So that dancing...

Haven't really done much to actually dance - but I want to. I just loved Dancing with the Stars and couldn't be happier that Drew Lachey, short little dude that he is, won. He was such fun to watch - and I usually hate those shows. But there is something about ballroom dancing.

Didn't make it to a musical in New York, but we did hike all over Central Park and we went to Rockerfeller Center and watched the ice skaters there. That place looks HUGE in movies - but it's really a tiny little rink in a small-ish plaza. It was still cool - and they had made the ice pink and put hearts all over it for Valentine's Day.

Then I went up north to Oakland/SF/San Jose with co-worker Mike. That was an interesting time. Stayed at a quirky little place in SF - quirky in a good way - not in that funny-how-you-have-to-lean-sideways-to-get-in-the-room way. And the doorman sent Mike and I over to a nice bar to have a few drinks. Mike's a chatty guy - chats mostly about his frustration in life and thinks he is boring me - but I find pain interesting. It helps me bond with people. Happy people are boring to me - not that I don't like them, I do - but they aren't interesting to me. Give me the unusual folks with their faults and quirks and petty annoyances and wounds - they're my type of people! I guess I envy happy people too much and I sympathize with the walking wounded.

As always, the speaking went pretty well - a few people found me to be too "chatty" - okay - they would rather I just read it off like a recipe? But I have to learn to let the petty stuff slide off.

It's raining here, which reminds me that I really need to get that treadmill from David and Donna (THANK YOU) so I can exercise. I'm eager to start building up my stamina - some days I feel like I am going to collapse under my baggage as I haul it from place to place.

I love Indian food. Chicken curry or Tikka Masala over Basmati rice, scooped up with Naan.... MMMMM. There is this dinner buffet place somewhere between San Jose and Oakland that Helen and I discovered and have now been back to - cheap and good. It's customers appear to be ex-pat folks from India. But the place is pretty empty and it makes me sad - a nice, quality place and it will go under because nobody is patronizing it. So, if anyone thinks they'll be driving up the 880 in the near future...

Anyway - if anyone knows of a dance class - or if anyone knows of some other poor, fat beginner looking for a partner, let me know.

The Empire State Building is red, white and blue.

This week it is New York. We started on Long Island - Rockville Centre to be precise - not the most exciting place on the grid. Last night we arrived in New York City. Our hotel is walking distance from Time Square so we spent the evening speed-walking through the throngs. So many people. It was interesting and not nearly as cold as you might think it would be - I actually ditched the coat finally - for a town that just suffered through a record breaking blizzard, it sure was light on the snow and cold.

Tonight we might try to get in to see a musical. And tomorrow we're talking about going to Central Park. And nothing against Jason, but I feel like a burden to him - I'd kind of rather be on my own. But I know that I wouldn't do as much stuff if I was on my own.

And I really want to go shopping. Tonight - a slice of NY style pizza and a little sidewalk shopping. Cheap purses! Hmm. I may need to buy a larger suitcase.