Subway Thoughts

The heart has deep trenches and deep tunnels that we often travel

With as deep as we’re digging shouldn’t we help each other out

I see you

and I feel you

And I know you feel me too

These layers

That others built

I can see and feel right through them

And I know you can too

Connect

Feel

Progress

Love

Grow

It’s what we’re here to do

Hungry

Hardships sharpen teeth
Ready to sink into what I haven't tasted
I'm starving for what I've always wanted
I want to find it now
Nothing else is what I want to know

I Just Met You, No You Can't Touch My Side Boob!

For years now I've been told I should write about my dating stories.  I've hesitated for various reasons but today is the day I share my most recent dating experience.  Let me say in no way am I ever trying to make fun of anyone, I've just been told I need to share my dating stories because my friends think they're highly entertaining.  :)  I actually haven't dated in a while so recently I refreshed my Tinder profile uploading of course the most recent and advantageous photos.

I matched with an inquisitive looking artist, a type I typically don't date.  I figured he'd be interesting and I'd be trying something new, hey you never know!  We agreed to meet for a drink at an Italian place downtown after work at 5pm.  It was somewhat of a last minute arrangement so I wasn't wearing the cutest outfit.  I felt a little frumpy and in my last choice of work clothes, but hey, this is the real me, right?  If he can't handle me at my worst he doesn't deserve me at my best, is that how that saying goes?  Okkurrrrt!

He's on time and we grab a seat in their heated covered patio in the back of the restaurant.  We each order a glass of red wine and talk about how long we've been in New York, where we're from and how life is.  We actually touch on past relationships and how important communication is.  WOW, how refreshing this is, I'm thinking.  So nice to feel depth so early!  There happens to be a jazz bar downstairs so we agree to check out the show and have another glass of wine.

It's somewhat of a small jazz bar, potentially only sitting 30 people, very dark and intimate.  We're sitting side by side with our backs up against a brick wall in high chairs behind a row of high top tables.  There are folks to our left, right, and front, also including the jazz band 15 feet away.  As first dates sometimes are, awkward, we're sitting close, hands on each others legs swaying back in forth to the music.  We actually got in trouble for talking once so we're really just sitting there feeling the vibes.  He was an attractive man and a very talented artist so I must say I was into the moment.  We ended up sharing a kiss or two while we enjoyed the music.

About halfway through the show he reaches over and puts his arm around me, OK, all good.  But soon I feel his fingers start to reach down past my shoulder, down my arm and toward my rib, but then to my side boob!  What!  I think I've known him an hour by this point!  OK, I can jolt (looking back I should have), but I politely moved my arm back to push his fingers away.  But oh, do you think that was his only attempt, of course not!  After a few more unsuccessful attempts he brought his arm back up over my shoulder but coincidentally his fingers were dangling close to the opening of my shirt collar so guess where his hands start to go.  Yep.  DOWN THE FRONT CORNER OF MY BLOUSE.  I literally had to smack his hand like a little boy to tell him to stop.  I'm boiling by this point.  What indicators have I given him to do this?  Remember, I'm in my frumpy work clothes, it's only 6:30pm by this point, I mean WHAT THE HELL!

The waiter comes by and asks if we want another drink, I had just told him I wanted to go home because I didn't want to stay out late on a school night.  Really I was completely disinterested and wanted to leave.  I'm not sure he got my hints because when I asked him which train he was taking home he leans in and says "I think we're going in the same direction" with a smirk.  OH, IS THAT RIGHT??

I'm still boiling, but more so sad and disappointed.

We get to the train and I mention I'm going north and he immediately turns and says "OK" and starts walking in that direction.  Ummmm.  I stopped and looked at him and said, "NO, I AM going this way."  He claims he can go this way too and continues to walk with me.  I cannot wait to spoil his idea if he thinks he's going home with me.  So we're on the train and I ask what stop he's getting off on, and he says "We're really not going to hang out?"  I leaned into him and said "I'm 36 years old and completely OK not going home with you tonight, this is our first date, can we not get to know each other some?"  He looked surprised.

So yeah, now I'm a bitch.  The truth is he has no idea how much of a bitch I can be.

The vibe of course immediately changes and he gets off his stop and says bye in a much more friendly manner.  He messages me the following day saying it was great meeting me and it "was cute how I was rubbing his hand." I never responded.  A few days later he messages me again saying if he did "anything that made me feel unpleasant" he apologies.  Gee, thanks.

