February Update

Dan and I skyped with the Jacksons in Geneva over the weekend. So what have you been up to lately? they asked. Nothing.

We haven't spoken to them in months and we couldn't think of anything that has happened. It felt rather lame. Have we really been doing nothing? Impossible. It feels like it's been a lot of snow and snuggling and movies (or lately, the winter Olympics). Nothing much to report.

My freelance assignment ended last week. I was really bummed to leave. In four weeks, I had grown to like working there. Everyone was so nice in my send-off, giving me well wishes and I even got a thank you card. That means I am back in the job hunting mode, an all too familiar place, and I am just so, so tired of looking for a job. I feel more optimistic this time around, but I feel like this job hunting thing is like running a marathon and I am at mile 18 and it feels like there's still a long ways to go and it's never going to end.

I have been at the gym a lot. Five to six days a week--more often six--putting in my time. I am getting stronger and my pants are getting looser. I haven't changed my diet that much except that I cut out sweets and alcohol except for weekends, in moderation. I was reading or watching something about Michael Pollan talking about eating better and about indulging only on days that start with S. That's been working for me. And some times I break that rule too.

Valentine's Day, Dan and I were planning a quiet meal at home, but at the last minute decided to cross off something on our 100-things-to-do-list and head down to Curry Hill for some Indian food. We had a really nice meal with the exception of the man sitting next to us who spent an hour talking about himself to his dinner companions. We were definitely bored, so I can't imagine how they felt.

Heather had a birthday party on Saturday and so a bunch of girls landed at Alice's Tea Cup, where we enjoyed a wonderful selection of teas, scones, cakes, finger sandwiches. (It was a Saturday). If you are ever wondering where the women are in NYC, you can find them all at Alice's Tea Cup. Heather, who just gave birth three months ago, looks amazing and we all couldn't stop talking about her gorgeous mom boobs.


Me with the birthday girl.

Other than that, it's been a load of wedding planning which no one really wants to hear about, unless you are planning a wedding yourself or are the mother of the bride/groom. Just three months away....we're getting terribly excited. Dan was a little nervous about the Saints winning the Superbowl that maybe the city would burn down in all the excitement. But it seems like it's still there, in one piece, ready for us and our celebration.

Happy thoughts

I know that I have been a bit--how shall we say--missing in action. I don't think I have even snapped a photo of myself in 2010. So perhaps it's possible that I don't even exist anymore.

Thankfully this is not the case.

Because in the last three weeks, aka from the moment I started my new job, I have experienced a rebirth of sorts. I feel like I have crawled from under the little rock I have been hiding for months and rejoined the rest of the world. I am greatly appreciative of things that I used to take for granted: a 9-to-5 work schedule, taking a lunch break, enjoying a long weekend, even doing marketing work. My job has coincided with my new workout/health regimen, and for me, stretching on my yoga mat or running in the park is the best antidepressant. I feel content.

Don't get me wrong. It's not like things are perfect now. I am more than half way done with my freelance assignment, with nothing lined up afterward, and so another stretch of job hunting awaits. My stomach flip flops when I look at my bank statement. I have anxiety. For some reason this time, I have a lot of optimism that it will all work out. I have been interviewing fairly consistently and something has just got to happen. I am ready to work. I am ready for my life to go back to place. I just want to feel like me again.

I haven't been writing lately because I was stuck under that rock, and it was hard to articulate. Or really, I didn't want to articulate. Lately, I have been feeling shy about exposing myself so publicly. But now that I am starting to feel a kind of quiet joy in my day to day, I thought I would share it with you. That's something I want to write about. Be patient with me as I regain my footing.

Team Conan 4-Eva

I miss him already.

It didn't work out...or maybe it did.

With much excitement and relief, I am happy to announce that after three months, I am leaving the newsroom. This is my last week at the broadcast news job. It seems like the economy is picking up (knock on wood) and I am going back to magazine freelancing.

This job saved me during a time when my financial situation was bleak. So why leave already? I have to say that after day one I knew that this job was not the right match for me. I tried to give it a chance but as time went on, my experiences only confirmed my feelings and I would look at the people who were "above me"--the show producers and editors and anchors--and while they obviously had an admirable skill and profession, none of it appealed to me at all. When I told people where I worked, they would say, "That sounds amazing" or "Wow!" I kept waiting for that spark, that enthusiasm--even when I got to do something considered "cool"--but nothing flickered inside of me.

Working in breaking news requires a kind of competitiveness, a tenacity and a feeling of entitlement to get the facts that I just don't possess. I do like writing, and I do like stories so I haven't given up on journalism completely. I'm more suited for feature writing. I would rather delve into subjects more deeply and write about things that sincerely interested me, rather than write about what just happened that day and try to be the first to get the story out.

