My favorite moment of the year is that first sip of the first peppermint mocha of the season in the red cup from Starbucks.

Bliss.

I voted in today’s local elections and was saddened by the absolute dismal turnout. At 8am I was the ONLY person in my polling place. I live in NYC….you are never ANYWHERE without a hundred other people.

Vote people! Not everyone everywhere gets to!

There are so many things I want to remember about this trip. The beauty of the city. The cafe where I ordered a capuccino and a croissant de chocolate every morning, not only because it was good, but because it was the easiest to pronounce. The sex toy shop next to my hotel.  Attempting to find the Spanish arc de triumph, but getting lost. Reading Angel’s Game (a book set in Barcelona) while sitting on the hotel roof deck overlooking the city. My mani/pedi at the Hotel Arts. The weird cheese ravioli topped with almonds I had. Being surrounded by a foreign language. Enjoying good Spanish wine.

I had an amazing experience and absolutely can not wait to go back.

Click here for a slideshow of some of the photos from my trip. Let me know what you think!

After over 12 hours of travel and a brief layover in Paris, I arrived in Barcelona. First on the agenda was a nap and a shower to wash off the dirt of NY, Paris and Barcelona. Why does sitting on an airplane and in airports make one feel so gross?

My seatmates on the flight to Paris was a young gay couple who were German I think. Very nice boys, who like me, tried to sleep between the many meals they serve you on these long international flights. The plane was huge, 2 floors and looked pretty full. It was an Air France flight and it was strange to be surrounded by so much French while on my way to Spain.

Today I spent some time wandering. I ordered Capuccino in a nearby cafe, mostly because it was the only word I recognized on the menu. I’ve not been eating much yet, as I didn’t study up on the Spanish names for foods before I left. I found an Italian restaurant I’m going to try for dinner tonight, I recognized a lot on their menu. Later on I will hit the hotel wine bar and try some Spanish wines.

So far, I love this city.

I FINALLY finished reading Anna Karenina! I can officially cross that off my “Bucket List”!

My local drugstore recently put all of the deoderant behind a glass case. Is this really a highly stolen item, and if it is, shouldn’t we just overlook it for the greater good? As someone frequently stuffed in a subway car with a hundred of my fellow neighbors, I say if they want it, let em have it!

In 11 days I’m hitting the road….er…air and heading to Spain!

I MUST start brushing up on my Spanish!

I am so loving the pink the NFL is rocking for Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

I attempted to use my left  hand as a hammer.

Not the smartest thing I’ve ever done.

I was in the need of some retail therapy last week so I hit up some stores and did some shopping after work one night. I decided on my purchases (a little black dress, some jeans, a sweater coat and a new handbag) and took them to the register.

A young woman started ringing me up. As she is touching my clothes, this is the conversation we have:

Salesgirl: “I threw up this morning”

Me: “Uh….um that’s too bad”

Salesgirl: “I have a fever now…” She proceeds to LEAN OVER THE COUNTER. “don’t I feel warm?”

Me: “uh……..uh huh….feel better”

I jetted out of there SO FAST and immediately threw my clothes in pile to be washed.

I feel like I should have at least gotten a co-pay for that.