Its been hard to take time for myself, but my friend Laurie said I needed to, and we were talking about this recently and writing.

I have code I could be writing, wine blogs I could be writing, but Im taking the night off.

Instead I just wanted to share how today went.

Left Pgh at 5am to get to NYC financial district and setup my classroom for a CSS class.

My room wasnt ready but that was okay because I relaxed and had coffee and breakfast.

Hotel is far from work, but I was happy because my ankle is healed.

I took a break to head uptown and see Samir’s truck for the first time.

The most amazing Moroccon / Mediterranean food in New York City!!!  www.chefsamirtruck.com

Seriously, cous cous with amazing chicken and meat, a butternut squash soup, and Morrocon mint tea.

I am so excited for my friend Samir! Not only is he following his passion, but people of New York are getting to meet and be near this wonderful spirit!

Seeing him made my heart smile.

He is set up near Lexington and 56th, if you are in New York City. This just so happens to be near a Sephora’s.

I went in. My skin is so dry and itchy, I needed some pampering.
I got a moisturizer and a mini roll-on of vanilla-coconut perfume.

This really sweet Puertorican person helped me.  He/she was extremely sweet and sincere.

They shared a natural product with me that they use because they “have to shave”.
Funny, I realy dont know what this person’s situation was,  and it really didnt matter.

They just were nice and pampered me a bit. So much better than the last time I spent time in NYC, and an
accupuncturist/medical doctor made me super uncomfortable.

It was actually nice to hang out for a bit with this person and not feel threatened.
I also got some foundation and a bronzer that they also use.

When I left the store a constructor worker holla holla’d at me. (is that how you say it?)
I ignored him but it kinda was nice. I have felt so bleh lately.

On the subway on the way home, someone had a bag from Costa Rica. A destination we are considering,
maybe it is a sign.

Tired after a later meeting, I headed to the hotel.
I ran out to get some water and toothpaste.

One girl at the counter said she really liked my hat.
The other girl told me I smelled really good.

I know this all is really minor but in the rainy night I felt a bit lighter in my step,
even if my umbrella was inverting and tearing as I made it back to the hotel.

I passed a cute little restaurant I had noticed earlier. No one inside. Felt sad for them. I wondered what they have been doing for their marketing, and how I could offer some advice. I passed the restaurant dismissing this. I really do not need any clients  until at least February.

I then turned around, and went in. The girl was apologetic that they were closing. I told her I had already eaten, but I noticed the place and it was cute. I felt bad it was so empty.  She said that the food is really good and might I come back tomorrow?  I said I might, and asked if they had ever tried GroupOn. She reacted in surprise, saying, Oh my gosh! I never thought about that – I dont think the owner has! She asked me to come back again.

I hope they get business to reflect the energy and attention to detail they obviously put into the place.
It had a really nice feel. Maybe just a bad neighborhood.  By the way, it is called Table Tales Cafe.

Huh. I went to grab the URL for you http://www.tabletales.com/cafe.html and on their site is butternut squash just like my lunch I just wrote about.

On Comedy Central, there was just a robot in a skit talking about molestation. If an acupuncturist comes up, OMG.

Oh, interesting instead it is a guy in makeup.

Time for bed.

Glad coincidences are back and Im feeling a bit chipper!

I realized near 10am that there was an issue with my checking accoutn and I get it taken care of ASAP.

I called the branch and was told I could not handle it over the phone and needed to go into a branch.
After searching Google for directions, I saw I could take the metro and be ther in 15 minutes.

I forgot to change into my tennis shoes, and found myself 5 minutes later walking from 1 NYC Plaza to Bowlin Green station and jumping on a 5 train.

My lunch route

I got my metro pass – decided to get the unlimited pass, since I am meeting friends and also want to checkout The Moth on Thursday. I also like getting an unlimited pass, because event though I have done the subways of NYC, DC, London, Beijing, France, Moscow, and some other places Im forgetting right now – I invariably end up in the wrong direction, and its nice to not worry.

Case in point – I got the pass and went to get in the train, but there was no #5 – i had entered Whitehall on accident. I reemerged, and it took a while to get my bearings. Every time I come out of the subway, it’s like I transported to another dimension.

So finally on the #5 I was headed towards Grand Central to board a #6. Ah, what;s tis, I can get a 6 sooner than that? I jumped the train to board a 6, only to find it was a local. My 15 minuite trip turned into 30 minutes.

