The Happiest Place on Earth...

Monday, August 13, 2012

3 weeks ago I went into cardiac arrest for 12 minutes. A somewhat simple surgery turned into the scariest day of my life. I can't even begin to express how grateful I am for my surgeon, the team of doctors + nurses who never gave up, the EMS crew and my loved ones.  Good laaawwd, let's please never do that again, OK?!! Check!

My recovery has been up 'n down. I have decided to make the best of my good days and listen to my body on the more challenging ones. Today was a good one so far - no pain meds needed, left my oxygen tank at home as I enjoyed the reprieve from the humidity, took a drive through Pocantico and then picked up some groceries.

My "True Blue," aka Kristi, is in Denmark right now exploring and embracing Danish inspiration for her work via Silver Trailer. Kristi has traveled her whole life, and I am lucky to have traveled vicariously through her! Thanks to the best thing since sliced bread, we have been texting for free every day using the WhatsApp app. If they changed the name to "Instant Therapy Abroad," I'd say they were spot on. Here is one of my texts to Kris...

"For once I am letting it out, too...a little each day. It's so scary, isolating and even more so when I am in pain. Today was a good day though. Life is definitely challenging us all right now....and I continue to think about Jen and Stacy and how they found strength each day to fight forward. On the bad days, I feel really fragile, like I have no more oomph. On the good days, I want to make the most of it, whether it's making something,  sending a letter or taking a ride and admiring the iconic trees around here - they remind me of my childhood and of you."

Before Kris headed off to Coppenhagen, we joked. Denmark apparently is the happiest place on earth! To Kristi's testament, it truly IS - cuteness galore in everything from their design aesthetic, abundance of bikes + people riding them, and the Danes' love of being social...in person + sans the technology. It sounds dreamy and while Kris has her sad moments, too, we are limiting them while she is in Denmark, so as not to put a kibosh on their claim to fame...HAPPY, HAPPY, and more HAPPY!

Look what Kris put together just for me...this "good day" just got better! Lovin' the small stuff...xo.

Girl, look at that Bao...

Ohh, hellooo June!  My goodness, where has 5 months gone (brain starting to hurt as I'm trying to recall what I did just yesterday)?!! No worries...blogging is like a true friend - no matter how much time has passed, it feels like just yesterday since our last "talk."

Anyway, a spur of the moment, first time visit to H Mart today prompted me to blog. An H Mart just opened up in Westchester not too far from me...

HOLY MOLEY, it's like Asian Heaven!!! 

I will definitely have to make regular trips back to this insanely, ridiculous Korean Market --mochi, kimchi, shumai -- it doesn't get much better than that!  Anyway, this packaging made me LMFAO in the frozen food aisle. I just love how anything goes now, and who cares if the design has absolutely nothing to do with what it's selling!  "Who is this guy?!!!" Check it out...

"I'm Sexy and I Know It...even on a frozen Bao-tze package!"

Twenty-Twelve!!!

Original photo courtesy of thecurvycarrot.com + my Picnik magic. :)

"So long, 2011...you were kind,
you were considerate, and peaceful overall.

You may have rocked my boat at times,

but thankfully, we never capsized."

A Year in Review - 2011

We celebrated the Year of the Mouse...squeak, eek!

I attended Dragon Boat Camp in Melbourne with 3 of the EMPIRE besties...PADDLES UP!!!

Happy Birthday to me...Pea got me an iPad.

Nothing beats lying in bed with my "iPea" to watch a good movie.

Pea turned 40!!! - The sun was shining and all of Keith's peeps were in the house at our favorite watering hole, J.P. Doyle's.  It was a June 4th miracle when KB was carried away and we thought was down for the count after 3 quick hours of fun. How he resurfaced for Round #2 of the celebration is beyond me as well as everyone else at the bar. ;)

Stan turned 98! All I can say is, "When there's a will, there IS a WILL!!!

