One Sweet World

Thought it was time for some changes around here.  And since I have plenty of time on my hands these days (until I find a job)…I figured I should try and be productive and do some of the things that I have been meaning to get to for sometime now. 

A little facelift was needed.  So, I’ve been playing with some new layouts and headers.  I like this one for the moment, but I’m sure it will change again. 

Also, I’ve added a new page to start displaying some of my baking.  These are just a handful of items that for some reason I took the time to photograph.  I only wish I had taken pictures of everything.  But will definitely do so from here on out.  With Victor’s help, I will also be working on making those pictures look much, much better.  We can suffice it to say that I’m no food stylist or photographer! 

It’s been nice to hear from so many of you…especially after the hiatus I had taken from posting.  So THANK YOU for continuing to check in.  Hopefully, I will do a better job of keeping this thing updated.  Let me know what you think of the changes.

After talking about it for the past month, I finally built a fire tonight.  Even though it isn’t that cold, I just needed to have one.  It’s been so long since I’ve had a fireplace or been able to enjoy one…so here it is!!  Isn’t it beautiful!

YESTERDAY AT THE PARK

TODAY AT HOME

This is exactly what this weekend was like.  Saturday it was 74 beautiful degrees.  We hung out in the park all afternoon with my friend and his dogs.  There were tons of people out…and I even spotted a few in bathing suits!  Then, we woke up this morning to the above snow.  Again, a beautiful day!  I really love this weather.  It’s such a great mix of both worlds.  So much sun with a nice reminder that it’s still winter.   

I’d like to know just how many times in one’s life you can look for a job?  Seriously, I think I’ve already well surpassed the average or the norm.  And how many times one can change fields of interest?  Have that one beat too.  Quite the accomplishment…especially before turning 30!  I’m really over it, to tell you the truth.  But here I am again.  Looking for yet another job.  And what I’ve found is…really nothing of interest.  The decisions.  Do I sacrifice myself and go back to accounting (the money is really appealing at this moment)?  Uggghhhhh…just the thought of it.  Or do I go back to personal training?  Or maybe try my hand at waitressing?  Or find an underpaying baking job for which I’m overqualified for?  None of these choices are too alluring.

Maybe I’m limiting myself.  I know there are jobs out there that pay half way descent and aren’t completely dreadful.  I know this…because I’m sitting here watching Samantha Brown on another one of her trips to Europe…and thinking (as usual)…how in the hell did she get this job??!!!  Seriously…who do you have to know?  (Obviously someone I don’t!) 

Looking for a job is like having a job…but tougher, and you don’t get paid.  I search all day, and the only thing fruitful that I have found is that Jim ‘N Nicks BBQ is here!  That really helps alot!  All of this only makes me wish I could open a business, like now.  Even though, that isn’t the answer to all of my prayers…at least I wouldn’t have to look for a job anymore!

So, the search continues.  If anyone has any ideas (or knows someone at the Travel Channel), please let me know.  I’m always up for suggestions….

Mmmmmmm…today was a glorious day.  Not only was it another beautiful day here, but a perfect day to eat some true “southern” barbeque.  It’s been a LONG time since I’ve had good bbq…you know, good pulled pork.  And this wasn’t any ole place trying to be the real deal…it was the real deal. 

After finding out there was a Jim ’N Nicks BBQ here, I immediately called my sister to pass along the good news.  For those of you who don’t know…Jim ‘N Nicks is a bbq joint from Alabama.  We use to eat there all of the time when living in Birmingham.  And it’s always a toss up between eating there or Superior Grille (mexican) when I go home.  But Superior always wins.  Because if there’s anything that I love more than good bbq is good mexican.  And since I couldn’t find either while living in NY…I always chose mexican.  Anyway…I digress.  So, I believe the exact words that came out of my sister’s mouth when I told her was,

“Shut up!”

“Yep!  Saw it today on Craigslist.”  (You can learn so much just by using that site…no lie!)

Since that conversation, we’ve been trying to figure out when we could go.  Well, today was the day.  I called her at work and said it was time…I had to have my fix.  We jumped in the car, picked up her boyfriend and met her out there.  We all had the same thing.  The pulled pork sandwich with french fries (me & Heather) or mashed potatoes (Victor & Mark).  It hit the spot!  And they have a new addition…cheese biscuits that they make fresh to order as soon as you sit down.  They were sweet, light and airy. 

