Au Revoir New York, Bonjour Paris

My pre-departure pumpernickel bagel, lox, and cream cheese at Daily Press. Love the cold brew here too. All in all, it has been a fun stay in the Big Apple. Great to see the East Coast family and friends.
I am so impressed by Michael's ability to handle the crazy of New York City.  I am not very impressed by mine. There has been an incident  at almost one or the other coffee shop almost every day this week.
I just watched Michael get cursed out by a disgruntled customer. Well, he wasn't really a customer, which was the problem. Tears welled up in my eyes, and a kind young man tried to comfort me by telling me Michael  handled it. Yes, he did.  Maybe I am just getting too old to put up with this. Maybe, I need to spend more time in museums and at the theater while in the city. Art and culture heal.  I am definitely ready to move on to France. But New York is my birthplace, and the home of my children. I know I'll be back.

Canine Reunion

Cousin Catherine and her  beautiful Pomeranian Leo join Erin and Michael with their two cuties Tilly and Butters. Fun to have the cousins and dogs reunited on a Sunday afternoon!

Microbes, Unexpected Beauty, Travel Purse Kaput

 Mosaic Kleenex

Mosaic Subway Station Van Siclen Avenue  Brooklyn, NY

My throat started feeling scratchy Wednesday night. The next day came the onset of a full out cold. How is it I can go through an entire academic year of students coughing, sneezing, and spitting on me (in a good way)  and remain healthy, while every vacation lately includes an annoying cold???
Doing better now, but poor Michael caught the bug. I resisted his offer of Dayquil, but it does seem to help, and since I am flying to Paris tomorrow night, I will get some to go.

Despite the olfactory misery, I took myself to the Brooklyn Museum where I thoroughly enjoyed a  docent tour of a Georgia O'Keefe Exhibit.  This collection contained very few paintings, but highlighted Georgia O'Keefe, the woman behind the painter. She loved elegant  city clothes in black and white. Before she could afford to buy them, she made them herself. These were displayed as well as her Ferragamo  shoes,  her country clothes in creamy beige, and the one special broach she adored.
I learned that Georgia O'Keefe was a sculptress, a seamstress, and a vegetable grower.

While at the museum, my trusty old travel purse decided to unzip itself permanently. Not the best timing. Who can travel the world with a purse that refuses to zip? I know that AAA sells these kind of multiple pocketed  sturdy purses at home so I tracked down AAA in Brooklyn.  Unfortunately, it is located at the far end of Brooklyn and would take over an hour to reach by public transportation. My  runny nose and I balked at such a journey so I decided to treat myself to a Lyft. New to Lyft, I learned during the course of the ride never to check the car pool option because the driver received  a message to immediately back track significantly to pick up a second passenger. Our new addition entered the car without so much as a "hi" and proceeded to have a  screaming fight with her boyfriend via cell phone. Then she demanded to be let out of the car due to a change in plans. The driver politely did so, but turned to me, (his new best friend)  to complain about the waste of gas and time. Luckily, I was not in a hurry, just anxious to replace my purse. He protested "This really burns my fries." , an expression I never heard before, but am sure to use in the future.  Finally, we arrived at AAA. I walked in to find a very meager selection of Baggalini travel purses. Fortunately, there was one and only one that would work. I bought it and asked for subway directions to Bed-Stuy, The woman looked at me and said I would have to see a AAA travel counselor. Too hilarious!  I left and found my own way back to Michael's coffee shop, my NYC refuge. Another dilemma solved and with a funny twist!