I got out, had no clue where I was, and took in my surroundings.  My handwritten note stopped here – I had neglected to write down the address of the bank. But I knew it was on Park Ave.

A nice looking double-tree was there so I used my mad skillz to go in, and ask the concierge. She found it for me, and gave me directions on how to get there. I saw a Chase where I thought PNC should be, and went inside to ask. Here the address I was looking for was theirs. “Looking for PNC?”    Yet another issue with their site. Lovely. (i had been fighting issues since August, and finally got online access since they bought National).  I called a guy I know on the inside, and he once again regained my faith in this bank by initiating the transfer.

I got lunch from a van – gyros!  No signs, no prices. I asked him what they had and he replied warmly – anything you want, $5.  He suggested the salad with lamb and chicken and I went for it. It seemed to be family run and the young guy was really friendly.  I had some of the white sauce, his mom made it afterall, and just had a really nice exchange with him, and the lady in line.

I walked toward the metro, and realized mysuit skirt was all twisted around. What did I care, id never run into ANYONE I knew, and I really was not trying to make an impression. I thought of hwo at peace i felt. I really enjoy being in NYC.

I made it back to the metro, and jumped on the number 6. There was a woman Hari krishna, and I smiled warmly at her.  I wanted to tell talk to her, and tell her about the great time i had on different occasions hanging out with Hari Kirshnas, once in Pittsburgh in a sweat lodge my friend built, and the other time in the desert doing dishes with them and feeding the masses. But I was shy, and she got off at the next stop.

I found a seat to sit and eat my lunch. I dropped my purse and someone picked it up for me, I hadnt even noticed. I was on another 6 local – and asked the woman next to me if I could grab an express somewhere. We chatted. She was really nice.  Worked in advertising. Im listening t a podcast on advertising, and told her about a book I had heard about that I found very fascinating: Fascinate – how the meanign of the word used to mean what we were instinctively drawn to – but now advertising has changed that. check it out – short quiz.

She said I could take the next train when we stopped. I said goodbye, jumped out went across and it was not a 6.
I asked others and they said no, I asked for trains that could get to the station by the Ferry, they said no. So the 6 I came from was still waiting so I jumped back on. The woman and everyone else insisted, I should have taken that train. It was a 5. Oh well, it was interesting hwo it turned into a group effort to get me where I needed to be.

Well, she got off, and then everyone kept telling me which stop to get off and was extremely friendly.  One of the women told me I should wrap my purse around my arm so I didn’t lose it, since I had dropped it before. I shared with her how I had my purse stolen the very first time I was in NYC.  It was funny, an older couple got off at my station and were telling me where to go. In a nice friendly way, not like the sterotypical New Yorker in movies, etc.  I was late getting back to class, but could not wipe the big smile off my face.

I took a break to go to meet Adam at a friend’s birthday party. Birdie (the cat) was nowhere to be found, so I left assuming she was upstairs.
As I backed out of my driveway, I saw her shoot out of the garage!

Well she took off like mad, and there was no chasing her.
Adam said to crack the garage door and I could check back tonight.

Arrived at birthday party at same time as he did.
Good friends, good beer, good pinball. Yum!

Support mission, via bikes. 2 tandems and 4 soloists (one in a short skirt and cute argyle socks) rode through Lawrenceville to check up on our dear friend
working security – somewhere I will not share. A bit out of character for this sweet lovin gal, and we rode to show our support.

Me, in a dress, and a full face helmet, and sandals – on the back of a tandem with my awesome boyfriend who I trust immensely.
Hard to keep my dress down, and I’m sure that, as well as the variety of expressive individuals, as well as colorful and even strobe light
blinking light bikes, and our caravan of bike,  were the reason for some cheers.

Got to see our lovely friend, and explore an abandoned building which may or may have not once produced something we may have or may have not ingested.

I admit I was antsy and eager for the ride back. The beers were kicking in. No dinner!

Adam and I pushed hard, and I LIKED IT! I am so anxious to kick back on the bike more often, shed about 30 pounds, and feel more energetic.
We got up this steep hill, that almost exactly 1 year ago I also rode up at 1am due to a navigational error. I had not made it up that time – but I did this time!
Did I mention the immense crush I have on my awesome boyfriend?

