Dare yourself, From "ex" to "next"

First, let me tell you when I started a new series "Dare yourself" I underestimated how daring it already was to live in the city for so long and actually not lose it..... well that's my opinion and I am sticking to it :) But I do apologize for my MIA in the series.

Anyway, when I started the series, one interesting thought did cross my mind. Why don't I have a friendly lunch or something with an ex? Daring act for me indeed, being a person who doesn't keep in touch with her ex's. I just don't see how it's possible or logical. I have enough good friends I enjoy to make room for the ones who either broke my heart or I broke theirs..

But with the new challenge to dare myself to do something I wouldn't normally do, I gave it another thought. Since I wasn't sure which ex I would want to contact and ask for a friendly re-union, I let it go. So imagine my surprise when one of them actually contacted me within the following 2 weeks.

Richard was a guy I dated 4 years ago for about 6 months. I met him in March of 2008, right after the busiest times at work passed, and I was ready to have some fun. And that's exactly what we did from the day (sorry, night:) we met. We saw each other almost every day, we went out in the city, we went to Long Island on the weekends. And most importantly, we both shared one big passion: wine! To pay due respect to our passion, we even made a trip to Cali, and drove all the way from LA to SF with a few stops along the way. We basically followed the steps from our favorite movie back then "Sideways". If someone hasn't seen it yet, please watch it. It's classic.

So we had a lot of fun. He was easy going, treated me like a gentleman would treat a lady. Though he was only 25 back then, he had "the moves": "Four Seasons" in Beverly Hills, horse-back riding on the beach, convertible car, Le Bernardin, and lots of Pinot (my favorite).

6 months passed (the time it normally takes for me to realize whether I fell in love or not, at least the only time I was in love...), and I started getting restless. I can't explain it, I just started getting distant. Getting back to busy times at work didn't help either. So I quietly disappeared. He tried to get me back a couple times, but he knew me too well: there is nothing you can do if I set my mind on something. We lost touch and I didn't date anyone for about 6 months, I felt terrible letting such a great guy go. I was mad at myself. Yet I couldn't explain it I knew it was the right decision. My friends were shocked as he was "perfect", and I was out of my mind. To make more sense to them,  I started comparing him to couture, that is perfect but if it doesn't fit - it's a disaster..

So imagine my surprise when he emailed me on LinkedIn this Spring (4 years after we met), saying that it'd been awhile and he was curious how I was, and if I would consider grabbing a drink some time. Initial reaction: you kidding me? Why would you want to see me when I was so mean in the end and simply disappeared. I know I regretted it but still knew it was the right decision back then. Why would it be any different this time around? Yet then I remembered my new challenge, and decided What the Hell, let me go see him. So I said Yes to getting together for a drink.

Being a gentleman again, he picked the place most convenient to me, and we met on a Friday night for some vino. Honestly, it was as easy and comfortable as if those 4 years of separation never took place. We again had fun, played pool (he was teaching me his moves, of course he was perfect at it too). And at the end of the night, he confessed that he was still very interested and would like to pick up where we left off 4 years ago. My reaction: hmmm... is there a master plan behind this or he's being honest..

Not sure what to make out of all this, I start dating him, and for a month,  we (again) go to nice places, we drink wine and we have a great time. Yet again, I am coming to realization this is just not my label :)). He is Chanel and I am Burberry.. I believe he got it this time too. So we quietly ended it and left "us" sideways :)

P.S. Pics from our trip to California, Summer 2008. Richard, thank you.

After work

Cheers all,

Whoever said that Americans are not big drinkers, hasn't met New Yorkers. I know we are a nation of its own here, but still... Starting Tuesday (for many even Monday) a few drinks after work is mandatory. To take pressure off, you know.

The most popular places in midtown (where many offices are located) are Beer Bar and restaurants in and around the Grand Central. If you want to find the Corporate America (CA), head there after 6pm.

I'll cover other parts of the city where the CA is taking their edge off, but for now, enjoy a few shots of those working in midtown.

