Gotham Gal

Who wil survive?

I had lunch at Little Owl this week. As always, delicious.  I happened to walk by Market Table on the way to lunch.  I am honestly blown away how packed both of these restaurants were for lunch.  I know they are also packed for dinner because it is tough to get a reservation but lunch in the west village...wow!

Since I am on my recession theme there are a few thoughts on this.

My friend, who owns a bunch of restaurants, is still doing quite well.  His places, like Market Table and Little Owl, are really well branded restaurants and they make people feel special that they are eating there.  The atmosphere is warm.  The service is wonderful and you get a really good meal.  As another friend in the restaurant business said to me, New Yorkers eat out and they aren't going to stop eating out.  The question is where, how often and how much are they going to spend every week.

NYC is a public city.  What I mean by that is people don't hang out in their homes.  You even see little kids hanging in their lobbies.  People hang all day at the local coffee bar because it is communal and they are connecting with people. It is an external town vs an internal town.  In cities like Los Angeles, people spend a lot of times in their cars and homes.  The complete opposite of NYC.

The change in the economy will certainly have some winners and some losers in our ever changing town be it art galleries, clothing stores or restaurants.  If I were a betting girl, I'd be putting my money on Little Owl and Market Table to win.  Impressive. 

Cards

My friend, who is a very creative soul, has taken time over the last few years to really dive into photography.  She loves it and she also loves the latest and greatest which is one of he many things I love about her. With that being said, she is Internet savvy and has had a blast with photoshop.  She has been toying with making cards.  I got one in the mail today which made me laugh out loud.  It is the one pictured.  I particularly like the name she has called her company which is on the back of her card.  "in.between.loading.the.dishwasher"  I don't think there is a woman in the world who can't relate to that. 

Malaysian Chicken in the Pot

This is one of those recipes that now I have made it, I know exactly how to make it better.  So, in essence, I am writing it down now so I don't forget.  It was really tasty and seriously easy.

8 chicken thighs cut in half (you could use other pieces of chicken too)
4 tbsp. oyster sauce
6 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. cornflour
4 tbsp. rice wine vinegar
2 inches of ginger julienned
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp pepper
2 tbsp brown sugar
4 scallions chopped
15-20 dried shitake mushrooms (soaked in warm water for 30 minutes)
3 cups of rice
6 cups chicken stock

Marinate the chicken in all the ingredients except the mushrooms, scallions and rice for an hour (in the refrigerator). 

Take either a wok or a big frying pan ( preferably non-stick ) and brown the chicken pieces.  Don't toss the marinade.  About 3 minutes on each side but try and get the skin crispy.   Once the chicken is done and set aside, stir fry the mushrooms in the same pot ( you can get rid of the water the mushrooms soaked in), quickly and set aside.

In a pot ( one that can go in the oven like a cast-iron pot ) pour in the rice and chicken broth.  Bring to a boil and then down to simmer, cover and let it cook for about 15 minutes.  The rice should almost be done but not completely and if it is completely done and there is no more liquid left, toss in a cup or so of water and mix the rice up.

Take the remaining marinade and pour it into the rice.  Stir thoroughly.  Now place the chicken and mushrooms on top.  Put in the oven at 350 for about 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. 

Toss the scallions on top and serve. 

Culture Day

For years, the day after school ended, I would take the kids for a day of culture.  Still do.  Basically hitting up the museums in NYC or the galleries.  As the years progressed, not only did everyone look forward to it, they now seek out their own culture which is awesome. 

Josh made a plan with his friend Julian to do their own day of culture with me.  I was seriously touched.  Julian's Dad came along with us and we went to see the Philippe de Montebello exhibit at the Met and the Van Gogh at the Moma.  Afterward, we had a little time to kill and stopped in a church on 5th Avenue that was having an organ recital.  It was not planned but it did kill some time at the end of our long day of culture and was sort of enjoyable just to chill. 

The key here was where we were going to have dinner.  Julian writes a food blog.  He wanted to write about our meal.  We were originally going to go to Yasuda but that happens to be closed on Sunday night.  So, instead, Josh and I chose Stanton Social because it is communal and we thought Julian would enjoy all the different tastes.  Fred and Alison ( Julian's Mom ) met us for dinner. 

It was really a nice day and seeing the exhibits again through the boys eyes is always a treat.  Julian just posted his review on Stanton which is absolutely worth the read.  Here is the post.

