The Water Princess

Brilliant

2009-04-02T20:36:00.000-07:00

John West "Tuna & Beans" - Absolutely one of the funniest print ads I've seen in years!

Still alive

2009-04-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in ages - keep meaning to and then never get around to it. Life gets in the way - as I've said before. I'll post an actual update this week sometime - need to get back to actively posting.

Thanks for hanging in there - xx K

Happy Holidays

2008-12-24T22:28:00.001-08:00

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and a very happy New Year.

I'll be sure to post soon about all the goings on in my life - from the amazing 1000 person party I threw for the Yves Saint Laurent exhibit at the Museum to the craziness of the holidays to my upcoming trip to NY and - hopefully - the super fabulous details of my new apartment there (fingers crossed - still looking).

xx K

Seriously?!

2008-10-23T21:39:00.001-07:00

Donkeys?? This lady has a lot of catching up to do...

My New York

2008-10-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

After nearly a month in NY with a new camera (thank you baby - you picked out the perfect one for me!) - i thought i'd share some of my favorite pictures.

xx K

Sarah Palin

2008-09-30T12:09:00.000-07:00

While I normally don't speak to political issues on this blog - it's something i'm very passionate about but not interested, necessarily, in talking about in this forum. That being said, I am so concerned, so worried, about this upcoming election and the possibility of Sarah Palin being anywhere near the actual presidency - that I need to speak up. Say my peace. Share my thoughts.

And in doing so - I'm choosing to not use my own words - because someone else has expressed my own feelings so well, so exactly, and so eloquently that I will share her words with you.

I will link Rebecca Traister's fantastic Salon.com piece "The Sarah Palin Pity Party" below but also extract some of the points which echo my sentiments eactly.

"When you stage a train wreck of this magnitude -- trying to pass one underqualified chick off as another highly qualified chick with the lame hope that no one will notice -- well, then, I don't feel bad for you.

When you treat women as your toys, as gullible and insensate pawns in your Big Fat Presidential Bid -- or in Palin's case, in your Big Fat Chance to Be the First Woman Vice President Thanks to All the Cracks Hillary Put in the Ceiling -- I don't feel bad for you.

When you don't take your own career and reputation seriously enough to pause before striding onto a national stage and lying about your record of opposing a Bridge to Nowhere or using your special-needs child to garner the support of Americans in need of healthcare reform you don't support, I don't feel bad for you.

When you don't have enough regard for your country or its politics to cram effectively for the test -- a test that helps determine whether or not you get to run that country and participate in its politics -- I don't feel bad for you.

When your project is reliant on gaining the support of women whose reproductive rights you would limit, whose access to birth control and sex education you would curtail, whose healthcare options you would decrease, whose civil liberties you would take away and whose children and husbands and brothers (and sisters and daughters and friends) you would send to war in Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Russia and wherever else you saw fit without actually understanding international relations, I don't feel bad for you.

I don't want to be played by the girl-strings anymore. Shaking our heads and wringing our hands in sympathy with Sarah Palin is a disservice to every woman who has ever been unfairly dismissed based on her gender, because this is an utterly fair dismissal, based on an utter lack of ability and readiness. It's a disservice to minority populations of every stripe whose place in the political spectrum has been unfairly spotlighted as mere tokenism; it is a disservice to women throughout this country who have gone from watching a woman who -- love her or hate her -- was able to show us what female leadership could look like to squirming in front of their televisions as they watch the woman sent to replace her struggle to string a complete sentence together.

In fact, the only people I feel sorry for are Americans who invested in a hopeful, progressive vision of female leadership, but who are now stuck watching, verbatim, a "Saturday Night Live" skit.

Palin is tough as nails. She will bite the head off a moose and move on. So, no, I don't feel sorry for her. I feel sorry for women who have to live with what she and her running mate have wrought. "

Read her entire piece here: http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/09/30/palin_pity/index1.html

RIP Paul Newman

2008-09-27T23:16:00.000-07:00

You were an amazing man - a leader - a legend - an educator - an activist - a mentor - a fearless adventurer - a family man - and so much more.

You will be sorely missed.

Rest in Peace

Green with Envy

2008-07-29T09:12:00.000-07:00

My new favorite place - I think you'll love it too.

www.greenwithglamour.com

Enjoy - xx K

Next Food Network Hack

2008-07-28T12:47:00.000-07:00

Sure, the title is a bit gruff - but so was the winner.

This morning (thank you DVR) I watched the culmination of weeks of watching and anticipating the outcome of "The Next Food Network Star" - and was sorely disappointed that they awarded this title to a cook, who is at best, mediocre. Aaron was awkward and clumsy in his presentation, unable to talk and cook simultaneously, preparing meals that weren't on par with his competitors - yet each week - he prevailed.

This ridiculous and seemingly rigged outcome for this competition is a slap in the face to people who actually cook - who appreciate cooking techniques and learning methods to enhance their own - and who are all too aware of WHO should have won if this competition was truly based on talent, presentation and ability.

But it obviously wasn't. I'm not sure what it was based on - generating a stronger urban demographic? - teaching novices how to spice a beef loin? - how to fumble lines, botch the most basic of dishes, and self doubt to the point of self-sabotage? Hmmm maybe. Maybe it was based on a predetermined outcome set forth by the marketing department upon skewing their Nielsen's and realizing they needed another down-market show. I don't know but I do know I won't be watching.

It's obvious to anyone watching that Lisa should have won - she had the style, the passion and the ability. Her presentation needed some work in the beginning, but she worked on that and ultimately delivered flawless food and equally impressive on-camera presentations.

I'll be on the look out for Lisa - who I'm sure will be making her own mark soon enough on the culinary world. I would imagine the clock on Aaron's 15 minutes has already started ticking down.

Tick tock...

xx K

Chihuly

2008-07-25T07:31:00.000-07:00

Threw an amazing party for the opening of the Dale Chihuly exhibit in June. It was incredible - his work is really just awe-inspiring. Every corner turned revealed a new and breathtaking room to explore. The rooms were all black (for the most part) with his pieces being up- and backlit for effect. There was one smaller room set aside with a film, looped, of him working in an amphitheatre style setting - creating these pieces with his team on the floor while a crowd watched and cheered as each piece was completed. Just to see them work together - to create on the fly - the dance they do around glass as it's being shaped and pulled and morphed - it was hard to turn away. It's one of the most amazing exhibits I've seen at the museum - thrilled to have been a part of it in some way.

While I love is work, I was excited to learn he's not just a glass artist - but also an artist in the more traditional sense - pen, charcoal, paint on paper. His work on paper comes to life in his glass, as a template or guide for his team, but it's those pieces that I loved almost equally as much. For me, to own one of his works on paper is more interesting than a piece of his glass. It's like Botero's bronzes, or Picasso's pen and ink's - stepping outside their notoriety and into another place. Once piece of Chihuly glass wouldn't suffice, wouldn't be nearly as grand as it should be - but 1 beautifully framed sketch (and I use that term loosely, it's decidedly more than just a sketch - it's a full blown work of art) of his would have me swoon.

Put that on my list of must have's - I'll check that off soon.

Enjoy some of the pictures from the exhibit itself - they don't do it justice - it's something to you need to experience in person.

These lavender spikes, as i call them, rose out of the tree trunks
and they were each about 10 feet tall. Simply gorgeous.

These balls rested in a boat - a full size wooden boat. The
balls ranged from around 8 inches to 3 feet in size. Every
color and combination imaginable. The picture above only
captures the middle section!

This was the grande finale - a massive room with the most
amazing collection of pieces - orbs, pods, spikes, flowers,
twisty entwined masterpieces. The room was about 40+
feet long - this shot is looking down through the work.

This unfocused shot (apologies) is taken at the other end of
the 'finale' room. You can see the twisty piece visible in the
above picture and again in this shot.

Enjoy! xx K

Happy Birthday to Me

2008-07-23T14:18:00.000-07:00

It's my birthday and so far it's been just lovely. On Saturday night I went out with the family and had a great dinner. I was so excited that I got a Breville Juicer - OMG - it's amazing and it's so cool that i can make my own organic juice in the morning! I also go a super chic YSL wallet from the y-mail collection (my newest obsession) - so fabulous - black patent with gold script. In love! Today i've gotten lots and lots of phone calls and a beautiful bouquet from Rich. I also got a fantastic juicing book from him as well as 2 french-centric books - a great recipe book and a little book about french cafes. I got a few other things - and bought myself a few things - very pretty juicy couture scarf - soft pink and brown bamboo print.

My nephew called me this AM (he's 3) to sing me happy birthday - he ended it untraditionally, typical for him, with 'i love you so much because you're so preeeeeeeetty'. Well, if that's not the best way to wake up, I'm not sure what is.

I actually have a ton of work to do today - so this will be short - but wanted to say a mass thank you to everyone who sent me birthday wishes. I will reward myself with a delicious cupcake later - no candles though... don't want to burn the house down.

Dinner with friends this weekend to celebrate - should be fun - i'll update again when i can. I need to post the pictures from the Chihuly event we threw - it was incredible. I'll get to that soon.

xx K

Bow Down Darlings

2008-07-01T14:12:00.001-07:00

Favorite images from the Lacroix show in Paris - I can't even imagine having the creativity to create such incredible awe-inspiring works of art. He's a genius.

The bows, the massive broaches, the fur, the fabrics - Love Love Love.

Heat Wave in NY

2008-06-11T10:29:00.001-07:00

Enough said...

Je t'aime toujours ... R.I.P.

2008-06-01T19:50:00.000-07:00

An icon, a visionary, a legend - Yves Saint Laurent - 1936 to 2008

Stay the Course

2008-02-26T08:30:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure my body is acclimating to the new diet and the urges are stopping or if i'm just getting better at ignoring all that is around me - but i think this new way of eating is working! It's not so much a challenge anymore which is relieving. I'm not feeling that pull to my old habits as much as i was. i'm still in a bit of a rut, but i'm definitely branching out - spicey red curry, tofu spring rolls (not deep fried), hummus plate with 3 different types (delicious). I'm loving the raw juices and yes, the vegan cupcakes are still my downfall. I had 1 last night. They're decadent. I need to find out what is in them and i think i need to seriously limit myself. Nothing this good can be healthy.

I did feel a little anxious on Sunday - i went to my parents house to say hello and then to run errands - but i hadn't eaten anything yet. While I was driving through Marin trying to figure out what and where to eat - i was getting, i don't know, not worried, but more uncomfortable with the choices. Can't have that - can't have that - can't have that. I was crossing off all the options in my head and - as i was pressed for time - was beginning to feel that i wouldn't be able to find something suitable. I ended up getting a turkey (fresh roasted, not rolled) with avocado, sprouts, green peppers on sliced sourdough. It was an actual relief when i had it in my hands on my way to the checkout counter.

This is all still too new to me to lapse back into my old habits. Lent isn't over yet - and while this started with that - and i intend - scratch that - i will - make it through Lent - i really want to continue this. I feel fantastic. I am still in the baby stages of this change (tomorrow will be 3 weeks) and to slip up now, knowing myself, would be disasterous. It would cycle into going back to my old habits and nearly impossible to start again.

Old habits die(t) hard

xx K

One day at a time

2008-02-21T12:45:00.000-08:00

I had a vegan cupcake for breakfast. Someone stop me!

That addiction aside, the soba noodles were deeelish! I'll definitely have them again. I had vegan red lentil soup for dinner last night which was also very tasty. A little texturey - grainy almost - but still yummy. I have the grilled chicken salad for lunch. Not sure about dinner - i have a party i'm supposed to go to at Neiman's tonight but i'm not sure i'm going to make it. It's pouring out - buckets - and i'd rather cozy up than primp and pose for pictures.

I've noticed that i'm reaching for food when i'm bored. I think i might be a boredom eater. And an emotional eater. I need to retrain myself. It's very interesting learning about myself in this way with this new lifestyle. I miss crackers. How weird is that. I still feel the pull and it's a teeny bit hard when i walk down the wrong aisle at the grocery store or walgreen's and end up in a minefield. But it's getting better.

Good things to come.

xx K

Organic Rut

2008-02-19T09:59:00.000-08:00

I'm doing this whole no processed, packaged, boxed, bagged, frozen, etc food thing - only organic, natural, fresh or raw foods for me - tomorrow it will be 2 weeks. It's going really well, i'm feeling fantastic - energized, clearer (if that makes sense), and healthy. Having dropped probably 8 pounds is an added bonus. My only issue, as Rich pointed out last night, is the rut i'm in with what to eat. He basically said he's getting bored for me listening to what I'm eating. I'm pretty much stuck on a grilled chicken salad and the grilled chicken pesto sandwhich (super light pesto, not oily - more flavorful than sauce-like). I've started incorporating raw organic juices like the Body Cleanser (carrot, celery, apple, lemon) and the Skin Refresher (cucumber, apple, strawberry) - but I needed to branch out food-wise.

So while pondering what to order last night, i decide i'll order grilled chicken skewers with coconut cilantro jasmine rice from the restaurant next door to Lettus. While not necessarily organic, their food is super fresh and low fat. I call and call and call - only to get a busy signal. Out of frustration and hunger, I go back to Lettus and opt to explore their menu a bit. I order the Tuscan panini for dinner (meh, i'll pass on that again) and the chilled soba noodles with ginger, lime, scallions, veggies and sesame seeds for today's lunch. I ordered another raw juice and a vegan cupcake. Normally i wouldn't order a vegan cupcake, really not appealing to me - but ohmygod this stuff is like crack and i'm addicted! I have no idea how they make them so good but they need to take them off the menu.

So i'm trying to branch out - it should be easy - but i'm a create of habit. So we'll see. I'll let you know how the soba noodles are.

An interesting off-shoot of this little organic non-packaged anything diet is that my ulcer hasn't been hurting at all. I'm still taking my meds, but I haven't had a break-through in 2 weeks. Amazing...

Once Lent is over (the reason for this whole change) i'll probably stick to this new way of eating - i'm feeling amazing and the urges for crackers and crap, which at first were incredibly strong, have started to fade and wane. I think it's a matter of knowing my triggers and how to cope without reaching for those things. I'm getting there. Wish me luck.

xx K

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T11:38:00.000-08:00

Last night's conversation - a tiny tidbit of why i love this man:

Me: How much time do i have? Do i have time to run and grab dinner?

Rich: A half hour - go get your dinner and then we'll watch it - no hurry

Me: Do you want anything?

Rich: No, I'm fine (laughs)

Me: Nothing? What about a vegan cupcake?

Rich: Haha, no - i already have one of those

Me: Awww you mean ME!

Happy Valentine's Day Rich - i love you!

XOXOXO - always - your vegan cupcake

Hey Hey Hey!

2008-02-13T15:57:00.000-08:00

Wow - long time no type...

Lots has been going on - spent a fantastic 2 weeks in NY - it was absolutely wonderful - too short.

I got that horrible cold that went around - nursed that for a little over a week. The cough just hung around for a week after that.

I set my microwave on fire - it wasn't a huge fire - just some lovely ambiance for my kitchen. There really should be manuals for those things. Oh wait. Nevermind.

4 months of planning a gala came and went with a fabulous black tie party at the end of January. I got the most gorgeous Zac Posen bag (secured the donation for the party and then won it that night - YAY me!) - it's seriously gorgeous - red satin - it's called the Aurora.

Went to a gallery opening - left early - the art wasn't compelling.

Chopped my long hair off (6+ inches) - it just brushes my shoulders now and i totally love it!

I gave up anything processed, packaged, bagged, boxed or frozen for Lent (yes, i'm jewish, but i love Lent - i love the idea of giving stuff up) - it's been a tough week (oh quiet) - but I'm feeling SO much better. Only fresh organic foods - thank god for Lettus (amazing organic restaurant in my neighborhood) or I'd be really struggling. I think it will get easier this coming week.

Bought a Rubik's cube on impulse and i absolutely dread that decision. It's sitting next to me - all colors mixed up and a complete mess. I should take it back and say mine is broken. I honestly don't think i'm going to be able to put this back together.

That's all for now - i'll try to write more often - thanks for hanging in there :)

xx K

2007-12-25T12:50:00.000-08:00

Merry Merry Christmas

Meow - xx - K

Every little bit helps...

2007-11-15T10:08:00.000-08:00

Do your part to help end world hunger, and find a new game to become addicted to:

http://www.freerice.com

Odds and Ends

2007-10-10T15:10:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I tend post when I'm stressed and PMSing - but i always end up teary at some movie i happen to come across while channel surfing - last time, regrettably it was Dirty Dancing - the end dance sequence. Absolutely mortifying to admit, but yes, i sat on my couch and wiped tears away as Baby and Johnny danced together on stage. Today it was Love Actually. At least it was a fairly decent movie. It's not the stereotypical fare that for some reason brings me to tears - like "Independence Day". Can you imagine! Sadly, that's true. I cried watching Independence Day. Shoulders heaving, muffled sobs so not to wake Rich who was sleeping on the couch.

A resounding yes, to those that have inquired, i braved the HS Reunion several weeks ago. Chic black suit - had my hair cut and blown out - YSL bag - Dior stilettos. It was surreal. I literally didn't recognize people. Like had NO CLUE who they were. A lot of bad hair and odd clothing choices. Tons of baby pictures, baby blabber. Lots of people referring to me as the 'tennis girl'. There were a few people who it was actually good to see. I reconnected to 2 girls which was nice. We're going to go for cocktails when i get back from NY. So, not a total loss.

