New York at Christmas Time

So the college boy turns 21 in February. Like many folks do, they celebrate this milestone occasion in Las Vegas or a place where the kid can order a drink legally.

Well, Brandon will be in Idaho playing baseball on his 21st Birthday as the season will have begun. So he received an early birthday present... a trip to New York with his girlfriend Kalli to visit Aunt Jennifer.

Wow did these two kids have a wonderful time and we were so happy for them.

Something about New York in the winter and around the Holidays. So festive & sparkly and cozy. Aunt Jennifer and beau Kevin of course showered them with food & fun and they tooled around the city exploring and mastering the subways.

Pictured above is Brandon with Kalli and pictured to the right is Brandon with Aunt Jennifer.

They ate slices of pizza, visited the Statue of Liberty, checked out ice skating at Rockefeller Square, and absorbed the holiday spirit that is so prevalent in the city that never sleeps.

Jen and Kevin were wonderful hosts and the big kids had a great time ushering in the New Year with them.

There's a 12 year age difference between Jennifer and I. When she was born both my sister Michele and I treated her like a doll and an extension of our toy collection. We took her everywhere and she was part of our clique as the cute little baby.

It's wonderful to flash forward all these years and watch her relationship with my boy's. They are close enough in age that while they are not in the same stage of life, they certainly can relate to one another. Makes for a special bond.

What a splendid way to ring in 2012!

Day 284: Winter Wonderland, Not So Much

I ran on the beach this morning along the bike path in Venice and Santa Monica. Logged 18 miles! Sun was shinning, just a magnificent day for a long distance run.

But as I was getting suntan on my arms, my kid sister Jennifer was being pounded by a winter storm like no other! How can this be? Check out the photo of the street in front of her apartment in Manhattan, New York! How is anyone suppose to live in these conditions?

It's crazy that there is such a weather discrepancy! Really a drastic one! I suppose we pay the enormous mortgages, insane property taxes, and state taxes in California to be able to absorb this sunshine ... I just don't know how people run, walk, work, go to school, do anything in those conditions hitting the east coast!

Bundle up, cuddle someone, and stay warm! Or come visit me in sunny California !

Day 230: Updates on Tidbits

Several of you have asked me to follow up on some pending items that I have posted about on the Birthday Blog or to give more scoop about a particular topic.... so here we go ...

Yes, I am now talking to hubby Brian even though I wasn't post the scare of my life the other night .... (Read Blog Post Day 228)

The replaced Simon mattress is fabulous! So much better then the slab of cement we originally purchased. Brian and I are very grateful for our comfy snooze! (Read Blog Post Day 205)

The entire lower part of my body is in very bad pain from my fall the other day. I had a tough workout this morning, running suicides (sprints) and tonight I'm just damn sore all over. (Read Blog Post Day 229)

Kid sister Jennifer and beau Kevin sent us fresh farm cheese FedEx today from the countryside in New York! You may have read about it in my Blog .... We visited the farm on our trip to New York over Thanksgiving, Old Chatham Sheepherding Company, in Hudson, New York.

They sent us Hudson Valley Camembert Soft Ripened Cheese, made with fresh sheep and cow's milk! Can you imagine we received a box of fresh cheese all bundled and packed on ice packs! Delicious. (Read Blog Post Day 223)

And updates on painful matters going on in friends' lives. Since I wrote about some challenges friends were facing (Read Blog Post Day 207) unfortunately other very sad things have crept into the lives of people I love.

My dear friend & NWPC sister Terry Gibson buried her 18 year old grandson this week. He was a recipient of a heart transplant and didn't make it ... Just a young boy.... there's nothing you can say to a parent who buries a child or to their grandma... My prayers go out to Terry and her family.

Another family is faced with their daughter having major surgery next week to remove a tumor which has not been determined as malignant or benign. The waiting is a life sentence. Painful. Our prayers go out to this family as well.

And there are other very dear friends who are experiencing issues with their children that are very painful. All we can do is be there to listen, support and love. I send you all my love ...

Day 225: Happy Anniversay

Well we made it home safe and sound from our whirlwind New York trip. The four of us - Brian, Harrison, Spencer and me are back safe to Los Angeles and college boy Brandon made it safely back to his dorm room at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. Whew!

