If I Knew Then What I Know Now...SERIOUSLY.

It’s that common phrase that we have all used, seriously…it’s in movies, in song lyrics and it’s in probably a lot of everyday conversation that we have or overhear, so…

If I knew then what I know now…I would have eaten all my brussel sprouts instead of sitting at the table in utter agony while my mom cleaned the kitchen and turned out all the lights on me staring at my plate of greens. Now I ask for seconds of them at dinner, who knew? Seriously…

If I knew then what I know now…I would have said yes when my dad asked if I wanted to take a sip of his once a year Coors Light that he would drink instead of my “eww dad, beer?”

If I knew then what I know now…I would have stayed home more on Friday & Saturday nights to hang out with my family, whether it was Notre Dame games or 48 hours. I always thought there was more time to spend with them all.

If I knew then what I know now…I would have been excited about long runs at lacrosse practice. But seriously who knew I’d want to run a half-marathon before I turned 30?

If I knew then what I know now…I wouldn’t have wasted time applying anywhere else but Notre Dame. Go Irish!

If I knew then what I know now…I wouldn’t have dated him, not for a day, not for a week, not for a year. He did make me a stronger person, but wow what a waste of time and damn my roommates were right, again…

If I knew then what I know now…speaking of my roommates, I wouldn’t have overreacted to my college roommates simple request about needing my stuff out of the apartment…to this day I love them, but man what a fight.

If I knew then what I know now…I would never have agreed to a case race, I swear I was led blindly down that path. Seriously…no idea J

If I knew then what I know now…I would have said yes, who knows where I’d be today, but sometimes no is the easier answer.

If I knew then what I know now…I wouldn’t have had Southern Comfort at Finnigans with the Lafayette crew on my 21^st birthday…I would have had Patron.

If I knew then what I know now…I would have lived in Chicago a little bit longer and enjoyed the extended college life. I miss college now, seriously…where did it go and when can I get college back?

If I knew then what I know now…I would have stayed at Sam Adams for a little bit longer. I would have maybe lived in San Francisco for longer…god knows some of my closest friends are there and it’s the home of R Bar and Vertigo…enough said.

If I knew then what I know now…I would have trusted my real girlfriends more and would have ignored the “user” girls that were afraid my guy friends. Seriously…almost 30 years for me to know girlfriends can be great?? WOW…weird.

If I knew then what I know now…I would have enjoyed NYC instead of being a workaholic. Oh and I probably would have hung out at Wine & Roses more often…or at least long enough to see if I could have another iPhone stolen on video by the trench coat man!

If I knew then what I know now…I would have called him back and told him that I loved him.

If I knew then what I know now…I would have had the conversation, yes I would have had it, but it’s still easier not to despite what you outsiders all think…seriously it’s NOT FUN!

If I knew then what I know now…I would have walked away when my friends told me to. Ok, that’s a lie, If I knew then, what I know now I would have done everything exactly the same, yup exactly even the terrible ending.

If I knew then what I know now…I would have quit my job in NYC and moved to Nantucket to start my own business and then I would have launched my business in Aspen. Seriously…can’t think you made a mistake with everything.

If I knew then what I know now…I would have listened to my mom, after all, she is always right…seriously.

Share your “If I knew then, what I know now”…I know you have more than one, seriously.

Dear Mr. Lurie...seriously!

Dear Mr. Lurie,
Your decision to sign Michael Vick is one that absolutely disgusts me and I hope that the city of Philadelphia lets you hear it at your press conference today. Micahel Vick is a first rate criminal that does not deserve your offer (how many other criminals get $1.6M after being released from custody for a month??!)...once again an owner like you and the NFL are making exceptions for a proven thug in order to boost your teams talent and potentially your revenue. Well Mr. Lurie I think the fans of the Eagles will speak clearly and your decision to sign him will backfire, and I hope for nothing but a complete bust for you and your organization.