Thank you for all who you are, even on your tiredest days, Dad. xo

Pea + I relaxed on the Cape squeezing in wonderful visits with family + old friends down through the Boston area. We definitely got our seafood fix in when we scored on running into this little diner in Sandwich,

known for it's world class, huge ass stuffed quahogs!

Jing prevailed after a tough fall and 6 weeks of rehabilitation - Mom, you are the toughest! Thank you for always making us laugh.  We know, "you not feeeewww well" sometimes and that you are surely not always "sick" like you say you are, but we still love you more + more.

The spirit of Yin Yang Dragons continues...

What a great day of races we had at Peekskill Celebration 2011!

Thank you Sotheby's for hosting a most incredible fundraiser for EMPIRE!!!

We are humbly grateful for your generosity, support and love.

EMPIRE finishes the season with a win!!!  We had THE BEST Race ever down in Philly...Thanks Coach James for believing in us and for reminding us

just how strong we are!

Spirit + Strength = Success

A new beginning at EF!!!  Thank you LL+D for this opportunity.

Learning and growing...what an amazing team and what a lucky gal I am!

"Santa Monica, here I come!!!" - our girly getaway meetup at Kat's.

A perfect week of lounging, shopping, snacking, drinking, laughing, Rugby, Venice, biking on the beach and visits with my brother + family

and the wonderful D.Love.

The annual "Paper Trip" with my Kate's girls was so super perfect.

We hit downtown Philly in a big way, but the highlight was probably our visit to Terrain..."Will you marry me, please?"  In other words, you must make a trip down there...it's like heaven with a really amazing head merchandiser!

Thanks, D for your organizing and guiding expertise

and for taking us to Amada!!!

We put SantaCon on the map in Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow!

Raising almost $1,000 for Blythedale Children's Hospital,

the locals and merchants found the holiday spirit to

"get their Santa On!" It was an amazingly, fun night...

what's not fun about 60 tipsy Santas?!! ;)

EMPIRE + Peekskill Celebration is in the works!!!

With the support of the City of Peekskill, I am helping my team to spearhead the 1st Breast Cancer Survivor Races right here on the beautiful Hudson River.

Save the Date...August 3 + 4, 2012!!!

Thank you, Cathy, Jack, + Bruce for just being lovely...we can't wait!

Be gentle, 2012...we are happy you are here!

XOXO

..........................................

This past year was evident of "Truth, Beauty, Freedom + Love."  We lost an angel before the year's end, on December 22nd.  Jennifer, the co-founder of my Dragon Boat Team, EMPIRE, found the strength to share her last months of life with us.  Through the stunning and most honest photography of her husband, Angelo Meredino, Jen showed us grace, passion and courage during her battle with breast cancer.  Together, Jen + Ange, told their story of love and touched people across the world.  

In the words of Katy Perry, "You're a firework...cause there's a spark in you."  Your team will continue to carry your spark, Jen.  You have led the way, inspired us and we will be forever grateful for all you have given to us.

SantaCon, Ready or Not!

So, let's speed date for a sec so I can give you a quick little back story...


I decided to launch and organize a SantaCon Event in my hometown with some friends...we are putting Tarrytown + Sleepy Hollow on the map for the holidays! Anyway, SantaCon is a world-wide event...a day where everyone has the opportunity to be Santa or at least some version of Santa. Ohhh, did I mention that there will also be drinking involved? Now let's roll ahead...planning, organizing, brainstorming, soliciting, inviting, stressing, and more planning. Surprisingly everything is coming together quite nicely!  The local bars that we will be dropping by for "Santa Snacks" and if we're lucky, a "Santa Shot," are excited to participate AND donate (although SantaCons do not usually charge participants, I felt like I wanted to bring more meaning to the "mostly drinking" event so I've requested a $10 donation or toy from our newbie Santas, which will benefit the children at Blythedale).


