Top 10 Highlights of 2008 (in no particular order)

1. It is December 31, and the 2008 year-end reflection list is complete
2. Raced 136.4 miles in 13 different events.  Still on fire following a sweltering Chicago Marathon performance, the major running accomplishment was a 4.5 minute half-marathon personal best in Philadelphia (1.37:35 unofficially, 1:40:20 officially), despite missing the turn-off for the half-marathon finish line and continuing along the full-marathon course.  Resolution for 2009 is to eliminate unintentional detours and grow a sense of direction.
3. Two trips to Colorado this year, including a mid-August vacation planned around my "little sister's" wedding and my mother’s 10^th Annual 50^th Birthday Party.  Key takeaway is that Boulder in late summer is much warmer and sunnier than Boulder in December, so plan your trips accordingly.
4. Celebrated Christmas with the family on gem of a non-airline-frequent-flyer-miles blackout-date-weekend in early December.  The next day we lit off fireworks, uncorked a champagne bottle, fired up the grill, dyed some eggs, and baked cupcakes just to cover our bases for the rest of the year.
5. Became an official charter holder after earning a CAIA designation (the “alternative cousin” of the Chartered Financial Analyst program).  Now striving for as many letters after my name as actually in my name, so began studying for the “C” in the CFA exam, a three-level process (and minimum 3-year commitment)  
6. Fortunately still gainfully employed in the never-a-dull-moment financial industry, following one decision to sell a business, one highly anticipated merger, one strategic re-alignment from sales to the strategy team, and one gigantic credit crisis/consumer-driven recession.  Biggest misconception about working for a French bank in New York City is the mythical 35-hour work week and the 2-hour lunches over a bottle of wine.  Yes, and the tooth-fairy is also French.
7. Bought 615 ft² of bliss in a Manhattan studio just off of Central Park with a view across the Hudson River and a piano.  Feel incredibly grown up with all the painting, decorating, cleaning, cooking, and mortgage paying. 
8. Re-kindled a relationship…same two people, just three years older, wiser, and better.  
9. Memorable moments with houseguests include my sister & brother-in-law who graciously indulged me on a 12-mile sightseeing walking tour, 2 visits from Mom, including a Thanksgiving layover with her fiancée, Ralph, reconnecting twice with my cousin Melony (and the respective apartment baby-proofing for her 1-and-3-year old boys), and a bit of Boulder chez moi with two of my childhood best friends (and besides, when else would I get to go to a Jewish Orthodox wedding in Brooklyn?)
10. Thankful, as always, for health and happiness, and the joy of being surrounded by wonderful loving people.  Hoping that 2009 brings just as much pleasure as this past year, though fully confident that whatever the New Year may bring, there will be no lack of excitement.

Biscotti-baking machine (yours truly)

Super easy biscotti recipe.  This one was originally adapted from Mark Bitten, as well as a New York Times article.  Very easy to make, and after 3 batches, clearly also pretty tough to mess up.  

I highly recommend baking a batch for a) your doormen and b) your bosses, especially if you bring them in on the day you have your yearly review.  Talk about good timing.  The comment elicited from each was something along the lines of "Oh, now you can get married!" or "Wow, you'll make a great wife."  Needless to say, they went quickly.

Don't forget to wear your apron while baking :)

Toasted Almond & Chocolate Chip Biscotti

TOTAL TIME

1 hour

INGREDIENTS     

1 cup whole blanched almonds (toasted)

• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 2 1/4 cups flour, plus flour for work surface
• Pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 Tbsp butter, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon anise seed

PREPARATION

1.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spread the almonds on a baking sheet, place in the oven and toast for about 15 minutes.  (Or you throw them in a frying pan and toast on the stove).

2.

Meanwhile, sift the flour, salt, baking soda and anise seed together and set aside.  (I've yet to be convinced you need to sift the dry ingredients... probably because I do not have a sifter).

3.

Cream butter and sugar with a whisk. (Yeah, strong arms!  Note I do not have a mixer either. Clearly they didn't in the old days and somehow managed). Beat in eggs one at a time.  Add almond extract, and beat the sugar mixture into the remaining eggs until blended. Stir in the flour mixture (slowly) to form a soft dough.  (Yes, by hand)

4.

When the almonds are toasted, remove them from the oven and transfer them to a bowl. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper.

5.

Divide dough in half and place one portion on well-floured work surface. (Okay, to be honest, I keep the dough I'm working with in the mixing bowl, but my hands are well floured.  I don't want flour-y counters!)  With floured hands, roll into a cylinder and scatter half of the almonds and chocolate chips on the dough.  Work them in gently by stretching the dough and folding in half until toppings are evenly distributed.  Roll dough into cylinder about 2 inches in diameter and 12 to 15 inches long. (Or as long as your baking sheet!  A word of note if you have to improvise and make a snaky-shaped biscotti log... slicing them on the diagonal becomes increasingly more difficult, but I'm sure you can get creative.  You can also squish out to make the log fatter instead of longer).  Place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. Dust with flour. (For that just-baked-from-an-Italian-bakery-look).

6. Place in the oven and bake about 30 minutes, until golden and firm to the touch (and ideally, when the top begins to go a little Grand Canyon and form a pretty little crevice).  

7. Lower oven temperature to 275 degrees and let biscotti logs cool about 10 minutes.  Transfer to a cutting board and cut on an angle into slices one-half-inch thick. (One great idea is to cut the really tiny little slices off the end of the loaves to maintain the "aesthetic integrity of the entire batch.  Besides, who likes to eat the little crusty biscotti heels?  That's right!  You do!)  Return the slices to the baking sheet, and return them to the oven. Bake another 10 minutes on each side, until they are crisp and dry. Allow to cool completely before storing or serving.

YIELD 60 biscotti (in theory... but let's be honest, it'll make as many pieces as you cut. Make sure to factor in the little tiny heel pieces- sacrificed to your belly for the sake of making the entire batch pretty and non-heely

Doesn't this look "Fun?"

9.3 mile race on December 20th.  19 degrees, with wind, and some icy rain.  The race was downgraded to a "fun run."  What kind of fun idea is that?