La Esquina

When La Esquina opened, it opened with a huge buzz.  I could never get a reservation.  Although I have been to the take-out for lunch which you can't beat.  A few bucks for a taco.  The actual restaurant was coveted by the who's who.  After being given the nasty phone conversation that basically goes like this.  "we only have 530 and 1130 available, is that ok", I gave up.  Oh how life changes in a recession. 

Last night, my friend called and we walked in 5 minutes later and sat down.  What is really cool about La Esquina is the setting.  Made me think of the days of yore where there was prohibition.  You walk into the attached shack where you can get a taco to go where there is the secret door.  You give them your name and they allow you to walk down the stairs.  Then someone else asks for your name and lets you then proceed through the kitchen to the other side where there is a coat check and another name check.  There lies the bar.  Dark and in the bowels of NYC but groovy and hip at the same time.  There are a variety of rooms off the bar where people are eating.  We got seated immediately.

It isn't about the service and it is certainly not about the food but it is about the vibe.  You definitely feel like you are somewhere happening and secretive at the same time.  That part I liked.  Meaning, I didn't dig the food.

We began with a group of appetizers to split.  Soup and quesadillas.  Eh.  The sangria was quite tasty though.  A few corns for the table.  Chicken and tacos.  Nothing great.  Nothing inedible.  Yet, the morning is always the test.  Both Fred and I looked at each other this morning and said the same thing...bad food. 

Alas.  I'd go back and have a drink anytime and I still do love the taco stand on a hot day but down in the cellar....not for the food.

The Adrienne Shelly Foundation

Last night I went to an event for the Adrienne Shelly Foundation.  I actually was asked to get involved with this particular event by Andy Ostroy who is the Founder and Executive Director.

The reason I got involved was for a variety of reasons.  First of all, I got to know Andy through friends and him at a variety of political fundraisers.  For some reason I spoke more with Andy than Adrienne but saw her at these events too.  Her life was tragically cut short and Andy set up a foundation in her name which was smart.  It didn't mean he had to do anything with the foundation but he eventually did and everything was in place.  What he did was create a mission around the organization where the Adrienne Shelly Foundation would award scholarships and grants to a handful of women (7 the first year) who are aspiring filmmakers.  The hope being that this money would help these women be able to execute on their projects.  Not only has it done that but one filmmaker, Cynthia Wade, actually won an Oscar for her documentary Freeheld which was partly funded by the Adrienne Shelly Foundation.

With all that being said, it is really a wonderful organization with tremendous potential.  This is the second year of the event. 

As someone who has been involved with not-for profit organizations for many years, I have seen many mistakes that organizations like this make.  There isn't a not-for-profit organization that doesn't have a great idea but in the end, it is all about execution.  You can't execute without money so you have to also be clever and reach out to the right audience for funding. 

The Adrienne Shelly Foundation is an organization that I hope continues make an impact in womens lives through grant giving but with that being said, it is imperative at this point, like all organizations going into their third year, to sit back and assess what might seem obvious but isn't.  Where do we want to be in 3 years, 5 years and 10 years.  How are we going to continue raising money?  How should the organization be set up going forward so that we are a real company?  Does the event we had for the past 2 years make sense going forward?  How do we continue to reach out and keep in contact with our grantees?  How do we engage the past grantees in the future?  Are there other foundations that might support our efforts?  Will people who were there at the onset really be interested in us like they were the first year be that way in the fifth year? 

For me, it was an interesting night and a glimpse into what an incredibly smart person Adrienne was.  I hope that the people involved in this organization will be as smart as I think she would have been about really plotting out the future of the organization.  It is hard work but this mission is a good one and I'd love to see that in 5 years that they have supported 60 women in film.  That would make a serious impact which is exactly what you want.  Foundations are about who you support not about themselves.  That is the part that is not always easy. 

The reality of a slowdown

In the past week, I have been to 2 events where our investments were discussed.  I have never seen so many people turn out for either of these events before.  Guess when things are bad, people come out of the woodwork.  Both meetings with impressive.  One of them made me feel as if I was at an economic summit.  Brilliant people who I am very grateful are watching our back.  Wish they were running the bailout but that is another story.

The reality of the slowdown is everywhere.  I walked through the streets of Soho a few times this week and see that the stores are empty except for the lone salesperson.  I have gone to 2 sales which were 40% off everything in the store, in stores that are too high to begin with, and they were far from busy.  I only bought items that I knew I could use today as well as 5 years from now.  Items that I might have picked up six months ago, I left on the rack.  I just feel as though I don't need to do it, I don't need to make that purchase.  From the looks of the consumer confidence index, it appears that I am with the majority.

