A Case of the Mondays

We're deep into winter on the East Coast, folks, and I don't want to do anything but hibernate. Of course, in NY that would be considered shameful behavior, so I keep piling on the layers and venturing out.

Friday night was the lowest of the low temp-wise, but it was my birthday and had to be celebrated. I had lots of fun, even though the restaurant kept us waiting for an hour and then turned off the heat! Doesn't that seem like it should be illegal? The food was delish and the company even better, thankfully.

Afterwards, a few brave souls went to a bar for some drinks, but the chill walking over there nearly did me in. I was happy to come home and steal heat from my dog, Emma. She got a cuddle out of it, so don't think I was completely taking advantage.

On Saturday, Nien was off in Brooklyn participating in the Idiotarod, a three stage shopping cart race with teams of 5. He came back covered in all kinds of nastiness...apparently the teams throw stuff at each other like fish oil, mayonnaise, eggs, chocolate, etc. Not really for me, but hilarious.

It was a little warmer, so Emma and I went to the dog run, and then I took my fat ass to the gym. I'm eating a little too well lately. Of course, we went out to eat AGAIN Saturday night and I had popcorn when we went to the movies (saw Letters from Iwo Jima to help with my Oscar ballot).

On Sunday, dinner AGAIN (I'm never eating again I swear) with Mom and Barry who came into NY that night to help celebrate the b-day. Can I just say apple crumble with cinnamon ice cream? I salivate even now. I overheard a funny conversation at the next table where a father was trying to explain what Swiss chard was to his two very young kids. I love living in the city.

So here's another state for you. Since I grew up in PA near Philly, I of course went "down the shore" a lot (to the uninitiated that means to the beaches in New Jersey). My parents' best friends live in Jersey near Atlantic City, my cousins on my Dad's side live in Cherry Hill and my cousins on my Mom's side had a place there at one point too. My Grandpop Ed lived in Jersey as well, and I remember one time when we got together with him he took my brother and I to this hot dog stand on the boardwalk that sold lemons and oranges with candy straws for you to suck the juice out with. If you haven't figured out by now that I love food, the fact that most of my memories have to do with it should tip you off. This was really the best treat ever, the perfect combo of sweet and tart, and I have never been able to find it again.

One New Year's Eve we went down the shore with my cousins, and while our parents went out for the evening they dropped us off at a bowling alley in one of the casinos. Unfortunately, they miscalculated how much money we'd need to hang out there for the night, so after two games we were broke and had nothing to do. This of course was before everyone had a cell phone. It would have been the most boring night ever (and it was close) except that around 11pm Liza Minnelli came in with a huge bouquet of roses for the manager. It was such an odd, sweet thing and it at least gave us something to talk about.

Another time, we were down over Christmas and staying at my Uncle Rick's place. I was really upset because I thought Santa wasn't going to be able to find us (good Jewish girl that I am), but my parents explained that Santa would just leave my presents at our home for when we came back. When we did go home, they made Eric and I wait in the car a few minutes while they put the packages out by the fireplace. I think they made some kind of exscuse about making sure no one had broken in or something. I really should have figured it all out, but I guess I was pretty dense because I was so relieved when I saw that "Santa" hadn't forgotten us, and wasn't even mad that we hadn't left milk and cookies.