Champagne Brunch-September 25, 2005

A Sunday spent drinking momosas and bubbly!

Nadeem, his friend, Wynne, Robin, Steve and I went out to a "champagne" brunch at Artepasta in the Village. It was a lovely afternoon where the bubbly was free-flowing. Artepasta had a great brunch/lunch menu with all you can drink champagne or momosas for $12.95. What an unbelievable deal.

Here is Wynne, Robin and Steve...don't you dig the paintings in the back. This place was interesting. As we were eating, we spotted a tranie with a fro and in heels and a mini skirt running after someone. It was entertaining. Nadeem clarified that at the restaurant next door the prereq to be a waitress is to be a transvestite.

Jaren and Nadeem...I got the giggles. I think it was because of all the champagne consumed.

Jaren, Nadeem, and friend (I'm sorry Nadeem, I don't remember her name).

Post-brunch Steve and I took a nap and didn't wake up until 8pm. So much for having a productive day. It was just productive in another way--spending quality time with new and old friends!

University of Bath Reunion-September 19, 2005

EUROMASTERS REUNITE!

It was a fun evening seeing old faces and meeting new! Gurpreet, Wynne, Nadeem, Dina and I went to the University of Bath Alumni Dinner representing the "Euromasters" (and me a "psydo-Euromaster") from 2002-2003!

The Alumni Association rented out a bar in Tribeca called, UK New York! How fitting for such an event! We were served bountiful amounts of appetizers in addition to an open bar.

There were "snakie-b's" being consumed left and right, not to mention the rounds of lager and wine, and the shots of tequilla (..I forgot about that, hence my state the next day).

The Vice Chancellor gave a moving speech about the future of the University. She addressed the future objective of the Univesity and that is to be a more international university, not just in its students, but also in its academic focus. Also, she discussed the physical changes in the University to include: more dormatories around Bath for students, new chemistry laboraties and a new sports complex that is completed ( it was still in the works while I was there).

After several hours of mingling, networking and simply catching up, the Euromasters crew moved on to Lunar Bar in Union Square for one last drink before we called it a night: Dina having 2 interviews in the morning, Wynne, Nadeema and I having to work the next day and Gurpreet having to move on to DC.

World Summit/First Spouses Event-September 14, 2005

First Spouses Briefing
Hosted by Nane Annan
Organized by UNICEF

The United Nations 60th Anniversary began with the 2005 World Summit--High Level Plenary Session where all the Heads of State/Heads of Government gathered in NYC to address issues on today's global agenda: terrorism, HIV/AIDS, poverty, prevention of conflict, etc.

The UN General Assembly building with all the country flags waving high out front. 1st avenue was closed off and security cars line the street. This was the scene for the entire World Summit!

The media also lined the streets. Every news station was present from the BBC, to CNN to the local news channels.

I had the privilidge to be involved with one of the major events, the First Spouses Briefing. Mrs. Nane Annan asked our department to organize an event on her behalf addressing two imperative topics on the global agenda: girls education and HIV/AIDS. For several months my department finalized the logistics of the event, anything from the guest speakers, testimonials, video selection, the correct language versions of our publications to the seating chart (there's quite a bit of UN protocol involved).

The day was unbelievable! Walking to work was a nightmare however. I arrived before 8am and all the streets were barricaded and lined with secret service, NYC police, UN police, etc. The buildings also had snipers on top. Can you see the 2 figures on the roof--they're snipers.

Several of my colleagues and I arrived in Conference Room 4 early to lay out the publications on the desks and reserve seats for certain delegations (with their enormous entourages). The conference room was set up like the GA. All the country nameplates were up starting with Thailand going alphabetically from the front to back. (US was front and center)

This is my "special" pass I used to get by: 1) security check to cross 1st Ave., 2) entrance to the tent outside the GA where I went through metal detectors, 3) into the conference room area, 4) through metal detectors again and a wand search and 5) finally into the appropriate conference room. (next to the conference room where Bush was speaking)

Mrs. Annan arrived and gave personal thanks to the UNICEF staff members for all our help (that included me)! She is a very sweet lady. Shortly after her arrival came Mrs. Bush. She entered and said "hello" to me! (Yes, me) I , in addition to the other ushers, greeted her. She was quickly swept away for a photo op with Mrs. Annan.

Other First Spouses arrived and soon the briefing began. Not all countries were represented and as a result these respective countries needed to be filled. I was a seat filler for "Burkina Faso" which put me right behind Laura...yup. I sat about 5 feet away from her.

The panelist: Lydia (Testimonial for girl's Education from Tanzania, Rima Salah, Deputy Executive Director UNICEF, Ann Veneman, Executive Director UNICEF, Nane Annan, wife of Kofi Annan, Secretary-General UN, Peter Piot, Executive Director UNAIDS, Rachel Ong(Testimonial for HIV/AIDS)

Lydia speaking, Rima Salah and Ann Veneman


The event was an amazing experience! (I felt like I was playing MUN.)

I was in the presence of world leaders.

Red Sox-Yankees, Part 11-September 11, 2005

Red Sox-Yankees (Part II)

September 11, 2005

Saturday night, Steve got a call from his former boss, Patty! She was given Edgar Rentaria and Bill Miller (the umpire) extra tickets. She thought she only had one, and Steve was going to go, but just before the start of the game, she found out she had 2 extra tickets. As a result, I too got to go to game 3 of the Red Sox-Yankees series. Our seats were phenomenal--right behind home plate about 25 rows up! Thanks Patty!

Steve excited about today's game! A real nail-biter!

"After the teams exchanged sloppy wins -- 8-4 by New York on Friday and 9-2 by Boston on Saturday -- they played nine crisp and tense innings. Wakefield pitched a three-hitter, and the Yankees allowed just three hits...." (www.si.com)

Johnny Damon, number 18, up to bat top of the 1st.

The best knuckleball pitcher in the league, Wakefield!

The Unit (Randy Johnson) pitched for the Yankees.

Top of the 6th "Bill Mueller flied out and Boston sent major league RBIs leader David Ortiz, held out of the starting lineup against Johnson, up to pinch hit." (SI.com)

Big Papi warms up (batthing for Youk).

As a result, the Yankees bring out their best closer, Mariano Raveria!

"Rivera relieved and shattered Ortiz's bat on a checked swing before walking him, giving the Red Sox their first runner on second.." (SI.com)

Here's Big Papi up to bat!

However, the pinch hit by Papi didn't win the game. The Sox lost, 1-0. However, it was a great game. And, I didn't get any beer or food thrown at me!

Erin's Birthday Bash-September 10, 2005

Erin's Birthday Bash!

Mo's Caribbean

It was a day (literally) filled with food, fun and drinks! A great way to celebrate 3 birthday's in one big bang: Erin, Kathy and Caden!

Danny boy (Erin's brother down from Boston) is making funny faces.

I caught him about 3 Jack n' Cokes deep...

The food. It was a Caribbean/Mexican blend. Delicious!

Here's Caden! He's now 3! Can I get tickets to the gun show?

Drew and Steve strategizing about their beer pong game!

Too bad they lost. Better luck next time.

Not only was the beer pong table used to play beer pong, it was the entertainment table for all the little kids that came to the party.

Here you can see coloring books and stamps used by the kids.

And it's time to blow out the candles! Happy Birthday everyone!


Aren't they beautiful!


After hours of playing beer pong, eating Mexican/Caribbean food, drinking god knows what (there was a Volcano concoction, mixed drinks, beer, etc), and watching college football...the REAL fun began. Flip cup!


And they're still going...

I'm not sure who won, but we all had a GREAT time! Thanks and happy birthday to Erin!

Red Sox-Yankees Game-September 9, 2005

September 9, 2005

Yankee Stadium

It was a great night! It was my first baseball game of the season.

Steve, Chris, Claudia and myself hopped into a cab (drank a beer on the way) and ended up at Yankee Stadium for game 1 of the weekend rivalry series.

Yankee Stadium isn't as intimate as Fenway, but it still was a descent place to watch a ball game. Thanks Claudia for"hosting a tasting with one of Steve's clients!"

As we climbed up to the top (via escalators) we found our seats. The security guard who showed us where we were seating, told me "there's about 1 sox fan for every 1,000 yankees fan. You chose the wrong spot to be sitting..." GREAT. He was right, though. Not the best place to be sitting if a wearing a red sox shirt and hat....I knew why around the 6th inning (read below)

Our view from the top.

Claudia representin' her Yankees.

Chris playing the "indifferent" card. He's a Mets fan.

Deep down, I know he's a sox fan. Aren't you, Chris..don't lie?

And, here's the two idiots sitting among thousands of Yankee's fans.

Steve and Jaren.

The game started out well. It was a pitching match between Wells and Smith. By the 2nd inning we were looking good. 3-2 in our favor...

During the break of the 5th, the clean up crew came out and danced to YMCA while sweeping the infield. Very interesting. It's tradition, I guess.

Then, came the 6th inning. That was bad. 4 runs scored by the Yankees put them in the lead 8-3. YIKES. And to make it worse, I got up to go to the bathroom and as I was walking back to my seat, I go booed and heckled at (that's a given being in enemy territory) as well as beer poured on me and food thrown at me! I was wearing my Papi red t-shirt (compliments of Charles) and I kept getting told "hey Papi find a seat"..."hey move it Papi"..."F--k Papi"...(you get the point).

In the 6th the Yankees brought out Embree (the recently traded pitcher from the Red Sox). Then came the 7th and we scored again. The score was now 8-4.

Here we are, the 2 Sox Fans, trying to keep a strong upper lip with 1 inning left....

We went down and sat closer to home plate to watch the end of the game.

Unfortunately, the game ended in the Yankees favor, 8-4. Claudia, it looks like Steve will be cooking up a feast for you soon.

As we exited the stadium, we caught a glimpse of Joey McIntyre from New Kids on the Block.

"..oh, oh, oooh, oh, oh, oooh....the right stuff..."