Counting My blessings! The 'thunder only happens when it's raining' edition.

'A lot of people dream. And while they are dreaming, the really happy people, the really successful people, the really interesting, powerful, engaged people, are busy doing. I wanted to be Nobel Prized-Winning author Toni Morrison. That was my dream. I blue-skied it like crazy. I dreamed and dreamed. And while I was dreaming I was living in my sister's basement. Dreamers often end up living in the basement of relatives.' ~ Toni Morrison

                                                               http://passagedelafleur.com

I swore I would not be one of those people that write about food. I swore I wouldn't be one of those people that post a picture on instagram about food and I don't have a personal Facebook account so that settles that, but....

I have a new job and I am loving it people. It is one of the best jobs I have had so far and it is long overdue. It is perfect and I am loving life right now (knock on wood). But that is not what this post is about. There are a few great things that has been happening to me of late, and I have to say this all started way back in June, when I decided to go out on a limb and quit my mediocre job to see what else was out there for me and boy let me tell you, there is a lot. And life is too short, blah blah blahs!

But as not to digressed let's get back to food and dinners and living organisms.

There is this company that I have only recently heard about called Quinciple and they are awesome.
http://www.quinciple.com  This is a company that delivers yummy delicious food weekly to your door or a designated drop off spot in your neighborhood. Where I work, just happen to be one of those designated spots. All you have to do is visit the link and check them out, because really, I am not here to plug them, but just to shed some light on the goodies that they deliver.

Anyways, how it works is that if you order then, every Monday we get these boxes that people would come and pick up, and every week the ingredient changes. The best part about this is that if there is a box left over by the time I close up, then that box is mine. YES! MINE. So the first week that this happened I thought it was too good to be true so I didn't bring it home. Then my boss told me that it's ok I should just email them so that they are aware of the situation.

Weird, right? That's what I thought as well, but.....

The second time this happened was steak night, and boy was I happy. I, for one, have been frowning on the gluten-free, kale loving bourgeois in my neighborhood, but thanks to Quinciple, I am now a huge fan of purple kale and green tomatoes. Did you know that salads are the bomb?And that you can make them for your lunch for free? And that I can now host great dinner parties with amazing produce that I don't have to give up my first born for? Yes, and I have been doing just that and loving it. They also give you these little recipe books that I am yet to take advantage of. I have gotten three boxes so far, and I really do feel bad for the person that didn't show up, and I really do give them the option of calling me if they are running late, and I do stick around and wait for them if they do so.

                                          The first box minus the great cut of ribeye

......but on those nights, when I am finally leaving, and I see that one box. My heart sings and I count my blessings and be grateful for all the selfless acts I have done in my life thus far to bring me to these moments.

Hey, for people that don't live in the city, they will not know the joys of getting free produce. I mean just last week Monday everyone showed up and so I had to do a little grocery shopping and I swear when the cashier told me how much it was I wanted to tell him to put them back. I didn't because I was hungry and I had a great organic red in my bag that I was destined to get home and sip on, but I was secretly cussing my little buorgie 'hood and how much it has changed.

                                                       The stuff from my local grocer! 

But this week I am back in business and I swear I will sign up at Quintuple.com, but I feel bad for the extra box going to waste if there should come a week that someone didn't show up. So I will wait for the Fall when people are back from vacation and then I will. What? I swear, scouts honor!

                                                        The box that inspired this post
Hey go check them out!

September is fast approaching and I am looking forward to my month of no drinking, but until then, I will enjoy these delicious organic wines that you will only get at Passage De La Fleur in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn and yes this is definitely a plug!!!! http://passagedelafleur.com

Hehe

What better way to spend these hot August days than with free produce and Organic wines? Well a hot sexy guy to share them with, but that's another story for another blog! * I am shamelessly winking right now*

Let the dog days begin!
Sleepless

To Be Continued....

~A love addict is someone who is dependent on, enmeshed with, and compulsively focused on taking care of another person~ Pia Mellody

As I was sweeping up and getting ready for the last round of customers, on the final lap of the evening,  I was busily thinking about what I will make myself for dinner. Dinner was the single most important thing in my life at that moment. See, I am a single female living in Brooklyn and so tired of the dating game, that I had officially taken myself off the market.

