Surreal Christmas

I had four, fun-filled days with my family in Colorado for the holidays. So nice to be home, but it was a funny, sometimes surreal experience for a number of reasons:

• I made it home despite three feet of snow and a couple days of airport closings. I was the first flight to make it from NY to Denver after the big storm!
• My sister and her husband were like the model couple the entire time -- no fighting, no arguing, no yelling, no cursing, nothing! If you know them (or have heard some of the many endlessly entertaining stories about them), you understand why this is so odd. I know the reason behind it, but don't feel at liberty to share on this blog... But along with being refreshing, it left me a little dazed as well.....But as one of the beneficiaries of her husband's new found patience and kindness, I couldn't complain!
• Someone got kicked out of my grandparents' (dad's side) house for drinking too much! (See previous post about one of my favorite holiday traditions -- strong jack and cokes at my grandparents' basement bar -- and you will know why this is so strange!).
• Grandparents have about 1500 squ ft. house -- 900 squ ft upstairs, 600 downstairs. If you have ever wondered if you could fit 88 people into a 600 squ ft space, you question has been answered. 88 people in the basement during the gift exchanges. Thereafter, many of us escaped upstairs where it was about 35 degrees cooler.
• Male cousin, mom's side of family, told another female cousin, same side of family, that she had "thunder thighs" -- thinking it was a compliment. I informed him, on her behalf, that the fact he is gay is no excuse for such a mistake.
• Same male cousin also told his mom that she has "ham hocks" for thighs. I informed him that, again, this is just not something you say to a woman, related to you or not, joking or not, whether it is true or not. For good measure, I also let him know why don't call a woman "chunky" "beefy" "monstrous" "flabby" etc...or say things like "you aren't that big," "you aren't that ugly," "it doesn't look that bad." And, I guess in his defense, he was joking, and everyone laughed, including those to whom the comments were targeted (at the time.....my female cousin later asked her sister if she was "really big" right now, and I know my aunt's feelings were a bit wounded, as she is trying to lose weight), and it is the nature of my family to show affection by teasing and he is a really kind-hearted person....but STILL:)
• Same male cousin told us that he had to dispose of all his toiletries at the airport because he tried to carry on and didn't follow the rules. His plea for sympathy to the airport security, "But this is expensive Henri Bendel eye cream..." Um, again informed him, that the way to make friends or charm the under-paid airport security is not to cry that your toiletries are from Henri Bendel's 5th Avenue store. CHECK YOUR LUGGAGE IN or buy 3 ounce bottles, put them in the right size baggie. As ridiculous as the rules are....that's the deal.
• Male cousin on my dad's side who has a perverse sense of entitlement and ego actually apologized to one of my brothers - who in many ways is like the black sheep of the family, or at least the butt of many jokes despite his generous and good-natured heart - for a lie that my cousin told his wife about 3 years ago that made my cousin's wife act wickedly mean and bitchy to my brother for the past 3 years. This led to my brother and that cousin laughing throughout the night, and my cousin's wife treating my brother like her best friend. Again, left me a little befuddled. But still don't particularly like that cousin or his wife.
• Speaking of that male cousin, we also found out that his conversion to Born Again Christian about 3 years ago (I guess right after he told the lie about my brother) coincided with him coming home from a hockey game early to find his wife (same wife) in bed with his best friend. Alas, after she begged for forgiveness, they stayed together. I am a believer that infidelity doesn't have to be the end of things - but the hard thing is that usually infidelity is paired with other problems that cumulatively make it hard to keep going. In any event, in this case, as his wife offers little or nothing to the relationship (she married him for his money - he inherited money and a successful business from his mom's side of the family, who was the first wife of my uncle who then got married again, and the second time also ended in divorce after he took a fire truck on a joy ride (while drunk - he was a fireman) and ran into a woman's living room, and then started dating that woman. But I digress. She married him for his money adn told him, "If I don't have [such and such] by the time I am 32, I am leaving." Um, leaving her after she cheated would have been the better choice.
