Who would you be?

This Saturday Dulce and I drove out to Pennsylvania again for a lovely and civilized "ride in the country" like proper young ladies ought to do. The weather was gorgeous and the trees were having their peak color. Good boys!

We picked a nice little mountain to climb which turned out to be called Flagstaff Mountain on top of which there is Flagstaff banquet hall (logical). Took nice pictures from the top:



We had lunch on the bottom of the "Mountain" in a little town called Jim Thorpe. My beer was flat, it was annoying. We walked around a bit, the town was pretty sad. There were a bunch of senior citizens and many young couples on their "sex weekends" I wonder what were they even doing outside of their hotel rooms...? Anyway, Dulce and I had a great time discussing everyone, their choices fo make-up, boyfriends, and clothes. (Not many approvals were granted by the way.)

I must mention something that was HORRIBLE! I really hope people would google it and read my bad review. Cyber Cafe, is the WORST PLACE I have EVER been in my ENTIRE life!!! Places like that remind me that competition in the business world sure is a GOOD thing. First of all, my latte was COLD. After asking the lady to reheat it for me, she disappeared with it for about half hour only to come back with a slightly warmer version. It took FOREVER to order, FOREVER to get our pumpkin cake. Which by the way was STILL FROZEN so much so that the ICE was CRUNCHING in the mouth!!! I don't know why we didn't just walk out... maybe because we couldn't even believe such horror was happening! The lady had 2 customers!!! Us and these other people and she kept running up and down the room looking all flustered. The whole experience was just so horrible that I had to write about it in hopes or saving another human being from undergoing the same torture. DON'T GO THERE!!!

Ufff... ok, I feel better now.

Dulce and I were talking about what we would do if we HAD to live in Jim Thorpe. Well, she would have worked in the famous Asa Packer mansion (who was a rail road tycoon, and now the mansion is a B&B.) For some reason I said I would have worked in an insurance office... don't know why... I did claim as my boyfriend the guy that gives rafting lessons on the Leigh river! Dulce agreed that he would have been a good choice... I think she was even a bit jealous that I thought to pick him. We almost got into a fist fight over him!! (haha just kidding)

I don't know is it just me that always wonders who and what I would be like if I lived in a different town...? I am always thinking what it would be like to live say... in Guyana! on a very small island... or .... you name it! (That's what I wonder when I read all of your blogs!) Plus, I just can't stop being fascinated why "the grass always seems to be greener"? Why is it like that? I'd love to hear what country(island) would you love to see yourself live in and why?? (Of course amazingly I know that some of you have already asked yourselves this question and made the move!!)

And just to leave you with something inspirational... here are more pictures of PUMPKINS!! Come-on! What's an autumn day without some friendly pumpkins!?

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...your eyes

FALCON EYES

You have Falcon
Eyes!
Positive Traits: Adventurous,
Brave, Creative, Kind, Loving
Negative
Traits: Apathetic, Carefree, Indifferent,
Distant, Withdrawn

Your eyes are the windows to your soul. What type of eyes do you have?
brought to you by Quizilla

Just a few comments about the above picture... firstly that girl needs some brow-threading IMMEDIATELY, she also needs to use some Visene (to get the red out)- actually, I personally prefer Bush & Lomb brand. I do like the sparkles...

I found it on Caribbean Colors blog.

Updates: This weekend was awesome though, I went to this little town in PA took pictures, saw more pumpkins! (Took MORE pictures of the pumpkins) I'll be putting it all up soon. Happy daylight saving time I guess, hope no one forgot!!!

Update on the Orphanage trip: I FINALLY received my volunteer info from this organization in Dominican Republic. I'm getting pretty excited. By the way, do you know how hard it is to track down these directors? Its crazy, people don't return your calls or emails... but I'm glad I didn't take it personally, because they're busy since these non profits are pretty small and the directors have full time jobs somewhere else. I love how all the applications are very lengthy with a full page dedicated on listing all the terrible things that could happen to you on the trip (death and dismemberment included)- wow. I realize there are risks to traveling, but I live in NY, there are probably more of a risk of death and dismemberment during my daily rush hour commute than anywhere else in Latin America.

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Ok, this may seem trivial... but I LOVE my citrus flavored toothpaste!!!

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Oh that city life...!

The ever so sexy Mr. Highcontrast was in town yesterday, which is always a great treat! Jazz and I met up with him at a Pipa's. It's this super cozy tapas restaurant.

The food was great, and the portions were perfect to share!

We had:

1. GAMBAS AL AJILLO - shrimp with garlic, olive oil, paprika and chiles

2. SAUTEED BABY CHORIZO - with sherry, olive oil and chiles

3. PULPO GALLEGO - octopus sautéed with calamata olives,
roasted potatoes, and smoked paprika

4. PIQUILLOS - sweet peppers stuffed with crabmeat and shrimp

5. Little "Buffalos" -I forgot what they were called... but they're on the picture above!

6. A Huge mound of various olives!!! - I LOVE olives (with pitts of course)

and for dessert...

COCONUT TREMBLEQUE - coconut custard with passion fruit gelatin, tapioca sauce and mint oil

(The dessert was very delicate, but I was not crazy for the tapioca sauce.)