I was very surprised this morning when hubby of 23 years woke me with a brewing cup of my favorite coffee - an Americana, a cinnamon roll and a beautiful cut rose from our rose garden on the side of the house. What a beautiful way to wake up on your Anniversary, especially after a very long day of travel.

Today has been spent regrouping ... unpacking, going through piles of mail, doing loads of laundry, marketing, filling the car with gas, refilling prescriptions, and updating my Blog! Whew...

Hubby went to the market so I could record our trip via blog entries ... when he returned we popped a bottle of champagne to congratulate one another on still being married after all these years. We didn't need a fancy dinner (had too many of those in New York), or a night out on the town (also had too many of those in NY), or a big to do celebration... sometimes it's just the small things like the coffee and rose in bed, or the yummy champagne which we drank out of the two remaining champagne flutes from our wedding gifts, to make it a special memory.

We have much to be thankful for and mostly it's for each other...

Happy Anniversary Mr. Simon from your Bride ...

Day 218: FIRST DAY: Sunday Football JETS Style

WOW, that's all I can say about our first day in the City! We rose early today after a great flight to New York last night and an amazing welcome dinner at a fabulous Italian restaurant! Kid sister Jennifer & her beau Kevin took us to one of their favorite spots in their neighborhood on the upper Eastside. Nothing like a truffle pizza to welcome you to the Big Apple! YUMMY!

Today we had a scrumptious breakfast at another one of their favorite neighborhood joints, Gracie Mews, before we headed off to the brand new Meadowland Stadium in New Jersey for a JETS football game. Harrison had researched the football schedule and discovered that we'd be in New York for a Sunday day game at the brand spanking new 1 billion dollar football arena. It did not disappoint that is for sure. Makes our Los Angeles Staples Center seem like an antique.

So we headed to Penn Station bundled up with jackets, gloves and hoodies. We took a train from Penn Station in Manhattan to Secaucus, New Jersey where we then transferred to a smaller train earmarked for the Meadowland Stadium. There we were us four Californians with a train full of green jersey wearing insane hardcore JETS FOOTBALL fans. That in itself was an experience!

All of us were in awe of the new stadium ... its grandness and newness and of course its prices. Brian and I drank 18 dollar Bloody Mary's! What a way to kick start your Sunday football action.

Our seats were awesome, of course thanks to the hubby Brian Simon. The boys were in awe. They have never been to a professional football game before (only college games) because of course LA doesn't have a professional team. So this was a real treat. And New York fans don't disappoint. For those of you who remember Raider football fans, you get my drift-- hardcore and committed to their team.

Well I gotta tell you the JETS team did not disappoint. I mean the last 49 seconds of the game was some of the best and most exciting sports action I have ever witnessed. I mean jaw dropping excitement as local Southern California boy Mark Sanchez throws a pass to score a touchdown and win the game with seconds remaining. The stadium erupted and we were all hoarse from cheering! The win made the schelp back on the trains bearable!

Pictured here are the boys Spencer & Harrison mowing on prime rib sandwiches! The food & bar area in the new stadium is the bomb! Absolutely a spectacular sports arena.

And as if the daytime adventure wasn't enough we headed back to kid sister Jen's apartment to change for a delicious dinner out on the town.

We hit a place called Peasant in the Chelsea area of New York on the lower Westside. It's a Funky, cool, hip area of the city. The meal did not disappoint. There are no gas ovens -- everything is cooked and prepared in a wood burning oven -- delicious!! And a magnificent wine list too.

Pictured here to the right are kid sister Jennifer and me at yummy Peasant Restaurant. Pictured below is the gang enjoying our beautiful dinner to candlelight!

It was a truly full, fun, and adventuresome day with the family in a great city!

What a way to kick start our New York vacation! WOW!

Day 217: We're Outta Here

We are off ... car arrives momentarily to take us to LAX where we'll board our flight to New York! I will be posting daily about all our activities so you can keep updated on the crazy Simon adventures.

Honestly a part of me is a little nervous about us four - Brian, Harrison, Spencer and me -- flying together while college boy Brandon flies solo out of Portland on Tuesday. As a parent you can't help but have your mind do a number on your emotions... what if our plane goes down? What will happen to my first born son Brandon? What if his plane goes down and he doesn't reach us in New York? I have a pit in my stomach and will until we are all landed safely in the Big Apple.

