Melbourne Langham Hotel.

We have booked our hotel for Melbourne, finally!

After searching for a hotel on Cheapflights.com, and then getting connected to a hotel website, I decided to go for it and look up "Five Star Hotels." I didn't think we would be able to find something good for New Year's Eve this year... But surprisingly, there was some stuff available. So we booked a really nice hotel for the trip this December. And you know what????? We got a GREAT deal!

Seriously! We are going to be staying in the Langham Hotel in Melbourne...



And it has some serious swank to it. We got a "River Room" for five nights, and it only cost us what someone would normally get charged for about three nights. We get a Yarra River view for an incredible price! And the fireworks in Melbourne are in the same area of the river each New Year's Eve.

Yay!

The hotel is located near a lot of great attractions; including parks, shopping, restaurants and museums. But it also has a pool, gym and a spa inside it. So there will be plenty of options for me.

I am now so looking forward to the trip! Screw the long flight!

Day 8: What A Juicy Class!

OMG...

That was the sweatiest class I have been to in a long time! It was hot, but not as much as it was humid. Halfway through the class, the teacher turned the humidifiers off in the room. It was so humid outside that we didn't need them in the class.

So I had a pretty tough class tonight, as you can imagine.

And what made it even tougher (and more humid) was the number of people in the room. I think we had about 30, which is a full studio in Boston. I got to the studio just after 5pm, and already there were 20 people signed up on the list. I didn't think so many people would be motivated to get to class on such a hot day.

The humidity definitely made it a tough class, but I was distracted by something else in certain poses...

My throat. In quite a few compression postures, I would find my throat beginning to "itch." I took it as a sign that I was compressing the thyroid gland the correct way in the pose. So perhaps my metabolism will be speeding up?

Only 22 more days to go!

Get Some New Fucking Songs!

Sorry. I am in a bit of a "mood" today.

Among various reasons, I am being put over the edge by that annoying group from last Summer, Coco and Lafe. Yep, C&L are back in full effect this summer... Playing right outside the Borders Bookstore in Downtown Crossing. And given my office location, I get the wonderful treat of hearing these two croon their hearts out every sunny afternoon.

To be fair, they are not bad singers. (Well, she is. He is pretty good.) But sweet merciful baby Jesus! Could they please get some new material?????

My lord! Every time they play, it's the same set list... Could someone please help these two out??? We are dying here!

Now they're singing "Knock, Knock, Knockin' On Heaven's Door!" Oh dear God! Someone make it fucking stop!!!! They're ruining awesome songs!

Fireworks In The South End.

Friday night, The Husband and I were off in "dreamland" when we were woken up by a loud "POP!"

Once we were both conscious, we heard two more loud "POPS!" and saw bright blue sparks sync up with the sounds, just outside our bedroom window.

"Jesus!" I screamed. "What the hell was that?"

The Husband and I both got up and looked outside the window. We saw nothing. So we went back to bed. A few minutes later, we heard a series of "CRACKS!"

The people in the streets behind us were popping off fire crackers.

This actually happens quite often in the Summertime in our part of the neighborhood. On weekend nights, we get woken up by a variety of things:

• Firecrackers
• Gunshots
• Loud music
• People talking really loudly
• People screaming to other people that they are "deadbeat dads"

It's a nice variety. We endured the firecrackers and music and screaming on Friday and Saturday night. And we figured Sunday would be a night of "rest." We were wrong.

Music and loud yelling happened around midnight. Then, for some unknown reason, there were firecrackers going off at about 4:30am.

I guess the party doesn't ever stop in the South End.

Yoga Buzz Gone Bad: I Stole An Umbrella.

I actually feel pretty terrible about this one... Even though I did not do it on purpose.

I was feeling really good about today's yoga practice that after class, I laid out for just a few minutes in the room. Normally, I lay out for like 10 minutes. But today, I had lots of energy after class, so I only laid out for about five minutes.

Afterward, I went out into the lobby began shuffling my stuff in and out of my bag. I was digging for my wallet so that I could buy a water to drink on my walk home. And it was on the bottom of my bag. So out went everything in my bag, so that I could get to the bottom of it, where my wallet lie.

Then, I began putting everything back into my bag, once I had my cash in hand. I had unloaded everything on to various shelves in front of me. So I just threw them all back in quickly, paid for my water, and walked home.

About three hours later, I was able to leave my house again. (I had waited around for two and a half hours for a grocery delivery. Argh!!!!) I began pulling things out of my yoga bag and putting them (if needed) into my small bag to leave the house. That's when I pulled out not one, but TWO black umbrellas. And I knew one of them was definitely not mine...



"Where did this umbrella come from?" I asked myself.

Then it hit me. I recalled putting an umbrella back into my bag, but I had never taken one out of it in the first place! So I stole someone's umbrella!!!!!

Totally by accident, of course.

I do feel bad. I hope that whosoever umbrella this is, they didn't get caught in the torrential downpour we had this evening at about 6pm.

I will, absolutely, take the umbrella back to the yoga studio tomorrow... In the hopes that the owner gets reconnected with it. And I hope they don't hate me too much.

I chalk it up to my "yoga buzz" after class. But I am very, very sorry for stealing the umbrella.

Why Bikram Is Good For you.

Sometimes I get a comments on a post... And I find myself writing a novel-length comment back that it just makes more sense to respond in a follow-up post.

One fellow practitioner (who has such an amazing practice that they inspire many around them with their graceful postures to get into class more often) left a comment on my earlier post about my seventh day in the challenge.

In that post (see directly below), I wrote about how many calories I burned in each of the classes I took this week. And the fellow practitioner wanted to know...

"...how many does your body burn when you're NOT in class as your overall health and fitness improve. All that blood pumping, oxygen flowing, muscle tone building... totally changes the way your body processes energy. I KNOW that my body processes food differently as a result of my practice."

The MOST interesting question is... WHY (and HOW?) are you tracking calories at yoga in the first place?

These are excellent questions Dancing J!

My body definitely digests and burns more calories by practicing Bikram more often. I track my calorie burn with a heart rate monitor. It's a strap that I wear around my chest, and it syncs up the pink watch I wear around my wrist. I'll keep my heart monitor on for hours after a Bikram class, and even though my heart rate goes back to normal, I seem to keep burning calories at a high rate.

I started wearing the monitor in class a year ago just out of curiosity. I wanted to prove to all those "haters" of Bikram yoga that Bikram is in fact a WONDERFUL cardio workout. My heart rate goes up very, very high in some poses.

Standing Bow Pose, for example, pushes it up between 160 and 170, depending on the day. My "resting heart rate" is about 63 beats per minute. So it's awesome, and dizzying, to see and feel it get up that high from the heat and the holding of the postures. And the floor poses... HELLO! My heart rate stays around 150 beats per minute all throughout the series on the floor.

And that brings me to an important thing to note: Do you know what I have to do at the gym to burn that many calories and get my heart rate that high?

Well, I have to move around A LOT. Seriously, the activities at the gym that shoot my heart rate to the 150-160 range are running and step-ups. Nothing else at the gym gets it that high. And running and step ups definitely take their toll on your feet, quads, calves... Lots of things!

