Feeds:
Posts
Comments

The UnValentine’s Day

February 4, 2010 by cafegirlchronicles

The future’s so bright…

February 13th, 2009 I packed my bag, purchased an airplane ticket and walked out on my Italian lover. In spite of the temptation to do so, I never looked back.

I arrived in Montreal on Valentine’s Day. How appropriate I thought, to come home to a city that I love, and on Valentine’s Day. It was my gift to myself. Rather than see irony in the situation – as a cynic might, I only saw how right and fitting it was. That’s the optimist in me.

More importantly, I fell into the arms of girlfriends who, with very little notice, came to my rescue. We were Sex and the City “North” I was Carrie Bradshaw – returning from a disastrous Paris experience minus Mr. Big. There was, however, one small glitch.

I had planned to stay in Europe for while and travel, so when I returned not only was I heartbroken, I was essentially homeless. Luckily for me, that was no impediment to my resourceful friends.

Zara was waiting at the airport, car warmed and ready to “come pick” me as she likes to say in her charming Syrian accent.

Nadia made a few quick phone calls and found a furnished place for me at a very reasonable rate. And it wasn’t just any apartment: it was in the heart of the city with a view that took my breath away and my mind off of my troubles. Inside were a lovely orchid plant – and a bowl of bright red apples to comfort me. Nadia had even made sure the internet and the satellite TV were activated.

Annie wasn’t far behind with a bag full of groceries and some toiletries. It was like I had never left. Perhaps, I thought, I had dreamed the whole thing, awakened from a nightmare and found myself in safe and familiar surroundings. Whew! That was a close one.

We celebrated Valentine’s Day– just us girls – a few days later at a cozy little restaurant on McGill. Tucked away in the corner, we ordered tapas and ‘tinis and we toasted ourselves and celebrated our first Un-Valentine’s Day.

We had such a good time that it’s a tradition we plan to continue. This year we plan to spend our UnValentine’s Day on February 27th by creating a pot luck dinner complete with candles, champagne and of course chocolate. No need to worry about reservations.

Break-ups are never easy, and the ones that occur on Valentine’s Day have to be the worst. However, that experience became the inspiration for a book – the premise for which you can read on this blog.

It’s also the basis for this blog which has come to be one of the most satisfying aspects of my life because it touches so many people.

Last year I felt I was in the middle of a long dark tunnel with only a match for illumination. I didn’t know it at the time that one year later I would come out the other side happier, with a new purpose – needing to wear sun glasses.

Photo: © iStockphoto.com/Primeop76

Posted in Breaking Up, Cafegirl Books, Montreal, romance | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments »

Are You a Cafe Girl…

January 29, 2010 by cafegirlchronicles

A Cafe Girl Loves Her Own Company

Choose as many as you like…

Original Illustration Helen Samson Design.  Copyright 2010 cafegirlchronicles

Posted in Cafe Girls and Guys Weigh-In, Cafegirl Books, Lifestyles, Survey Says..., Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Are You A Cafe Girl?

January 28, 2010 by cafegirlchronicles

Mel, my editor, confessor, and chief blog advisor, emailed me the other day from Vancouver telling me that she was expecting a visit from her sister. She said that they had plans to spend a few days cafégirling.  That newly minted gerund got me wondering … just who is a Café Girl and how does she spend her time?

If the blog stats are to be believed, the steadily increasing popularity of The Café Girl Chronicles tells me that there are a lot of Café Girls (and guys) out there.

Can the essence of a Café Girl be captured in a few words or phrases? Is it a state of mind?  Are some of us born Café Girls or is it a desired status that we strive to attain? (I know the latter is true in my case.)

That’s what I aim to find out over the next couple of weeks with the help of a very talented illustrator and another Café Girl, my friend Helen. And of course, you, dear reader.

To get things started I polled some local Café Girls one night over dinner here in Montreal, and after much discussion we came up with a list of Café Girl personality traits that we all agreed on.  However there was no clear cut, hands down winner.

And so we’d like to hear from you.  Take the Cafe Girl poll – coming soon to a blog near you!

