A "Rotic" Weekend

It's Sunday night, and I am feeling completely refreshed by my weekend of no obligations. Friday I bought myself a slice of pizza on the way home from work, did some laundry, ate a considerable amount of cookies and went to bed early...some may call that "lame." I call it perfect. Yesterday I went for a late morning run sporting my Texas A&M sweatshirt (secretly I'm hoping for the day someone whoops or honks the war hymn as I run by). Then I ran some errands and satisfied my craving for Chinese dumplings ( www.dumplingman.com ) which I devoured while watching a riveting episode "Soul Train" (gimmee a break, I only get about 10 channels and 5 aren't in english).

However, my favorite part of the day was discovering Southstreet Seaport. It's a street on the south tip of Manhattan that has a bunch of shops leading to the peer, and right now it's decorated for the holidays and there was Christmas music playing and cobblestone streets--for those few hours Iforgot that I was in New York City. It felt like I was in one of those old Christmas movies strolling through some quaint small town...a very rotic evening indeed. A girl I worked with at camp one summer said that she made up the word "rotic" because it was "romantic" without the "man"...and I find the word incredibly suiting for this particular occasion.

My day ended with a pleasant browse through the shelves at Barnes & Noble. Something about that place always brings a certain calm to my soul. I actually worked there the summer before college and during my Christmas breaks and have always said it was one of my favorite jobs. The distinctive new-book smell consistent with every store always makes it feel like home. Speaking of B&N, I developed a theory in recent months that if someone does not know what he wants to major in/do with his life, etc. he should go to Barnes & Noble and figure out what section he always naturally gravitates toward. For example, the "social sciences" and "African American" sections were always my favorite....long before I ever decided to major in Sociology, or even knew what it was for that matter. I, for one, think the theory is quite brilliant and practically flawless...there's a section for everyone. You're interested in Alchemy? Let me direct you to the New Age section. Women's Health? Science and Nature? Comedy? Folks, all I'm saying is that if you are looking for your place in this world, listening to the old Michael W. Smith song will only get you so far. You need look no further than your neighborhood Barnes & Noble bookstore!!

Today I did a whole lot of nothing: talked to Mom for a few hours, finished my book (Nickel and Dimed...a must read), spent way too much on grocieries, went to church and went to my friend Rachel's to meet her new French bulldog, Alfalfa. It was nice to have girl hangout time...I don't feel like I get enough of it here. There's always more to write, but there's also this thing tomorrow called work which is looming over my head at the moment and beckoning me to please get some sleep. So, I will get up and work my little heart out this week knowing that on Friday I'm headed for Texas sweet Texas!! On that note--g'night y'all.