Took myself off the market, apparently, to focus on things such as my writing, honed my cooking skills, yoga, and daily fulfillment. FYI, I am still getting around to the yoga business. I know, I sound boring, but to be honest, it's really working out for me. Way better than I had imagined. So as to digress a little.

Dating in NYC is complicated. I'm sure you've heard it all before, but whatever, let me put my two cents in. I have been there done that, spend a few months to a few years on the Island. Met some amazing natives. Some I was sure I was going to spend the rest of my life with, and others, well let's just say I am still filling out the questionnaire for jury duty, a.k.a the verdict is still out. So now I have given up and settled in. I have everything but the cats, and I am ok with that. Because dating is so exhausting and investing, I'd rather just be and see what happens. I am at that point where I can't see myself with anyone and all the faces seems the same, nothing striking. It has been a while since I have seen A good looking man. The kind that looks you in the eyes and tickles your soul, and get your panties wet. The type that speaks with a genuine kindness and conviction that it's easy to envision him being apart of your life, quickly. The type that will give you bionic powers to hear your own heart beating, while you stop yourself from drooling?

                                                              YES HIM.

I have no idea where he is, or, in who's world he has being keeping himself busy. All I am surrounded by are the boys who might be your friend, but shred every bit of decency when the alcohol sets in. I see the playboys mostly too and their exhausting attempts to try and get into your bed. The boys who are not quite sure if they are ready or just lonely in that moment, but is willing to risk your heart to buy time for themselves. And most of all I see the young ones. The never-ending twenty something that think they know what they want until you ask them what they want, then they scatter like a thief in the night. Always throwing up and being broke, thinking they have all the time in the world.Yes those are the 'men' I meet in Brooklyn.


So you understand why I am off the market, for now!

'In order to become more effective in relationships, we have to understand ourselves -our brains, our habits, our defenses, "why we pick certain people" and "why we do what we do".'

So back to my dinner thoughts.

It was eight thirty-ish and the night had cooled down a bit (summer nights in the BK), and, I was feeling a little drained from the day. That's when I saw him. I pretended like I wasn't watching him in that 'I'm not looking, but checking out the whole package kind of way' and boy did I like what I was seeing. I saw him pulled up to park his bike as he made way into the little wine shop that could. He seems to know what he wanted and he was pleasant.
He said hello and I said hi.
I watched as his reaction changed from rushing in to get a bottle of wine, to looking me over and relaxing. He seemed to know what he wanted as he went straight for it, as not to delay the inevitable. He wanted to talk to me. I stopped sweeping and got around to the counter to cash him out and that's when I saw it. I saw him and my belly fluttered and my heart skipped a beat and all I could say was cash or credit, which wouldn't have been a stupid question if he clearly didn't have his credit card out. He smiled and as he did he soaked me in and said very quietly and directly, "How has your day been going?" I said, "pretty good it's almost over now." He looked up at me and paused and I wasn't sure if he was going to ask me what I was doing next, or if he wasn't quite sure how to. He was as honest as he could have been in that moment, and his eyes were as blue as the bluest oceans, if as that's what happens when he is being most honest.
Those five minutes seemed like the longest hour.  My body, my mind, my heart got jolted back to the present and I felt something that I hadn't felt in the last few months, something that gave me a warm tingling feeling that only we could experience in that exact second, minute and moment.  I felt necessity. The only kind of neediness that those deep blue eyes can gush. And we were interrupted by the next customer who knew that she had walked in on something she couldn't quite place. She just knew she needed her bottle of wine and to get the hell out of the interruption.

I don't know his name. I am sure I will see him again and will get a little bit more about the long day he's had. He left and just like that I am back on the market. Maybe, just maybe, Brooklyn is not so boring and basic after-all......

This is to be continued....

.....and just like that,
Sleepless!

Meet: Iva Rad!

