Why So Blue???

W Magazine

For my 27th birthday, my friends planned a big night o' celebration. We met at a fab dim sum restaurant, Ping Pong, in Chinatown for drinks and dinner (definitely recommend the Lemongrass and Lime cocktail!) and then headed to the E Street Theater to catch an indie flick. I had mentioned once to one of my girls the new Ryan Gosling film, Blue Valentine. I had heard about the NC-17 vs. R rating controversy and wanted to see what it was all about, but I didn't think this was the movie they would choose for my birthday fête.

It was a decent love story, but far from a feel-good movie. Ryan Gosling is rather easy on the eyes, so it made the movie easy to watch. At times, it felt like you were sitting in the living room of a couple who was arguing and was a little uncomfortable. My friends had a lot more trouble with the film than I did. I could see the controversial areas of the movie that the MPAA had issues with. There were several very graphic sex scenes, but were more "animalistic" than sexy. As if that wasn't enough to make the audience tense up, the movie came very close to hitting on one of the most controversial topics ever, abortion. You could see and hear people in the theater begin to squirm in their seats. But, all in all I still loved the movie. I thought it was a much more "real" story of two people's lives together, as opposed to a typical "Dirty Dancing" style love story.

In the end, Ryan Goslings bedroom eyes were enough to get through the 90 minutes of the film. As what usually happens at indie theaters, the previews get you pumped for your next visit to the theater. We made plans for the animated shorts festival in a few weeks.

New Year, New You

I am not a big fan of New Year's Resolutions. I don't think people take them seriously and stick to them (honestly, I am one of them). But this year is different for me, I am in the middle of a HUGE transition in my life. Everything is different than it was before. My list isn't so much about making changes, as it is about focusing on living life with a purpose. I certainly won't be perfect, but I am really focusing on it.

• Blog at least twice a week
• Find my "creative"
• Only buy things I really want/need
• Actually decorate our apartment
• Do more yoga
• Be a better daughter, sister, and aunt (maybe by 2011, WIFE)
• Stop the unnecessary stress
• Call my friends/family more
• Love more, pray more, smile more

Really looking forward to a good year.

I just agreed to what?!?

I am not the best runner. I enjoy working out and would love to be a runner, but my body is just not made for hitting the pavement. But, my friend who is extremely into triathlons has definitely been pushing for me to join her in her active activities. And, I think I just agreed to join her and a bunch of others for World Run Day this Sunday. She says she is a slow runner, but her slow will probably be a sprint compared to mine.

I just don't want to embarrass myself as the girl weezing as she is run/walking down the mall. But I sure will be proud of myself if I do make it. Here is the map of the run options 1-5. The longest route will totally about 9 miles. You can guess which option I will be taking.

Some people run marathons to prove to themselves that they can stick it out and complete something so challenging, this 3 mile run may be my marathon. A little sad, but we manage expectations in the World O' Me.

CFox Bday

I had the most fun I have had in well over a year last night. I joined some friends in surprising my friend CFox for her birthday. We picked her up from her place in a limo full of pink bubbly (one of her friends is a wine distributor, awesome!!) and went to Rosa Mexicana for dinner. Funny enough that is where we spent her last birthday too, but the planners of the evening didn't know that. We then headed over to the monuments and took a nighttime tour. Something I have always wanted to do.

I had no clue that the 4th grade tours also did this at night. I mean, when do they go to sleep. To say we had a few drinks by that point is an understatement. We were not in a state to be around young children. We quickly got kicked out of TWO monuments and over stayed our welcome at Lincoln Memorial. But not before I got these amazing picture, with my NEW phone, of the Lincoln Memorial and a city view from the steps of Lincoln.I love DC. Funny enough, I got in the bed before 11pm and went on the have a very productive Friday at work.

Lenny-My Love

It is no secret to anyone who knows me that I am completely in love with Lenny Kravitz. Not just because he is a gorgeous specimine of a man. But his music is very important to me. When he didn't tour the U.S. for almost 5 years, I was very sad. Then I got a random email one day and checked his Twitter account, he was coming to DC!!!!! I spent my last few bucks on those tickets.

My friend Christina and I went to the concert and had an absolute blast. He was everything I remember him being. He inspires me in so many ways. Plus, he told this beautiful story about his godmother and how much he loved her, then he brought her out on stage. It was none other than, a legend, Cicely Tyson!!!


Here is a super dark picture of the stage:

Chi-Town: Wedding Time

View from our hotel 

All of our friends are taking to get married. Given that we will be celebrating our 5 year anniversary soon, most of them are wondering when we will join them. We are working on growing our relationship and will make that move when we are good and ready. But, heading to our first out of town wedding together, was certainly an adventure. I love Chicago. I truly believe people from Chicago are all so cool. President and Michelle Obama of course add to that rational, but I originally began feeling that way when I first visited on a work trip 2 years ago. When arrived in Chicago a full day before the wedding and before all of our friends, so we could spend a full day enjoying the city. We haven’t really spent any time together outside of DC, since I started my torture-some job hunt. It was a much needed mini-vacation.

At Gino's East

Our hotel was downtown, just a few blocks from Millennium Park. But our first stop was Gino’s East. The pizza was well worth the wait. I have never been much of a fan of deep dish, but obviously they are famous for it for a reason. The crust was the diamond. I started just eating the crust and dipping it into the sauce. One of those times you wish your stomach was bigger.

Gigantic Wedding Cake, delicious

We attended the best multi-cultural wedding EVER. She is Catholic Chinese from Chicago and he is Jewish Ukrainian, originally from the Ukraine, but grew up in Rhode Island. It was AWESOME. The mixed their two cultures perfectly. And once the party got started, all of our friends definitely took part. They had a bottle of Remy Martin on each table and it was over from there. I have never danced so much in my life. The quality of dancing was definitely below-par for me, but it was FUN! We stumbled into our hotel around midnight and barely made it to the airport in one piece. It was a great weekend. Plus, the vacation we both needed, especially since I started my new job the next Monday.

One wedding down, 3 more to go by October 2010.