Certainly some restaurants will be recession proof while others will suffer and perhaps go under.  Even the top restaurants will not be packed to the gills nightly.  Yesterday I made a phone call to make a reservation for lunch.  I am getting together with Jessica's friends Moms.  Her friends Mom initiated the event and I made the reservation, four people at 1pm.  The particular place we chose is not crowded at lunch but from my phone call, you would think that I should be so lucky to have a seat.  The woman who answers the phone puts me on hold and then comes back and says How's 115?  I said you can't do 1? Pause...ok, 1pm.  What's up with that? She obviously has not been clued in that restaurants are empty and stores are not even luring in customers with sales.  Nobody has proved that they are recession proof.  She should have thanked me graciously and said we are looking forward to seeing you next week.  Call me crazy but when we are there next week I guarantee the place is not full.

My response to all NYC places  is that we have entered a new era...get an attitude adjustment and quick!  People need to return to the old fashioned way of doing business which is making people feel fantastic that they entered your doors.  That should always happen but unforunately it doesn't.  Now more than ever, my loyalties will certainly be to places where they are beyond happy to have my business. 

Image via WikipediaLast night, my friend, put together a group of women to meet and talk with Deborah Tolman, who wrote a book called Dilemmas of Desire, Teenager Girls Talk About Sexuality.  Deborah has been doing research on sexuality throughout her career and is currently working on another book and teaching at Hunter College. 

The book was published in 2005 but Deborah discussed with us how the information should be old hat considering the research took place in the late 90's (takes a long time to get a book together) but what she writes about hasn't changed.  I wonder if anything has changed.

She interviewed girls ranging from 14-16 in inner city schools and suburban areas.  Her conversations with each girl was basically about their sexual desires, experiences, perhaps their first time, their thoughts about sex and how they are perceived as sexual beings, etc.  What is most interesting as far as women have come, there is still a double standard about sex.  Girls that have frequent sex outside a relationship are "bad girls" and boys that have frequent sex outside a relationship are "cool boys".  Girls might be wary of those boys but it is irrelevant.  Sounds like the 1950's.

Tolman discusses the young women and their experiences but we do not know what happened in their household or how their parents raised them to feel about sex.  I believe the question last night that everyone was thinking was how do we make sure that our sons and daughters feel empowered to have happy, healthy sexual lives that they feel good and comfortable about? 

A very interesting topic.  I found the conversations that were spurred on by Deborah reading and talking with us was the most interesting.  Comfort level with your child, having conversations about feeling good about your body, how to say no and how to say yes, etc. 

Our school does a good job about having conversations from 5th grade and on about sexuality.  The program is called gender issues.  Taught by the principal and also the head of the school which I think is pretty awesome.  They embrace all forms of sexuality and by having the conversations with the kids at a young age has perhaps made each of these kids more comfortable with themselves and sex.

At the end of the day, transparency with your kids and the comfort to have conversations about sex are a good thing.  After all, at one point, everyone is going to be having sex.  The thing Tolman expresses is how important it is to feel good about the sex you are having, to be empowered to have the sex you want to have.  To ignore those conversations with your kids is to ignore an important part of who they are.  Don't live in a vacuum.  After all, we are all sexual beings and we shouldn't be prudes about it. 

the sexual neuroses of our parents

 One of the things I love about NYC is the people you meet and how I am no longer surprised that there is barely a one degree connection.  I also love when you go to something, like we did last night, an off-off-Broadway play, and you realize how many of these events are going on every night around town. 

Melanie Sylvan, who is the Executive Producer, of Electric Pear Production, we know because she worked and is working with our kids preparing them for their bar/bat mitzvahs.  Melanie has really made an interesting career for herself.  Like many NYers who find a variety of ways to support themselves while working towards or at the thing that they really want to do part time until it can eventually be a full time gig.  That is exactly what Melanie is doing.  It is great to see.

We went to see the production that is now being performed in the East Village through November 22nd.  The space is fantastic.  I didn't even realize it existed.  A tiny theater, maybe 60 seats.  Modern.  The size makes it intimate and gives the Director some creativity in using the steps by spreading out the stage.

