In Between

I submitted the manuscript for my third book today. It nearly killed me, but I did it. It was a really hard deadline to make, particularly with the whirlwind that is my life. So thanks for sticking with me and all of my meager posting around here. I promise the tons of useful content in the book will make up for it!

420 pages.

I’m tired.

I thought I would show you what I have been doing when I haven’t been working on this book… the “in between” moments… seconds really.

Last night, I played the Krum horn. Or attempted to. I wasn’t any good. I had never heard of it but my godfather has a collection of them in a bunch of ranges. They are medieval recorder-like instruments. He’s a great recorder player.

I’ve been doing a lot of walks along the Hudson River. This is the misty, foggy version.

Another thing I did was eat at one of my favorite restaurants in New York… it’s in Brooklyn, called Arthur on Smith Street. It is Joe Isidori’s restaurant, who I met when I was on Iron Chef. You must try it. Must.

Buttermilk panna cotta. You want to swim in it.

A 24 hour pickle. I’m obsessed with the idea. I’m going to try it at home soon.

The bread is outrageous there. With butter and honey. Outrageous.

Also, at another restaurant I went to recently I noticed the trend of king ice cubes. Have you noticed this trend?

I own the giant ice cube trays myself and the idea is that it dilutes at a much slower rate while keeping your drink cold. Guess where I play with ice cub recipes a lot? In my next book.

Also, when not working on my next book, (I like italicizing it, it makes it seem epic) I went to a rare book store and contemplated a six figure first edition signed copy of JD Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye.” I wonder if I could trade them that for a signed first edition copy of my next book. Sounds fair to me.

Also, I walked by my old office. It was weird. Really weird. It used to be called Lehman Brothers and I would look at those blue flashing lights on the building while taking frozen yogurt breaks in the afternoon. Can’t believe it is Barclay’s now. My stock portfolio can though! Har har. It didn’t used to be so funny.

Also, I ate pitzelle. Is that how you spell it? I don’t feel like looking it up. I’m too tired from writing my next book but I love pitzelle and I shall continue to have them in my life whenever possible.

This is another view of the Hudson River around sunset.

This is the creamy looking marsh. No filter on this photo my friends!

Sometimes, during the in between moments, I would stroll by Willy and Charlie and envy them. Not a care in the world for those furry boys. In fact, Charlie ate my homemade paper for my book a few days ago and I had a meltdown. It is the grown up version of “the dog ate my homework.” I wasn’t sure if my editor would find it that funny though so I just made it again and vowed never to speak to Charlie again.

I also discovered this new coffee shop in New York City and I love it. There aren’t many good coffee shops in New York where one can snuggle in. It is called Java Girl. It’s tiny and wonderful.

I have a friend who has a sister who is also a friend and this sister knows everything there is to know about the latest spots to eat in New York. She really needs her own radio show… she’s the next Joan Hamburg! Anyway, she told us about the Plaza Food Hall which I knew nothing about until we all met there. It is kind of like a scaled down, more manageable version of Harrods in London.

That is fresh pasta hanging in the back my friends.

I ate a lobster roll. Yum.

Hanging sausages = yes.

Oh and this. From my favorite New York cafe–Sant Umbreus. Go visit and eat something sweet and luscious next time you’re in town. It’s on 79th and Madison.

And totally unrelated to food, but equally delicious is this baby ankle. It belongs to the child of my friend who I saw on New Year’s Eve and he was squishy and adorable. And I decided in that moment that there is nothing cuter than baby ankle. Nothing.

Except perhaps the knowledge that I don’t have to have any more in between moments now… because my next book is sent off! And I’m a free, free woman. Hear that roar? That’s me running through the woods screaming like a banshee with glee.

Bye.