I've got a ton of stuff going on with the museums - gallery parties - a huge event for annie leibovitz, dale chihuly, a lecture series. Learned something interesting about Dale Chihuly - he hasn't blown glass since the early 70s. He injured his eye in a glass blowing accident and has no depth perception. I was shocked. His pieces - his NEW pieces signed by him - sell for thousands of dollars - 10s of 1000s of dollars. Yet, despite the sky high prices of his coveted work, he hasn't actually created anything in over 35 years. It just doesn't sit well with me. I've been a huge fan of his work, and now, it doesn't feel the same to me. All the while, some artists, and i do mean Artists, such as Bansky aren't truly recognized for their work. Which, mind you, is freaking genius.

If you don't know about Bansky, this link is the best way to familiarize yourself with his guerilla tactics and amazing work. He's someone i would love to have dinner with!

http://www.woostercollective.com/2005/03/a_wooster_exclusive_banksy_hit.html

That's all from me - have to get back to work - enough procrastination for the day

xx K

High School Reunion

2007-09-14T16:35:00.000-07:00

I've never understood those people who wish they could go back to high school. It's where they peaked i suppose - although i think we'd all like to relive the times where we felt like we were at the top of our game. But high school?

A 3 day extravaganza has been planned by several self-appointed 'reunion committee' members for this weekend. Tonight is cocktails - tomorrow is dinner and drinks - and then a picnic on sunday. I only intend on going tomorrow night - if at all...

I went to our HS reunion website - logged in - jotted down my accomplishments, so to speak, in the required form and then perused the listing of my classmates who had done the same. Um. wow. Married. Every single one of them. Every. Single. One. WTF!!

Have you ever been happily walking along - looking fabulous - and suddenly your freaking stiletto snaps? Or gets snagged in one of the crooks or cobblestones in SoHo and you're jarred out of your blissful existence? Well that evil website did exactly that to me. It made me audit my life - what i've done - where i've been - who i am. Why should i compare myself to people i never really enjoyed having to know in the first place? Why should i look at my life and feel like somewhere along the lines i took a left when i should have taken a right?

I went to my 10th and it was exactly like HS except we were all 10 years older - the same cliques - the same jocks - the same everything. Most of them went to college together - moved back home - and trudged through their daily existence with frightening normalcy and to me - complacency. Didn't they want more?? How could they be satisfied with what everyone i know would consider banal mediocrity?

I don't regret the decisions i've made - the opportunities i've created for myself. THESE are my glory days - not those four that i endured from 13-17 in the confines of locker-lined hallways. I've planned amazing fashion shows, partied with princes, sipped cocktails on white sand beaches - i've had incredible experiences - and yet i always want more - and more - and then more again. It's like my handbag and stiletto addiction, except with life.

I'm still on the fence - still unsure i'm actually going to go - however, i do have an appt for my hair tomorrow and i self- tanned today (does anyone have a good self-tanner that doesn't have that wicked smell to it post-application?). I'm brown now - sun kissed - and tomorrow i'll be infused with mock confidence to face those i've strived so hard to distinguish myself away from. I'll surround myself with my armour - gucci, dior, chanel and YSL - and glide into that hotel with the knowledge of who i am now, not who i was then.

It's not like i've got enough stress in my life - i closed 3 huge deals this week - am PMSing like a mofo (stumbled upon and then subsequently cried at the end of Dirty Dancing this morning - don't ask - it's embarrassing enough that i shared that) - am dealing with Museum Board drama - and numerous other things. Add this Reunion and life audit to the mix and, well, i haven't been that nice to be around.

I just need to get through the next few days - and i'll be back to my normal vain, non-self-doubting, confident self.

Bloody hell

SSSSSSSssssssssssssssssssstiletto

2007-09-14T09:55:00.000-07:00

Harrods' in London hired interesting security to guard a pair of $120,000 Rene Caovilla ruby, sapphire, and diamond-embellished stiletto's - an Egyptian Cobra. I'd be interested in knowing exactly how you're supposed to try them on as i highly doubt one of the hourly waged associates at Harrods' would risk life and limb to retrieve them for a potential buyer. Might be fun to watch them try though...

Open forum or Voyeurism

2007-08-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

I haven't written in forever. I just audited my blog and i've only written 6 times this year. I used to be so prolific - writing all the time - updating with even the tiniest things - a small purchase, a good dinner with friends, a preview of an upcoming trip - anything. Lately not so much. I don't know - perhaps i don't have much to say. I've contemplated shutting the Water Princess down - i've contemplated making it private so i could be a bit more open about my life and keep this more as an online diary rather than an open forum, so to speak, into the generality of my life.

Maybe i'll start another blog anonymously and put all that stuff there. No one will know - i'll change the names to keep the innocent, and no so innocent, safe and just write. Open up and write.

I will say this - i have sitemeter - anyone who writes a blog has one thing or another that tracks who comes to your blog - where they are from - how long they stayed - how many pages they viewed and how they arrived at your blog - either from another blog, a google search of something obscure, or a specific search for you. It kind of creeps me out when it's a specific search for me. This happened on Tuesday - someone in Sunnyvale specifically searched for me - using google - and stayed on my site for 9 minutes. In addition to my name, they used another search word which let me know where they saw me first. It's these random anonymous yet specific searches that bother me. This is one of the reasons i'm considering pulling this site. While it's a chronicle of my life - it's also a chronicle of my LIFE.

There are times when i want to be so brutally honest it hurts. But i can't - for varying reasons. It's the openness that i'm longing for - but how am i to do that while maintaining some semblance of anonymity. Nearly impossible. So - I have two options - no, three options - close down Water Princes, keep Water Princess open yet open another blog, anonymously and write to my hearts content, or lastly, throw the doors to my life wide open here and reveal it all.

Something to ponder. Suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

xx - K

Long Time No Write

2007-06-06T16:02:00.001-07:00

So i haven't written in literally ages. Lots has been going on. Work has been ridiculous and i just got back from a conference in Savannah, GA. Interesting city. Supposedly the most haunted city in the country - and we did one of those 'haunted' tours except it was a pub crawl so what we ended up doing was basically going from bar to bar and listening to our 'tour guide' (i'll use that title liberally) give us the haunted histories of each place. I tuned out after the 2nd bar - and was trying to figure my escape until we came upon the park from the movie Forrest Gump and that held my attention momentarily as she pointed to the church steeple from where the feather in the movie falls from. Unfortunately, the bench he sits on with the chocolates was removed and put in the Savannah Musuem. We also went to Paula Deen's restaurant "the Lady & Sons" and while i'm a fan of hers from the food network, her restaurant was disappointing. It was a fun dinner with the 'team' - but other than that that, i could have done with out the mass frying of everything on the menu - AND - i ordered the healthiest item on the menu and yet it too came with artery clogging 'crab butter'. The whole week was like a fried food convention - shudder just thinking about it.

I was elected president of the board of directors i sit on for the fine arts museums. The election got UGLY. I won't go into much here - let's just say i took the high road and it was the hardest thing i've done in a long time given the piles of BS the current president was spewing in my direction. I really can't say anymore - it isn't worth the emotional energy. But we've got some amazing exhibits coming up and i have some fantastic things planned for the museums this year and for our organization. I'll keep you posted. Speaking of amazing things - the party for the vivienne westwood exhibit was AMAZING. SO much fun - we sold out and then sold out again - don't ask me how that happened - but it did - and it was bigger than the reopening of the de Young museum - it was over 2,600 people with almost 300 in VIP. My parents came - and my dad took the best picture with a pair of drag queens. Mind you, my dad is fairly straight laced and i absolutely adore the picture because he looks like he's having the best time. I'd post it here - but feel odd about posting a picture of my dad - so instead - i'll post the picture of me and Santino - who, i initially asked to design my dress and be a part of the Honorary Fashion Committee, has turned into a dear friend and was one of the most genuine, funny, down to earth and wonderful people i've met in a long time. It was great to spend time with him and i look forward to spending time with him again soon.

I finally got a new couch - the "Seabury' collection from pottery barn - both the couch and matching chair should be arriving sometime in late july. I'm in love with it. I was going to go for the 'lavish velvet' - but ended up with a beautiful beige on ivory herringbone which i think is really gorgeous. I also bought a 32'' flat screen tv. Minor upgrades to my life - but needed.

Heading to NY in a few weeks - so looking forward to it. Rich and i need some time together - it's reconnect time. I'm really looking forward to spending some time in soho - heading to mercer for lunch and cocktails, dinner at Balthazar, drinks at the private park in the Hudson, shopping everywhere. My favorite girl at louis vuitton moved over to gucci - so i'll have to head over there to see her and see if she has anything i need to covet and then acquire :) My loyalty will always lay with LV, but a girl can't go wrong with gucci!

Have to run - cable guy is here to set my new tv up with HD/DVR and test my wireless router.

For those who come by regularly, thanks for hanging in there during my absence - i'll try to be more proactive about updating my little slice of the internet.

XX - K

Don't come crying to me

2007-04-05T14:08:00.000-07:00

Go for the impossible and try to get through this quiz - let me know your highest score - and trust me - NOT easy...

Enjoy :)

xx - K

M.I.A

2007-02-27T14:42:00.000-08:00

I've been off the radar because i'm chairing this massive fashion event in SF - it's happening this Saturday and every second has been taken up with last minute details - conf calls - donations and more.

For those in the know here's a hint - a tiny clue - of which iconic and legendary fashion desginer is being honored:

Any guesses - let's hear them. Good luck fashionista's - meow - K

Hey Good Lookin'

2007-02-07T12:24:00.000-08:00

There are times in a girl's life when she needs to do a deep dive into the dating abyss. That being said, a few notes before i continue: 1. i have a boyfriend. 2. we met - yikes - off a dating site. 3. we're still on said dating site as a means to stay in contact with friends. It has a chat function which at it's best is hysterically entertaining - and at it's worst is a microscopic look into the truly destructive, narcissistic, delusional, unbalanced and unflinchingly pathetic lives of the lonely. Mind you, there are some great, grounded, sharp-witted, emotionally mature and strikingly 'normal' people on this site - and then there are the men who contact me. My deep dive is digging through my Jdate 'inbox' to glean the hidden gems that i've tucked away for a cold wintery day - hidden gems that hopefully will entertain you as much as they do me.

These are all verbatim emails/messages that i've received - no changes to the content whatsoever other than removing their names - the rest of the glorious mess is all their own.

Suitor 1

Hello, I am X. I am into creating with my hands in art. Do you like dogs? Do like artist? Do you like to walk along the the beach at sunset and in hand? Have you ever bin into showing dogs? Do you like to work with clay? Are you an artistic person as wel as me? Have you ever bin to Jappan? Doyou like to coook or bake? What kinde of music do you like? Have you ever tryed Karoaky? Doyou like to sing? Do you play any musical instriments

Suitor 2

hey, i just wanted to drop a line, my name is X and i live in north carolina, my friend lives in san francisco. he is chinese, of course. i hope you are good.

Suitor 3

hello mam are u there rteally wanna chat with u you very cute hello please i wanna meet with you beatiful angel cant wait to hear from u hello dear are u there please chat with me hello dear please cum onlie chat with me

Suitor 4

hi angel

I saw your profile and it's very nice,attractive and wonderful..your beauty added by the picture makes it more loving.what really made me come on was my friend that met and marry his wife on here.it really gave me strenght to carry on that i will find my better half.what i need is a loving,caring,affectionate,tr uthful,respectful woman.who will not take me for granted no matter what circumstances comes our way..who is ready to love me for me .i'm very lonely.tell me what you really want on here,and tell me the attribute of your dream man.lot of flowers..

Regards, your secret admirer

Suitor 5

helo how are u doin,can we chat via yahoo.i love ur profile can u pls add me to ur yahoo msg. i want a perfect nice god fearing and reservelady who will love and always be there for me.and also want a qute mart girl.. i was in love with a girl who live in uk but later we decided to quit when i get to know that she was playing on my intetligent. i was broke up cos i was not ready for love then and i fell in love wit ba wrong girl who was cheating and playing my inteligent. I want a monday who is alreday inlove before and who can take care of a man very well. Hoping to chat with u soon.

Suitor 6

Yu speke frenchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhh oh lala. hi

Suitor 7

hey, are you just fall from the sky? :) - just to let you know this is 'Earth' not Venus. however, you are highly 'Welcome' here -- regards X

Aren't i lucky! Can you feel the swoon?

Round 2

2007-01-11T20:42:00.000-08:00

I made it!!

Despite my best efforts...

2007-01-10T18:31:00.000-08:00

I missed my flight

Shopping and Chaos

2007-01-10T07:38:00.000-08:00

I'm heading back to SF today. The time is never enough when I'm in NY - cabbing back from Soho yesterday weighed down by my last shopping extravaganza (gucci, marc jacobs, hermes, dior) - i was a bit wistful. Leaving is never easy. Leaving Rich is anything but.

He's a bit sick right now - but happily and sniffily went to dinner last night with our dear friends Matt and Jeremy. Balthazar delivered as usual - amazing french onion soup - escargot - grilled Skate - Steak au poivre - and a delicious bottle of Beaune. A nice delicate pinot noir-like French red that became more complex as it opened up. Mmmmm. Dinner was fantastic. A perfect ending to a near perfect trip.

There was one 'minor' snag during my trip. The hard drive on my laptop had a catastrophic failure and everything on my computer was lost. Every deal i've worked on in the last 2.5 years. Every. Deal. The IT department at my office is trying one last ditch effort for recovery - it's being sent to some place in Europe to open it up and see if it's salvagable. Please cross your fingers for me. I've begun trying to recreate some of the content - but it's nowhere near - nowhere - what it needs to be.

I need to start packing, take something purchased back for an exchange, and then i'm off. I'll detail the trip a bit more once i'm back in SF. I'd say 'home', but i'm not sure where that is anymore.

Meow - K

Kitten in the Big City

2006-12-29T12:24:00.000-08:00

That's right bitches - i'm in NY - so watch out. Heading out to Bergdorf Goodman's to kill it for a few hours and then it's out to dinner.

More later - Meow - K

Hollow

2006-12-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

I received some devastating news yesterday. News i thought would be the complete opposite of what it was. I'm stunned speechless. Empty. I can't even put my mind around what to say - how to describe what i'm feeling.

I have no words.

Gobble Gobble

2006-11-21T18:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all. May you enjoy this time with family and friends and take a few moments to reflect on all the good things in your life. I know i will.

xx - K

Open your arms

2006-11-06T14:06:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love this!

Enjoy (with sound) - K

I need a little mood music and an intergalactic bear skin rug

2006-10-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

Just like two consenting adults - what you're seeing is the result of 2 galaxies getting it on - and literally billions of stars being born.

Cue the best of Barry White and break out the pinot grigio...

Happy Birthday

2006-10-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

My sister turns 40 tomorrow - FORTY! How is that possible?? I can't fathom it. I still think of us as little - playing in hawaii on the beach. Having dinner on the lanai in bamboo chairs and listening to the gecko's chirp. We would take one last dip in the pool before bedtime - swimming beneath the swaying palms and thousands of stars. In the morning we would wake to fresh papaya - and sit at the counter in our swimsuits - our hair crazy from sleeping with it damp from the late night swim.

My sister taught me how to put on make up, how to walk in high-heels and how to do my hair. She made my bed when i was too little to make the comforter fold down on my own. She introduced me to new music and decorated my first dorm room. She taught me how to drink coffee because it was 'social'. She gave me my first shot of jagermeister and introduced me to the vodka collins which became my drink of choice for many years before i ventured out into the great wide world of cocktails. She taught me to stand up and speak my mind. She was there for me when my heart was broken. She took care of me. She's smart, funny, beautiful and an amazing mom. She's dynamic. She's creative. She's incredible. She's the only sister i have and the only one i would ever want.

Happy birthday my darling H - may you have the best year and many many many more to come. I love you with all my heart and thank you - for everything.

C'est Magnifique!

2006-10-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

So I was at the Paris Fashion Shows and picked this little number up...

Gaultier is a freaking genius.

In remembrance

2006-09-11T19:18:00.000-07:00

To those who lost, those who survived and those who will forever live on in our memories.

You will never be forgotten.

Meander

2006-08-27T21:33:00.000-07:00

I haven't been writing - there has been too much going on in my real life for me to devote any to this online life of mine. Work has been incredible - both highs and lows - there's a lot i can't even talk about here. I don't want to divulge too much about where i work - or the details of my job. I can talk about deals and international conference calls and making my way toward the promotion to director - but other than that - i'm pretty silent. So, lots of highs and lows. It's been interesting. The insomnia is back - because of all the pressure - but when i can't sleep i call rich and his voice lulls me back to sleep. Slowly. I mean honestly, i can't complain - i'm really lucky. Despite the pressure, i have an amazing job. I have my health, my family is incredible, supportive, close. I have wonderful friends and fulfill my soul with charity and philanthropy. I'm lucky. I don't have a lot to complain about - yet i'm unsettled and restless and wandering and searching. For what i don't know. But i can feel it.

I'm heading to NY tuesday morning to spend some very needed time with rich. 2 weeks. I'm looking forward to just being in his space - to be able to reach out and hold his hand - see his green eyes - run my fingers through the loose curl of his hair. His laugh. I'm looking forward to the every day. I'm looking forward to us.

I'll try to update from NY - i'm sure i'll be able to. Until then, be well and sorry for such an odd, somewhat detached post. I'll make the next one a little lighter...

Meow - K

Fashion Forward

2006-07-31T14:36:00.000-07:00

Giant Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Brooch

These insects come in varied patterns and are decorated with the finest Austrian Swarovski crystal. Each roach takes about an hour of painstaking work to achieve his final magical glory. All roaches come complete with a leash set. This consists of a gorgeous pin you attach to your clothing with a chain that clasps to the cockroach's carapace to keep him from running amok. The lifespan of these animals is approximately one year if housed and fed properly. Keep him in a little terrarium in the dark and he will love you and be very responsive to your touch. Um, okay.