Bikram yoga, on the other hand, it takes it's toll for a few seconds on certain body parts, each at a different time... And then you're DONE!

Don't get me wrong, people. I love my gym. I love working out in different ways. But Bikram yoga is a very effective way to get a workout in without traumatizing your body. There's no pounding your feet on a treadmill. There's lifting of heavy weights, which - if not done properly, can wreck you. In Bikram, all you have is your body and the heat.

But again, as I've said before, Bikram isn't for everyone. But it is for me. And so far, my heart rate monitor confirms my affection for the yoga.

Day 7: Not As Bad.

Today marks one full week of Bikram. I seem to have a lot of energy after class today. My muscles were tired, and gave out in certain poses... But overall, I had a really good class. I didn't burn as many calories in today's class, but then, that's not the point of going to class for me. :)

But, just for fun, here is a day-by-day count of how many calories I burned in each class:

1. Burned 638 calories.
   
2. Burned 643 calories.
   
3. Burned 813 calories.
   
4. Burned 710 calories.
   
5. Burned 701 calories.
   
6. Burned 658 calories.
   
7. Burned 540 calories.
   

So in total, I spent 10.5 hours and burned 4,703 calories in my Bikram practice this week. It seems like days when my heart rate skyrockets and I have a tough class, I tend to burn more calories. And the days where I have a good class, I burn less.

So I guess the better shape I am in (in terms of being rested and hydrated) before the class, the fewer calories I burn.

Net-A-Porter Sale.

Even though I am not looking for anything new, I can't help but peruse the sale section on Net-A-Porter. You never know when something you've craved for months will finally be on sale and marked down 50%!

Here are a few items I have my eye on (but will likely not buy):

Marc Jacobs Stamped Mouse Flats


Good for Fall and Winter. I love how the stamped leather makes the flat look more chic and luxurious than it is.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Mini Dot Dobby Blouse


I've been craving this one for months, actually. Hmm... It's 50% off now. Hmm...

Vince Cashmere V-Neck


I think this would be a lovely Fall/Winter piece that could easily be paired with the turquoise-y necklace I bought last week.

Spicy Margarita!

Just got back from a Saturday night date with The Husband. We decided to hit a place that we hadn't been to in nearly two years... MASA.

It's a bit of a walk to MASA from our end of Tremont Street. But the evening was quite cool, so the walk over was enjoyable. And the restaurant was not busy, so we had a comfortable meal... As the tables at MASA are stacked fairly close in some sections, making private conversations impossible.

I decided, despite knowing that I have a 9am yoga class tomorrow, to have a margarita. MASA has a good selection of special margaritas. But after drinking the one I chose, none could ever be as special.

I went with the Habanero Watermelon Margarita.


(Sorry for the horrible picture. Phone camera!)

This is a margarita that combines habanero-infused tequila and watermelon puree with some triple sec and juice, and is served straight up. It's delicious! At first, when you sip, it tastes sweet. You get the cool watermelon flavor. Then it hits the back of your throat... And there's a major KICK! It's a very fun drink.

I think MASA has to be one of the best places for cocktails in the city.

How To Wear Scarves.

I've written a few times about all these scarves that I have collected recently.

One friend, Bex, was curious as to how I wear the scarves. And to be honest, it took me a while to figure out how to wear scarves. For the longest time I felt like when I tied one around my neck or in my hair, I was trying too hard to be fashionable. But the one thing I have learned recently about fitting scarves into my personal style is: Don't try too hard!

Seriously, I don't even look in the mirror when I am wrapping a scarf around me. I like the natural messiness you get when you don't stare in the mirror, trying to make something perfect. So here are pictures of how I wear my scarves.

Fold & Loop

This one everyone is familiar with... You fold the scarf in half, then fold it around your neck... Tucking the two loose ends through the loop. This type of wrap is best for bulky scarves that have a lot of mass to them.

Wrap Once & Loose

This is the best way, I think, to wear chiffon silk scarves. You wrap the scarf once around your neck and leave the ends loose.

Like Tying A Bow

This is a shorter scarf. It's actually a gentleman's scarf that is meant to hang simply around the neck. with the ends loose and in front of the chest. However, I loved the scarf so much for myself, that I found an alternative way to wear it. You place it around your neck and begin to tie it like a bow... Only, you just don't "bow" it. I like to keep the ends at different lengths when I tie.

Just Keep Wrapping & Wrapping

I bought this scarf for $10 at the airport before a Paris trip a few years back. It's nice and long. And it's my favorite one to wear in the Spring, when it's slightly chilly out and I can pair it with a blazer. You take one end of the scarf and keep it loose, just below your shoulder. Then you wrap and wrap and wrap the rest around your neck. Once you get to the end of the scarf, you just tuck the leftover end into the mass around your neck.

Belly Dancer Scarf

I bought this sash for a belly dancing class I went to last Summer. It's got hundreds of little coins attached to it that are meant to "chingle" when you wear it wrapped around your hips. But I don't wear it around the hips. Instead, I place the long corner in the center of my chest, just above the boobs. Then I take the ends and circle them around my neck, tucking them into the front.

This is also a great way to wear large scarves that you can fold in half and "triangulate" in the front. This is a very popular way to wear scarves right now.


Parisian Neck Tie

The most polished way to wear a scarf, specifically a small square scarf. I think it's what most of us envision when we think of scarves and Paris. I don't like wearing my scarves this way though. It's too fancy for me personally.

Instead... I wear this scarf around my wrist as a bracelet...


Anyone else have any examples of how to wear scarves?

Day 6: "It Means You Must Kill Yourself."

Sometimes I hear the funniest things in a Bikram class. And those funny bits don't come from the mouth of another practicing student... They come from the mouth of the teacher.

Imagine... You're in a pose. You're pushing yourself. You're focusing. You're in your zone. You feel good. And off in the distance, you hear the teacher instructing. She (or he) is coaching you to get into the position correctly and to hold it. They are encouraging you. And then, they say something that brings you back to reality and makes you laugh.

Here are a few things I have heard in my time in a Bikram class:

• "Bring your leg up. Push it up. You must do it! It's like Indian marriage. You have no choice."
• "This pose is good for your digestive system. You do this pose, you can eat whatever you like. You should be looking forward to breakfast this morning."
• "You must push your hips all the way to the left. All the way. You know what it means to push your hardest... It means 'you must kill yourself.'"

I had a good class, even with the giggling. And the teachers, who all seem to use verbiage that Bikram himself teaches them, are very motivating instructors. I actually don't have any favorites. I used to have teachers whose classes I avoided like the plague. Just because I didn't feel like they were enjoying themselves while they taught. But they left like three years ago. And now I don't base what class I go to on who is teaching. They're all good, but different.

Tomorrow is Day 7. Woohoo!

Day 5: Hot, Hot, Hot.

"Duh!"

It's "hot yoga"... It's supposed to be "hot."

