Guilt Free

On my way home from work the other afternoon, as I walked down the sidewalk I was greeted by three lovely words “guilt free satisfaction” there was no other choice I had to try!





I know it was an odd thing to eat on a cold day but it was wonderfully delicious!



Later in the evening I went to take Bradley outside and hadn’t even noticed that it was snowing. Freshly fallen snow is the best.

English Muffin Pizzas

Today I kind of went grocery shopping with one idea in mind and then my plan was thwarted by an amazing sale on the English Muffins. They were buy one pack and get two free. So I decided to do a little pizza throw back and make English Muffin pizzas topped with mozzarella and diced tomato.

It brought back fond memories I have from my childhood, and how fun I always thought this dish was and I just never have gotten around to making it since I moved to New York.

It was tasty but nothing tastes as good as when momma makes it, I miss my Mommy’s cooking.

Deli Cat

We are having a chilly day here in Brooklyn but not bad as the sun has been shining. On my way home from church I stopped at the deli for a little snack. There is absolutely no effort put into keeping up the cleanliness of the outside and sometimes the inside but I guess it all adds to the character.



The majority of these stores have a cat which resides there, I guess to keep the mice away. It is funny the way they lay around the store like it’s their house. Today this one was sleeping on the newspapers that are suppose to be for sale. I find it very humorous that every one goes about their business as if there is nothing odd about it. When I snapped this picture below someone asked me…what are you taking a picture of? :) Well umm that cat that is sleeping on the newspaper I‘d like to buy!



There are always cheap tasty snacks to try, today I got some Utz Cheese Balls for a grand total of 25 cents. It doesn’t get much better than that.



I realized when I was taking the picture, Bradley was there admiring them as well. Sorry Bradley :(

Laundry..Laundry.. Oh Laundry

I have always loved the roughness and brash honesty of many New Yorkers often perceived as rudeness. I realize those characteristics are odd to find endearing but I do and I can only reason that the endearment I feel must come from above. As you live here you come to realize that so much of their attitude comes from the tremendous about of energy, endurance, and strength it takes to survive in the city. After living here for two years now I can not believe that some people have lived this city life for decades the entirety of their live and for those who grew up in poverty, parenting their own siblings at a young age…you begin to have more sympathy and understanding for their harshness. Everything is a struggle, a walk, nothing comes easy and laundry is just one small taste of it. Laundry is something you can bond with anyone over kind of like the weather. Sorting it...getting in into bags…loading up the cart…and walking to the Laundromat two blocks away and praying there is a empty washing machine.

Yes today was that dreaded laundry day for me, the only day in which I am thankful I haven‘t fallen in love yet because I couldn‘t bare to carry any more laundry…

It's better to have loved and lost than to have to do forty pounds of laundry a week. Dr Laurence



It is a funny thing that people can relate to each other and the forever procrastination of needing to do laundry but putting it off as long as possible and even getting to the point where you would rather buy a new shirt. It’s just a funny part of living in the city. Whoever knew I would dream of one day having my very own washing machine…it’s a big dream but a possible one.

Here is a funny quote to leave you with….

I believe you should live each day as if it is your last, which is why I don't have any clean laundry, because, come on, who wants to wash clothes on the last day of their life?

Rights of Passage Graduation

I am currently working at Covenant House, as a Resident Advisor in their Rights of Passage Program. It is a long-term transitional living program. The young adults ranging from 18 to 21 years old stay for 12 to 18 months and during their stay they participate in educational and vocational programs, learn independent living skills, receive counseling services, and develop a plan for permanent housing. Once a year they have a graduation for those who have successfully completed the program. This was my first time being involved in this event.





There is little thanks in the job I do mostly because they just don’t always know how to say thank you but this evening was truly a blessing in which I was able to celebrate with them, which for many was the first time they had graduated from anything in their live. I feel full of love for these young people, I also felt proud of each of them, like the kind of pride a mother must feel for her own children. I have learned from them and been challenged by the their incredible stories of survival, that after everything they have endured they still can find a reason to laugh and a way to love. I only wish I could be as strong as they are.

DDSmart

My apologizes that the next three days my post will most likely not be that entertaining. I have four days of ten hour shifts at work and when you add commute time to that, it leaves little time for anything else apart from eating and sleeping. A couple things I am looking forward to getting to soon is the guided tour at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine and the Museum of Modern Art.

Today I tried something of the DDSmart menu at Dunkin Donuts. It’s nice that they have offered this menu to the public but after drinking my iced late lite, today think maybe it’s best they stick to what they do best, the unhealthy pleasures of the dunkin donut world.

Ken Burns' America: Brooklyn Bridge

I was so thankful to have yesterday off because all it did was rain, it was perfect for staying in doors. I decided to do some work in my room, cleaning and seeing what I can get rid of. It is amazing how quickly possession accumulate. When I moved here I only had in total three bags, two big and one small. I can’t figure out what happened that I am now spending my day off going threw so much more.

I was on the productive route until....



I sat on the floor to sort threw some things and Bradley fell asleep on my leg. It was a good excuse to take a break, a break that ended in never really getting started again.

I then decided to watch a documentary I have been looking forward to watching, Ken Burns' America: Brooklyn Bridge(1981). It is really two things I love in one, Ken Burns and the Brooklyn Bridge.

http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/brooklynbridge/

If you get a chance you should check it out!

It really got me reminiscing about the fun times that I have been able to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and how thankful I am for these adventures and experiences.

Today I am feeling very blessed.