• Also found out that my youngest uncles on that side has had 3 affairs. One known by my sister for 5 years, but she kept the secret after running into him and the woman at breakfast one day.
• Ah, also found out another uncle, dad's side of family, also had an affair and had been sleeping in my grandparents' for the past month but is now back at home with wife and four kids. Actually, that is an instance where I do believe that infidelity is forgiveable and doesn't have to end their marriage.
• My parents (or, my mom would say, my dad) bought my 2 1/2 year old nephew too many gifts, including a miniature "hummer" that he could drive (it goes up to 5 miles per hour). The thanks my dad got? Being run over and pushed into a 3 foot snow pile with the hummer while my nephew drove in reverse. Classic.
• My parents gave each of their kids 3 or 4 gifts, my sister got a few more from her husband, and I gave each person in my family a small gift that I got from work (in addition to our gift exchange on Christmas Eve). My nephews Riley and Brady collectively got about 30 gifts each (see note above about "too many gifts"). Of course, Brady is a baby, so didn't open any....We thought Riley would open most of them for both of them. Um, no. He stopped after he came down the stairs and saw Scoop and Bob the Builder. No interest in the other gifts until after they were opened. We opened them for him. Took turns -- if it was from me, then my sister opened it so someone would be surprised. From my sister, her husband, or "Santa," I opened them. We took turns opening those from my parents or other family members. Interesting to note - it is still very very fun to open a gift even if it is not yours! We all agreed:)
• Found out my brother (the black-sheep) almost converted to Mormonism at the end of high school. Nothing wrong with that. Just funny if you know either of my brothers - who both would hide in the bushes rather than go into CCD or cathecism classes when we were growing up, neither of who are remotely religious (probably even less so than me - and i have strong disbeliefs in any church, though i guess they might possibly be spiritual), and who could never refrain from some of the many things (caffeine, alcohol, smoking) that the tenants of the religion ask its members to refrain from...not that all members do, but still....). But funny part was hearing my dad say, so non-chalantly - "Oh, that is when you were going to be a Mormon," and my brother respond, "Yeah," and then they go on talking like nothing funny was said. It might be one where you had to be there, but it was funny. Or maybe it was just funny to me since I have some strong opinions about joining different churches and/or religions.....to me, it warranted more of a conversation! But, as my dad correctly pointed out, "He was in high school. I thought, hell, if he wants to become Mormon, there are so many worse things he could want to become. He just wanted to join a church that all his friends - none of whom drank or smoke or had (too much) sex -- belonged to. It was a good thing." And that, including the parenthetical, is a direct quote:)
• Joined my sister at her in-laws Christmas celebration.....where she had cosmos that were made (we later found out) with cranberry juice that was five years old. No wonder it tasted like grapefuit juice!
• Lastly, I had confided in my sister about one of the most private of private things you can confide in someone. And she is a good secret keeper. A really good one. (See note about youngest uncle above). Did this last? No. At the Christmas celebration for her in-laws, explained above, we were at the dinner table with her husband, his dad and step dad, his sister and brother in law, and.....she blurts it out to everyone. So my biz (or, i should say, my husband's biz....if it didn't have to do with him, I might share, but it is really not that interesting)....public knowledge to her in-laws:) She is no longer allowed to have cosmos!!! Or at least cosmo's with five year old cranberry juice:)