I guess my biggest question for you is have you read what this man has done and why he went to prison? Pit Bulls by nature are not violent animals, (I know plenty that are loving and sweet because their owners don't beat them!) they are trained to be violent. This man (your QB) trained them to fight- do you know how?? Well let me inform you...he trained them to fight by abusing them...such as starving them for long periods of time so that when they smelled blood and meat their natural instincts to kill for survival would kick in and they would kill for food, that other food was other dogs. Not only that but if they weren't violent enough he killed them!! Not only did he kill them, but he allowed them to be tortured to death, such drowning, electricution...am I grossing you out yet?? Clearly not becasue I am sure you knew this before your decision.

How do you feel about rape? This man (your QB) forced his strong, good fighting male dogs to rape his female dogs...did you know that (would you allow this in humans)?? Are you aware that he was so determined to breed good fighters that he built a rape machine on his property that strapped the female dogs in place so that they could not move. He was so desperate to keep his dogfighting going he had to force reproduction...he is sick!

I know that people wonder why people come out so strongly to defend animals, even more so then people that are harmed, but its quite obvious these are innocent animals that rely on humans to provide food, shelter and love because they cannot provide it for themselves. Those pit bulls (some fortunate enough to have been adopted, others too violent to live another day) trusted this man (your QB) and he repaid them with a horrible exsistence one that he himself now deserves. He does NOT deserve $1.6M to throw or run a football this year and over $5M next year.

I am disgusted by your decision and I hope for nothing but a complete uproar from the fans of Philadelphia and complete failure for your team...its seriously what you deserve.

Seriously by Sarah

Pink @ sporting events...seriously?!

Ok...here we go on another rant of my pet peeves...why do apparel companies for sports teams insist on making pink apparel?? I mean if the Yankees team colors were pink and green, then fine I'd understand...but their team colors are blue and white and girls, those are both pretty neutral (meaning girls can wear them without complaining). I like to get dressed up with the best of them, but save the pink for a cocktail dress or some great shoes...BUT leave sports with the colors that God intended.

Now...in addition when did celebrities like Alyssa Milano (sorry Dave) get to create a fashion line for the NFL...seriously??! I mean sports is for both guys and girls but "fashionable" clothes to root for your sports team?! If Arod played in a pink jersey (which maybe he'd prefer, particularly in October) then fine buy his pink jersey...but as it is he and my boy Jeter wear pinstripes and blue and white so sell that and don't encourage pink in sports...unless of course its for the Red Sox, they'd look pretty in pink.

Stick with your teams real colors...blue and white for yankees and blue and gold for ND....seriously!

Seriously...I'm from Jersey!

Ok...so seriously why is that when people hear you are from NJ one of the following things happen (and no its not the lame "what exit" comment that is sooooo old)...so here are the scenarios...
1. they try to slowly move away from you like you smell like the inside of NYC (not the NJ) A,C or E train
2. they lean in to whisper "me too" but don't let anyone know
3. they knock people over to high five you and say "yo me too...hells yeah Jersey!" OR
4. they say, you don't have an accent...for the record people no one but people from the Bronx say "joisey"...

So let's take a look at what NJ offers...we can take credit for Bruce Springstein (who probably wanted to write a song, "Born in Freehold, NJ (I looked that up, no I did not actually know where Bruce was born off the top of my head), Bon Jovi (NY'ers LOVE him), ummm the former Super Bowl Champions New York Giants that play and practice in NJ and all their players live in NJ (although we'd be glad to offer NYC some of their players), we have the Sopranos that love and live here, the WaWa (there is no convenience store like it), we had Brett Favre for a year as a resident (I mean he is leeeeegendary), we don't have to and we don't know how to pump our own gas, we have the Short Hills Mall (who needs NYC when you have the Short Hills Mall, ummm no sales tax people!), people are moving out of "the city" to live in Hoboken (cause its in NJ!) and OH I almost forgot you don't ever have to hold a cup in New Jersey (refer to How I Met Your Mother, thank you Marshall Erickson) "I hate New York! I'm sorry, but it's true! Today, I was walking around PriceCo. Have you been there? It's huge! All the stores in New York are so cramped! Every time I turn around I knock something over. I'm like some huge monster that came out of the oceans to destroy bodegas! ...I'm too big for New York, okay! I'm always trying to fit into cramped little subway seats, or duck under doorways that were built a hundred and fifty years ago. "Hey, people are bigger now! Build bigger doorways! What the hell is wrong with you?" ...And it's so loud. All the time. Yes, I know it's the city that never sleeps, but guess what? I like to sleep! I've been tired for eight years! Tired and scared, with black and blue marks on my elbows from trying to fit into all these tiny elf doorways! New Jersey's great! It's got huge stores, and lawns, and you never have to carry a cup again! For the rest of your life! I'm not afraid to say it: I love New Jersey!"