I actually saw this 'jewelry' used in a fashion show and it was quite revolting - however, given the 'fashion sense' of numerous designers - it's rather apropos to their collection...

All that for only $80 - hurry while supplies and your gag reflex last.

It's back!!

2006-07-24T16:42:00.000-07:00

I've never been so happy to see that white blanket roll in over the golden gate, commencing the back and forth of the foghorns. Finally - a little relief from what has been a torturous few days of record-breaking heat...

Team Kaia

2006-07-20T16:13:00.000-07:00

The coffee table/side tables arrived yesterday and they look fantastic. Truly. I am surprised at how big (almost double) the coffee table is from my last. I ended up giving my old tables to the moving guys - what they do with them - i don't care. So in the process of selecting what goes back on the table - what goes away - what is thrown away - etc, i end up doing a massive redo of my apt. Well, at least a massive redo of my living room. Completely reorganized and moved around all the things on my bookshelves, switched out and put away numerous books, pulled out objects i've been hoarding away for this particular moment, de-cluttered, de-junked and streamlined my life. It feels great. And, to be honest, looks fucking fantastic.

I need to have a cocktail party - STAT.

Lots of fabulous changes i haven't mentioned - i was elected PR Chair for the board of directors i sit on for the museums. And, AND...even more fabulously, i'm chairing the gala ball for the fashion and costume exhibit of an AMAZING designer. As soon as i heard we had a fashion exhibit - i was all over that. Me me me!! Yes please. So - i'm going to need a sick dress to wear - and as my mom and i were discussing - seriously fierce hair for the night. We were thinking big - bold - curly - gigantic piled upon hair. I cannot wait!

It's, ahem, my birthday on Sunday. No age divulged so bugger off. Hopefully heading for cocktails this weekend with a few friends for a bit of champagne. The calls are out and it looks like a few of us are meeting up with a few others - so it's going to be a fun group of people - ready to play and party. Most likely, we'll take residence at the Redwood room for a bit and then end the night at Balboa. I'm supposed to be heading to the W tonight for an event, but i'm not in the mood so we're passing - but booked for next Thursday for another event. On a lesser note, i was planning a relaxing day at home tomorrow - finishing up a few deals - and i'm told that i have 'mandatory attendance' to a 'pizza and bowling' party for work - team building. I'm not a huge bowler because the idea of sticking my foot into the footwear of literally hundreds of other wearers - well, frankly, gives me the willies. That and it completely destroys my manicure. But i have to be a team player... so i'll go, and smile, and bowl. Yeah me.

Birthday lunch at Neiman's with a few on Sunday followed by a mini-spree throughout the store. YEAH ME. Go Team Kaia!

Must go - meow - K

Retail Therapy for the Home

2006-07-17T12:11:00.000-07:00

I made a few purchases over the weekend - a bit of upgrading for my apartment.

New "Gayle" coffee table and matching nesting tables

I'm leaning toward these lamps - the "Brett" collection - the floor and table lamp. I love the lines in these lamps - they're incredibly graceful and elegant while still modern.

My next purchase after my coffee table/nesting tables arrive on Wednesday is a new couch. I want something modern with clean lines but maintaining a traditional feel. I'm not one for lots of pillows and fuss - but the one i've found - i think is as near to perfection as i'll get.

I'm in love with the Seabury in "Wheat Lavish" velvet. Meow.

While my apartment doesn't necessarily need any upgrades - every now and again it's nice to surround yourself with new things. For me, it's time.

Cheers darling

2006-07-14T09:07:00.000-07:00

C and i went to a party for the Symphony on Wednesday night at the new Mercedes dealership in SF. It's so gorgeous - very modern - sleek - 2 stories - with a very soothing bubbling water fall. We arrived, valeted, and checked in. Both C and i used to be extremely social - we were out 4-5 nights a week at different parties and functions. I chaired one of the largest balls in SF - sat on boards, etc. I eventually 'dropped out' because SF is a very small city - and if you make it even that much smaller by primarily going to only the society events - it ends up being even smaller. Everyone knows your business - who you're dating - who you're not - who you want to - etc. I'm working my way back 'in'. But i digress... we arrive and there are a bevy of faces i hadn't seen in ages. We grab cocktails and do a lap. We stop by the beautiful McLaren SLR - amazing gull-winged mercedes. It was the only one roped off in the event - all the other cars were open and people were trying them all on for size.

We sip our cocktails and of course i spy my ex. He was there with one of his best friends David. I gently elbow C - make her aware of his presence and we turn on our heels and disappear into the crowd. When we emerge from the throngs of stiletto clad women we run right into them. Of course. We say hello - he's had a few drinks so he's very 'friendly' - C immediately announces that i just returned from 2 fabulous weeks in NY. MY ex promptly grabs my ring finger to see if i'm engaged. I pull my hand away and shoot him a nasty look. We chat for a little bit - and then say we're going to get cocktails. Ciao! We cruise upstairs - nibble a few hors d'oeurves - and C is ready for another pomegranate martini. We head back downstairs - run into an old friend - mid stairwell - chat and cause a traffic jam for a few minutes - promise to email and do lunch soon and then we're off for that martini. We successfully secure C another martini - i'm drinking sparkling water now - it was dreadfully hot in there. We meet several 'guys' - chat with them for a few - and then decide we've milked this party for all it's worth. We head outside toward the door - grab our goodie bag (filled with a mini croc embossed leather martini shaker' - a mini bottle from the vodka sponsor - and some mercedes swag) - and are stopped by a photographer for a picture - we pose - cheekily with our goodie bags held up - give the photographer our names - and head out to valet. We dump the business cards we collected and head off to dinner.

We head to Balboa for dinner - and run into the mayor. Our very handsome and very single Mayor. C knows him from events and we chat with him for a bit before sitting for dinner. C had the steak and i had the seared tuna. Both were wonderful. We discuss the event for the following evening - a charity auction at a design center and decide to pass - opting instead for an event at the W next thursday. Dinner was great as always - Balboa never fails. We ended up seeing a ton of the people from the symphony event at Balboa by the time we finished dinner. We head out - and i drop her at home.

I ended up working from home yesterday (and today) and it was truly crazy. I ended up finishing 5 deals yesterday - 2 were fire drills. I had one scuffle with a sales exec - and he ended up - literally - groveling for forgiveness by the time i got done with him. So that was fun. Today should be a little less stressful and hopefully i'll have time to get my nails and toes done before dinner tonight. A group of us are going to Jardiniere for dinner. I haven't been there in several years - but it's an amazing restaurant and i'm really looking forward to seeing everyone.

Other than that - i'm buying a coffee table this weekend the Pottery Barn 'Gayle' table. It's really lovely. The new couch is next. I want the Seabury - but am still open to other options. So we'll see. On a side note - NY was amazing - as always - we had the best time. Only down point was that i got the stomach flu and ended up giving it to Rich. I spent the last few days of my trip indoors and not feeling well. Not fun. We did get to dinner the night before i left with Matt and Jeremy at Jane. It was Fantastic. I miss NY. I miss everything about NY.

Meow - K

The bags are packed

2006-06-21T19:27:00.000-07:00

Start spreading the news
I'm leaving today
I want to be a part of it, New York, New York
These vagabond shoes
Are longing to stray
And make a brand new start of it
New York, New York
I want to wake up in the city that never sleeps
To find I'm king of the hill, top of the heap
These little town blues
Are melting away
I'll make a brand new start of it
In old New York
If I can make it there
I'll make it anywhere
It's up to you, New York, New York.

I want to wake up in the city that never sleeps
To find I'm king of the hill, top of the heap
These little town blues
Are melting away
I'll make a brand new start of it
In old New York
If I can make it there
I'll make it anywhere
It's up to you, New York,

New Yorkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

Busy bee

2006-06-10T13:55:00.000-07:00

I haven't been writing much lately. I've had too much going on - mainly with work. Some play. May was an incredibly busy month for me - i've never been as busy, workwise, than i had been last month. It was ridiculous. I was averaging about 8 deals a week. I think it's time to hire a mini-me - as my director likes to say. So while i'm doing all of this - the last thing on my mind is contributing another post to my blog. Not that there hasn't been a ton of stuff to write about - the horrific Bush/Gay Marriage rewriting of the constitution debacle - my nephew's graduation from pre-school, my planning of the gala at the museum, a hysterical night at a drag bar, my pending trip to NY and so much else.

I kind of admire the people who can write eloquently on a daily basis. Open up their hearts and their minds and put their thoughts down. I'm sure if i put more effort in, i could. I should. I want to write more - but honestly, i can't stand the people who simply write for the 'hits' on their page - for the comments - for the perceived attention. It's kind of sad really. I only want to write if i have something to say. And honestly, i'm rethinking this post as i'm typing these exact words.

It's completely overcast today - welcome to summer in san francisco. While people in the rest of the country are donning shorts and wispy dresses, flip flops and tank tops - i'm pulling out the cashmere wraps and bundling up to take a walk down chestnut street. It's cold. The one good thing about 'summer' is the amazing farmers market which takes residence across the street from my apartment every saturday (thru october actually). I love being able to wake up - throw on sweats and put my hair up and buy farm fresh fruits and veggies - beautiful flowers and fish caught before dawn. I went this morning - bought fresh strawberries, squash, cherries, salmon, hydrangea, and some french green beans. Dinner should be fabulous tonight :)

I'm signing up for french classes at l'alliance francais with my girl friend C. They start in july. I'm also starting additional classes in august through december. I'm planning on going paris in october and need to brush up on my language skills. I used to be fluent and i've completely lost my grasp of the language. I can still understand and speak french - but to a limited degree - and if i'm in paris i want to feel completely comfortable. So i'm really looking forward to it. I love the language - it's so beautiful and to be fluent again is something i really want. After that, i think i'll take italian.

Other than that - not a whole lot has gone on - or rather - a lot has gone on, but i just don't feel inclined to put it to paper, so to speak. So, rather than fill up this page with a bunch of words, i think i'll end this post and write more when i have something more interesting to say...

Until then - ciao - K

Wheel of Torture

2006-05-18T19:43:00.000-07:00

I left the remote across the room - accidently - out of reach as i curled up on the couch and watched Jeopardy. The show ended and it's bastard cousin - Wheel of Fortune - came on. It's something like "College Week" - i think - there were marching bands...

The first puzzle - "Place" - 2 lines 9 letters each.

A girl in uniform with french braids (french braids...??) started solving the puzzle.

Oh - and she yelled out - loudly - all the letters she wanted . Charming.

L!!!

---l-----
------l--

S!!!

---l-s---
------l--

C!!!

--cl-s---
-----cl--

B!!

--cl-s---
-----cl-b

The crowd is totally getting into it - cheering louder with each spin and correct letter.

G!!!!

--cl-s---
--g--cl-b

N!!!

--cl-s---
n-g--cl-b

V!!!!

--cl-s-v-
n-g--cl-b

T!!!!

--cl-s-v-
n-g-tcl-b

H!!!!

--cl-s-v-
n-ghtcl-b

She screaches - I want to buy a VOWELLLLLLL

U!!!!!

--clus-v-
n-ghtclub

I want to buy another VOWELLL!!

I!!!

--clusiv-
nightclub

The crowd is going crazy at this point - she just landed on some special $10,000 dollar section of the wheel.

Another Vowel PAT!!!

E!!!!!!

e-clusive
nightclub

Pat is caught up in the frenzy at this point "You ready to solve the puzzle?"

She responds "No" defiantly - and spins again - barely missing 'Bankrupt"

- the crowd lets out some OHHHHs and she yells out...

K!!!!!!!

e-clusive
nightclub

"College Week" - need i say more...

Highs and lows

2006-05-10T08:45:00.000-07:00

I haven't written in a while. I've been busy - work - play - the usual. Went to Tahoe with friends and cleaned up at the Craps table - love that game - all they do is give you money. I ended up driving up for 1 day - rather than 2. It was still fun - we (4 of us who kept winning and didn't want to leave) got home saturday night around 3:30am from the casinos and woke the house up coming in...drunk and noisy. Was so glad i went - it ended up being a great weekend - really felt like a mini vacation.

Work has been incredibly busy and very stressful - i got thrown under the bus yesterday by a Sales Executive and i turned around and threw him into an oncoming train. He won't be doing that again... i swear - i love it when these guys think that i have some massive team behind me when in actuality - it's only me - supporting the strategic efforts of the entire global sales group. This was some new SE who didn't know how the process worked and when he snapped his fingers - figuratively - at me to hustle - and then pointed that just snapped finger at me when i didn't jump to his command fast enough (i have 9 deals this week - all due sometime this week - and his is due next week) - he threw me under the bus - in an email - of course cc'd to numerous people. Much to his dismay - i went for his jugular when i responded to his email. It was also vindicating when his regional director emailed all that were cc'd on his email to me - telling him not to blame me for his mishandling of his deal. Good. Fuck you. He picked the wrong day to screw with me.

I've been having a lot of self doubt lately - trying to figure out if what i'm doing is what i'm supposed to be doing. I'm being headhunted - pretty aggressively - and while it would be a lateral move - it would be to a more stable company - and very familiar territory. I'm going to push the money issue with them and see if they're still interested - see how badly they want me. I honestly don't know. When i say 'stable' in terms of my company - i'm talking about the other company being an older, established... my company is a baby in terms of how long it's been around (we're public and an industry leader - i'm not talking start-up) - and while i love what i do - the security of going back to into the other realm is somewhat tempting. I'm conflicted.

I'm being vague because i have to. I'm sure you understand.

I'm going for cocktails tomorrow night with one of my girlfriends - C - she's been one of my best friends since college. I absolutely adore her. We're meeting a group of friends - and friends of friends at a very cool - very european bar/restaurant at 8:30pm. I did a little fake tanning (i use the 'towelettes' rather than the lotion - i always miss spots with the lotion) so i don't look so pale. I did get some color up in Tahoe - but not enough - i want to be honey colored. So - i woke today with the exact color i wanted (upper body only - wearing a suit - no need for the legs) - and i don't know what it is - but i feel so much better when i have some color on me - i don't want to tan anymore - i used to LOVE tanning - i would lay out for hours - and spending half my life in hawaii - that is basically expected - and i would get golden brown - i loved it. But now - ug - i can't bare the idea of leathery skin or wrinkles in my future - so now my tan comes from the bottle - so to speak...

I'll update on the cocktails later this week if anything fun happens. I've decided against going to the ball in monte carlo - and instead i'm going to head to paris (and probably london) in october for another ball. Should be amazing...

Nothing else is going on - just the usual stuff - rich is great - i'm heading back to NY in june to spend some time with him and do some work. Cannot wait - i miss him very much.

Ciao - K

Back in SF

2006-04-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

Hi all -

It's been a while - i got back from NY 2 week ago (tomorrow) - and it still feels like i just left. I haven't unpacked yet. I mean - i've taken out all the pretty things i bought - but the other crap - stiletto's - pashmina's - down jacket - and that pair of jeans i never wore are still socked away - waiting to be put in their proper places. I have no intention of doing that any time soon. Maybe the pashmina's - i hate to wear them when they're wrinkled. The suitcase has moved from one hallway to another though - so i'm making progress - it actually has left it's original resting point from when i arrived home at 1:30am.

NY was amazing - we had THE best time. Saw all our friends - cocktailed - dined out - found new fabulous restaurants - Jane and Metsovo (we went there twice) - we had drinks at the Hudson - and Mercer Kitchen - had dinner at Balthazar - brunch at Jacques - had THE quintessential NY star sighting - Donald. Yes, Donald Trump - SO nice - soft hands - held the door for me - i think Melania was there too but i was so freaking awe struck that i didn't even notice - i did scamper away quickly enough to grab this photo from my camera phone of him opening the door.

Yes, i'm a dork - but it was Donald - and there are few - very very few people i would ever snap a picture of or be so totally excited to see - except maybe lenny kravitz - but that's an entirely different story - it involves shoe shopping and well - never mind... i digress - we saw all our friends and seriously had the best time. Always sad to leave as the weather was so beautiful. It did snow the day before i left which was odd, but so pretty. The day i left if was nice again. So hard to leave...

Since i've been home - i've seen my nephews - and family - had dinner with mom and dad - gave the little monkeys their presents - as well as the rest of the family. Oh yeah, and i ended up in the hospital because of my back. I tweaked it somehow - and it just kept getting worse and worse until i ended up at the emergency room last tuesday. I spent the day there - blech the general masses - especially when ill - are just so revolting - i had one man in front of me on a gurney ( in my little exam room) - moaning 'Ooooooooh' - over and over and over and over and over and over and i shit you not OVER again. He'd throw in "I'm VERY sick" every now and then to break up the monotony of his 'oooooh's. It was special. The staff knew him by name and strapped him to the bed so he wouldn't get up and walk around - which he was prone to doing. Lovely. I don't need to describe the others to you - trust me - it was no glamour party.

I finally see my doctor - kinda Dr. McDreamy - except i'm fairly certain he was gay - and we talked about my back - and he gave me a horse pill to take to ease some of the pain - and then when he realized i was driving myself home - he couldn't do much more other than give me prescriptions. I was told to get dressed - and the nurse would have prescriptions ready. While getting dressed - i had a massive back spasm in the bathroom - um, ew - and could barely stand upright - literally - it's like the middle of my back gave out. It took me a good 5 minutes to compose myself - get dressed - literally grab my prescriptions and drive to walgreen's to have them filled. When i finally got home - i took 2 codeine - 1 valium and don't remember much else. I slept on the couch that night - was basically in hibernation for the next few days - waking to take my meds - and then sleep. Rich took care to call me often - check up on me - i barely remember those conversations - but i know he called all the time - which is so very sweet.