Funny thing was that this turned out to be a CATALAN restaurant!!! (And we remember how I used to have "issues" withCataloniaa.) I loved the place though, I'll definitely be back.

Besides the food the atmosphere was nice and cozy big dark woo tables and benches with red pillows. The place was really busy with the afterwork crowd, and of course a large percentage of that crowd were girls in their early twenties in their first jobs, happy to be in doing the "manhattan living" constantly looking around with their huge eyes and flopping eyelashes, for a guy to take back to their tini-tiny room and make some dents in the limp footon mattresss.

That's manhattan for you! The girls are nuts because there is a clear shortage of men. According to City-Data: male population is 3,794,204 (47.4%), female is 4,214,074 (52.6%). I gotta move to Kodiac ALASKA!!! Males: 3,379 (53.3%), Females: 2,955 (46.7%). Another curious fact: average commute to work- 9.8 minutes!!!!

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Zee Girl-Woman ez très sexy, non?

Can two people from two different cultures really communicate?

Ok, how about this question:

What do you consider a "different" culture??

I don't like to ponder upon things. As you are aware, I'm pro-action, where "thinking" is NOT an action. So we are going to take a look at a practical situation.

Nicholas...Oh Nicholas, is giving me some reason to think that he is trying to STEREOTYPE me!!!! ME! You CAN'T stereotype ME! I pride myself on learning about different cultures and having friends all over the globe. Sure its fun to say things like: oh, Latin people are always late, Italian boys are attached to their mamma's, Scandinavians are ALL blonde, Barcelonians are... well, never mind, and Americans are all geography challenged.

"Geography challenged" is the one I'd like to address. Today he tried to explain to me that MUNICH was towards the south of Germany in a region called Bavaria... "Noooo REALLY!?... But wait... where is Germany again? Near Mexico??" AND he said that he was giving me credit by assuming that my knowledge of Europe was better than the average American who would not even know that Munich was a city in Germany. Come on dude, here in America we all know Munich... that's where you drink those HUGE beers, how can we not know!?! Right?!! So yes, I would have much rather preferred the stereotype of the "beer drinking Americans" than those that do now know their basic geography. (And I did mention to him that I like to travel a lot.)

This is just one example, there are other. At first I guess I was annoyed, but than, I began playing into it ... like I asked him if Zurich was also near Munich... and by his answer I realized that he was actually serious, (because he graciously explained that Zurich was in fact a "bit" east of Munich... than he suggested the distance in kilometers, of course including the equivalent in Miles for my benefit). Little does he know is that I'm not "totally"American and even though I've been living here a looooong time, I still think in meter, letters and centimeters.

Yes, I love to act blonde-like, but that's all in good fun. So basically, with Nicholas I now take every little chance I get to feed his "American" stereotype of me. He is now effectively convinced that I'm "blondly" dumb, would be completely lost if dropped of somewhere in the middle for Europe... and, please, go ahead add on all the other stereotypes Europeans come up with to describe Americans. (I know them all very well, because I MADE UP half of them myself!) Its always strange to be on the OTHER side.

This seemingly negative picture that he has of me, has NOT however prevented Nicholas to put forth an invitation for me to come out to Germany and that he would like to show me the "real and fun" Germany. (That cat!) I think here probably lies the real question. What CULTURE do men belong to??? Because judging by the way they ALL behave, they seem to all come form the SAME nation. Or planet? I know he is making fun of my supposed "handicaps" yet the invitation to show me around has still been put forward... (This phenomenon of men liking dumb women is just surprising every time.)

I realize for now it is just a "matter of speaking" invitation, but in case you are wondering I, as a "matter of speaking" I'm not terribly opposed to the idea of a fly by in Germany...

So you tell me; the question above asks: can two people from different cultures really communicate? Furthermore do men and women in general belong to the same "culture"??

PS: Above I chose a picture of the great BB, Bridgette Bardot, who perfectly embodied the "girl-woman" way of being that is apparently what all men have been going crazy over since the beginning of time...

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New York Life

Dining

Pipa Tapas Restaurant near Union Square
5 9th and Gansevoort Hotel in Meat Packing District
Sushi Samba in the Village
Cats Cafe in Brooklyn on Emons Ave

Going Out

Le Souk and Chinese #1 near ABC city
Turkish Restaurant near Le Souk
City Wedding

West Broadway - Diva bar -cheering the Brasilian team - world cup 2006

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Happy 100!!!

I was going to post something else, but we have BREAKING news here! Today is the birthday of our beloved Staten Island Ferry! 100 years! Sure I complain about the commute and the coffee all the time, but the reality is that the ferry puts me in a good mood. Something about watching the waves calms you down (medical fact) and just in general boat rides are fun!

So this morning there were these ladies dressed in last century outfits (and I don't mean the 1990's, like the beginning of last century) and they were giving out the wonderful commemorative post cards that I have graciously scanned in for your benefit, please see above.

I almost charged right by them, as I usually do by anyone who tries to give me a pamphlet, which many politicians and their staff do. "Come on! Do you NOT see me juggling my book, my umbrella, my steaming hot coffee!??! Do I look like I have six hands!? More importantly- do I look LIKE I CARE???" Ok, today however, I doubled back and sweetly told the lady to kindly stick the postcard under my free armpit. "Thank you, you have a good morning!"

