy snow angels and danced around a pre-made snowman that towered over them.  It was perfect. And we almost made it home without tears.  Elisa decided at the last minute she wanted to head to the other side of the park, but alas, it was getting colder with our wet clothes on and I was ready to warm up inside.  Knowing there was hot chocolate (okay, "warm" chocolate according to Carolina) waiting for us made it even better. Yes, this is what a wintery day in the city should be. We played outside just long enough to say we did it and then spent the rest of the cozy afternoon inside peering out from high above the street. 

Midwinter malaise

Well, it took us a little over a week to kick this winter crud, but we finally managed to do it. Sort of. I mean, the fevers and the all-night coughing episodes were gone but something akin to winter malaise was still hanging around. Where was my energy? Why couldn't I clear my head to plan a day's outing? What would we all enjoy doing after a morning of nothingness? Well, for the long MLK weekend we didn't really have anything going on. On Saturday our big event was a preschool birthday party for one of Carolina's classmates at a party place in Astoria. Since it was a little kids only affair, I needed something for Elisa to do while we were there. Feeling inspired, I asked Nacho if he would take her to see "Into the Woods" which she'd been begging to see but was probably too mature for Carolina. I dropped them off at the movies as Carolina and I motored over to the party and it felt like we were all going to enjoy our evening. A nice low-key score if I do say so myself. And then finally on Sunday I perked up enough to round us up for lunch at Bareburger followed by some ice cream sundaes at Eddie's Sweet Shop in Forest Hills. It's a spot I'd been meaning to visit for a while now, and on a cold and rainy afternoon in January wasn't too crowded. The girls couldn't believe how much whipped cream covered their sundaes and after a good five minutes of digging in, they insisted we scrape it off so they could start eating the ice cream. Okay, it might have been overkill, but man, was it good and fresh. Nacho and I split a chocolate shake and after all the ice cream indulgences, we let the girls pick out some candy from the old cases lining the shop. Carolina picked out a candy toilet, complete with "plunger" lollipops. Ugh. What a disgusting treat. But she loved it. And Elisa took care of a gummy pizza with no problem. On MLK day itself we hung out at home baking chocolate chip cookies and resting up for the week ahead.  Yes, it was a sweet end to a somewhat dreary midwinter weekend. Here's to hoping that the days getting brighter and longer will make February somewhat better. Even without much snow to speak of, it's just the grayness that seems to drag on and on. Which might be why whispers of a weekend Nor'easter have me almost giddy. At least a little snow would brighten things up, no? 

Sick days

Oh what a week it's been. I guess we all had to get sick some time this winter, but man it's been like dominoes around here. Elisa kicked off the head cold crud on Sunday with a low-grade fever and stuffy nose/watery eyes. Then by late Tuesday, she was recovering and Carolina was coming down with it. Fast forward another few days and on Thursday I finally gave up. I spent most of today napping or sipping beverages. What a bore. Hopefully this is all out of the way by Saturday since I'd really like to spend Nacho's weekend off doing something fun. We'll see. In the meantime, we've been playing and cleaning up and getting the house ready for the new year. So at least I've been somewhat successful at this cabin fever stuff. But if I don't get to Trader Joe's in the morning for some food and reinforcements it could turn ugly. Wish me well. 

Birthday Blowout '15

This was a big year for me. I knew I wanted to make my 40th birthday something I would remember for a long time, and really the only thing I wanted desperately to do was go dancing. I wanted to listen to good music and shake it. And I did. What I didn't realize at first was that I would be trying karaoke for the first time in my life with 20 of my closest friends in order to fulfill that wish. But hey, it all worked out in the end and I had a celebration I'll remember forever.  But let's back up a day. That was Saturday night. Before that, I woke to a snowy white out on Friday morning that threatened to derail my birthday breakfast plans of grabbing donuts at Peter Pan Bakery. So we wouldn't move the car and drive in all that slush only to have trouble parking in Greenpoint. No, we would just hop on the 7 to the G and get there in half an hour. Genius! Why had we never done this before? Talking Dad into joining Nacho and me was a little bit of work, but he seemed a good sport. He was rewarded of course with "the best" bagel he'd ever eaten fixed with egg and bacon to round out the savory delight. Oh yes, this counter service wasn't all about the donuts. I grabbed a dozen to go and we all split an eclair before trudging back home in the frosty slush. 