So much more...but that is enough for now. It was a wonderful trip. I'll share pics when someone sends me some (in my fear that my flight would be cancelled, and the "logical" decision that the earlier i got to the airpor the less chance of cancellation there was, i forgot my camera).

Chicken Fajitas and Friends and Seven Jeans

So Mieke and Jeremy arrived from Morocco last night. It was soooooo good to see them both! We just hung out, ordered Thai, and caught up not just on their world travels, but life....I love having them with us. It is like having family - there is no pre-tense, no production, just hanging out.

Tonight they are cooking Derek and I some chicken fajitas. I so wish I could go home right now and enjoy the dinner earlier rather than later. But, it is my company "holiday party" tonight. Luckily, I just have to make a quick appearance and don't have to stay. Not that it wouldn't be fun...but it wouldn't be that fun. It is just for employees, no family, no spouses. So you can imagine how the story goes. Some chit chat that inevitably leads to work. We are here for more than 8 hours a day already, so one can only talk about work so much. But in any event, then I get to go home and hang out and have chicken fajitas with friends. What could be better? I'd prefer to actually work out before such a good meal, but I guess the holiday season doesn't always allow that. And I wasn't willing to get myself out of bed any earlier than I had to this morning....

On another note, my Seven Jeans are fading. They are almost to the point of no-return. I bought them in May 2003, and estimate that I have worn them at least 800 times. So, despite my panic attack at how much I was paying for them at the time, this gives me an incredible per-wear cost. Honestly, when I say that I have worn them 800 times, I underestimate. I LOVE this jeans, and they still look so good on me. The little hole that appeared in the inside portion of the top of my right leg is growing and, I think, I can't hide it anymore. Before, you could only see it if i sat cross-legged and there are not honestly many times that occurs outside my house.....But as holes tend to do, it has grown, and now I think it is visible from the back. I searched for a patch to sew in from the inside - not b/c I can't buy other jeans, but b/c i love THESE ones. I did in fact buy some Joe's jeans, but they have disappointed me. I won't get 800 wears out of them - not b/c they won't last, but b/c i don't enjoy them as much. They lose their shape, the stretch, they aren't as versatile (dress way up, or dress down), they are too long. With my Seven jeans, each time i put them on they fit the occasion. Ah, i must fix these ones to make them last a little longer......Since I can't find patches on my own, this means I have to ask Derek to take them to the drycleaner for an emergency fix (and get it done in one day before I leave for Christmas). Then after the New Year i can spend the time looking for their replacement.

Quick thoughts

First, had a business trip to Miami yesterday. Meetings ended early and we couldn't change our flight up, so had a nice late afternoon along South Beach. Dinner and a drink at the Clevelander, walk along the sand and feet in the water. Perfect weather. Perfect working Monday.

Our holiday party on Saturday was great. Had some of our closest friends over and so nice to have them all together. Hollis & Neesha -- I went to college with Hollis (one of the very very first people I met) and absolutely adore and admire his wife Neesha. Lauren and Mike -- I've written lots about them. I coached Lauren, she introduced me to Derek, I worked with Mike and introduced him to Lauren. Manny & Wendy -- Manny is Derek's best friend, they've known each other for close to 20 years. He was the best man at our wedding (and Wendy was like the honorary maid of honor -- without her, my sister would have failed miserably at the job:)) -- just joking Billi!) and is my go-to guy for just about anything and everything. Manny considers me the voice of reason when it comes to Derek, and for that I love him. They are our family. They brought almost 3 yr old Preston, who is a gem. Outgoing, funny, polite, a riot. And then there was Kate and Aidan. Kate is actually married to Toby, but he was out of the country for work (they both do lots of international work - and actually met while working in Africa while Kate was getting her masters). Aidan is there 20 month old son, who adored Preston and had a great time. Kate and I lived on the same floor of graduate housing during the 1st year of our masters programs at NYU and then together as roommates thereafter. She is also amazing! All in all, fun time. Although I will say - my ploy to get people UPSTAIRS (and use all the space we have on the second floor) --putting food and gifts upstairs -- failed. People went up there for 2 minutes, but then we were all congregated downstairs (mostly around the table). Such is the nature of parties:)

And finally, www.pandora.com. I have loved this site for close to 2 years now. I love it. You enter a song and/or musician you love and it creates a station for you with similar songs/musicians/sounds. It is awesome. I listed to one of my favorite stations that I have created - my "James Blunt" station that plays nice, mellow, love-like songs -- today and remembered that I must keep spreading the word about how awesome this site is. I have like 25 stations that I love and I am usually impressed with the songs the site picks for me and how much I like them (and how alike they are - despite often being frmo different genres of music or from musicians you wouldn't normally associate together).

Because sometimes, all of us need some encouragement...

So i find it useful to use this blog (selfishly) for pats on the back. So when I am feeling incompotent or lame, I can at least go to this blog and see that "wait, i have received positive feedback before! I can do something!" Okay, so it might only be of limited use since I am created the blog and can self engrandize (is that a word? the right word?) all I want. But at least it is something!