Glad I did, because it was pretty amusing. The little history lesson about the very first ferry ride, on inside the postcard was a nice little read.

Here it is if anyone has a magnifying glass and would like to zoom in.

It basically describes the "first voyage" and how one of the boats was called "old lady", don't know why since it was the FIRST voyage. Apparently ferry fits 2000 people, that's nuts! What's funny is that the back then mayor promised "to break down the barriers of Nature" to unite New Yorkers bla bla. And then he went on to congratulate the people on being part of the "greatest city in the world" bla bla, crowd applauds for 2 minutes. That's a LONG time.

Anyway, cute, I enjoyed it. I saw people also setting up stuff in the terminal... maybe they'll give out free food for the trip back! I'd go for a sweet little marzipan replica of the orange ferryboat...

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Monday, Monday, go away!

I can't stand Mondays. I wish the week started with a Tuesday (still ending on a Friday of course). I need some new music... any good CD's out?? I love anything, plus I'm up for something different, but I don't know what. This was really good and different Aria.

Nicholas (my new cross borders romance boy) is not at work today. I think I'm really begining to develop this unhealthy obsessive attachment. But it feels so GREAT though, gives you that extra "umph". Unfortunately nothing "umphs" my Mondays... Hmm- I'll have to work out a plan to fix that later.

Also Tacit is doing something super awesome!!!! Its a sort of tag story, each person continues and adds to the last thought... and its comming out really good so far! International intrigue- go check it out and write in your part!

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Immature book review #5

Waw this is very overdue, my book reviews are piling up... So here is a partial list of the books I read this summer. Some I liked, some pissed me off, but you decide for yourselves.


This book is AWESOME! Young guys, straight out of college, in Tokyo making lots of money. Supposedly its based on a true story of these ivy league kids that exploited hugely the boom that took place in the mid 90's in Asia. Actually, better to say that they were there for the beginning of the boom. Very interesting; elements of life in Japan, the ex-pat world, ruthless finance, seduction... Excellent stuff!


"Almost French" was fun. It's about this Aussie gal that goes to visit this French dude in Paris and ends up staying! I figured this book would be hilarious because I don't like French dudes. (OK, to be fair I don't know many, but the one's I know have a bigger ego than the Italians even! And while the Italians are playfully about their egotism, the French are dead serious.) Whatever, makes a fun book watching the girl go through the "adjustment" period. It actually explains a lot of things about why French are considered rude by many other Europeans and Americans. I don't know if after reading the book I am convinced that there is a legitimate reason in deed for such "behavior".

This book just annoyed the HECK out of me!!! I was just so appalled by the main character. Even though she has my (nick) name, Alessandra, her actions just pissed me of! I'm not saying the book was bad. It was great in fact. It puts you right there in Florentine Renaissance. Talks about the religious and cultural happenings, the Medici Family and of course art. The story is about this girl who is secretly an artist, who falls for an artist... She was supposed to be an example of a strong woman, one of the first to stand up to societal labels placed on women and to paint in spite of it being unacceptable in these times. However, to me she just seemed weak, naive, and just pathetic! Don't ask me why such a hostile reaction, but I just could not associate with her. I think its just a jumbled up rip off the REAL BOOK about the "first" woman artist accepted in those times, Artemisia. Read that one instead. There is also a movie which is really good too.

This next book was a riot. "In a Sunburned Country" the author travels and makes his observations. Even though its a TRAVEL book, all he does is continuously make fun of Australia. Hey, that's my kind of book! Ok, but if I was an Aussie, I'd be rather annoyed because the author literally digs up material to fuel his fun making. Its OK though, no one wants to read a 300 page commercial anyway describing how perfect everything is. And maybe this book will inspire more curiosity in people to want to see for themselves. I liked the book a lot, lots of facts and history, but in a really fun and relevant way. It's great for anyone that wants to travel to Australia with intentions to do more than just dive the Great Barrier Reef and snap a photo of a kangaroo. Very funny too.

And there we have it. I guess there are some positives associated with my 2 hour commute. Now I'm reading another book about the Caribbean - so great!

Lesson to all young boys: Watch out for little girls, they could get very aggressive!

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Ale's yummy breakfast!

Last night I was at Dulce's new place, here in Manhattan. (Wallstr and I went over there to "christen" it, and have a KICK ass dinner!) Anyway, this morning it felt like an episode of the Twilight zone because upon leaving Dulce's apartment it took me exactly 23 minutes to arrive at work!

!!!??!? (Excited bewilderment expressed.)

I'm used to having at least an hour and a half commute each morning, involving 4 modes of transportation across both land and SEA! It was so strange that I didn't even feel awake yet as I came into work...

I decided to have a "yummy breakfast" to ease into the day. The inspiration to share it with the world comes from our Cousin, who documents yummy lunches everyday.

So above you see a cheese omelet with ham and a little bucket of American coffee. (Who said quality is better than quantity!!?) Usually I have a pempernickel bagel but today I felt I needed something more complicated. I declined the home fries, otherwise it would have been a very typical American breakfast.