P.S. The guy with a cigar in the last pic is one of those "lucky ones" who work past 10-11pm. Having been in his place for a long time myself, I'm way too familiar with his situation. As some are leaving for a day at 6pm, he's taking a break before another 4-5 hours to go.

Weekend getaway

Hey there,

The weekend is over and I feel pleasantly tired. After all the sun and drinking, you know :)

Being a typical New Yorker, I love to get away from the city on the weekends, especially in the summer. We just can't wait to pack our beach bags, change into swimsuits, and spend the whole day in them.
The closest getaway place from the city is Long Island. And no, I am not going to talk about the Hamptons, will save it for another time:).

I'll share the quickest and easiest way to get away for the most of us, mere mortals. Take the LIRR from the Penn Station to Long Beach, and in less than an hour, you're at one of the nicest beaches on the East Coast. Really, besides the Hamptons and Fire Island, this is my favorite beach in NY. It's not as crowded as other beaches on Long Island and has a lot of nice places to hang out, eat and drink. Very important to me :)

So next time, you want to leave your beloved city for a day, just take the train (please don't drive to avoid sitting in traffic for hours) to Long Beach, put your sexy on, and have some sun/fun. You desperately need it after spending the whole week in the office.

Here are some shots from my weekend. See ya all there next weekend:)

P.S. Don't worry about finding it once you arrive. Just follow the crowd (which is the whole train) and in less than 10 min walk, you are right there!!

New Yorkers have arrived

Invasion has begun

Necessary addition to the sun!

We survived

Nite all,

Just wanted to inform those who worried how we were baking in the NYC for the past two days that we survived the heat. It finally rained today, and within an hour, the temperature dropped by 20 degrees to the level considered acceptable by the NY standards.

But let me tell you that was one serious heat wave, must have come all the way from Jamaica. I certainly realized it when on my way home last night, I stopped at Victoria's Secret (VS).. pssst, it's a Secret!
I know I am risking my reputation here, for those who've been following my other blog, are fully aware, I am a La Perla (or other European brand) gal all the way. For me, VS is like wine sold at a drug store.
But lo and behold, last night, I paid my visit to the VS on 57th.  Let me assure you, I was under the heat wave so big that only this evening after the rain fell on Manhattan did I realize where I shopped the night before.


Whatever happened, last night I walked out from VS with one piece of clothing: swimming suit bottom. And it looks delicious!! I am impressed. I guess "Never say never" holds true in all cases.

Here are some images of NYC before, during and after the rain.

 P.S. Last two shots are of me (under the heat influence), having fun at VS and a new bikini in my swimsuit collection.

My New Blog

Cheers all,

As promised (and you know I always keep my promises), I launched a new blog called "New York Life". Very excited about it really. I guess that's how people feel when launching new business, or new product.. amazing sensation..

Anyway, the idea was born two weeks ago, and two days ago, it came to life. Only one post so far, but it will be a more regular and up-to-date blog than "your beloved" NY Love, as I intend to write somewhat on a daily basis about our city, good or bad. The idea is to make it very vivid, so that those who don't live in the NYC (the least fortunate of us) can experience it as if they do.  And for the ones who are fortunate, to discover it all over again. We, New Yorkers, have a love-hate relationship with the city, and very often take it for granted.
I believe the idea to start this blog actually came due to my recent complaining how tired of the city I was, and how I want to move some place else, blah, blah, blah... So let me tell you, once I got on the project and began paying more attention to the city, I started falling in love with it all over again. It's a truly amazing city, and we are one lucky bunch to be its residents.

So rekindle your love with the city that always takes you as you are, and get excited all over again to be living here. And for those who've never been here or don't live here, welcome to experience it thru me and other New Yorkers. I promise you it will be as real as it gets, since being real is a true essence of living here.

One more promise here: I'll still keep this blog (NYL) active and give it as much attention as before, as long as I am in search for true love. So no worries:)
Yet let me welcome you to my new beginning and invite you to partake in a wonderful experience what we call Life, i.e. New York Life.

P.S. the link to New York Life is on the left bar.