But for some reason, I was really hot today. Uncontrollably hot. Otherwise, it was a good class. I did have the "burning of the feet" in awkward pose again. But I will have to figure out how to deal with that over the next 25 days.

Before class though, a few of us chatted briefly about the different types of yoga there are out there in the Universe. I have tried a few different types of yoga in my time... PranaVayu, Power, Ashtanga... My favorite by far is Bikram though.

I like Bikram best because it's the same exact 26 poses each class. And you don't "flow" through the poses. You hold each pose for 30 seconds to a minute. And you do each pose twice. So, unlike the "flow" forms of yoga, where you "flow" into one pose from another, you actually have a legitimate amount of time to adjust yourself in the pose. And that is how I learn yoga best... By holding the position and adjusting myself in it.

When it comes to yoga, there are so many possibilities that everyone can find the right one for them. But I like the heat, the postures and the structure of the Bikram classes.

"Trailing Spouse?"

I was directed to an article on CNN.com today about "trailing spouses."

A trailing spouse is the person in a relationship whose career takes a backseat to their spouse's. Most often, it is the women in a mixed-sex relationship that is the "trailing" partner. This is because, according to the article, "men and women are taught to play very different roles within marriage. Women are socialized to play a homemaking role within the family, whereas men are encouraged to focus on their careers and breadwinning."

Now, while I agree that in any relationship there needs to be compromise and one person will have to give in from time to time, I don't think one person has to be considered the "trailing spouse" over the other. I think by going into a relationship assuming one person is going to be the "trailing" spouse, you automatically de-emphasize that person's career. And whenever that person gets a promotion or flourishes in their career, it won't be seen as significant as the other persons.

I refuse to be a "trailing spouse." I may have moved to Boston to be with my fiance (now husband), but that very much was a "joint decision." When The Husband decided that he wanted to leave his last company a few years back, he asked me - before we were even engaged - where he should look for new employment. What type of companies and locations... He wanted me to know that I had a say in his decision. Nothing would be assumed. I gave him a list of locations that would be cool (Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, London) and a list of locations that I would shit on before I ever moved to them (Florida). If I had insisted that we stay in NYC, we would have... But I was open to being a part of a new city... Just like I am looking forward to being a part of a new city when we move to Toronto next year.

Yes, despite what people may think... We are moving to Toronto because we both want to. In fact, I am one of the people who pushed The Husband into passing the idea of moving to Toronto on to his company. I've been to Toronto a number of times. It is a fantastic city. And The Husband would not be going if I decided that I wasn't okay with it.

But... Come on... It's Toronto. Who doesn't love Toronto?

Bottom line: I don't think anyone should be a "trailing spouse" in a relationship. I think you have to take things as they come and realize that compromise is going to be needed. And I don't agree that one person should be known as the "breadwinner." Because that undermines the other person's salary. I mean, my husband makes a lot more than me. HOWEVER, my salary is no pittance. I could certainly afford to keep myself in the lifestyle I have grown accustomed to... I would just have to cut back to weekly training sessions instead of going twice a week.

The Bona Fides Of Marriage: Part Deux.

It never ends, people!

In the on-going saga of securing The Husband a permanent Greencard, our lawyers have asked us for additional proof of our marriage... Simply to be proactive in showing the U. S. immigration service that we are absolutely 100% legitimately in love and married.

Why are they asking for so much proof? Well...

• We don't share the same last name. (I will never, ever, ever, ever change my last name.)
• We don't share financial accounts. (Until you have children, I don't see much point. I make my fortune. He makes his. We buy each other nice things. I buy myself nice things. He takes us on nice vacations... We like to give to each other and be able to surprise each other. Having one account makes that difficult. I truly believe a "happy marriage" means "separate financial accounts.")
• We don't have children yet. (We are still debating "natural" versus "adopted." I'm in favor of the latter.)

So, in addition to photos with our families, a shared rental lease agreement, shared health insurance information and shared tax returns... We NOW need to provide written a written affidavit from a family member or friend that provides additional evidence that we are in fact married. And we have to get it to them next week.

You know, when we do make our eventual move to Canada... The U.S. Government is gonna wish they had made it easier for The Husband to receive his permanent Greencard. They're gonna miss the income tax that we pay each year.

Their loss.

Day 4: Plantar Fasciitis Set In.

Class went well today in terms of me not having the pukey feeling. I ate early enough and stuck to a liquid lunch, so my belly didn't feel "ugh." But I did have one problem: plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis is condition in your feet the tendons on your sole (know as the "plantar fascia") are worn out. Usually this is a side effect from pronation of the foot (putting more pressure on the inside of your foot when you walk). Because I wear flip flops and flats a lot, my arches are a little "fallen." And I do naturally pronate. Which means my plantar fascia are easily agitated... Especially at the gym and during you, when I am trying to stand high on my toes and bend my knees.

Yep, I could barely get into parts of awkward pose tonight because the bottoms of my feet were burning. But the rest of the class was quite good for me. Tough, and sweatier than usual... But very good.

Bagel Innards.

I have decided that today's lunch will be in liquid form in order to avoid the pukey feeling at yoga tonight. So I had to eat something substantial and solid for breakfast. My choice...

A bagel! But I have this habit lately of pulling out the innards of my bagel.



I do this to cut down on the calories. Also, bagels are sometimes too filling. So pulling out the innards helps.

Does anyone else do this with their bagels?

Stealing Spa Services!

We all know I love a good spa experience... I've tried so many in my time:

• Massages
• Power Facials
• Laser Therapy
• Microdermabrasian
• Vitamin C Facials
• Ear Candling
• Colon Hydrotherapy
• Acupunture
• Chakra Balancing
• Hypnotherapy
• Third-Eye Hot Oil Massage
• Pedicures
• Waxings

Lots of things! And rarely do you get a discount on these types of things. When you "spa," you usually expect to pay a pretty penny (not including tip) to your specialist. So these types of things can cost you upwards of $300 a treatment once all is said and done. However, for a very limited time, you can get a great deal on a few treatments at my favorite spa in Boston, Exhale.



Yep, you're reading that right. If you book a treatment by June 30th (next Monday), you can get it and pay only $60. Your choice of treatments, though, are limited to the True Transformation Facial and the 60-minute Fusion Massage. Each one, if you buy before June 30th, will cost you only $60.

Normally, both of these treatments each cost $130. So getting more than half off for them is amazing. It's like you're stealing.

If you book, just remember, "Tip your specialist well." In fact, even though you're only paying $60 for the treatment, I still recommend tipping 15% of the full cost. So about $20.

Day Three: Vegan Efforts Failed.

I failed today to keep vegan.

It started off on the wrong foot when I decided to go with a bagel and light veggie cream cheese for breakfast. And then lunch rolled around... And I agreed to meet a vendor at a restaurant near Quincy Marketplace. So I didn't eat lunch until about 1pm... And lunch was a buffalo chicken sandwich... Which meant...

A really difficult yoga class!!!!!

Ugh. I had the same problem today as I did yesterday. Belly was too full and any pose that involved putting pressure on my belly had me in pain. There was one point where I felt my throat start to burn, as though I was gonna vomit. And rabbit pose, I couldn't even get into that pose.