I also learned something very interesting... Those sweeteners, like Equal and Splenda, are REALLY sweet! I never use them in my coffee, I usually rip up half a dozen sugar packets, but today I decided to be a responsible adult. Well, you can imagine my surprise that after just 2 little packets of Splenda my coffee was sweet! Of course than I read the INSTRUCTIONS on the back and it explained that 1 packet of Splenda = 2 teaspoons of sugar. I never new that.

I think I'm going to use Splenda from now on, plus they have really cute commercials with fairies and elves.

What did you have for breakfast?? That's why I love blogging, its just like googling people and finding out all kinds of unrelated information on them!!! Like zooming in on random houses on the other side of the world trying to tell what color are their curtains!!! With blogging, nice people TELL you about their lives and share PICTURES of their houses, cats, the food they eat... etc... etc... its PURE HEAVEN! (oops... I think that's a slogan for Splenda.)

PS: I'm working on an ultimate Bloggers list which I'll put up soon...

kisses and HAPPY FRIDAY!

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What color is your Power?

Your Power Color Is Indigo

At Your Highest: You are on a fast track to success - and others believe in you. At Your Lowest: You require a lot of attention and praise. In Love: You see people as how you want them to be, not as how they are. How You're Attractive: You're dramatic flair makes others see you as mysterious and romantic. Your Eternal Question: "Does This Work Into My Future Plans?"

What's" Your Power Color?

Hmmm, interesting.... Whether true or not, I just love those silly personality things...

I was psyched when for one of my jobs I was told I'd have to take 3 different personality tests. But they were sorta a let down, they just kept asking the same set of questions over and over again, just slightly switching up the scenario.

For example: apparently if you never take yourself out for a drive, you're a very aggressive/depressive person! Well, good thing I take myself out on plenty of drives all the time. Or wait... is that bad too?

As for the above test, agree with most of it. But I don't like being called romantic though. What a cliche word. Its much better to be practical. I don't like surprises, because they cheat you out of anticipation which is half the fun! The last one however, is RIGHT ON. Always thinking how something or someone "works into my future". Seemingly a great way to think? But sometimes very counter-productive, because we can't always see how a certain situation, or a person will fit into the big scheme.

Well, enough philosophy! Nicholas told me what town he lives in... so of course I googled the heck out of the situation... and! I am now the proud owner of his home address and phone number, I'm contemplating using google satellite maps to zoom onto his house!!! Yeah, yeah, I don't need this info, but its fun to FIND it! Still, I don't know what he looks like. Oh no, what if he is not cute!? What if he is blonde??? (I like tall, dark and handsome.)

Kids: tricking your boyfreind's grandmother into telling you his social security number, and than running a full report on him... is borderline illegal.

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Soy loca, soy loquita!

I'm so crazy.

Ok, I'm going to tell you a secret and you can't tell anyone. (Right- because immediately after reading this you will call all your friends and tell them.)

My company works on certain projects in conjunction with this design and engineering firm in Germany. We basically bring the concept and they draw the blue print and create it. I personally have been working with one of the engineers, Nicholas, for a few months now. We exchange a few emails daily and have spoken on the phone a few times. I think I've developed a bit of a crush on him. Plus he sounds really cute when we have conference calls, but of course that could be very misleading.

We do have some very important things in common, like the love for travel, chezch beer, and scuba diving.

I don't know what it is that makes me be so attracted to guys that are FAR away, the farther away the better apparently... Also he is very technical and serious, which I'm not, but I LOVE! His english is pretty good, but I overlook this imperfection. So you see kids, when I say I'm "in love" it doesn't really mean much. Actually I think saying "I love" you in a foreign language means more?

Whatever, I think I'm crazy... He is in Germany, there isn't any chance really for us to be at a meeting together or anything... But STILL I can't help to wonder... I just have this "sempreprimavera" feeling that all will work out perfectly... whatever that means.

I told you, I'm crazy.

P.S: and remember...I still need a date for a wedding in Germany... Ale thinks of everything, who said I wasn't technical! haha

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Pretties in PA!

The day was gorgeous! After 8 days of continuous rain, the sun was out and it felt like early fall should feel like. Wallstr and I met with other friends that were driving in from Jersey at a lodge for breakfast. (Coffee!)

First of all I must come clean and say that these are not my original pictures, because I forgot my camera!!! My only excuse that It was 6.30 in the morning and we were already on the road. However, I found these pictures on the web, and they could as well have been taken by me.

These both are along the Delaware River.


Pennsylvania is a very pretty state. I remember when I lived in Chicago, I have driven to NY a couple of times; PA was always the highlight of the trip. After the flats of Iowa and them other in between states, reaching PA was like driving into a new country, with great views of the mountains, lots of greens and glimpses of rivers. Driving through there you feel as if you are borrowing (the road) from Nature. Once I got caught in a rain storm that made driving over 5 mph impossible. I think that was a "friendly" reminder.

We saw a few farms along the way. I've never actually lived on one, but I've mentioned it before, for some reason I feel it would be the most idyllic lifestyle. I like getting up super early in the morning. Manual labor is totally refreshing and gives you a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. I think I should go on one of those "experience" vacations to a farm, maybe I won't feel the same... but for now it remains an exotic dream. (Along with a HOT farmer boy husband... who got two sexy brothers... remember Bananza...dumdarrarum-dum!)


