k-mart

The need for a hat took me to the K-Mart at Astor Place where I purchased a beanie. While finishing up my transaction with the cashier and bagger, two packs of panties where placed on the belt. "Can I return one later?" ask the lady behind me. The cashier and I exchange looks and she responses, "I don't think you can return underwear ma'am:. "Well one is a five and the other is a six." I turn to look at the 60 year old lady who is maybe 5'2 and a size for under her fur, and tell her, "oh honey, you're a five." ...."but I want the thong!" I laughed and got the hell out of there.

beat the clock

Saturday was spent picking up my final holiday presents and centered around watching the Ducks play basketball against Nebraska. I decided to head to a place in the Village called Off the Wagon to watch the game. I walked in to a relatively empty bar and pulled up a stool. I placed an order for the game and a Bud Lite. You can get a pitcher for $4.50, "what the hell am I going to with a pitcher?" "drink it". So I got my pitcher, ordered up some nachos, and watched the game. During the second half the place was invaded by fourty or so Santas all ordering pitchers. As of noon in this place on a Saturday pitchers start at four dollars and go up fifty cents per hour. This will tell you how early I started drinking. After the santas, came a pub crawl, and then another (these people had their own mugs). And the comedy rolled on sort of like my own commerical break. The game went into overtime which allowed me to finish my pitcher, and the bartender daring asked if I wanted another? Good, god no! I instead tagged along with one of the pub crawls for another bar before heading back to my neighborhood. With the knowledge that John is no longer working at my favorite bar, it has been released back to me to freely go into wtihout feeling strange. So I ordered my favorite comfort meal and some water. The place was slow and i looked at my watch to discover it was only six. Around seven, because the bartender was cute, I got back on the wagon with a couple of beers and then called it quits around eight, when the cute bartender got off work.

good clothes

They say that good clothes can open all doors. Myself, being a fashion conaseaur, firmly believe that statement, plus is always feels good when you have the perfect outfit. Friday evening had approached and my previous plans to spend the weekend with Janene had fallen through (ie she decided not to come visit) so it left me to fin for myself in the entertainment department. I got dolled up and went in search of a second job as a cocktail waitress. The area I would adore to work in The Village so I trouted my fabulous self down there and started pounding the pavement. After dropping off a few resumes, I decided to treat myself to dinner. The restuarant I desired to go to was closed for a holiday party so off I went. And as I was walking down Sullivan Street two men were out smoking and as I walked passed criticed my outfit with this commentary. "She looks good." "She has her shit together." "She is totally New York." I floated the rest of the way to the next place. Balazathar is a hoydie-toydie place here where stars dine and it is always packed. I have walked by prior but always have been a bit intimidated to go in. Well, tonight, I walked through the door and asked for a table for one. The host asked me to wait a moment, which I did, and while I was standing there at least five couples came in and asked for tables without reservations. It was a two hour wait. After a five minutes of me standing near the front, I was seated at a prime table for two for one. The people watching, the food, and the company was exquiste! During the course of my meal at least ten people came by to see how I was and thank me for being with them and then to top it off, a glass of champange was brought to my table. "Compliments of the house as we like to encourage ladies to dine alone." I walked to the subway thinking the evening could only go down hill if I stayed out and got another compliment that I looked sharp. You gotta love New York sometimes!

two hundred

Celebrating my two hundreth post, a year and a half of stories, travels and emotion. And here is my topic: keys.

I have been doing this dog walking job for a couple of months now and would say it is the best therapy there is. I can talk away to these pooches and they don't judge me, they don't care that I pour my affection out on them (in fact, I think they love it). Walking in the city with a dog is so great that I have often looked at George to see if she would take part in this walking business. Part of the job, of course, is going to pick up the dogs from their apartment and take them out and about. Well considering that every apartment building has a key and every door has at least two locks, I walk around with a gaggle of keys. The extra weight and feeling like a janitor is not what the issue is, my issue is getting the damn door open. I have never seen locks like these before, some you have to push and turn others you have to hold the key a certain way then turn the knob the other way. Sometimes the damn knob has nothing to do with the door opening. It seems that the keys also can sense my frustration because between me feeling like an idiot and the dog crying for me to come in, I experience mini breakdowns. I myself carry three keys to get into my apartment and find ir funny to even lock the door because a burgler would have to be a genius to know how all the different, damn doors in New York worked.

contentment

There is a lot to be said about being content, whether it is in life, an event, or even for a fleeting moment. The bigger thing is taking the time to notice this contentment and appreciating the moment in which it presents itself. I had many such moments during my stay in Portland last week. They came in the following forms, sitting a my favorite lunch at the Manzone, ordering a beer at Kells, having coffee and discussing life, sitting at a friends kitchen table, getting a foot massage, eating my Thanksgiving dinner (better late than never), watching the Ducks play football in person, and having dinner with dear friends. The friends are what highlighted these perfect, wouldn't want to be anywhere else moments But I even had them alone, whiile standing in my beautiful loft or walking through the neighborhood. I appreciate that I was able to take it all in and save it for a rainy day such as today. Back in NY where everything is shallow and lonely, I am grateful that I can close my eyes and be back in those moments.