I was unable to enjoy the full irony of the situation because my abs were sore and I had to refrain from laughing.

Time to retire the old beast

My old digital camera is now an antique.  Once dependable through 3 continents, 5 years, and too many memories to count, not to mention even a few scandalous ones were all captured on that little 256MB memory card.  The camera also weighs about 25 lbs and flat-out quit working after a fussy few months of bad behavior and threats of rebellion.  Time for the upgrade.  

Post-Christmas electronic sales in a consumer-driven recession?  Thank you for the opportunity to get a new one.  

And the blue color... talk about a little something extra to make a gal feel special. 

Hasselback Potatoes

I made these potatoes last night... called Hasselback after a town in Sweeden. This particular recipe was adapted from Allrecipes.com.  I used drizzled olive oil, seasoned with Rosemary, and sprinkled with Servechio cheese instead of Romano.  I also prepared the potatoes a night ahead and let them soak in the water.  Next time I'll have to make sure that they cook all the way inside (in the slots), but they were pretty delicious.  And visually, they look great!

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)

• 4 (8 ounce) baking potatoes
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons finely grated fresh Romano cheese
• 1 tablespoon seasoned dry bread crumbs

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

1. Peel the potatoes, and place in bowl of cold water to prevent browning. Place potatoes into a large wooden or metal spoon. Using a sharp knife, make slices across the potato the short way about 1/8 to 1/4 inch apart, making sure to cut down to the lip of the spoon, not all the way through the potato. The slices should stay connected at the bottom, and the spoon helps keep the depth even. Return the potato to the bowl of water, and proceed with the remaining potatoes.
   
2. When all of the potatoes are cut, place them cut side up in a shallow baking dish or small roasting pan. Drizzle with half of the butter, then season with salt and pepper.
3. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from the oven, and drizzle with the remaining butter. Sprinkle Romano cheese and bread crumbs onto the tops of the potatoes, and season with a little more salt and pepper. Return to the oven, and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until nicely browned.

Piano!

Yes, it is a toy... nobody actually "needs" a piano.  But if it makes you happy, life is too short to not have one.  Cheaper than Rolex and makes me much happier.   I honestly believe my neighbors are okay with it too.

Mod Podge... everybody loves it

Step 1- cut out all your pictures etc

Step 2- paint on a layer of mod podge to attach pictures to whatever surface you're working with

Step 3- paint on another layer on top

That's easy.  The hardest part is avoiding air bubbles.  They happen.  Practice, practice, practice.  And make sure you paint all the way to the edges.

What a trooper... NYRR Holiday 4 miler race

It had always been sort of a joke that I would only date a runner.   To my girlfriends, I'd kid that my second-date litmus test was subtly (or not) suggesting going on a run together.  The test was his reaction.  I figure you can learn a lot about someone that way.  

Running is an important part of my life, so ideally any potential dates would support appreciate and support my running habit too.   If not be swayed by curiosity to drink the kool-aid and actually participate just and see what all the fuss is about.   If nothing else, throwing a run out there is at least an efficient way to weed out the duds.

For example, if the response is, "gee, I'd love to but running would likely get in the way of my crack-smoking habit," then clearly it was never meant to be.  If we actually went on a run and the guy totally smoked me (refusing to slow down to run together at my pace) then clearly he is an inconsiderate ath-elitist hardly worth my time anyway.  But, if he's moderately active/healthy, though not necessarily a big runner, and willing to try just a short little run together, that's always a good place to start.  

So in walks (runs) Serge.  He took me on a 5 mile run on the beach a few weeks earlier (we ran in the sand... my calves were aching for 4 days).  He had already cleared the imaginary second-date running test early on, though we didn't actually run together until months later.  The cheering support in the Philly marathon definitely helped the cause- yes, we could continue dating.  (I kid, I kid).  I ran an unofficial 1:37:35 that day (a huge personal best, though my official time was about 2.5 minutes slower due to an accidental wrong turn).  

Anyway, when I threw out the idea of a 4-mile race together in the middle of December, he registered before I did.  Race morning was probably about 25 degrees.  We ran the whole thing together and finished strong.  This was only his second race ever, after the Corporate Challenge (a total organizational mess, from a racing perspective) and I distinctly remember him saying, "Yeah, that was fun.  I bet I can run faster next time.  And bet I could definitely do a 6 mile race.  But wouldn't want to do more than a half-marathon.  That's just crazy"

Watch out, Serge, that's how it all starts.  It is like a gateway drug.  You start with 4 miles, then 6 feels like nothing.  Then 8 or 10 or 12 miles suddenly doesn't seem much longer than what you've already done.  And before your little toenails even grow back (just kidding!  most runners keep all 10! I promise!), the evolution has begun, and running a marathon sounds...fun.

Serge's birthday party

A delicious dinner at Sea in Williamsburg with friends, followed by cake, cookies, and wine at Serge's house.  

How hard can a hat be?

I just recently re-discovered and started working scarf number (probably) 8.5 or so... basic pattern of knit 2 purl 2 (cast on 40 stitches).  I think I started this scarf right after I moved to NYC in June 2005, if not even earlier.  The big goal is to finish it by New Years (it has gone from less than 1 needle length to about 4 lengths now).  I'm fine if it takes another week past New Years, as long as I finish it in time to wear it while it is still winter.

Not that I'm hoping for the cold weather to last any longer... but after this scarf we're going for a hat.  

Oh yeah... this blog thing?

Ooh, it has been a while.  A very very long while.  In fact, I hadn't even remembered that I started a blog.  Yet here we are, so I'd better get cracking once again.

Spring in Central Park... what's not to love?

Day II Walking Tour... Only 6.8 miles

On Saturday, one of the first temperate days of Spring, my sister, her husband and I started the day with a jogging/walking tour of Central Park.