We also stopped by a nice market where we saw cute and friendly pumpkins. Actually, everything in PA is nice, cute and friendly!
On the drive back, (pretty late) we totally made sure our car doors were LOCKED. For some reason, being in the middle of dark farm lands is more scary to me then driving through some areas in the city in the middle of the night. This is the type of behavior that my friends exhibit when they visit me in NY. I guess it takes some time for city girls to get used to this whole nature thing...

Lesson kids: there's is NO shame in constantly checking your car's back seat for ghosts and monsters as you drive through PA in the middle of the night.

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Happy Friday!

I just have to share this wonderful moment with all of you!

It's Friday, 6.00 pm.
I'm still at work (A project JUST came up, so I'll be here for another hour...)

It's raining. It HAS been raining here since last Friday! Which actually makes it more acceptable to be working and not be on my very happy 2nd Amaretto Sour (yes, I like em' paralyzingly sweet).

Why am I happy!? I'm crazy. I'm Primavera eventhough its Fall. I think I'm in love again...! (I think.) But most importantly, I'm going to Pennsylvania tomorrow to go climb a mountain (OK, a hill)!!!!

Kisses!

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Crazy finds crazy!

Ok, so here is the dilemma: I have THREE very different weddings to go to and I must find three adequate dates for each! But this story has complications...

Last week my beautiful friend Lacy was in town, because her HUSBAND had an interview with one of the fancy-shmancy lawfirms. The word "husband" is in caps, because its just so weird for yet another one of my little friends to be MARRIED! (Seems like a minute ago we were pushing fully dressed boys into the pool at camp.)

A bit of a background story: Lacy is from the South (hence the cute name I picked out for her). She is two years younger than me. Was voted "best legs" in our lovely New England summer camp that we attended each summer, (Wallstr and I were tied for a very close second.) Anyway, she played soccer on her high school team, and was also a homecoming queen donning a YELLOW dress. She spent much time in France, walked across Spain (with her HUSBAND who was just in the stages of pursuing her at that time...). She spent time in Prague (where I came to visit). She lived in DC, and let me crash on her couch during one of my brief job hops.

Two months ago she got MARRIED! I didn't go to her wedding. I wanted to see her get married, but I didn't want to go to the wedding... Ok, I've lived through my wild cousin getting married, two of my childhood best friends getting married... these are just the people whose weddings I absolutely was required to go to. I HATE going to weddings. How very annoying. And I'm sorry, I'm only 27, how is it that my YOUNGER friends are now getting married.

Don't get me wrong. Its not that I'm anti-marriage. I'm sure its a wonderful thing, especially logistically! You can share the mortgage, some one is always "automatically" there...(to share dinner with), it's all good. But when your friends get married, logistically that's NOT a good thing. Because:

1. You can ONLY see them in conjunction with the husband/wife
2. You can only see THEM (friend and husband/wife) if you have a date of YOUR OWN to bring along
3. You can't crash in their apartments/houses for no reason anymore...
4. You can't invite them to visit your place unless you have a guest BEDROOM to dedicate to the friend and the husband/wife.
5. You can't even have a decent conversation on the phone with them because no, they "don't know what I mean"... because apparently when you're married and have "on deman" sex every night, VERY LITTLE ELSE carries any meaning anymore!!!!!

Alright, so I have "beef" with my married friends... but this isn't really the point of this post. I've come to a resignation that when a friend gets married, you can kiss her goodbye! (well unless I myself get married and our husbands get along.) HOW annoying!

The relevant point is I have three weddings to go to next year, that I absolutely can't skip, and of course I have to have dates to all of them. I must go because one is a client of mine (the largest client) and being invited to her wedding is a great thing not only for my current job but also for my career - bla- blaaa. Second is one of my really close friends from Germany. She's a bit tricky, she may have her wedding either in Italy (her fiance is Italian) or Germany. If its in Italy, I'm ok, I have a guy to invite. If it's in Germany... I'm in trouble. The third person whose wedding I absolutely cannot miss is one of my best friends in Chicago. I simply don't want to miss hers.

The dilemma is getting perfect dates for all these three events! Who the heck is going to fly overseas with me? (That I WOULD LIKE to bring, I should add). Even the party for my client here in New York is difficult also, being that it is formal and I can't have someone act foolish. (And most boys that I like are young and foolish.) I MUST find appropriate guys to bring to these weddings.

Maybe I should put an ad in the paper?

Ad: Hot guys needed to attend weddings with hot girl (please pick one of three on the calendar attached).
Requirements - Must look good in a tux, not afraid of air travel, be able to handle windy conditions.
Those with heart conditions or asthma may be submitted to additional testing. (Hey, this isn't for the feint of heart.)
A free copy of Financial Times will be provided upon request.

Oh... and during "free time" please be prepared to strip because I may want to sketch you as a part of my newly revived love for art...

Please proceed to sumbit photos to SP HQ. Due to unusually high traffic of response, we will contact you only should interest arrise. Multiple applications will not increase your chances of being selected. Thank you.

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What do Nyack and tuna stake have in common?

It rained ALL weekend, which was ok, but I didn't do anything constructive... so lets talk about last Sunday.

