Old and New

Got the chance to spend last week with some of my favorite peeps, old and new.

Matt and Shana Saccullo have always been such a wonderful influence in my life. Matt and I shared an office at Ballet Tech, once upon a time. My favorite work memory is when his best friend Nick sent a singing telegram to Ballet Tech. I've never seen Matt so upset, nor me so amused at work. They are a duo that have been with me through thick and thin. They now live in Connecticut and are expecting their first child in February! I'm so excited for them both and it's always such a treat to see them. 

It was also the celebration of the day of birth of Dave Robbins! 

Barack look-alike+

Bri-ski antics+

Robbins humor+

magic bars+

lovely dinner partners=

Happy Birthday!

Grateful Gratzies: Birthday Twins!

October 22nd celebrates two of my favorite dudes!

It's Double Trouble days of birth for two men that have each been an integral part of my life.

I met Jed Jackman (or as I always have called him, Jeddy) my first year at the University of Utah. He was my Resident Advisor at the crappy little dormitory halls. He would always make his rounds, and I would inevitably be home baking, cooking, or writing my homesick letters to my friends in California. He and our friend Ron St. Amant became my best friends there at the U.

I recently gave a phone recommendation for Jed for a job in his new home state of Colorado. The prospective employer wanted to know what I thought were Jed's best qualities. It was so easy for me to recommend him because his good qualities are abundant. He has been a true confidant since I've known him. My favorite memories are of Jed & I going on hikes. Our first outing was hiking the skiing trails (which in the summer and fall are open for hiking). We packed a picnic lunch and just talked and talked the entire day. He was always my date to the ballet, the Pope to my bad Catholic school girl for Halloween, a great travel companion to Moab and Mexico. He is a man who is so loyal, warm and caring. He has lived all over the country and in Canada as well for art school, but no matter where he's living, he always maintains our friendship. He picked me up from the depths of despair in Utah and continues to warm my heart whenever we manage to connect after a long game of phone tag.

I am so grateful for his honesty, his compassion, and his never failing support. I love you Jeddy. My own little Star Wars Jedi. You are amazing. I am so blessed to have you in my life and today I celebrate you. My forever friend.

The other Birthday Twin is Dave Scher.

Dave and I have known each other since my first year here in NYC. He and I have been all over the world together and he is someone who I know will be a lifelong friend.  He's never been big on celebrating his day of birth. Today, I celebrate the man who is still an encouraging friend and amazing travel companion.

My favorite memories with Dave I often find when I'm searching through my internal database of trips. We always had such a wonderful time traveling together and his willingness and eagerness to see new things and have new experiences have always been our best moments. He is always finding new & fun things to do in the city and thanks to his perceptive detective work, we always see the best music and shows together. I love thinking back about the first time we met; that "Summer of Dave" was my favorite time with him. We ended up taking a spur of the moment trip to the Islands of Tahiti and have memories that we will never forget.

We would have the best holiday parties. Our annual White Elephant Holiday Party was always a huge hit. I loved putting the whole party together, and Dave hated that damn chocolate fountain. He's always been by my side through all the storms that life has thrown us. He's the karaoke king, the borat, the Lloyd Dobler to my Diane Court. Dave, thank you for being you and always being there for me. You are amazing. I love you. Enjoy your special day.

Lilacs, Linen & Lace

October 1st was the beginning of my ninth year here in NYC.

It's been quite a life here. When I first moved here, I don't think I gave much thought to how long I would be here. I just went on vacation by myself for two weeks and then very soon after I moved to Brooklyn. I left behind a very stable, very secure, very adult life. I had a job I loved. A wonderful boyfriend. I lived in a four bedroom house all by myself with Lloyd Dobler. I was surrounded by my family and friends...and yet, somehow, I was driven to come to this crazy town. My life isn't that much different I suppose. I have a job I love, a wonderful boyfriend, amazing friends. The one component that continually draws me back to California is my wonderful family & friends (oh, that and the possibility of fantastic weather year round).

It's been eight years of:

Trips that included:

Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Australia, Mexico, St. Lucia, Barbados, Spain, England, Scotland, Wales, Thailand, Cambodia, Bali, Laos, Myanmar, Puerto Rico, Panama, The New SLC, Moab, Wilmington, Seattle, Tahoe, Monterey, Carmel, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, LA, San Diego

Hundreds of dollars shipping things from CA (including my beloved red glitter bar stools that I packed into my luggage, only to sell them when I moved from Brooklyn to the East Village. Whomp whomp whomp).

Acquiring more Kermie's than I know what to do with (the five footer has to go...). I did propose to him though...maybe he's still checking with Piggy.

Reuniting with Deborah Lohse after five years and then having the privilege of dancing with ad hoc Ballet in some amazing venues

Countless Jet Blue flights to Sactown

All my siblings getting married

Ten different teaching jobs

Three different boyfriends

Making new friends

Two new nephews

Three Flat Stanleys

Five Apartments

I kissed a frog, and I liked it.

Some of my favorite memories are hanging out the in backyard at Devoe St. with a building full of dancers. My annual white elephant holiday party with the chocolate fountain and enough food to feed an army. Ladies annual clothing exchange with Deb & Karen parading matching outfits. Dancing at Vig all night long. Performing Her at Joyce Soho. Silo Residency. Maine with Deb. Late night concerts with Greg Peterson. Halloween with Diana. I'd love to hear your favorite memory with me & NYC!

I am the most me and possibly the most crazy I've ever been. I currently live in the smallest apartment I've ever had.  On my favorite block of all time. I have a job and 150 kiddos I adore.  I have the best friends I could ask for. And you know what? I love it all. Every once in a while I think of what my life would be if I would have stayed in Roseville...I'm glad I am where I am. Who I am. Being the me that I'm meant to be. I think it all began in my seventh year of life when I wrote a simple sentence:

Travel alliteration from second grade.

