Morning walk

I’m trying to get into this world of podcast! It’s not radio, it’s not a talking blog (or is it somehow when you are not interviewing someone?) and it’s not iTunes or Spotify.

It’s interesting nevertheless.

So, it’s Monday, weather was weirdly fantastic for November (it felt like mid March, let’s not get into the matter…), I did some of my home errands and got ready for my walk. Been saving all episodes from renown New Yorker chef Dave Chang whom I admire tones even though I find it quite challenging to focus my attention with the way he speaks. Super speedy, with so many jargons and a touch of “street style” sometimes.

Anyway it started directly to this episode below:

“Challenging the status Quo of cooking and football”

It was, at first, as Dave himself described, tricky specially for his usual listeners, as he was about to mix the world of food with sports. More specifically NFL. I twitched my lips but went on listening. Dave wanted to show us how the worlds are so alike.

Ok you gotta understand a bit of baseball, football…well nope not really! Chang and his guest NFL writer Kevin Clark (apparently “THE” man of matter when it comes to commenting the seasons) hooked me from start to end all 40minutes.

Merit, innovation, young blood, ideas, change of times, were just a few of points discussed.

I couldn’t have started in a better way my week after listening to this podcast!

Sit and enjoy!

Broken yet strong

Friday morning.
Alberto and Babi had slept over last night.
Curtains were half opened allowing the morning light to come in as their alarm clock.
It was 6:45am.
Laura enjoyed those morning moments. Alberto had giving a moka for two as a present to Laura’s kitchen. The ritual of filling it with coffee, the warm water to avoid burning the powder while on stove before brewing and the smell. Seating by the window petting Lupetto the cat with one hand and Babi with the other, she was glazing outside, breathing peacefully and waiting for coffee to be ready.
She could see her screen phone lightining up.
Weird she thought.
She stood up gently shushing Babi who clearly thought they were getting ready to go out.
She caressed Alberto’s face while taking her phone from her bedside table. He smiled on his sleep.
She went back to the kitchen to pour herself some coffee, placing her phone on the counter.
Black no sugar and today she fancied on a small cup. Just like Alberto did.
Walking back with coffee towards the window and oops realising she left the phone back on the counter. She hesitated for a few minutes, seat down and sipped her coffee. Dazing for a few moments.
But now it was time to wake up Alberto.
She stood up streching a bit here and there while walking towards the kitchen.
She was pouring coffee and reached for her phone to check the time.
She froze.
She placed the moka and unlocked her phone.
Tears coming down her cheeks.
Impossible.
Damm you pop up news, she tought!
She couldn’t find her words out loud to speak.
She stood there incredulous, reading and rereading and tears kept on coming.
For what it seemed forever, suddenly she heard Alberto’s sleepy voice really distant, calling out her name.
All Laura could say was “Bourdain is dead”.
Alberto seat straight in bed rubbing his eyes and saying “What?! That’s impossible.”
Laura started sobbing inconsolable when Alberto came close hugging her.
They stood there. Still.

Another passion they share deeply is the admiration for Anthony Bourdain’s work and talent.

Don Draper

He is the most iconic male TV series caracter created in the past 20 years in my humble opinion.
From that rube past of his to NYC most controversial, handsome, arrogant, somehow sensitive invented persona he made it up. And yet his rube roots haunted him every step of his way into his made up life.
I miss MAD MEN. But I miss Don Draper more.

Her kind of guy. His kind of girl.

So many more mornings at the park took place.
They would meet at Starbucks and make their way together to the park.
Different angles and subject of shots for Laura and company to Alberto. Babi was also pretty keen on this lady’s company. They played a lot together.
These two were actually the complete opposite just like chalk and cheese. Laura is very outgoing, talks to everyone and anyone even with flowers and Alberto liked that a lot about her. Her spontaneity were the mirror of her photography style. Very natural and alluring.
Alberto, on the other hand, is more the introspective kind. Always with a book, his notebook, pencils and Babi. Get him going on an embellished conversation and you are a winner. Of any kind of topic. With good food and booze and that’s a friendship for life.

Somehow the feeling between these two was undoubtedly more.
But what was cute about it all was the how they were enjoying playing as it goes. Getting to know each other, respecting their timing, personalities. They foundly sympathize for one another.
Yesterday morning Laura suggested a visit to one of her favorite farmers market so they could make fresh food shopping and cook lunch together if he didn’t have plans.
In the evening while ironing his shirt he felt a bit silly and cool at the same time.
He placed his shopping bag inside his backpack and smiled at Babi who could boredly notice her human dad frantic around the apartment.

