Wonderful Tonight

This lovely book has been my traveling companion over the last several weeks, and I have to say, I've grown quite fond of her. We've ridden the rails of the Mighty Amtrak together, traveling to and from D.C. to see my family and beau...we've endured the stinky buses of New York together...and of course there were many journeys between the 86th Street Station and Grand Central as we commuted to work each day via the 4/5 train.

Tonight she was with me on a delayed/dysfunctional 6 train that carried me from Spring Street (after a lovely dinner with a dear friend) back to the Upper East Side. I was so lost in the world of Pattie Boyd, hanging onto every emotionally-charged word, that I didn't even realize or care that we were stopped at the 51st Street station for 10 minutes for no good reason (something that would normally irritate the pants off me). All that bothered me was the fact that I was getting closer and closer to the end, and not quite ready to say goodbye.

I don't know about you, but I tend to become quite immersed in whatever novel I am reading...so much so that I have to be very careful about what I choose to read. I take on stories/characters/emotions so easily that I have to make sure I don't read anything too dark or disturbing. My journey with Pattie Boyd (who was the inspiration behind two of my all time favorite songs: Something and Wonderful Tonight) has been an enriching and eye-opening experience, full of poignant and emotionally raw moments. Since I am such a HUGE Beatles fan and, therefore, a lover of all things Beatles-related, I had read several articles and snippets on the former Mrs. Harrison/Mrs. Clapton, but never realized all the trauma and darkness she endured. She has QUITE the story, and I would highly recommend to anyone who has an interest in autobiographies to take a chance on this hefty hardback. I have a new-found respect for Ms. Boyd, and am deeply moved by her honesty and all that she has been through. She is now on my list of Brave & Interesting Women That I Would Like To Meet One Day (also on that list: Julia Cameron, Boho Girl and Queen Elizabeth II -- you know, because she's the Queen and all...).

So now...I leave you with this -- a little glimpse into the life of Ms. Pattie Boyd:

*Spring*

Happy first day of Spring!

I can't tell you how happy it makes me to be able to say that. Even though the sun is buried in a few clouds at the moment, and I've got my furry Rocket Dog boots on, and the crisp air and cold winds are yelling "WINTER!!" into my ear, as opposed to the sweet song of Spring I'd like to be hearing...it's okay. Because just knowing that Spring is officially "here" makes that cool air and those gray clouds much more bearable.

*magic*

i know, i know....where have i BEEN? how awkward to leave us hanging on that Xanadu post for so many weeks, eh?

i keep starting entries...and then i'm like {{snore}} who cares?!? meaning, there hasn't been much to report.

until NOW that is.......!!!

so you know how sometimes i like to write (complain) about my inability to spot celebrities in this city that is literally crawling with movie stars and A-listers?

(let's recap. i have seen: a) Celia Weston two (2) times, once in the crosswalk of 3rd Avenue and 85th and then again at Filene's Basement, b) Diane Sawyer one (1) time on Waverly Place in the Village, c) Dave Chapelle one (1) time at the Fifth Avenue Apple store, and d) Star Jones two (2) times in the elevator of my office building.)

ladies and gents...we can now add to that list {{drum roll please}}....NATALIE PORTMAN!!

this is, i feel, my biggest and most significant sighting yet. not only is Natalie (we're on a first name basis now) one of my favorite actresses, but i spotted her all by myself (which is unusual for me, the Oblivious New Yorker) and it was a very "normal" everyday kind of moment, which made it all the more surreal. she was standing literally about 1 foot behind my beau in the middle of Starbucks, by herself, fishing something out of her bag. right there!! right in front of me!! i knew it was her within 2 seconds, stopped talking mid-sentence (my mouth was probably hanging open) and then proceeded to squeeze the life out of my beau's leg in attempt to clue him into the fact that there was a mega-star standing RIGHT BEHIND HIM. and the coolest part was, no one even noticed! she was just a normal person in a Starbucks on a Saturday afternoon. no big deal. i loved it! she then left the Starbucks, met up with some (unrecognizable) guy on the sidewalk in front of our window, put on jumbo movie-star sunglasses and strolled down Lexington Avenue without turning ONE head. she was just like any other New Yorker. blendin' in with the masses. strollin' along.

a few things to note about Natalie: she is VERY small. she was not glammed up at all, looked pretty natural and average, and yet is still strikingly beautiful in person. she is VERY small.

my beau and i then went to see The Other Boleyn Girl this afternoon and it was all just quite surreal. there she was, my new friend, up on the big screen.

maybe i shouldn't spend so much time and energy blogging about such "trivial" things. but the truth is, it *really* brightened my day! b/c maybe i'm tired of feeling like a jaded New Yorker lately (i haven't been here long enough to be jaded!!). but between all the political drama, tragedies and just the everyday little annoyances, it's hard NOT to feel jaded sometimes. and Lord knows i'm beyond tired of the endless gray winter days (February and March are the toughest months to get through, in my opinion). so maybe i just need a little reminder every now and again that i DO love this city. that i AM incredibly lucky to get to experience life here. because i do. and i am. but sometimes i get tired. and sometimes i forget. so throwing a Natalie Portman my way every once in awhile doesn't hurt as a reminder to my city-wearied bones that I GET TO LIVE IN NEW YORK!! where, yes, the frustrations and stress freely flow on a daily basis, but so does the *magic*....and if you know me at all, you know that i l-o-v-e magic. so i don't necessarily look at this as trivial, but more like a little gift of New York magic....something to give me that extra boost in these final, dragging days of winter until (glorious!) spring arrives. actually, i got quite a few "boosts" this weekend: sunshine and mild temperatures, a romantic stroll through the Village, lots of movie rentals & relaxation and, overall, just another dreamy NY weekend with my beau (who makes everything feel a little more *magical*).

ah yes....i am ready. ready to face another Monday. ready to dive into a new work week. ready for the Day Job. ready to face New York, in all its glory and severity....let's DO this.