Posted in Cafe Girls and Guys Weigh-In, Cafegirl Books, Life Style Design, Lifestyles, Survey Says..., Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

When Grand Passions Simmer

January 21, 2010 by cafegirlchronicles

Today I bought a cookbook from my local butcher and newly minted author, Yves Baudry, titled:  Tout Ce Que Vous Avez Toujours Voulu Savoir sur la Cussion des Viandes… Sans Oser le Demander. 

Translation:  Everything you wanted to know about cooking meat…but were afraid to ask.

Sounds pretty basic, right?  How hard could it be to cook a piece of meat?  You’d be surprised! Depending on the cut of meat, if you cook it too long, it gets dry. And if it just kisses the pan, it’s too tough. And at $7.95 for two pieces of cote d’agneau the size of silver dollars – believe me, if you mess up, it’s popcorn for dinner again.  So I always strive for the Goldie Locks condition of  just right when it comes my meat dish.

I started by pestering the staff at the Boucherie Charcuterie de Tours at the Atwater Market with the questions about timing and temperature.  “Was that 8 minutes at 400 degrees? Or 4 minutes at 800 degrees?”  Today they saw me coming – because after a brief explanation of why I should cook the bavette in a pan and not in the stove (it’s too small to bother heating the oven) – the little butcher behind the counter diplomatically asked, “Have you seen Yves’s cookbook on how to cook meat. It’s everything you’ll need to know about every piece of meat in this counter. You’ll be able to cook anything like an expert.”

Imagine being able to just point to something and bring it home without having to scribble crib notes on the price tags. I took some solace in the fact that if Yves had taken the time to produce this cookbook, obviously I wasn’t the only one who didn’t know her agneau from her émeu.  The fact that it was written in French did little to deter me – I could still read the numbers. Besides, the little butcher assured me, “your French is very good.”

When it comes to trying new things, I have always been a sucker for two things:

1) a person’s unshakeable belief in my ability accomplish something – regardless of whether he knows me or not and,

2) a compliment about my intelligence.

As I stood there I realized this wasn’t about someone selling me something. It was about me buying into the prospect of adding a little domesticity to my life, the lack of which really hit home early this year when once again, returning from an overseas trip luggage in tow, I stopped in at the Mini Marche at the International Arrivals area at Montreal airport to pick up milk, yogurt, muffins, a couple of sandwiches, bananas, a package of cookies, and some juice.  It occurred to me that I just might be the only woman in the world who does her grocery shopping at an airport.

So, I bought the cookbook.

When the cashier announced the total I looked worriedly from the beef, to the book and back to Yves. I had just made a sizeable investment in beef and a cookbook.  Would I ever use it? What was I thinking?

I glanced longingly at the deli meat counter across the hallway. Quick and easy, I thought that was more my style. And to add a little foodie flair I could always throw in a little pâté de foie every now and then. Seeing my hesitation, Yves smiled and asked me if I would like him to sign my book?

Yes please! I said. At the very least, I thought I’d have signed copy.

Catherine

Sous les couvercles des marmittes migotent de grandes passions. 

Belles Réussites

Amicalement,

Yves

Loosely translated his dedication means:  Beneath the (pot) lids simmer grand passions.  Good success!

Trust me this is no Julie/Julia Project.  In the past, cooking was something of a chore and not something I enjoyed but Yves’ inscription got me to thinking how cooking was a lot like love – I was done with the quick and easy of fast food. Starting today, I wanted the slow and steady simmer of grand passion.

Bon appétit!

The Results! Cote d’Agneau

Posted in Lifestyles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Carpe Momentum – II Lara’s Lines

January 17, 2010 by cafegirlchronicles

Here they are as promised, a selection of opening lines to help you capture the moment the next time you bump into a potential Mr. or Ms. Right. Since they were inspired by my friend Lara, I have dubbed the list: Lara’s lines.   

One word of advice, it’s important to be light with your approach and don’t take things seriously. Remember the idea is to have fun.

“The Moment”

YOU:  “Did you feel that?  (Pause for his reply).

He’ll usually say something clever, like… “Feel what?”

YOU:  “I think we may have just had a moment”

If he says nothing you can finish his thought for him.

YOU:   “This is where you say, I think so too.”