I love my family to The Moon & Stars & Back Again and can't imagine life without any of them ... just my anxiety kicking in ... I love you all too!

Day 216: Leaving Town Madness

Why is it so difficult to get your family out of town? Why I ask, why? There's the endless washing & packing, and before that there's the shopping for the right clothes --- boys don't have winter coats so again it was off to the Macy's men sale to get them warm attire so they don't spend the week freezing in New York!

Then there's making sure that the house/dog sitter has all the proper information and instructions for handling your home while you are gone, then there's paying the bills in advance so you don't get hit with late fees for not sending in a payment on time.... then there's endless phone calls to make and return, emails to respond to, work commitments to attend to, yikes... getting prepared to split town is exhausting!

So we are outta here tomorrow morning early ... we will arrive in Manhattan by dinner time and will meet up with kid sister Jennifer & beau Kevin for a yummy Italian dinner at one of their favorite spots in their upper Eastside neighborhood.


On Sunday we have tickets to the New York Jets football game at the brand new Meadowland Stadium. We'll be taking the subway to the game with all the enthusiastic fans ... should be an experience. The boys have never been to a professional football game since our hometown Los Angeles doesn't have a pro team. They've been to plenty of college games but this will be their first professional game. Should be a great way to kick-off our week long adventure in New York.

So I finally made the packing decisions and have filled to the brim my huge suitcase. Don't know if I have the right items, but don't care at this point. I'm exhausted getting everything ready to leave home and just want to get there, get settled and get a Manhattan Martini already!

Day 215: Packing Anxiety

Okay, everyone has something that they do not do well ... cooking, dancing, gardening, driving, writing, the list goes on and on with how many tasks we manage daily and the degree in which we perform these chores or activities. Some we shy away from. Others we just never engage in. For me the task that causes me the most anxiety is packing for a trip! Sounds odd doesn't it... I mean you'd think one would be so excited about getting the heck out of town (which I am) that they'd happily throw some items in the bag and hit the road.

For me it's a bit more complicated then that. What if I bring too many clothes? Or not enough? Or not the right clothes... will it be very cold, mildly cold or will an unseasonal heat wave hit the city when I've packed all winter sweaters and scarfs? Such a dilemma I tell you.

The Simon gang departs on Saturday for New York City, yeah! We are going to spend the week and the Thanksgiving Holiday with kid sis Jennifer, her beau Kevin and his 6 year old son Zachary. We are all super excited to be on the East Coast with the cold wintry weather and to spend time with Jennifer & Kevin in their Country home in Hudson, New York.

As you know if you follow my Blog, we usually host Turkey Day and it is always fun & festive.... but this year due to numerous reasons we elected to change it up and try something new. So off we go on Saturday morning. College boy Brandon will fly out of Portland, Oregon on Tuesday and hook up with us then in Manhattan.

We have all kinds of fun activities planned, but that will be another post, today I need to vent about my anxiety surrounding packing the right items ... not just for myself but for the boys too! Can't have them showing up in the city not dressed properly!

So here's the deal for me... as you know I'm a huge accessory queen ... I change my handbag daily to match my outfit. Same with my jewelry... I know it's weird but that's who I am. So when I set out to pack I have to carefully imagine every accessory that goes with each outfit, I sound crazy don't I, again that's me! And I like to have options... do I want to wear slacks, leggings, a skirt out to dinner or walking around .... I don't know what mood I'll be in so I end up bringing all three choices.

It's similar to going to the grocery store and trying to plan dinner for the next 5 nights ... how the hell do I know what I'll want to eat on Thursday if I'm food shopping on a Monday? I need variety and options and don't want to be boxed in ... that's how it is for my clothes!

So tonight begins the process of laying everything out that I believe I will wear and then going crazy because it's all way too much and then I feel overwhelmed and just throw everything in the damn bag... oh such problems!

Day 206: When A Friend Needs You

I cherish my friendships. Always have. And I take them seriously. I also give a hell of a lot to my relationships. I mean I really give. Of my time, energy, love and compassion. That's why if I feel you don't show me the respect and mutual love that I believe a friendship requires to be successful, then I move on. I have way too many people in my life and not enough time to waste it being in the company of those who I believe have either "dissed" me, not treated me right or basically don't give a damn about me. I give too much to be in this type of relationship.