I'm better now - off the major drugs and just taking ibuprofen - not a lot - but daily. I'm bringing what is left over to NY next time i go to make sure i have stuff handy in case something like this happens again. I have a bad back - it's been this way for a while - i have a compressed disc - but it's manageable. This was different - and it wouldn't get better. But finally - i'm okay. Phew.

I'm wondering if there is anything else - oh yeah - remember my cocktails with the prince in january - well i've been invited to a ball in monte carlo in june - to celebrate the 1st anniversary of prince andrew's ascension to the throne. I have literally no idea if i'll be going - but holy shit - how fabulous is that!

All else is well - K

Extension

2006-04-04T13:17:00.000-07:00

I've extended my trip by a few days. It's been absolutely gorgeous here - all the buds and blooms are blossoming. We've been having a great time - seeing friends - shopping - dinners out - dinners in - cocktails - and - of course - work. The crush of work is gone - with the quarter end turning into 2nd quarter - so i've got some breathing room. Leaving the office a bit early and heading to SoHo for dinner tonight. It's been a fantastic trip.

More later - K

Big Apple

2006-03-27T11:18:00.000-08:00

I'm in NY - having an amazing time - slammed with work but having fun too - dinners out - cocktails with friends - a little shopping - a little birthday karaoke - and massive much needed time with rich.

More later - K

It's a motherfucking walk-off!

2006-03-13T10:49:00.000-08:00

Project Runway ended with a fizzle. Chloe won with her tribute to 1980's prom attire. The colors - the fabrics - the style - it was all pretty awful. But for some reason - the judges loved her. I think Santino got robbed - his collection was sick! The Burgundy leather knickers with the champagne colored wisp of a top - so sexy - the ethereal dresses - the colors - the fabrics - his clothes begged to be touched. Chloe's begged for the costume desginer for Dynasty to raid her collection. Awful. I was iffy on Daniel's collection - while some of his pieces were stunning - i didn't like the medallion on the front of the chocolate brown silk dress - it was unnecessary. I thought his slacks/sweater/shortsleeved shirt ensembles were boring except for the one with the low cut corset vest - that was very sexy. I thought the brocade jacket was stunning as was the white cashmere coat with matte silver buttons. Gorgeous. I like his pale pale pale aqua wrap sweater with satin trim. His handbags did have a bit of high school wood shop to them - but i liked what they added to the pieces.

All in all - i would have given Santino the top prize - then Daniel and lastly, Chloe. I keep trying to see what they saw in her collection and i simply can't. I thought it was garish and dated. And - AND - who wears mermaid dresses?? WHO?? No one, that's who! Who wears fuschia damask and gold lame? She designed a line of truly hideous mother of the bride dresses - with matchy matchy shrugs. Awful.

Also - Debra Messing - while fabulous in her own right - and always fantasically dressed on Will & Grace - i would hardly consider her a fashion icon. I have no idea why she would have been the final guest judge. Sarah Jessica Parker - Sharon Stone - Selma Blair - Kate Moss - so many others who are known for their fashion sense - the innateness of their style - Kate Beckinsale - Gwenyth Paltrow - Nicole Ritchie - etc - there are so many others - i don't know why - and they didn't explain why either - they chose Debra.

I was so disappointed. My sister and i talked at each commercial - critiquing each collection - calling out certain pieces - fawning over others. We both agreed that Santino should have won. We thought Chloe's was terrible - that Daniel's needed more cohesion. Santino hit the mark. We hung up after the show - baffled. Annoyed. Let down.

So be it - the fashion god's weren't smiling upon us that day. Cannot wait for next season - hopefully it will be as good as this one has been. Or at least as good as this one until Chloe won.

Make it work!

K

Side note - the new show - Top Chef - - their house is like 2 blocks from my apt :) excited to finally have a reality show based in SF. Watched the fist episode last night - it was awesome! One thing about chef's - they're assholes mostly - perfectionists - temperamental - arrogant - demanding and as such - this should make for amazing reality tv!

Project Runway

2006-03-08T16:54:00.000-08:00

My pick for tonight's finale of Project Runway is...

Santino Rice

Yes - he's crazy and arrogant and at times a complete mess - but i think - with respect to a collection - and from what i've seen of his final runway collection - it's better than both Chloe and Daniel. I totally respect someone who says what is on their mind - even if (especially if) it's snarky and off the cuff - and if Santino is anything - he's that guy. He's also hysterically funny - which is a big plus in my book.

While Daniel might be a better designer - with more wearable pieces - his collection wasn't awe inspiring. Santino's was.

So that's my pick - we'll see tonight if i'm right.

Ciao - K

ps - i still think Nick should have won.

Blimey!

2006-03-03T19:24:00.000-08:00

I need to get something off my chest. I have no idea why this has bothered me so much lately, but it has - and i think it's time i address it. It's the damn Geico gecko. I've noticed something of late - he's got a heavy cockney accent - like he's from the dodgey end of town.

When he first appeared in these commercials - he had a rather high class british accent - drove a classic red convertible and had quite a way with the ladies. He was the james bond of the amphibian jet set.

Now, he's talking about pie and chips and, frankly, should be auditioning for a coveted role in a Guy Ritchie film. I suppose this is to appeal to the masses - but making him more accessible - more likeable - but i kind of equate this to swapping out the Darren's on Bewitched - it's unsettling. Did they think we wouldn't notice?

Anyone...?

Unfathomable

2006-02-23T14:35:00.000-08:00

This horrific turn of events was repulsive enough to make me come out of hiding.

What's next - our right to vote? Go to college? Are we suddenly back in the 50s? Should we go back to segregation between blacks and whites? Own slaves? Should we go back to witch hunts and public hangings? I'm so appalled and sickened by this. This country - this administration - is rapidly moving in the worst possible direction - and slowly but steadily chipping away at women's rights. It's unbelievable - and incredibly frightening.

What's even more appalling is the fact that this was done specifically to begin the methodical erosion of Roe v. Wade - and essentially, women's rights and health.

This is a sad sad day...

Champagne and Advil

2006-02-01T12:48:00.000-08:00

Hungover. Hung. Over. That's what i can say about partying with a prince. He was extremely nice - quiet - flanked by a bodyguard - and dressed impeccably. I arrived with L a bit after the party started - and there were numerous people already there - milling about - looking fabulous. Me, you ask - well i was wearing a black gucci suit, dior stilettos and my black wool boucle chanel bag. Hair down, red lips, a smattering of jewelry and a pashmina finished the look.

L and i grabbed champagne and she introduced me to the prince. He was older than i thought he would be, but handsome and for lack of a better word, gentle. We shook hands, clinked champagne glasses and toasted to his birthday. We talked about the opening of the ballet (the night before) - his visit to San Francisco, and his love of Paris and London. More and more people arrived - each more interesting than the next - P, an ex model, now in tv, had the most amazing blue eyes - he noticed my david yurman bracelets and we discussed different jewelry and our favorite pieces (my bracelets and his john hardy cufflinks); R - tall and swarthy, fluent in 5 languages and ceo of an advertising company - we talked favorite restaurants in NY - his growing up on Paris and his bi-coastal life these days; K - a fabulous 'latina' with a contagious thirst for fun - she looked effortlessly chic and we talked about her life in london and NY and her recent move to SF. Everyone drank and chatted and flirted and talked 'ohhhh you know him too' and 'how do you know the prince' and 'oh we met at the ball in paris - you have to come in june' - 'sundance was such a bore' - 'the clubs in San Francisco are terrible' - 'I so miss London's nightlife' - 'sweetie are you coming to Monaco too' - and so many other interesting, surreal, fascinating, ridiculous and marvelous conversations.

The champagne flowed and we must have gone through at least (at least) 2 cases by the time i was ready to go. His last birthday party, according to several of the guests, lasted until nearly noon the next day - and the evening was still in full swing with people still arriving even at this late hour. However, while my stilettos are fabulous and sexy - they are also messengers of pain and i could barely stand up at this point - add the nearly 5 glasses of champagne and it's no wonder i was having issues staying upright. I made the rounds and said goodbye to my new friends - double-cheek air kisses and business cards were exchanged with abandon - and we made plans to all get together soon. Soon.

I said ciao. Ciaoooo. Not the american 'chow' - but the Italian smokey, sultry, batted eyelash, drawn out version which oozes sexiness. Ciaooooo. It felt good.

Ciaoooooo dahhhling.

K

Catch Up

2006-01-24T10:16:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in a while - work was crazy the first half of this month - trying to get a deal closed - spending the rest of my time with rich - seeing friends in NY - etc. I pushed my flight back twice and only went home when i did because i had a date with my nephew (he's 5) that i couldn't cancel. I've been playing catch-up since i've gotten home - saw some friends on Friday night - had a few cocktails and went to a new restaurant on Chestnut called Mamacita - it was good - a bit overpriced for mexican - but the food wasn't typical mexican either - pumpkin seed crusted seared ahi with a cilantro lime sauce - stuff like that. Yum. Went to a few bars after that - ran into some friends we hadn't seen in a while - typical friday night.

Nothing much else to report - except that i've got this amazing cocktail party to attend on Thursday night - from what i understand - royalty is going to be there - a prince - it's his birthday and that's the reason for the party - should be fun :)

I'll dish about the party on Friday.

Ciao - K

Kitten in the Big City

2006-01-06T08:41:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting at my desk - looking down on what i believe to be madison square garden - it's just a giant circle so i can't imagine what else that would be - and given that my office is across the street - i'm fairly certain on this assumption. The skies are grey and the buildings in my view look rather dark and dirty. The 'woooop woooop' of a siren just passed somewhere below. I can see part of a church spire - jutting upward 17-18 floors - the brick is a dark deep red - patinaed, now aqua, bronze crosses stand atop smaller spires circling the largest. I'm a bit of a voyeur - i love looking into the other buildings. There's a mix of apartments and offices. I find it interesting to watch people go about their daily lives. I like to see how people live - what their homes look like - what they surround themselves with. I've peeked into some amazing homes and have also seen some sad little hovels - each is interesting though - each makes a statement.

This is such an incredible city. I love the energy - the pulse - the palpable buzz - it's constant. I love soho - rich and i spend most of our weekends in that area. I love the exposed cobblestones - the bottleglass sidewalk grates - the smaller side streets - the architecture - the whole sense of the area. The artists and actors, the boho's and the ladies who lunch - the street vendors and the shopkeepers - they've created this eclectic mix of social utopia - where - regardless of stature - they're all together - brushing elbows - mixing it up - finding their corner - owning their space. I'm aware i romanticize the area - but it's the way i see it - and i wouldn't change a thing.

I've been here a week - and this trip has been more mellow than the others - which is nice actually. It's more like being home than being 'away'. We're ordering in rather than going out - we're having friends over - spending time with other couples - groups of friends. It's more of how our life will be than the other trips - it's more settled - more constant.

The grey skies are breaking up a bit and there's a steady stream of puffy white steam coming off the roof of madison square garden. The last time i was here we saw a guy parachute past our windows. Without so much as lifting his head from his paperwork - one of my co-workers says - man is he in a shitload of trouble once he lands. Maybe it's the parachuting executive - or the way they say fuck in the office (all the time) - or the way we can order sushi and omelets at 3am if the mood strikes - or that it's cold enough to swaddle myself in my new chinchilla wrap - or the way the buildings look when the sun sets behind them - or how i feel young when i'm here - almost innocent - or how when i carry groceries back to rich's i wonder if people think i'm a new yorker - or the sense of endless possibility - or how central park looks with a fresh blanket of footprint-free snow - or how i feel pulled back here - again and again and again - but i think i have a crush on new york.

Yeah, I'm smitten.

K

Out with the old...

2006-01-01T08:35:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here's to wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2006.

Much love - K

Chrismakah

2005-12-27T10:05:00.000-08:00

Christmas came and went with a mere wimper this year. My mom was sick with a cold - so while i went over to spend the day at my parents, it was really mellow. My dad and i went to to see Syriana - which turned out to be an absolutely phenomenal movie - incredibly complex - but captivating. I think i need to see it again actually - hopefully rich and i will see it while i'm in NY. After the movie - we came home and headed to an early dinner at a chinese restaurant in sausalito. That was pretty much it. It was nice to spend the day with them - but it was definitely the quietest christmas we've had in years. Chanukah started on the 25th as well - so i lit the first candle when i got home. Ahh - the joys of growing up in a mixed religion family.

I'm heading to ny on thursday morning - spending new year's with rich and friends. I'll be staying until the 10th i think - need to check my ticket. Of course i had to do a little shopping to prepare for the cold - new jacket - and i'm thinking of getting this for the trip - but in black - or maybe this - i haven't decided yet. I think i like the second one better. But the first is more classic. And if you're a fan of PETA - spare me the lecture - thanks.

I've got a deal closing today - so i need to get back to work - and then head to marin to take back the present i bought for my youngest nephew - my sister and i bought the exact same outfit for him - so i'm taking mine back. They're in hawaii right now - on the big island - until the first - they go every year with her husband's family. When i talked to her yesterday - she put the little one on the phone and he can now say beach - and surf - but not my name. He is still calling me kaka. Or he'll call me kiki - which is my mom. It's okay - he'll get kaia soon enough...

So looking forward to NY - and spending some very very needed time with rich. :)

On that note - it's back to work - K

Dream on

2005-12-20T15:59:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wanted to drop out - put aside all your obligations - all your responsibility and just do nothing. Every now and then the idea strikes me - i remember years ago - one of my dearest friends "C" and i worked at the same company (we met in college - and she brought me aboard when she needed to grow her team) - and on especially stressful days we would go to lunch and day dream about moving to venice beach and working at a yogurt hut - sharing a 1 bedroom apt - and just making enough to 'get by'. Our only concerns would be what topping the customers wanted on their chocolate fudge swirl. Then reality would snap us rudely back into the present and we would finish our salads and head back to the 18th floor. C is now married - trying for a baby - her husband is partner in a large well known law firm - she's an interior designer with a penchant for louis vuitton and gorgeous jewelry. So much for the yogurt shop...

I keep wondering how much is enough. I do well - i'm very lucky. But i want more. And more. And i wonder if that will cease. When will enough - be 'enough'. When will i be satisfied that i'm where i need to be - when i have 50,000 in the bank? 250,000? 500,000? A million? I think that when i get to 1 million, i'm going to want 2 and then 3. I'm not sure if it's drive and ambition - a need to push myself farther and succeed beyond my expectations of myself - or if it's something more - something vain and empty - something lacking.

I look at people who have so little - yet seem so okay with where they are and where they're never going to be. I wonder what their secret is. I wonder where they find their happiness - how they find their happiness. For all i know - they're the only people in their family to have finished high school - or reached a manager position at a restaurant - and to them - they have succeeded beyond their expectations - they are the family watermark. I suppose every family has their own.

If i had millions of dollars - (let's just face it - you need millions as 1 million just doesn't cut it anymore - that would go so quickly - house - car - new wardrobe - fabulous party - hey - where's my money!) - enough where i could do what i wanted - i would quit my job and start a foundation - or open a boutique. I think the boutique would be much more fun - not as karmically good - but more fun. I would sell home accessories - gorgeous and decadent - and frivolous. I'd invest. Buy art - lautrec, picasso, cheret, warhol, kandinsky, miro and calder. Start a trust for both of my nephews. Hire a trainer. Throw the sickest parties. I'd buy a loft in SoHo and have a home in Pacific Heights. I'd live.

K

Handcuffed

2005-12-12T15:16:00.000-08:00

I want to be honest and i can't. It's so tempting - so frustrating - so in my grasp. There are too many things i want to say - to tell the truth - to shout outloud - to let certain people know how i really feel. I can't. Consequences are far too great. For this to happen - people will be hurt - and the momentary rush i'll get from being brutally honest probably won't feel good an hour after that. So i'm biting my tongue - sitting on my hands - trying desperately not to let it all out. I'm not sure how much longer i can do this - keep it in and securely tied down - locked away and neatly boxed. Can't i just let one little vent out?? Can't i be a little naughty?

I'm just so sick of all the pandering bullshit that i see - the ass kissing - the total and utter lack of talent. It kills me. Killllllllls me. And i can't say a word.

Fuck.

K

Moving forward

2005-12-05T12:27:00.000-08:00

I'm out of my funk. Feeling better, still not 100% - but a lot better. Work is still crazy - it's not only the end of quarter but it's end of year. SO all the SE's are trying to get all their deals in. There's just a lot of stuff going on. Nothing new - just felt overwhelmed last week.

I was supposed to be going to NY this thursday - to see rich and go to my cousin's wedding. It was getting too complicated and with NYE coming up - i didn't want to make that trip twice in 1 month. Not sure what we're doing for NYE - plans so far are dinner with friends - and cocktails. It'll be fun. Looking forward to it - i've never spent NYE in NY - and i hear it's an incredible city to ring in the new year. I have no interest in heading out to some club - amongst the throngs of people - fighting my way to the bar for drinks - screaming over the music - etc - that is so unappetizing to me. Hopefully we'll go someplace fun - for dinner and drinks - and then stay. Honestly, i'm not a huge fan of NYE. It seems that so many people are trying to hard to have fun - that it ends up being a fairly lame night. I'd much rather stay home - have a fabulous bottle of champagne and ring in the new year with rich - than among the masses. But we're definitely doing dinner which is great - because the people we're having dinner with are great - and fun - so it should make for a good night.

