Five Things (9.7.18)

Happy Friday!

I’m back, albeit with a cold—so if this entry reads more stream-of-consciousness-speckled-with-errors than perfect prose, I apologize in advance. (Not that I ever achieved the latter, even in excellent health.) Sleep deprivation and too many nights out have rendered me into a sniffling, muddle-minded mess, so it’s a miracle that I’ve managed to write anything at all. Strange, isn’t it, that the moment you feel inspired to do everything is the one your physical body shuts down in one final, desperate attempt to get you to slow down, rest. There’s so much I want to start now—including writing something here—but I haven’t the energy.

I’m not burnt out, just drained. And mucus-y.

But before I give in and sleep, my Five Things, to round up the week:

1. I would be remiss not to mention the New York International Salsa Congress (NYISC), largely because nothing else exciting ever happens in my life. (I’m only half kidding. Serious about my boring existence, but totally misleading on NYISC being a last-resort source of content.) For those unfamiliar, it’s a four-day bender of workshops, shows, and parties—a Latin dancer’s wet dream, basically—that has gained such renown that it’s become a cornerstone event of many salsa dancers’ careers over the last decade. So, as one of Rutgers University’s Salsa Team coaches (the other is my better half, a legitimate dancer), my partner and I were ecstatic to give our kids the opportunity to perform on one of the largest stages in the Latin dance world. They did us proud, truly—and the look on their faces walking into the grand ballroom for tech, then after they finished performing, was invaluable.

2. Also at NYISC was the chance to take a master class with Karen y Ricardo—yes, the Karen and Ricardo of NBC’s “World of Dance” fame, but were world champions and dance world celebrities in their own right well before national television made the couple a household favorite. I was ridden with anxiety up until the class started, but once we started learning the choreography all of the nerves fell away. It’s not to say it wasn’t challenging, because it was, or that I didn’t get flustered when Karen or Ricardo would watch us—but most of the self-doubt was superseded by awe at these two super humans before us. You couldn’t help but feel motivated to train and really dance with your whole soul, watching the two, in person.

I haven’t felt this connected or inspired to salsa since I started learning (or ever, to be honest)—and now I’m itching to take classes and perform again.

3. I can’t stop thinking about P.S. Kitchen to the point I’m now planning city visits around eating all my meals there. The little Rutgers crew and I had dinner at PS and were all thoroughly impressed: everything about it was perfect to the point where college carnivores and this here leaf-lover could attribute no fault. The food, vibe, and service were incredible—so if you haven’t been yet, go. The warm farro salad was exquisite.

4. I still have a few pages of Crazy Rich Asians left to read. The procrastination is intentional, I promise; I refuse to finish the book because I don’t want it to end. (I’m as surprised as you are. It’s not a genre I typically pick up, much less buy for my own library. When it was first published, I dismissed it as a trashy beach read until buzz about a film adaptation with an all-Asian cast piqued my interest. The book is sharp, riveting, fun—definitely worth the read.) Luckily, there’s two more books in the series which I’m (impatiently) waiting for from Amazon. (I now understand why people pay for Prime.) Once those are safely at my doorstep, I’ll finish with peace of mind, knowing there’s still more to come.

Is anyone else as sappy as I am about saving or prolonging things? Let me know.

5. I’m late to the party with this one, but second to my boyfriend, “My Dad Wrote a Porno” is one of the greatest things to come into my life. Could I be using my daily commute to listen to a more education podcast? Of course. But some things in life are priceless, like Rocky Flinstone’s steadfast belief in his legitimacy and legacy as a Tolkien equal. Please let “My Dad Wrote a Porno” enrich your life as it has mine.

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xx