 Maybe to some, this may not be the best bbq.  It probably isn’t.  For me, it is much more than food…it is the epitome of comfort food…it evokes good memories and a taste of home.  And what better way to enjoy it…than with family!

Jim ‘N Nicks
8264 E. 49th Ave.
Denver, CO 80238

It was a beautiful day here last Friday…and the road was beckoning us!  So what better way to christen my new little Outback than to take her for a drive out to a place I have been wanting to see for many, many years.  Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater in Morrison, only about 15 miles outside of the city.  It was spectacular.  The colors, the air, the view of the mountains and the smog of Denver.  It took less than a minute to remember exactly why I love the West and the mountains…for their ability to immediately erase all the confusion in my head and make me feel more alive.  Inspiration and clarity take over…if only for a short while.  It has definitely been much too long…

The amphitheater is grand…just as I had imagined it.  The itch for summer has begun.  I can hardly wait to see a live show…like I said…I’ve been wanting to come here for nearly 10 years!  For now…here are just a few of the many pictures Victor took.

Red Rocks in the distance

Amphitheater

Road to Heaven



Billboard of music legends

That’s right…One Sweet World has finally left New York in search of greener pastures!  We are now based out of Denver, Colorado.  After 3 years in Brooklyn, it was time to move on.  I’ve never lived anywhere longer than a year since graduating from college….and I NEVER thought I was going to make it through that first year in New York.  It definitely wasn’t easy…and I wanted to give up and run away many times.  But that’s the one funny thing about living there, you’re kind of stuck, with no ‘get-a-way’ car to jump into!  Yet, somehow I managed to survive those 3 years…and when I left, it actually felt good.  Like I wasn’t running away or giving up.  It was simply time to move on.

Cheesman Park…near our new home
So, why Denver?  (Besides getting to see those mountains everyday!) Well, after my sister moved here in the fall, I really started to think more seriously about moving.  I was ready to be back out West and outdoors…and, of course, be near family.  And I wanted to be in a place that I would actually want to open a bakery and see myself settling in for a while.  So, here we are…looking forward to new adventures.  All of which I hope to post here…since the last half of 2007 got a bit out-of-control for me and unfortunately the blog got the shaft.

Here’s to 2008…HAPPY NEW YEAR and 1st ANNIVERSARY to One Sweet World! 

Here are the videos that I took of the marathon.  The first is of Paula Radcliffe (Women’s Winner) and Gete Wami (2nd Place) as they continue their neck-and-neck race.  They were like a foot away from me! 

The next video is just a stream of runners as they reach the 1/2 marathon point and realize they still have another 13.1 miles to go…

(My apologies for the quality…they look much better on my computer before being uploaded to youtube.  It almost looks as if it was raining or had rained, but it wasn’t or hadn’t!)

Last Sunday was a big day here in the city.  The 37th running of the NYC Marathon took place, passing through each of the five boroughs, allowing millions of runners and non-runners alike the opportunity to witness such a spectacular show of human achievement.   

This year I made sure that I would be one of those spectators cheering from my own neighborhood here in Greenpoint.  The race actually passes a block away from my apartment, marking the 1/2 way point and the end of their journey through Brooklyn as they ascend the Pulaski Bridge crossing into Queens.  I arrived early, in hopes of seeing Paula Radcliffe, Lance Armstrong and several of my fellow trainers.  However, I only managed to catch Paula - in the lead, but running neck and neck with Gete Wami - which wasn’t too difficult because they were the only two on the road.  Somehow I missed Lance, my friends and even Katie Holmes amongst the roughly 38,000 runners.  But in turn, I had the best seat to see so many thousands of faces from all over the planet converge on this one beautiful November Sunday.  Each testing the limits of his/her mental and physical capabilites in order to achieve the same goal…even those with crippling disabilities and handicaps, which is more than awe-inspiring. 

Paula Radcliffe went on to win the women’s race in 2:23 (9 months aftering having a baby and 2 years since her last marathon!), Martin Lel took the men’s in 2:09.  Lance bettered his time by over 13 minutes with a finishing time of 2:46.  And my friends did wonderfully as well, all coming in under 4 hours! 

Men’s Lead Pack at Mile 13
Here’s a look at a few pictures I took from the event.  I’m in the process of uploading a couple of videos and will post those as soon as they are ready!  Enjoy.  And here’s to next year…hopefully, I’ll be one of those many thousands of runners…