Meanwhile there is a kid who I worked with, same lowly position as me, who absolutely loved our job. While I used to wait until a minute before my shift started to arrive at work, he would come in hours before just to hang out. Seriously. If you questioned him why, he'd say things like, "I have nothing else to do." I watched him eager to do anything that was asked of him, oblivious to the fact if it was menial, going above and beyond every time, trying at every chance to pitch ideas, get himself out there and be noticed and create opportunities for himself. All of this was done with the utmost sincerity. He had told me more than once that we have the coolest job. Even though I obviously did not share his passion, I admired it and couldn't help but root for him.

Watching him for the past three months put things into perspective for me. One, I sure don't feel that way about broadcast journalism. Two, I desperately want to feel that way about something, too. I imagine it's the greatest feeling in the world.

Mmmmm......s'mores

January 4th officially kicked off Wedding Madness. Based on the premise of the original March Madness, Dan and I are trying our best to eat right and get in shape for our May nuptials. (And seriously, it goes beyond the wedding. I ate waaaaay to many cookies this holiday season and my body is craving a vegetable or two).

But before the madness began, we had to try out the new contraption my sister got us for Christmas.

Introducing the s'mores maker.



This genius device--a must for every household!--makes the most delicious s'mores right in your microwave. The trick is the water vaporizer that makes the marshmallow melt just right and the little arms that hold the crackers, chocolate and marshmallow neatly in place.



Comes out perfect every single time. Come over....we've got more.

Happy Birthday Pete!

A shout out to my big brother Peter, who turns the big 4-0 today.

I remember when he turned 30 and I thought, wow that's so far away. Yikes!

Pete is such a great guy who loves to bike, fish, go to Metallica concerts, relax in the hot tub, and hang out with his wife, daughter and two grandkids in New Jersey. Here's to 40 more years of doing just that....and then some! I love you man!

Christmas Week & Friends

They're baaaaack.

Usually during the week between Christmas and New Year's, Dan heads off to California and I spend some time in New Jersey, which includes Christmas Eve dinner with the family, lazy days next to the tree, and trips to the movie theater. Not the case this year. I had to work every holiday, so I was stuck in the city...which could have been a recipe for absolute suckiness.

Luckily, it wasn't so terrible. Working the morning shift on Christmas Day made it easy for me to go to NJ for a few hours, where I got to hang out with my mom, stepfather and my sister, complete with a holiday meal. I was sent home with an abundance of tuperware filled with all the delectables I missed on Christmas Eve so it's like I got to have my holiday dinner spread throughout the following week.

I wasn't for lack of company either. My dear Danish friends from Belgium (aka some my favorite people ever) decided to come visit New York City during this week, so instead of being cooped up alone in my apartment, I got to go out and do as the Euros do: shop until you drop! When I wasn't working, we spent every free moment together viewing all the sites: Bloomingdale's, Banana Republic, J Crew, Nicole Miller, FAO Schwarz, Betsey Johnson, Urban Outfitters, Free People, Sabon. When I wasn't with them, these ambitious shoppers hit American designers Tori Burch, Cole Haan and Diane Von Furstenberg and braved the crowds at Century 21. They brought only old clothes to wear on this trip, which they planned to toss, filling up their suitcase with all their new American purchases! It was fun to be a spectator and I think they did their part in reviving our American economy.

Anna and Gerda shop for shoes at Bloomingdale's.


Katrine with her new toy.

In between these shopping sprees, we stopped for dinners and coffees and desserts....the rascals refusing to let me pay for anything. (This is MY hometown! They are MY guests!) Dan joined us for our last outing together, and the Danes indulged us by doing the touristy things that *we* have always wanted to do--ride the gondola to Roosevelt Island for a view of the city and dine on frozen hot chocolate and gigantic ice cream sundaes at Serendipity 3. There is a reason why we have never been to Serendipity before. There was a three-hour wait for a table! For ice cream! But Dan was on mission and we timed everything just right. We got our table and we ate our ice cream which ended up being our dinner. It was hilarious to see how appalled Gerda was over these American dessert monstrosities. But the rest of the family ate it up (well, as much as we could--with the insanely large portions, it was impossible to finish).

Mmmm frozen hot chocolate.

Ah, the Danish. As always, I found them endlessly entertaining, fun, wonderful, interesting, great. I was terribly sad to see them go. I would have packed myself in one of their suitcases but they bought way too much stuff so I didn't fit this time.

By the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.

My New Year's Eve was spent in a television control room, working for the midnight show as the prompter. They popped open a bottle of champaigne at midnight but other than that, it was business as usual.

Since I was in the city and either working or shopping, I didn't do my yearly tradition of sitting by my mother's tree and mapping out my New Year's goals. So I have decided to keep it simple this year:

1. Exercise and eat more vegetables

2. Hang out with my friends and family more and/or stay in better touch

3. Get through the 100 list

4. Get married! (that's easy!)

5. As always, seek (and find!) direction for my life and career

Actually this blog says it much more nicer than me. I am looking forward to a fresh start!