So people...let's lay off the dirty jerz comments or the what exit or the "oh you go to the shore" comments...just cause "we'll take anyone" does not mean we are the armpit of America...I don't want to name any names, but maybe we should be looking at Connecticut as the new armpit? I'm just throwing out an option...feel free to disagree :)

The Cholive Company

About 5 months ago a dear friend of mine emailed me about a new company that he had started "The Cholive Company"...the company description is we are a premiere chocolate company. We are delighted to introduce you to our unique gourmet chocolate truffles, Cholives and Chruffles. A to-the point platform...no frills, just chocolate. So of course I immediately ordered some chocolates (I am slightly addicted to chocolate...seriously) and sent some to my friends...when I say that these were some of the best chocolates I have ever had, I mean these are some of the best chocolates I have EVER had...I always knew my friend would do and be something amazing and the Cholive company is just that.

So I personally keep up to date on the Cholive website to see their success stories pile up...between updating their site with launch party pictures, new drink recipes and ways to use the cholive (outside of the traditional "eat me" usage)...I think that everyone should take the time and check out this site, and of course order some Cholives (or Chruffles) and come up with some awesome clever ways to use cholives...drinks, desserts, food...seriously, you will be hooked as soon as you try them.

To my dear friend...seriously, congratulations, you are an inspiration to entrepeneurs everywhere and I wish you continued success!!

Jesus Created the 3-Day Rule...seriously.

I am back...so apparently guys and girls alike believe that if you meet someone out one night you should wait to call/text them for 3-days other wise you are THAT crazy person, we've all been there...we have all done it, actually some of us continue to break this rule and seriously, you need to stop (I mean WE need to stop...LOL). I am a person that goes after what they want with little hesitation, but I think I have to agree with Barney that Jesus created the 3-day rule for a reason...

SO it's official...I am putting the 3-day rule to the test...the next phone number I get I will not text/call for 3 FULL DAYS...and see if the results are any different. I am the biggest culprit, I text the next day cause i have something cute to say, like "texty text" or "reading architecture magazines in my old cheerleading uniform"...serioulsy?!

I know that everyone has their stories about breaking the 3-day rule and I want to get a group together as an experiment...if you are in, let me know...let's prove the 3-day rule one way or another, seriously?! help me out.

Ex's...seriously?!

Ok so last night's How I Met Your Mother was a repeat, but a good one nonetheless...Ted and Stella's wedding date was excelerated due to extremely "unique" circumstances (hilarious) and the questions that made for the premise of the show was...do you invite an ex to your wedding? Now I know there is THAT ex for everyone...ya know the one that first broke your heart and then second ripped it out and then later on continued to stomp on it, just cause they knew they could...I mean seriously?!

Well so there in itself is the debate...is there an ex that you would invite to your wedding? Now I think we need some parameters...

1. The ex cannot simply be a friend that you had a one night drunk fling with and then went back to being friends.
2. The ex must have been someone that you were seriously at one point or another in love with (Like Ted was with Roin)

So...would you SERIOUSLY invite them to your wedding? I am actually friends with almost all of my ex's but I can honestly say there is at least one that I could never invite, maybe two...but what would you do if your partner (ie. Stella) said no you can't invite them...also similarly when Emily tells Ross he can't invite Rachel to his wedding...now in all fairness Ross did say "I take thee Rachel..." so maybe Emily had a point!

I think its an interesting discussion....any thoughts...seriously?

the yankees...seriously

*picture is from the NY POST
Ok...the Yankees opened their new stadium yesterday (officially) and they lost (and not by a little)...now I know that Girardi said that one game won't make your season, but come on...we are the New York Yankees and we always win when the game matters (except of course in 2004 when we lost games 4, 5, 6, and yup 7 to the Red Sox...but seriously I try to forget about that year and the day they signed Arod).

