Count Your Blessings Name them One by One

I just returned from my first of FOUR Thanksgiving meals planned this week. Along with keeping up the tradition of eating too much, I also enjoyed the annual (and always expected) "go around the table and say what you are grateful for" activity.
Today was especially meaningful as it was the Thanksgiving dinner family event with clients from work.
I work as a Child Life Specialist (I didn't choose the title) at a social service agency in Harlem. My work is primarily working with families who may have any combination of: compromised health, mental illness, history of homelessness, living in poverty, etc... Needless to say, it is often easy for these good folks to focus on what really sucks in their lives. Hearing everyone so easily express their gratitude made me realize that no matter what our situation, there is always something that keeps us going.
In keeping with the theme of Gratitude, I am going to dedicate the next week to daily musings on what I am grateful for... starting with the first and most important.
MY FAMILY.


There is no possible way I could list everything my family has done for me and taught me over the last three decades. Instead, I will focus on a few highlights.

Dad, thank you for teaching me how to work. You taught me (both by example and force) the value of being responsible. Thank you for making me do chores every Saturday before I could play. Thank you for helping me put fliers up around town to promote my babysitting business when I was ten. Thank you for driving me to Idaho Falls (until I could drive myself) to wait tables. Thank you for helping me apply to college. Thank you for always encouraging and supporting me even when I chose to be a Sociology major. Most of all, now that you have taught me those lessons, thank you for letting me sleep in, relax, and do nothing when I come home to visit. I love you.


Mom,
Thank you for being patient with my many moods, quirks, unreasonable behavior, and occassional rudeness. I know that I can be impatient and intolerant at times. We both know I don't get it from you. :) Thank you for ignoring my moods and irrationality. Thank you for being so free to point out the good traits and quietly ignoring the bad ones. Thank you for being so free with praise and love and for ALWAYS being there. I have never doubted that you will support me.
BTW, you are a pretty amazing grandma as well!


Kymberly,
Remember how whenever we would fight (which was often) and mom would say 'One day your sister is going to be your best friend." I don't know about you, but I NEVER believed her. Turns out, she was right. I am SO grateful that I have you as a sister. You are truly extraordinary. Your such a hard and SMART worker. I am so proud of how committed to are to your work. You are also and amazing mother and I am so grateful that you let me be a part of your kids lives. You make me laugh and I love talking to you - especially about our parents.


Kyle,
Oh baby brother- I love you so much. Thank you for being such a respectful and loving man. You show your love for people in the ways that really matter- by taking the time to do things for them. I love it when we are home at the same time because I get to be even more lazy because you always offer to cook, run errands, and just make us all laugh. You are so helpful and generous and I adore you.



Kirk,
Thank you for letting me prove that some of your earlier impressions of me are not the real me (most of those rude behaviors were a reaction to the heart medication if you recall). :)
Thank you for being a super cool dude, for raising three of the coolest kids I know, for loving my sister, and for letting me be a part of your kids lives.

Sarah,
As the newest member of the Mann clan, thank you for joining our mostly awesome, occassionally psychotic family. Thank you for loving my brother. Thank you for your book recommendations (keep them coming), and for the random text shout outs. Now you guys just need to come visit NYC. :)

Avery, Wyatt and Mitchell,
Thank you for making me an Aunt. Thank you for being the three raddest, funniest, most talented, best looking kids I know. I love you!

Return to Nobu: This Time to Celebrate the Return of WADE!!!

Nobu has become the go-to restaurant location for special events and bestie dinners.
This week it was beyond a joy to gather in celebration of the return of Wade from his 6 month stint on a cruise ship.
These people make me so happy! Combine this group with yellowtail jalapeno sashimi and lobster tacos and I am in heaven.





Joey and Paul

Seth showing Joey and I a little too much love

Wade and Joey

Patrick and Seth playing

Me and Patrick

A Weekend in the Country

I have decided that I feel the same way about country/vacation houses as I do about babies... I don't need one of my own, I just need friends that have them. Last weekend Carlos, Joe, and I had the delightful privilege of spending the weekend at the country house of our friends Jason and Yoav (along with their beautiful one year old daughter Emma). The weather could not have been more perfect.

