a quick hi and bye

For the past few weeks I’ve been asking Alexander if he's coming home for the long holiday weekend.    And for the past few weeks his response has been the same.  “Yeah, I think so.”

I speak to him Wednesday night.  He tells me his classes and papers and exams are done.  At least for a few days.  But he wants to stay up at school to celebrate on Thursday night.  I ask, “So what bus are you taking on Friday?”  He doesn’t know, and gets annoyed at me for even posing such an intrusive question. 

This morning I text him with today’s bus schedule.  There’s a 12:15 bus.  Forget that one.  He’s not even awake by the time that bus leaves.  He’ll take the 2:25.

It’s Friday.  Traffic is brutal. Alexander informs me via text that he is meeting friends for a 10:25 movie.  He also tells me he has to eat quickly as he needs to polish up a small essay that is due today.  I try not to ask him why he didn’t complete this short essay yesterday, since he had no classes.  I am not successful.  Then I realize it doesn’t matter.  I'm not being graded.

A little before nine,  Alexander is home.  He’s wearing shorts and a T-shirt.  It’s 66°. 

We grab a slice of pizza — his default dinner at school, but hey, he doesn’t have much time.

After our fast and fattening meal. Alexander finalizes his essay and sends it off.  His bags remain unpacked in the living room.  I haven’t seen him in three months.  I see him for thirty minutes before he’s off meeting friends.

Still, it’s nice to know he’ll be waking up here in the morning.

pleasant ride

Gorgeous fall day.  8:10am.  I board the crosstown bus.

Standing room only.  The bus driver has blocked the pay box.  I’m not sure if it’s broken, she’s doing it to speed up passenger entry, or she’s in a good mood and wants to please her riders.

The driver has a deep melodious voice.  “Keep moving to the back.  This is going to be a very filled bus,” she announces.  We all obey.  Every seat is taken and every bit of available floor space is covered with feet.

We approach a stop.   The bus driver calls out, “Since no one has pushed the stop request button, I assume no one wants to get off.  So I’m going to skip this stop.  I think there are enough passengers on this bus already. What do you think,” she asks.  Not used to being spoken to by the bus driver, no one responds.   “Hey.  Am I the only one alive on this bus?” she calls out.

A lot of faces light up with smiles.  It’s a nice way to start the day.

some must-have cosmetics

I believe in the 80/20 rule.

If I look in my closet, I wear 20% of my clothes 80% of the time.  Or maybe it’s 90/10.  Some of my shoes I actually wear out, while others stay in nice little boxes pulled out for those special occasions.  Five or more years after buying them and they still look brand new.  I have clothes with tags on them still, while others get worn over and over.

Well the same is true for cosmetics.  I have never-opened jars of Shisheido White Lucent Brightening Moisturizer I bought years ago (I wonder if it's still good) and something called Sheer Brilliance by Chanel.  In addition, I have eyeshadows (too many to count) that have been used once.  Lipsticks I tire of.  Blushes I no longer like.  Bronzers that are too dark.  And  loose powder that is too mesy.

I generally believe that if it costs more it must be better.  

For example, I see $79 shoes that look just like Manolos, but those I would not get.  They wouldn't last as long, the  quality of the materials would be inferior, and the craftsmanship wouldn't compare.  

But when it comes to cosmetics, much of the cost goes into the packaging, distribution, and marketing. 

I use La Mer moisturizer, as I am afraid not too.  I’ve been using it for a long time, and I honestly think my skin looks better because of it.  Maybe it would look the same with a moisturizer by Olay, but I am afraid to take that risk.

Recently, a friend of mine who once worked in the beauty business told me about a BB cream, shade medium, by L’Oreal called Youth Code.

I bought it for $11.60 on Amazon.   It’s amazing.  It promises to “illuminate, perfect, moisturize and protect” skin.  I believe it really does.

As for cheeks, I discovered a cream blush called Cheek Butter by Korres (a division of Johnson & Johnson).  I like its portability, creaminess, long lastingness, $25 price tag (at Sephora), and the color called Phila Pink.

Another product I love is a $20 cream by ColorScience that brightens and moisturizes the eye area; it’s called Eye Camouflage.