So, I've made it through Day Three. But I think I will ease up on the whole "vegan" thing and just switch to a "vegetarian" diet while I am going through this 30-day. I need to have some cheese. I can go without the meat and I can do only soy when I drink my coffee, but I gotta have cheese.

New Obsession: Lancome Juicy Tubes.

I have the hardest time finding lip colors I can wear. With pale skin and dark hair, it makes things difficult. Reds don't quite look right... And pinks are just awful on me. Plums and mauves are okay, but very boring. Peaches? Don't even think about it. Can't do them.

Most often, I find myself going with a gloss of some kind. But I feel like they don't usually pack enough color to make an impact. They're too subtle. And the lipsticks just pack too much color. So much so that it feels fake when I wear them. But this weekend, I found something new to try. Something I find myself LOVING...



Lancome Juicy Tubes!

It's lip gloss, but it's rich with color. I went with the "Sun Bronze" color. And I love it. It looks great on me. And it tastes really yum. Reminds me of wine for some reason.

Has anyone else tried them? If not, I recommend you give them a whirl.

Vespas In Boston.

While in Rome a few weeks ago, Frogger and I kept getting wowed by how many people drive scooters there. We knew, of course, how popular scooters were in Europe... But we would turn a corner in the city and suddenly find ourselves walking down a street where 50 or so scooters would be parked side-by-side.

They are the premiere way to get around in Rome. If I was more confident, I would have rented one myself and scooted around the city. But I am deathly afraid of motorcycles and scooters. So it was out of the question. But what one question I did find myself asking is, "How long till you start seeing more people riding around on Vespas in Boston?"



Of course, I know a few people who already ride around on Vespas, scooters and motorcycles. But only these few. And I rarely see scooters on the streets in Boston. Bicycles, yes. Scooters, no. Till today...

As I waited in line this morning at the D-team Starbucks across the street (where two bi-atches decided to order 10 espresso drinks for their office right at peak traffic time!), I saw a gentleman drive up in a Vespa on to the sidewalk.

He was wearing a windbreaker and helmet. But he also had on nice dress pants. And I soon discovered that he was wearing a full dress suit under his riding gear. He had on a suit jacket, tie, dress shirt... Even nice dress shoes... All under his riding gear. He locked up his helmet, windbreaker and scooter to a bike rack stand with his heavy padlock. And he walked down the street, briefcase in hand, looking as if he had just stepped out of a car. Not a hair was out of place from the helmet, and not a wrinkle was on his suit.

I wouldn't be surprised if he has a car at home. A car that is too expensive and too inconvenient to drive right now. So he probably picked himself up a scooter for his daily commute. Or at least, this is how I imagine the scenario. And maybe that's how we will begin to see more and more scooters on the streets of Boston...

Can't get rid of your SUV because the dealer won't let you trade it in and no one will buy it? Park it at home, and get a Vespa in the meantime.

Can't afford to spend so much on filling up your compact car? Park it at home and get a Vespa.

Live in the city, don't own a car, but want to start exploring places the T doesn't go easily? Get a Vespa.

Let's all get Vespas!

Day 2: Guacamole, Peas & Bikram.

Ugh.

That's all I can really say about how I felt in tonight's Bikram class. "Ugh."

I don't know why, but any position where we put pressure on our bellies, I felt like puking during it. And I purposely made sure to eat my lunch before 1pm... And I didn't eat anything heavy. I have some tortilla chips with a little guacamole, wasabi peas and grapes. Nothing was heavy. And before class, I didn't feel like anything was just sitting in my stomach. But once the class started and we moved into positions, I wanted to puke.

But Day Two is over. Day Three tomorrow!

Telecommuting.

I ask my boss every day if I can work from home. He always says , "No." And while I think it's complete "bunk" that I can't, I do get why he says no. He enjoys my witty humor and doesn't want to go a day without its presence in the open office.

However...

I think that with things being the way they are today, telecommuting truly needs to be an available option. Between commuting costs (gas prices, commuter passes, taxi fares, etc) going up, along with the Internet allowing easy connections to work VPNs... You would think more companies would be open to the idea.

I have a friend who works in a quiet yet very in-demand field. They need to work from home for about three months to take care of a family member who is under-going a serious surgery. They can easily do their job from home. However, the larger company that owns their company won't allow anyone to work from home. So they have to take unpaid leave off from the company to take care of their family member.

And, despite knowing that if this person ever left the company, they would have a bitch of a time replacing them (because truly qualified people in this field are very hard to find)... They are saying "fuck you" to them. (Though, again, I should point out that it's the parent company - not their immediate company - that is not allowing telecommuting.)

"Enough is enough!" I say. People should be able to work from home, especially when they need to.

Wasabi Peas...

Why are these things so addictive?



I bought a seven ounce container of them during lunch, and I have probably gotten through about a third of the container.

And now... My nose is running and it feels like it is on fire.

New Heidi Montag Single: Fashion.

Saw this over at PerezHilton.com...



I have to admit... It's not entirely bad. It's catchy. Will it catch on? I don't know. But I can see teen girls really digging it. And young tweeners too.

Day 1: I Ate A Salad For Lunch.

I got up this morning at 4:30am. I got up and had my cup of hot water with lemon. Then I packed my bags and caught a cab to the yoga studio.

Once I got there though, the teacher greeted me with, "You're the first one here!"

See, now, this is one of my fears. I always fear that I may be the only one if I go to the 6am Bikram class. And I would hate to have a teacher hold class if it's just me in there. But fortunately, another person showed up. So there were two of us in there.

In addition to kicking off my 30-day challenge, I also decided to get a salad for lunch today. Now you may not realize this, but I don't typically eat salads for lunch. I eat pizza, sandwiches, cookies or hamburgers usually. Salads "bore" me. But, given the slim number of things I can eat, salads are pretty much my only option.

Today's salad included: mixed greens, broccoli, red onion, carrots, cucumbers and olive oil on the side.

Despite the hardcore veggie ingredients, it was tasty. And I bought some grapes to munch on as well. I'll try to be more creative with tomorrow's salad though... As I am sure that is what I will end up eating.

Warm-Weather Crazies.

So, now that Summer is here... It appears so are all the midnight "crazies" in my neighborhood who like to argue and wake us up in the middle of the night.

For the past three nights, The Husband and I have been woken up to people arguing. Friday night it was people screaming and arguing for about an hour. (It sounded like things were going to break out into a fist fight at any moment.) Then Saturday, it was a house party on one of the back streets behind us. Then, Sunday came, and we figured it would be a "day of rest" for the crazies... But we were wrong.

In the middle of our slumber, we were once again woken up by the sounds of people arguing. Only this time, it was located right behind our apartment. There is a row of houses behind our building, and our back deck looks over some gardens as well as the houses. So we had the pleasure of hearing the entire argument between a few guys, which lasted about 20 minutes.

Good times. The warm weather does bring out the crazies, doesn't it?

Turtle On Tremont.

Lately, I am obsessed with scarves and necklaces.