The best NYE so far - had to be when 1999 turned to 2000. I was out with one of my dearest girlfriends - M - and we went to a black tie private party at Balboa in SF. The drinks flowed - everyone looked amazing - we had an incredible night. The DJ put on Prince's 'party like it's 1999' when the countdown to 2000 started and everyone went crazy - dancing on tables - screaming - it was hysterical. M and i were jumping up and down hugging eachother - spilling champagne everywhere - laughing and kissing boys. It really was such a fun night - definitely my favorite NYE so far. Until maybe this year...

Meow - K

Get the pom-poms out

2005-12-01T11:12:00.000-08:00

I am so underwater with work right now. I'm losing my mind. Literally.

Oh, and i'm sick. And PMSing.

Yay me.

K

Wishes don't always come true...

2005-11-15T14:00:00.000-08:00

I found out today that my position is officially 'global' - which basically means i'm going to be doing 3 times the work - fun fun fun. Actually i'm thrilled - it's exaclty what i wanted. As an aside - i sent an email to basically everyone that i've worked with on deals - on the sales side - asking them if there were any other 'services' they would be interested in seeing my 'team' (team of 1 thank you) deliver.

This is one of the responses:

- i wish you had the time to proof the doc for grammar and or complete sentenses

This is so far from what my role in the company is - it almost cancels out her grotesque spelling error. I don't proof documents, i plan the global strategy on key deals - where in that does it scream admin?

In the dinosaur world - she would have been eaten by now...

I see dead people

2005-11-08T11:44:00.000-08:00

I went to a psychic this past Saturday - I usually go once a year - just to make sure i'm on the right path - if there are any red flags or roadblocks i need to be aware of. I hadn't gone the last few years - in fact - the last time i went was in 2001 - in New Orleans - actually a phenomenal place for psychic readings etc. However, rather than go to a reputable, known psychic - on a whim, while walking through Jackson Square, I sat down with a street 'psychic' and had him read my 'fortune'. He did tarot and my palm (which i hate and rarely have read because of an inordinately short life line) - and for the most part - it was a benign reading - nothing of note. I wouldn't recommend going to a street psychic if you're actually looking for guidance or insight - most of them are charlatans - but by all means - enjoy the novelty of it if the mood strikes.

When i go to a psychic - and if i'm in a relationship - i don't ask about it - i don't want the outside influence - good or bad. It's too easy to read what you want to hear in what they are saying - and there are certain things that i prefer to guide myself on. However, if i'm not in a relationship - i'm totally open to hearing about what is on the horizon.

Right before my appt this weekend - rich and i were talking - about what i would be doing if i wasn't at my current job - i told him i would go back to being a floral designer/event planner. Once i sat down with my psychic - and he began to read my aura - he was laughing at the fact that that he could see flowers blooming in fast motion and couldn't understand why he was seeing that. Later on - when he asked me about a creative outlet - i told him i did floral design on the side - he made the connection. We talked about work - about my health - family - anything i need to be aware of - or watch out for. I also asked him about my own psychic tendencies (i'll go into that in another post) - and he acknowledged that i had them - but that they would be very hard to hone given my line of work and the amount of stress i'm under - and the absolute need for a relaxed state when nurturing those skills. My job carries too much stress and pressure for me to be 'relaxed' for any significant amount of time. He did suggest some things to me though which i will try.

He touched on some things and brought up certain events/issues that he couldn't have known otherwise - a compressed disk in my back, the names of my managers, certain aspects of my personality, my family, etc. The good news - i'm on the right path job wise although it's going to get a lot busier (how that is possible i have no idea - i'm capped out) - that i'm not going to have financial worries - and that any of my worries/concerns going in to see him were allayed after our session. The "bad" news - time to start taking better care of myself - tune into my body - this is a must. He explained in a very simple - yet very impactful way - you've seen a mom pulling a 2 year old around a grocery store - well, that's me and my body - i just keep on pushing forward and dragging my body behind me even though it needs down time, rest, recuperation and attention. He basically said i need to chill out.

Mind you, it took me 2 months to get this appointment, he comes highly recommended and his skill level is incredible. It was well worth the wait, a truly incredible reading. I'm definitely going to see him again. But don't worry - i'm not about to feng shui my house and start wearing long drapey caftans - unless, of course, Gucci delves into the new age market. Yeah, I think i'm safe.

Zen (back to Dior in a minute) Kitten - K

MEOW

2005-10-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

The Cheshire Cat!

I'm a sly cat who grins on the outside, but schemes on the inside. Even my best friends don't realize that I may actually be their worst enemy!

What kind of cat are you?

NY in a nutshell

2005-10-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

I've finally caught up on some of the sleep that i was so rudely deprived of while in New York - the parties - the shopping - the cocktials (OH, the cocktials) - and of course, work. I'm working from home today - have most of my deals done - and am taking a few minutes to recap the fun i had in NY.

I took the redeye out wednesday night (they kill me but it was the only viable option) - and arrived at 6am on Thursday - cabbed to rich's place and fell into bed and tried to get some sleep. We went to temple (BIG jewish holiday) - and then to his parents house to break the fast with his family. I was exhausted. I needed to get back to the hotel and into bed. So we left around Midnight.

We woke the next morning - Rich went off to work - i worked from the hotel and closed a deal. When he came back to the hotel we decided on Dos Caminos for dinner in Soho. Dinner was wonderful. It had rained, so the air was crisp and fresh - and people were walking around bundled up. SO gald i brought loads of cashmere.

We slept in on Saturday morning and then headed down to Soho for lunch at Mercer Kitchen - and then to Louis Vuitton to pick up a gift for Matt's birthday (it was in Sept - but i wasn't in NY to celebrate so we decided to have some fun in NY and celebrate in Nov). We did a bit more shopping - bought some great music from the resident DJ (DJ Lui) at one of our favorite stores "Lounge". I forgot my favorite stilettos - so we were on a search for sexy shoes for the party we had to attend that night. Alas, no sexy stilettos were found and i wanted to get back to nap before the party so we cabbed back to the W and napped and prepped for the party.

I wore a great black suit - gucci high heeled mules and the top that rich loves on me - sexy - slinky - black. Rich looked great - jeans - a striped oxford i bought for him (worn out, duh) and a cool chocolate brown cord blazer. The party was a great time - and we stayed very late - ended up getting an apres-party bite to eat with about 10 others at a diner - and wound up back home around 4am.

We checked out of the hotel on Sunday - and headed to Rich's apt - we settled in - I was exhausted - i wanted to nap - to not go out to dinner - to rest and just chill for the night. Thankfully - Rich agreed.

The next few days are a blur - i was fighting off a cold - and kept taking "Airborne" every few hours. As soon as i would feel better - i would top - and then i would start feeling crappy again.

Wednesday night Matt and i went to the Hudson hotel (pictured below) for cocktails in their outside area - very cool. We hung out for a while - had two bottles of wine (his brother dave joined us later) and sat under the canopy of trees and twinkling lights and caught up.

We had dinner at Les Halles on Thursday night - a wonderful french restaurant - very typical french bistro. While i wasn't feeling well - i had to go out - and Les Halles is a place we had to try. It was wonderful - truly - crowded and loud - but intimate. We had a window table and enjoyed a long leisurely dinner.

Friday night was sushi with a group of friends at Monster Sushi on the West side - fun - great sushi. Saturday came around and rich wasn't feeling well - we stayed in for most of the day - sleeping and lounging around. I was going to go to Bergdorf's and Barney's for a shopping fix - but didn't want to leave him if he wasn't 100%. Saturday night I went out to dinner with Matt and Jeremy. I made my way over to their place on the West Side - trudged up 4 flights to their fabulous apartment - and then made our way down the street to little restaurant for a quiet dinner. I gave Matt his birthday gift (a Louis Vuitton key case he wanted) - and dinner was long and fun. Dessert was wonderful - profiteroles and bread pudding (i only had the profiteroles though). It was pouring out - literally buckets - so we had to wait awhile before venturing back out - but once we did - Jeremy hailed me a cab - and with hugs and kisses - i headed back to Rich.

Sunday was shopping - heading over to Bergdorf Goodman to meet up with Matt and Jeremy. We made the rounds through Bergdorf's - then headed to Prada and Gucci and then on to Takashimaya (an amazing japanese department store on 5th Ave). Rich joined us a little later - and we headed down to Soho while Jeremy made his way back home to take a call from some friends in London. Matt, Rich and I cabbed to Mercer Hotel for a quick bite to eat. We sat upstairs, cocktailed and people watched. After a bit of shopping and vodka induced impulse purchases we made our way back to Matt's place and sat on their roof deck and took in the evening. Chilled we headed downstairs, ordered pizza and settled in. We left around 10pm - and headed back home to get ready for Monday.

I worked from home on Monday - and when Rich got home, rather than get ready and go out, we ordered in and snuggled up. Tuesday was a blur - work, last minute gifts, and finally meeting up with Rich. I packed and got ready for my flight - luckily, JFK was the only airport without delays. We lounged around, and tried to figure out when the next time we'd be together would be. We decided on December - the first week - I've got a family wedding and it seemed the easiest solution. It was so hard to leave - but he put me in a cab and we kissed goodbye.

As always - quite hard to leave - but there's December to look forward to. It was a great trip - we had such fun - spent time with amazing friends and bought some decadent yummy things. Nothing like a trip to NY...

On that note - i've got a friend coming into town tomorrow to celebrate/bemoan his disengagement to a woman who began to demonstrate some deal breaker behavior after he put the ring on her finger. I promised him lots of cocktails and lots of fun - so time to tidy up the house in preparation of a guest.

I'll update over the weekend if i have the time.

Meow - K

Leavin' on a jet plane...

2005-10-12T16:32:00.000-07:00

Taking the red eye out tonight - heading to New York for 1o days. We've got lots planned and i'll update between cocktails and shopping.

Meow - K

Turnabout is fair play

2005-10-05T10:32:00.000-07:00

What's a naive little minx to do. You thought you knew how to separate the herd - the good boys from the Federlines - but while you were busy reapplying gloss to those pouty lips of yours - one slinked in. He was so charming - fun without being crazy - smart without being pretentious, and sexy, oh my, MEOW. Your dates were epic, you were introduced to his friends, and felt like this boy could be 'the one'. You allowed yourself to be smitten. Well guess what - so did the 3 other girls he was dating. You, my darling, hooked up with a Serial Dater - he's got 3 girls on the line and at least 2 simmering in reserve. Don't fret - don't slink away with your ego bruised and your party dress tattered - don't swear off men and become one with your couch and the Lifetime channel - you can now call out that boy for what he is - and let all the other minxes know - Don't Date Him Girl!

Now i don't personally think this is the kind of site that is fabulous or really worthy of it's internet existence - but i definitely know some girls who will feel vindicated by posting his pic and dropping a few lines to describe his hellacious behavior. So, to that, i say go for it darlings - this time it's about you.

Meow - K

Double-fisting

2005-10-04T15:43:00.000-07:00

I don't understand the double fisted 2-handed romance death grip demonstrated above. One hand intertwined with another is sufficient, i promise. It looks like she's trying to escape...

Icer Air pics

2005-09-30T11:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the cool shots from the event yesterday - Enjoy!

Jonny Moseley midair off the jump!

I can actually see my apartment from this shot!

Closer shot - you can see the crowds that came to see the event - very cool!

Couldn't pass up the "Wipe Out" shot!

It's Snowing!!

2005-09-29T14:21:00.000-07:00

Well, not really - but Icer Air 2000 is in town - right up the street from my apartment - along with over 200 tons of snow (real snow - trucked in and also man-made from ice machines) - a group of the best snowboarders/skiers in the world - and the ever present (at least around my area) Jonny Moseley. So - today at noon - literally thousands of people are expected to watch Moseley and 20 other skiers and snowboarders ski down a snow covered ramp on Fillmore - soar off a ski jump at the Vallejo intersection - wow the crowd with midair tricks and - hopefully - land Green Street. Bales of hay will protect them from skiing into oncoming traffic if they can't stop in time. A lot of the residents of Pacific Heights are all bent out of shape because of the disruption - the 200+ tons of snow - the baracades - and all the people who will be in their little neck of the city. If you don't know - Pac Heights is the wealthiest area of SF - homes can go upwards of 15M - so to have 1000's hanging around your house - trampling what little lawn you might have - with the boarders pulling 360s past your multi-million dollar windows - yeah - i'd be a little peeved too - however - it's just too freaking cool to get worked up about.

Check out the photos i took this AM - sorry for the crappy camera phone pics - but it's the best i could do. Enjoy.

The ramp on Fillmore leading to the jump

That blurry mass at the bottom is the jump

Blowing fresh snow down the ramp

Shot of the making of the 10 foot high jump

I got invited to go to the after party - something private and fun with all the boarders - jonny - and interestingly enough from what i hear - jake gyllenhaal - but i'm passing - i'm not a snow bunny - i'm a city bunny...

Swish Swish Swish - K

Three Cheers for Insomnia

2005-09-28T15:45:00.000-07:00

The bitch is back - and that bitch would be insomnia. I couldn't sleep last night - work is crazy - i'm getting my period - rich and i had a long talk (we're fine - just needed to hash some things out) - and the planning for this gala in Oct is beginning to take up even more time than i anticipated. I'm tired, exhausted, and yet I can't sleep. I'm supposed to go to dinner with friends tonight - a new restaurant - and i'm going to bail on the evening because i just need to sleep. I think i'm going to take Tylenol PM - see if that helps - maybe soak in a really hot bath. What's really bizarre is when i did finally wake up this AM after falling asleep for a few hours - i was crying. What the fuck. I've never woken up crying before. Weird dream about not being able to find my car - i was barefoot in an airport - but there were dentist's offices there - that geeky guy from that movie "can't buy me love" - can't remember his name - but now he's a total hottie on some tv show - he was a dentist - please - you know how dreams go - completely nonsensical. I think i'm just really stressed out - i've got 9 deals on my plate right now - plus another 5 that are closing the first week in Oct - and i guess my mind just can't settle.

I did buy myself something lovely though - a little treat at www.vivre.com - one of my absolute favorite sites. Totally amazing and decadent - everything they have is like a little piece of luxury. I treated myself to a gorgeous, velvet-lined box of carved black ceramic housing 12 beautifully embossed notecards and envelopes with scallop detail at the corners.
So even though going crazy - at least i'll have pretty stationary to write on while locked up in the sanitarium.

I'm hoping this will pass soon...

K

Separated at Birth

2005-09-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

I wasted yesterday away watching tv - running errands - and napping. My last errand of the day was to do a little grocery shopping - nothing major - just needed a few things. I was waiting in line at the express checkout - and noticed a girl waiting in line at the next checkout aisle over. She looked EXACTLY like Shrek. So she didn't have the trumpet like ears - or the greenish skin tone - but her face looked exactly like his - just picture Shrek with long braids - et voila. I totally couldn't stop staring. So not nice - but damn - it's not often you see Shrek shopping at Safeway.

Poor honey. Someone needs to get her a spa day and a makeover.

Great weekend

2005-09-19T16:18:00.000-07:00

I drank a bit too much on Friday night - it was Kevin's birthday - 35 - and we went to a restaurant in SF called "SuppenKuche" - it's an authentic german restaurant - the menu barely translatable - full of schnitzel, spatzle, sauerbraten, bratwurst and beer - that i understood. BEER. I'm not a huge beer drinker - more of a nice leggy pinot or cab girl - or an icy grey goose and tonic with a lot of lime. But when in rome...

There were ten of us at dinner - we had the large table in back - there is no formality here - it's open seating - you share your table with other diners when necessary - it's loud - the rooms filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses - smooth planked tables - benched seating and dried flowers and wheat hanging from the ceiling. Our group was large enough to have our own area - while we waited for the last 3 to arrive - we orded our first round of beers. I had the spaten. The beer is so fresh there - amazing - makes me actually appreciate a cold beer. The guys ordered HUGE steins of beer which held probably 3-4 pints of beer each. I finished the spaten pretty quickly - and while we ordered appetizers we ordered our second rounds and i got my tipsy little hands on one of those bad boys. I had to hold it with 2 hands - it was too heavy to drink like a regular beer. Once everyone arrived and the appetizers were finished we ordered dinner - which was delicious and another round of beer. We also opened the champagne i brought for Kevin and everyone toasted to his birthday.

After dinner - we stumbled - literally - over to the bar area - trying to organize and decide where to go next. We decided on a little dive called Place Pigalle down the street. It was kind of a hole in the wall - dark - with sunken couches and beat up coffee tables - 2 pool tables in the back and a long battered bar along one wall. We commandeered the L shaped section at the end of the bar - near the front door and ordered more rounds of drinks. And then more. People began to say their goodbye's and head home. Kevin still wanted to party - for good reason - so we put our sights on Balboa. I never made it though - too much to drink - my feet were killing me (damn stiletto's) - and i was tired and wasn't interesting in partying anymore. I called rich on my way home - he was laughing because he could tell from my voice how much i'd had to drink. I fell into bed around 1am.

Saturday was recovery - i was hung over. Big time. So i popped some advil - drank lots of water and chilled on the couch. I didn't feel better until that evening and while i had offers to go out - i decided to stay in. I saw the movie the Grudge a few weeks ago - i love scary movies - and this didn't disappoint. Very scary - creepy actually. It's a take on the japanese film - Ju-On - which means Grudge (from my understanding) - about a murder/suicide that happened in a house - the spirits stayed at the house - and take out their pain and suffering on all those who enter. Well, i've heard the japanese version was even more frightening - and it was on - so while rich was out at a friend's birthday party in the Village - i turned off all the lights - lit candles - sunk into my couch - and watched the movie. It was definitely scary - and i could totally see how they americanized the version with sarah michelle gellar. I'd recommend both actually.