If he’s receptive, you can introduce yourself.  If he’s not, you can always say over you shoulder as you walk away, “Well it was nice not quite meeting you.”

Compliments

Compliments are always a safe bet. I mean who doesn’t like receiving a compliment.  Obviously the more sincere they are the better they will be received and the less superficial you will sound.

“That’s a great color on you.”

As women we’re already perceived as experts.  This line leads to several possibilities of follow-up conversation.  You can ask about his favorite color.

If he’s not good with color, you can joke and describe the difference between men and women when it comes to color.

YOU:  “Count on men to know at least two colors: black and brown.  Most men are satisfied with the Crayola 8 pack while women require all 64 colors.”

Some men may be offended when you make broad based statements like this.  If that happens, you can always say that you’re just generalizing for fun.  However, if he’s that uptight run.

Directions/Recommendations

You can always stop and ask for directions or recommendations.  Obviously you know where you’re going but he doesn’t have to know that.  This line of questioning takes some advanced planning as it is situation based.  Are you home running errands?  Are you in a city on vacation or business?

YOU: “I’m so tired of eating in this hotel, would you know a good restaurant near by?”

YOU:  “I’m new to the city, I only just arrived yesterday, can you recommend a good way to spend a few hours in the afternoon?”

YOU: “I’m looking for Crescent Street can you point me in the right direction?”

Photo: © iStockphoto.com/MichaelDeLeon

Compliment what he is wearing and ask him where he got it.  Tell him you have a 30-year-old nephew or godson and you’re looking for a birthday present.  Never tell him you’re shopping for your father, as he will question his own fashion sense, or that you’re shopping for your son – save that for later. Conclude by saying that it really suits him. And if you sense things are going well then introduce yourself

Photo: © iStockphoto.com/visi.stock

Confidence

There are days when you look good and you know it. These are days for taking chances with a more playful approach. Innuendo is a good approach with a man that you find very attractive and would consider sleeping with but nothing more.

YOU:  “How about a few fast furious rounds?” arch your eyebrows and smile mischievously.

Of course, you were talking about tennis; what was he thinking?

Vulnerability

There is something refreshing about a person who is open and honest. It makes us pause for a minute and often times catches us by surprise. You begin by introducing yourself and then follow up with:

YOU:  “I find that there are too many “what if…” moments in life.  And I don’t want this to be one of them. Would you like to have coffee with me? “

The variation on the “what if” theme is that of regret,

“A wise person once told me that it’s the things that you don’t do that you end up regretting.  I think I should very much regret not having met you.  Would you like to have coffee?”

Parting Shots

Of course, there is always a risk that you run into a jerk or a man lacking a sense of humor.  Rather than feeling flattered, as most men would, he is offended. That is his issue and not yours. You can make a graceful exit with the following:

YOU:  “Are you always this charming, or are you making a special effort on my behalf?  In that case, please don’t put yourself out.” Make sure you say it with just a hint of sarcasm.

or

YOU:  “Oh by the way, the lost and found is just down the street, in case you’re looking for your sense of humor.”

So there you have it, Lara’s List of opening lines…Now go out there and capture the moment!

NB:  I was going to end the post here but I just couldn’t leave it without mentioning my all time favorite capture the moment line. Charlie McArthur a Chicago journalist and playwright said it the first time he met the legendary actress Helen Hayes.  They were at high-society part together when he approached her and offered her some peanuts.  As he put them into her hand, he said, “I wish they were emeralds.”

 

Posted in Cafegirl Books, Chapters - condensed, Dating, Lifestyles, Relationships, romance, Sex & Love | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Carpe Momentum

January 10, 2010 by cafegirlchronicles

Seize the Moment

On a recent business trip to Sydney, sandwiched somewhere in between client dinners and early morning calls to my office back in Canada, I managed to catch up with my dear friend Lara. Artsy and cool in her trademark black, Lara is an amazingly talented make up artist with a wicked sense of humor. Her line of work often puts her in the company of some of Sydney’s best looking and most talented men – many of whom also happen to be gay.

