I thought about you today.

I thought about you today. It's not the one you're thinking of. Our story goes so far back that the memories seem almost faded like an old-school Polaroid. I thought about where you are now and what you are doing. I thought it was weird that I thought of you today, "off cycle" from our bi-annual exchanges.

But mostly I thought, I wish you were not just a thought right now.

5 things - 4/20/10

It's late, so I'll be brief. Perhaps you'll notice a theme.

1) Japanese curry (thanks, MM!)

2) Random Asian snacks like chocolate covered mochi stuffed with peanut butter.

3) Spring rolls.

4) Mochi balls to put into your ice cream. Brilliant.

5) Red Thai rice.

5 things - 4/19/10

Forgive me as I've relapsed. Doesn't mean I've been any less grateful, but work gets in the way of documentation sometimes. Tonight's thought:

1) Food porn - Anthony Bourdain's show is such a guilty pleasure.

2) Lattes - necessarily evil on days like this. Can't wait until the ones on days when I don't actually need them.

3) Not being stranded in Europe right now.

4) Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

5) Did I mention lattes?

On morning buns...

I used to love morning buns. (For those who don't know, they're basically a love child of croissants and cinnamon buns.) We used to share morning buns...from Bovine Bakery and most frequently, from Starbucks where they warmed them up so that the flaky pastry was warm and crunchy. It was, like many other things, a morning tradition.

A little over a year ago, Starbucks replaced the beloved morning bun with a no-transfat / healthy version. It didn't taste as good. It wasn't flaky. It just wasn't the same. I stopped eating them. The sharing also stopped.

Earlier tonight I walked by the pastry case at Whole Foods, and there on a tray, staring back at me were some morning buns. I resisted. And then acquiesced. It's just a pastry. It has no meaning beyond saturated fat and calories.

The morning bun wasn't very good. It wasn't warm. It wasn't flaky. I threw it away. It left a bad taste in my mouth.

5 things - 4/11/10

California edition...

1) Produce -- oh, glorious organic produce of California. You rock my world.

2) The smell of clean George. It's so nice.

3) Guacamole. It's my favourite word in the world. Not my favourite food, just my favourite word.

4) Deep-soaking bathtubs.

5) Upgrades. Especially on early-ass flights.

5 things - 4/10/10

Last NYC one for a while...

1) Awesome friends like JK and RM, who remind me that there's a lot more to life than work, boys, and all that other silliness.

2) Awesome behaved doggie George, as compared with the crazies on the Dog Whisperer.

3) Awesome addictive TV shows like the Dog Whisperer.

4) James Perse. Because we could all use a little LA once in a while.

5) Banana pudding from Magnolia.

5 things - 4/8/10

Okay, trying this "5 things you're grateful for" again tonight:

1) Grown Up Soda (grapefruit and valencia orange are my favourite)

2) Sample sales for fine linens (probably the only kind of sample sale I'll brave)

3) Straciatella gelato

4) Bobby pins

5) Text-messaging. Yah, really.

5 things you're grateful for... - 4/7/10

A wise friend posted on her blog that you should write down 5 things that you're grateful for each night as you recall back on your day, and that after a while, you'll see that there's a lot more to life than to focusing on the small tribulations or hurdles that may have clouded your day, week, month, or even year...they don't have to be big lofty things -- just whatever comes to mind.

I'm gonna give it a shot and start tonight. 5 things I was grateful for today:

1) the balmy, sunny NYC weather in April

2) George's health -- giardia be damned!

3) challah rolls from Meredith's Bread

4) flexi-straws: they make all drinks taste better, I swear

5) the simplicity of an egg.

Until tomorrow!

Something always brings me back to you.

It never takes too long.

...

Set me free. Leave me be.

I don't want to fall another moment into your gravity. - "Gravity" - Sara Bareilles

I used to think that life was made richer by all of our experiences, good or bad. That sadness or disappointment builds character. That every cloud had to have a silver lining.

But you know what? It's not a universal truth. My life was not made better. I wish I could just purge it, much like I would wipe clean a memory card of photos on my camera. But my mind, unlike a camera, still keeps every mental image intact. And while some images may fade as the days, months, and years go by, it takes but a split second to bring it all back to full-colour clarity. As if it happened yesterday.

16 Days "des plus brilliants exploits"

Tonight, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games come to a close in my beautiful hometown, Vancouver. These past 16 days were probably as dramatic and exciting as Vancouver, and indeed, Canada, has ever seen. I feel so blessed and excited that I was there for 11 out of the 16 days, to witness sports and Olympic history to be made. Being there during the Olympics has made me realize a few things about my country:

We are inclusive - Even at the Opening Ceremony, every effort was made to include everyone in the festivities--down to the individual audience members. Our audience kits made sure that we all had a part in one of the of biggest welcome parties we had ever hosted. The cauldron was lit by not one, but five Canadian athletes (Catriona Le May Doan finally got her chance tonight, natch).

We remember our roots - The Four Hosts First Nations were as much a part of the games as the rest of Canada, from playing host at the Opening Ceremony to designing the medals that now circle the necks of some 600 athletes. The Aboriginal Pavilion was probably one of the coolest among the provinces, and of course, the symbol of these games, an Inukshuk, come from the Inuit tradition. I'm so proud that our country took the time to recognize and involve those who were here before us.

We embody the Olympic spirit - It wasn't always about the gold. The nation carried Georgia and Joannie Rochette's respective grief as tragedy struck them during the Games. We applauded Slovenian skier Petra Majdic for her bravery and perseverance as she captured bronze even after breaking five ribs and suffering from pneumothorax. We applauded the opposing teams whether we won or lost. Oh, and we booed the dude who had the air horn during the gold medal men's curling tournament -- he sucked.

We love playing host - While in Vancouver, you could really feel the Olympic spirit permeate throughout the city. Everywhere you looked, people smiled and tried to be helpful even if it was the 18th time in the last hour that someone asked them how to get to the Skytrain.

WE ARE HOCKEY NATION - Nothing mattered more than today's gold. Now and forever.

I heart you, Canada. And way to rock, Vancouver 2010!!!