The play is called The Sexual Neuroses of our Parents.  This particular play was put on in London before coming to the US where it was quite a hit.  It is a story of a young girl who has been on tranquilizers for 10 years and her mother has her stop using them.  What emerges is a young woman who is now having a sexual awakening with absolutely no road map.  Some lines were laugh out loud while others made you uncomfortable.

The acting is quite good.  I am not sure I loved the content of the play but it was really well done and the audience really seemed to enjoy it.  Impressive production.  Looking forward to seeing other plays put on by Electric Pear Production. 

Challah

 Jessica was under the weather last Friday and decided to keep herself entertained by baking.  We all benefited.  She made banana cinnamon bread, panatone and challah.  The New York Times ran 2 recipes on challah a few months ago.   One was from the 60s and the other was more current.  I believe she went with the old one.  Regardless, it was delicious and beyond impressive for her first stab. 

Barista?

Image via WikipediaEmily is really into coffee.  She haunts all the top spots.  Gimme Coffee, Joe's and 9th Street Espresso. I am sure there are others but those 3 come to mind.  For her friends bday, she signed up for the 2 of them to take a class to learn how to be a barista at Joe's.  Last minute, for family reasons, her friend couldn't make it.  I was the back-up. 

Last night, at 7pm, we went up to Grand Central to take a class at Joe, The Art of Coffee.  We had fun.  Learned a little bit about the process and then got to try out our skills.  We made espresso which is the heart and soul of coffee making.  It is definitely an art.  From the grind to the finishing off the beans evenly to patting it down properly to the final drip.  I think the real key is the pressure of patting down the ground beans.  So that is the human touch part. 

No pictures, alas, but Emily might go back for the steamed milk class. 

a more transparent world

Image by Barack Obama via FlickrFred sent me to the site where Obama's campaign photographer, David Katz, posted all the pictures he took of the Obama family election night.  To me, the fact that Katz was allowed to post his picks on Flickr sets an entirely different tone than one we have lived in for the past 8 years. 

Not only does the Obama presidency (to be) understand the world that we live in - transparency, socialization, the Internet - he understands that in order to move forward as a country, the veil of secrecy must be lifted.  We have lived in a world of fear that had been trumpeted through the Bush years.  Obama stated very clearly on election night, that he would always share with the American people the challenges that we faced.  By putting intimate pictures of his family on the Internet proves sets the tone that he will have open lines of communication. 

Those pictures give the viewer a glimpse of the relationships between his family and Bidens which are genuine.  You can't fake that for hours while a photographer is taking pictures of you watching tv and waiting for the night to end.  You gotta love that.  It is also pretty incredible that Obama, our next President, wears a blackberry on his belt.  Now that says something about a guy who is going to roll up his sleeves and not take his cues and get all his information from his staff.  He is ready to go to work.

Obama gets it and on that reason alone, regardless of the hole that Bush has put us in that will take serious work and time to dig us out of, gives us all a reason to sigh a breath of relief. 

Bowery Hotel

Of course, I realize that New York City is a 24 hour town but sometimes I forget.  When we are home, having dinner and getting into bed early to just read a book, you forget that the city is rocking outside your door step.

Last night, after our friends kids Bar Mitzvah party, we went back to the Bowery Hotel with some old friends who live in Toronto.  My friend reminded me that we have known each other 25 years.  Wow.  I adore him and his wife.  If they lived in our town, we'd probably be really tight and see them often but it is a rare treat when we do connect. 

We went back to the hotel and who knew, the place was hopping.  My brother stays at the Bowery when he comes into town and likes it.  I recommended the place to our friends since they had their 16 year old with them and his friend.  They loved it.  Perfect location.  Also, the buzz in the lobby is a glimpse of the day to day world of NYC on the LES. 

After a round of drinks and some late night pizzas, we left around 1ish.  Place was definitely going to continue for hours to come.  Reminds me of a story that Fred tells.  When we moved back to NYC after our jaunt in suburbia, we stayed at the Mercer Hotel for six weeks.  Every morning, Fred would get up around 5ish and go down to the lobby to work.  One morning about 6am, just as Fred was getting into his groove, Puff Daddy walked in with his entourage.  Fred looked up and thought, these guys are coming in from their day/night and I am just starting off my day.  I am such a loser.  We always get a good chuckle out of this story but honestly, that is one of the best things about NYC.  Last night, we were out in the world that rocks until all hours of the night.  Fun but still need to be in bed by 130ish because that was all we could we take. 

