I wanna be a part of it...

Ol' New York!
Last Thursday I finished up my work day early and hopped on the Megabus to NYC.
My Uncle David, Aunt Mary and David Jr came to the east coast from Chicago to look at colleges in the New York area. David will be graduating from high school next year and has been working very hard to make the best decisions possible for his future.

I took the Megabus; this a great inexpensive way to get to NYC. Round trip from DC $29!
When I arrived good friends Rachel and Rusty met me and took me to a wonderful dinner at
Bar Baresco in Chelsea, delicioso! www.barbaresconyc.com

On Friday Rachel joined me for a day of adventure with my family. We started out with a delicious breakfast at the Tiny Cup. With our tummies full we headed to South Street Seaport to meet Chicago folks! After catching up a bit we headed to Battery Park. Along the way we took a hiatus on the Staten Island Ferry. It looks just as it did when I was a kid, minus the cars; blue inside with dark walnut wood seats. Sometimes something old and familiar can trigger emotions; the look, the smell and the sound of the ferry brought back many childhood memories for me. I can see my best friend Jo-Ann and I hanging and spinning on the poles all bundled up in our coats, we were winterized and full of vim.



The ferry is free, so we hopped on to see the Statue of Liberty ('photo op') and then turned around and returned to Manhattan. We made our way through Battery Park, Chelsea Market and relaxed a bit at Washington Square park. Rachel suggested we go to Chelsea market and what a great idea it was! This is where they film Iron Chef. The market is full of ethnic foods including Italian, my favorite!
Rachel found the largest container of Nutella and immediately fell in love!

















While we were at Washington Square we were entertained by a very flexible and possibly double jointed man who asked the crowd to "move in closer so he could look more organized"! He managed to fit himself into a tiny acrylic box as his finale!

We made our way back to the Valentino's hotel. They had a wonderful view of the Empire State building. After a bit of freshening up Rusty and Gary met us for dinner around 8:30pm.

My Aunt Mary suggested Padre Figlio for dinner since they had a fixed price menu and it was Italian AND Zagat rated. But it was boo hooed by some in our group. So, when Gary arrived we walked a bit on 2cnd street found nothing of interest so we ended up walking around the block and back at Padre Figlio's were they welcomed us with open arms.

Dinner was very nice, full of great conversation and smiles. It was wonderful to spend time with everyone!

Look MA no hands!!

Summer BBQ's

The summer time BBQ; there is just something about grilled meat, grilled corn well grilled anything really! Yesterday afternoon we went to Cathy and Chris's home to celebrate a belated birthday for Julie.
Those Fetgatter's are grilling fools and it is always delish! Care asada, pork asada, good ol'steak, hotdogs, corn, potato salad, pasta salad, watermelon it looked like a party for 20 rather than 8!

Since it was a birthday we had dessert, of course! Cupcakes from Hello Cupcake compliments of Kate and delicious cherries. Colin, our nephew, clearly enjoyed the cherries!

It was a nice evening, thanks for the fun! We do hope Chris has recovered!

Thank you DC like a local!

http://www.dclikealocal.com/2009/07/national-gallery-of-art-but-for-kids.html

www.nga.gov

some improvement

Thanks to you.

You know who you are...

Just when you think your all alone those very special people are there.

Feeling Normal in the Wake of Tragedy

I received an email at work with this subject line: Feeling Normal in the Wake of Tragedy
It came from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) after the horrific event at the Holocaust Museum and the DC Metro but it is an appropriate tag line for me.

I don't recall feeling normal since...well I would say 2005. Really it might be 2004 and then again I really can not remember ever feeling normal. Maybe they mean normal according to my own feelings and emotions? I used to consider myself a very passionate and opinionated person my faith ran deep in God and my family, I was the creative and artistic one. I had an imagination.
I was ALIVE.

I have become more patient and prone to "do the right thing" but part of me really has just given up. I have been suffocated like a flame smothered by dirt. I feel like I died a slow death with all the family members who have died in my lifetime. I wonder is this how it feels to be old, or older? Slowly all of the qualities I used to define myself are stripped from my soul with time until I am dead?
I am now boring and very careful with my words.
I am a chameleon just trying to keep the peace, keep my job, keep my family see all the goodness and LOVE my husband. Trying to love unconditionally, trying to get through each day barely allowing myself the freedom to be happy because well I am older now and have a ridiculous amount of responsibilities.
I am only 35 soon to approach the downside of my 30's, so you say "how is it that someone your age could say something like this?" Well it is quite honestly the truth; it all started when I was in the 4th grade when my great grandfather died. Since then I have lost most of my family, including my father.
Growing up my family was large, Italian and loads of fun. They didn't always get along but truthfully there was fun in that too and all of its characters. We are Italian it's only natural to argue, be loud and then run right back to love each other all over again!

I do feel like my life is tragic and I often, well let's say daily ask why I was dealt such a shitty hand. I let the Catholic guilt creep in and use the "I am paying for my sins" but I think this is bullshit, i was happier as a sinner. Some have it and some don't. End of story really. I was a comedy that quickly turned sour to Tragedy and it is not looking like that will change.

bicicletta...that is italian for exercise

I just got this bike, from one of my many favorite stores, Targjeeet! After testing out many and trying to fix my old bike this one is the winner!
It has hybrid tires, it is not to heavy and it is accessorized with the cute little rack in the back! I have learned a lot about bikes in the last month. I test rode many inside the Target and then along came a 'Target' cop, "Miss, you can not ride that in here" Awww come on, how am I to know if I love it? No sooner did the 'nice' and mostly disintrested man tell me to stop, this boy about eight years old came zooming by us. The little boy said"please, just once more"!! Something about a bike makes you feel free and kid-like!
We are planning to get out on the road this long weekend riding our bikes with helmets of course! My Daniel is moaning about the helmet but I dont want his brains squashed!
I mean really, he is a vital part of this equation.
So this Fourth of July weekend you might find me on a trail pretending to be in Tuscan hills of Italy riding my bike to the next wine stop!