Sunday i headed over to the farmer's market - there is one right near me - and bought some fresh peaches, strawberries, some organic field greens and 2 croissants. MMM. Went home - fussed about and then headed out to one of my favorite stores - they were having a huge sale and i couldn't pass it up. I've talked about this secret store before - the most decadent gorgeous designer goods at a fraction - literally a Fraction of the cost in the stores. I got a gorgeous watch - it looks like a sterling silver rectangular pill box - topped with 2 small carved flowers with center stones flanked by a pearl - and it has an alligator band. Very very pretty - i think it was originally marked at over $400 - i bought it for $41. But the best deal i found were the Christian Dior boots - MEOW - so fucking hot - over $1,200 in the stores - i picked them up for under $200. What more could a girl ask for. Um - could those BE any sexier??

I got a few other things - almost purchased a pair of D&G stiletto's but passed - but i did pick up a darling little top - sprinkled with opalescent sequins at the botton. Very cute.

My parents called and asked me to join them for dinner. My uncle bill is in town and i hadn't seen him in a while so i thought that would be great - my sister/her husband and the babies were having dinner with friends and we would all meet up afterwards. I headed to marin - we were going to meet in tiburon for chinese food - but it was closed so we went to Rooney's - great little local place. Had a nice dinner - met up with the babies afterward at the waterfront pizza place - and hung out. Played with the babies for a bit - the little one loves my hair - likes to hold it in his hands and rub it together - i think it's darling - but i end up with a knotted 'fro afterward once he gets done. We all said our goodbyes - i'm sure i'll see bill again before he leaves back to NY. Headed back home to SF with rich in my ear.

Work is crazy so that weekend was needed - i've got a charity event to go to on thursday - i'll update after that party - should be Fun!

Meow - K

Sanity vs Stilettos

2005-09-19T11:16:00.000-07:00

A recent SF event to mark the nightly airing of Sex in the City had women lining up at midnight this past saturday in Union Square - sleeping in queue overnight (SF is not warm) for their chance - CHANCE - to snag one of the 1000 pairs of Jimmy Choo's being given away as promotion for the event. These women - not even guaranteed their size - spent hours - waiting for their chance to be handed a pair. Oh please oh please oh please...

WTF. Are you kidding me? If i happened to be down there shopping - not unlikely - the square is flanked by gucci - dior - saks - neiman's - loro piana - etc - and saw that madness - certainly i would check it out - however - i would never - ever - park myself overnight - outside - for a 'chance' to get a pair of Choo's. They're beautiful shoes - decadent even - but to subject myself to being one or two rungs on the social ladder above the 35 year old basement dwelling dungeon and dragon playing virgins who camped out in front of the WRONG theatre in LA awaiting the arrival of the latest Star Wars episode - is something i would never do.

To each their own - but the funniest thing about this whole mess is that now - swarms of girls are selling the shoes on craigslist - because they don't like the colors and the sizes are wrong. So after 8 hours in line - you aren't even happy with the result. Faaaaaabulous.

Go to Neiman's girls - you'll be much happier in the long run...

Insomnia - yet again

2005-09-15T10:25:00.000-07:00

I have bouts of insomnia when i'm very busy and stressed out. It's end of quarter at work and i'm slammed. I'm working on about 7 deals right now - 2 global and the other 5 for the 'Americas'. I know i'll get more. That's guaranteed. I'm also working on the grand reopening of a San Francisco museum - a huge celebrity filled gala in October. I'm not complaining - i wanted to be on the Board of Directors - and i love it. It's just a lot of work. A lot. But who am i kidding, i'm hardly complaining about fielding phone calls from Nick Cage and Chris Issak - haha.

It's not so much the work - it's the byproduct which is the insomnia. The tossing and turning - eyes wide open - the clock taunting me - clicking away minutes and then hours. I was up for about 3 hours last night - restless and beleaguered by lack of sleep. I actually pulled my comforter off my bed and attempted sleep on my couch. For some reason, a different location other than my bed sometimes allows me to fall asleep. It worked this time, for about half an hour. Finally - around 4:30am i trudged back into my bed - curled up - and fell asleep. I slept so soundly that my alarm, which normally bolts me awake with progressively louder and faster chirps - sitting out of my reach so i actually have to get up to turn it off because it's that unbearably loud and annoying - failed to even stir me. I only woke when rich made his morning phone call to me - to make sure i was awake and starting my morning.

The one thing that made last night less pained were the beautiful roses on my coffee table (pictured below) - sent by rich yesterday - with the most amazing card. He surprised me at work with an afternoon delivery of 2 dozen multicolored roses - totally gorgeous. They made last night less tortureous knowing that part of him was there with me...

Rich's visit - recap

2005-09-12T16:08:00.000-07:00

Rich left last wednesday and headed back to NY. I so did not want him to leave. It was so tough to drop him off at the airport - but with work mounting - for both of us - we had to say goodbye and return to our lives - living on opposite coasts. We had the best time - so much fun and i'll try to chronicle the days and nights as best as my memory serves.

Wednesday i picked him up at the airport - peppered him with kisses and hugs and headed back into SF to show him my city. He was pretty shocked at how small SF was - where were the skyscrapers - where was the 'downtown' area - where were the towering apartment buildings - well, darling, i live in the Marina - and there aren't skyscrapers and towering apts - there are boutiques and cafe's and and victorian duplexes and great restaurants and wine bars. I love my neighborhood. We schlep his stuff upstairs - hello 60lb suitcase - and head out to have lunch on Chestnut street. Lots of good restaurants to choose from and we decided upon Andale - great mexican food. Some chips, guacamole, sangria, grilled shrimp and a burrito maya later - we're exploring the rest of Chestnut. After a bit of walking around - we headed back to the apartment where rich took a nap. I put some of his stuff away - and then napped along side him for a while. We got up around 7pm and decided to go to Cozmos for dinner. Fun place - great vibe - has that NY/LA sort of feel. Dinner was wonderful - they have a new chef - thankfully - and he's done wonders for the menu! After dinner we headed back to my apartment and hung out for a while then fell fast asleep...

Thursday was spent sightseeing - we headed down to Chrissy Field - and walked around - it was quite foggy and really chilly (rich ended up buying a fleece to keep warm) - but we had fun. We walked along the water - took pictures along the pier - perused the giftshop/warming hut. I wasn't feeling 100% - my back was hurting me and so was my stomach - so we ended up driving around a bit and then heading back to my apartment where i took a nap. Woke up several hours later - still not feeling well - we decided not to go out - so instead we ordered chinese and relaxed in front of the tv. It was a nice mellow night. The next morning rich went out and got us breakfast from noahs - yum - and we decided to do a bit more shopping/sight seeing. We tried to get tix for alcatraz but they were sold out - so we ended up at the Masonic auditorium on Nob Hill - taking in the exhibit - the Universe Within - completely wild - amazing actually! Basically it's an exhibit featuring actual human bodies that had been 'plasticized'. Sounds disgusting and mind you - some of it was completely bizarre - but it was incredible at the same time. To actually see the inside of the human body - to see the arteries, the veins, the organs - how it all interconnects - each area defined by a different colored liquid plastic (that had hardened) - was really just so cool. If it comes to your town - GO.

After the exhibit - we did a little shopping and then ended up on Union street. I wanted to take him to Betelnut for dinner - but the wait was out the door - as was the wait for Home - so we ended up having a lovely dinner at Prego. We bought our tickets to see "The 40 year old virgin" prior to dinner - so after dinner we headed over to the theatre - stopping to window shop beforehand. The movie was hysterical! So funny! We headed home after dinner and fell into bed.

Saturday was spent sightseeing again - back to Chrissy Field and Fort Point - the Palace of Fine Arts and the Legion of Honor. Rich took some great pictures - i'm sure he'll post them. I have scattered some throughout this post - as well. I was a little nervous given that rich and my parents were meeting for the first time that evening - so i was a little preoccupied. We headed back to my apt around 5ish - i wanted some time to relax and get ready without being rushed. I chilled out - and spent a little over an hour getting ready. We taxied to the restaurant - Town Hall - owned by a friend - it's wonderful - and has gotten amazing reviews - despite being a bit noisy. My parents were a bit delayed due to the city setting up for the Grand Prix the next day (SF's very own tiny tour de france - usually Lance rides - but this year he passed). They arrived - the introductions were made and we were seated immediately. We had a great table with a view of the entire restaurant - and we ordered some wine while we decided what to have for dinner. The conversation flowed and everything was going well. PHEW! I was so nervous. But everything turned out okay. Dinner was great - and we took a quick tour of the mansions in pacific heights on our way home - mom and dad were cool - and the evening was just wonderful.

The next day - rich and i awoke to the sounds of the pace cars and the bicycles zooming past my apartment - very very cool - with an amazing view right outside my bay window. We just chilled out for a bit - knowing we had to be in marin to meet my dad. He and rich were heading to Oakland to watch the Yankees beat the A's. From what i heard - they had a great time at the game - watched batting practice - rooted for their team - ate 'game' food and cheered when the Yanks trumped the A's. I picked rich up at my parents house after the game was over. We stayed for a bit to say hi to my parents - dad took rich on a mini tour - and then we headed out - and headed home. Monday was Labor Day - and we mellowed out in the morning and then headed over to my parents for the afternoon. My sister and her husband, along with the babies were already there when we arrived. Everyone was in the backyard when we came in - and we joined them - taking a lounge for ourselves. I introduced rich to my nephews - my sister and her husband - and we all hung out and had a relaxing afternoon. Dinner was wonderful - grilled chicken - lamb chops - my mom's macaroni and cheese (which is simply amazing and so not like your traditional macaroni and cheese) - champagne and wine and sparkling water. It was a great afternoon - we had a lot of fun - rich and i played with my nephews - and he chatted with my sister for a bit. We left around 9pm - tired - sated - happy - and ready for bed. Although rich wanted to go out for a drink - i kind of convinced him otherwise... :) We decided to go up to my roofdeck and relax and take in the view - it's really beautiful at night.

Tuesday was spent working a little - until around 2pm - and then we hit Union street for some shopping - rich wanted to get his sister and parents some SF treats - so we headed to some of the cute shops. I ended up buying another pair of sandles ( i have 3 now of the same pair - they're awesome) - and rich picked up some great gifts for his family. After we finished walking around - we got a jamba juice to share and headed back to the apartment. Rich's friend - ari - was going to be stopping by - they hadn't seen eachother in a few years and i wanted to make sure we weren't late returning home. We got upstairs - put our packages down - and the phone rang. Ari was downstairs. Good timing! Ari was great! So nice - funny - genuine - just an all-around great guy. He stayed for a few hours - and we had a fantastic conversation. I really enjoyed meeting him. After we said our goodbyes - rich walked him downstairs - and i fixed myself for dinner. We were going to go to Bistro Aix - but the menu was somewhat lacking and the atmosphere a bit more formal than desired - we headed across the street from Aix to Izzy's - an awesome steak house. It's a regular place for my friends - we love it. I had the drunken shrimp and rich had a filet (i think...) - we had a private booth and had a great last evening in san francisco dinner together. Kevin called from the airport and we made arrangements to meet up - rich and kevin had to meet - they'd already spent time on the phone together - not to mention IM/email - he couldn't leave SF without meeting him. We would have actually spent a lot of time with him had he not flown to chicago on a whim to hang out with a friend who moved there last year. We finished dinner - and headed back to the apt. Kevin called from downstairs about 5 minutes later - and he came up for a quick hello. I was glad they got to meet. They're 2 of the most important men in my life :)

Rich started packing - pulling shirts from the closets, boxers and socks from the drawers - and i got sad. I didn't want him to leave. It had been too perfect - it's always so perfect. He told me not to be sad - that he'd be back soon - and i would be heading to NY in no time. We finished packing - and pulling his stuff together and climbed into bed. I curled up next to him - and fell asleep in his arms. Wednesday was a little hectic - i worked on the couch - fielding emails and phone calls while rich did the same - he finished packing and we headed off to the airport. ug. So hard to say goodbye. I dropped him off at united - helped him with his stuff - hugged and kissed him and tried not to be sad. It wasn't easy. But it's the way it is for the time being. We love eachother - and despite the distance - it's the knowing of what's to come that makes it bearable.

It's been hard since he left - i miss him. But i'll be in NY in october - and he should be coming back out to SF in december. So all is well. We had a great time - the visit couldn't have gone better - it was awesome! I can't wait to get back to NY - that city has my heart - in more ways than 1...

Must go - masses of work to do - very very busy week - i'll update later this week - lots going on.

Meow - K

Martha Martha Martha

2005-08-30T16:00:00.000-07:00

When Martha Stewart verbally body slams the first contestant out of the running of her version of "The Apprentice," she'll substitute 'The Donald's' (ew) trademark "You're fired!" with the less catchy, "You just don't fit in". Huh? You just dont fit in? That's hardly a body slam - that's more like a finger flick to the forehead. Annoying, but inconsequential.

Given that Martha is a perfectionist - i can't actually believe that this is the trademark phrase she'll be hissing at her contestants on a weekly basis. I've taken it upon myself to give Martha a few options, something to think about while she's jerry-rigging her ankle monitoring system to the hind leg of her sleeping chow.

I'm sorry Kaitlen, but:

Your souffle fell flat

Your dogwood won't be blooming this Spring

Your potpourri simply isn't fragrant enough

The stitching on your tea kettle cozy isn't straight

Your jelly jar candles will not be lit

Your french ribbon wreath won't be hung this christmas

Rather than sound like the social chair at sorority rush - sorry heather, you just don't fit in - she can channel jeff probst and with a large bedazzled spatula in her hand she can announce "The WASPs have spoken - please return your monogrammed oven mitt and leave the Hamptons immediately".

Has a nice ring to it - don't you think...

Playing hostess

2005-08-25T14:41:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since i've posted - completely forgot to write about the great weekend i had with Matt and Jeremy while they were out visiting. We had such fun! They arrived on Thursday and we made plans to have dinner on Friday night - as they put it - a glamorous dinner. And we did. They came over for cocktails first - we chatted - caught up - drank wine and nibbled on cheese. Dinner was at 7:30 so we had to grab a taxi and head to the Clift Hotel - it's an ian schrager property - think the royalton - the paramount - the sanderson - very chic - very glam - very fun.

Dinner was at Asia de Cuba - and we were seated right next to the opening to the Redwood Room. One of my favorite bars - gorgeous and dark - with tons of beautiful people. We were seated immediately - and had a great view of what was going on in the bar - as well as the restaurant. Matt and i love the tunapica - so we had to order - we also ordered the lobster ravioli and another delicious appetizer. For dinner i had the cuban spiced chicken and jeremy had - hmmm - what did jeremy have? I can't remember. Well, regardless - we all shared - and gossiped - caught up - drank and had a great time.

I asked the host to make sure we could get a 'living room' section in the Redwood room for after dinner drinks. They, as usual, came through so we wouldn't have to stand with the masses. After dinner - we ventured over to our seats in the bar - ordered a bottle of veuve clicquot - and settled back for some of the best people watching in SF. Hot boys and sexy girls are just littered all over that bar. There is something very cool about watching that whole spectacle - all the preening - the posing - the jockeying for position - literal and otherwise.

We talked about rich and his impending trip west (labor day weekend) - if i was in love (definitely yes) - when i was moving (a few short months) - was i nervous (yes and no) - do i ever miss matthew (um, who?) - and so on. We sat for about another hour - finishing our champagne...it was a great night. We made plans to go shopping the next day - jeremy had never been to SF before and i wanted to show him around. I promised to call them when i woke up and blew them kisses as my cab pulled away. I got home somewhat late - close to midnight - and called rich. We talked and i told him about my evening and tomorrow's plans. I fell asleep with his voice in my ear.

I woke around 11ish the next day - alcohol never gives me a solid sleep and i probably tossed and turned the last few hours. I called rich - took a couple advil - and then called the guys to see what was going on. We decided that i would pick them up - and we would head to Union Square for a little shopping. We hit gucci first - then dior - then i bought 2 pair of shoes - and two tops at Zara. Then to Nike town for jeremy - he was fiending for this coveted pair of shoes - something 95 - they only released like 900 globally and he HAD to have them. Well, they didn't - but the salesgirl suggested a boutique up the street that might - 'might' - have them - another suggestion was to try the Haight. Then we went to saks and Victoria's secret - we also stopped for a coffee. So we decide to hit the boutique in search of the shoes - and if they didn't have them - then we'd head to the Haight. Mind you, i can't stand the Haight - it's full of homeless kids and ratty old hipsters, dirty hippies who won't give up the summer of love - it basically looks like every day is laundry day in the Haight. Whatever missmash wornout crap that's in the back of your closet - throw it on - you'll look fine.

But i digress - we end up finding the shoes at the boutique - thank god, i'm out of having to drive to the Haight - but then jeremy says he wants to go - to see if they can find another pair. So, off we go. Jeremy is just chuffed to bits (love my london friends - always teaching me fun little sayings) with his new purchase. We drop him off in front of a skaterish store and try to find parking. We we meet up again - that store didn't have them - but others were suggested to him. So we're off - walking around - stepping over the skater kids asking for change - stopping to check out the giant legs positioned above a boutique - taking it all in - we had fun actually. There's definitely a lot to look at. Jeremy was unable to find another pair - so we ended up heading back to the car after a lovely serenade by the hari krishna walking up and down the streets - with their conga and tinkling finger simbals.

