Been there

I'm at a cafe here in residential/city Denver. Even though I haven't been here in awhile, the same familiar faces are here - you know, the regulars who come daily, don't seem to have to work and know each other by name. The older couple just exchanged some things they brought for another cafe regular, knowing she would be here.

I watched a fit, attractive young couple with their two kids eating breakfast. First off, that is something we never did once as a family growing up: go to a cafe for breakfast. Actually, we never went to a cafe. Ever. I'm pretty sure the first time I went to one was in college (apart from going to the cafe in Border's Books during high school because it was the only place open until 10 p.m. on Friday).

Anyway, the family was just enjoying a leisurely Saturday, talking in calm quiet voices. I liked that the parents didn't do baby talk and just talked to their daughter (3 years old?) and son (1 year?) like people. The girl finished eating and got excited about the play area. As soon as she stepped over there, though, she turned around and said to her dad, "I have to go to the bathroom. Oh. I just went." He didn't yell. He didn't get angry. As this poor little girl's lime green jeans slowly seeped to a darker color, her dad just calmly cleared their table and cleaned up as much as he could.

I was so impressed with the dad. I mean, we've all been there. No need to get mad when she obviously didn't mean to do it; and, really, she was the only one suffering in now wet jeans. Been there. But, the dad didn't get mad or make a big deal. They just calmly walked home to change clothes.

Living the Dream

Today has been such a good day, so far!

Went for a run around City Park. I'm not fast, but I feel less out of breath and am slowly inching to longer runs. Given that my first run was a 10 min jog 4 weeks ago, I'm psyched!

I studied at a cafe for a bit then got to take some friends (and the baby formerly known as smudge!) to the airport. I love playing with that little baby! He laughs when I come in the room and then proceeds to pull out my curls. I stop him before he puts my hair in his mouth, though. A-dorable!

I forgot to mention: I am done with 2 of my classes! I just have 2 little papers, left. Hard to believe.

Okay, are you ready for the indulgence? I bought a book today. A novel! Wait, maybe I should say, "The Federal Loan Division of the U.S. Government bought a book today." (Oooh, bookstores are so dangerous. You can dress me up but you can't take me anywhere! Now I remember why I don't let myself go into any bookstore ... except occassionally to Goodwill's back section with 10 cent used books.) I just ... it was ... I just love books! And, this is embarrassing, I bought it because of its cover (G'ah! I totally judged a book by its cover. ) It was minimalist, outdoorsy and winter-looking. Small. Written by someone from Massachusetts. Had a shiny little "Pulitzer Prize Winner" sticker. I couldn't resist. Behold the little gem:


As I had heard nothing of it before buying it on a whim, I checked out the review. I'm saving it as my snuggle-up-with-a-good-book on Thanksgiving.


P.S. Even the Indonesian government remembered the Jews, unlike Colorado, apparently.

Lounging hard

After a book review, a paper, and 2 presentations, I took today OFF. It was glorious. Slept late, went to breakfast at my favorite spot, read part of a novel my parents gave me, wrote letters, caught up on cleaning, dishes, and laundry. Went for a 2 1/2 hour ride with la Gracie. Oh my gosh, we were so cold! There was ice and snow in parts! I'm just not ready to put Italo away for the winter...

The Epitome Of My Day:

I was bumming around checking my e-mail at school before class tonight and my friend Tony walked up and says, "You look like you're lounging hard."

May flowers

Here I sit at a vegan-only cafe in Philly with the hippest of the hipsters and the punkiest of the punks. I have let the bloggie fall to the wayside with the understanding that I would be blogging daily again in the summer. I'm not done with my Quarter work (1 paper, 1 final left), but I've left Denver, not to return until mid-August. The past Quarter was especially hard - law school politics and slaps in the face, grad school politics and less-than-stellar professors, and my internship took a turn for the worst. I have been battling plantar fasciitis and heel spur, so running has been iffy, slow, and painful, if at all. I haven't been dating or meeting anyone. All meals have been pretty much alone and, well, all of Denver has been pretty lonely. All told, I'm pretty much ready for a break from Denver and school.

... Thus! I'm in D.C. for the summer doing an internship. My generous friend, Elizabeth, has kindly let me stay in her Dupont Circle one bedroom place for the summer. It's a beautiful apartment with a twelfth floor view of the city, matching red kitchenware and plenty of books on Latin America. The JCC is across the street and gives 35% off to students. Monty, a big black woman - perhaps not Jewish? - sits at the front desk and takes good care of me. Work is 1 mile away (hellooo showing up sweaty to work!), and I'm excited to start on June 1. More on that later. For now, I hopped on a bus up to Philly for my dear friends' wedding. I'll be here playing with Andi, Uti and Oni (3 yrs) and Kai (4 weeks) for the week, while also working on my paper. Then, I head to Nashville to see Jessica and celebrate Ariel and Sam's wedding.

It feels so good to be back on the east coast. My mind can stop constantly figuring out what time it is ET. My hair is back to true curly with the humidity. There are black people around, and Indians, and Asians, and even white peo who look different from each other. There are people down the street who I want to look in the eyes, talk to, and smile at. I don't feel stressed, even though there are school things to do still.

I will miss the ability to hop on my Italo, my bike, and go for a 60 mile ride. I'll miss meeting Katie on the Platte for a quick 2 hour ride. I'll miss the births of 3 of my friends' babies. I'll miss dry, sunny trail runs until 9 p.m. and bananagrams at St. Marks with Tony and Gracie. I will miss those things. But, I'm looking forward to rejuvenating myself -- will I get to a point where I am excited to be back in Denver, where I feel proud again to be a DU student? I'll just have to see where I will be in 3 months. For now, I am pretty happy to be somewhere new, to be myself, and to be far away from Denver.

Made it through

Monday.

What a doozy.

My brain is pretty mushy right now, but I wanted to reflect on something (anything). Stagnant blogs are boring.

I went to a cool cafe here in Denver last weekend. Illegal Grounds. They had H&H bagels (!), good egg and cheese, Italian Illy coffee, empanadas and quiches. De-licious. Good atmosphere with open space, comfy chairs and couches. Free wireless. A friend and I sat, shared food, chatted and watched the snow fall before getting some homework done. The owner is a Peruvian-Jew! How crazy is that? It made me so happy that - for once - he didn't think my Spanish accent was from Spain. He knew exactly where I learned Spanish, "Ah! Tu hablas como los serranos!" You speak like the mountain people! My friend and I are going back sometime for some homemade ceviche. Mmmm! Buena onda...

Anyway, a quick update, but better than nothing. Off to bed for me, snow falling softly through the street lights.