After, we took the subway down to W. 4th and enjoyed a Mamoon's falafel on the benches of Washington Square Park (accompanied by sunshine and a live music performance)

From there, we bought onions at the Union Square Farmer's Market, picked up my race bib at the More Marathon (and Half!) Expo, and then to Chelsea Markets. As per my sister and my 3-year old tradition, the 3 of us shared 2 (belated) birthday cupcakes, and then bought more fresh produce at one of the markets.

We stopped by Chelsea Piers, and then worked our way up to 57th street, where we stopped in Kennedy's for a Guinness.

Saturday was the culmination of Scotland week, and apparantly the band of Scottish Bagpipe parade participants ended their celebration in an Irish pub... as if the kilts didn't make us already suspect, their intentions were confirmed with an impromptu bagpipe concert for all the lucky bar patrons that afternoon. My sister and her husband, both musicians and marching band members, found the experience to be incredibly "musically challenging" to endure... Personally, I was so stunned that people were actually playing bagpipes inside to tune in (ha-no pun intended) to the strident and out-of-tune smoshbod of loud instruments that can only occur after the multiple pitchers of subsidized beer provided to the Parade participants...

New York Movie Set Locations

In no particular order, or organizational method... here are the main spots we either hit, or any amature tour guide could easily locate to impress their non-New Yorker guests

• Seinfeld "Soup Nazi" –Soup Kitchen International- 55th & 8th Ave
• Taxi Driver - Merchants Gate- (Columbus Circle), St Regis Hotel
• Ghostbusters, Lincoln Center Fountain Plaza-, and Courthouse (Downtown). Ghostbusters building- 55 CPW Apartment Building- Art Deco building
• Elf- Bethesda Terrace, Empire State Building
• Hitch- Steps of Met, City Hall Park, Wall Street Bull
• Washington Square Arch-I am Legend, When Harry Met Sally, Hitch
• Cruel Intentions- Lawn in front of the Pond (East side pond near zoo)
• Rent- Vazac’s Horseshoe Bar- E. 7th and Ave B (108 Ave B- just off Tompkins Square Park)
• National Treasure- Trinity Church
• Flatiron Building- Spiderman, I am Legend
• New York Public Library -13 Going on 30, Day After Tomorrow, Ghostbusters, Spiderman
• FAO Schwartz- Big, Home Alone 2
• Breakfast at Tiffany’s (store), Sweet Home Alabama
• Plaza- Crocodile Dundee, Home Alone 2, Almost Famous
• Sheep’s Meadow- It Could Happen to You, Wall Street
• Grand Central Main Concourse (Madagascar)
• 9 West 57th- Friends, Zoolander
• Russian Tea Room- Tootsie
• Serendipity- Waldorf Astoria
• Puck Building- 295-309 Lafayette Street. When Harry Met Sally (New Years Eve Scene). Will & Grace design studio
• Hook & Ladder Company 8- 14 N. Moore Street (Firehouse). Between Hudson (West Broadway) & Ave of the Americas in Tribeca. Hitch & Ghostbusters
• Dakota- 1 West 72nd Street (John Lennon)
• You’ve Got Mail- Gray’s Papaya, Zabars, H& H Bagels (UWS)
• Friends Apartment- 90 Bedford Street at Grove (West Village) (Near Christopher Street/Sheridan Square subway stop) (Area between Hudson & 7th Ave, Bedford is parallel to Bleeker)
• NY Courthouse (Wall Street, The Godfather)
• The Pond- Home Alone 2
• When Harry Met Sally- Katz Deli, 205 E Houston St, Between 1st & Ave A
  · Boathouse Restaurant- When Harry met Sally

Who needs (non pedistrian) transportation anyway?

My sister and her husband came to visit me just after my birthday. I took the day off work and we set out for an all-day walking tour of the city... this was his first trip here. Not only did I want to show both of them all of my favorite city sites, but I also found a list (go google) of movies set in New York City with easily recognizible landmarks... that list is to follow.

1. We took the A/C train to High Street in Brooklyn and first walked across the Brooklyn bridge into Manhattan



2. Walked through City Hall Park and then down Broadway towards Ground Zero



3. Back up West Broadway to the City Hall/ Courthouse area, and then East towards Chinatown



4. Meandered in zig-zags through streetstalls offering "Rolaxes" and "Preda" luxury goods, passing few unidentified animals roasting in window spits and stands of slowly moving crabs/dried mushrooms



5. Worked our way through Little Italy and Nolita up to Houston, and continued East blocks past the Bowrey



6. First lunch spot attempt, Katz Deli, looked so much more appetizing (not to mention economical) in the famous scene from "When Harry Met Sally." Insted opted for a slice of Ray's pizza. Who knows which version of the chain we actually selected..only that it contained "Famous, Orignal, Rays, and Pizza" in no particular order.



7. Back over to Broadway, with a quick stop in the Adidas store to buy my sister new socks- a practical, rather than asthetic response to needing more cushion to support the walking



8. Down Bleeker to McDougal, past my old favorite 24-hour cafe, Esperanto, and over to Washington Square Park



9. Down to West 4th, and then over to Greenwich Village for a photo-op at the "Friends" apartment building (which looks different in real life)



10. Back over to W. 4th for a half-price Happy Hour beer at Down the Hatch



11. Up 6th Ave to 14th Street and over to Union Square



12. Up Broadway to Madison Square (Flatiron Building)



13. Through the garment district (continuing North on Broadway) past Herald Square, where the Macy's window displays were... completely non-existant



14. Crossed over to 5th Avenue at around 36th St, and up towards the New York Public Library at 42nd



15. Over to Grand Central



16. Meandered up through Park Ave, worked our way to Madison, cut through several mid-block plazas, and worked our way up to 57th Street



17. Quick stop at Niketown to mutually make advantage of my 30% off friends & family coupon and the Niketown gift card in their wallets for the past 3 months



18. Dinner at a Thai restaurant on 56th St.



19. Quick stop at my apartment to change clothes and rest our feet



20. Down to 46th St to see "Spamalot." Sore legs from an intense day of walking now matched with sore abs from all the deep belly-laughing



21. Walked home and promptly crashed

Total mileage for DAY ONE? At least 12.44 miles (according to http://www.mapmyrun.com/, and that only includes the streets I could actually remember!) I had no idea it was actually that far, and would not have probably walked that much myself, let alone dragged my out-of-town guests! However, they were incredibly good sports and were happy to indulge me playing tour guide!