Last Sunday morning I decided to drive North from NYC along the Hudson River and check out some sights.

Anyway, I keep trying to leave NYC, but somehow I just keep on staying and staying, so I guess I'll have to arrange (temporarily) for some sort of semi-permanent residence. So, since Beach season is definitely over, I'll be going to check out various neighborhoods to see where it could be good to insert myself.

This Sunday I went to Nyack, NY. It is SO GORGEOUS there. I'll have to go back and take more pictures. The one above was taken from a private pier of this new condo complex that is being built. Than I went into town to browse some boutiques and it was such a lovely day that I broke down and went into Starbucks for their seasonal Pumpkin Spice Late. ($4.46!!!!!)

Bottom line I would LOVE to live there, but see, the median salary for the town is about $250K, not to mention the median age is 48. Perhaps not really for me.

To console myself, I came home and made a yellow fin tuna stake, seared in sesame oil, with spinach! I've never made this dish before but I love ordering it when out.

Of course I commemorated the moment via photographic medium!


















It turned out great, and the sauce was good too. Just one mistake on my part. It wasn't rare enough. I left it on the pan for an extra minute (while getting the plates and stuff) and it sorta cooked further. I will provide the recipe next time I cook it, with sesame seeds, ginger and the whole shabang.

Lesson kids: eat your spinach!! It complements the yellow fin sesame oil seared tuna stake perfectly. Al bacio!

PS: enjoy and relax, because tomorrow we will be doing 2006 SP's Social Calendar planning and plus, I have major "issues" to discuss...

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I can't believe what she's wearing!!!

Haha!!! My first doodling! Seriously, I forgot how to use color pencils. As you can see, I got lazy and didn't finish the boat.

I drew this from an advertisement in last year's Vogue. OBVIOUSLY! I mean look at what she is wearing!? Uggs!? So last year. And her color choices left me wondering... I mean, purple, red, and BROWN!? (Sorry, that was not in Vogue, I just had to try out the pencils.)

Also, why is she smiling? Obviously, with such choices of clothes she must have gotten dressed VERY hastily. Plus, she is alone in a boat rowing towards some forested island on a day that does not promise very pleasant weather conditions... I hope its not that she has an abusive boyfriend she is running away from...

I made her face and legs orange to illustrate another important point: Self Tanning creams if not used by an expert will make your skin orange... she needs to stick to solariums.

Poor girl, but at least she has nice hair!

Ok, I broke in my pencils, so I'll draw something for real tonight.

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It wasn't me!

I killed an artist long ago.

An artist in me that is. Well actually, I didn't kill, more like strangled or suffocated... I just kept pressing on that pretty little neck till it was OVER!!!! Ok, a bit overly dramatic, but really, that's what happened.

So I loved to draw. I started as soon as I was able to hold a pencil (according to la mamma). I would draw anything and everything. Ladybugs, monsters, illustrations to stories mom read to me, grandma, grandpa... ice cream! When I was 8 I took art classes two times a week, the other two days a week I took tennis lessons. Two completely different activities but I just loved them both.

I remeber especially during the competitions the feeling was incredible. There were moments in which the world stopped. The blood just rushed to your head drowning out any noise around giving you this moment of complete FOCUS. And than BAM, you slam that ball already knowing and visualizing where it will hit on the opposite court. You're airborne and every muscle in your body obeys your commands even before you have a chance to think them. You just KNOW your win is inevitable, you also know how to visualize that win, and there is NOTHING that can make it impossible.

I can say the same experiences took place as I held a pencil or a paint brush standing in front of a paper. I couldn't hear or see anything. All I would be able to do is visualize the painting before making that first stroke... It was like seeing who you really are. In these moments you were completely sure of why you are here and what for... And that's not the knowledge to take lightly.

But even then... to get to my art class I had to pass by the tennis courts. I would look over to see the game, and I couldn't help but feel that if one day I have to choose, I would chose sports over art.

The actual "killing" took place when I turned 14 and planned the rest of my life...
I was going to have a career in International business and there would be no room for art.

I wish I could say "I'm such a dumbass!" start going to therapy and blame my parents for everything. But no, it was my own decision and I honestly can't say I completely regret it. I chose "sport" over art. I chose to go into a career that is a constant competition, a constant training camp. As much as I complain about this and that, my previous job hopping and my forever whining about wanting to spend all my days on a beach, the reality is that I can't live without the challenge. After a week of laying on a beach I'm sure I'd sit up and start thinking about where to get a boat and organize a scuba-diving school.

Ok fine, so I don't regret choosing my career, but why is it that I have not touched a pencil in something like ten years... why have I stopped going to art museums? Why was the immediate necessity to pee the ONLY reason I walked into the great UFIZZI Gallery during my entire 9 month stay in Florence? Why have I not ONCE gone inside the Sistine Chapel during the very many times that I visited Rome? Apart from the liking to project an airy blonde, it wasn't because I'm not interested. Its because, I don't want to think about it, I don't want to even doubt that I might have made a wrong choice. And if it really was the right choice to make, why do I still feel such a strong pull after all these years of completely ignoring all things art?

But enough of this analytical nonsense! Feeling sorry, doubtful, unsure... and all those other useless little feelings does NOT happen at Sempre Primavera! Here we take action. We eat adrenaline with a spoon, then lick it clean, and ask for seconds!