So that's it, that's the dating story.  The sad part is, I'm actually out here looking for a HUSBAND, a PARTNER.  Women of my caliber are looking for someone who is responsible, RESPECTFUL, kind, with manners.  Heads up to any man who is trying to take a girl home on the first date don't try with a girl in frumpy work clothes who meets you at 5pm.  Thanks!

Bali 2.0

I am SO thankful I got to visit Bali again!  I decided to go on another yoga retreat, and everything aligned perfectly.  

One Saturday I decided to take a yoga class and dance class back to back.  Dance was first, and I was met by a young fiery exotic presence (the teacher).  I met Nikki Baksh for the first time and I was impressed.  Dance was so wild, so good, so free, and next up was hot yoga to stretch it all out.  Little did I know Nikki was also the yoga teacher!  WOAH.  This hip hop infused beauty with yoga talk and feels.  I think I have met who I've always wanted to be!  

After class Nikki mentioned she had two spots left on her Bali retreat.....  I was OVERDUE for a proper vacation, and little did I also know this Bali retreat would be just that.  

9 random souls met at Hotel Komune in Bali, Feb 15th, 2018. All strangers, yet all friends of Nikki. The week was set with excursions, a cooking class, sunrise hike, holy water temple visit. Umm yes, please. Yoga was held at an outside shala, where the deck overlooked the ocean waves. Every morning class was filled with incense and a nice breeze. Namaste for real.

#Rutherforddoesyoga too :)

Between yoga we lounged at the pool, and with 3 meals a day included (with a juice) we did not miss one. One of my favorites was the super club sandwich!

The excursions were spectacular.  My favorite was the sunrise hike of Mount Batur!  I've never done anything like that!  We left the hotel at 3am, and it was a two hour hike up - one way!  I must say it was pretty tough, but totally worth it.  The way up we all had flashlights so all you saw was a twinkling line of stars moving up the mountain.  When the sun came up, the monkeys came out to play, or take our food rather. 

Visiting Tirta Empul was also very special.  It's a holy water temple.  I went the first time I was in Bali but this time we actually submerged ourselves in the water for the water blessings! 

   

We also visited this coffee plantation in Ubud that makes coffee from cat poop?  Some tried it, but I'm good.  I already have a cat and am way too familiar with their litter box situation.  Ugh.  But at this coffee plantation was this really cool swing!  The surroundings were lush green rice patties and the swing went SO high.  It was cool.  You were strapped in, but with how hard the guys were pushing you my butt would almost slide off the swing every push!  Talk about exhilarating.

   

Bali is a special place.  I highly recommend Hotel Komune if you're looking for a place to stay in Bali.  It's not close to the hot spots like Kuta or Seminyak.  But is a nice chill place where you feel like a local, there's great surfing, and great accommodations and food for a reasonable price.  Oh and did I mention its on a black sand beach!!  They have two pools and two restaurants, and a cute surf shack with snacks.  The staff is also exceptionally nice.

HAPPY AND SAFE TRAVELING! :)

Reflections

Safety in solace
Piercing privacy
Calms the cold

Warming the heart
Crazies the cautious
Fueling fire

Loving Life
Sweetens the sour
Illuminating love

Nine Days Until Bali!

I never thought I would be this excited to visit Bali again!  My first trip to Bali was three and a half years ago when I decided to quit my job and travel the world!  I had no plans other than to not come back.

I came home after 3 months.

Bali was actually the last stop on my Southeast Asia tour, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and then Bali.  By the end, I was tired.  Tired of what exactly I wasn't sure.  But I knew I needed a new direction.  I needed to go home, get back to work, make a plan, and execute on it.  I had a house in Bali paid for the month and I left one week early to fly back to the states.  My original experience of Bali sounds sour, but I was in such a transitional space it took away from the beauty I did see but didn't register at that time.  Fast forward and it's interesting to see yourself grow.  :)  Now I'm living my BEST life in NYC and thankful I get another chance to experience Bali!

The universe aligned me to retreat with a bad ass human, a bomb ass dancer and energetic yoga teacher who stopped me in my tracks the first time I met her.  Stay tuned, no doubt our combined vibrations of 5,000 gazillion will make for a magical trip.  !!!!!

WOW What a Year! 2017 Rocked!

So many life changes and new explorations, 2017 has been a record year for me! And with flying almost 100,000 air miles in 2017, this may have been my craziest year yet!  

I know I haven't posted a lot lately and I hate that.  I'll try to get back on a more regularly scheduled program.  :)  But let's check out where I've been this year, and you'll see I haven't had much down time!