We head to chinatown for dinner - end up at a little place - Yeut Li i think - we ordered masses of food and ate until we could barely walk out the door. I dropped the guys off - gave them kisses and hugs and drove back home. They headed to Napa the next day and then drove to LA the following day. Had dinner at the Ivy - so jealous - love the Ivy. But i'm glad they had a great time and it was awesome having them here - showing them around - and letting them see why i love my city so much. You just can't beat it, well, except for NY...

Now and then

2005-08-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

Christina Aguilera, never one to shy away from her feelings about her pop rival Britney Spears has basically stated that Britney's career is over..."she's let herself go - I can't see a comback in the cards". Ouch.

Have to side with Christina on this one...hard to believe this is even the same girl - what a difference a year and a white trash husband make:

Christina on the other hand, looks fabulous!

The new car

2005-08-09T13:05:00.000-07:00

I've been asked to share and show a picture - so here it is - my new baby:

It's gorgeous - i dig it. Haven't named it - although my 4 year old nephew sammy thinks i should name it Mustafa - told him i'd think about that one.

Meow - K

Finally, a bit of good news

2005-08-04T14:22:00.000-07:00

I had to say goodbye to Betty, my beloved BMW, on Tuesday and clear her of all my belongings in order for the insurance company to come and tow her away. SO sad. I was in the process of getting a new car - narrowing down my choices of what i wanted to test drive when i was hit 10 days ago. While i loved my car - i knew it was time to buy something newer, safer and under warranty. But this is not the way i wanted to see Betty go - smashed up - on a lift - headlight hanging out - hood bent and side crumpled from impact. I would have loved to have seen her go to someone who would have taken care as i did - or as a trade in - not as a conduit for salvaged parts. So, i gathered up my 'things' - laundry detergent, a pink pashmina, tokens for the driving range, some CDs, a pair of stilettos, a picnic blanket, etc - sat in her 1 last time - ran my hands along the steering wheel, told her i was sorry (yes, i actually did that) - and walked away. That was so hard - and i'm such a girl for getting attached to my car like that.

I took a few photos - i've posted 1 below...

But this is not a sad story, yes, Betty is gone, but - BUT - i did buy a fabulous Mercedes and i'm totally and completely thrilled with it! It's gorgeous - silver on silver - 4 door - all the 'bells and whistles' imaginable - as one of my girlfriends said 'it's sooooo you'. I'm still a little skittish driving - but that will pass. I love my new car! YAY me. :)

Other great news - i did get asked to officially join the Board of Directors for the league of museums in SF. I'm so excited! We're planning a huge gala event on Oct 22. It's the grand reopening of the De Young Museum after months of renovation - cannot wait! I'm on the 'celebrity and entertainment' committee as well as another and since i have the most event planning experience of the entire Board - i'm helping with the overall planning of the event.

Other than the usual adventures at work - all is well. Rich is coming out here at the end of the month - for a week - everyone is so excited to meet him! I can't wait to introduce him to all my friends, and especially my family. I'm planning a roof deck cocktail party - so we can all hang out and he can meet my dearest friends. Had dinner with Kevin last night at a place we all love - called Izzy's - great steaks ( i had the drunken shrimp as i'm not a meat eater) - and we talked and caught up - i picked him up at his place so he could check out the car - and we went to Balboa for a glass of wine - said hi to our Mayor who happened to be having cocktails next to us - he's always at Balboa - and then made our way to dinner. I'm supposed to go have ice cream with sammy, my sister and dad tonight - but i've decided to stay in and chill out.

Not much else to report - so i'm off. Meow - K

The Single Life

2005-07-28T16:40:00.000-07:00

This was bound to happen - first was the Tamagotchi - the japanese electronic handheld pet, then came the Sony robotic dog, Aibo - then life-size poseable sex dolls created in the eye of their buyer for some carnal recreation - then the boyfriend pillow - hysterically chronicled by my boyfriend on his blog here - and now - wallpaper for singles. I am so not kidding.

Their website boasts that while people don't like living alone, many of them do - but they don't have to anymore...

"The single-wallpaper shows attractive, original-sized individuals, in different situations at home. Talking to yourself ? Well, never again! And if once again someone pities you for the fact that you have been living on your own for many years, you can always say: "Why? I've got someone !"

My personal favorite is this girl - mainly because she looks like some of my friends. Plus she's having a cocktail. And i love her shoes...

All seemlessly conceived out of a need for connection - something to care for - along with a little kitsch. Surprisingly, this is something that didn't come out of japan - a hotbed of kitschy, over the top gadgets and sleek, ultra modern electronics.

Take a peek and get the party started at your place, even if you're the only one actually there...

http://www.single-tapete.de/maine.html

R.I.P. Betty

2005-07-26T14:15:00.000-07:00

My darling little BMW got totaled yesterday by some bitch in a mini-van. A piece of shit mini-van. She tried to beat me to the intersection, as an oncoming car, to turn left onto Lombard. She didn't quite make it. Most likely because I wasn't turning, I was going straight. She hit me so hard i have major seatbelt bruises on my shoulder, down across my body and where the belt hits you as your sitting. Basically think of what the seatbelt looks like as you're wearing it - that is my lovely bruising pattern. My side hurts, my body aches, and the most disconcerting thing about this - besides losing my darling car and having to now assume a lease or car payments, is that i'm gun-shy on the road. I'm an aggresive driver - not reckless or irresponsible - but aggressive, aware, alert, etc. - and it was strange for me to be so overly cautious. I'm driving a jeep laraedo (larado? sp??) now as a rental - i like it because it is big - i feel protected in that giant. I also drove through the same intersection i was hit in yesterday. I know that sounds silly, but i had to do it.

This sucks, I loved my car - her name was betty, she was champagne colored and so pretty. And that bitch in a piece of shit mini-van took her out. I cannot explain how truly livid i am.

And yes, everyone keeps telling me how lucky i am - that i should be thankful i wasn't seriously hurt, that i could be in the hospital right now, or worse, so yes, i understand all these things - but i'm still livid and upset.

I don't want a new car, i want 'my' car back. Bitch.

I hate mondays.

K

Birthday Wine Tasting

2005-07-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

We went wine tasting on Saturday - when temperatures peaked around 105 in the valley. A bit too hot to be tasting - but we piled on the bus and headed north to napa. The bus, again was stocked with beer, champagen, bagels, cream cheese, bottled water and great music. I finally got to meet kevin's new girlfriend - a total sweetheart named julie. There were a lot of people i'd never met as well - newcomers to our little outings - so the group was an interesting bunch.

We headed north to Healdsburg - drinking mimosas and catching up. Our first stop was Roshambo winery (pictured above). A very slick, modern location with a gorgeous view and mediocre wine. They did, however, have the best swag and a very cool vibe. We hung out, tasted, enjoyed a great catered lunch and the sun. The wine was really awful, so we were glad to leave and head on toward Armida - a completely different feeling than Roshambo. The tasting room was small and crowded and the staff were a bit too stiff. We asked to taste their famed 'Poizin' zin - they're response - um, there isn't an unopened bottle. Please. The wine we did taste was fair, not fabulous and their attitude put their average wine on my list of what never to buy. We boarded the bus - which at this point sounded close to death (fun birthday, yeah, i know...) and was incredibly hot considering we had a good air conditioning system. We headed to rabbit ridge. At this point it was around 105 degrees out. I was done tasting, opting for water and a cold beer instead. The tasting room was a little to homey and country for me - too much kitsch and crap around. I didn't taste the wine, so i can't compare to the others, but i did notice serveral people coming out with several bottles in tow.

We again boarded the bus to head home. It was hot. HOT. Our bus had officially turned out to be a piece - the fan belt broke - leaving us air conditioning-less - and with the windows unable to open - the ride home was dreadful. Truly. About a 110 degrees. It, of course, got worse, we lost most of the power to accelerate and it took us nearly double the time to get home. I, at one point, had my phone out to call a cab because we really did not think we would make it up the hill from Sausalito to SF.

Fun fun fun. So, we finally peter to a stop in front of kevin's apt and we all pile out. I probably lost about 5 lbs in water weight from sweating so much - and i felt like a giant salt like...

Some how - we decided to go to dinner - without changing - to Havana - a great and very authentic cuban restaurant on Van Ness in SF. We had a table of about 12 people - lots of cocktails and even more delicious food. It was awesome. However, I was exhausted and i just wanted to go home after we finished our main courses. Soon after we said our goodbyes, i flagged a cab and headed home. Exhausted, hot and salty.

Happy birthday to me.

Birthday Kitten

2005-07-22T15:06:00.000-07:00

Meow Meow Meow

It's my birtday tomorrow - and i'm already starting to enjoy the day because of the amazing friends i have in my life. Rich sent me the most beautiful bouquet of roses - gorgeous - they arrived this morning, along with an awesome little note that was just so perfect. Thank you baby - they are so beautiful - MWAH. Literally right after the roses arrived, another package shows up at my door. I teased rich about getting me a bottle of wine - or a bottle of veuve cliquot (our favorite) - he said it wasn't him. SO, I proceeded to open it - still thinking it was from him - and oh my goodness - OH MY Goodness - but what do i pull out of the package - only a decadent bottle of Dom Perignon - vintage '96 - from my darling and amazing friends Matt and Jeremy! YAY! Champagne is wonderful - and there are a few that i truly enjoy - regularly - but a bottle of Dom - is just so special. Thank you thank you thank you!

How lucky can a girl be to be blessed with such wonderful friends. So very very lucky - on so many levels...

I'm heading to Napa tomorrow - as i did several months ago - aboard a bus full of friends to go tasting at a few select vineyards. Cannot wait - will be so great to see my 'boys' - I haven't seen them in a while - and it's always a guaranteed great time when we all do get together.

Here i am kissing the "Cline guy" on our last trip to Napa - he was really disgusting and made of some weird malleable plastic - it almost felt like skin - the winery had several of these 'guests' in and around the wine tasting room... kinda creepy - yet very entertaining after an entire day drinking...

I don't want to 'taste' to the extent that i did last time - and i'm hoping we will actually get to go out for drinks at Balboa once we return home. I wish rich was here so he could enjoy my birthday and wine tasting with me - but he's coming out for Labor Day Weekend and we have a slew of things planned. And honestly, it's just a day... we have the rest of our lives to celebrate.

Okay - i must go - off for a little birthday pampering in the form of a mani and pedi.

Meow

NY Wrap-up

2005-07-20T12:45:00.000-07:00

New York was amazing. Truly. I'm finally recovering from the jet lag of which a nearly 4 hour plane delay only compounded. I'll try to back up a little bit and go over the last week of my trip. That saturday, rich and i headed to Soho (shock, i know) to do a little shopping and have brunch at Mercer Kitchen - we sat across from Keira Knightley (who looked bored, but pretty) and Neil Young was across the way. Lunch was wonderful as usual - and i discovered a new little cocktail called the Caiproska - so delicious - it's mashed black cherries, lime and vodka. I could have had several - but since it was so hot out - held off on the alcohol consumption. The rest of the day was spent wandering around the stores and finding yummy things to bring home to family and friends.

I'm still so tired and having difficulty remembering what we did - oh yeah - sunday we went to brunch at Panorama and then headed off to a very cool flea market (i love them - hear the ones in paris and london are to die for!) on the West Side - we spent a little bit of time perusing the tables - some shabby chic french country home accents and furniture, some handmade soaps, a table of limoges and herend porcelain, a lot of crappy jewelry, some nice jewelry, and a small farmers market off one end. It was dreadfully hot and humid - and we cut our perusing short and walked to the park down the block. Sitting in the shade - we talked and hung out - watched the dogs and people pass...it was nice and relaxing - and cool - which was most important.

I think we ordered in that night, can't remember...

Monday was work again - a deal was closing and i got 2 more - which made it a busy day. That night we went to Dos Caminos on Park Avenue South - it was so good! I love mexican food and this was undoubtedly some of the best i've ever had. It was delicious.

I'll cut to wednesday - i wanted to surprise rich with a nice dinner someplace fun and unusual. I spotted the central park boathouse restaurant on the way home on and thought it was a great place - on tuesday, in our cab ride home - we passed the boathouse and he said - ooh - i want to take you there! I played dumb, asked him what was there, etc...and he explained to me - a very romantic restaurant - on the water - with a beautiful view. Hmm - sounds good. :)
We head out on Wednesday night - and i finally reveal to the cab driver where we're going - rich was totally excited. We got there a little late - i had no idea you had to walk into the damn park - i wore, of course, high skinny heels, and teetered down the path to the boathouse - so we had a cocktail while they prepared our table. We took a few pictures - the night was gorgeous - humid - but not terribly. Our table was right on the water - and after we were seated we ordered another round of cocktails (too warm for red wine and i don't drink white) - and checked out the menu. The restaurant itself could easily be a 5 star if they tried - however, i personally wouldn't go back for the food - it was mediocre, at best. My grilled chicken resembled poached salmon (so much so that i actually had to ask them if it was indeed chicken) - and my tuna tartar was not quite chilled enough. However, the company was perfect. We finished dinner, despite the bad food and boorish waiter, and made our way back up the walk to the main gates.

While we were meandering up the path, handing the phone back and forth to each other (my parents on the other end) - what sounded like a loud explosion rang out - we stopped in our tracks, turned toward the noise and brilliant colors lit up the sky. FIREWORKS! I told my mom i'd call her back - and used my cell phone to capture the moment. It lasted at least 10 minutes - and was incredible. The philharmonic was playing in the park that evening and that capped off the grand finale. It was the perfect way to end the evening.

Thursday evening came around and we went to dinner at a cool little spot called Acme - it's all about southern, new orleans cooking. I spent a month in new orleans a few years ago while working on a deal for a client - and i have to say - Acme came pretty close to duplicating the flavor and selection that 'nawlins' is famous for. Sadly, i was exhausted - and while dinner was wonderful (with 2 dear friends) - i kind of tuned out toward the end of the meal and wanted to go. The restaurant was incredibly noisy - we literally had to yell at eachother - and my patience was wearing thin - so we paid up - and headed down the street for coffee. Afterward, we all piled in a cab and headed to our respective homes - and once home, i made a bee-line for the bed and fell fast alseep.

Friday was Balthazar - and it was incredible as always. We each started with the usual - i had the decadent french onion soup and rich had the escargot - and for our main courses, rich had the steak frites and i had the halibut - it was incredible. Adam Duritz - lead singer of the counting crows sat a seat away from us - with 3 other friends - i didn't recognize any of them. One guy - who looked vaguely familiar - had a huge ring on (thing superbowl huge) - so i think he was sports related - other than that - no clue about the others. Adam kept getting up - and with the narrowness of the space btwn tables at Balthazar - kept making the girls at the next table grab their wine and water bottles to avoid his ass from knocking them over. His hair is atrocious by the way - atrocious.

We made our way back home after that - snuggled up with eachother and fell asleep.

Saturday we called matt, jeremy and dave for a late brunch. We decided to meet at 2-ish at Mercer Kitchen - secured a corner table at lobby level (can't stand downstairs - too dark) and cocktailed the afternoon away. It was so great to catch up with them - initially it was just matt and dave, and then jeremy, who hadn't been feeling quite well, joined us later in the afternoon. We ordered some food - cocktailed - chatted and people watched - it was actually a perfect saturday afternoon! Once jeremy arrived - we ordered once last round, and headed out to the shops. I had to go to Louis Vuitton - it was 6:30 and they closed at 7pm - so we all made our way over there. I shopped a bit - picked out a few bags that i wanted - and asked the boys for their opinions. After selecting 3 - and noticing that we were the last people in the store - we made our way up and out and headed down the street to a very cool - hip little shop called Kid Robot - which carries 'toys' for adults, and no - you perv - not 'those' kinds of toys. Cool japanese anime, action figures, etc... we hung out there a bit - and then it was time for us to go our separate ways...

We said our goodbyes - hugged and double cheek kissed - excited to know that while my trip to NY was almost over, i'd be seeing matt and jeremy in SF in a few short weeks. YAY! Rich and i made our way back to the apt - had dinner - and spent the night wrapped up in eachother.

Sunday was hard - i didn't want to go. We got up early and headed out - i had a few things i needed to do and a seriously sexy pair of stilettos i had to buy at bergdorfs. We went downtown first - got a few things i needed and then made our way back uptown and then home. I packed - we played - fussed around the house - made sure i had all my stuff and then, waited. And waited. My plane was delayed. So we hung out some more and i finally made my way to the airport - where i waited even more. My flight was supposed to take off at 8:00 - didn't take off until 11pm. I couldn't sleep at all on the plane - so i was miserable and exhausted when we finally arrived in SF at 3:00 - i fell into bed around 3:30am and don't think i moved a muscle until my alarm woke me out of a dead sleep.

Long trip home - but the trip itself - the 17 days rich and i had together couldn't have been more perfect.

I spent yesterday evening at my parents - my sister and the littlest one were there as well and tonight i'm meeting with the board of directors for the league of museums in sf - i've been asked to join the board and am meeting 3 of the members - 1 of whom i know well - at Nectar - a chic little wine bar in my neighborhood. I'm looking foward to meeting some of the members tonight - and am hoping they 'officially' extend an invitation to be a Board member. A gala is planned for Oct 22 - the opening of the new De Young museum - and i know i'll have a lot of fun planning that event.

Nothing else to report except that rich is coming out to SF for Labor Day weekend and my parents are totally excited to meet the man that has so captured my heart.