So very simply: yesterday I went to Pearl Paint the most famous art store in Manhattan, the glorious 5 full story building right on Canal street in China town; marched up and down the isles, grabbed:
1. colored pencils
2. a brush set
3. a watercolor paper pad
4. a huge gum eraser
5. and an HB pencil

Then I went up to the counter... got mistaken for a student, played along, GOT a student discount!!! And walked right out. DONE!!

Ok, I won't lie it was very painful in the beginning, but somewhere between the water color paper pad and the gum eraser the pain went away and was replaced by pure excitement. I could not wait to draw. Most importantly I realized I still have it; that ability to visualize the victory until its in your hands.

Lesson children: Entrance ticket to the Uffizi gallery is 6 Euros. A damn EXPENSIVE place to use the toilet!

Here is the info: www.pearlpaint.com shop on line and world wide delivery
And in NYC: 308 Canal Street near the intersection with Broadway

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The Viking revelations

Today we will be getting personal with Viking from the neighboring Base13.

First of all, have you ever asked yourselves..."Who-IS-really-this-Viking?? Who IS he?" Well, here at SP HQ we work round the clock to bring you the knowledge (and visuals) that will help you understand...

*Disclaimer: once again this is another immature interview and while the answers to the questions are real and were in fact given by Mr. Viking, they may (and have) been manipulated to accurately achieve evil purposes.*

We will begin with a safe question... after all, this is the mighty Viking that fights godzilas and mothras...

SP: Favorite color?
Viking: Honestly, I have no favorite color. They're all the same to me. I like the right colors in the right places though-- leaves should be green, the sky should be blue, stuff like that. But out of context they're all the same.

(See,Viking doesn't compromise! Basically all the colors better be doing what they're SUPPOSED TO- or else!)

SP: If you were an animal, who would you be and why?
Viking: I'd be a wolf. They're playful and friendly, but intelligent and mysterious as well. All the things I think I am.

SP's editorial addition: wolves are also very loyal in their relationships with their mates and their pack (family). As for mysterious... hmm we'll see HOW much mystery is left after this interview!!

SP: So Viking... TELL us... do you have any special powers? What are they...?
Viking: I'm starting to believe I've got some basic ESP. I wouldn't really call it a super power, being the scientific type. It's more like an advanced awareness of my environment, like my subconscious is over-perceptive. I have a great sense of direction. I can't get lost even if I try. And I never lose anything else. Well, I lost my keys once, but I had a few beers in me, doesn't count. And actually, in the end they were under the couch cushion, exactly where I thought they were, just hiding better than I'd expected. So it really doesn't count.

SP: (AHA! In revealing us his superpowers he also revealed a weakness...take notes- he is not able to get lost... wait, that's sorta a power in a way... uff, I'm confused...and with beer loses focus....)

SP: Tell us Viking what is your favorite drink?
Viking: Coffee. I don't drink it too much these days, so when I do, I can't settle for anything but the best. I can not drink bad coffee. I've tried, but it just won't go down my throat. I don't even try Starbucks anymore. It's a shame, because there's nothing wrong with the Starbucks beans. They're great if you buy them and brew it yourself. But the losers who work at Starbucks are obviously never taught how to make the perfect brew (no offense to the losers who work at Starbucks, but I dare you to prove me wrong). So I go out of my way to find places that do it right. As for specific coffee varieties, my recent favorite is Kenya AA. It's so good, I'm salivating just thinking about it...

SP: I CAN'T agree with you more, on all counts! - Assistants!!!! COFFEE!!!! (notice, assistants- pleural)

SP: Lets talk about Brazil. Now Viking, we know you ar engaged to the beautiful Brazilian garotta, and you obviously 'like the way she turned out'... tell us, have you ever thought what you would be like if you were Brazilian? (again... using immature displacement tactics to have subject reveal more about himself...)

Viking: That's tough... It's the old "nature vs nurture" debate. Genetics vs environment. I believe we're a product of both, but our genes predispose us towards a certain personality. I think I'd be about the same. A better dancer maybe, but mostly the same.

SP: Assistants!!!! ROLL THE FILM!!


Here is Viking playing soccer... Here he is going dancing...

Yep- he does seem the same... Just different clothes, but same Viking.

...Wait a minute, why is he wearing bunny slippers??








SP: Who is your role model?
Viking: I have two that I want to mention for their moral and political stances: Mohandas Gandhi and Albert Einstein. I believe more than anything that violence is the worst possible thing we can do. Violence is nothing more than a temporary way to silence your opponents. It will never lead to peace. It will never make the world a better place.

SP: (note to self: revise my rolemodels... did Marilyn Manroe have a political stance?)

SP: Finally Viking, tell us a deep dark secret!
Viking: I don't really have any secrets... Well, there's one that I've never shared, mainly because people don't need to know it. And because nobody's ever asked. It's one of those secrets that can needlessly affect people's perceptions of you when it really means next to nothing. I wish I didn't know it myself. That is: my IQ. I'll give you a clue, that's all. It can be expressed as the sum of two cubes. Which cubes, I won't say. I just think that's neat :)

SP: Viking such a kidder! Isn't it true that ANY number can be expressed as a sum of two cubes??? (no, seriously, that's a question, numbers mean nothing to me, unless there are dollar signs in front.)