To supplement the film and commercial work that often comes her way, she also does weddings.  What she does is nothing short of magical as she transforms people, at least on the outside, with the stroke a blush brush.  In her line of work, she has given more than her fair share of pep talks, reality checks and advice to nervous brides and even the occasional bewildered groom.  So when Lara says most of the great guys she knows are either gay or married, she knows from whence she speaks.

Over a couple of glasses of Yarra Valley Chardonnay we updated each other on our respective close encounters of the sexual kind.  The trouble is Lara lamented; it’s been so long that I don’t think I even know how to meet a man let alone just have sex with him.  She went on to describe those “moments” we’ve all had where we pass a stranger on the street, meet in an elevator, or exchange a glance across a crowded room and we connect. And just as quickly as it happens, the connection is broken and the moment is gone.

Given her outgoing nature and her ability to talk to anyone, I wondered why she didn’t say anything. She, like many of us over 40, said she felt that it was up to the guy to make the first move.  Yes but if you’re waiting for a guy to make the first move, you have to offer a little encouragement, right?

I thought about my own situation and concluded that the key to either creating or prolonging those moments is to look “approachable”   In fact; the last man who approached me did so because I smiled at him when we made eye contact.  However, as I explained to Lara, unbeknownst to him I wasn’t exactly smiling at him, I happened to be smiling to myself at that particular moment when our eyes met.  He’s the one who took it as a signal to proceed.

I wondered if it was that easy why didn’t I do it more often?  Why do I leave so much to chance?  What about deliberately taking chances? Why not smile and mean it. Why not be the one to seize the moment?

What’s stopping us I asked Lara?  Two things Lara said, lack of a good opening line and fear of rejection.  You have to back up that smile up with something.  She was right of course as my mind went over a mental list of “what ifs…” all because I was either too tongue tied or too proud.

Neither of those two issues is insurmountable.  The first requires a bit of preparation and practice and the second is just an attitude adjustment.  What we need is a list of opening lines that prolong the moment and lead the conversation forward Lara said.   I would come up with a list and we both agreed that we would take a chance and try it out.

“What’s the worst that could happen?” I asked.

“Nothing,” she replied.

“So how bad is that?”

In the end we’d be no worse off. And if we had any qualms about what the guy thought, we quickly laid those aside because after all who cares what a stranger thinks?  It’s what we think that counts.  And at that moment we were thinking that this could be fun.

Coming soon…Lara’s lines

Photo: © iStockphoto.com/DNY59

Posted in Cafegirl Books, Chapters - condensed, Dating, Lifestyles, Relationships, romance, Sex & Love | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Timing is everything

January 3, 2010 by cafegirlchronicles

My trip to Tokyo was ill-timed for attending a milonga but not for taking a tango class.  This time, instead of a private lesson, I took a group class at the Tropicana bar/club located in the Roppongi Hills area in the Minato district of Tokyo.  It’s a high-rise, über-urban community that allows residents and visitors alike to shop, work, live and play all in one compact area. It is also where East meets West. According to my Japanese friends, the district is populated with the highest concentration of “foreigners” in Tokyo.

Walking along its crowded streets I wonder if I’m in Minato or Midtown Manhattan.  English is definitely the lingua franca here but it’s peppered with accents as colorful as the neon signs that bathe the streets in an eerie kind of sci-fi glow.  Roppongi Hills pulses to a world beat all its own so it’s the perfect place for bars and clubs.

It’s also the world beat of tango that brings me here. Tango, like Roppongi, is a small world. Connecting is easy when you have something like dance or foreignness in common.  Often times it’s six degrees of separation — sometimes, as in the tango world, it’s even less. In my case it was three degrees.

I made the first connection through Arlene Toth’s London Tango blog” http://londontango.wordpress.com/ and an introduction to Alberto Paz in New Orleans.   Alberto, http://www.planet-tango.com/, put me in touch with Yaeko, one of his former students here in Tokyo.  And Yaeko was kind enough to organize a group lesson for me in Tokyo.

We never did make that lesson – we both got lost in transportation, each of us waiting for the other at different exits of the metro one night.  I was so disappointed because I had really wanted the experience of a Japanese group lesson – just like in the movie Shall We Dance.  Dejected, I returned to my hotel.