For everyone who does not know...I am a die hard sports fan, but baseball (the Yankess) is my true passion, its in my blood (as much as the Italian craziness). So let's start by giving a high five to Jorge Posada for his HR (cause let's face it no one wanted Arod to hit the first HR in the new stadium, well except maybe management and some stupid sports people)...Posada and Jeter, the two classiest guys in baseball, actually even a Red Sox fan that was over here with me yesterday said he couldn't agree more (so there, its not just me).

Ok let me vent (other Yankee fans know that you will agree on 1 or 2 below, I'll settle for one)...now here are my issues:
1. Not living in NYC anymore I don't get the YES network and therefore do not get the Yankee games...all I get day in and day out is the stupid Red Sox games...ARGH, yes I am very bitter...so everyone I need game updates this season.
2. Joel Sherman's article in the post today is about how "muted" the new stadium is and that heckling or cheering cannot be heard...ummm I am sorry, what??! To know that it sounded dead silent when CC had 2 strikes and 2 out is wrong on so many levels...seriously. Your fans are your home field advantage, if you can't hear your fans then you have no advantage!!!!!!!! (Hank and Hal, you could learn something from this...seriously). After 4 years at ND football games and basketball games, I know what a stadium should feel like...even when ND is losing (which is often these days) the stadium rocks with noise...so Yankee stadium with no noise, LAME...I guess I will have to wait and see for myself in October, although if Arod comes back there will probably be no October for us, damn curse...seriously.
3.The last and biggest issue...AROD, AFRAUD, MR SPRING TRAINING, MR APRIL...whatever you call him these days, I cannot stand him...he is the curse of this team, which should probably be spelt teARODm...from his "I'm too good looking and bi-racial" comment to dating Madonna to calling Jeter a "non-threat"...why Mr. Steinberner, why...seriously?! No one else wanted him a year ago and you picked him up again...WHY?! So that he could finally confirm that he had been taking tic-tacs for 8 years while breaking all his records, in the words of a good friend...puhllllease. If Arod is done for the season I can go back to being a happy Yankee fan and only have 2 issues...ahh that would be nice.

Lastly for you loyal NY sports fans does anyone know why Joel Sherman (who is my favorite sports writer in NY) has changed his tone when writing for the Yankees? My theory is that they are screwing him for asking a tough question of Arod at his "press conference" (I prefer to call it drama 101 with no questions...PITIFUL, seriously)...Joel I hope you keep asking Arod the tough questions, we deserve to know...seriously!

And as always...GO YANKEES.

my apologies...seriously

Sorry for the delay in posts...but I had a slight fight with my internet and then I was at the beach and decided I didn't have time to post...but I am back, or I will be back tomorrow.

Next posts will be about:
Rock of Love finale...cause i love it.
How I Met Your Mother on Monday...cause what would a week be without a post about it, seriously.
the beach...OMG the beach is amazing everyday!!!

OHHHH and I will have another "Stick with Jeans and a T-shirt" and man did I see some great ones.

I will be back, seriously.

i have bought a lot of informercial products this year, but this...seriously!

One thing about insomnia is that you watch a lot of really bad late night TV (ok well maybe this only applies to me...but I doubt it)...I didn't sleep from December-February, ok that is an exaggeration I didn't sleep well...maybe 3-4 hours of sleep a night (unless I had been out that night...I always slept well after a night of wine drinking)....ANYWAYS...bad tv, meant really bad commercials, mostly informercial products...the Snuggie (bought it...actually bought the 2 for 1 special), the Strap Perfect (bought it), the thighmaster (bought it), the Bender Ball (tried to buy it, but had some major issues with the automated phone person), Shamwow (really want to buy it!!)....and then when I thought I had seen it all with informercials I came across Rob's blog (which is awesome...and a new informercial product the "Go Girl"...seriously?!

what is it, you ask??...their product description Simply put, GoGirl is the way to stand up to crowded, disgusting, distant or non-existent bathrooms. it's a device that allows you to urinate while standing up. It’s neat. It’s discreet. It’s hygienic...wow I thought I had seen it all, but serioulsy?! I mean there aren't many times that I have thought to myself darn it I wish I could pee standing up...seriously?! I did think this was a joke at first, but its most certainly not a joke and check out the website.