More thoughts on coffee

I first started drinking coffee my junior year of college, when I took a semester off from school and ended up traveling in South America for a few months, initially arriving in Chile to visit a friend writing a thesis. Believe it or not, coffee was served to me in the followng way (in a sit-down cafe): cup of hot water + mini spoon + sugar bowl full of instant coffee + packets of sugar/bottle of liquid sweetner. Talk about an inconspicious debut!

Now, Starbucks is literally in the ground floor of my building, and my ritual stop on the way to work. My order is a grande coffee in a venti cup, filled to the top of Ms. Star's crown, with soymilk. On weekends sometime I'll bring reading and enjoy my coffee with a bagel, though lately I'll make coffee at home instead.

Funny thing about Giant Corporate Coffee Chain versus the neighborhood coffee shop though... My barristas and I are on a first-name basis- I know which barristas are out on vacation, and who is at the counter on Friday mornings. They set the soymilk at the bar for me ahead of time, and they help me keep perspective going into the week... Mondays are my early day- usually stop in before 6:30 am- which can make for a brutal end to a weekend at times. But no matter how tired I am, they've already been working for a couple hours, opening up the store.

When I imagine a small local coffee shop, I envision a small-town place where everybody knows your name, where the person serving your coffee notices if you got a haircut or will explain the difference between medium and dark roasts... Kind of feels like I have all that already... I see the same friendly, familiar faces every day. As a customer, that makes you feel good. So does enjoying the ritual of sipping my coffee as I log into my computer in the morning. Not to mention the tangible value derived from remaining alert and attentive to my 7:00 Monday morning meeting!

Mmmm... New Coffee at Starbucks! I'm a fan of the Pike Place Roast!

My barrista explained to me on Tuesday morning that Starbucks is trying to "get back to its roots" by standardizing its coffee across all stores and regions. In honor of the first Starbucks, in Pike Place (Seattle), she explained, this coffee will now be served in all stores. She said it is a "medium bold," and much smoother than the previous blend.

Though I couldn't explain the difference between a "medium bold" and a "very timid" coffee, I agree- it is smooth. If the old coffee tasted, to me, "sharp," then this would be round.

I'm already a fan :)

Baked Chicken Breasts with Spinach, Pears and Gorgonzola

I adapted this recipe that I found on www.wholefoodsmarket.com, and it turned out amazing... The first time I used balsamic vinegar and browned the pears (they looked like potatoes, until you tasted it!). The second time I used apple cidar vinegar and softened them. I think I prefer the taste of balsamic. Either way, absolutely delicious... and very quick too!

· 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
· Sea salt, ground black pepper, dried rosemary
· 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
· 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
· 4-6 cups (1 large bunch) loosely packed spinach (not baby), washed, dried, stems removed
· 2 tablespoons apple cider or balsamic vinegar
· 2 ripe Anjou pears, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch slices
· Gorgonzola cheese

Preheat oven to 375°F. Generously season each chicken breast with salt, pepper, and rosemary.
In a large, ovenproof skillet heat 1 tablespoon olive oil until slightly smoking and cook breasts 2 to 3 minutes per side until lightly golden. Place skillet in oven and bake chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, about 15 minutes. When chicken is done, allow it to rest (out of the oven) 5 to 8 minutes before slicing or serving.

While chicken is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat and sauté red onions until just softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add spinach and cook until just wilted, using tongs to stir spinach in the pan. Season spinach with salt and pepper and transfer to a large platter or divide evenly among 4 plates.

Wipe out pan and heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil with vinegar. Add pears and gently heat, until pears are warmed through. Place chicken breasts on spinach and top each breast with pears, spoon over gorgonzola. For a beautiful presentation, slice the chicken breasts and arrange them over spinach, then top with pears and cheese.

Absolutely Loving Cooking in my New Kitchen...and Looking Stylish!

In honor of finally having a gorgeous kitchen in which to cook (not to mention a fabulous sunset views while cooking), I bought myself an apron at Anthropologie over the weekend. Did not realize it was actually a kid's apron... I picked it because it inspires me to cook delicious creations!

"Baker's Delight Kid's Apron"

www.anthropologie.com

Kicking it into the next gear...

This Sunday I'm running my first race in what feels like quite some time. It is a 10K in Central Park, and the reason I'm writing about it here is because I'm ready to take this whole "running fast" thing seriously. Fast is, of course, a relative term. Still, I've been training all winter fairly consistently and feel as fit as I've ever been. I'm looking forward to racing this week to get a sense of where I am, speed-wise.

Though I can always do more speedwork, the biggest advantage to running with different groups of people is that about half the people I run with are faster than me. This makes me run faster. Ideally, I also have running buddies that experience the same challenge running with me. And, it is nice to run alone too- those runs are my most pure "me time."

Sunday I ran alone, about 10 1/2 miles on the bridal path, and raced the sunset returning down the west side back to my apartment. I had just a few minutes of the most incredible sunlight. Unfortunately, much of it was wasted fiddling with my little redi-shade tempoary blinds and setting up my camera, but at least I still got to appreciate the light.

Anyway, point is that I am loving running so much right now. Also, I have the capacity to put a little more into my training- stretching, strength training, some attempts at speedwork etc. Tonight I ran into a friend, who I see fairly frequently on nights when we're not running with the club. Though I was finishing up my run and he was just starting, he talked me into doing a quarter mile hill repeat up Cat Hill. I love that feeling at the top, where your lungs and throat burn... not that it feels good, but I don't typically run in ways to feel that burn. And it is certainly tough to get to that point on my own, when I'm running just for fun. But I did one repeat, and yes, I do believe that each and every hill repeat will make me stronger and faster.

A place to call my own...

What an exciting process! I can't even begin to describe how wonderful it feels to open the front door at the end of the day and see this warm, inviting, and calming space, or to open my eyes in the morning knowing that I am in my home.

