3, 2, 1

I just got back from a cross country trip of hello's and goodbye's. My last day at Cava was a week earlier than I had anticipated, but even then I was being weaned out as they were training the kids who were going to be taking over while the restaurant staff was away on their trip to Spain. After a few days of unemployment, I flew out to California to visit my younger sister Jessica at Santa Clara University where she is enjoying her senior year. I had such a blast with her and her friends acting like the oldest yet most immature 21 year old. for four years i've been her 21 year visiting sister, so it's a good thing she's graduating b/c i couldn't handle it next year. old and creepy.

My friend Beka who moved from Portsmouth to Tahoe in November came down to pick me up and we had quite the road trip - San Francisco, Treasure Island, a detour to Napa Valley and Yountville (a surreal and beautiful place and home to French Laundry, Ad Hoc, Bouchon and Bouchon Bakery, Bottega, Hurley's...I never wanted to leave), and eventually up to Tahoe. It was gorgeous, full of stories, and so fun to see her and meet her new boyfriend. We had a gorgeous day driving around the lake. Then I was dropped off at the Reno Airport to get a flight back to Santa Clara for some more college antics. Saturday was rugby day - which clearly means an all day drink fest - which sums up to 300 keystone lights and my first and hopefully last Taco Bell
experience.

I took the redeye flight to NYC on Sunday and spent the next couple days there walking, walking everywhere and trying to see as many of my friends as possible in between their work and social schedules, however i wasn't able to see everyone I wanted to and definitely not for long enough. Nearly had a heart attack when I met up with friends for happy hour and the cheapest cocktails were $14, wine $11 and the BUD LIGHTS were $7!! We're not in Portsmouth anymore...no $2 PBRs. I love spending my money in NYC only on food. I walked from Columbus Circle to Union Square to the Greenmarket, had blue cheese & kimchi croissant and a cereal milk with cereal flakes milk shake at Momofuku Milk Bar - most interesting lunch ever - had a variety of apps and braised rabbit at Bar Stuzzichini, brussels sprouts for a morning snack from Whole Foods, a brioche and latte at Bouchon Bakery, spanish scramble and biscuits with maple butter at Clinton Street Bakery, mussels and fries at Delicatessen, had a schlew of deliciousness at Fatty Crab, love the vegetarian egg white wraps at Dishes.....aaand i wonder why i'm fat. I love new york, but this time, being back, I didn't miss it. it's a city filled with possibilities and opportunities and excitement and my friends, but they all have career paths and serious boyfriends...just not for me right now. which is good though because it made me happy to come back to Portsmouth and then move on to Italia!

more pics on the "hella wicked good" facebook album.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2087409&id=3800290