Today, I received this email from one of my capoeira instructors. It was timely b/c I felt somewhat retarded in class last night. I always feel like I get the moves when we practice them in drills, but then can't come close to doing them when I am in the circle/"roda" playing at the end....But, this email made me feel good and it was a reminder that yes, the more you do something, the better you get! Or, as Lou Holtz says in my new favorite quote, "Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect." Also, when I was walking home last night, I said to myself, "I need to jump in the roda more often....Not just when I am with people my level or who I am comfortable with...but with the most advanced people, too. With everyone. If I only play with people my level, I'll just stay my level...." So Ana clearly was tuned into that, as well.....last night, once the advanced people joined in (the really really advanced), I didn't get into the roda at all. So she eloquently gave me encouragement to do so, while also just enough compliments to make me feel good at the same time:)

Hi there great job in class last night. I love to see you
train. you put your whole body into it and focus so well. you have
facility at taking what is taught in class and putting it in the roda. keep
challenging yourself to play more in the roda and you will feel your game
grow even more. thanks for being there. have a great weekend and a great
party tomorrow night. love ana

-

Kids Holiday Party

Today at work is the holiday party for all the children of employees.....there are lots of little 2-11 year olds running around, and mostly really 2-5 year olds. Oh my god. They are so cute. My dear friend Laurie noted the other day that I had lots of posts about kids on my blog....although technically I think I just had a couple posts with lots of mentions of kids, she was essentially right. Now, I know she will read this and say "Another one!" And she will be right:) But really, with all the kids around, how could I help it?

They are so cute. My colleague just brought his 4 year old son over to say hi to me. There are donut holes on the counter outside my office (a place everyone sets community food....thanks so much for making it so convenient to me, although I am proud at how much will power I have most days). He said, in his cute little boy voice but one that is a little deep and froggy, "Oh dad, that is why i smell donuts!" He is too smart. Dave introduced him to me, and he said "Hi Nikki..." When I asked if he wanted a donut, he said so politely, "Oh, yes , please!" Too cute. Then he made sure I knew what he was really thinking, "Thank you. I really need energy to make sure I get to see Santa today." Ah, break my heart.

Last night I called my sister, who was out shopping so apparently my parents were over babysitting my nephews--the 2 1/2 (or almost 3, i guess) year old and 4-month old baby (the 11 year old was out shoppiung with "santa"). WHile my mom was holding the baby (Brady), my dad was "helping" Riley, the 2 1/2 year old, make a gingerbread house. This meant my dad was trying to make it and Riley was pretending the frosting was toothpaste - literally. When he heard my mom talking on the phone, he decided to pretend like he was in on the conversation too, and would say things like "Soooo...." and "Oh, REALLY" and then laugh. When my mom asked if he wanted to talk on the phone, he said "I am talking on the phone to YOU" and laughed. He thinks he just has the greatest sense of humor:) Then my mom asked, "No, do you want to talk to Aunt Nikki on the phone" he said, "Ohhh, Aunt Nikki.....wait till I brush my teeth to go swimming" (I went swimming with him when I was there over the summer, and took him down the big water slide for his first time, and he remembers this and mentions it every time they pass the water park). My dad, teasing him b/c he wasn't really helping with the gingerbread house (what did my dad really expect?) said "Riley, go talk to your Aunt." And Riley corrrected him, "Not Your Aunt. Aunt Nikki!" I was just laughing b/c like my sister, he really never lets my parents get the last word in:)

Finally, he decided to talk to me and sing me Rudolph since he has to sing that for his school/daycare play tonight (Brady the baby will be a baby Reindeer). He sand the first verse into the phone, and then paused. When I said, "Riley, what's the next verse?" He said he forgot, so I started singing the next verse.....middle of the verse, he accidently hung up on me. Well, he didn't realize this, b/c for five minutes I tried to call back periodically and it wouldn't go through. For five minutes, he held the phone to his ear and bobbed his head like someone was singing to him (I am told), and then he said "Love you Aunt Nikki. Good night"-- and gave the phone back to my mom. My mom then realized that the "operator" was singing to him "If you'd like to make a call, hang up and try again...." or whatever the recording says:) We were all dying of laughter!!! I was somewhat relieved to know that my singing voice (i am the worst!@!!!) sounded at least similar to him as the operator's soothing voice!;)

So now to attend to conference calls with adults and get some work done!

Pre Holiday Post

So last weekend I did not do the race. It was freeezzzing on Saturday, so the thought of running outside in the early morning was not appealing. I was kind of disappointed because I had some good runs during the week and a really good track workout, and I felt like I was going to improve a lot. But, there will be another race soon.