Now that I am settled, it occurs to me what a challenging process this has been. This move was particularily drawn out, and it is amazing how much your environment around you (the organization of your living space) impacts your piece of mind (as evidenced by the relief I feel by finally being "at home").

A timeline...

* February 19, 2007- entered into contract, told to expect to close somewhere between May and August

* Early June, 2007- began studying for CAIA exam (evenings and weekends spent at my office preparing for major work exam)

* Late June, 2007- began collecting cardboard boxes to begin packing the items I didn't immediately need

* Early July, 2007- timeline updated, told to expect to close in September

* Mid July, 2007- ordered couch (6-12 weeks production time), ordered chairs etc

* July 19, 2007- locked mortgage rate (6 month-lock, just days before credit crisis reaked havoc on mortgage rates)

* Early August- closing date scheduled for October 1st!

* Mid August- gave wardrobe, nightstand, headboard, and other furniture to a friend who moved

* Late August- room piled high in boxes, sleeping on the only clear 6" strip of my bed left. First level of exam is in less than 3 weeks, only have time to sleep 4-6 hours, and spend less than 3 hours total waking time a day in the apartment. Can tolerate the mess for a short period.

* September 18th, 2007- complete Level I of CAIA exam

* September 21st, 2007- scheduled closing adjourned and delayed "until further notice"

* October - January, 2008- more boxes, storage fees for couch, no closing updates

* Early January, 2008- begin studying for Level II of CAIA exam

* Mid- January, 2008- mortgage lock expires, luckily am able to lock into a better rate

* Jan 21, 2008- closing scheduled for Feb 5th!

* Jan 30th, 2008- closing pushed back to Feb 12th. Movers, painters, and deliveries rescheduled. Old roomate only slightly annoyed

* Feb 7th, 2008- closing adjourned again, until further notice. Movers & painters flexible. Old roomate VERY annoyed

* February 13, 2008- closing scheduled for Feb 28th, with absolute assurance of no further changes. Movers, painters & deliveries rescheduled for the third time. Old roomate ready to wring my neck.

* Thursday, Feb 28th- closing! I'm a homeowner!!!

* Friday, Febuary 29th- movers, scheduled for 2:00 pm do not show up until 6:30 pm. On a Friday night. In Manhattan. Old super is furious with them and will not allow them to move at that hour. On the plus side, I save a ton of money on movers. The downside- now I have to move myself.

* Friday, February 29th, 11:45 pm. Finally call it quits and am alseep before my head hits the couch cushion

* Saturday, March 1st, 2008- maintenance guys in old building help me move my bed, a bench, and the TV... and I'm moved out at last!!!

* Early March, 2008- paint, unpack, clean, attempt to study, no time to sleep. Personally contributing to an increase in Starbuck's earnings through necessary caffeine

* March 20th, 2008- complete CAIA exam... I'm done!

Challenging would be an understatement... My apartment had been a disarray of half-packed cardboard boxes since June, and I had been burried in books and covered in highlighter ink since that time. There are no words to describe how amazing it feels to be truly at home, at last!

A few more pictures...

Home sweet home!

One year later... and I am home at last...

My new friend Suze Orman's Save Yourself Plan at TD Ameritrade- open an account and get Free Money (seriously)

I just finished reading Suze Orman’s book “Women and Money” and URGE you to buy it and read it…a) it is absolutely worth reading & keeping as a resource and b) Suze is awesome in general, and c) your book comes with an offer code to open a “Save Yourself” account w/ TD Ameritrade. Basically, you set up an account, fund with regular monthly deposits of at least $50, and after 12 consecutive months you get $100 deposited into your account. (No maintenance on the account)

This program was started to help women be more insightful & confident about financial decisions, and the book provides a structured framework for saving. Here is some info below. You can buy the book pretty much anywhere, but note that the offer expires March 31, 2008.

Even without this offer, I highly recommend reading this book. I remember at Smith having a discussion in a class about women, independence and what it means to be a “liberated woman.” I’ve carried with me ever since the idea that women will never be liberated until they are financially enlightened- which means knowing HOW to finance her life and having the resources/knowledge to do it… financial independence.

I feel even more strongly about making sure other women sign up for this program because I am unable to take advantage of it due to company restrictions. I work for a broker-dealer and can't take advantage of this due to our designated broker policies, so I think anyone that can absolutely SHOULD.

http://www.amazon.com/Women-Money-Owning-Control-Destiny/dp/0385519311/sr=8-8/qid=1165596317?ie=UTF8


http://www.saveyourself.com/
http://www.tdameritrade.com/saveyourself/

In Suze's words...

Aligned with our missionRooted in a commitment to help women achieve financial and personal independence, Suze’s Save Yourself Plan is a direct reflection of TD AMERITRADE’s mission to do the same. We want women everywhere – women like you – to secure a future they can look forward to . . . a future they can be proud of. And that confidence begins with a plan.

The most important role TD AMERITRADE has assumed with Suze’s Save Yourself Plan comes in our $100 offer.* You deserve to be rewarded for your commitment to Suze's plan, and we’re proud to provide it.

Getting startedThere are three main components to getting started with Suze’s Save Yourself Plan.

1. Begin by reading Suze’s book, which details the steps of the plan and the importance of saving.
2. Retrieve the offer code from the back of your book, and enter it on this site.
3. Open your Save Yourself account, set up your electronic monthly deposits – and begin your journey.

A little piece of mid winter inspiration

If you had Award Points to reedeem...?

Nordic Ware® 7-Pc. Cookware Set Heavy-gauge aluminum construction creates perfectly even heating. Premium nonstick interior and hard-coat exterior for easy cleanup, oven-safe metal handles with removable rubber grips, and stainless steel covers. Includes: 10" skillet, 1½- and 3-qt. covered saucepans, and 8-qt. covered stock pot.

I had a number of credit card points I wanted to reedem (after I realized that my savings account was paying me an abysmally small interest rate and I prefer to earn a little more interest on my money). This was my selection. Further credit card awards will likely be paid in American Airlines or Frontier flight awards.