This is odd because I never really paid much attention to things that are meant to be worn around the neck. Yet, I now own about 10 different scarves, and I bought yet another necklace this afternoon. But this necklace is amazing...



I don't know what the stone on it is, but I absolutely love it. I got it from the Turtle boutique on Tremont Street while walking home this afternoon. I am possibly going to wear it out tonight for cocktails and dinner with friends.

Looking at it makes me want to go to Costa Rica. I don't know why.

Vegan Weekdays.

I've decided to finally get back around to that 30-day Bikram challenge I started in March. I got sidelined after a few days from the flu, which then turned into a cold a few weeks later. Then April hit, and I had traveling. And then May came, but I wanted to wait until after my trip to Rome to start another one. So here I am...

I start my 30-day challenge this coming Monday. It's been nearly a year since my last challenge. And I am overdue for one. This time, though, I plan to do things a little differently. I intend to do a few morning classes during the week. And I will also follow a vegan diet during the week. Sound crazy? Work with me here, people...

Over the past year and a half, I have noticed something: I don't seem to respond well to meat and dairy products. When I was in university, out of convenience, I followed a mostly vegetarian diet. (The burritos from Taco Bell were 76-cents! Cheap for college students!) Then when I moved to NYC, eating meat was reserved for weekends while out on dates. I almost never kept meat in my apartment. It was too much of a hassle to cook it, so I didn't. I existed on pasta and crackers.

Then, when I moved to Boston with my fiance (now husband), cooking meat became much more practical. There were two people eating it. And two people to deal with cleaning up from cooking it. This was also the period when I started drinking a lot more coffee drinks with milk in them. I think my body kept up with it for as long as it could... Then about a year ago, I hit a wall.

Anytime I ate certain meats, I felt sick. Same with some cheeses too. And milk? Ugh. But I didn't want to give those things up. I mean, I have no ethical oppositions to meat. I am totally fine with people eating big slabs of raw beef right in front of me. I am one who can totally appreciate the fine taste of a medium rare filet. But I always felt heavy and full after eating meat.

I should point out, however, that there are certain vegetables that make me feel this way too... Including potatoes and eggplant. So I shouldn't eat those either.

So, starting Monday, I am going to follow a weekday vegan menu. No dairy or meat. No poultry. And no fish. Well, maybe fish once or twice a week. Then, when the weekend comes, I can eat whatever I want.

I am hoping eating this way will help with certain problems I keep having in my Bikram practice... And floor poses where we lay on our bellies... Ugh, they make me want to puke! And I KNOW it is because I have undigested food just around in my stomach.

Maybe, after I start going vegan during the week, I will make some progress on my floor-bow pose? Yes, vegan during the week, and pleasure on the weekend with dairy and meat.

The weekends are my "fellatio in the garden of Eden."

Erath Pinot Noir 2006.

A few weeks back, I can't recall exactly when or how, I was introduced to a new Pinot Noir.



Erath Pinot Noir is from Oregon, and it is delicious. (Should anyone be inspired to send me a gift, I would never turn down a few bottles of this stuff.) I know very little about wine, but I think this stuff is great. It reminds me of cherries. The really dark ones.



The last time I had this wine was when I had people over for some Mexican food I had made a few weeks ago. Frogger and I stopped into the wine store down the street, and we picked up a bottle of it. They had a few bottles of the stuff in the store, but we only got one. Our bad...

I went in to the store tonight to get some, and I didn't spot any on the floor. I was hoping the in-house wine expert would be around, but they appeared not to be in the vicinity. So I tried to figure out what I should get instead. And I began digging through all the racks in the cellar. Then...

Tucked behind a rack of organic wines was a smaller rack with bottles on it. Behind one of the bottles on the very bottom shelf was a bottle of the Erath Pinot Noir 2006. Score! There didn't appear to be any other bottles around.

"This could very well be the last one they have!" I said to myself.

So I picked it up and walked back upstairs to pay. I think someone had hidden it there, hoping no one would find it. It was also missing it's price tag... So I think the person took it off in the hopes that no one would snag it if they didn't know the cost.

A few seconds later, I was handing the clerk my $18 and walking home with my treasure.

After I got home, I noticed on the back of the bottle:



You can't quite read it, but it says, "Grapes from the EARTH, wines from the HEART... ERATH."

I think this is a fine wine to be drinking in the evening of the Summer solstice.

Summer Solstice 2008.

Tomorrow will be the longest day of the year.

By "longest" I mean that the Sun will be out longer tomorrow than it will any other day of the year. This is because the Summer Solstice hits tonight at 11:59pm. The Summer Solstice is where the Earth's axis turns, pushing the hemisphere you are in (either Northern or Southern) closest to the Sun.

Usually, I don't do much in "celebration" of the Summer Solstice. This year though, I plan to hang out with friends for cocktails tomorrow evening. And I intend to clean, de-clutter, and purify my home tomorrow during the day. After I get my new season hair cut and color at Umi Salon.

It's best to start the new season fresh and clean. This reminds me though, I need to pick up a sage smudge stick to burn and push out the stale energy in my apartment.

Gloucester Teen Pregnancy Epidemic.

Continuing along with today's main topic, teen pregnancy, I wanted to make sure all of you had read the article from the Globe today about that high school in Gloucester where some teen girls made a pact to get pregnant.

"More students are coming in and asking about pregnancy testing," the city's public health director, Jack Vondras, told the Globe last month. "What's odd is that some of them are disappointed because they're not getting pregnant."

In addition to being disappointed about not getting pregnant, it is worth noting that none of the 17 girls pregnant at this school of 1200 is over the age of 16. the girls apparently wanted to get pregnant to raise their babies together.

I say, "what a bunch of dumb-assed bitches." If it's an unintentional pregnancy, that's one thing. But intentionally getting pregnant when you're not even halfway through high school?

Obviously, these are girls who have no long-term ambitions. And that's kind of sad... Why weren't they raised to have ambitions outside of just being a mom? I certainly don't wish these girls any ill-will... But, come on! This is a problem if they think it's a great achievement having a family before they have even finished high school.

Makes me wonder what these girls weren't taught about self-respect, taking care of themselves, and life in general.

Chinese Baby Calendar - Predicting The Sex Of Your Baby.

So, in case you haven't heard, Jamie-Lynn Spears has had her baby. She had a little girl named Maddie Briann.

Now that we know it's a little girl, it got me thinking if the Chinese astrology baby predictor calendar was "right-on" with the sex of the baby.

In case you don't know, a Chinese baby calendar is used to predict the sex of a baby before it's born. You take the woman's age at conception, along with the month the baby was conceived, and that determines what the sex of the baby will be.

Allegedly, it has a 90% hit-rate. Allegedly. I wouldn't know. I don't know nothing 'bout birthing no babies.

We know Jamie-Lynn was 16 years old when she conceived last September. So, I went to go look up if the calendar worked in this case...



Wow... I guess the Chinese don't have babies before the age of 18. This should be a method used in preventing under-aged girls from getting pregnant...

"Use protection, or don't do it girls! You won't be able to use ancient Chinese astrology to determine the sex of your baby!"