While we all call our grade school math teachers for the answer... I wanted to tell you that I KNOW Viking's deep dark secret: Its his new COAT...

Nice threads Viking! You don't have to be embarassed. And is that shirt missing a button or two?

(and you're STILL wearing the bunny slippers) !!!


**Applause *** and CUT! Assistants!!!! MORE coffee!!!!

So yes, thanks to Viking for being such a sport and giving us a few MORE mysteries to solve about him.

Now lets run through the credits really fast (my Lawers -pleural- demand it).

Cast:
Viking - played by Viking
SP- Played by Ale
Assistants and lawyers - played eachother (get it? haha played each other!!!)
Viking's make-up - Ale
Viking's wardrobe - Elanit (my 6 yr old cousin, and yes, she chose bunny slippers because Viking was too manly and he needed a soft feminine side)

*This has been another immature interview brought to you by SP Global Media LLC, ABC, EFG, Y. Because.)*

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Caption this...

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Next adventure!

Still I'm on the subject of what to do during the Christmas and New Years Eve week that I'll have off. But where? what? Remember a month or so ago I talked about finding that next adventure and not just any ol' vacation.

Well, I think I found it.

Its not a new idea, its actually something that I've wanted to do for quite a while now. I want to do a volunteering trip. I've looked into many different ones. But did you know, some are pretty expensive, not to mention require a commitment of at least two weeks. For example you can scuba dive for sea plants of the coast of Brazil with a group lead by a scientist. You can preserve dolphins or turtles... or forests... You can build a house in Costa Rica. Opportunities are endless. As for me, I'd do them ALL if I had the time. If I win 50 million dollars tomorrow, I will quit my job and just go do volunteer projects all over the place. You get to travel AND feel like you're doing something constructive.

This winter I want to go volunteer at an orphanage. But wait, before you run to call the Vatican telling il Papa' to sanctify me... (hmm... Santa Alessanra?)... I got to say that I have selfish motives for going on the trip. Furthermore, I believe that everything we do, we do with selfish intentions. Oh, but its NOT a bad thing at all. If our attempt to make ourselves happy, in turn makes others happy as well, than its a perfect situation! So yes, honestly I think I will be the real beneficiary from this volunteer project. The kids will probably end up baby-sitting me I'm sure.

Why specifically go to an orphanage? Well, I'd love to one day open one. Not because I want to sacrifice my life bla bla bla, but I feel that would actually be gaining BACK my life. Don't get me wrong, I'm not planning on being poor, but I believe helping children would be more fun for me than a career in making more money for Mr (or Ms.).X. (By the way, do you know how much non-profit directors makes!!! I had many non-profit organizations as clients an they're suprisingly pretty set*.) They travel all over the world participating in meetings and events, throw parties... Plus, whenever it is that I decide to have a family, I would love to adopt. This trip, could be in a way a "research" trip.

*browse the salaries of some non-profit directors.

This weekend I already looked up some orphanages and emailed a few of them. Hopefully I will find one, and will be able to organize everything. I'll also have to get some shots, maybe even a visa... we'll see. I wanted to go to Haiti actually, but after learning more about it I realize that the little issue of political unrest... is not a joke after all.

This was the appoitment I went to on Saturday. Really last minute I decided to take a drive over just to ask some questions even though I may not be going to their orphanage (in Haiti). It was interesting to learn about some of the ways they conduct their fund raising and how they got a pretty famous architecture firm to build a brand new school campus for the orphanage. This is a lesson for me, if I want to "get involved" with the kids issue, I need not wait for a week off to go volunteer somewhere far away... there are ways to actually do something from the home front. The volunteer trip however was what got me inspired and thinking.

I'll keep you all updated, and if anyone has done any volunteering overseas or is involved in some projects currently - tell me everything! I know that Miss Vesspa Roso does some projects for Habitat for Humanity, is that correct? And Dcver volunteers over in Portugal with Boy Scouts.

Lesson kids: selfishness is not necessarily a bad thing, it can help you preserve the amazonian forests and feed the children!

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You know you want me!

Ahh, summertime... morning coffee on the veranda. How nostalgic...!
Yes summer is over. It may still be sunny and bright once in a while, but that sun will not warm yer old bones, har har. I mean, look at that picture, you can just feel the warmth, breathe in the life... By the way, my coffee is now part of the Experiment! Its a collection of coffee cups, sips, beans and kissed rims from all over the world. Whoever notices my coffee cup first gets a HUGE prize!

Anyway, lets concentrate on the good things about Fall, like pumpkins!? We are after all in October already. Uuuuhhh, you know what's good...Pumpkin Ravioli!!! Sooo delicious!! The linked recipe is rather involving, but I think if you're going to have pumpkin ravioli you should do it from scratch. It doesn't take that long anyway, especially if you're having a nice chilled white wine while you're cooking.

Gotta go kiss a cup rim now... Have you kissed a rim today??

PS: I'm going to an important meeting in Connecticut. It has to do with the "new adventure" I'm looking for, so I hope it goes well. Plus, I'm hoping to also catch some changing fall colors!

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