Tuesday Catch-up--Mixer in NYC

Yesterday was busy. I got up at 6:20 to go to 7 a.m. support group, grocery shopped [with reins on money] at Whole Foods, made a whole-wheat piecrust and baked a quiche--and handed in a health/finances article to Brain & Life Magazine, weaving in quotes and facts from a researcher, a doctor and two drug companies. Always with an eye on accuracy.

I also applied for another job.

In between [because I finished the article at the dining room table at 1 a.m.], I took the 6:40 p.m. bus to NYC and then the Q train downtown to attend a mixer for former/sometimes current magazine and web editors. It was run by Chandra, who started a closed Facebook group for people with magazine experience. [My friend Celia is a member, too, and encouraged me to go to the mixer--though her calendar plans changed and she had to miss. But thanks, Celia. Do wish you were there!]

I was among the oldest people there, no surprise, but after getting over the initial shyness, I jumped in and found Chandra--by her dazzling smile, the same she had when I met her at Good Housekeeping. She was an editorial assistant in the articles department and I was lifestyle writer. She went on to work on many big mastheads.

I met two nice men last night, Ben and Chris. I was at the bar, nursing my seltzer with lime, and they came up to order cocktails and said hi. I was grateful. We talked for a while and I enjoyed it. We covered everything from job hunting to salary range negotiating. Ben came to NY from Minnesota--I always marvel at people who come so far, since I grew up right on the other side of the Hudson River [well, almost--NJ suburbs, Bergen County]. I will be in touch with them.

I also met a writer/editor who arrived at GH after me, as well as an editor at realtor.com--and saw two women who may have been near my age but I was too shy to say hello. They were talking to each other. The magazine world is small. Chances are high that if we didn't work at the same magazine company at the same time, we had mutual friends or colleagues.

The mixer was set for 6 to 9 at Peppi's Cellar,  a basement bar you enter through a black speakeasy door in the restaurant Gran Tivoli on Broome Street. [I would like to dine at that restaurant with Dan or Sis.] I arrived around 8, umbrella still wet and sneaekers tucked in Lilly bag since I stopped on street to change into silver Tory Burch sandals.

We all had blue paper wristbands that entitled us to 50 percent off drinks.

Grateful to the pizza parlor employee who pointed me toward Broome Street, and then, when I walked too far and passed Canal Street on my way back, pointed me back to the subway! I love the kindness of strangers in NYC. I didn't love the three sizable rats I saw scurrying around near the garbage at the curb when I was heading to the uptown train.

Another busy day. Tomorrow we drive down to get Punch!

TCOY

1. I liked making that quiche, the whole-wheat crust, the caramelized onion and mushroom filling.
2. Going to the mixer. It was an effort because it was rainy, and it was tempting to stay home instead of take bus and subway to get there. But I went for my career health and growth.
3. A lot of subway stairs and walking. Yikes. As my friend Kim says, the subway is its own little workout. I marveled at the young parents who scooted up the stairs so fast, balancing their little girl in stroller between them. And those young women scurrying--that was me once. It was so steamy.
4. Stared down sweet treats at Port Authority.
5. This will sound funny, but Sis gave me her Chez Panisse Cafe cookbook and I looked at many recipes--I love reading cookbooks, it feels like TCOY. In terms of sugar, the Chocolate Espresso Custards contain just 5 T of the white stuff and 4 oz. bittersweet chocolate. I lovingly chose ingredients--fair trade chocolate, etc., but don't know if making these is unwise because will it send me on a dessert bender? I honestly don't think so, but.....

   

   This is the cookbook Sis gave me off her shelf!
   Nan, did you eat at the cafe?

$ MONEY SPENT OUT OF POCKET

• Whole Foods Montclair, mushrooms, eggs, large bag shredded mozzarella, onion, butter, freshly made vegan ravioli, white peaches, white nectarines, organic strawberries, bittersweet chocolate, extreme dark chocolate, pink dahlias, half gallon organic milk, quart half and half, pint cream, freshly ground almond butter, black peppercorns, veggie burgers, and to deter deer in the garden, cotton balls and apple cider vinegar to douse balls with, $80.63.
• Kings, good rye bread, votive candle and pink African violet for pretty angel planter Dan bought Fig in high school, $14.23.
• Round trip DeCamp bus, $15.30. Not adding subway fare because already had fare card.
• Pizza place in Port Authority, mediocre pepperoni slice WAY overpriced, but I wanted dinner at 7:15–$6.19.
• Peppi's, magazine gathering, seltzer with lime, no charge, so left bar tip, $2.

TOTAL DAILY SPEND: $118.35

RUNNING TOTAL FOR MONTH AS OF JULY 23 [AND STARTING JULY 5]: $1,166.35.

AVERAGE DAILY SPEND SO FAR: $61.38.

This monthly spend is pretty low so far, thanks to Punchy being Mimi-based for 2 full weeks--and me being at Sis's for four nights.

Big-ticket firecracker items in July: *Marcel bkfast w Punch and loaf of bread, $29; *Tory Burch sandals, $111; Starbucks Camp day, $94 [I subtracted the Bear Mountain pickles and peaches]; Punch bday gifts for friend + tiramisu w Elaine, $37; Joyist to write, + Punch drop-in, $30; one day of Joyist Reset Meal Plan, $35; Elixir of Love body creme, $30; Kings, groceries to make Bobbi Brown website chocolate-chip cookie dough, plus candle holder and votive, $32; and Nest Fragrances candles/lip balm website order, $82; took Sis to Thai restaurant for lunch, $36; The Paper Store, cross-body bag, notebook, etc., $66; and Whole Foods, quiche and chocolate espresso custard ingreds plus groceries, $80.63.