Design Within Reach bookshelves... thoughts?

Kind of funky but practical & space-efficient bookshelves... Not yet sure what I think, but certinly like them in pictures. In my own living room, that remains to be seen

Ikea cabinet idea above bed in sleeping alcove...

~64" wide space above the bed, which is recessed about 22" into a little alcove. My sister suggested cabinets above the bed to maximize the space- I think it is a genious idea, perfect for a few books (nothing too heavy!), spare sheets/ towels, the picture albums from my childhood I could never actually display, but want to keep close to me etc.

Akurum top refrigerator cabinet:

Adel birch/birch veneer w/ birch effect frame.

29 7/8" w x 12 7/8" d x 18" height

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S69811889

The couch & media stand

Loop Media Center

Style: Cameron Queen Sleeper

Color: Chocolate sable

The paint colors so far...

Main living room wall:

Benjamin More Barely Beige

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/bmpsweb/portals/bmps.portal?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=contentrenderer_1_2&contentrenderer_1_2_actionOverride=%2Fbm%2Fcms%2FContentRenderer%2FrenderContent&contentrenderer_1_2WT.svl=2&contentrenderer_1_2currentNodeUUID=%2FBEA+Repository%2F5610&contentrenderer_1_2NodeUUID=%2FBEA+Repository%2F284002&_pageLabel=fh_explorecolor

Main bedroom wall: Airway
Accent wall: Harlequin Blue

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/bmpsweb/portals/bmps.portal?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=contentrenderer_1_2&contentrenderer_1_2_actionOverride=%2Fbm%2Fcms%2FContentRenderer%2FrenderContent&contentrenderer_1_2WT.svl=2&contentrenderer_1_2currentNodeUUID=%2FBEA+Repository%2F5610&contentrenderer_1_2NodeUUID=%2FBEA+Repository%2F284002&_pageLabel=fh_explorecolor

Bathroom: Nob hill sage
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/bmpsweb/portals/bmps.portal?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=contentrenderer_1_2&contentrenderer_1_2_actionOverride=%2Fbm%2Fcms%2FContentRenderer%2FrenderContent&contentrenderer_1_2WT.svl=2&contentrenderer_1_2currentNodeUUID=%2FBEA+Repository%2F5610&contentrenderer_1_2NodeUUID=%2FBEA+Repository%2F284002&_pageLabel=fh_explorecolor

Closing at last!

February 28th!

The TCO is in hand... at last.

This means:

a) I can move on Feb 29th, be out of my apartment by March 1 and avoid paying an additional month's rent (all thanks to Leap Year)

b) I'll now have a $189.90 credit at Crate and Barrel for my couch storage fes this month (they felt bad for me)

c) Also have time to sell my old furniture. The Pier 1 wicker is no longer sold in stores... which means it is harder to buy. I still think it is charming & beautiful, surely I can't be the ONLY one who still thinks so. Perhaps it is worth breaking into that whole realm of craigslist/eBay and trying to sell the desk/chair set, as well as breakfast cart, and interior entry shelf with baskets.

How much do I love this pattern???

So classic- every time I see this pattern I feel happy.

Closing Delayed... Again

We had the final walk-through inspection today, then Terence, my friend & relator, took me to lunch.  Then found out this afternoon that we still don't have the TCO and the closing scheduled for next Tuesday has been adjourned "to be rescheduled at an indeterminate future date."  

So frustrating... and so hard to stay positive about it.  It is a sensitive subject too... "How is the new place... Did you move yet? No?  Why?"  Imagine asking a couple who is trying to have a baby "did you get knocked up yet?  No?  Why not?" or someone looking for a job, "are you still unemployed?  You haven't found a job yet?  How come?"  I know people mean the best, but I don't want to hear it...

That damn couch too... I called them back & they will credit me this month's storage fee if I have it delivered during the month of February.   If the media center is not delivered by then, I'll have to return it and re-buy it.  

However, I am optimistic that the closing will happen before the end of the month.  And, since the closing date is not yet determined, I'd rather get the f**king piece of paper and THEN schedule a closing.  I 'd like to avoid calling my painter and movers for a THIRD time to reschedule.  

I emailed my roommate to let her know that the closing has been delayed and will stay through March 1 for sure (whether or not she could find someone mid-month aside, I intended on getting out of here by the 15th).  The response was along the lines of, "When you say through March 1 do you mean the person could move in March 1 or would you be staying through the end March?"  A) I really don't know because I don't yet have a closing date, but I hope to hell not, and B) clearly my misuse of the word "through" instead of "until" March 1 warrants confusion beyond the fringes that any Stanford-educated logic might possibly solve.

Anyway,  I did take some new pictures- it is absolutely gorgeous.  I've continually been refining my color selection as well- a lighter blue (Benjamin Moore "Airway") on the bedroom walls with "Harlequin Blue" accents (two shades darker).  The main wall is going to be some kind of neutrally-beige-y-not yet sure color.  Right now "Creamed Fleece" is one of them- I want a neutral but complex color... I think a shade with either green (analogous) or orange (complementary) in it would go nicely.  It is hard to match it to the floors though, which have a very warm feel.  

My perception of the colors changes all the time- which is probably why I should be carrying around all these paint swatches all the time in order to test them in a variety of natural & artificial lighting.  I'm also thinking of a second accent color on just the pillar to the left of the window.  It is a small area, but could look really cool to bring another shade into the mix.  I could also have it on the side-wall adjacent to the window (the other 2 surfaces on the area between the window & bedroom would be the darker blue. 

The plus side... now I have at least another week to decide on color.   

Sigh.    

Life Imitating Art Imitating Life

The closing on my new apartment was supposed to be today.  That, is, today was the date it was rescheduled to after my October 1 closing was "postponed until further notice " a week before it was supposed to happen.  Back in August, I gave my bedroom set to my good friend Melissa, who was moving into the apartment of my other friend Bridget.  This is very exciting- my two best friends in the city becoming roommates just a few subway stops up from me on the UWS- talk about a strategic concentration of people I like in one convenient location!  

