Not so temporary...

Well the jig is up... They know. The parent's, the in-laws, my dearest friends. R and I are staying. Not moving back. Making NYC our home. We left on a Jet plane and we don't know when we will back again.

It's a secret we've kept, afraid to go back on our promise to be back in LA when R's program at CU was done.

Comparatively New York is so big when compared to L.A. I never thought of myself as a "small town" girl... but I totally am. In LA I'm a big fish in a little pond and here... I'm a little fish in a massive ocean-- easy to get lost but also easy to find other little fishes here on the same journey of reinvention.

And here's my new reality. I'm a wife/ grad school drop out/ soon - to - be homeowner/ artist without a cause (or gift)/ and now a New Yorker... A not- so- temporary one.Whoa. The change in reality in only 2 years is mind-tripping... but exciting (and scary in a shit-my-pants- kinda way).

Stay tuned for more confessions of someone growing up only because she has to. Truth is-- I miss writing. The reality of full time work (and over-work) drove me right in to a non-blogging slump... but I want to revive this blog for the sake of finishing the project. In short- more to come. For now, here are few pics from R and I's trip to Kennebunkport, Maine, land of Lobster, Gigar Boats, and the John F. Kennedy's childhood summer home (R wants a summer home there for himself too.)

Lesson's learned in 2010 (thus far): Relationships are important. When you grow up and move away, people are no longer waiting for you in the kitchen on sunday mornings. They aren't a car ride away waiting for you to pick them up for quick trip to the mall. They can't meet you for coffee just because or go jogging with you when you feel... fluffy. They have their own lives and you have yours... 3,000 miles away.

Here is what Manhattan looked like on 2/10/2010. A day when we experienced our very first Snow Day!!!!!!!

Our Brownstone

Mini Park

Little girl after riding her homemade sled (I actually think that's a litter box)

Did you know that R wears no socks in the snow?

and that M smiles even if her teeth are frozen...
All pictures taken on my new-ish nikon 3,000. Maybe I'll get good enough to actually use that link up there.

Slumming in The Heights

The earth hasn't opened up and swallowed us alive, we're still here. Cold and wishing for some sun, but settling for stick-trees and snow in stead. Happy Tuesday, if you still read.

Pictures from Washington Heights, NYC: Home of broken signal trains, Dominicans, and very yummy hot coco.

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Costa Rican Living

Thank You JetBlue. Thank you for making it possible to hopscotch around the globe in persuit of worlds yet unknown to us. Thank you for your leather chairs and your direct TV-- making it possible for me to watch Project Runway while 10,000 feet above ground. Thank you for your chocolate chip cookies and your free gingerale - brought to me when I want it. And I'll forgive you for charging me $7 for a blanket just because your hair-brained PR stunt "all you can fly" pass for the tiny price of $599--- actually worked for me. Because, yes, I am that crazy enough to fly to maine for dinner and come back the same night- just because I can.

The Recap:

Leg two of our travel adventure landed us in Costa Rica... in a tiny town called La Fortuna

Sixty-eight bucks a night got us an amazing room in front of a real live volcano. That's smoke from the lava up there!

The hotel was unbelievable... but living in a rain forest has its down side.

Several bug-eyed slimy downsides that like to hide in your bathroom and jump out at you when you wake for mid-night run to the toilet. Nonetheless we spent warm days here

sipping mojitos until dawn.

Lazy days led to shenanagan-filled nights. So so many shenanigans.




and in the end even a trip to the Costa Rican jail was narrowly escaped. Lesson learned. When in Costa Rica and you are speeding in your rental car (Ahem- R!!!) be sure to carry cash with you as the police offer will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to "pay the ticket upfront" for a 50% discount. True story, my friends. True Story.

A Travelin We Will Go

When the travel bug hits, it hits you hard. Just a quick Hello and pictures from our trip to Puerto Rico to tide the west coast over. More to come when we return from Costa Rica. Yes, a SECOND trip within one week thanks to the Jet Blue "All you can Jet" pass.

SO this is it...

Birthday week. Yes, I celebrate birthday week. A week when the world revolves around me — well, according to me it does. 

As I enter my last year of my twenties so many things are rolling around in my head. Most significantly, I am surprised at the non-fear that I feel. The feeling of peace and excitement at what the future holds.

 These last years of my twenties have led me through the most difficult times of my life.  A marriage, several deaths— the end of a dream.  I experienced days when the only reason I got out of bed was because R dragged my sorry -ass out of bed and dumped me in the shower. I experienced heart-wrenching pain when someone I trusted turned their back on me. So much for Latina- sisterhood ... but, I'll tell you that story another time. To say the least, Shock ushered me into age 27; hung around for most of 28; and only recently packed its bags and moved on out.

But, in addition to the greatest pains I could ever imagine, I also tasted the sweetest fruits that life had to offer. My father walked me down the aisle; a joy I could have never imagined. I spent the night before my wedding with my sister jumping on a hotel bed singing to Journey - both of us trying to forget death- even if just for a moment. Those moments were sweet as nectar and equally nurturing to a soul that was starving.

As I enter the last year of my twenties I have no plan. The universe led me here and I had to just jump and hope that I would land safely. I did Jump, that is and oh what an experience it's been. 

While I write for myself and only myself- I dedicate this post to a dear friend who is currently in Europe and is at a fork in the road. Friend, I say jump. The road led you to this place for a reason. It's time to grow and live. You have been led here for a reason and you are bigger than where you are now. Time to do you. Good luck.

Pretty Pretty Pictures

I have wonderful friends. Talented friends. Friends that I am over-the-moon for. Back in may the uber cute Modern Type was in NYC for her bachelorette party. Since she is a profesh photog we decided to get together to document R's and my time in NYC. This is the result. Thanks Modern Type for a great experience. Hugs and kisses...