I met Iva (The 'I' in her name is a long 'E', pronounced Eeva), spring time one Saturday night, at Dyneco, Bedstuy! It was one of those nights when I needed a drink, and thought, I am going to get one. I walked in the bar and the only seat left was the one beside her, and, as I proceeded to sit down, we joined in a conversation and the rest as they say is history.....

Ha! No, nobody said that. Just adding an air of class to my blog.

....Anyways,

We got to talking and it turns out that we, among a few things, had films in common and not just watching them, but making them. We shared similar topics such as politics and the refreshing way in which we weren't afraid to talk about everything. I am not sure if it was because we speak the same language (figuratively) when it comes to certain topics, but we also have a knock to be passionate about the things we should be passionate about. She is a gentle soul and is an amazing women to be around. She is quite busy as well and travel the world to tell other peoples' stories so that everyone can partake and join in on the conversations. Stories that unites us and let us know that we are not alone and that we all go through the same bulshit.

Her documentary 'Evaporating Borders' is a must see and it will forever change the way we view politics, people and ourselves. She offers voice overs in such a way, that, it's like she is just chatting with you one on one. Bring a box of tissue, because it will speak to your soul and make you cry. 
 Scratch that, bawl. It will make you bawl!

                                                        
She is usually all about the globe, making memories and living, but on a great day if you are  lucky you can find her in Bedstuy, and if you are me, then you will happen to meet up with her at a lovely little cafe Civil Service on Nostrand. Where you will chat endlessly about everything. But please don't take up too much of her time, this lady is on a mission and it's coming to a theater near you!


'And the award goes to....'

I have to tell you, I saw two great films this year Selma was the first and Evaporating Border comes in second place, but you don't have to take my word for it. If you didn't get a chance to catch a showing at the IFP NY Media Center, June 19th-25th. Then you will have to wait eagerly for it to be released online. http://www.evaporatingborders.com

I am more than honored to be teaming up with her on a project that I know will have magnitude, because she is JUST THAT DAMN great!

 .......And if that is not enough, she has managed to convince me that after her return from Europe, we will brave the scary world of online dating together. This is just for research purposes only. *wink wink*. After all we are artists and we should have materials to write about, right?

HA HA HA

But that's just what I mean, she is fearless and just a good soulful energy to be around.

http://www.ivaasks.com/#/

But enough of the gobble gobble, let's get to know Iva in her own words...

Name: Iva Radivojevic

Age: 34

Status: Always in Love

Language(s): Yugoslavian, Greek, English

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Job: Filmmaker


Hail From: Yugoslavia

Where Ya Bed At: Bed Stuy

Why NYC: At this point, because it's addictive

Best Place To Eat In The City: Mogador and Madiba

When's Bedtime: I'm an insomniac.

What's The One Thing You Have With You At All Times: Water

How Old Would You Be If You Didn't Know How Old You were: 27 or 18

If Happiness Was The National Currency, What Kind Of Work Would Make You Rich: Travel

Would You Break The Law To Save A Loved One: Absolutely, I'd break it even if it wasn't a loved one

A Sucker For: Bread and olive oil

Next 3 Years: Wonder, expansion, adventure, love

What Is Your Greatest Fear: Settling

If You Could Tell The World One Thing: Make a love connection everyday

Favorite Thing You Have Ever Done With A Friend: Set up camp and spent a week completely naked on a quiet island.

Where Will  You Be When You Die: Asleep

Sex With One Person Past Or Present: Laurence Fishburne in Boyz n the Hood

If You Could Only Have Dinner With Three People For The Rest Of Your Life, Whom:  Jorge Luis Borges, Arundhati Roy, Caetano Veloso

Worst Thing About The City: The cages, on the bridges, on our windows, around the buildings, around the rivers...

The last gig you did:  Edited a film called "MA"

This love affair  you have with film making: It's the only way I can truly communicate.

If life is so short, what would you rather spend your days doing:  Being intensely present

What's next for you: Love, it looks like

So we came, we bought the book, we read and we met Iva! She is a gem and get ready to be hearing a lot more from her in the coming days, weeks, months and years. Spread your wings and fly, Mama! The world is your oyster!

Damn it's Summer!

Sleepless.