Anyway, I gave Melissa my dream little bedroom set- Pier 1 white whicker wardrobe, headboard & night stand- she didn't have room for the desk & chair though.  I acquired this furniture well past the official adult cutoff date (around 21 or 22?) when my next door neighbor back in Colorado moved and needed to get rid of it.  I was in college in Massachusetts at the time, but still had a room, my room, at my mom's house and it made sense to take the furniture.  After I graduated, I moved to New York City, and after three months of living in a shoe-box from hell with two charactitures of awful roommates (and smack dab in Hell's Kitchen, just to throw in some dramatic irony...) I moved into my not-for-much-longer current apartment.  We're on the 10th floor, with the most amazing skyline view of an expanse of lower brownstones and walk-up apartments below us, with hints of mid-town sky-scrapers scattered around, and the occasional tall building.  It took me months to be able to fall asleep at night when I first moved in because I used to lay awake staring at the view.  Also, there was a residential building right in eyesight with a little light show on the roof- the colors would change from orange to red to fusha to indigo etc.  A final point about the view... it is not "naturally beautiful" in the same way that the Boulder flatirons are mesmerizing to look at, but I find this (or any) city view just as compelling- from the modern glass residential building I viewed daily as it progressed towards completion, to the water tower on the roof next door to me- the view is rich with history and stories.

I shipped out my whicker furniture from Colorado to New York and had my dream room once again.  This time, I had parkay floors, more space than my bedroom at home, and seriously intense sunshine (with only months before I move out, I finally realize that 2 1/2 years of direct sunlight was not very appreciated by the fabric on my bedspread, some decorative boxes, and various other things I now realize are multi-colored and faded by the sunshine.  Ironic, because I spend so few daylight hours in my apartment enjoying the natural light- the majority of weekend afternoons actually spent in my apartment were usually failed attempts at taking a nap.  The windows are now covered in curtains, augmented with 2 pashmina-like scarves, thanks to the vendors around 58th and 5th Avenue, and the bedroom set is in its new happy home.

I've been living out of boxes since August.  That is over 5 months.  I am too stubborn to unpack my pots & pans to actually cook again, though fortunately, I was forced to assemble what will become the drawer system of my soon-to-be walk in closet after the store refused to keep them in the warehouse any longer and I had no choice but to take delivery of them.   So clothes are in drawers, and my life is a system of boxes, cleverly stacked and labeled with post-its.  The boxes are occasionally re-packed and re-arranged, like when I run out of body moisturizer and have to break out the reserve supplies packed away "for the new apartment."  I measure this mirage of a move in beauty products previously ear-marked for the new apartment- seven bottles of conditioner and three tubes of mascara later, and I still haven't moved.  

Yet.  I had an October date postponed until February 5th.  My relator, the real-estate company inspector and I had the initial walk-through last week, so I know the place is finished.  But then later in the week we heard back that we're still waiting on the Certificate of Occupancy and so the attorneys pushed back until Feb 12th.  I hate it when people ask me why it was delayed.  Patience is a virtue that doesn't come to me instinctively, nor does inaction/complacency.  Do I not look like the kind of person who would sit back and let something just be delayed for no reason?  However, I'm vacationing in a land of native real-estate developers, building inspectors & lawyers, and am limited in my communication by my attorney's translation and the narrow scope of guide-book phrases I've learned from googling this foreign language.  If I knew which city official was responsible for issuing this little piece of paper I need to close, I'd go down there and bribe them (um, I mean, take them to lunch etc).  Being pushed back another week is definitely a pain, but it isn't the end of the world.  Now I joke about the delay, that when I went down to bribe the city official, it turns out that the person I slept with was actually in charge of East side properties, not West.  Totally honest mistake there, but was out of luck.  

I have a couch sitting in a warehouse in Crate and Barrel.  It has recently been joined by a media stand.  My first-ever television is enjoying a slim nook between a table and a wall in my next-door-neighbor's apartment.  This couch and I have had quite an intense relationship together since July.  I've yet to actually see it, but it is apparently a "Cameron Queen Sleeper in Sable Chocolate."  I ordered her in July, knowing that it would take 6-8 weeks to build, and that I would schedule a delivery date afterwards.  She was not my original choice- I'd chosen a slightly bigger version, the "Huntley Woods Queen Sleeper in Danskin Latte" but switched after concerns over the actual width of the door frame.  

As the Crate & Barrel sales reps frequently reminded me, couches are not refundable.  They say this as a formality, of course, but given their kind Minnesotian accents, I conjure up images of the housing developments with driveways, front doors, and in the worst-case scenario, a sliding back patio doors where they life.  The concept of a couch not being able to clear a doorway into a residence is most likely not a concept they can even truly grasp.  But... we are New Yorkers and take door frae measurements, elevator heights, and hallway clearance issues very seriously. Entering the realm of elevator residency is typically a notable milestone in a New Yorker's life.  Some refuse to ever entertain the thought of living in a building over 5 stories, and for others, like me, once you move out of a walk-up into an elevator... well,  I'm not sure I could ever go back.    

But the measurement issue is still very real to me.  And planning out an apartment through memory and a floor plan (aided with a tick-mark ruler fashioned out of a business card from the scale) given to me by the condo sales office is truly an art form.  My sister visited in March and we were able to see the new place, as well as the finished model unit.  I arrived with my tape measure and got as many accurate measurements as I could.  Some things, however, I didn't think to note... the height of the baseboards?  The width of the door frames?  The ceiling height in the front coat closet?  The much greater concern was whether or not a queen-size bed will fit in the hopefully-bed sized nook formed by a recession in the wall in between a forward wall and a corner pillar.  One week shy of a year has passed since I wrote a check for the down payment on this apartment.  I knew it would be a long process because the construction/renovations were still very much in progress- a process I also had the opportunity to monitor, from the outside of the building, at least, as the new building is directly across the street from my soon-to-be-former residence and I cut through the driveway daily on my walk to work.  Either way, I've just about a year to plan out my decorations.

