"Less food, more sex."

This was my doctor's parting advice for me today after going in for my annual check-up. 

I think he may be on to something...

"I was born in 1937, bred, toasted, buttered, jellied, jammed, and honeyed in Harlem."

From the article True Colors in the February 2018 issue of American Vogue. Written by Audrey Smaltz.

Pastina.

"Why's it so hard to accept the party is over?"

From the song Drew Barrymore by SZA.

Inspired by a fellow commuter on the subway:

Mouth breathing, 

during the evening rush.

Blocking the subway door, 

playing Candy Crush.

Oblivious by choice,

neck angled down.

You stand there in the way,
like an unaware clown.
Staring into a phone,
might be your escape.
But how about everyone around you,

just looking to board or get off the train?
We want to zone out, too,
and forget about our worries.
But we can't 'cause you're planted there,
cramping our hurry!

That does not excite me.

I save my love for braised meat and pasta.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day, everyone!

When I lived in Alaska during the 5th grade, I attended Fairview elementary school in Anchorage. I can distinctly remember Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech, and the song Lift Every Voice and Sing, as being a part of my grade's curriculum. We were quizzed on memorizing the speech, and sung the song as a chorus in music class. Learning it in school made it feel no different than any other subject, helping me incorporate it into my life just like the A-B-C's or 1-2-3's. No one in school ever had the slightest thoughts even close to second-guessing what we were being taught, or harbored any reluctance on accepting everything as anything but fact, history, and as a truth we should all aspire to live by as young people. It was taught as a norm and that as a country, something America never intended on going backwards on. Instead, it was simply a foundation to grow and embrace as we all live together side-by-side.

And now as an adult, I don't see how the views of so many diverge from what was taught to generations like myself as a standard of kindness, humanity, and being American. Young people today should still be able to live in a world where I Have a Dream and Lift Every Voice and Sing continue to serve as the beacons of hope and progress they've always been, without all the crazy background noise of the current administration and emboldened racists out there.

"That's me. I'm a simple girl with simple taste. 2-inch thick steaks, french fries, and a big salad."

Said by the character Vicky in the movie There's No Business Like Show Business.

I hope everyone is having a great new year so far.

I just got back from a work trip from San Francisco this morning and have been sleeping all day. Gosh, there's really nothing like being in your own bed at home. I slept like a log and woke up just now feeling disoriented by the sunlight that had disappeared.

Visiting San Francisco for the first time ever was really fun. I only spent three days in town and didn't have too much time to explore, but was still able to walk around and check out a few things here and there. On my second night, there was even an earthquake. It was past 2am and I was lying in my bed at The Fairmont staring directly into my phone. I heard a sudden banging noise at first and thought another room next to mine was having loud sex. But then I felt the rumbling and shaking and thought oh okay this has to be an earthquake. I can't lie and say there wasn't a quick moment of sheer terror wondering, alright, what do I need to do next in this situation? But thankfully, my boss texted me the moment after with instructions on what to do in case of an emergency. I was totally fine after that.

It's so painfully cold here in New York right now. Like, it hurts to be outside. I was happy staying in today to just cook and lounge around after I got back from the airport.