much to celebrate this Passover

My son surprises me and does a really nice thing. "If grandma's coming to Passover, then I'll come too. I haven't seen her since Thanksgiving."

My mom was supposed to come down with my sister Jean and her family, but then Jean isn't feeling well so that got cancelled. Late yesterday my mom tells me she's still coming and will stay here for a couple of days.

I love when my mom visits for obvious reasons. Plus, she's a low-maintenance guest, even to the point of saying, "I don't need a new glass every time I drink something. I'll just rinse out this one."

It's hard to believe my mom is 88. She is on a 6am bus from the Cape and arrives by ten, before I've even finished my first cup of coffee.

She's ready hours before Adam is picking us up.

From the neck up.

My son, on the other hand, makes it in from Philly 45-minutes before we are leaving. He walks in attired in jeans.  When questioned, he answers, "This is what I'm wearing."  As it turns out, he is not alone. 

This is a celebratory Passover.

First, we are a close family.  

We miss Jean and Jim and their family, and Jason and Amanda and their growing family, including two-week old Isabela Mila. But still, it's a good-sized group of 16.

We also have Rachel and Adam's upcoming wedding to celebrate. They got engaged recently at the top of Aspen Mountain. We are thrilled for them both, and so happy to be adding the wonderful, and beautiful Rachel to our family.

Michael coming in from Los Angeles and Alexander coming in from Philadelphia is always reason to celebrate.

And of course, the two beautiful matriarchs always add humor and life to any family gathering.

Valerie has a birthday this week.

And we love when Nina and Jay join us. 

It's a great night of shared stories, many laughs, and so much to celebrate. Including the family's second-newest addition, six-month old Pebbles the cavapoo.

out with friends

Finding a night where 6 or 7 people are all available is not easy.

That's why Brooke is not present, and also why we are celebrating my birthday a week or so after the fact. But really, having an excuse to go out with a great group of friends is nice whatever the date and whatever the reason.

This time we go local. I recommend an UES retaurant I've never been to, Quality Eats. As it turns out, it's a nice choice.

Shari, Janice, me, Zelia, Ronda, Pam

While all the food is good, it's an unappetizing-sounding dish that is increditble: the grilled nueske's bacon with peanut butter and jalaeno jelly. I have no idea how so many diverse and unlikely ingredients can taste so good.

Like many of our get-togethers, it is not devoid of some drama. But all is resolved by the end of the night, as it always is.

This small group of friends, originally bound by our same-aged sons, has been together for probably over ten years now. And my guess (and hope) is that we all stay spirited, passionate and vocal in our beliefs and opinions — and that all our many birthdays to come are celebrated together.

misadventure to an outer borough

NYC is comprised of four boroughs plus Manhattan.

Staten Island: I've been there twice. Once for a shiva call and once in 2002 to chaperone a fourth-grade class trip to Historic Richmond Town.

Brooklyn: I've been to Dumbo often to visit Jill, but other than that, rarely.

Bronx: Alexander went to school in Riverdale for 7 years, so I've been to the Bronx often. Plus, the Bronx is home to a great zoo and Yankee stadium.

Queens: Both airports are in Queens as well as the old Arthur Ashe Stadium and a very good Brazilian Steakhouse. Other than that, I never go. But today I do.

Recently I post a couple of Louis Vuitton scarves I rarely wear on Craig's List. I am contacted by a place called Bagriculture. They are interested in buying them outright and can I come in so they can appraise them. The store is located in Forest Hills Queens, so I say no.

But today, I have nothing going on and figure, why not? I pack up my scarves, and add a pair of barely-worn Prada boots that were never comfortable, and two handbags (one an old Celine and another by Prada).

It takes me far longer than it should to get to Forest Hills, as the E train isn't working and I'm detoured way out of my way. But eventually I arrive.

A person named London with two arms sleeved in tattoos helps me.  She looks nothing like a person you'd expect to find selling Chanel. She tells me it'll take about fifteen minutes per item to appraise, so can I come back in an hour.

I stroll the small downtown, stopping to have lunch at a little French patisserie. It'll be nice to have the extra cash, I'm thinking... maybe I'll put it toward my badly needed new phone.

I return to  Bagriculture and London tells me they are taking nothing. "These kind of items don't have a strong re-sale value." 

"Really?!  Then why did you contact me with interest in buying them?"

London has no answer. 

"But we won't charge you because you had to come from so far."

"Charge me? For what?"

"For appraising everything. Normally we charge between $2.99 and $5.99 per item."

I'm home four hours after leaving with nothing to show for my time. 

beginning of the end

"It's the beginning of the end." 

That's what my good friend M says to me when I tell her I'm going to learn Canasta . She probably thinks I'm leaning toward a permanent move to Florida as well — which, quite honestly, looks pretty idyllic from those I know who live there.

A few weeks ago Zelia asks me if I'd be interested in a weekly game of Canasta. I have no idea what is involved in the game, but I love cards and I love her, so meeting weekly sounds great.

There are six of us who are interested — even better.