I shook things up immediately at the top of 2017, in January I took a major risk and not only changed jobs but changed my career, slightly. I went from the familiar regulated corporate banking environment to the cool new and shiny fin-tech space (which is short for financial technology). This was especially risky because I had only been in New York City for a year and a half.  I'm a risk taker, but I will admit I was a little nervous if things took a turn for the worst I could be out of living in this cool new city I still very much enjoyed. Thankfully everything has worked out, but let me back up and take you through my coolest year to date, 2017! 

Ok so we covered January - starting a new job and career! Now luckily in February before I was too deep into my new job I took a quick trip, a pre-planned vacation that was very special, the bachelorette party of one of my best friends! We rented a cool place in Asheville, NC, went to a salt rock cave and a brewery. We had so much fun!

March was pretty much back to normal, back to work and settling into my new job. But what was approaching at the end of April was MOVING. My apartment lease would be up so I had to find a new (bigger) apartment and (more) furniture. I was finally moving from a studio to a one bedroom, the little things in life! But before I moved I flew down to NC for my best friend's wedding! :)

 

April, May and June were pretty busy with moving and settling into my new home and job.  But I was lucky enough to have my best friends and family visit me in NYC to keep me entertained.  :)  I also took a quick trip back home to surprise my brother for his 30th birthday!

    

           

Welcome July!  July was the wildest month of the year!  Not only was it my 35th birthday, but right after that I was embarking on a three week work tour across Asia-pacific!  But first, as I'm a huge fan of work/life balance I decided to go to Chicago with my sister-in-law for my birthday!  We rented a cool apartment in River North and walked around to brunch and dinner every day!  For my actual birthday dinner we went to The Signature Room, an amazing restaurant on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Tower.  High recommend!!!  We also did a boat tour to see the city from the Chicago River, and also the ferris wheel at the end of the pier!  The pier was crazy with tourists but if you can deal with the process it's worth it!  

       

Now it's time for business.  Six months into my job I was off to Asia to conduct training for the various offices of our business partner.  First stop, Hong Kong!  I was only there two nights so didn't have much time to explore, one of my most memorable moments was the Apple store in the IFC mall, view below!  Oh and paying $93 for a manicure and pedicure!!  That's what happens when you don't ask the price!  

After Hong Kong I was off to Australia!  I had a week in Australia but hopped between Sydney and Melbourne.  Sydney was absolutely beautiful, has a vibe like LA!  And Melbourne was super cool!  Crazy this place is across the planet so I am lucky I could check that box.  Oh and I also got to mark Australia off my continent list of doing yoga on every continent!!!   :)

After Australia I was off to India, then Taiwan!  I literally was in India for 48 hours and Taiwan for 48 hours. But if you know me I always make time for a good meal so you know authentic curry was on the menu in India!  In Taiwan my coworker took me to one of her favorite hot pot restaurants!  :P

I got back to NYC in the first week of August, wow where did the summer go!  :)  Getting back to a normal routine was much desired, but also was a visit from my BFF!!

Now of course the last official weekend of Summer, Labor Day, is a cause for celebration!  In September I took a quick trip back down south to close out the summer with my family!  I do miss them so much!

September never really got back to normal because almost as soon as I got back to NYC I was headed back out to Europe to conduct another round of work training!  This time I was able to visit a few new places I had never been to, like Stockholm, Frankfurt, London, and Zurich!  I was able to touch down for a moment back in Amsterdam too, which was very sweet.  

  

       

October was nice to get back home.  I only had a few work trips to Houston, San Diego, and Kansas City before my Dad came to visit in November!  He visited a year prior but this time I was in a proper one bedroom apartment versus a studio!  The little things you are thankful for like a one bedroom apartment!  My Dad and I had such a blast.  We ate and drank ourselves silly the entire weekend.  The NYC marathon was also going on while he was here, so we got to watch, yell and scream at that!  So much fun!

November. It was time for more family time, Thanksgiving was finally here!  I was especially excited about this holiday because I got to see my nephews that I rarely get to see!  They are 2 and 5 and just so much fun.  We played magic carpet, watched them jump all over the couch, and of course played the "doggy game" on my phone, aka snapchat.  :)

Finally, December is here, which brings me a feeling of relief after a busy and successful year.  But there was one last event to close out the year right, a Christmas party at the White House!  My friend Mike is a Major in the Army and also a White House Aide.  He kindly invited me to go with him and I was so excited the entire night!  We took pictures in the green room, the red room, and even got a picture with Trump and Melania!  What a cool once-in-a-lifetime experience!

 

I want to thank all of my family and friends that have supported me and been there for me throughout this crazy year.  What an incredible year it's been!  I will continue to take risks because that's where you grow and are rewarded.  I am living my best life and it feels great!  Here's to another great year!  Cheers!