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Sunday, January 23, 2011

Ice doesn't help the uncoordinated


When God chose attributes for my complexion, he stared onto my gene pool and though first to teach my father a lesson for wishing so much for a son, and decided to give him twin daughters (he had three before God took pity on him and allow him for two sons).
Then, God said to himself that green eyes and blond hair would be enough beauty to make me feel comfortable, but not proud… he added all my father’s body characteristics (big butt, chubby, awkward legs, bad nails and crooked teeth) and the cherry to the ice cream came when he made me uncoordinated enough to never even master the art of walking properly.
Hence, I had to survive high school and braces at the same time, I never made it to any sports team and I live on a never-ending diet (thanks God, you shouldn’t have bother).
You have to picture an over achiever father with an activities calendar as big as a Triathlon athlete and me, who choses a good reading and coffee over any outdoor activity that involves body effort.
This weekend, my husband decided we should go skiing.
Aside from being the coldest weekend of this winter season, I had no proper clothes for the task and I didn’t want a body injury bad enough to show enthusiasm for his idea.
I have a huge complex… wouldn’t you?
Every sport I had to learn (skiing on water and snow, wave boarding, horse riding, aerobics... walking) was a complete disaster with tears involved, impatient screams, defeat and finally, the achievement that lasted long enough for me to survive and take courage for the next lesson ahead.
So yesterday I had the proper excuse to stay reading and drinking coffee while my husband rode the mountain as an expert (or at least better than me)… but proper didn’t assure me anything, so after much insistence from his part, I decided to give it a try… again (I’m a sucker for ‘pretty please’).
I armored myself with thick pants, scarf, jacket, thermic socks, gloves, proper equipment and headed for the ski slope showing defeat and fear at the same time… disaster was to come and I was willingly walking towards it.
To my surprise, I didn’t even stumbled once… I realized that most of my incoordination came from surviving the wrong teaching lessons and that I wasn’t as incapable as I thought… granted, I’m no sports lover, but needless to say that it was my first enjoyed ski ride.
Our next weekend activities would be beach-laying or mountain-staring or city-contemplation… but for this one weekend, I really enjoyed an outdoor activity with body effort involved.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Winter love, Winter food and Winter city

Marriage, like Lentils and living in a big city, was something I had never thought I would get used to.
I change my mind about New York when I saw the city from the top of the Rockefeller Center, the New Year’s Eve when my husband (by then FiancĂ©e) proposed to me... some three years ago.
From then on, I was a devoted fan of this amazing metropolis and all it had to offer.
Even so, I miss my Caribbean weather… more now that we’re in winter; but New York has grown on me... whatever that means.
Regarding marriage… it took being in love with my husband to make me change my mind about that one.
I was always this independent spirit, never ready to be ‘dominated’ by the male inhabitants of the world, but now, I found it exciting: two people, together, as one.
They say you get used to your wedding ring, but I hope that’s not true.
Since the day I changed from Miss to Mrs., it’s a proud trophy that I carry with me everyday – except when I visit my family in Argentina… security is not one of this country’s major assets -.
I’m where I’m supposed to be. 
I’m happy, I’m content. I’m fulfilled.
As lentils go… I’m still waiting.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Holiday recapitulation


‘Drinkcember’ started with a Brunch in our house.
Some friends were invited and by 1 pm we were all tipsy from the Bellinis (crazy stuff, uhhh)… the bagels and omelets absorbed the little alcohol we were drinking and by 4 pm, it was already dark and my husband and I were exhausted, splayed on the couch, watching TV.
As you can see, it’s a risky business being in our social network (can you hear the irony?).
However, after some days passed, we realized that the tolerance to alcohol began to increase. We made Wine-A-Ritas every weekend. During work days we tried 1 or 2 glasses of wine along with dinner… our excuse being that ‘drinkcember’ happens once a year and we couldn’t let it go to waste.
A small restaurant in our neighbor (which we love and always go for special occasions) was our destination for Christmas Eve… we ate until our bellies ached, and drank enough to fell content and relaxed.
 The walk home was 3 blocks in a really cold weather but we managed to arrive without precedent (my spasticity increases with alcohol and heels, but since it was a short stroll, I survived).
That weekend, we had the 6th most important snow storm in the last decade, hence, we went out and drove the deserted streets of Manhattan with 6 inches of snow building up by the hour… completely irresponsible, but is not everyday that you get to see (or not see… considering the 10% visibility) Manhattan covered in white.
By New Year’s Eve, the alcohol in our house was reduced to almost nothing… we had succeeded in the difficult task of consuming 6 bottles of wine in a whole month (sarcasm… you think?).
For some people, partying and club hoping are fun ways to enjoy the start of a new year, my husband and I enjoyed a fondue during dinner, drinking wine and watching the Times Square ball event that happens every year.
What can I say? We enjoy each other’s company… and it’s really too cold outside to motivate us out of the house… and it’s a crazy scenery on the streets, where everyone is too excited for their own good.
So, in the end, this was our first holidays alone since we got married.
We realized that youth and adventure go hand-in-hand in our lives (what white the surprise flight fiasco, the driving in the snow... and other events transferred in this blog), however, craziness and partying it’s a whole new level of youngness that we decided not to pursue… low alcohol levels and decent sleep hours are something that we don’t want to give up.
Therefore, if you’re looking for a night out in the city, with lots of booze, long nights, sleepy days and crazy events… don’t count with us.

Convivio Restaurant (www.convivionyc.com)