Due to an ambiguous half-inch that would make all the difference between a couch I purchased ending up in my apartment versus forever remaining in the hallway, I opted for the sure-fit Cameron couch instead.   Twice a month I would speak to the sales rep to explain that the couch doesn't yet have a destination to be delivered to until I close.  Finally, the good graces of Midwestern kindness to accommodate my situation clashed against corporate policy once and for all and monthly storage fees kicked in.  So far, 3 months of  storage fee at 10% of the purchase price each time and this couch is becoming a nicer and nicer couch by the day.  Two little swatches of the fabric color and the online catalogue are all I have.  By now, I imagine it must have wood-coated gold legs and little oil fields embedded into the seat cushions to account for the rapidly inflating price.

The apartment I am moving out of is a converted 1-bedroom, meaning the common area is pretty much a closet and my roommate and I each have large bedrooms.  Furnishing the small living room is a lot like playing tetris- a very small space to work with.  We've got a compact little breakfast cart with stools, two bookshelves, a bench with wicker storage baskets, a hanging entry shelf with more baskets and hooks, and two mini square storage ottomans by the front door where I put my shoes on in the morning.  Note the failure to mention a couch or a TV.   Monumental moment here, because not only am I about to be a homeowner, I am also thisclose to owning a couch and TV too.  Technically, they already belong to me, at least on paper.  A bench is handy- especially a bench that provides more useful storage space with the little baskets as usable floor space it occupies.  Because it is not like you could squeeze a couch in that space if the bench & bookshelf weren't there... (perhaps only if you were okay hurdling the arm to enter the kitchen.  

That little bench is efficient and came in handy during the pre-boxes era (and technically, the pre-studying for the CAIA era too, so circa my birthday in March) when I used to have wine & cheese parties.  But it is not a couch.  The difference is that a bench is a viable and  cushioned alternative to standing/sitting on the floor during a party and a couch is a destination.  I'm not sure if anyone has ever made a trip to the apartment common space just to sit on the bench.  Not that you could sit on it at the moment though without having to move and then climb over a 2-box high wall of boxes.  Those are the heavy ones too- packed full of pots & pans and cook books (which for some odd reason are each typically the weight of a small child).   The storage ottomans I am taking with me, as with the bookshelves.  

The bench... I waver back and forth- take it or leave it?  Of course, it would be handy next to the front door- a convenient place to tie shoes (the ottomans are too low to sit without awkwardly dropping my inevitable collection of purses and bags of running clothes I schlepp daily across town) and I could consolidate the baskets of place mats & dish towels to reallocate a basket for hats, mittens, and scarves.  The reasons for not taking it...?  Will it make my new apartment too cluttered?  (Not at this point).  Will it change the flat-rate moving estimate I already locked in?  (Possibly, but there may be alternative means of relocating).  Mainly, I bought the bench specifically for the space- they were perfect for each other.  My current roommate, the one who does not own a fork to her name, will certainly not replace it.  In fact, the room will sit empty.  If I were to take ALL of the furniture, the room would remain bare until she moves out (sometime this summer- she's waiting to hear back from business school applications as we speak).  Part of me has a problem with that space remaining totally naked & furniture-less.  Making that space inviting and livable (though seldom used) was one of my priorities when I moved in 2.5 years ago.  Even if the breakfast cart is the only thing that is really ever used, we still have to walk through it every day, and I want it to be pretty.  What kind of room is a bench-less room anyway?  Actually, it is a room that is clearly not my concern any longer... the bench will come with!  

Speaking of storage, another thing about New Yorkers I appreciate (now that I've appropriated the right to proudly proclaim the title) is that out of necessity we are creative with our spaces.  New York apartments are small.  My childhood house had multiple floors and basement to discard all my things that I wanted out of my room but didn't want to part with permanently.  Here, I have to justify keeping anything that I don't actively use or need.  Apartment living keeps you nimble in that way- not to mention the judicious purchasing habits that evolve out of a finite amount of storage room.  Buying new clothes most often involves starting a bag of clothes to give away to charity- hanger space is a precious commodity.  

In fourth grade a friend of mine had a walk-in-closet and I am probably still jealous.  It was like a secret room attached to her bedroom- her Water Baby doll had its little crib in the closet, as did her bookshelves, toys, a cassette tape player, and games.  In fact, her room was perfect and clutter-free, with all the juicy things you want, but want kept hidden, kept in the closet.  We built forts in there as kids, and her walk-in-closet inspired me to unroll my sleeping bag in the floor of my own closet and sleep there for over a month.  

The new apartment has a fabulous walk-in-closet.  I spent two months doodling out possible layouts for shelves, hanging space, and hooks, and then I discovered the Container Store.  The pleasure I get from wandering through the isles of a store with the sole purpose of organizing the world (with sleek and modular design, no less) must be similar to the satisfaction a guy gets from flipping through his girlfriends' Victoria Secret catalogues.  Yes, there is  legitimate business purpose and obvious function to bras & underwear, but it is still essentially soft porn.  Isles and isles of sleek Sweedish DVD sized-boxes or matching wooden hangers is like that for me- gratuitous organization.  

Half of my closet is assembled already- all the drawer systems.  The ceiling tracks and hanging standards protrude from underneath my bed, and all the metal shelving, brackets, and mounting hardware is on that handy bench in my living room.  When I close my eyes and imagine a closet built across two walls, with little belt hooks and shoe racks, and hanging space for my professional wardrobe, drawer and shelf space for my weekend and running wardrobes, not to mention shelves for boxes of pictures, extra towels, spare sheets, etc, and my heart rate literally increases.  

Very, very soon.  

As an added bonus, I also designed the front closet.  Last week at the inspection I realized there is already a wood shelf, and that the ceiling may be lower than the living room ceiling.  Either the shelf will be removed or I'll ditch the original closet design and start from scratch.  Regardless, it looks like I'll be making a trip across town to the Container Store to re-size a few of the hanging standards.  Oh well- keeps things interesting.

My next attempt here is to post a few pictures.  Upcoming posts will likely cover a) choosing wall colors, b) running relationships, or c) the career-related info.  Until then...