Dreams

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind (I might use that word too much) - a bedlam of activity. From running around the country to Miami for a bachelorette, then San Diego for a wedding, then New Jersey for Easter, and Long Island to collect raffle donations and visit friends, it's been incessant. And that was just the weekends. Mid-week it's been work plus the end of my writing class and of course the ever present planning for our upcoming fundraiser, Forward, benefiting The Children's Aid Society. Program writing/proofing/printing is almost complete, logistics is in the hands of very capable ladies, the raffle prizes are amazing and almost all in hand, and the auction will be fun as well...and also thankfully in the hands of my amazing co-chair, Amy. Lots of hands people.

The tumult of activity comes at a price and last night I hit the wall of exhaustion. Physically I barrel through it, but my mind takes off on its own when it's met its limit. Arriving home from my Brazilian body workout (feeling the pain - so good - this morning), I took a nice shower, pampered myself with new facial products from Fresh, took a Tylenol PM, and read my book for about 4 minutes before passing into a comatose sleep. My dreams were out of control - I was in transit to Asia with my family, traveling via plane and apparently sailboat when the scene was interrupted by a reunion with my long lost half-brother, confrontations with my former gang of three - "the BBC," all moderated curiously by my mother, and who knows what other details that didn't quite make it to my consciousness upon waking.

Today I feel fantastic - fully rested and excited for the weekend ahead and feeling prepared for our event on the 11th. We've sold over 100 tickets and with last minute buyers out there that have promised to attend, I think the last few days will get us to our goal. But before we get there we have a thrilling weekend ahead - tomorrow is a Derby party (hat is prepped!) and the Junior League House Tours, which we've been doing bi-annually since I moved here. A chance to see how the "other half" (or super duper upper echelon) live in Manhattan. Absolutely phenomenal. I would say it's breathtaking, but we discussed how inane that term is in my writing class. Unless something literally makes you pass out from lack of breath (i.e. your lungs stop functioning) and you find yourself moments later on the ground recapturing your breath, it really can't be "breathtaking." Think about it.

In anticipation of the weekend ahead, the fundraiser on the 11th, and a trip to Manchester, VT in a few weeks for my favorite couples' nuptials, I'm rewinding for a minute to a moment I'd revisit in a heart beat. This photo, while in and of itself beautiful, brings back many memories and emotions. Just like it was yesterday...

Long Island Trips....commencing now!

We're off to Patchogue today to collect a few cases of beer from Blue Point Brewery. They were generous enough to donate them to our upcoming fundraiser, Forward, on May 11th. Post Lent it's been a while since I've done a beer tasting so today might have to be the day.

Island DiVine 2009

I can't believe our event is just over a week away. After all the planning, plotting, motivating, pleading, we're almost there. Almost means we still have to sell another 50 tickets at least - yikes! Ironically, when I was involved in Junior League in SD, events like Forward that had so much appeal - great food, open bar, fabulous venue, amazing raffle prizes - sold tickets like hot cakes! Today, JLSD has their Island DiVine event, which offers all these same qualities. If you're in SD, consider going - it's always a rock star event! Hopefully Forward can pull the same success off on May 11th!

A plus of heading out to Long Island today is a visit with my best friend's cousin and her wife. They are fabulous hosts, chefs, entertainers, and sommeliers. We always have a wonderful time with them and make trips to Long Island such a blast. It might not be quite warm enough to get in some pool time, but sitting on the porch sipping a great read and snacking on Italian salume, cheeses and olives sounds just divine.

Whirlwind Weeks!

So my goal of writing at least once a week has been trumped by travel, class, work, fundraiser planning and wedding affairs ...oh, and my life. It's a non-stop go-go-go these days and this week I'm finally back on my feet with some breathing room. What does that mean? It means I have two whole evenings free this week! But I'm sure they'll get filled somehow.

Southwest Porch - photo courtesy of the Bryant Park Blog

The Children's Aid Society - Spring Cocktail Event

My first comment (which originally was my last but I'm capitalizing as I'm the editor here) is about our upcoming fundraiser for The Children's Aid Society. After resigning from Junior League, it took me a while to find my new cause, the thing I was "trained" for through my 6 years with the League. I found it with CAS. I'm on the Associate's Council, which is the Junior Board for CAS. We participate in programs and plan events to support the overall efforts of The Children's Aid Society, a 158-year old community organization helping  the children of New York City and Westchester County that are facing the instability, stress and risk of living in poverty. On May 11th, we're hosting an amazing cocktail party at Bryant Park at the Southwest Porch. I'm so excited (especially after another crappy weather day)! Awesome food from 'wichcraft, great beverage selection, awesome auction/raffle prizes, a stellar location and great people. As co-chair of the event, I'm obviously vested, but I would honestly want to attend even if I wasn't. So, if you're in NYC on May 11th and want to have a great evening of Al fresco cocktails, food and great entertainment, please join us! If you can't attend but want to support this cause, please donate - even a small amount makes a difference! For more info, visit our website: http://www.events.org/springcocktail 