What turned out to be bad timing for a dance lesson turned out to be good timing for friendship.  Undeterred by the mix-up, Yaeko called and invited me to dinner instead. We may have been too late to dance but we weren’t too late to eat.  That night we talked tango for three hours.  When I asked Yaeko why she danced tango, she gave me an answer that only milongeuros and milongeuras would fully understand.  “I didn’t choose tango,” she said.  “Tango chose me.”

Afraid that her passion would become all-consuming, she took some time off to study the violin.  I can understand that. Some times I question my own sanity when I find myself dancing salsa four or five nights a week.  Once or twice my friends who don’t dance have mentioned the word “intervention” in connection to my passion.

And so I too stop for a while and fill my evenings with more practical pursuits like yoga, or Pilates or cooking lessons. That is until I realize they are a poor substitute for the one thing that truly makes me happy – dance.

Over dinner Yaeko suggested an opportunity for another lesson with Luis Castro and Claudia Mendoza, who are guest instructors at the Club Tropicana.  The next night, we made sure to pick an easy meeting point and we connected with time to spare.  I joined Yaeko and her friends in a small group lesson, which turned out to be more like a master class.

Milonga was the dance we practiced that night, and the intricacy of the footwork discouraged me. I realized I had a long way to go.  I also realized that to reach this level I would have to put in some time and get serious instead of playing at it one lesson at a time.    Up till then I was learning tango with some waltz thrown in. Milonga was fast, fun and frustrating, and I would have been totally discouraged if it hadn’t been for Luis, Claudia and my fellow students encouraging me. Even the more advanced students had to work at some of the steps. We were in it together.  By the end of the evening I had managed to pick up a step or two and I felt more comfortable.

Afterward we celebrated our progress at a nearby restaurant. As an outsider I was amazed at how at ease I felt among this group of strangers. It was only for a couple of hours, but it felt like we’d been meeting there for years.

I suspect that this is due in part to how the tango world functions.  Dance is like owning a passport that grants you access to an amazing country.  And participating in tango is like visiting family. I had really thought that I missed my chance when I missed the first lesson but in truth, I couldn’t have planned things better.  The lesson at the Tropicana was a last minute suggestion. And so I’ve added a fifth lesson to my dance is life list.

Lesson #5: Dance is like life. Some things you just can’t plan…sometimes you just have to improvise. https://cafegirlchronicles.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/dance-is-life/

****

www.castroymendoza.com

http://jantango.wordpress.com/about/

Photo: © iStockphoto.com/Oktay Ortakcioglu

Posted in Adventures, Dance, Lifestyles, Tango, Tokyo, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments »

Lucky Me!

December 22, 2009 by cafegirlchronicles

Shinto ShrineNot only do the two major religions — Buddhism and Shinto — coexist peacefully in Japan but they also overlap in a practical sort of way that is uniquely Japanese. While the other world religions are literally and metaphorically battling it out for supremacy, “My god is bigger than your god,”  the Japanese make no such distinctions.  God and deities exist only to help people overcome hardships here on earth, or ease their way into heaven.

Often these religions share the same space. So it’s not unusual to find a Shinto Shrine within the courtyard of a Buddhist temple. And since I began my visit in a temple, the difference between the two religions was explained it to me in typical Zen fashion – very simply.  The two religions divide themselves neatly along two lines: Life and Death.

Shinto, an animist religion, deals with life: the celebration of the New Year, marriage, special prayers for children at the ages of three, five and seven, a coming-of-age ceremony at twenty, special prayers for family issues, and prayers for success in business or studies. Deities are found mostly in nature, and sometimes as past emperors or empresses. Buddhism assists the dead as they move into the next life and comforts the living.

The standard practice when visiting a temple or shrine is to purify one’s self prior to petitioning the Buddha or the deities residing there.  Ritual purification occurs in two ways depending on where you are. When visiting shrines, usually the act of passing under three torrii (gates) and walking along the gravel path to the haiden (hall of worship) is enough to purify one’s self before arriving at the honden (main hall) where the kami (gods) reside.

