My birthday

Wish me a happy belated birthday. I turned ... cough cough... on September 14th. My friends took me out to an amazing birthday dinner and drinks at Pipa, and then I received the best gift of all... a new job!

Sex and the City

Guess what Mo and I saw at Central Park on Saturday? Cynthia Nixon, better known for playing Miranda Hobbes on Sex and the City. She looked exactly as she does on TV and was very down-to-earth in her jeans and t-shirt, eating ice cream with her two kids. In fact, if I didn't know it was her, I would have taken her for any soccer mom who lives in the Upper West Side.

Considering that Sex and the City is my absolute favourite show, Mo was surprised that I didn't act more excited. It could be because I've seen so many of these celebrities that I don't blink anymore. But to tell you the truth, I think it's because I expected to spot Cynthia Nixon much earlier than Saturday. She does after all, live in my neighbourhood and has been spotted very often at all our favourites haunts (ie. Zabar's, Arties Deli, etc.).

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In other news, I went shopping yesterday with my friend Becky. (And I spent too much money again considering that I went on a mini-spee just last week). Afterwards, we met up with Mo and Sean for quisadillas and beer. (Yum!)

Unforunately, I forgot that the latest episode of Sex and the City aired yesterday and I missed it. Boo!

(Thank God for HBO on Demand).

Mid-life Crisis

I've spent a lot of time over the last few months thinking about where I want to be. I'm not sure what day it was that I woke up and realized that life is not as fulfilling as I thought it would be. I actually don't think that it was a sudden realization. More of a gradual one that has been creeping up on me slowly for a long while now, and rooted itself into existence.

Namely, I have been unhappy with the job and career that I have chosen for myself. I feel like I haven't learned anything reallly new for a long time now. And that I'm bored with what I do, but worse, I feel no motivation to improve the situation. The worst part is that we spend more waking hours at work than anywhere else. So isn't it important to actually enjoy what you do?

I've had lengthy talks with my friends about the subject, and it appears that my state of mind is in no way unique. Most people I know feel this way.

It's funny. We all make more money than our parents did. We have more free time (since we are all selfish childless people) and have more 'things' than they did. We seem to have it all at only twenty-something. Yet, the fruit of our labours is not as sweet as we expected.

Is it possible to be having a mid-life crisis at only 28?

I think this is exactly what is happening. Our lives are moving faster than the previous generations before us. We work harder, longer and archive more quicker. So whereas our parents had their mid-life crises at forty-something, we are on such a fast track that we are having our 15 years earlier.

And then we realize one of two things:

1) Our lifestyle is very good. We like the money we make, therefore we will keep selling out to maintain it.

2) We hate what we're doing, or feel undervalued in our current job. A lot of people I know have done sudden switches in careers or gone back to school. Others have made enough money to quit their jobs, pick up and start seeing the world.

I used to wonder how it was possible to have it all. How to have a career and a family at the same time. Apparently, women nowadays are realizing that, while it's possible to have it all, it's really hard to do. And having it all isn't as great as it looks. The trend seems to be that women (and men) are choosing more and more to stay home, and raise the children. And since they had it all, but chose to give it up, there's no hidden resentment that our mothers had of giving up their career.

I wonder sometimes if I fall into this camp. Will I eventually quit my job, stay home and happily raise the kids? For a long time, I haven't felt very fulfilled with my career. Will raising a family fill the void instead? If you asked me this question about two months ago, I probably would have said yes. That staying home with the family was easier and must be more fulfilling than my seemingly directionless job (senior project lead in a consulting company that won't let the last nail be hammered into the coffin). That the computer industry, especially the consulting one was leading to a dead end.

But if you ask me today, it may be a different story. I don't think I'm so ready to throw in the towel with my career just yet. I think what I really need is a change. I've been really stagnant in my job and I think it's been holding me back. I'm not sure what direction I want to go in just yet, but I'm looking and will give it my best effort. And I'm not so sure that I want to leave computers behind. I need to find something to give me that kick in the pants -- that enthusiasm I used to have years ago. I'm sure it's in me somewhere, cob-webbed and dusty, but waiting nonetheless.

But whatever I do, just make sure I keep writing. Because we all know that it's still my first love.

Circus Time

Tonight, my friend Sean is going to be playing at Siberia with his band Valeze. Tonight is Siberia's first Circus party. It's going to have two bands playing, plus DJ's, jugglers, and go-go dancers. It sounds like a blast. If you are in NY, you should definitely check it out. (No stalkers please!)

cookie dough peace pop

2:30pm: Stupid Ben & Jerrys ice cream. I just ate 380 calories and 55% of my saturated fat for the day.

It was really really good though. Plus it's all natural!

2:41pm: Opps... feel sicky now. Too much sugar, cookie, cream... etc

I have goosebumps

I have goosebumps, and not in the something-good-is-about-to-happen way. I have goosebumps because it's about 65F outside and for some godforsaken reason, the air conditioning is still on in the office.

Every few minutes or so, I blow on my hands and give my icy feet a little stamp. Why is it that offices are always colder in the summertime than they are in the winter?

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In other news, the Welchia worm has infiltrated out office. They shut down our network connection this morning without telling us. I wish they did. We spent about 15 minutes trying to troubleshoot the connection this morning, when we all could have been running the virus checker instead.

Kitty Litter

Over the weekend, Mo and I agreed to look after our friends two cats. I admit, it didn't take us too much proding after my friend offered us a bottle of wine for the job. Mmm... wine...