Ok so seriously...if you have any other infomercial stories, I would LOVE to hear them....also a great resource is a site that rates products, check it out. Ps...love the snuggie, strap perfect is ok, thighmaster is awesome...seriously!

online dating...seriously?!

I am going to start by saying I am not judging...maybe a little. Yesterday while at the brewery (yup mid-day at the brewery, didn't get to do that in NYC)...we were talking about starting speed dating on friday nights on the island (hilarious, tons of single men and about 4 single woman on the island)...whatever, so this lead to the conversation about online dating. Two of the four of us had been "online" before...it took 2 beers and a cocktail for us to admit it...but no one can judge either of us because we did it as an "experiment" (keep telling people that...bottom line we sucked at dating). Anyways...the topic was people lying on their profile (duh!), I mean are people that unaware of themselves...if you are 5'6" don't say 5'11"...if you are 30 don't put the picture from your 21st birthday up...if you are a total prick don't call yourself awesome...seriously?!

Now...a friend of mine has been doing online dating and is quite successful at it, he gets lots of dates (lots of other stuff too) and a couple of psychos along the way...the one is way off the charts on the crazy/hot scale (yup there is my How I Met Your Mother reference). In case you don't watch the show...here is Barney's explanation of the crazy/hot scale, which was used to analyze "blah blah" a girl Ted met online (people WATCH THE SHOW and life will just be better)..."A girl is allowed to be crazy as long as she is equally hot. Thus, if she's (see diagram in picture) crazy, she has to be (see diagram in picture) hot. You want the girl to be above this line. Also known as the 'Vickie Mendoza Diagonal'. This girl I dated. She played jump rope with that line. She'd shave her head, then lose 10 pounds. She'd stab me with a fork, then get a boob job."

Ok so back to my friend...recently received a picture from a girl via her cell phone camera and mirror, wearing nothing but a tshirt, why would you send that to someone you have never met, seriously?...ok so things to keep in mind, 1. he has never met her, 2. she told him she was into him before their first date and didn't want him seeing other people (wow a ring before you meet a girl, seriously?), 3. she sent him a picture of her boobs, 4. she called him tacky....ummm seriously?!

Then there was another favorite of mine...a 23-year old that after a couple of dates (night and morning) said she couldn't be with him because she wants to be with only one person and its not him...ouch, harsh...but wait isn't online dating about meeting several people, dating several people (maybe a little hoo-ha on the side)...when did someone decide that commitment had to happen instantly...slow it down crazy girl, you are more than jump roping the crazy/hot scale, you just trampolined over it...not pretty!

Ok...so the net, net...online dating, I don't believe the eharmony commercials (and its not only because I worked in advertising)...consider your experiences or your friends experiences and refer to the hot/crazy scale and think do I really want to do this...seriously!??

Stick with Jeans and a T-shirt...seriously

Ok...sorry for the delay in postings (I know I got distracted with the beach, my new schedule...I can keep going with excuses, but I don't need to cause its my blog and I will do what I want).

I saw a woman in CT last week when I stopped at a gas station who really needed a good tap on the shoulder and a simple "please don't wear leggings...instead stick with jeans and a tshirt." Unfortunately my picture was too blurry so I found a similar one of the Glamour magazine "don'ts" site (its SUPER comparable, seriously)...I don't honestly know what this woman was thinking but even kate moss shouldn't wear white leggings (some guys may disagree) but I think all girls should avoid them...kinda like white bathing suits (Brookie...you know what I am talking about)...anything that ever can be considered "sheer" whether dry or wet should be avoided.

If you have any "Stick with Jeans and a Tshirt" sightings please email them to me...seriously!

The Yellow Subarmine is packed...it's time...seriously.

I remember the first thought I had about getting out of NYC and moving to Nantucket, it feels like yesterday I over analyzed the situation (for those of you who don't know me...I am a calculate risk taker- aka risk adverse). The time has passed so quickly between finding a job, settling housing issues and resigning from my job in NYC (during a freakin recession...maybe I am more of a risk taker than I know!!!).