There is also purification through water (chözuya) at both temples and shrines.  The traditional way is to take a ladle and fill it with water from a tap.  Pour the water over the left hand, and then transfer the ladle to pour the water over the right hand.  Next, pour water into a cupped hand, purify your mouth and spit it out. The last step is to let water run down the ladle handle to purify it.  In all cases, make sure the water is spilled on the ground next to, and not back into the basin, so as not to contaminate it.

The act of praying is just as simple.  In the temple, you toss a coin into a box in front of the altar, put your hands together, offer your prayer and then back away. Prayers in a shrine are offered in a similar fashion.  You toss a coin in the box, clap twice to let the deity know you’re there, put your hands together, offer a prayer and then bow once.

Photo: © iStockphoto.com/Jimbo_Cymru

Temples and shrines sell omikuji, fortunes written on slips of paper.  Fortunes are dispensed in a random fashion via a special box containing numbered sticks.  Since I was there, I thought I would try my luck and so I shook the box and not one but two sticks popped out.  Great, now I’d have to choose.  Was I choosing the right one?

I closed my eyes drew one stick and gave it to the attendant.  She gave me a slip of paper with my fortune on it. So far so good, I thought.  There are four kinds of fortunes dai-kichi (big luck), kichi (luck) sho-kichi (small luck) and kyo (bad luck). In essence, the best is kichi. It means that things are not only good but they are going to get better.

Sho-kichi, the fortune I pulled, made the young attendant wince. “Oh, mmm,” was all she said.  Such a grave expression on such a young face made me nervous.   And then seeing my anxious expression, she gave me a small smile.  “It’s okay,” she explained. “Bad luck now but good luck later.”   She explained that things were bound to get better soon if I acted in a disciplined manner and was conscious of my actions.  “Better soon,” she said. .

Hmmm.  This fortune could only refer to my love life of course and it corroborated what Shelly the Seer saw in New Orleans when I pulled the Nine of Cups.  There was something big in the offing; I just had to be patient and pay attention.  https://cafegirlchronicles.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/date-with-destiny/

The little attendant instructed me to fold the paper and tie it to a nearby tree thereby letting the wind disperse the bad luck.  My little paper slip joined hundreds of others who would share similar fates or worse: kyo (bad luck).  Good fortunes are meant to be tucked into a wallet for safekeeping.  I wasn’t sure how I felt about this latest stroke of fortune – and then I thought about Shelly.  “You play the hand you’re dealt” or, in this case, the stick you draw.  So be it, I thought….fonce as my French friends would say. (Push ahead!)

As I was contemplating the little tree, I didn’t feel the small hand tapping my shoulder until it became much more insistent. I was surprised to find the little attendant standing behind me smiling.  She pointed in the direction of a small pavilion – there was a wedding – “For you.  Very lucky.”  I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. Its significance was not lost on me: perhaps this was a new beginning for me too.

Photo: © iStockphoto.com/anzeletti

Posted in Adventures, Lifestyles, Tokyo, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Lost in Transportation…

December 18, 2009 by cafegirlchronicles

The Japanese transit system is quite an experience. The trip to and from any destination can be quite short – even a long distance trip seems to pass quickly – because of the efficiency of the trains and metro systems themselves.  It’s point A to point B travel at its best.

Photo: © iStockphoto.com/Dansin

The only challenging and time consuming part of any trip is exiting a station through the right door.  In some of the larger stations, a labyrinth of passageways on a number of levels makes it necessary to stop and ask for directions every several meters or so. One ascends or descends to the various levels depending on where you want to go. It’s rather Dante-esque with several levels of shops to tempt you – a shopper’s paradise if you’re up for it and hell if you’re tired or in a hurry.

Moving crowds in the Tokyo transit system are like a human undertow and if you’re not careful you can end up someplace else other than your intended destination. This trip, I was with my friend Masako, so I let her do all of the navigating while I did all of the looking. More than once I felt a polite tug on my elbow as she changed directions trying to find the closest exit to my hotel.  She stopped often and glanced anxiously in my direction, worried that I’d get swept away in a crowd never to be seen or heard from again. She was my own personal life preserver, keeping me afloat in a roiling sea of people.