Pam and I have no idea how to play. Ellen and Meredith know the game. Zelia grew up playing in Brazil. And Shari says she's familiar with the game but doesn't know it well. 

Our first lesson is tonight. Zelia is the teacher; Pam and I the students. Shari was supposed to be a student but she underestimated her knowledge. As it turns out, Shari and Zelia make a great teaching team.

The basic game seems pretty simple. But there's a lot to remember, and a lot to observe. It also feels like learning the various strategies could take a zillion hours to perfect. I love games like this.

So over tea and sweet and salty Kettle popcorn, we spend a couple of hours learning the basics.

Lesson two is sometime next week. 

If this is the beginning of the end, the end doesn't look so bad.

big waste of time

I would have planned my day differently had I known.

A while ago I learn of a program at work that I want to be part of. Brandon (my boss at the time) is supportive, as is his boss. But initially, part-timers are not included.

Basically the program would let any customer who uses a link I send them, to shop at the store, and allows me to get credit for the sale. It's a great way to increase my pay from home. I would sent the link to my client list, as well as everyone I've ever met (you all included) and ask them to forward it to their friends. 

Finally, after a year of waiting, I am approved for this program.

Training is today. In advance, we get an email telling us to download an app or, we can set up our account online. I do the latter. 

Around three, I leave my home. I need to get to midtown by four for a two-hour training session. The subway is delayed, and I wait a long 11 minutes now fearing I'll be late; I'm not.

The class begins and I take out my computer. I've already set up the basics on the link we were provided. Everyone else has either iPhones or company-owned iPads. My very old 5s isn't new enough to have the OS needed. Another good reason to get that new phone.

Everyone's ready.

Training starts.

And I can't access the company's wi-fi.

Class stops while the teacher tries to help me get on the internet. But the password to the store's wi-fi is private, so basically I'm told to leave. "There's no sense in your staying if you can't actively follow along," the teacher tells me. I feel like I'm being dismissed for doing something wrong. In a million years, I wouldn't have assumed that a big company wouldn't allow its employees access to wi-fi!

I leave just about in tears (but not big ones —don't want to ruin my nice long lashes).

dinner with val and abbey

I need to remember not to work on St. Patrick's Day again.

The store is empty of buying customers. Instead, my day is primarily spent directing drunken, green-clad people to the nearest restroom.

I am meeting Valerie (my sister) and Abbey (my brother-in-law) for dinner at Mastro's, a steakhouse in midtown.

By day's end, the little make-up I wear is faded.  I stop by the Chanel counter asking for a touch-up, "Nothing on my eyes, a neutral lipstick, and some blush on my cheeks." Gina, the make-up artist replies, "You are no fun."  I leave with overly red cheeks and too-bright a lipstick. I  feel very not-me.

I meet Val and Abbey after work. We are seated soon after arriving at a nice corner table. There is live music from a small, but talented group.

The servings are huge and the food and drink are amazing — starting with the oversized Cosmopolitan I order. The dry ice is so cold the drink literally smolders. My glass looks like it's about to erupt as steam and bubbles emerge from it. The end result is an ice-cold, flawlessly made and presented Cosmopolitan.

The enormous tuna tartare is also probably the best I've ever had. It is served layered with fresh fish, avocado, and something crunchy on the bottom. 



 I am full after eating it and the dinner hasn't yet been served. 

We get fries and asparagus for the table, and I order the strip steak —charred on the outside and medium rare on the inside. It's perfection, and I still have half for tomorrow night's dinner.

Though I bring my camera, I don't want to embarrass my sister by requesting a group photo. But when dessert arrives, Abbey takes out his phone and snaps a picture.




Both the food and company are great. And those desserts are not all mine.

birth day

I had planned to spend my birthday in Philadelphia with Alexander. But around ten last night our plans change.

I get home late from work and Alexander has a few work deadlines to meet. So it works out better for both of us to re-schedule for Wednesday.

So now I have no plans, and I'm thrilled.

My phone begins ringing at 6:30. My mom is on her way to Florida to celebrate her sister's 90th birthday which is tomorrow.

Shari calls and when I tell her I have no plans she says she's coming over. I immediately tell her NO. She'd be upsetting my plans to stay home and do nothing. We both laugh at the absurdity of my response.

Zelia drops by to pick something up. 

Friends I haven't spoken to in months call.

And I receive emails, texts, cards, and Facebook acknowledgments throughout the day. 

Facebook has gone far in making birthdays more celebratory than depressing. It's a really nice feeling to be wished happy birthday by current and past friends. Current and past work colleagues. Past boyfriends (wish I could add current). Cousins, including one I recently re-connected with. Friends of my sister. Kids of my sister's friends. People I've never met but feel I know (through this blog). High school and college classmates, some of whom I feel closer to now than I did when I was in high school. And of course my family.

I love the surprises a birthday can bring. 



A little after 1 today my nephew Jason and his wife Amanda welcome their new baby girl into the world. Mom and baby are doing great; I see them both late this afternoon.

She is beautiful. 

It's a memorable birth day for everyone.