So the yellow submarine (aka the car) is packed with way too many clothes for my new lifestyle, but maybe I can't quite leave all of NYC behind (although I am leaving behind my Christian Louboutin's...I mean blue suede shoes on Nantucket are like whale pants in Tribeca)...Maddy is packed with her food, toys and yet she is wearing her staple "suitcase" look tonight (anyone that has ever had a golden knows the "suitcase" look...the how could you be leaving me behind look)...Maddy has spent 5 years traveling with me (SF, NYC, ACK, x-country, VT) and the "suitcase" look still exists...she is going to dog heaven (not literally)- town, lots of other awesome dogs, beaches...did I mention the beach...seriously what a life for a dog!!!

Let the journey begin...seriously, it's time. I'll be blogging from the beach...serioulsy.

reality trash TV...seriously?!

We are all suckers for trashy reality tv...don't lie you all know you watch it! And if you don't watch it then you totally check up on what happened...seriously, might as well just watch it, it can be freakin entertaining!! My secret reality trash obsession...its bad...Rock of Love. It started with season one...my friends (you know who you are, don't deny it) and I used to keep track of how many times brett michaels said "awesome"...I think we maxed out at 12 in one episode...he "hearts" that word....and if it wasn't "awesome", he replaced that with "i'm totally turned on"...seriously brett?!

So after two seasons of trash and no love for brett (although Heather was close)...we moved from a mansion of drunk, stripper groupies to a tour bus of drunk, in-denial stripper groupies....not as fun, but HOLY TRASH...I didn't think Rock of Love could get trashier...ok so I just read up on last week's episode and Brett is down to 2 girls...both annoying as hell, both strippers...although ms. penthouse calls herself a dancer, ummmmm??! By definition I believe a stripper is a dancer that takes her clothes off...ummm honey, you are a STRIPPER.

I am honestly not sure where I was going with this thought other than...where do they find these people??! Between these girls and the girls on some new VH1 show "Tough Love" and then the show where girls make out with Flav...seriously??! Ladies...I know guys in the "real world" use lame ass pick up lines (refer to my March blog entry) but a tour bus? brett and his bandana? competing against strippers? making out with a guy that wears a clock around his neck?

ladies..puhleasse...seriously, where is the trashy reality tv show with hot frat boys or something...seriously?!

tomorrow's blog will be from the road...let my journey begin!

"How I Met Your Mother" has entered our day to day conversations...seriously?

I had a "legendary" night out on Saturday (yes I am being liberal with the word), but it was a fun night. Dinner was amazing...I highly recommend Lima's Taste (Christopher & Bedford) and their pisco sours (sounds kinda gross, so don't ask what is in it)...yum and wow you start to get the spins so drink slowly. The funniest part of the night though was when we got to the bar and I overheard two different groups of people making references to How I Met Your Mother. I mean the show is now officially part of our culture (finally made it to Seinfeld, Friends status!)...the Barney's bracket challenge story of the night is best....this guy who was pretty cute (and did look like a womanizer) was getting texts from some random girl...he kept saying to his friends..."who is Molly??" to which his friends responded...what's the area code? when was the last time you hooked up and rolled over and said who are you? do you think she is that blond from Dorians?...lord boys, your girlfriend in the group is right...time to start your bracket challenge..."suit up"...seriously?!

The other reference was so simple, but great...when the girl looked at her friends and simply said...MacLaren's, lets go to MacLaren's and they all said oh MacLarens....ugh wouldn't that be great....seriously?!

It's finally spring in NYC...seriously

All signs today pointed to Spring in NYC...

1. Line wrapped around the outside of Shake Shack (all the way down 77th St), people love them some burgers and shakes.
2. Mass group waiting outside Isabella's and Ocean Grill for brunch (wait time was over an hour).
3. PACKED, I mean no empty seats at outside seatings at all restaurants (and bars, obvi) on Amsterdam.
4. and flip flops...I wear mine year round (they are so comfortable, and so what if you lose a toe in the snow...I mean seriously who needs 10 toes...would I get a discount on my pedicure if I had less toes??)...anyways, everyone was in open toed shoes...hello SPRING.
5. Baby carriages in herds at Central Park (kind of annoying and hard to run around, BUT NYC kids need them sun in Central Park).

