Puerto Rican Pleasures

Internet access is a privilege. Losing a hair tie can be devastating. Some Starbucks baristas can spell my name. Sunscreen is a godsend. These are a few of the things I learned last week while I was in Puerto Rico. Why did I leave New York with such short notice? Well, my neighbor (and former babysitter) has a timeshare there and invited my family to share the space. Of course, I was the only one without anything going on at the moment, so I booked the flight and was ready for fun in the sun. How could I possibly turn that down during this horrible winter weather?

The first bump I hit was not in the air, but on the ground when I attempted to text Renee indicating my arrival. No service. Great. I hopped in a taxi and rode to the hotel. After a short wait in the lobby, I realized I had some wi-fi access and told Renee where I was. In less than an hour, my toes were in the sand and a permanent smile was plastered on my face. Life was perfect. That night we ate with Renee’s aunts and mom who were in Puerto Rico for one more night. They had me laughing with their stories about Renee’s dirty feet, Señor Frogs shenanigans, and iguana drink pictures. We ended the night at the Brother Jimmy’s bar sharing swamp water before I passed out on my cot from exhaustion.

The rest of the days were just as relaxing. It was just Renee and I at this point. We would wake up, make breakfast, walk over to the local Starbucks, apply sunscreen on each other’s backs, drink Gasolina (basically adult juice boxes), and spend the sunshine hours laying on our lounge chairs. My favorite part was our daily walk along the beach. One time we found some coconuts and I slipped on rocks, another time we befriended an American with a cute little rescue dog, and a third time we were concerned about what turned out to be a tsunami warning test procedure. There’s so much going on if you notice it.

 

Dinners were always phenomenal and fattening. I couldn’t help but clear my plate every damn time. My favorite dish was a bacon-wrapped, mofongo-stuffed chicken breast that I ordered in Old San Juan. It was seriously delicious and I had a side of tostones to polish off the loveliness. Another standout dinner moment was when one of our waitresses thought we were local Puerto Ricans. Why thank you for complimenting our tans! 🙂 She ended up giving Renee her number and inviting us to go to the beach with her and her friend. We never capitalized on the offer, but it’s always nice to make acquaintances.

One day we ventured into Old San Juan after spending a few hours on the beach. We visited a fort, exchanged numbers with someone who needed a plumber in Queens, and purchased jewelry. I absolutely love the vibrancy of Old San Juan. There are people talking on the streets. There is music leaking from local bars. The buildings are speckled with color. The streets are laid with blue stones. The city really is breathtaking. I could aimlessly wander those streets for hours.

 

Another day that was different was Friday. We took a 45-minute shuttle ride to a catamaran called Barefoot. A crew of four and a boatload of people accompanied us on this shoeless journey. There were endless drinks, snorkeling equipment, and the motion of the ocean to keep us busy all day. My first time snorkeling was a success! It was nice being able to breath underwater especially after all my breathless years on the swim team. The people on the boat also made the experience worthwhile. Renee had a thing for Luis, one of the crew members. He remembered her from earlier in the week but she quickly lost interest when she found out he had a kid. Whoa buddy, she ain’t trying to start a family. There was a couple we met who probably is thinking on that wavelength though. They asked Renee and I if we were lesbians and that was a beautiful beginning to our friendship. They were from Philadelphia and New Jersey and had only been dating for six months but have traveled the world together. We ended up seeing them multiple times over the weekend. The man startled me in Starbucks one afternoon with a shoulder tap and they rescued us from ex-cops at Brother Jimmy’s on our last night. What a pair!

I guess I should explain the ex-cop thing. On our last night, we decided to eat and drink at Brother Jimmy’s. It was within walking distance, they serve good BBQ, and I still had to ride the mechanical bull. I’m not sure how this happened, but Renee and I downed a lot of drinks (free of charge may I add because the bartender remembered Renee) and were drunk. These two ex-cops started talking to us and one really wanted Renee’s d. Luckily, our favorite couple came over and started talking to us so we could escape those men. Like honestly, you’re probably twice my age. Creepy. It’s so nice that I remind you of your daughter. Really, so nice. I was especially aware of my age this vacation. I didn’t recognize most of the ’90s music that Renee loved. The youngest person I saw was probably 25. I didn’t hate it though. I think I’m mature for my age. We made our way downstairs and I tried to win over a coast guard for Renee, but my attempt was futile.

 

On Sunday, our vacation was coming to a close. After tons of lines (boarding pass, agriculture, baggage check, security, boarding) and waiting, we eventually made it onto our flight. I finished my second book of the week while in the air and watched SNL for the rest of the trip. Elisa and Felicia were waiting for us by the curb when we arrived. They were the best chauffeurs.

Yesterday was a big day. I got my nails done with Ariel. We talked for hours in her car and at Starbucks about everything. Little things are important, but that’s not what made it a big day. I finally decided on a job. I’ve chosen to start working at a spinal solutions company in Pennsylvania in two weeks! The outpouring of love and encouragement was a little bit overwhelming. Hearing my parents’ excitement, receiving kind words via text, and the satisfaction of waiting for a job I really wanted have made this experience so great already and it hasn’t even began. I really owe everything to my mom and my dad for paying for my education. It has given me the freedom to go anywhere and do anything. It has given me the ability to make connections throughout the world and within my mind. Ben Franklin had it right when he said an investment in knowledge pays the best interest. I’m ready to make his words a reality.