So, I left to check up on the cat situation. Luckily she was waiting for me. I pulled into the garage and when I came out, she let me approach her.
She was about to take off, so I grabbed her and suffered a nice bloody gash for it. But hey – she is indoors now, no worries.

My tummy rumbled and I called my chef boyfriend, asking how to best prepare the leftover meat in the fridge.
After being given solid info, I was sauteing onions, garlic, portabelo mushrooms and beef, adding red wine – Mmmm, had
to open the Malbec I’d been saving. 2008 Gascon from Argentina. It was amazingly smooth yet complex – right out of the bottle. No need to decant.
Great berry aromas and flavors, and just a touch of chocolate.

So, I cook it up, and tell Adam, its kind of chewy and crunchy.

Well, I had used the scraps he had saved to make dog food! UGH!

Luckily I had enough portabelo, onions, etc, to start again, this time with flank steak.

OMG. I sat down at the computer, tasting the yummy flavors, and thinking of what I would call this.
Adam had made Beef burgundy earlier this week, maybe this would be Beef Malbec.  I thought to myself,
whatever it is – it is beefy goodness.

Just then, Firefox finished loading, and so did my Scrabble game.

The word played at the top of the screen across the middle triple?

BEEF

YUM….Synchronicities, yummy food, positive thoughts, and the glow of being in love with someone awesome.

Im so happy.

Back to paperwork, but a very nice reprieve after working constantly for last couple of weeks.

I had a meeting with Karmoxie Team members.
On the way out the door, I grabbed scrap paper form my shelf, and
just happened to grab just enough that when I put the paper in my folder, the paper on top said “Pay It Forward”

It was a handout that was extra from a Networking Event that I had organized, that had been the topic of the speaker.

Cool synchronicity!

I wish I had put a bit more time into acts of kindness.
I did get my teammates coffee and lunch, but they were so full of great ideas it seemed like they paid it backwards.

Special thanks to Mish for motivating me to document this synchronicity!

Ive been especially lucky lately.

My friend and intern, Courtney asked advice today about traveling to Edinburgh, Scotland.

I said "Go for it" Life is for living. I recalled to her my trip to Australia and how I will never regret going.
I thought of hanging out with my friend who was original form there, who introduced me to my roommate for the trip who lived in Edinburgh.
We deemed it a sign she should go.

A few minutes later, she was processing some contact information for me.
The third piece of contact information belonged to someone ELSE I had met – from Edinburgh!

three degree synchronicity!

A friend who is a researcher had sent me an article on these events, and he replied today saying he never has these events.

Courtney and I both have them a lot!  I hope this year brings some more understanding of this. It's really fun.

1

So lately – this week I was working on my friend's sweatlodge for Frostburn – www.frostburnpgh.com – and we were looking for fire blankets. Unfortunately, the chimney was getting so hot it was melting the surrounding tarp of the dome.

I searched on Google, and opened a few sites -  I always use the open tab in new window in Firefox, so as a page loads I can do something else – like check Facebook. Im a little bit addicted.

So, I saw this message and focused on the word CHIEF.
I contemplated it for a bit. Got stuck on the word, like I have gotten "stuck" on David Duchovy, Hammer, and Guiness for example

I entered my response, then closed the window, revealing this page that had loaded.

I showed this on my laptop to Adam and Teppy, and they smiled, in a nice way.
Not sure if that meant – Yes, Judy you are silly or what.

2

This morning a friend who knows I am interested in the 11:11 phenomenon and synchronicities sent me an article from a psych magazine.  One line made me smile, that most people will have 1 PSI episode in their lifetime. (lie what I have been describing.) I was amused – and emailed him back.

I was reflecting on a particular time when I had been frightened of the future, and a song on Pandora had the lyric, "we were all afraid of the future".  I get a lot of these, with songs.  I will put iTunes on random and it is eerie how closely some songs link to what contemplating. I was dating someone once, and all the songs came up had his name in it. Made me wonder if ITunes was capturing my keystrokes.

3

Just now, I responded to a Facebook message in which I asked a friend "what is white fuel" in response to her message. I then closed that tab in my browser, and what came up was a page I clicked (open in new Tab) earlier on "JQuery design patterns". Here is a screenshot.

That's enough for now – back to work for me.

On the way home, I didnt want to come back right away and talked him into a Margarita at Chili’s. I actually like the one at the Mill’s mall for some reason. Oh wow – just realize I displaced a bad memory from the last time there.

