Friday wrapped up the bikram challenge celebrations. It must be said, I cannot thank my friends and family enough for all their congrats and calls, notes and emails as I completed those 30 days last Monday. To have your web of people acknowledge something that was so much a solo feat of mine made the completion of it that much sweeter. Like a hundred hugs received after a race. I appreciate you all more than you know! Lee and I capped off the week with dinner at Picholine, an UWS special-occaion-only, type restaurant we havent been back to since the night of our engagement. As we walked from Broadway towards Central Park West on 64th, we approached the restaurant and were flooded with memories of October 30, 2009("Aw, remember when we called my parents on that corner?", etc, etc.) An over the top tasting menu dinner & wine pairings...and black truffles galore. I rest my case :)
Saturday began as a lazy Times & coffee & a blanket infused one on the couch and rounded out with a 30th bday celebration for our good friend Jeff. Jeff & Elizabeth may reside in SF, but those two are NYCers for life, always a treat to have them back in town just as it was:) Also, I think ending dinner with a cute glass of port wine is underrated and my massive faux fur collar scarf monstrosity is now a winter staple (Lauren, I thought you'd be proud ;) Saturday was also the 1yr anniversary of my hip surgery---all my fears of how the recovery would go have evaporated and it goes without saying, thank the lord for Dr Coleman and his team at HSS.
And last but not least (and a 5am wakeup call to boot), we hit the road early Sunday morning for Philadelphia and the baptism of our niece & my goddaughter Elise. A beautiful mass and baptism ceremony welcomed Elise (her christening outfit was made out of Lee's grandmother's wedding gown! I couldnt look at that bonnet and not smile it was precious!) into the faith and a homily reminding us all that sometimes, we need to put the brakes on life. Slowing down is good, arguably a necessity at times. Refueling and reflecting when life gets to crazy. Checking in with yourself and welcoming some forced downtime. Family time at J & N's house afterwards and more baby snuggles before jetting back to the city was just what I needed yesterday.