Here's to more years of being nice & nasty in a city I love. 

Thanks NYC. I heart you major.

Color Project : O

Peel.

Gina.

Burnt

Creamsicle.

Complementary to blue.

Halfway between red & yellow.

Call it what you will; it's orange. 

Tête à Tête with Tammi: Richie

I had the pleasure of meeting Richie after my day out with Dave. He was at The Jungle Club with a group of 24 people that he was leading on a tour of Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Kao Phangan with Contiki. Seeing him interact with the people in the restaurant, I knew he was a regular, and I also quickly surmised that he would most likely be willing to chat with me. On his way from one group to the other, I quickly asked him where they were all from. He explained that he was a tour guide and then kindly sat and talked with me for 30 minutes.

He is 31 and originally from New Zealand where he was working as a civil engineer. I could immediately sense the happiness pouring out from this wonderful man. He grew up on the family farm, being raised mostly by his grandparents. Growing up, he and his Granddad would go diving in the morning for mussels, oysters--any seafood they could get. Then they took it back home for Nan and Mum to eat. He idolizes his "Nan" and I loved hearing him speak of his love for her. He says she's the healthiest person he knows, doing Tai Chi and still working every day.

He had a prosperous job as an engineer in New Zealand, but as he said, he had a lot of money but no life. After an accident at thirty that left him unable to move for six months, he decided to re-evaluate his life. He traveled to Australia and then kept going. He says the accident allowed him to slow down and wake up. Ease up and slow your roll, as Deb Lohse says.

 I admire his willingness to let go of everything stable and move into the unknown.  He really made it even clearer to me that even though I'll never be a bazillionaire teaching ballet, there is so much fulfillment in it for me and it makes me so happy to have a job doing something I love and am good at. Hearing him tell his story of giving up all the money and finding joy doing something he loves makes it even easier for me to remain firm in my belief that money won't buy you happiness. His sense of adventure and openness is something I really appreciate. His smile will continue to warm my heart when I think of him.

I felt the love for life pouring out of this man. It was so wonderful to meet people who have such enthusiasm for what they do and that are so happy. I feel so lucky to have met so many incredible people on my journey. Richie was the last of my travel interviews, but don't worry dear ones, I'll make sure to keep this a part of my weekly adventures. I couldn't help but think: did I just happen to keep meeting people who were extraordinarily happy by chance, or was I seeking like-minded people that make me feel like I'm not so crazy for being so damn enthusiastic myself...

Subject:

Richie; Male

New Zealand

What do you spread on toast? Butter

What makes you happy? Being around happy people, life in general
What time do you wake up? Different every day. When working, early 6am
What is your favorite place to be? At home with Nan

What is your favorite time of day? On the island at sunset
What was your favorite age? 31
How many jobs have you had? 4 (supermarket stocker, road construction, civil engineer, tour guide)
What is your favorite quiet spot? At my Koh Phangan bungalow in my hammock
Where do you rendezvous with friends? New Zealand; it's where most of my friends are
How do you get around town? Anyway fashionable; donkeys in Greece, back of a bike, tuk tuk, carried home, water buffalo, car
How many countries have you visited? 40 plus
How many brothers/sisters? Two sisters; very close to them
What is your favorite memory? Being little and diving with granddad for breakfast
What is your favorite food? anything Nan cooks

Fast Track

Still feeling out of sorts and totally jet-lagged. Walking around my neighborhood and spending time with my boyfriend, feeling like I'm walking around in a dreamland...

Returned from my trip of a lifetime. 

Solo travel=best thing ever. 

My Top Ten Lessons:

1. Always trust what I've come to call the "Tamstinct". I've always been hesitant to trust myself. I often defer to other people--their thoughts, feelings, decisions, etc. I realize I often know what's best for me. When I'm by myself I'm much more willing to trust my gut instinct and need to do this more often.

2. When you travel alone, you can always have the window seat.

3. When I'm alone and a little uncomfortable or anxious, I talk to myself or hum (I may have said a couple of swear words, lost on the street, trying to find my way across the universe...).

4. I am a logistical mastermind (at times). And decisive. And damn good at being alone (p.s. how am I supposed to ever date again? This seems tricky...).

5. They make it look really easy to iChat on the commercials. It's not.

6. After 21 days of Thai food, you're really REALLY gonna want a burger or steak.

7. Sometimes, it's good to not have a plan. I was delighted every day to not know where I was going to be next, where I would stay, who I would meet. So refreshing.

8. Talk to everyone you can! There are some really faboo people in the world that you can start a conversation with and learn something about a different culture, a new recipe, the best restaurant in town, the hidden bar, the backroad path. Be unafraid. Most people will like you. And if they don't, well, screw 'em.

9. You may not be here tomorrow--take advantage of every situation.

10. Always bring an extra memory card. I like to take a ton of pictures. Whoops. Somehow I forgot just how many pictures I seem to take...Oh, and I still hate pictures of myself.

Number of Days: 21

Number of Think Thin Bars eaten: 15

Flights: 13

Countries: 6 (7 if you count my stopover in Japan)

Interviews and Beaches: 9

Times I got yelled at in the Bangkok Market: 5

Modes of Transportation: 11 

Hours Spent in the Bangkok Airport: 20 1/2

Hours spent in air travel: 59

Number of heels: 1 (number of times I wore heels, once)

Number of pictures: 4,866

Books read: 5 1/2

more to come...

Yummy in my Tummy

Farmers Markets +

Restaurants+

Fruit Stands+

Steamed Buns+

Cooking Classes+

Sidewalk Vendors=

Yummy in my Tummy