Some of the highlights include:

A stunning hike through the fall leaves with Jason, Carlos, and new friends Michael and Stephen. Jason's amazing home cooking and nightly extravagant dinner preparations Chopping Wood and not hacking off my hand/foot/head/etc... Sitting in the sun reading with my good friend Kathy Griffin Spending time with friends and babies
Relaxing in the living room with nightly piano parties

Autumn in New York

I live in the middle of Manhattan, yet this picture was shot from a four minute walk from my front door. Seriously.

Stilettos in the Kitchen

My darling friend Ashleigh had a theme birthday party this year- Stilettos in the Kitchen. It was all about personal empowerment, future planning, and owning your own success. Now, I don't know if "Stilettos in the Kitchen" is the right catch phrase for my future success, but I appreciate that it is feminine and powerful.
The night included describing our ideal futures and creating vision boards.
Oh Ashleigh, I wish I could bottle your energy and enthusiasm! I love you girl!




(Yes, I own some heels... that is me on the left).

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge- One of my fav NY things

After our Brooklyn adventure seeing The Tiger Lillies (now I know why I seldom leave Manhattan),Seth and I decided to enjoy the crisp fall air by walking home across the Brooklyn Bridge. The night was perfect- a little chilly, but mostly refreshing.













I decided I wanted to climb up on the bridge scaffolding- hoping it would provide an even better background of the city. Seth was screaming at me to get down, and in retrospect (given my tendencies towards falling, slipping, and tripping), it may not have been such a great idea.



















We warmed up with one of my favorites... hot apple cider.














Even the downtown subway stations are more interesting/creepy than the uptown trains I am used to.

Tiger Lillies- The Freakshow arrives in Brooklyn

The night after seeing MIKA (still giddy about how amazing that concert was), Seth and I decided to take advantage of being New Yorkers and headed out to Brooklyn for some avant-garde theater.
I was not familiar with the group Tiger Lillies prior to seeing the show. I knew they were clownish accordion playing theater type musicians. Sounded great to me!
I was not prepared for the show I was about to see! Known as the worlds most foremost oompah death band, I should have had my reservations. We left at intermission, but here are some of the uplifting lyrics to give you a taste of the show (don't forget, all songs were accompanied by an accordion).


(yodeling)

I thought I'd try suicide, I thought it might be a laugh.
I stuck my head in an oven but the oven wasn't gas.

(yodeling)

So then I thought I'll take some pills, I bought the wrong ones,
All i got was diarrhea and it ran and it ran and it ran.

Suicide, suicide, that's the one for me,
I want to be a legend so suicides for me.

(Yodeling)

MIKA: My Current Favorite Music Maker (sorry Indigo Girls, you are still a close second)

Not too long ago I went to what is almost certainly the most amazing, captivating, enjoyable, unbelievable, and spectacular concert of my life. MIKA (the Beirut born, Paris raised, British pop sensation) performed at an old church/converted concert space in Washington Heights.
I have loved MIKA for a couple of years now, but I was unprepared for the caliber of live performance charisma and talent he delivers. Seriously, the man did not leave the stage, performed every song on both his albums, and danced and sang HIS FACE OFF!
If you ever get a chance to see/hear MIKA live, TAKE IT!
Thanks to Alicia and Pedro for the fabulous company and for making it all happen!

LOVE IT!!! www.storybookforlife.com

First of all, let me say that I love digital cameras. Seriously, that instant gratification after taking a shot, the ability to shoot the same picture over and over and then pick your favorite, the 'delete' option if you look too cross-eyed/fat/pathetic, etc...
HOWEVER, I do miss that joy that comes from the anticipation of waiting to get pictures back. Remember dropping off film and then not being able to wait the one hour to rip open the envelope and see what you captured months earlier?
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I just got my book back from my recent cruise to the Baltics. I have not put it down in the past 24 hours (with the exception of when I made my roommate, coworkers, neighbors, etc.. .all look through it with me).

Cut and paste this link to check out my Baltics books...

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