Day off at the beach...

Convinced Rob to go to the beach today... So amazing it was! We roasted and laughed and had a laaaaaazzzy time! :)

More than one year and what year... Year when I let go of so much, wanted and unwanted. Year full of surprises both good and really bad. Year of turbulances, year of many changes, year that I now learned to embrace for what is worth. I am guilty of letting bad-mouthing hurting me, of letting things get to me and listen to harsh words that were out of place. I know I did not deserve it. I am proud of just letting things unfold. I did not do wrong, and if wrong was done to me and any form or manner there are Karma laws, I don't worry. Most of what I've learn this year is that GOD is really great, that once again he never let me fall; that I am blessed for having work; that I am blessed for having a few people around me that love me; that I don' t need someone just to have someone for the fear of being alone. I am never alone. God has always been with me. And I am positive that when it will be time for me to bump into my future man I will know it. I don't need to desperately seek anyone. I'm blessed. Even when I feel lost he always shows me the way.

Amy at Place des Vosges, Paris

Classic!

Contemplating on latest news...

George Weber... I never knew him, although I knew of him... I feel very sorry for what happened to him, I don't think any human being deserves that. According to his friends, people that knew him and his family he was caring, a good and loving person... Unfortunately for him he was in his private life, as most of the gay men I know, in search for "new adventures" and "thrills". That wouldn't be so bad if we lived in 18th century or such. But we live in a weird weird world where you can really trust yourself and sometimes, even have yourself to doubt. What I really blame is this Craigslist personals which is pretty much for most part a gross meat market section. George Weber put an ad there... 

A quick sex counter with a complete stranger that he let in his apartment... How sad, how insane.

His killer, that little fucker, only 16 (he didn't look 16 for the life of him, I am sure he lied), I hope he gets his share. I hope he rottens in hell, since he's such a Satanist! The craziness is that George Weber let him in... 

There are other ways to meet men other than on Craigslist. I know some people get a kick out of the craziness and excitement but... 

I hope I get to live until this place called Earth will become a little less dark, where people of any gender will find again the joy of being together, meeting through friends or social gatherings, the excitement of sharing interests and values before they share their bodies or jump into quick sexual encounters, because that is always the easy way out and that will always leave you feeling unfinished, confused, wanting more and not even know what. I am not generalizing, it could work sometimes but show me one person of any gender who only has one night stands or casual sex encounters and is happy... Exactly.

Call me old school, but I think we all need  a bit of normality to have a leveled life, it's just that, out of despair some of us look for it in the wrong places sometimes and don't get a second chance to re-think their actions. 

George Weber, the news guy, may you rest in peace man, regardless, you didn't deserve your death, not that violent way... Sorry. RIP

4 days in Paris

Oh la la Paris. My first time there... Unbelievable city that you have to experience yourself... Amazing energy... I had a blast. Wish I would've had an extra pair of legs though!

First day in Paris, walking by the Seine

Musee d'Orsay

Louvre

Hotel Westin, Iwaya for Dress 33 fashion show

Hotel Westin, Iwaya for Dress 33 fashion show

Hotel Westin, Ywaya for Dress 33 fashion show

Andy Wahloo, moroccan bar. Can we say sistas?

On the wall at Andy Wahloo, moroccan bar

Lunch at Le Relais Gascon restaurant... Yummy those salads!

View from Le Relais Gascon restaurant where Amy and I were having lunch... 

You can't ask for more... 

Montmartre, Place du Tertre

Montmartre

Flower shop

Realness in Paris... Oh, some sur_ge_ries!

Happy to see it one more time, at night... 

Couldn't help myself... It was the coolest outfit I've seen in a while!

Last day in Paris... Glorious weather... just so I feel really sad I'm leaving!

At Arts et Métiers café

Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Jim Morrison's grave

Bastilique du Sacré-Coeur, take two

Breathtaking girl in Montmartre by Place du Tertre

Park near Abbesses metro station... 

Last day I did what a true Parisian would: 

sat on a bench in a park, in this lazy 

Sunday afternoon while people watching.

Romania (Bucharest, Sinaia, Predeal, Brasov)

I was blessed to do everything I planned in this month-long trip to Romania... I spent time with my mom and family, I saw most of the people I wanted to see, I solved some dental things that were cheaper and easier to take care of there, I went to the mountains, I saw old and goooood friends, I walked, I ate, I cried and laughed, I had some amazing times... I lived a lot in less than a month... oh, and I went to Paris for 4 days. My treat to myself ;)

Now I am back and back to work that is... 

Below just a couple of the highlights... The rest on Facebook. :)

Church

90s are everywhere there... LOL

Center of Bucharest, at night

Moon

Sinaia, train station

Peles Castle

Predeal, house

Predeal, house

Brasov, John the Baptist hermitage

Mom and I last day together... 

February 2009

After a couple of conversations regarding travelling, where should we go around my birthday and so on... I have decided the last minute to go to Romania  for three weeks and Paris for a couple of days since I could meet Amy after the Paris fashion shows. Stay tuned. 

January 09

I was busy this month wrapping up my latest book with Weight Watchers and still been dreaming of a little trip outside NY/USA for a while now... I am turning the dial this year and have promised that it will be a year about travelling. 

December '08

Holidays have been very quiet for me this year. Mostly everyone I know was away, so I could say it was quite boring here. I got to see lots of movies, spend some time with my sister, had a very traditional Romanian Christmas, which I enjoyed quite a lot and a small-gathering type of New Years which I enjoyed even more. It wasn't bad all'n all. 

I know lots of people that hated this year with passion... I have to say it hasn't been that very bad for me, thank God. In the very last days of the year I even heard from 2 people I missed a lot, but with whom I had no contact for the past couple of years. One of them is still lost for me and whenever I pronounce her name it becomes an emotional issue. The other, I was so happy to hear from and truly hope we can see each other and be in each other's life again.

Here are some highlights of this season, in pictures...

December 4-Sunrise

December 15 in Chinatown. I guess only a graphic designer would appreciate this wall at the subway station.

"I can help you pack your gifts!"

See Management Recession Christmas Party. Only a genius as John would come up with such a theme. 

Black poinsettas. Very dark-sided John, very dark.

Amy and her agent, mister man, John S.

December 19... snowing... 

December 23. I met Jackie (food editor/recipe developer at WW who lives around me) for a glass of wine and she was sweet enough to bring me some cookies she made. I cannot explain in words how AMAZING those cookies were.

Christmas morning with my little sweetheart. :)

Christmas day. Traditional Romanian food. Yes, my sister went so far that even the table cloth is from Romania. The food? Unbelievable.

December 31. Last day of the year. How appropriate for it to snow while the sun was up. It sums up how this year was. Stormy but shinny at points. Looking forward to '09. This year's resolution? Put myself first and travel more.

Happy New Year everybody!

The quietest, simplest Thanksgiving...

I've never spent Thanksgiving so quietly. 

It was nice, for a change, I have to say. :)

Just my roomate and I and the kit-cat of course 

who actually did not care for any turkey!