After a long day of sightseeing we had promised ourselves a couple of beers back at my hotel, and happy hour was upon us. I could see that Masako had a one track mind – the hotel bar or bust. The only sight she wanted to see was the bottom of a frosted mug and a bottle of Kirin.  And I was right there with her. We were both parched and a little hungry.

Despite her best efforts, we had missed the exit and decided to go above ground to get our bearings. We used the neon-lit buildings to vector our way back to my hotel.  Her vector points were Nakau, Uniqlo, and Takashimaya, while mine were McDonalds, KFC and a Pepsi logo atop one of the many business towers in the area. They may have been different names but the end result was the same.

We made it back to the hotel before it started to rain.  It was the perfect end to a perfect day spent in one of the most amazing cities in the world. That I was able to spend it in the company of a friend was a bonus. Masako and I ended on a high note back in the bar – that note of course being Kampai!  or Cheers!   Different words but…

 

Kampai!

Photo: © iStockphoto.com/skodonnell

Posted in Adventures, Tokyo, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Travel Essentials

December 15, 2009 by cafegirlchronicles

Over the years I have developed my own system for traveling in comfort, whether I’m traveling executive class or economy.  I’ve learned that having a few key essentials with me on a flight is the difference between a pleasant trip and a painful one.  Luckily, laptops have become smaller, and I now use a mini. So there’s more room in my computer bag to pack a few extra items to help ease me on my way.

The first thing that I pack is my Isotoner ballet slippers. They fit into the outside pocket of my bag within easy reach under the seat in front of me. They pack flat, weigh a few ounces, and feel great on my feet during the flight.  They’re also a lot more sanitary than walking around in stocking feet especially in the toilet.

The next item is my ReLeafe™ neck brace, a gift from my well-traveled boss, which holds my neck in perfect alignment, whether I am sitting or reclined in my seat.  Those inflatable donuts never work for me: they always seem to compress the sensitive vertebrae in my neck as they forced my head backward in an unnatural incline.  You can wear your ReLeafe underneath the roll of a turtleneck sweater to avoid being mistaken for a whiplash victim.

For winter travel, a cashmere turtleneck is my garment of choice. (In summer, it’s silk.)  The natural fibers adapt to my body temperature and the temperature around me.  I have quite a collection thanks to my mom, Little Lou, who regularly frequents her favorite “boutique” (Goodwill) and keeps me well supplied. She is particularly proud of her Senior Day bargains which she gets for the unbelievably low price of $2.50.  The sales staff at the “boutique” has taken to calling her the Queen of Cashmere.

I’m not a big fan of airplane blankets or pillows, even if they are wrapped in plastic, so I opt for either a pashmina or cashmere shawl.  The pashmina is less bulky and rolls easier than my triangular cashmere wrap.  But the cashmere is warmer.

Underneath it all, I always travel with a panty liner and I remove it at the end of a long flight.  It’s not exactly a change of underwear but it’s a quick way to feel fresh until you can.

As I only want to open one bag during the security check, I always place my plastic bag of toiletries in my laptop bag rather than my purse. Then I remove both items at the same time rather than rooting around first in my purse, and then my laptop bag.

My list of onboard toiletries include;

  •  Toothbrush and toothpaste – and bottled water bought just before boarding.
  • Hand sanitizer and a hand moisturizer.
  • Eye drops and Glycerin moisturizer for my nose.  The dry air on the plane is tough on these sensitive areas, and a well-moisturized nose helps to fight off and protect against cold germs circulating on a plane.
  • Cotton swabs – essential for cleaning out the corners of my eyes. Do not touch your eyes! I also use them to apply the glycerin when I’m in the toilet.
  • Drugs:  aspirin for headaches, antihistamines because they make me drowsy enough to sleep on a short flight, sleeping pills for a longer flight, my birth control pills (usually just enough to keep me on my cycle), and antacids.
  • A small can of Evian water to spritz myself awake in the morning.
  • Mascara (reapplied) and lip gloss. Cotton swabs again to clean up any mascara residue that has fallen “in between the cracks.”
  • One protein bar

And with that I’m ready to hit the ground running.

Photo: © iStockphoto.com/Diane Diederich

Posted in Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »