Cruisin'

For my parents' 35th this year, we are going on a week-long cruise to Alaska in September. Yeay! Something to look forward to...

Gotta Have It

Does anyone know where I can buy apparel that Russia's Olympic team is wearing? Love love love the folk motif.

(Yes, I am planning on buying a US Team vest or t-shirt from roots - I like the blue stripe ones on the midriff.)

Hell for Tree-Huggers

I don't know how my karma is coming up with this, but this week the car rental company gives me an even bigger SUV. When I drive the Ford Explorer, I feel like I'm trying to navigate a tank in a Baghdad alleyway. Not to mention the hideous below-20 mpg. Do people really need to consume that much gas for that much car?

Let It Snow!

What a wonderful feeling to wake up and see fifteen inches of snow heaped on my air conditioner. Granted my block will probably not be plowed by the DSNY for at least three days, this means that I DON'T HAVE TO FLY OUT FOR WORK TONIGHT!! WHOOPPEE!!!

Jason and I spent the weekend lazing around, watching the Olympics - yeay! - cooking, reading, and just doing nothing. For V-Day, he made me (or rather, he planned the menu but we cooked together) mesclun salad, chicken over fettucine with his signature pink peppercorn cream sauce, and chocolate mousse with fresh whipped cream. Needless to say, I was very happy.

South Beach starts again on Wednesday so that I may indulge in goodies on Valentine's Day. I rationalize this since I won't be home to spend it with him, so I need some creature comforts. Plus, it's a holiday.

Bienvenidos a Miami

As luck would have it, there is another conference. This week it's in Miami, which means I got to work from home on Monday and Tuesday (yes!). However, this is not as poshy-posh as some of the others I've attended. For one, it is at an airport hotel, not somewhere swank on South Beach. Second, it is warmer right now in NYC than it is here. This is not beach or pool lounging weather (perhaps it was planned that way so as not to distract us from the conference?). The sponsors did OK with tonight's cocktail hour tho. Wish, the rooftop bar at The Hotel was really nice. Someone made it into the pool, but on purpose. The random post-party ended up at the Delano's pooside bar (guess everyone was in the chlorine mood). The infinity pool had a ledge that made dipping toes in convenient. 'Twas fun for all, until someone did a cannonball into the pristine blue and was hauled out, without his shoes. When munchies strike, there is a great 24-hour diner across the street that serves Cuban food, kinda like a Cuban Denny's. Joe and I enjoyed dirty rice, maduros, and garlicky yuca on the cab ride back to the Hovel - delicioso!

Chalking these two hotels on the To Stay list...

Ew

Sighting - hotel concierge providing small stack to portly, middle-aged techie drone. They looked like condoms. [bad mental image] I guess the only thing that would be worse would be if he were actually trying to spawn.