It's like I have ESPN or something...

Ya know what's really really cool about being in a stable relationship? I can go on dates with other men :)

Well, not like real real dates - there is to be no making out or inappropriate touching. But, I did enjoy a dinner date with a friend the other night that made me happy. I only call it a date because we met after work, found a bar to eat in, talked about our respective exes and I didn't have to pay :)

So, anyway, all kidding aside, I had dinner with Al Nap last week and it was just really nice to see a friendly face from back in the day. He works about 20 minutes from me in the city now, so it was inevitable that our schedules finally allowed for some catching up time. And it was really great. We worked at BBuster together back in the day and had a nice little click going on. Having so many years pass, it's really sad to see how we've all grown apart because I always considered my friends that I met there some of my best.

But, people grow apart. Me, Al and Carlos were really close - apparently, no one's heard from Carlos since he left the company and got back with an ex-girlfriend that we didn't like. (What does he expect when he bad-mouthed her while they were apart?) Nicole got married and is pregnant. Eddie moved to Florida, I think. Then, there's my favortie couple, who I just haven't talked to for a few months now. I'm chalking that one up to my flipping out on JJ around the same time. And then, of course, there's him, who turned into one of the rest of the guys out there who just use girls for what they want when they want it. Although, I genuinely don't think that he meant to.

Backtracking to people being pregnant, Nancy no longer is! I know most everyone already knows that and I've probably even shoved 50+ pictures in your face already. But, c'mon! He's so cute. I should put a picture up. Okay, yea I will. Enjoy!

Tellin' my whole life with his words...

Taurus: Have you ever stood too close to a painting or a photograph? Here you thought you were looking at a drop of rain, but when you back up, you realize it's the entire ocean. Take that perspective on your life now.

Look at the big picture, I get it :)

Soooo I'm just waiting on hearing back from John Jay for graduate school. It was such a large weight off my shoulders to get the application in, but now the WAITING is killing me softly.

Speaking of that song, it was covered at this lounge I went to with the girls on Thursday night. We went to Cafe Wha down in the West Village and had so so much fun. It's been too long since I've enjoyed being out until 3am with some foxy ladies dancing the night away. And I felt like we were right out of The Sweetest Thing - getting there, kissing the bouncer (apparently my friends are very popular there), getting in without a cover and getting shoutouts from the band. We owed the place. I'm already looking forward to going back next week.

Before the dancathon was Valentine's Day!!! Mike and I had such a great day. Well, I slept most of the day after my 9am class and he cooked for like 4 hours. Then we had a delish dinner - he made stuffed artichokes, an antipasto, asparagus and lobster! It was all quite wonderful :) Homemade meals are the best, especially for special occassions and when your boyfriend is such a damn good chef.

And then we played wii...

Aloha

YEAH!!!

We booked Spring Break this week!

I was getting kind of bummed out, because I didn't think that we were going to be able to have time to book a vacation for our break in March. Previously plans to go to Florida or a cruise to the Carribean failed due to causes outside of my control. But then my friend Jenny called randomnly this weekend to ask if we wanted to go to...Hawaii! She has an interview for dental school there, so why not make a vacay out of it? So Mike, Marika and I hopped on board!

More on fun times - the roomie and I went to her friend's stand up act downtown last night. It was a lot of fun. Most of the comedians were very good, it was the last part of a contest. Roomie's friend didn't win, but he was really good. And fun, we went out with a couple of the guys afterwards.

Anyways, I'm kinda just waiting around to go home. I (boooo) have work this weekend and need to make it back to the big 'ol SI tonight. Tis a pain. I wish I didn't love my job at home so much. But with all the babies, I just can't help myself. Oh yea, and I'm broke and have to pay for a vacay to Hawaii. That too.

Free bird

A few days ago, I was walking home from who-knows-where when a limo with a few teenage girls drove by. They were clearly very excited to be in the city and livin' large because they were dressed up and hanging out of the windows and sunroof of the limo. They were screaming, nothing in particular, as they wizzed by and I couldn't help my natural reaction.

I had the biggest smile on my face that I've had in a long time.

A moment later, I shrugged to myself thinking, what the hell am I smiling for? It's a bunch of dumb high school girls who probably went to their first Broadway show in a limo or are going to the after party of their prom. They look retarded...

But I didn't really feel that way. My intinct reaction was really what I was feeling in my heart. I couldn't help but smile - they looked so happy, having the time of their lives. Then I was jealous of them. I remembered my senior and junior proms, coming into the city with our "prom passes" for the clubs. I'm not even sure why, but they really were simpler days. I really miss when what to wear to school on "dress down day" was such an important decision. Now, we're all concerned about what higher education is right for us and what career path to take and who we want to spend the rest of our lives with (a bigger deal than who to take to prom).

I guess that seeing the free spirits in those girls brought back that feeling of excitement in the smaller things. I know we're not old, but i miss my youth. Not knowing if Santa was real. First kisses. First loves. First broken hearts. Going to prom. Having all of your friends live nearby. Talking on the phone with your best friend for hours even though you just spent all day in school together. Calling your friends at home and having to ask, "Hi is Gabby there?" and then chatting up her mom for a little while.

Not that I don't also love some of the pleasures of being 21 and living in NYC. The city hasn't completely sucked away my soul. (It is close though.) Dude, five years ago, I wouldn't be close to having a nephew. Btw, Jacob, when are you going to come out and play? I really thought he would've wanted to come out by today and watch the Super Bowl...