I have been using this for a while and think it’s fabulous.  In fact, I’ve used a lot of the ColorScience products and think they are all great.  I discovered this mineral-based line in 2005 when I got a facial and the woman who did the facial used these products.  I wore them at Alexander’s Bar Mitzvah and someone who was there thought I’d had a facelift.  Of course I became I convert after that.

As for lipsticks, my favorite is Armani — great consistency, beautiful colors, and perfect packaging.  I particularly love the Rouge D’Armani Sheer, #503 (vintage rosewood). 

Guerlain is also great but too much of the price goes into their garish packaging. Still, l love Gemma 64, rosy mauve. It’s the perfect pink for me.

I usually don’t spend an entire post writing about beauty products, but I thought these were worth mentioning.

Let me know if you have any to add.

a short visit downtown

When I first moved to New York, the Lower East Side was one of my favorite neighborhoods to visit.  Going there was going back in time. It felt old, and was so different from the Upper East Side where I lived.  People everywhere.  Stores that looked like they’d been erected at the turn of the century.  And buyers searching for a bargain. I still remember the black leather jacket I purchased for $350, a lot of money in the early 80’s, but still a lot less than I’d have paid uptown.  And when Hazel visited New York many years ago, we went store to store looking at shoes and handbags.  I think she bought several of both.

A few weeks ago, I heard that someone I used to work with ages ago was having an exhibit at a gallery downtown.  I had to go.

Despite an overcast drizzly day, I take the (freezing but fast) Express Bus to the Lower East Side.  

I envision grabbing a bite in some old-world restaurant, strolling the streets, and spending some time at the exhibit.

It’s been a while since I’ve been in this neighborhood and it looks nothing like I remember it. Too many chic stores, hip restaurants, and deserted streets.

 And the exhibit?  The gallery is empty.  There are about nine interesting paintings. 

The gallery-worker looks bored, and makes no attempt at being friendly.  I am there less than ten minutes.  And home in another twenty.

backache begets major headache

For the past two days, I have had lower back pain.  This has been coming and going for about four years.  Fortunately, it doesn’t happen often, though when it does, it’s awful.  If I don’t move I am fine.  If I am standing, sitting or lying down I am fine.  It’s just when I get up.  I feel 90.

This morning I take two Advil, which helps a little.  I go to the neighborhood pharmacy and buy two patches.  A friend of mine has recommended these.

I come home and excitedly open one.  It is a big square stuck to another square.  The instructions advise to Remove Patch from Film and Apply to Affected Area. Sounds pretty easy.  I do as told. But when I try to adhere the patch to my back, the edges curl up and stick together.  Ugh!  So I open the second patch and apply with more care.  Same thing happens.

I go back to my local drugstore and explain what happened, bringing along the now useless patches.  “Did you try and put the patches on yourself?”  I’m asked.  Yes, I respond, as the instructions say nothing about needing a third party to assist.  Well, apparently this can’t be done alone.  I am out $6.  But worse, if I buy another patch, the Pharmacist is not allowed to adhere it to my back. 

Then I remember a microwavable hot and cold heating pad I bought a few years ago.  That might be even better.

I find the heating pad at home and follow the simple directions.  Place pad in microwave for three minutes.  That’s what I do and it works great.

A few hours later, I decide to re-warm the pad and use it again.  I put it in the microwave.  At about 2 minutes, 55 seconds, I hear a pop.  I open the microwave and everything looks fine.  I go to take out the heating pad and a slimy, hot, sticky, foul-smelling yellowish green liquid spills onto my shoes, my hand, the counter, the cabinets, all over the microwave and the floor.  It’s disgusting.

I try all the cleaning products I have that sound remotely like they can clean this mess. Nothing works.  Everything is still sticky.  I go to D’Agostino's where I spend $20 on a bucket, sponges, and Mrs. Meyer’s All-Purpose Cleaner.  It takes over an hour to rid my kitchen of this mystery liquid.

Zelia and I are supposed to see a movie tonight but she calls to cancel, which is fine with me.  My back is killing me.

I’m guess I’m back to Advil.