Momofuku has a new private room

Friday night, we went to a party that was held at the latest extension of David Chang's empire, the Momofuku private room.  The room is behind Momofuku on 2nd Avenue down 13th and is connected to the original.  There is a separate kitchen area and the room will be bakery during the day.  Flexibility all around.  Can also be a holding ground for the lines that Momofuku experiences nightly when the room isn't being used for a private affair.

The space is great and fits about 35 people.  The food is the same that is available at Momofuku.  The bo ssam is alive and well.  Truly one of the most incredible dishes, ever.  The majority of people at the party had never been to Momofuku before ( poor souls ) and they could not stop raving about the food.  How could you not?

The bakery is a sweet addition.  No pun intended. There is a soft-serve machine in this room.  We had four different flavors.  Chocolate, snicker-doodle, grapefruit and pistachio.  Intense and rich.  The most memorable cookie was the blueberry.  Tiny pieces of dried blueberries in a oaty chewy cookie.  Wow.

Besides the room being a great addition and the food out of this world, the people are the nicest.  Chef Tim, who is pictured here, worked with my friend planning the event.  He is a sweetheart.  He was just as excited about the new space and the parties success as she was.  He gave us all a huge hug at the end of the event. 

A wonderful addition to NYC...and my gut tells me that this place is absolutely recession proof.

Thomas Friedman

Friday night, Fred and I had the pleasure of going to an event at the Core Club and listen to Tom Friedman speak about his new book,  Hot, Flat and Crowded. 

Regardless if you love or hate Friedman's editorials and political views, the guy is a genius.  His mind is impressive.  Hearing him speak freely about where our country sits today was fantastic. 

He spoke about how our country has lost its groove and we need to get it back.  He believes wholeheartedly that through ET (energy technology) we can build America's foundation again.  We lost our way after 9/11.  That was a bigger impact that anyone realizes.  America succumbed to terrorists by living in a nation of fear for the past 8 years.  Friedman also brought up the concept of his last book that the world is flat.  He believes that it is flatter than even he realized.  After all, he said, who would have thought that Iceland was a hedge fund? 

The one piece that really stayed with me, even though I knew already, but he has a way like most brilliant minds, of defining the obvious in such simplistic terms that anyone can understand the most layered concepts easily.  Everything is tied to our need for oil.  Wars, economies, relationships with foreign countries, etc.  We need to become a country that is self reliant on our own abilities to create energy.  That will fundamentally shift everything.  That is why ET is so important.  It will create new jobs, new industry and self-reliance.  How are we going to get there?

Friedman believes that the end of the Soviet Union happened not because of Ronald Reagan but because of oil hitting an all time high and plummeting so quickly that the country had not choice but to change.  Again, everything is linked to energy.

Friedman's column today which he spoke about on Friday night is called "show me the money".  We need to work with China, Russia, India, Latin America etc., to help stabilize the world and help us help them by creating an exit strategy in Iraq.  We are all linked and this will be a positive change for the world. 

I could go on and on but I plan on reading Friedman's new book.  Honestly, the guy is just brilliant. 

Food Show at Pier 94

Josh and I went to the Food Show at Pier 94 on Friday afternoon.  This year, for the first time, the Food Show was coupled with the Chocolate Show.  Ricks Picks had a booth so we went to see and of course, taste.  

Perhaps at one point the Food Show was a show that allowed retailers and perhaps consumers to get to know the latest and greatest products.  The show took a bad turn somewhere. 

The pier had broken the event into 4 areas.  One for the Food Show, one for the Chocolate Show and one for Wine Tastings ( like a wine show ) and last an area for presentations. 

The Food Show consisted of anything from restaurants giving away their tastings from the locations such as Howard Beach and Douglaston New York to frozen food to new potato chips to Ricks Picks.  A total weird combo.  Our only interest was seeing new products but then new product places were charging for tastes.  Sort of left us with a bad taste in our mouth.  No pun intended. 

The Chocolate Show was hands down even worse.  Most chocolate places were charging for samples that were put in special $2 bags.  Yes, some places had little bowls of broken up chocolate for tastings but generally that was from companies that you don't need to go to the Chocolate Show for.  Guerlain chocolate can be bought at Dagastinos.   Very strange.

The worst probably will be the wine section and at the end of the day. Vendors might have to rethink the need to come again next year.  People had the ability to take their wine glass and just go from booth to booth and drink up.  My guess it was not a pretty sight by the end of the day.