Bottom line...when spring hits NYC people go and eat! Happy Spring...seriously!!!! (oh and I hope no one minds rain tomorrow)

Stop the Anger in NYC...seriously.

Why is there so much anger amongst people (and apparently birds that fly into plane engines) in NYC...seriously?

I have my own theories about this, but I think some of the NY'er anger comes from etiquette issues (not only @ the gym, but don't get me started on that again...please people don't sweat all over the machine and then not clean it...seriously!) So today (on Jason's 30tht birthday...yes you old man) I am dedicating my blog to making NYC a less angry place...

I would be less angry on the subway if...
1. People didn't eat soup next to me on the subway. (I think its disgusting that you eat on the subway to begin with, but hot soup, really...can you really not wait til you get home?)
2. People said excuse me when trying to get off at their stop. (You don't need to push and yell)
3. Girls didn't talk about their sex life at volume level MAX at 8:30AM on the subway or the bus or the street corner. (I don't care what you did with who and I don't want details about well, anything)
4. Couples didn't suck on each others ears when the subway is packed like sardines. (this happens more often than not and I am not against PDA but I am against ear sucking...c'mon...grab her ass or whatever, but not ear sucking!)
5. Men didn't knock over people to get the next available seat from a woman. (manners boys!)
6. Gov. Patterson didn't raise my monthly unlimited metrocard pass...seriously gov, WTF? It's not like the seats or the smells are that great.

Now separate from the subway...I would be less angry in NYC if...
1. People could figure out how to avoid poking people's eyes out with their umbrella when walking on the sidewalk. Listen...we all know it rains in NYC, its a fact that we have to deal with but in order to prevent injury lift your umbrella up or move it down to avoid making eye contact with other pedestrians (LIKE ME!).

Ok so...what would make you less angry...seriously?!

Gone...seriously.

I was going to write today about subway etiquette or people in NYC that can't walk with an umbrella (yes there is etiquette for umbrella carrying too) or I had a new image for what I am going to make a weekly entry "Stick with Jeans and a Tshirt", but I think its only appropriate that I use this as a goodbye to Munn Rabot and NYC. I don't really believe in goodbye...I believe that you always keep in touch (well if you want to obviously) and that the real phrase should be "see you later" because in my situation, I know I will see everyone again. (hopefully at my restaurant opening in a few years)

I tried to look for inspiration in some quotes from "How I Met Your Mother" and of course I found some, but as I was writing a very good friend (shout out RT) sent me the song "Gone" by Pearl Jam and the quote that resonated for me was "I will be what I could be once I get out of this town"...NYC has always been my home, I love it here...I know I can make it here (which means I can make it anywhere, right Frank?) but I don't want a lot of things that come along with making it here...I don't think there is anything wrong with that, seriously.
So to Munn Rabot....I say thank you for the opportunities, the friendships, the inspiration...this was a great experience and one that I will always value. Between the chaos of the pit, the heffa comments (and pa dunk a dunk), the non-stop questions about how to write a blog (PR you are on your own...I am unavailable during beach time), the passionate arguments about what is right and not right for the brand (actually I won't miss those...well not all of them), the drama of our clients (well, let me see how many words in your presentation don't make sense to me, what's a 3rd party vendor mean?), and of course karoke I will miss it.

To NYC...I have lots of friends here that I love dearly, but this is not goodbye I will see a lot of you this summer (of course who wouldn't want to visit me in Nantucket)...from the nights of wine at my apt (or the overpriced wine bars), beer pong competitions (I need to work on my game again), roof deck parties, bbq's, mornings at the park, Sala 19 (holla!)...I will miss it all, but this is a move that I have to make and I appreciate all of your support as I do it...seriously.

My final words by Pearl Jam..."For the lights of this city, they only look good when I'm speeding. I wanna leave em all behind me cause this time I'm gone"...seriously.

(subway and umbrella etiquette to be posted shortly)

Tom Colicchio is the best...seriously!

Ah what a day at William Sonoma (WS) yesterday...I "heart" tom colicchio.