"Toosh" & "Doo-Shay."

I have developed a new habit lately thanks to someone at work who I won't name... I have to segue for a moment first though... See, no matter where I work, I tend to pick up the habits of those that I work around.

When I worked at The Evil Empire, I picked up the habit of using the word "sexy" to describe new ideas and products to brides. "This vodka and caviar server? You must register for it! It's an incredibly sexy gift. Your friends will be fighting over who gets to buy it for you!"

When I worked at my first search engine marketing (SEM) firm, there was a co-worker of mine who would jokingly do the "karate chop" with his hands when talking. After seeing him do it all the time, I picked it up too. (And still use it today.)

When I worked at my second SEM firm, I learned and mastered the art of talking loudly and quickly to confuse clients about search initiatives. It also helped to throw in a lot of acronyms while talking to them, as it would help in confusing them.

Which brings me to my current job... I have now picked up the habit of mispronouncing words on purpose. The two biggest ones are "touche" and "douche."

A few months back, someone began pronouncing "touche" as "toosh." And I picked it up, as I found it quite funny. Now, I even use it IMs, writing out "toosh" instead of "touche." It will usually solicit a giggle.

Today though, I decided to evolve another similar word all on my own. I like to use the word "douche" a lot. For example, "That folk singer outside of borders? She can't sing for shit. What a douche! She needs to just pack up and go home!"

... Only now, instead of saying "douche" (or "doosh") I like to pronounce it "doo-shay." As in, "You see that guy over there hitting on that chick who's clearly not interested? What a doo-shay!"

I think doing this kind of thing livens up my day. Though, I doubt the Grammar Vandal would approve.

Astrology Dressing: Pisces Flip Flops.

It's rare that I find something like this...



Pisces Fancy Flip Flops!

They're by Michael Kors... And if you are a Pisces, they may be a cute option for you this Summer. They're currently on sale for $147. And I personally think they're for more than the beach.

These are flip flops that are meant to be flashed and shown off as often as possible. They're very bohemian... But the jewels on the fish's gills dress things up a bit. So much fun!

$300 Tee On Sale For $225.

So, you know I am more than happy to pay a pretty penny for quality designer items. And some of you probably know that I am more than enthusiastic to call out "bullshit" on "designer" items that are seriously over-priced crap.

This falls into the latter category...



This Moschino Cheap & Chic Tee is now $225, marked down from $300.

Seriously... This thing was initially proved at $300. Why? I don't know. But let's try to figure it out together, shall we?

Details:

• Gray
• 100% cotton (not organic cotton, just plain cotton)
• Spray-painted print
• Considered a "graffiti" piece

Now, I am one that fully respects the graffiti arts. I know how creative and difficult some of that type of work can be. It takes a careful hand to design and implement the outrageous-ness of graffiti art on to cloth.

However, simply spray painting a smiley face onto a cotton tee does not make it worth $300. Or even $225.

Alexander McQueen Skull Cashmere Scarf.

Umm...

While in Italy, I picked up two new scarves. This means I already have about eight different scarves. And yet, I find myself so tempted to add one more to my collection...



The Alexander McQueen cashmere blend scarf is on sale at Net-a-Porter!

I'm not yet sold on buying it, but I've had my eye on this piece for about five months now. It's delicious.

Why Do You Not Work, Caffeine?

Does anyone else have this problem?

I often find myself tired during the day at work. Even if I've slept 9 full hours the night before. And when I find myself in the middle of a "sleepy episode," I get up and go outside in search of a caffeine boost. However, it nearly never works...

The reason why is simple, "Caffeine has no effect on me."

Seriously, people. I could drink a Venti cup from Starbucks filled with shots of espresso to the brim... And 15 minutes later (if I'm tired) I could easily be in bed, falling fast asleep.

Most people have the pleasure of getting a nice jolt of energy when they drink their morning cup, or have a Coke... I get nothing. And to be honest, I don't have to have any at all. I would be fine without coffee or Coke. So why do I drink so much of it?

Well, I do like the taste. But also, I like the hope that it may someday have an effect on me. I would like to be one of those people who gets up in the morning and can't function without their morning coffee. But the truth is, I could get up in the morning and function just as well without caffeine.

I went out for a 2pm coffee run a little while ago. I wanted to get some fresh air into my system, as well as a tall soy misto made with the espresso roast. But after making my way through half the cup, I still find myself wanting to crawl under my desk and take a nap.

In fact, I asked Mr. Sports (my boss) if I could do just that. He said, "Go ahead."

Then I asked, "Will I get into trouble?"

He responded with, "Why don't you try it and find out?"

I've decided to just sit it out at my desk for now.

I'm So Hot For Them: New Seasonal Manolos.

I don't know why, but lately I am very attracted to chunky shoes. I don't currently own any, and I don't exactly know how I would wear them... But I do find them incredibly cool. And today, I got an email with the latest Manolos offered from Bergdorf's... And it featured chunky shoes!

Manolo Slingback Booties
Check out the stiletto heels on these! They could pierce the human body! These are the ultimate weapons in self-defense. No one will mess with you when you wear these. That would mean signing their own death warrant.



Manolo Strappy Patent/Suede Sandal
I love the wide straps on this pair. Once you get them on, they're staying on your feet. And I like that they (like the booties above) give a "chunky" feel without being platformed.

Jessica Simpson, Please Stop Wearing Uggs.

I am all for being casual.

On the weekends, especially... Though sometimes on weekdays at work, I will totally rock the scruffy jeans and sweater/funky t-shirt look. Occasionally, I'll even dare to wear flip flops in the office. And I will definitely wear them on the weekends.

The weekends, while out running errands, are for scruffy-ing it up. But, I feel this is just way too extreme...



I don't care if all you're doing is buying groceries, if you walk out of the house dressed in cut-offs and flip-down Uggs in the Summertime, I will mock you.

This is just an awful look. I can get past the short-shorts and sweatshirt. I actually think this is a great look for her, until you get to the shoes.

I'm a big fan of Uggs. But Uggs are for Winter & cold-damp weather. NOT for Summertime, on the asphalt, while wearing short-shorts.

Doesn't Miss Simpson do a shoe line? Shouldn't she know better?

Sedona?

Just giving some thought to taking a trip over Labor Day weekend. Even though I grew up in Arizona, I have never been to Sedona.

I am trying to scope out and see if there is a maybe a yoga retreat I could go to over the long holiday weekend. I think that would be fun.

Plus, I could pop in quickly and see my family.

It's Just Pleasure.

Someone asked me what I was referring to last week when I wrote, "Fellatio In The Garden Of Eden."

Specifically, they didn't understand the reference to the Sistine Chapel. I explained to them that in the panel on the ceiling that illustrates "The Downfall of Adam and Eve and their Expulsion from the Garden of Eden," Adam and Eve were interrupted in the process of being intimate...

(Click to enlarge the photo.)


As our tour guide through the Vatican explained to us, Michelangelo drew Adam and Even in the first half of the picture having been interrupted from a session of "fellatio." (His words, not mine.)

