Each evening around 7pm, the sun starts to set while I’m @ work. This really warm, orange glow bounces off the Hudson and shines directly across the West Side; my entire lobby gets filled with it. The glow always calms me down, the way rain seems to do.
It’s pretty. I’d take a picture but you bitches can’t really be trusted with my personal shit, so you’ll just hafta take my word for it. Jealous? No? Ok.
Today was a nice day. It was one of those days where I was just right in my groove and I knew I was kicking ass and making everybody happy. It’s nice that after 6yrs in hotels I don’t find myself burnt out (yet). I had the last 3 days off, worked 10hrs today which flew by quickly, I work tomorrow and then get 3 more days off. Ahh, it’s good to be in charge of scheduling. Walked around for a bit after work, on my cell catching up with my mom. She asks about Nick more and more I’m noticing — what’s his mom like? is his sister coming to visit? what did you guys do this weekend? — and it actually seems genuine. I’m not so gleefully blind that I think she’s ready to embrace him, but I do really appreciate the efforts. Small steps, and they’re being taken b/c she’s chosen to. I wouldn’t want it any other way. Part of me worries Nick might be “over it”, I hope it makes him happy to hear though.
I’m in love with Summerland Soaps. The girl who runs the company kindly sent me a free sample of the Chesnut & Brown Sugar bar. I got it @ work today and shit man, that little bar of soap packs a powerful scent. I kept it in my bag all day and when I got home my little Jack Spade bag smelled like a muffin. I just went to the website and placed an order for more, plus some of the Blueberry Tea Cake scent. Because I’m a girl.
Got home, left to TV off, ordered Chinese and talked with Nick all night. Nice time.
“I’m sorry, Miss, but PASTIS is unfortunately fully booked for brunch tomorrow.”
“Ohh, did you call and make sure they have no room?”
“Yes, I just did and they’re fully booked.”
“We really wanted to go.”
“I’m sorry they couldn’t accomodate you. I’d be happy to suggest an alternative.”
“…”
“…”
“There’s nothing you can do?”
“I can suggest an alternative for you.”
“Well can you call again and see if they’ll let us in? Cuz we wanted to go.”
“Pastis books ahead very far in advance for weekend brunch, but they do accept walk-in’s.”
“We don’t want to wait for a table. How long will the wait be?”
“Well, I don’t know. It depends on how busy and it is, and since they’re fully booked… you know?”
“Can you find out?”
“No, I can’t. You’ll have to simply go in person.”
“Well can you at least call ahead and let them know we’re coming so they can place us on a list?” “NO YOU FUCKING BITCH! IF THERE WAS A GODDAMN LIST THEN YOU’D HAVE A RESERVATION, WOULDN’T YOU?! THERE’S NOTHING AVAILBLE, HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY IT?! YOU WAITED TILL THE LAST MINUTE TO PLAN, AND NOW YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE A HORRIBLE HORRIBLE TIME IN NEW YORK! AND YOU FUCKING DESERVE IT, YOU WHORE. DON’T EVER CALL ME AGAIN!” *
If only subtext was as loud and clear to them as it is to me when it’s in my head.
Nick & I metup with our favorite warrior Karen for a proper hang before she leaves us for 3 months on her G3 trip. I ran so damn late (fucking uptown trains take FOREVER to come, I swear) but when I got uptown Nick was just barely getting there too, so I was relieved. I’m always worried Nick will be furious at me when I’m late, which is silly b/c he’s not like that at all. I guess it’s just b/c I know I’m never on time, and when I’m running late for something I put together myself, I become hyper aware of my tardiness and fear that this will be the last straw. Anyway, I hopped out of the subway @ 79th Street and heard “Chris!” and it was him. So cute. I still do a double take sometimes at the fact that he’s here in Manhattan with me.
We hit the ATM and made our way over to the 79th Street Boat Basin Cafe, where Karen was waiting for us. I LOOOOVE that place, can’t believe it just sits there quietly and nobody’s ever raving about it. Took Nick there about a week ago and he’s crazy about now; I think all the archways and candles and the waterfront seating looking out over the Hudson makes him think about Spain. He and Karen gota pitcher of beers, cuz they’re butch, and I double fisted pina colada’s while we waited for a table.
It was so good to see Karen, she was kind of tipsy/slaphappy from her company booze cruise party earlier. Nick got great news about stuff at work that day, and so had I, so we were all in a great mood. Karen sorta got me all raw and emotional when she started telling us much she values us in her life, how crazy/God it is that she and I even became friends in the first place, and how much my relationship with Nick inspires her. We reminded her about the ladybugs story from Under the Tuscan Sun — there’s this story a woman tells about how she used to exhaust herself looking for ladybugs when she was a little girl, how she’d crawl through the grass searching for them, and when she’d give up and just take a nap she’d always wake up and find them crawling all over her. I once gave Karen copy of the movie when she was going through a rough time, some lovesick stuff. I told her about the Ladybugs story and gave her a little carved elephant sculpture I bought @ Pearl River, so she’d remember.
I had a great time tonight. And I just love watching Nick interact with ppl — he’s so intelligent and thoughtful, I’m very proud to call him Mine. :) He thinks highly of Karen. I’m going to miss her so much — we’ve been talking a lot lately, especially about work — but I know she’s got this journey to take. Funny how this whole mission of hers was inspired by that day we all had brunch @ GARAGE and Nick lent her a copy of Eat Pray Love to read.