In the Audience at The Chew

 The Set

The audience waiting area

Got up super early to make it to ABC Studios near Columbus Circle by 8 A.M.  Once inside, we were offered water and chips. I bought a bright orange Chew Apron to leave at Erin and Michael's house.
Definitely more women than men here to watch the Chew. I spoke to a couple of women who decided to befriend me as I was alone. We sat together and did our best to follow the audience prompter ,the infamous RC Smith, who was hilarious. Today's show featured Boardwalk Food and will be  aired June 29 at noon. Bill is recording it for me. Mario Batalli, Carla Hall, Michael Symon, and Clinton Kelly hosted. Carla is much taller than she appears on T.V. and strikingly beautiful. They all give off an intelligent professional persona. Daphne Oz is pregnant with baby number three and on hiatus. The show's menu feature fried birthday cake balls with sprinkles (unusual), chili dogs, tortellini pasta salad, and a southern/Italian chicken dish. We received coupons for  three  free bottles of Hidden Valley  Dressing, a bright green Hidden Valley apron and a seventy-five dollar gift card to Target which I happily gave to Erin and Michael. My new friends and I went out to lunch after the show. All in all a fun experience!

Trains and Trauma

What to do when service is suspended on the train line you need to meet a friend? Take a bus. A bus packed with hot irritable people who couldn't get on the bus of their first choice. I remain calm although concerned about meeting my friend Karen on time at Daily Press #1, Michael's coffee shop in Bed-Stuy  Brooklyn.
We pile into the next bus squeezed in like sardines. OK. I will probably arrive on time now, but suddenly as we creep down Fulton Avenue, shouting breaks out from the back of the bus. Some guy is venting very  loudly, and other riders are imploring him to chill out. This technique backfires, and now he is screaming, cursing, and threatening to kill people. My survival instincts kick in. Being fairly near the front of the bus, I attempt to get off at the next stop. But the woman in front of me is not letting me pass. I tell her I am afraid. She looks sympathetic but says it is too crowded in the front to let me squeeze by her. I am now doing my deep breathing calming exercises. The bus driver passively does nothing. Lots of riders chime in to encourage Mr. Out of Control to get off the bus. On and on  and on it goes.I am no longer concerned about being late. I just want to survive this ride. I have been in NYC less than 6 hours at this point and did not plan a near death bus experience for my first outing. Finally, Mr. Out of Control gets off probably shoved out the door by his surrounding bus mates ( I use the term mates loosely). The bus picks up speed. I arrives shaken but in tact and on time at Daily Press. But where is Karen? Turns out she experienced a similar train snafu in the opposite direction, but without the drama. I give her a ridiculously desperate hug because I am so happy to see a friendly face.  We catch up. All transportation trauma assuaged  by friendship.

What? Another Graduation?

 Let's start with dessert! New York Cheesecake at Delmonico's.

Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse  Log (to die for)

Lena, Reema, Ali, Ahmed, and Sami. I know! They are gorgeous.

Reema and Emad, the twins with Ali.

Aunt Giselle, Ali, and Mom who broke her left tibia before this special event on May 8.

Lena, Ali, and Sami

Kamel (baba), Ali, Beth, and Sara

Kamel, Ali, and Beth                              Proud parents!

Began the post with celebratory dessert. Just above is my nephew Ali graduating from Saint George's University Medical School. Event held at Lincoln Center. Ali makes us all so proud. I admire his determination and grit as well as his sweetness, especially toward his family.  Above is his partner Sara. I love this picture. Go forth, Ali. Help us heal.

Good-bye to the Dutch Store

Where will we get our salty black licorice? What about the scrumptious cucumber Danish cheese sandwiches with a cup of Pickwick tea and a cookie? But most of all,  the Dutch Store just a short distance from home made it to my list of happy places. It felt like an escape to Europe. Lea and Hans are so  warm, sweet and kind. I will miss seeing them. This unique shop represented home to members of the Portland area Dutch Community.
Every Thursday a Dutch Conversation Group met there. Daniel and I just happened to be in the store at that time. I was immediately welcomed to the group in Dutch. Can't even fake a response. The group will continue elsewhere.

My best wishes to Lea , Hans, and their lovely family. Any suggestions for a new happy place?

Graduations Galore

My niece Lena and nephew Sami graduate from University of Virginia Law School in Charlottesville. Every combination of family photo taken as they have three siblings and each a significant other. Love being Aunt Giselle! What inspiring young adults!

Doggy Dash

Our annual Doggy Dash for the first time ever in recent memory, accompanied by rain. Maggy did not complain and was the cutest beagle there. Yes, that is an objective opinion.