Scenes from winter.

The four of us entered the warm cafe last Saturday morning; our cheeks red with cold. We were all smiling and exclaiming in greeting despite the frigid air we just escaped. Our eyes focused on the birthday girl woman and slid down to her growing belly, trying to tell the difference from when the each of us saw her last (me, one week). She's the first of us, and we are learning. We noticed new, flattering glasses on one of us and discussed the raw wound of a new heartbreak and there were heated (but loving) disagreements on a novel we'd read. The birthday woman described some information about pregnancy none of us understand yet; she knows to disseminate the knowledge as we are all eagerly listening for that maybe, someday.

And I write like this now because we are 'we.' We are sisters, and we are all different, but most of the time, like that Saturday morning, we all move in unison and speak in that language that only we understand. We laugh at the jokes that are impossible to understand if overheard. We know to rely on each other when we need to, and we know happiness isn't a status but each other.

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"Your skin isn't dry?"

I wasn't sure what the manicurist was so confused about, which is why she probably continued: "For months, every single girl has dry skin because of winter. Why are your hands so soft?"

Apparently my new winter routine, which I enacted after noticing my scaly skin in Panama, has been somewhat successful. The Beauty Department posted a Dry Brushing 101 tutorial, and I was intrigued by the dry brushing concept and benefits, and the whole moisturizing with body oil before a shower (and after). So, to Amazon I went - buying a body brush and body oil. Surprisingly, body brushing doesn't hurt, but rather feels invigorating, especially in the morning. And the oil feels great, something I wasn't sure my texturally-hyper-aware and non-sticky sensibilities would like. My skin feels wonderful and I'll be sticking to this routine through to warmer weather.

That's the one winter beauty tip that I can pass along.

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Jesse arrived in Minneapolis last week on a day in which the high was 0 degrees. New York's had a few 'feels like 0' days, though. We've been sharing a lot of chapped kisses these days, but it's been nice to have him close on the cold nights. We don't usually watch a lot of television together, but we've snuggled close for True Detective and the BRILLIANT Broad City and now we're amidst The Returned (which is a French show that is not associated with that new U.S. show Resurrection, lest you heard wrong). I hope we'll be able to venture out more often (not that we've been exactly hibernating - can you truly hibernate in New York and stay sane?), but at least in a couple of weeks we'll be sunning ourselves at a wedding in warmer climates. I can't wait.

SINGLE BLOGGERS IN NEW YORK!

WHAT'S UP?!

Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELLS!

More on this tremendous lady's birthday later - we're celebrating with some dinner and dancing tonight, so I'll have updates then! We'll also be stopping by this single bloggers soiree, and though I'm not technically "single," I wouldn't miss THAT fun.

Yay birthdays!

Wknd.

On Friday night Lauren Ashley had her birthday dinner on our street at the illustrious Roberta's restaurant. Erica and I read the email wrong and got there half an hour early, like dorks, and ordered for ourselves because we were starving. Then two minutes later all thirty guests walked in and we looked like douchebags. It was awesome. I would have been more mortified if my life wasn't already full of embarrassing moments like these.

Yesterday I was walking around doing a bit of shopping of gifts and it was sunny and not too cold. And it started to snow slightly - the flakes came down slowly and lazily and I found myself looking up into the sky and smiling. However, the temperature quickly dropped and I scurried off to the subway. Sometimes I'm completely blown away by stuff like that. I'm nerdy.

Then Sean, James, Adam, Jen and Jaime came over for some poker. I lost. Big time! But I had a couple of good hands. We're eagerly anticipating Jesse's return as a collective group of poker addicts. Adam was fully surprised by seeing me play without Jesse in the room - I has elusive mood differences playing among certain people.

We went over to Justin & Tyler's place for a little living room dance party, but I headed home when everyone went out to the BK bars. Just got tired.

This morning I woke up and re-watched Thursday's LOST because I honestly think it was one of the top five episodes of that show. And I bawled again at the end. You know, being that my own boyfs is in the future, HAHA. False. Except true. It's already tomorrow there...sixteen hours ahead. I'm his constant. And Erica is Jonah's.


Then Erica and I met up with Kells and Christy for BIRTHDAY HANGS ! We decided to see The Other Boleyn Girl, even though Kelly and I have had other bad experiences with Scarlett Johanssen in period films (we sat through The Girl with the Pearl Earring together.) All in all the movie was...TERRIBLE. If you'd ever like to exact revenge on anyone, tell them to see this movie. Holy crap. The directing was AWFUL - scenes would consist of snippets of dialogue, take about a minute each before we were cut to some other horrendously composed shot, and almost always be seen through a freakin' castiron fence. Also, tooooooo many natural birthing scenes. DO. NOT. WANT. All of us sat there giggling through most of it, and our faces pale and not even looking at the screen during the aforementioned scenes. Talk about the makings of a horror movie. Also, nobody looked good. If even Jim Sturgess (lovely o lovely Jude from Across the Universe) doesn't look good, it's bad. Natalie was okay, and Scarlett pretty much just looked wilty and horrified and like her boobs were going to explode the entire time. Wait, this is turning into rant. Oh wait, it already is. NEVER SEE THIS MOVIE.

Then we headed to Lil Frankie's for some YUM Italian food. Sandorable met up with us and our dinner for the amazing person that is KELLS FOR THE WIN was a hit. Kelly is one of the most remarkable people on this planet; I can't say that enough. She's somebody I wholeheartedly admire, and I wish I could only be an eighth of the person she is. Aka SHE RULES.

KELLSFORTHEWIN!

Christy!

Dags!

Sandorable!

Also, yo Kells, I was trying to get Lil' Mama to call you up with birthday wishes...but she was busy dealing with triflin' bitches...sorry. Next year? Hope you liked the dvd. ;)