In this moment of reprieve, I'll recap a few of my favorite adventures over the past two weeks. First and foremost, a review from my classmates on "Elbow Sweat Survival". It was a resounding success! PHEW. I was quite nervous about it. There were some great suggestions including incorporating more elbow-related idioms (i.e. elbow-to-elbow, rubbing elbows, etc.) and re-working the piece to be a Goldilocks-like tasting of elbow sweat survival methods and finding the ultimate after some "almost there" and "just about right" options. I will certainly consider these suggestions when I re-work the piece. The next writing piece will be a reflection on my trip to Ghana back in 2008 but luckily I have a few weeks before that one is due.

After my class, I hustled home in the pouring (and sideways) rain - this was 2 weeks ago. As I was waiting to cross the street in my non-rain friendly outfit (think wool coat, corduroys, and clogs), a taxi whooshed past me and cleverly hit a puddle drenching me from head to toe. I didn't need elbow sweat survival techniques....I needed a parka. Sigh. This winter has been INTERMINABLE! Literally this morning it snowed for a few minutes. That's after it was 70 degrees on Friday. As I said to the checkout guy at Trader Joe's yesterday, the weather is like a 15 year old girl who just figured out she's pretty. A total tease.

There is really one thing I LOVE about winter that makes it bearable and it's getting to go ski/ride. I've been skiing since I was three years old and riding since I was 16 (I'm predominantly a boarder now); last year (2009-10 season) was the first year in 29 years that I didn't make it to a mountain. Slightly devastating for someone who used to drive to Mammoth alone (6 1/2 hour - 395 mile drive) regularly. The reason I was hustling home was to back my board bag for a last minute trip to Denver to see my brother and hang out with his family. I took the 7 AM flight so my brother could collect me and drive directly to the mountain. We hit up Keystone and the conditions were absolutely fabulous. Still powder in the trees, enough sun to don a fleece, and fabulous company. My brother is a stellar skier so we zoomed around the mountain at breakneck speed - I was in heaven. Even if I only get that one day this year, it was SO worth it. And good to know I haven't lost my skills.

Scout

We spent the rest of the weekend hanging out with my (unfortunately) sick niece, Scout (4 almost 5) and nephew, Sawyer (almost 2), but they had enough energy to keep us entertained playing games, reading, and watching movies. At one point when both kids were slightly hysterical with illness and over tiredness, my sister in law said, "I'm sure this is great birth control for you!" I thought about it and honestly, in the past it might have been, but my gut reaction was that I really do look forward to having little people of my own to care for - whether healthy, sick or tantrum prone. This picture is a snap of my niece...I couldn't resist with those freckles! Reminds me of my face as a child.

Another recent adventure was a swift trip to DC to, among other things, see the Gauguin exhibit, "Gauguin: Maker of Myth", at The National Gallery. The exhibit was quite comprehensive and had some stellar pieces. I fell in love with this piece, "Ondine", and was disappointed to discover reproduction prints are only made in a small scale size. "Ondine", is historically considered in European folklore and mythology as a gorgeous, yet soulless, water nymph blessed with a beautiful voice and immortality. Her only way to gain a soul is to marry a man and bear his child, an act that gains a soul but loses her immortality. The tale says that as Ondine ages her husband loses interest in her taking a mistress. One day Ondine finds her husband sleeping in the arms of another and curses him stating, "You swore faithfulness to me with every waking breath, and I accepted your oath. So be it. As long as you are awake, you shall have your breath, but should you ever fall asleep, then that breath will be taken from you and you will die!"("Ondine",Wikipedia) This curious tale is the basis for "Ondine's Curse", also known as Congenital Central Hyperventilation Syndrome, a serious form of sleep apnea. Makes you reconsider the repercussions of "Til death do us part.". NPR did a very interesting article discussing the show and in particular Gauguin's voluptuous - almost Rubenesque - nude, Tahitian women, relating how his images didn't reflect his actual surroundings. In actuality, due to Christian missionary efforts, the majority of the women were fully clad in Christian missionary gowns! At least we know Gauguin had a wild imagination.

Other adventures these past few weeks have included a visit to the new Glen Ligon Exhibit at the Whitney Museum. A definite must see. Very creative, poignant perspectives and interesting use of many mediums. Fabulous dinner at Marea - it was Friday in Lent so I was slightly restricted (no bread, alcohol, or meat), but I found amazing options regardless in the crudo trio and the scallop dish. We also hit up the Architectural Digest Home Show at Pier 94, which was fabulous. If only we actually owned our apartments and could incorporated some of the creative ideas and pieces we were exposed to at the show. Some day, right?