So when I say "Fellatio in the Garden of Eden," this is what I am referring to... This work of art that shows two souls enjoying themselves, and then getting kicked out of paradise for doing for it.

Why do some people always have to ruin the fun others are trying to have? Can't people just mind their own business and let other people do their thing? There's nothing wrong with having pleasure...

Adam and Eve enjoyed apples and fellatio in the Garden of Eden. I enjoy coffee, magazines, shoes and bags.

The Wedding That (Red, White &) Blue.

Brides can be cruel.

They have so much power. It is seen as "their" day, when they get married. Everything is centered around them. Not that it all shouldn't be... But sometimes you get brides who have a really quirky (and endearing) sense of humor. A sense of humor that requires those in attendance of the wedding suffer at the mercy of said humor.

One reader wrote me this evening with her example:

I'm hoping that you can help me out with a fashion quandary. I'm going to an evening (but not super formal) wedding over the July 4th weekend. The invitation stipulated the following: In honor of our country and to provide for fantastic photo ops (really?!?!), please wear only red and blue to the wedding. Our glowing bride will be supplying the white, of course.

The reader, Miss K, needs some ideas for a clutch bag and shoes. She will be wearing (what sounds like) a fabulous Azure one-shoulder Diane vonFurstenberg shift dress. (Seriously, does the dress not sound incredible?!?) And because Miss K is (in her words) "freakishly tall," we need to navigate the waters of shoe options carefully. So here we go:

Shoes
I say, "Let's start with shoes!" They're going to be the toughest to decide upon for someone so tall. Now, since it's a Summer wedding, obviously sandals are the "go-to" choice. But, there are so many chic choices right now with sandals. "Strappy" sandals are always in fashion. But even more in demand are "gladiator-esque" sandals.

J. Crew Tierney Kitten Heels
Sexy, yes. The heel is small, just under three inches. And the design on the top is eye-catching. Silver and periwinkle straps (which would accent the blue of the dress) are entangled to provide a nice substantial. yet feminine, look.



Stuart Weitzman Gladiator Sandals
Hear me out on this one... Or, at least try to envision this... One-shoulder dress combined with a chunky gladiator flat sandal. The jewelry choices could consist of long drop earrings or a demanding silver cuff. Very Roman. Very sexy. Plus, these are flats.



Jimmy Choo Atlas Patent Sandals
An extravagance, I know... But I couldn't not include them! Yes, getting the buckles all cinched would be a bit of a "bitch." But they're Choos... They're worth it.



Clutch
Clutches are standard fare for evenings out. Especially when it comes to weddings. I didn't want to veer to crazy with the clutch, as I did with the shoes, so here are my simple recommendations for clutch adornment...

Calypso R2 Clutch w/ Sting
A snowy snakeskin.. Simple in design, luxurious in texture. Definitely a "keeper" for many, many years to come.


Hobo International
I have two clutch bags by Hobo International myself. They are always surprising. Hidden pockets, soft leathers... And prices that don't make you cringe.

Savoy



Symphony



As for her date, a husband who is (like mine) Canadian, I feel the obvious selection for his wedding attire should be navy BLUE dress suit and light BLUE dress shirt. That way he is not in violation of the bride's request. I mean, unless he is just dying to wear nothing but Canada RED...

Hope this helps provide you with some inspiration, Miss K!

Flying A Plane.

Had a dream last night that I was finally able to remember when I woke up in the morning.

I dreamt I was flying a plane.

It was my turn to do the "take-off" and get the plane into the air. So I hopped behind the controls. I put my foot down on the gas, and started moving the plane forward. But it wasn't fast enough to get it into the air, and I knew that. So I slammed my foot down on the gas to get us going faster. And then I pulled back on the controls sharply to get the plane slanting up into the air.

We made it with no problems, though it was kind of tight. There were some tall buildings that could have caused major problems had I not sped up in time.

Also, after the plane was in the air, I went in search of a bathroom to pee. (Always with the needing to pee in my dreams!) And I found a few, but none of them felt safe enough to go in to pee. I kept thinking the windows in the bathroom would open spontaneously while I was in there. So I wanted a bathroom with no windows.

And then I woke up. After having flown a plane into the sky and gone in search of a bathroom where I could pee.

Here's what the symbols in the dream mean:

• Airplane - To see an airplane in your dream, indicates that you will overcome your obstacles and rise above to a new level of prominence and status. You may experience a higher consciousness, new-found freedom and greater awareness.
• Building - To see a building in your dream, represents the self and the body. How high you are in the building indicates a rising level of understanding or awareness.
• Flying - To dream that you are flying, signifies a sense of freedom where you had initially felt restricted and limited.
• Urinate - To dream that you can not find the bathroom, signifies that you are have difficulties in releasing and expressing your emotions.
• Windows - To see windows in your dream, signifies bright hopes, vast possibilities and insight.

Lulling & Dilly-Dallying.

Since coming back from Rome, I've been in a lull.

My sleeping schedule is really off right now. (I either sleep too much or too little.) My appetite is off. (I'm not craving anything in particular. Usually I do.) And my body doesn't seem able to handle certain foods all of the sudden.

Additionally, the sleep that I am able to get is loaded with memorable dreams. However, I keep waking up from them, and then try to go back to sleep... So I forget them. And I don't think the heat spell we are having right now is really helping me with my transition back in to Boston.

I may just be going through a bout of writer's block right now... I've been trying to finish the opening chapter to my manuscript, and I just can't seem to do it. And my usual "get inspired" things haven't been helping:

• Cook something. (I certainly could cook something, but I have a weird appetite right now.)
• Yoga. (I went to class today and was really dehydrated. It was a good class, but I found myself having to sit half postures out.)
• Shopping for magazines. (There are really no new ones out right now that I haven't read.)
• Watch Weeds. (I just downloaded and watched the entire third season. And as good as it was, I got nothing.)
• Take a bath. (It's too hot to take a bath.)

I think I may just try to go to bed now.

Tim Russert Has Died.

This is incredibly sad news for me and the thousands and thousands of journalists out there for whom Tim Russert was a journalistic hero.

I was introduced to "Meet The Press" my junior year in university. My award-winning journalism teacher at the time made us watch MTP every Sunday, and then write a synopsis for class the next day.

I quickly fell in love with Russert's style, his charisma and his knowledge. He was in a small class of journalists who I look up to, and he will be a tough act to follow. He may not be able to ever be followed.

This is such a shocking loss, made even tougher knowing that this is an election year. It is going to be an even more historical election year, and it is tough knowing that Tim Russert will not be a part of it in the way I had grown accustomed.

Thanks for the inspiration, Mr. Russert. You will continue to teach us all, even now that you are gone.

I Went To Rome...

Ate a bunch of food...

Drank a lot of wine...

Ate a lot of desserts...

And yet, I seem to have lost 4 pounds.

Makes sense though... You walk everywhere in Rome, and Italians in Rome aren't usually fat.

Rome Goals - Progress

Before I leave Rome, I need to update you on my progress. If you recall, I had goals for Rome. Here is how I did on them...