You are welcome to understand how Alberto and Laura met by reading Happy.
Daily Prompt: Sympathize

Happy

Late summer, early fall.
Weather is still favourable to enjoy the early “off leash” hours at the park.
This morning he was quite in doubt if to get his iced triple shot latte or switch to a hot drink…
It has been a very productive summer. He got his book deal. Writing in a different language is a very big deal and to be recognized and rewarded for that has a priceless taste.
“Triple shot grande iced latte for Antonio”.
“It’s Alberto, thanks. Have a great day!”
“Maybe I should have a pseudonym” he said laughing at the barista.
At their usual spot he unleashed Babi who went straight up the hills to meet her doggy friends.
They all loved that routine of getting together every morning with dogs and coffees. If someone didn’t show up a whole lot of messages would start beeping on their phones. Yes there is a Whatsapp group and Alberto and Babi felt pretty humbled when they got added to “Circle of friends” group back in early spring.
It had only been a couple of months since moving to the big city. Settling was going just fine.
Babi has been a bit of traveller dog. They always went everywhere together.
“There is a huge park in the big city Babi and many other smaller ones. You will have a blast.”
So every morning they went for a long couple of hours “Alberto & Babi” time exploring the new surroundings.
Babi is a super friendly dog and greets everyone in exchange for play and snuggles. And in no time she was around a group of dogs that met in the park. Mostly mornings.

One afternoon when the meeting with his publisher ended he decided to grab a pizza so hungry he was after so much brainstorming.
All this energy needed to put into bringing a book to life was so food demanding sometimes.
He ordered a four cheese with extra gorgonzola.
Sat outside with his beer and his thoughts post meeting. Couldn’t concentrate much. Mind was tired.
Until he noticed an amiable smile coming his way. Two tables down there was a lady, mid thirties no more, brunette with almond color and shaped eyes. Alberto nodded and smile back. She went back to her huge phone.
Half way eating his pizza the young lady approached his table saying:
“You and your dog are always at the same park as me”.
“Oh! Is that so?”
“Yeap. And wow! three shots of espresso on your iced latte…! You must need a lot of concentration first thing in the morning”, she said while introducing herself, “I’m Laura by the way”.
Not knowing if she was cute or creepy he answered “Alberto but I guess you know that too.”
“Yeap but you don’t need to worry about me being a stalker even though I realize I’m playing against myself right now”.

credits: Liz Clayman / Instagram

Her eyes were so bright that it almost made it all belivable.
What puzzled Alberto was the fact he never ever noticed her around. “Gosh am I that aloof?” he thought.
“So Laura that is not a stalker have you had your lunch? Care to share some of my four cheese pizza with me?”
“Sure why not? I had a Tuscany myself but one more slice can’t do no harm.”
They sat over two more beers each, he found out one of Laura’s job is to manage three Instagram accounts, not a social media manager she insists. Some of the contents she needs are captured in the park in the morning. As for the coffee, pure coincidence they get theirs at the same Starbucks.
She laughed at his idea of having a pseudonym thanks to daily baristas but agreed it could be an intriguing move towards launching a first book.
It came evening and they went for Mexican and more beers.
They headed together towards the Metro and said goodnight.
The next morning Alberto was happy to see Laura coming up the hill with coffee in one hand and her huge phone on her other hand.

Sync

He has two black cats.
Every morning he wakes up to their purrs, sometimes face paws, inevitably with the odd scratch here and there, or simply meows synphonies if he decides to sleep in.
He is freelancer but most of the time enjoys working out and about, coffee houses, library, specially the one in Bryant Park. Almost like going back in time when entering the building kind of experience.
He loves his apartment. Been there for almost six years after moving out from his Uni sharing life time. He got a couple of good contracts straight out of school that would allow independent life.
When choosing his apartment one important aspect was kitchen space. He always wanted an open space area where he could have both cooking and living area. A cousy couch, his music and a big window if possible.
At the time the area was not the greatest but since then it only got trendier and cooler. Let’s say he’s very much enjoying the idea of having Bourdain’s latest project as neighbor in the near future.
He doesn’t see himself in any of those many labels like uber cool, hipster or similar adjectives he can’t even remember. Yes he has vinils, some furniture that he lovingly accepted from his grandma’s house as a gift for the new place at the time.
A round wood table by the long length window where he seats with his black coffee and the cats to appreciate the view.
Joe and Mirtle have their favorite spot by the chairs as well. Or on the arm and back of the couch when in the evening after enjoying a bite, with friends or alone, they all crash those comfy cushions.
The warm lighting inside the rooms, the outside jungle that sometimes he loves sometimes he hates, thoughts, ideas, influences from music or a not so irrelevant episode from one of those many series one can accumulate watching on Netflix, Hulu.
It’s morning. It’s freezing outside. Completely white. It has snowed all night. Rubbing his eyes, streching arms, touching his messy hair, walk into the kitchen, the small light over the oven top was left on. Cats slowly starts curling their tails around his legs.
The routine is just perfect and synched.
The smell of coffee takes over the air, he is almost ready to go. Cup in hand, a sip, bag around his neck, kitty cuddles on the kitchen counter and off he goes.
Another sip. Smilling.
And content.

The New Yorker cover by Sempé (1982)