Anyway, let me finally get to the point of my post here..."Our costumes arrived!!!" I ordered a regular adult size for me, an XXL for Pea (he has loooong arms). Never in my wildest dreams did I think twice about how I might look in a Santa suit, after all costumes are required, encouraged and just plain fun. Whhhhheeellll, was I stopped completely in my tracks in my cheap, fake fur-lined, black, felt, pretend boots! After putting on all 7 pieces (shirt, pants, belt, hat, Goldilocks-curly white beard/mustache - which came in a white hairnet...Eeeuuuwww!, pretend boot #1, and finally pretend boot #2) of my Party City costume, I spun around to look at myself in our full-length mirror.


"UUGGGGHHH...Chinese Santa looks STOOOPIE!!!"  I began to sweat under my Snuggie-esque top, probably more so out of disappointment. The fake fur was making me itchy and when I wrapped the super long belt around my middle, it actually made me look fatter...no stuffing required (weeeeemp-wwhhaaaaahhhh).


Ohhhhh, wait...it gets better! I managed to keep the beard/mustache thingy from slipping down around my neck (at one point I thought to wear it as hair on my head instead but that just made me look like George Washington). I adjusted my hat one more time and tip-toed out to the living room where Pea was peacefully sleeping, light snore included. I tapped him on the shoulder and quickly stepped back so he could see me in good view. Pea's eyes began to un-glue, and I bellowed out in my deepest acting-voice, "HO HO HO ...Merrrryyyyy..."  Pea shook, his eyes WIDE and crazed-looking now and then scolded, "UUUGGGGHHH, you SCARED me!!!!  And HOW original...Ho Ho Ho, REALLY?!!"


Geeeesh, he didn't even let me finish my schpeel. "What did I do? Why ya mad at me?!!" That's what I was thinking.  Maybe I should have ordered him a Scrooge costume instead...haha!  I hope your holidays are as fun as ours...


* Note: Sorry there are no pictures to post tonight. I'll be sure to capture the craziness after December 16th when SantaCon in Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow lets loose or hopefully you can join the festivities and experience it yourself!

The World as We Know It...

With Christmas right around the corner, I thought it was perfect timing to share my newest holiday card.  Every year seems to zip by even faster than the last and with the passing of time comes reflection.  Here is a card I designed to pay tribute to Steve Jobs and for changing the world we live in. 

"Hey guys, did you know there's now an App out to guide Santa's sleigh?"
Inside message: *BELIEVE*

This is why I love the Northeast...

Let's try something new...no pictures to post, just use your visualization skills. So, close your eyes.  OK, pretend to close 'em...


Flying up the Merritt at 53mph (I know...reckless!).
I can't wipe the smile off my face.
The treetops make me happy, resembling a cluster of my favorite colors which used to be found in a 64 pack of Crayola crayons - Burnt Sienna, Maize, Goldenrod and Raw Umber.
A dead, furry fox in the middle of the road, his fluffy Amber tail still blowing in the wind.
Little by little, mile by mile the trees begin to look naked, and the next town over is now visible between their trunks.
The shoulders along the parkway look like a Goldschlager bottle before its been shaken, a twinkling of golds covering the ground.
A hawk (or maybe an over-sized crow?!! I'm sorry, my Lasik procedure is nearing its expiration date) glides above in what appears to be slow motion, wings spanned wide.
This is what I love.
This is what inspires me.

See..Change IS Good!

" Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it." - Buddha

This is my last week with Customer Care at EF.  I am delighted to announce that I'll be starting a new position within the company supporting our Leadership, Learning + Development Team. 

Nervous?  Check.

Excited?  Check.

Happy?  YES!!!

I'm hopeful that I'll be able to contribute in a big way in my new role, and I am confident that by following my heart, it will take me where I'm supposed to be.

Thank you to those of you who have pepped me up when things were going South, who always had a "brighter side" story for me, and who gave me that extra "oomph" when I wasn't sure of myself. 

XO,

Jay