So despite the rain outside and Tom's recently operated on knee, he made it to the WS at Columbus circle last night for his book signing. He was such an amazingly nice guy, very chatty...despite having a huge ice pack strapped to his knee by a prep cook from WS. He chatted a little with everyone...he allowed all cell-phones and cameras to snap away at him (despite the witchy woman from WS telling everyone in the line he doens't want pictures...ummm I don't think Tom really cares Ms. WS...so back off!).

So...this is the first book signing I have ever been to in NYC (I know gasp...since they happen all the time), I guess I never really liked anyone enough to go? It's one of the more awkward things though...its an organized shuffle of people...there were 4 (yes 4) checkpoints of WS people making sure that your post-it note with what you wanted Tom to sign (which was only a personilaztion of a name) were in the right spot in the book, and IF and when you got by those people a WS employee grabbed your books (most people had 3-4 signed) and organized them in such a way that all Tom would have to do was lower his pen and touch the page....seriously?! Then like a manufacturing line we all moved one stop to the right, didn't make eye contact with anyone and said thank you sir for signing my book...again, I mean seriously?!

The funniest part about it, Tom was so casual and laid back...he didn't care if the books came in an organized stack or a disaray (mine of course had no organization to them by the time I got in front of Tom). I apologized for the disaster that I was and he laughed and said I like chaos, its a good thing. ( I swear in my head that he smiled and winked at me, LOL probably not though, maybe he even asked me out...oh nope dreaming again!)

Ah anyways...so WS don't be so uptight with such cool people at your store...just let him do his thing, oh and if someone asks him to sign one of his older books, let him sign it, don't make them buy the new book for him to sign.

I "heart" Tom Collichio, he was cooler in person than I could have imagined (and I thought he was pretty freaking cool and kinda of a stud before)...seriously.

Treadmill (and overall gym) etiquette...seriously, we need to discuss

Two days in a row now I have had "issues" with people at the gym...yes, I understand that maybe it's me and not them (but in all likelihood, its them!).

I am the first to admit that I get very competitive running on the treadmill, when someone gets on next to me and starts running faster than me, I speed up (duh, who wouldn't)...this has caused me to fall off the back of the treadmill only twice (my legs apparently don't work as fast as a 6'2" guy or a long legged 5'11" girl, oh well I kept up with them both for a little while).

Anyways so yesterday the guy next to me kept looking at my elapsed time on my treadmill, he would walk and then look at my time, then run again...then walk again, then look at mine and run again...and then yes he asked me, "how long are you going to run for?"...ummmm do you not see the headphones on!! Those headphones mean I don't want to talk to you...seriously!? I pretended not to hear him and stayed focused on running (I did almost trip trying to focus too hard)...then he did the unthinkable, he tapped me on the shoulder...I again ignored and then finally just turned around quickly and asked "how long are you walking for?"...he got off the treadmill and left. I mean c'mon seriously?!

Ok now this morning, different gym location (overall same issue)...the girl next to me on the treadmill was doing sprints (but not the kind that give you a workout)...she was going from walk to sprint for 10 seconds and repeated this about 5x then walked next to me singing out loud, with her headphones on...the girl was no Britney Spears and that is saying something, cause Britney ain't that good. But seriously?! It's 6AM and I don't want to hear you sing...so next time think about the 30 other people next to you before you a) short circuit your treadmill from the jerky thing you call running and b) before you decide to be a contestant on American Idol.

So let's review etiquette at the gym...cause I know I am not the only person who has these thoughts...
1. Do not bother people who are wearing headphones. (they don't want to talk to you if you have headphones on...leave them alone)
2. Don't set up your mat right next to someone else doing sit-ups or stretching. (people don't like being close to one another when they are sweaty and smelly...or at least I don't)
3. Ask before you assume that someone is no longer using a machine or a mat, or the freakin water fountain for that matter.
4. Don't leave sweat on the machines. (GROSS!)
5. Don't wear jeans to workout. (pet peeve of mine, and you all know I love jeans and a t-shirt, but not at the gym!)

and lastly

6. NO CELL PHONES. not in the locker room, not on the treadmill...I mean, seriously!