1. Attempt a Bikram yoga class in Italian. Attempted a class. Got to the studio 20 minutes before hand, and it was closed. Either the schedule online was wrong, or class was cancelled. But I did show up. So I should get a half a credit.
2. Drink more wine than water. The first night in Rome I did that. The rest of the time, I drank lots more water. You had to though, it was so hot here.
   
3. Drink more espresso than water. I didn't accomplish this one. I seemed to have dropped my caffiene intake while in Rome. I only had one shot of espresso in the mornings. And then another one at night, after dinner.
   
4. Walk everywhere, and do so fashionably. Done. We walked everywhere. And I did it in cute flats the whole time.
   
5. Write for two hours each morning, and one hour each night. Done.
   
6. Dine for at least three hours at dinner each night, and not get stressed about it. It was usually about two and a half hours each night at cocktails and dinner. So full credit.
7. Buy one incredibly fashionable item that I will legitimately wear back in the states. I bought two scarves, a new wallet and three new pairs of earrings here. Oh, and I bought a new suitcase.
   
8. Come up with book title. Um, done!

An excellent trip's progress!

Rome, Day Five: Taking It Easy.

Frogger and I had gotten around to seeing most of what we wanted to see in the first four days. So for today, we wanted to wander the streets of the Trastevere area, Campo de Fiori, Piazza del Popolo and the Villa Borghese public park. We also decided to sit back down in the Piazza Navona for lunch, while we watched the artists display and sell their work.

Trastevere
The main draw here is the Piazza Santa Maria.



And, in my opinion, that's about it. There are a large number of panhandlers in this area, and the streets are very tiny. Given that this is the tourist high season, I was surprised there weren't more attractions. Supposedly, the nightlife here is abundant. There are a lot of clubs and bars. So perhaps it's better to visit at night, if you're a club person. (I rarely am.)

Campo de Fiori
This was a nice surprise. I hadn't thought of walking over here. It's a farmer's market. And the produce looked amazing. I saw so many things, including...

Zuchinnis with their blossoms...


And little bright red cherries. They look like candy!



Piazza Navona



This is just a lovely area. So many cafes and restaurants. And it is fun to look at all the art being sold. The fountains and the church in the piazza are beautiful.



Piazza del Popolo



My favorite part of this piazza are the two churches that sit side-by-side.



They look the same, but they are different. One is a hexagon, the other is an octagon.

Afterwards, we walked up to the park, and we overheard numerous sirens going off in the distance. We looked off into the direction of the busy streets below, and our view told us something...



The President of the United States ("Bushie," as I like to call him) had landed in Rome on his last official European tour as POTUS.

So I decided to give him the finger as he and his entourage drove by.



Normally people, I am a nice person. (Unless you piss me off.) And I have no tolerance for assholes. And I always let that be known.

After the park, Frogger and I decided we had to hit up the bar we were at the first night in Rome. It's on top of the hotel in the Spanish Steps. It has an outdoor patio, and the people there are so nice. When we walked in, they remembered us from four nights ago. They were happy to see us. That was nice. We had a few rounds of Bellinis (champagne and peach) and Rossinis (champagne and strawberry).



After cocktail hour(s), we headed over to the Via Condotti. No, we weren't shopping, as we had already done that earlier in the day... Instead, we were in search of a place to feast on our last night in Roma. Off the Via Condotti are smaller streets where AUTHENTIC Italian restaurants hide. And we found such a place...

The Trattoria Otello alle Concordia.



I spotted it as we walked down the side street. it was tucked into an off-shooting alleyway. I said to Frogger, "Let's just try that place."

It was packed back in the alley. I thought, "There's no way we'll get a table. There appears to be a 'waitlist.'"

But you know what? We walked back there, and they sat us right away. And there WAS a waitlist. We just got there at exactly the right time.

The menu was offered to us in Italian, English and Chinese. We managed to decide on the many things listed that sounded delicious. (I went with a plate of fresh mozzerella and proscuitto - what else? - and a bowl of fettucine with pancetta and onion.) And on the menu, they didn't offer a slew of wines to choose from for your dinner. You had two options: white or red. You told them you either wanted "A bottle of red," or "A bottle of white."

We went with the bottle of red, and it was delicious. As was the whole meal, including the panna cotta we ordered for dessert.

Yes, it was a great way to end the week here. It's flown by, and it has been wonderful. We board a plane tomorrow at noon, Rome time, and will be back in Boston at 3pm. Neither of us plan to eat on Alitalia flight. So we will have to make our meal tonight last us till we get home tomorrow.

Rome, Day Four: The Acanto Day Spa!

Frogger and I had our spa afternoon today. It was lovely.

We went to the Acanto Day Spa, located in the Piazza Rondanini. Though it was a little tough to find, we eventually got there and were ready for our massages.



The spa was beautiful on the inside. We were take down to the changing rooms and given lockers and robes for all our things. We were offered tea and a steam bath to start. But we chose to rest in the lounge area, chatting before our treatments.

Frogger chose to go with the Ayuervedic massage. I went with the Shirodhara - the chakra massage.

Now, there are two things you should know visitig a spa in Rome. First, you have to be very comfortable with pretty much being naked in front of your masseuse. It's not like in America, where they leave the room and you hop under a sheet, and then they come back in. Nope. In Rome (possibly all of Europe), they don't leave the room. And for a good part of the massage, you are pretty much lying without a sheet. And you're lying face up. And because it's a massage, you're topless.

Second thing to know, which is more about the particular massage I got, it's not really a massage. Even though it was kinda billed that way on the spa menu, there was only about a total of 20 minutes (out of 90) that dealt with actual massaging. The other 70 minutes, I just had warmed oil pouring over my third eye. Don't get me wrong... It was wonderful. And I actually almost fell asleep. While the oil is poured over the third eye, the masseuse/Shaman-type person used Reiki to clear my other chakras. This was very similar to the chakra-balancing I had last year.

This was a wonderful spa. If you come to Rome, I recommed stopping in for a treatment. They offer a variety of things on their menu. And the service was very good. Again, you need to ne comfortable-enough with your body to not be bothered by nudity in front of random strangers.

Angels & Demons.

Walking back from the spa in Piazza Rondanini (near the Pantheon), Frogger and I saw a crowd had formed in one of the streets off the side of the Pantheon. We also saw a huge tarp that was lit from below.

"Do you think they're filming a movie over there?" I asked her.

"It looks like they are," she said.

I got really excited... Becaue there is one movie in particular that everyone knows is being filmed here right now. And it turns out, as we got closer to the crowd, it was that exact movie...

Angels and Demons.

We saw Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, Stellan Skarsgard and a few of the other actors. The crowd was bit annoying... We heard one girl in a Southern accent say, "I guess this looks like a movie set."

Frogger and I just rolled our eyes at each other. Obviously, she hasn't read the book and doesn't know that the whole things takes place in Rome and around all the sites.

We weren't allowed to take photos... So the only one I was able to manage was this one...



Tom Hanks is really far in the background. He's wearing a dark suit, blue dress shirt and dark blue tie.

Such excitement!