birthday wish list

In just over three months I will turn 30. I have absolutely no angst or sorrow about this fact, so don't go thinking this is going to be a blog post where I whine about my age. The way I see it, my 30s will be filled with even more exciting adventures so what is there to stress about? Plus, the fact that I look about 12 doesn't hurt.

Anyway, there's a possibility that Big B will be off being brilliant at Brown University (la tee da!) when June 23rd rolls around this year. Brendan was feeling some serious guilt about the potential of missing my 30th, especially since I surprised him with a week-long trip to St. Thomas for his 30th birthday a few years ago. The guy didn't have a clue where we were going until we were checking in at JFK. Oooooh boy did I set the bar high on that one! I'm so excited for his shot at being selected to go to Brown (and maybe a little bit jealous too...I really like Providence). It was such a cool opportunity that he simply couldn't pass up. Besides, his absence is nothing that cannot be remedied by a full spa day and dinner at the 12 Apostles Hotel and Spa (if we sell Parker's body for science), membership to the Pie of the Month Club (dang...they don't ship to South Africa), or maybe just these lovely shoes from Anthropologie.



My friend Megan introduced me to Anthropologie many moons ago, and my bank account hasn't been the same since. I think these shoes are the perfect combination of funky and feminine. Swoon.

I reckon, though, that my wonderful husband has a few birthday tricks already up his sleeve that are better than any spa or pair of shoes. He's thoughtful like that. And I have nothing against buying these shoes as a birthday present to myself!

World Cup fever

Well sports fans, it's that special time that only comes once every four years: the World Cup. While I am not a soccer enthusiast in the least (or any other sport, for that matter), I have to admit the spirit is pretty contagious...especially when you are married to a very psyched South African. So for the opening game last Friday we sojourned to the Big Apple to meet some friends and take it all in.

Bars were streaming South African flags along with those of all the other nations playing. 

Here I am blowing my make believe vuvuzela, which is certainly much better for my long term hearing capacity than the real thing.

Joining us was our friend Diego from Mexico. You see, many moons ago Brendan had the intention of only staying in the good ol' USA for a year to complete a term in Yale's Fox Fellowship. Then he met a lovely, witty, and very talented woman in a tango class. She derailed his plans completely and they lived happily ever after. The End. 

Diego was also a member of the Fox Fellowship. He is now working for an NGO in New York, and so we simply had to watch the big Mexico vs South Africa battle together. SA's scoring of the first goal of the World Cup made for a happy Brendan. The 1-1 draw was icing on the cake. 

After the game we dashed off to lunch with two old friends. 

 

Chatal-line and Brendan became friends during his time at Yale. She was in a different fellowship (but similar in that it was all international folks), and now also finds herself back in NYC for work at the UN. 

Owen is one of my three oldest college friends (all met on the first day of Orientation). He is a New Yorker through and through, and a bucket of laughs. I call him Omar. He calls me Icebox. 

After a bit of a meander up 5th Avenue & through FAO Schwartz, and a brief stop into a cafe to mainline some caffeine and watch a bit of the afternoon soccer game, we were off to Central Park for a picnic. You see, we had one other Fox Fellow to see. 

Rafi (center) was visiting from Israel. We joined Rafi, his girlfriend Susan (Rafi too learned that American women make excellent partners), and their friends for a sunset snack. 

Diego and Brendan staged a Mexico/South Africa soccer truce.

And then we were on our way back to Grand Central.

It is so lovely and iconic. I'll miss gazing up at the constellations on the ceiling each time I pass through.

On a final closing note, let's talk shoes shall we?

After finding these in a store, falling deeply in love, and then being unimpressed by the shop's ability to give me a great deal, I turned to a good friend for help: the internet. One week later, I gave myself a lovely early birthday present. I spent the whole day tooling around the City breaking these puppies in, and nary a blister was to be had. And they are Clarks (model: Posy Flower), which means they are crazy comfortable. Consider these highly recommended.