Meow - K

New York New York

2005-07-09T09:19:00.000-07:00

I'm in NY again, going on my second week. All is well. Rich and i are getting along perfectly, as this is our little 'test run' for the future. Besides his literally having to drag me out of bed in the AM (not a morning person), it's been a smooth week with no road blocks, let alone, bumps. I decided not to stay at the W this time, to forego the penthouse suite with the wrap-around terrace to stay with my honey. I couldn't have made a better decision.

We celebrated the 4th with friends - on their roofdeck - it was great. We had a wonderful dinner at Zoe the evening I arrived (july 1) - spent that saturday in Soho - with a delicious brunch at Mercer Kitchen and then a little shopping at Louis Vuitton. Rich jokes that as soon as i walk through their doors in Soho, it's like a jackpot going off - ding ding ding ding ding - they know they've just made their quota. However, i really only work with 1 sales associate - Jessica - because she takes care of me, shows me all the newest goodies and has the best understanding of what i want and what i'll buy. She's a doll.

The next day we woke up relatively late, hung out and then went to Eli's to secure a number of delicious items for a barbecue at rich's parents home in New Jersey. We each purchases her something at pottery barn the day before, rich a gorgeous candle and i got her fragrant infused oil with reeds - each in paper white scent. She loved them! It was a great day - we had a wonderful dinner - and ended up staying until nearly midnight. His family is fantastic.

The work week was just that - a work week. Short, but full. I had 2 deals closing, got three more and met the new regional VP on the east coast. Great guy - we had a productive first meeting, and i'm meeting the rest of his team next week. Everything is coming together for the transition to the NY office. They changed my badge so i can get into the NY office so i don't have to check in with security each day when i arrive. Baby steps.

This weekend is going to be mellow - there is a lot i want to do, but i'm not going to push. We're going down to Soho again today, there are a few places i want to visit before the weekend slips away. Next week will be very busy. A lot of work, 2 of the 3 deals i just got are closing so i'll be quite busy.

Rich is coming to visit at the end of the month. We're both very excited about his meeting my family, equally as much as they are about meeting him.

Have to hop in the shower or this day will disappear and the weekend will be half over...

Meow - K

London

2005-07-07T07:45:00.000-07:00

The horrific events of 9-11 are again brought to the forefront as London recovers from a series of terror attacks this afternoon. I can't imagine the pain of not knowing if a loved one was safe or missing - or worse. My thoughts and prayers go out those who are starting down a path we are far too familiar with. I'm so very very sorry for your loss...

There are no words.

K

Magic

2005-06-30T14:21:00.000-07:00

Rich's mom is a miracle worker! She found the unfindable. She found the Christian Dior Princess Ring. And not 1, but 2! She's one of my favorite new people.

Tiny bit of back story to this...

So, Christian Dior (who i love love love - best handbags/shoes/clothes - so sexy and fun) came out with this fabulous lip gloss housed in an oversized ring. It's hot. And sold out. Both my sister and i had to have one - we loved the lip glosses (2 different shades in the ring once you flip the jeweled top open) and were looking everywhere for them. No one had them - every one was sold out. I couldn't even find them online. Only the eyeshadow version of the ring was available. And EW, it was blue. Blue! No thank you. Never. I finally had to resign myself to not having this decadent little ring - and bemoan the fact that i again waited when i should have bought when i had the chance...

Hello Louis Vuitton gorgeous to die for earrings...dammit

So anyway - Rich told me the other day that he had a surprise for me. And me, liking instant gratification and all, prodded him until he told me that his mom had found the rings and secured 2 of them, 1 each for my sister and me. YAY. I was stunned, literally. HOW had she worked her magic! I would love to have those magic skills, I can only imagine the yummy things i would secure: the gorgeous Dolce & Gabbana fitted t-shirt with their D&G logo encrusted in crystal on the front - to go with, of course, the long boucle D&G coat of raspberry, pale pink and creme cashmere in an oversized plaid; the YSL spectator stilettos - so gorgeous; the Dior logo mules; the simple black Donna Karan winter coat with just the right amount of detail to make it lustful rather than typical; the Marc Jacobs biker bag in silver - so hot; and, of course, the matching winter white wool boucle chanel handbag to match my black one.

Alas, i don't have magic powers, however, i now know someone who does...

Life is good.

Meow - K

Bits and Pieces

2005-06-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since i posted last. The oral surgery went incredibly well - i was only on pain killers for 1 day - and the oral surgeon said i had an amazing recovery. It was really easy, shockingly, but while i'd prepared myself for a lot of pain, there was literally none. Lucky me. :)

I spent the weekend at my parents house - and rich surprised me with the most beautiful bouquet of flowers - hydrangea, roses, lisyanthus - and 2 'get well' balloons attached to a sweet little bear. Totally made my day.

Father's Day was nice, had brunch with friends, then went to the North Beach Festival to hang out. I drove to my parents house around 5:30 - and we grilled and relaxed. Nothing terribly exciting, but fun nonetheless. I bought my dad 2 tix to a musical he's been wanting to see - it's about a family on the lower east side called 'a stoop on orchard street'. He mentioned to me he wanted to see it, so i got the tix for him for father's day and we're going tonight. Should be fun.

Other than that i'm still recovering from that cold - the cough won't go away. It's almost gone, finally. It's the end of the quarter at work which means i'm more slammed than usual. I'm juggling an inordinate amount of work - and all of the deadlines are, of course, high priority. It's a little crazy. But, a girl must keep her eye on what's important, and that, for me, is heading to NY at the end of next week to spend 2 weeks with rich. YAY. Can't wait.

We have plans, of course, but on a much more leisurely scale - we don't have to cram everything we want to do into 5 days - we have over 2 weeks to hang out, play, shop, cocktail, dine, see friends, sleep in, and be together. I know we'll go to mercer kitchen, balthazar, hit soho, the seaport and see friends, but we can really be doing anything - as long as we're together - we have fun.

I need to buy some summer stuff - it's never really 'that' warm in SF. I bought a cute pair of capris the other day - i think i'll go back and get more. I also need tops and stylish but comfy shoes. I hate shopping when i 'have' to go - when i have to find something specific - that is when i never find what i need. So frustrating.

All else is well - must go grab lunch and then get back to work - I'll write more when i feel i actually have something mildly interesting to say...

Meow - K

Update

2005-06-10T11:37:00.000-07:00

I'm having oral surgery - all 4 wisdom teeth removed - in about 4 hours. Rich made me go to bed early last night to make sure i got a good sleep. Which i did. I'm not really nervous anymore - just sort of anxious to have it done. He called his AM to check in - all is well. I'm working from home - normal for a friday - but i did so much work this week to make sure all my deals were covered off in case recovery is harder than i anticipate that i'm really just do some follow up emails and letting those who i have deals closing with - within the next few days - that i'll be out of pocket for the remainder of today and the weekend. All my SEs are really supportive - wishing me well - and good luck - it's sweet actually - especially during the last few weeks of the quarter - when they're usually terrors.

I'm going to be spending the weekend at my parents house - mom and dad are insisting upon it. I doubt i'll be in any mood or shape to post - but i'll post next week on the surgery and the weekend.

All else is going well - i'm heading back to NY for the first 2 weeks of july and then rich is coming out to SF for a few days around the 30th. Can't wait! He and my dad are continuing with emails. Rich paid up with respect for the bet they had about the yankees - when my dad saw it - his immediate response was (a crisp 20 was included in a fedex to them containing fabric samples rich secured for them from a design house in NY) - Jesus Christ! There's a 20 in here!Well, that's going back. haha. I knew he wouldn't take it - but very funny that rich sent it.

Nothing else to talk about - i've got to hop in the shower and get ready to go.

Take care and wish me luck - K

Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson

Anne Bancroft died this week. SO sad. I know most people know her as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate - but her comedic talent was also exceptional - and she'll be very missed. I also feel so badly for Mel Brooks - they were such a great couple. Such a loss - Rest in Peace.

Summer Cold

2005-06-05T12:50:00.000-07:00

I'm sick - have a bad cold. I've been resting since i got home on thursday from work. Friday was very busy (work-wise) but was spent on the couch working from a reclining position rather than at my kitchen table sans the distraction of the tv. Rich has been checking in on me every few hours - making sure i'm resting - drinking fluids - not sneaking out to be with friends - even though i'm incredibly tempted - not only is it gorgeous out - it's one of the biggest party weekends in SF. Dammit. I hate being sick in the summer - it's worse for some reason - when it's so beautiful outside and i can barely muster the strength to make it from my bed to the couch...I'd go relax on my roofdeck - but even that seems like too much effort right now.

Yesterday morning i was surprised with the most gorgeous bouquet of 2 dozen vibrantly colored roses - deep pinks - peaches - purples and salmon. Stunning. I have them on the coffee table next to me. They smell amazing. He's so sweet - even though he can't be here - he's 'here'.

I'm such a lucky girl.

I have to get my nails and toes done today - but right now - i think i'm going to go back to sleep. I have to rest more - i have to get better or i have to postpone my surgery again - and i can't do that - i want this over and done with. So - rest it is...

More later - K

Wrap-up

2005-06-02T13:23:00.000-07:00

We stayed up late monday night - i was working - and got a ton of work completed. I thought i would have been done much sooner - we wanted to watch a movie before bed. Unfortunately - work took me to almost 1:30am. We crawled into bed - curled up with eachother and fell fast asleep. Tuesday was busy in the AM - very - closing one of the deals i worked on monday evening - but i was able to get out of the office at a reasonable hour - 3ish. I headed over to rich's office - hung out with his sister for a while and then rich and i headed back to Soho - i had a few last items i wanted to get - and knew if i didn't do it then - there was no way i would be able to do it wednesday.

We walked around for a while - and then once i bought some yummy things for friends and family - we made our way back to his apt. We napped - briefly - then i showered and got ready for dinner. Balthazar is 'our' place. It's always wonderful. This was no exception. We had 10pm reservations - and rich wore one of my favorite banana republic dress shirts of his - i wore a white satin jacket - jeans - heels and a sexy slinky black top. When we sat down one of the waitresses that we've had before (twice i believe) - came over and said hi - then disappeared only to come back with 2 glasses of champagne for us. How sweet. She's such a doll. We ordered wine - a bottle of pellegrino - and made our choices for dinner. It was such a wonderful night. Dinner was relaxing and delicious - rich looked handsome and was so sweet and attentive as always - the people watching is some of the best in the city - and we couldn't have had a better time. We had a picture taken at our table - i'm sure rich will post it - if not - i'll ask him to post it here.

After dinner - we spent a little time outside - it was gorgeous out - and then grabbed a cab back to the apartment. Meow.

Wednesday was hurried - and i didn't want to go. I took care of business for most of the morning - we barely got to see eachother before i left. I hate saying goodbye. I'm such a girl - tearing up - head on his chest - not wanting to close the cab door. But i have to. So we say our goodbyes - and i wave out the cab window as it pulls away and toward JFK.

I call rich when i get to the airport and settle into my seat - until they insist we turn off all electronics...and then power up my phone as soon as we land so i can tell him all about my trip 'home' and how i miss him so very much - and how i got sad on the flight while listening to the CD he made me - and how i'm going to have to postpone my oral surgery because i've come down with a cold. And then i call my parents - tell them i'm fine - have landed - will call when i get to my apartment. They're happy i'm home - but they know where my head is - and having told them over the weekend that i'm in love - i think they understand the inevitableness of a change of address for me.

Called the surgeon today - it's postponed until next friday - which makes it easier on everyone. Sadly - i'll miss one of the best party weekends in SF - the Union Street Festival - it's basically a drunken 2 days - with about 10,000 people - milling about union street - standing in make-shift beer gardens overflowing with locals - perusing the booths filled with jewelry, art, ceramics, etc - it's so much fun...

All in all - a wonderful - amazing trip - i'm sad to not be there - i miss rich terribly - but know we'll be together very soon. I've got a sore throat and a cough - hopefully i'll recoup over the weekend. I'm tired and can't wait to go to sleep. I may leave early today...

Must go now - have much work to do - and a few deadlines looming over me.

Meow - K

Back home in NY

2005-05-30T17:30:00.000-07:00

It's Monday night - today was fabulous. We woke up late and spent the day in Soho. I bought a phenomenal pair of shoes at Aldo - then we had lunch at Bar 89 and spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the area - walking - buying - walking - buying - it was a lot of fun. Found 2 of the most amazing stores: Distant Origin - and De Vera - both are high-end home furnishing/accessories stores - and both had the most incredible things i've ever seen. Portico is another favorite - beautiful things. We're going to stay in tonight - i've got 2 deals closing tomorrow - so we're going to order in - and watch a movie - and hopefully - i'll get the majority of my work done so tomorrow won't be completely chaotic.

http://www.distantorigin.com

http://deveraobjects.com

http://porticostore.com

Yesterday was equally as fun. We again woke late - and tried to pull our stuff together to check out. We were going to be spending the day in Soho - but after i called to ensure a late check out - jackie called - they were downstairs - having just had brunch and rich and i insisted they come up and spend some time on the terrace before heading back to DC. They came up - Jackie - her husband Brandt and their baby Cassidy Rose. We talked and laughed - caught up some more and once we were all ready to leave - we left the W. I'll miss that terrace - it was unbelievable. I'll post pics if i can. Rich and i headed to his apt - and then quickly met his sister and her friend sari at Panorama Cafe for brunch. After brunch - we headed to a great park by rich's apt - on the water - and played with the dogs in the 'little' dog run while both his sister and sari let their dogs run wild with all the other dogs - it was hysterical. Such fun.

We got back later than expected - and while i was able to secure reservations for that evening at Spice Market - we ended up going with the original plans of Cipriani's Downtown in Soho - with matt, jeremy and matt's brother dave - to celebrate jeremy's birthday. It was wonderful - a bit of a scene - but i'm never one to shy away from that - i enjoy all the preening and posing - it amuses me. Shannon Elizabeth was there - black shirt - jeans - very pretty. A round of champagne - then several bottles of wine and great food rounded out the dinner. Rich and i got jeremy a key case from louis vuitton - symbolic as they just moved into a new home - so it was a more personal birthday present and he absolutely adore it. I love giving - so much more than receiving - it's such fun to see how excited people are when you get them something they really love. And who doesn't love louis vuitton...

After dinner we went over to their new apt - on the west side - a penthouse duplex with a roofdeck to die for. They've got incredible views and the neighborhood was wonderful - i think the west side just moved up a notch on the list of potential places for me to live...

We stayed until nearly 2am - drinking wine on the roofdeck - and having a generally easy - relaxing - wonderful time. Such good friends - i'm so lucky to know them.

Saturday was fairly quiet - we woke at a reasonable hour - padded around the penthouse (meow) and the terrace - decided to have a late brunch at Mercer Kitchen and do a little shopping. It was fabulous as always - we had our same table at Mercer - upstairs - lobby level - with a front and center view of everything that comes and goes. Before we went in i was perusing the tables outside - looking at all the dangly earrings, etc. One pair caught my eye - a beautiful pair of chandelier earrings - turquoise and gold - dainty and sexy at the same time. There were 2 pair actually - i held each up for rich's opinion - he liked the same pair better that i did. I put them on hold to pick up after lunch. We're seated - enjoying a cocktail - people watching and enjoying the day. Rich gets a call and excuses himself to take the call outside - when he comes back in - he places a silver box in front of me. Too caught up in everything that's happening around me - i don't even notice...for a few minutes - haha. Finally - i look down - BABY!! - and hurrily open it. The earrings!! They're so pretty - i put them on right there - and slowly shake my head back and forth so he can see them. I love them!! So sweet. I love the little surprises he comes up with.

We shopped at louis vuitton - and Orgin Domain - among others - and then had a 3:30pm apt tour at a new complex in the area. We both thought the place was great - but the price point was a good 30% above market value - so that's a pass. But a good measure of what is out there and available if need be... Afterwards, we end up cabbing back to his place - we have to get ready for the philharmonic and i need a nap. We pass on the early dinner - nap for a bit - then get ready for the evening. The philharmonic was so so wonderful. There was a pianist who was truly amazing. It was incredible. I'm so glad we went. We were supposed to see our friends after the performance - but we opted for a late dinner and some more alone time. Saw kathleen turner at the bar. She has an amazing body - but her face hasn't aged well....

Friday was a work day - spent the day at the hotel - on the terrace - finishing deals and taking conference calls. It's amazing how much work i got done. Thankfully...

My darling girlfriend jackie called around 6ish - and we all decided to grab a late dinner downstairs - blue fin i think - it was fun - lots of little tastes. Brandt - her husband - and she LOVED rich. They thought he was great - such fun - and that we're awesome together. Their daughter was sleeping for most of the evening - and Brandt - having just flown in from Zurich the night before from a business trip - excused himself and the little one and headed upstairs. Jax, rich and i stayed downstairs and chatted for another hour before we headed our separate ways. So nice to have the confirmation of dear friends in what i already know to be true.

Thursday night i arrived - settled in - had a glass of wine and was greeted by rich with a gorgeous bouquet of peonies (my favorite) - some little presents (as i had for him) - and a long awaited kiss. Matt, jeremy and dave came over that evening and we went through 2 bottles of wine on the terrace - catching up and relaxing. Rich took a ton of pictures - i'm sure he'll post them.

More to tell later - i'm exhausted...

K

Amazing

2005-05-26T19:37:00.000-07:00

I have the penthouse suite at the W - it's amazing. Rich and i are having friends over for cocktails on my terrace (which occupies 2 sides of the hotel - it's unbelievable) in about 10 minutes - have to finish getting ready. The view is incredible. I love (love love love) NY.

Will write more later in the weekend - things couldn't be better.

Meow - K