A new chapter begins soon.

Drugged Men and Flying Ladies

Being home and having no responsibilities isn’t all that bad. I’ve been applying to jobs, watching Top Chef, and working out. Fun, fun, fun. I like being able to go out and not feel an urgency to be somewhere else or be doing something else. I’m finally completely relaxed. I honestly can’t remember the last time I felt like this. Maybe middle school. No. Elementary school?

What have I done lately? Let’s see. Earlier in the week I saw The Wolf of Wall Street with Felicia and Shelby. Can Leo do any wrong? The answer is no. Although those baby blues and convincing acting chops are captivating, for me, the standout of the film was Jonah Hill. Whether he was defending his decision to marry his cousin or incoherent due to ludes, he was hilarious. Being from the Long Island area, my friends and sisters have been telling me of people we know who were employed by Stratton Oakmont. I’m not sure how accurately the movie portrayed the company’s daily functioning, but I can’t imagine these people experiencing or witnessing this drug-riddled, money-hungry lifestyle.

 

In addition to a great movie, the reunion with Shelbosa was wonderful. She met my sisters, gave me the cutest graduation gift, and shared popcorn. Could anyone want anything more from a friendship? I don’t think so. Her gift was a mug with a bunch of pictures we took last semester. Considering we just met in September, I’m surprised she was able to cover the entire mug with our faces.

Keeping with the entertainment theme, I finally finished The Aviator’s Wife. Although I enjoyed the book, I recommend it to an older crowd. I found it difficult to relate to many of Anne’s experiences. Of course the novel is historical fiction, but learning about the supposed life of the wife of Charles Lindbergh was fascinating. Anne Morrow Lindbergh was a wife, mother, author, and aviator. It may have taken her half her life but eventually she found her voice and started to recognize her accomplishments as her own and not her husband’s. I don’t want to spoil the book, but she faced several hardships and triumphs that many people will never experience. If I had to choose one word to describe her it would be brave.

Throughout the week, I saw Ariel and Brooke a couple of times. Ariel and I went to Yogurt & Such. I obviously purchased cappuccino with Heath Bar. Yum in my tum. Ariel concocted a colorful creation for Brooke and I followed Felicia’s orders, and we brought our purchases to my house. I can’t remember what we talked about when I was sitting on my couch (I can’t focus after 10 PM anymore), but we were there for a while. Another day we spent a couple of hours in Starbucks. Again, I have no clue what we were talking about most of the time. I remember playing MASH (yeah we’re so cool and mature), sipping on my vanilla latte, and savoring my chocolate chip cookie. Pretty good time.

On Friday night, I went out to dinner with my dad. It was the first time I saw him all year. Time flies when you’re traveling by boat, plane, train, and automobile. We went to Outback, which I’m pretty sure is his favorite restaurant, after driving around in circles. The conversation steered towards Elisa getting an internship. It’s so funny to see them talk, well disagree, about this subject. They’re both so stubborn. Elisa gets frustrated because my dad won’t listen to her or admit that he doesn’t know something. I find this funny because Elisa is just like him when I’m trying to talk to her or tell her something. They both find it hard to take other people’s advice or see multiple points of an argument. It’s their way or the highway. I probably get this way sometimes, but I at least try to understand where other people are coming from and ask questions or admit I don’t understand something. Elisa did ask me for help in writing a cover letter and creating a resume. She really wanted me to do everything for her and became angry when I encouraged her to think for herself a little bit, but she eventually ended up with a solid result. With that and her personality, I think she’ll easily land an internship.

Last night, I went into the city with Brooke, Shelby, Myles, and some of their friends. After subway hopping, Brooke getting sweet serenades whispered into her ear, and arriving at a closed bar, we finally entered Brother Jimmy’s BBQ. The atmosphere was pretty casual and a blasted bloke from London bought us drinks. The Charlotte Tea (a southern twist on a LIIT) was my favorite. The faint hint of sunscreen (coconut rum) really hit the spot. A bit after our group became larger, we headed downtown to The Wren. The standout from this bar was the men. Literally. They were all so tall. Myles, who I’m pretty sure is well over six feet, looked short in this place. We didn’t stay long, since it was so crowded and honestly I felt like I was in the fucking Redwood Forest. We ended our night at a bar across the street. That place was okay but one guy kept grabbing every girl’s body. Not okay, dude, even though you can’t really see him in the picture. It was time to head back to Penn to catch a train home. We ate pretzels while waiting for the train to arrive. At the end of the ride, Brooke and I were graced by the presence of Julie, a girl we went to high school with. She was so funny. She kept saying that this was a reunion she didn’t expect and that her dad could give me a ride home since she lives around the corner from me. After a few laughs, we parted ways and settled in our respective houses for the night. All in all, a very entertaining outing.

 

Today is recovery day. It’s the Lord’s day. I shall rest. Everyone in my house is still asleep and I’m starting to get hungry. I’m going to scrounge a meal from whatever is in our cupboards and fridge and watch SNL. Drake! He was an actor so it should be good. Okay. Bye.