A total disappointment.  I would have thought that a New York trade show would be cutting edge with interest vs a retail outlet for vendors trying to nickel and dime consumers to taste their wares at an event that people have already paid to get into.  Not sure that is the way to build a new consumer base. Thumbs down!

Computer art

The Dia Art Foundation launched Rehearsal last night which is a web-based project by artist Liliana Porter.  The Dia is involved with an ongoing series of online works. 

We came to this event through someone we met that has been working with Josh, teaching him to write code, etc.  Pravin Sathe has been not only great with Josh but has opened us to be world of computer based projects that he has worked and is working with.  Rehearsal is one of them.  Him and his Mom (Smita Sathe) wrote the software for this project.  That alone is quite cool. 

The concept was small chicks that were tiny toys stood next to each other, with hair blowing, and sang in chorus to La donna e mobile from Verdi's opera Rigoletto.  But when you click on each individual chick, the computer highlights that chick and it sings a solo.  This picture was the computer image highlighted up on a screen.  As you played with the computer, the audience could watch the screen.

There was a little boy there, maybe 3.  He told me which chick he liked the best because he liked the drums.  Drums was his favorite instrument.  The exhibit, atlhough simple looking, was pretty cool.  Interactive with the viewer and the chicks being interactive with each other through music. 

It will be interesting as the years pass how artist continue to use software as a medium to explore art. 

Artworks, the Noami Cohain Foundation

There are countless not-for-profit groups around the country.  Some duplicate each other.  Others are great ideas that are never executed properly.  Others are not great ideas but are executed brilliantly.  The hardest part is funding.  Many start for untold reasons but struck a chord with someone who decided to do something for the greater good.  Last night, we went to a fund raiser for an organization that I probably would have never heard of if not for a friend of mine who is involved.  I love what they are doing.

Artworks is dedicated to using art as a creative outlet for children and young adults suffering from chronic and life -threatening illnesses.  Noami Cohain, who the foundation is named after, lost her life at 15 to leukemia and it was through art therapy where she found solace.  Her cousin created this foundation in 2002 to continue to help others like Naomi to use art as an outlet for their emotions. 

There was a supply box shown last night which is filled with art supplies that is delivered to hospitals to keep patients busy with activities.  That is one of the programs Artworks provides.  There are opportunities to donate, volunteer and even intern. 

This is an organization that has the potential to make an impact outside of the small community that they started in.  Impressive idea that has been executed and supported by mostly family and friends.  Seeing the work of the children last night and the art cart was inspiring.  I felt great about supporting Artworks and love seeing an organization that has a brilliant idea with really good execution. 

William Eggleston

I previewed the William Eggleston at the Whitney today.  I belong so I got the opportunity, as all members do, to see the show before it opens.  I was there with maybe 8 other people which is a serious treat.  The exhibit is fantastic.  A real gem.

The angles, the colors and the documentation of an America that no longer exists is really a total wow.  This exhibit is a retrospective of Eggleston's life.  He has defined color photography.  His photos are so breathtaking that even a group of clouds or a street or a refrigerator filled with frozen food looks beautiful.  These days everyone has a digital camera in their hip pocket and seeing Eggleston's work reminded me that there are very few people who can make film look as he has.  Any aspiring photographer should go see the show.  It really made me think about photography in a different light.

The Calder exhibit is upstairs right now but I was so elated with what I had just seen, I didn't want to shift moods.  I will be back for Calder.

A truly momentous day

Image by jmtimages via FlickrYesterday was not only a momentous day for America, it was a momentous day for the world. 

I have certainly been a political junkie over the past 2 years, well actually my whole life.  I might start having withdrawals soon as my addiction was getting out of control. 

Watching the polls come in last night was incredible.  Once Pennsylvania was called, we all knew the race had ended.  I was so inspired by the way Obama ran his campaign as well as his message.  I hope that we continue to be awed by his leadership. 

When I really lost it was when the camera zeroed in on Jesse Jackson weeping.  Here is a black man who ran for President, has been involved in politics for years, witnessed the riots of the 60's and now he is watching as America elected in a black man to be the next President of our country.  It still makes me get teary.

An incredible, momentous day that defines what makes America a great country.  We can rise to the change we need.  People stood in line for hours to place their vote which is the right of every American over 18.  We can look past race (shocking enough) and we can unite together to hopefully make the future a better place for our children.  For all us (me included) that was beginning to have doubt in our system, yesterday proves that democracy works. 

Out with the old and in with the new.  Hallelujah!