Another quality I have is loyalty. I have written about my loyalty to people, vendors, friends, and family before on my Blog ... I stay forever... if you are a soul sister or brother, you'll have my heart forever, but not if you treat me wrong. As I approach 50 I have evaluated a lot of relationships ... those that don't offer me anything, have been dropped. I feel like it's an honor to have me in your life. And for my true, dear friends they are cherished and honored in my life.

I received a call today from a friend I met more than 30 years ago when we both were enrolled in an internship program in Washington, D.C. during our junior year of college. She was from New York, me from Los Angeles. She was an Italian Catholic, me an LA Jew. We bonded then and it's lasted all these years. We had our first child the same year. Her son is now a sophomore at University of California, Santa Cruz, mine at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. We both went on to have two more kids... I flew to Berkeley to attend her baby shower and she returned the love to me by flying to Los Angeles during my campaign.

She left a voicemail message today for me. After listening to it I had a pinge in my stomach. Something wasn't right. Her voice didn't sound like the soulful, joyful voice it had always been. This friend was so committed to our friendship that during my campaign for City Council in 2009 she flew to Los Angeles with her teenage daughter during the GOTV (Get Out The Vote) part of my campaign to walk precincts and cheer me on. She wanted to show her daughter a real woman's champion.... I couldn't have been more touched. I had friends here in LA that didn't show up for anything, yet here was a person who flew into town to be with me during one of the most significant times of my life. That says a lot about the character of a person and about our connection.

So today when I heard her voice I knew something was up. When I called her back I reached her voicemail ... I left a message saying I was worried... she sent me back an email saying that she was en route to pick her son up from school, but indeed she was in a funk, and asked how the hell did I know? I knew because that's what friends do. They know when a friend is hurting.

When was the last time you checked on those you cherish? If it's been awhile you better get a move on!

Day 2 & 3: Martini's in Manhattan

Hi friends,

We had a few glitches with the Blog, which is why a post didn't go up yesterday, but all should be up and running smoothly now! Below is yesterday's post .... I'll be posting more than once today to make up for lost time :)

Wow! What an adventure I had in New York visiting the kid sister Jennifer! Have not been to the Big Apple in some 13 years and even then I was tugging along 3 toddlers and not really able to absorb the shopping & eating side of such a rich city! Sister was a GREAT host & tour guide and my gal pal Lisa and I didn't leave a Chanel store undiscovered. Same for all the great shoe departments New York has to offer. What is it about shopping for handbags & shoes!?! And wow did we eat! The food was DELICIOUS! I could write an entire blog on the restaurants we visited and the meals we ate ... and of course the Martini's !

Yes everything was great about being in New York to usher in my 49th birthday, but the best part is that when you return home your perspective on your own life is refreshed. You realize the family will survive without you and perhaps they too enjoyed the break from the family unit. Everyone needs a break from their routine. It allows you time to think, ponder, dream and live a little different then how you do on a regular basis. And while being away these past few days allowed me to be free from my daily responsibilities, the old adage There's no place like home, is really true. Home is where my heart is with the people I cherish. While I'm already looking forward to my next adventure away from the routine, tonight I look forward to my bed and Temperpedic pillow!

p.s. Better photos to come! This one is a little grainy but it was the end of the Birthday night (in the limo) celebration. And since gal-pal Lisa lost her camera (with the GREAT photos, in a taxi in NY) my sister Jennifer had to take this with her cell ... oh well!

More later ...

My Birthday April 17, 2010

My Birthday is today! Happy 49th Birthday to Me ...

Top Five Intentions Before 50

1. Run a Marathon
2. Attend Law School
3. Finish My Book
4. Be A Political Reporter (again!)
5. Be As Physically Fit & Healthy As Possible

note: I would say "Own at least one handbag from all my favorite designers" however, I am aiming to be more spiritual with my top five goals - haha!

Top 5 That Won't Happen Before 50

1. I won't stop drinking Martini's

2. I won't go under the knife for plastic surgery

3. I won't hang out with people that annoy me

4. I won't continue to beat myself up for losing two political campaigns

5. I won't ever stop calling my hubby & boys delicious!

But for today, I am in New York City with my kid sister (Jennifer) and wonderful friend (Lisa) about to embrace all that Manhattan has to offer -- including good coffee to start the day! Here is to a fabulous year ahead!