I was able to make it to the women's only Capoiera class last week, though. Typically, I don't like going to the "women's only" classes for anything, but I do like it with capoeira. Not that I don't like the other classes, but it just provides a different angle and different way to train - mostly because it is a different instructor than the other classes I get to go to. We did a lot of "angola" work. Angola is basically capoeira to the slower-beat songs. You do a lot of floor work and strength moves and slow, controlled moves. It is beautiful - absolutel beautiful - when two people who know what they are doing are doing angola capoeira. It was fun to learn some of the moves and options for an angola dialog - and it was hard. I was so sore the next couple days. My shoulders, back, arms, hips hadn't been that sore in quite some time. It felt good! It was a small class, too, so we got lots of personal attention.

I gave Derek his Christmas present on Sunday -- a 90 minute massage at a spa called Haven in SoHo. Part of my present to him was also me getting a 90 minute massage:) Because I know that he would want me to get a massage too, of course. So we both had a nice day at the spa! It was so relaxing. There are few things in life I love more than a massage.

We are having some friends over for a holiday party this weekend. I go to Miami for work on Sunday, so we are having the party on the earlier side Saturday night. It should be fun. We tend to invite too many people when we have gatherings, so we are keeping this small and just inviting some of our closest friends (that live in NY and can actually make it to the party:)). They are all awesome people, so there's no doubt it will be fun. It will be stress free too, as I am going to get most of our food from FreshDirect. If I weren't so honest and didn't tell people that, I could get away with looking like I made all these great appetizers on my own or that Derek did. But I am no good at keeping a secret, so I can't let myself take the credit. I am especially excited for this cranberry and brie empenadas that they have. Yum. We are having a sort of cranberry theme - which means we are serving Crantini's as a drink - and so in addition to a cranberry dessert, I am glad I have one more dish with cranberry's:) My goal is to be a good as host as my friend Agatha - who is my host idol and is like Martha Stewart in-fun-cognito.

Next week we have two friends staying with us for most the week before I head to Colorado for Christmas, and we are soooo excited. I worked with Mieke during my clerkship for a judge in San Diego, and while we worked together she started dating her now fiance, Jeremy. As it turns out, Jeremy went to high school with me and even dated (way back when) one of my close friends that I swam with. They are both awesome people. They are currently traveling the world (from Sept through the end of January or February), and have a couple days in New York in between their time in Morocco and Brazil. They are also thinking of moving to New York in the Spring, so Mieke has some good interviews here during that time. I can't wait to see them and to hear more of their travel stories. I know Butter & Deuce are excited as well (because, you know, they do speak to me....haha). Mieke and Jeremy have watched them before for us and they both get sooo excited to have them around. Which warms my heart and makes me happy - they are such good judges of character:)

Oh, speaking of one other thing that makes me SO happy. The BMW commercial with the brother and sister that are showing unbridled excitement at the Christmas gift they got. Pure excitement and happiness (pumping fists, screaming, shouting). I love it. Even if I am in the WORST mood ever - that commercial could come on and I smile and feel the happiness in my heart. The other night I was sleeping, and Derek was up watching TV (quite late), and he woke me up just to see that commercial. And I was happy he did - that is how much I love it:) So pathetic, but oh well.

Patting Myself on the Back

So, the results for the 15k (9.3 mile) race I did over Thanksgiving came out. I had no idea where I fell in the grand scheme of things, so I was excited/dreading seeing them. In my heart, I am still an athlete. I might not be as fast as I once was, or train as hard or as often, but I still just want to be a bit "in the mix."

Well, in my age group (30-39 females), I was right in the middle -- 15th out of 30. This age group included the top female finisher overall, and my friend Lauren, who was second in the age group and was the 5th female overall. Out of the 14 people ahead of me, 6 of them were officially on "teams" -- people who run as part of a runners group and compete regularly. Mind you, neither the top female finisher or Lauren were signed up as part of a team and they compete, race, and train all the time. All in all, I felt pretty respectable - especially considering the last running race I did was in about 2000 or 2001, and it was a 5k race for the cure. As I noted before, I haven't run 9.3 miles in years, let alone trained to race that distance on a uphill course.

For females overall, I was 41st out of 103 females. 22 of the 40 people that beat me were on teams - and some more (ie, Lauren and the other crazy athlete who won) aren't on teams, but do this all the time. Again, made me feel fairly respectable.

I think I am going to do a 10k next weekend. I like the distance better, and want to see if I can improve (per mile pace) a bit. Plus, I know the course. It is the Central Park loop. Certainly a couple hills - and Harlem Hill is tough -- but not nearly as bad as this past race!!!!