Later that night, we ordered in some sushi and a tasty bento box from TJ's Asian Bistro to cap off my day of birthday treats. Nacho and I managed to make it out for a night cap at Claret which was a nice, if chilly, end to the day walking back. On Saturday we prepped for the party getting some drinks and food at Costco since the karaoke bar was BYOB and bring your own food--I could bag everything up and make it a party to go. That's my kind of evening. And it was. What a fun time we had. The room wasn't much bigger than the 20 or so seats it offered, but it just meant we all had to squeeze in and share. And the gang definitely brought their A-game with their selection of songs. Antoin's "Gangsta's Paradise," Jamie's "In My Life," Humphrey's "Moondance," Jesse's "Ode to Billy Joe," Tania's "Kiss Me Deadly," Amanda and Max's "Tiny Dancer," and Jenny's "So What Cha Want?" were all definite highlights. I really hoped every person there would participate for at least one song and almost everyone did. When I initially thought about the kind of celebration I wanted for my birthday, I hemmed and hawed a bit about how big to make it. I tend to like more intimate gatherings but I also know that to have a party sometimes you need to go whole hog. I couldn't afford to invite half of Sunnyside either, but I wanted to share my first day in a new decade with so many of the friends who had made the last one special.

At the age of 30, I moved to New York, found a few years of incredible freedom working and traveling and then by 33 had my first child. At 34, I was laid off and survived what could have been a crippling change in circumstance by embracing my new life and the friends who rallied around me. At 36, I did it again and had another little girl. And by 38, I set out on a new endeavor to share my photography with others. I guess 39 was a year of staying the course and building on what I've made. And now at 40, I really feel like life is good. I like where I am and who I'm with. And while I know nothing stays the same forever, I can appreciate this place and time for what it is. And that's how my birthday felt. It felt like my past and future were meeting in one crazy, kickass lightshow of a room and so many of my friends were there to make sure I enjoyed the moment.  We faded out on an early 90s classic "Wonderwall" and I remember feeling like there wasn't anything wrong in the world. And for a minute at least, that was true. As much as I'm embracing this new decade, it's still a tricky age.  I still have enough energy to party on nights like that and to feel the euphoria of youth, but coming home to a houseful of sleeping kids and a sick stomach reminded me that in fact, I'm no young thang. Yes, I partied like a rock star, if her name was Pat Benatar or Belinda Carlisle. And no I don't regret it. You only get to turn 40 once, and I did it my way. How cool is that?

Winter wonders

Just as December was settling in, we were overcome with special events and things to do with friends to mark the impending holidays. There was the Skillman Avenue holiday lighting early in the month that took place on a wet, but relatively mild evening. It's always kind of a joke because the lights lining the avenue are already turned on before the "lighting" save for one lonely looking snowflake that's unforgivingly placed under a bright a street light. So really, you only come out for the watery hot chocolate and much tastier hot cider. If I had planned better, I really should have brought a flask. But the kids liked it anyway, and seeing Santa pop out of his cop car at the end of the show was a total calamity. As he approached the crowd, the kids rushed up but didn't overrun each other like in years past. The cheers of "Santa!" and "we want candy!" were quickly met with anxious laughter and a nervous smile from Mr. Claus who apparently did not come prepared. He was looking around like he wanted someone to save him and asked a few times for one of his reindeer to bring him the candy, but no one came forward. It quickly deteriorated from there with the kids shouting angrily and a few rogues even jumping up and pulling on Santa's beard. As his amusement turned to sheer panic, I pulled the girls back and we left to get our own candy back at home. Oh boy, the holidays sure can rev things up. And then there was the holiday party and caroling night at AMB. Carolina was excited to see her friends and show us around her school, and it was actually a pretty nice event. But the caroling was just as I'd remembered it. Hectic and confusing, we marched up and over Queens Boulevard where we could hardly be heard and worse yet, we couldn't really stick together. It was a good that I knew what to expect, and Elisa wasn't a shrieking, tantrum-throwing toddler anymore. But man, I really wish they had lead us around the Gardens or down towards Skillman Ave at least. I just don't get it. But luckily, afterwards we made a plan to head back to Irene and Jose's apartment for dinner. So the kids got to bounce around and play and we enjoyed some nice take out. December always offers the kind of cozy evenings at home with friends that I love. So I'll take the darkness for at least a little bit and enjoy the holiday spirit.