Anyway, we came in on Sunday afternoon to refill the kitties bowls, and give them a little bit of affection.

While we were there, we gave the cats a little bit too much catnip. Whoa, catnip is like cats on ecstasy. Makes you wonder how it works on humans, don't it?

The cats frolicked around us and were extremely receptive. Usually, one of them is a little standoffish. But I guess when you haven't seen your owners for two days and are getting catnip from these people, you get less choosy.

As we were leaving, Mo and I went around the apartment making sure everything was in order. Wine glasses back in place, cat food bag put away, toilet seat cover left down so the older one doesn't fall in... and Mo closed the door to their closet.

That promptly caused the younger cat to stand in front of the closet and start mewing urgently.

"Oh look at that Theressa" Mo said. "Gage is so smart he's telling me that I closed off access to the litter box."

So he opens the closet door and out runs Monty, slightly upset (not to mention half loopy on capnip).

"Great Mo. Can you imagine how bad that would have been?" I scoulded. "Imagine someone locked you in an outhouse and you had to stand near your own poo and pee for the next 36 hours."

Not nice.

But a little more catnip, and the kitties forgave him. Ahh... sweet wonderful drugs.

Must... stop!

You know when you get into one of those shopping groves and you feel like you can barely restrain yourself from going on a spree? I blame it on the change in weather. Suddenly, I've been fighting the urge to buy thinly knit turtlenecks, wool pants, scarves and a cute tweed mini.

I just had a fun filled shopping day on Monday. But I had no choice... I simply had to go shopping. Umm... no, no one held a gun to my head. Mo is studying for his series 7 exam and he needed a quiet apartment to read his notes. So instead of distracting him with my tv watching, I went out instead...

... to the shops.

I had a good day and bought a few new tops and a pair of pants. Then yesterday, I saw that the J. Crew site was having a huge sale. So I put in a small order there. I then tallyed up my purchase over the past two days and felt a huge wave of guilt. That's it I told myself. I'm cutting myself off!

But now, I see that they are selling these gorgeous wool suit jackets that they are practically giving away! I can barely restrain myself from putting the order through, but I promised myself no more. Not to mention, I really have no need to wear a wool suit jacket. But it is such a good deal!

Still, I must differentiate between want and need. And I probably will wear that wool blazer exactly once.

But that doesn't stop my fingers from itching over to the J.Crew site. Must... stop... help!

Hello Matt, how are you today?

Last Wednesday, Mo and I had another celebrity sighting. This time, Matt Dillon walked by us at the intersection of 81st and Columbus Ave. He waw hurrying down 81st towards CPW. I must say that Matt is much broader and more... ahem... buff than I thought he would be. He does make for lovely eye candy for the ladies.

I figure that he must live around 81st and CPW because there was nothing but Central Park and residential buildings where he was heading - Which is cool because we might be neighbours!

"Good morning Matt! Yes, I'd love to come by for a cup of tea, thank you!"

For some reason, Mo and I have been lucky enough to have more celebrity sightings than anyone I know. I'm sure this is due to Mo's keen ability to remember faces, as well as actually pay attention to what goes on around him. As opposed to my crappy memory and my tendency towards tunnel vision when I walk. (Purely an instinct to ward off unwanted male attention).

Just for prosperity, let's do a quick of recap the faces we've seen around NYC in our 3 years and 7 months living here (In chronological order):

1) Julia Roberts - Our first sighting in New York. Memorable because she took my cappucino!

2) Woody Allen (twice) - The first time, he was leaving an Italian restaurant in midtown. The second was a filming (one year later, but ironically only one block from the initial sighting). He looks exactly like in his movies. And no, he was not there with Song Yee.

3) Kelsey Grammer - Passed him in a taxi in midtown east. He was having dinner at a cafe.

4) Rosie Perez - Walked by her in LaGuardia airport.

5) Sandra Bernhardt - Yacking (that's talking, not puking) outside of my office building.

6 ) Michael Douglas - He sat at the table beside us while we were having lunch. Mo kept staring at the little hole in his sweater. And no, Catherine Zeta-Jones was nowhere to be found. We think he was meeting with a wedding planner though because it was only about two weeks before his wedding.

6) Renee Zellwegger - Walked by her while shopping on Madison Avenue.

7) Lilly Taylor - West Village sighting. She looks so much like a normal person that I almost didn't recognize her. But Mo did of course.

8) Julianne Moore - She was waiting for the train at the 72nd street 1,2,3,9 station with her three kids and her husband. I thought it was so fabulous that she actually takes the train. We rode with her all the way to 14th street, where strangers played with her kids on the ride. Very down to earth.

Mo's sightings (sans moi):

Joaquim Phoenix - Union Square, outside the United Artists Theater. He was too cool, on his cell phone and trying not to make eye contact.

Diane Wiest - Walking her dog in the Upper West Side. Mo stopped to pet her pup.

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Hmm... come to think of it. That's quite a lot of sightings above. Especially considering that I'm not in an industry where I should bump into them so often.

It's great how actors, musicians, etc. love to live in New York. It's so easy to blend in here because most New Yorkers tend to have tunnel vision and not even look at the people who pass them on the street. But what's fabulous is that even when they get recognized, no one hassles them. Residents here are too cool to acknowledge them. The general attitude is "Look, there's so and so. How cool... Anyway, then he said to me, how come you never call me... blah blah"

Of course, they all secretly love the celebrity sightings. It reinforces the view that New York is the best place to live in the world.

(And it is too... heh!)