So, we sat at the bar, Adam, me, and my grannie walker. We watched a little of the hockey game, not somethig either of us ever do, and then bartender made a comment about the Ex-po.

I thought he said X-files, and I start thinking of David Duchovny. I asked Adam what the Penguins game had to do with X-files, and was confused. He set me straight, knowing the restaurant term – meaning expeditor – someone who does prep work in the kitchen.

Weird, that I kept thinking about David Duchovny.

So, tonight Ron came over to visit and we watched the Abominable Snowman. He does a spookie movie month, and I had requested to see this one because of the snow factor. Good movie, and nice because I met Ron through the ECP mountaineering class.

Abominable Snowman of the Himalyas – 1957

I liked the film – surprised to see the Himalayas as a backdrop for the mountain shots in a film from 1957. It was less of a Horror movie and more about being a good person or bad things can happen to you.

Well this movie starred Peter Cushing, who Ron explained was the star in many movies by Hammer studios. We then watched the extras on the DVD that was all about Hammer Studio movies. Hammer, hammer, hammer.

Okay, so tying it together.

Ron helped me to my office (bed) and then we talked about business and being productive. We talked about time suckers, and tv shows. I told him It’s Always Sunny has really pulled me in, and he told me about Californication. Starring….

David Duchovny. Okay – its not earth shattering, but I seriously was focused on the name David Duchovny while at the bar – for NO reason. Focused. To have him brought up again was interesting.

So then, I got settled in and worked more on the www.elizabethklevens.com website – check it out – and Adam called.

He told me about posting pictures on Facebook of his dad’s dog carrying around a HAMMER.

So then, I thought I would post a comment about the Hammer and logged onto Facebook, thinking of the word HAMMER.

What do I see? A post by my friend Jason Cercone, listing a quote:

“A successful career will no longer be about promotion. It will be about mastery.” — Michael Hammer

Hello?

So David Duchovny and hammers, both playing roles in recent synchronicitiies.

Now to channel this and turn it into something productive.

Other synchronicities have been happening too, but I simply havent taken the time to post them.

Yeah, I broke my ankle.
Yeah, I cant walk for a couple of months.
But I feel grateful for my friends and my family, and my private cook/nurse/boyfriend, Adam.

Ive realized that it’s times like these when good things and coincidences start happening a lot.

I had emailed Adam to share the fact that someone sent me an email that had Guinness book of records mentioned in it. For some reason I stared at the word for a bit, thought about it for a while.

Then as I worked on a project, I had the Daily Show on in the background. It was from a week ago, and there was a piece on Guinness book of records. I had just told Adam last week, that I watch back episodes (weeks old sometimes) and it is so cool that somehow, a little thing will end up being linked to something current for me.

So, that was that, a nice fun coincidence.

Then a friend in Norway alerted me to a job opportunity from someone in Cardiff. I contacted the guy and we started chatting to set something up, and I mentioned that Im in Pittsburgh and G-20 starts tomorrow. He then told me that in his city, it’s Guinness Day tomorrow, and the Irish pubs would be crazy.

So, THREE, three mentions of Guinness today.

I know Im seemingly silly for enjoying these things. But hey, it works for me. The Norwegian friend and I started talking when he was giving me advice in an online forum and I commented on his handle, which was PoPSiCle. At the time I was eating a coconut popsicle – and it was the only thing that brought me comfort with my ankle pain that day. So we now are chat buddies, and I totally appreciate his feedback and different perspective being from another country. But cultural differences aside, there is common ground. Turns out he watches dogs that are the same breed as a dog Adam had previously.

The other day, my mom was making me breakfast and she asked how I wanted my eggs. Scrambled, I said. She then proceeded to make an omelet. The point is, I was reading a tech magazine, and after she asked me for my egg order, I flipped the page, and there was the article’s author’s picture. (are multiple possessions allowed in English?) All the authors were asked silly questions. This one was asked, how do you like your eggs? Scrambled, of course.

Sometimes I wish I would document these things more. They are really fun. So many happen, and then I forget. That’s why I jotted this one down.

I do know though…that they are happening a lot more and I think that it has a lot to do with being happy and surrounding myself with good people/energy. Again, I am lucky. Ive not had much of a choice on who I surround myself with, and I dont see too many people these days, buy Adam, my mum and sister, Elizabeth…good people!

Whatever metaphysical, unexplainable thing it might be, synchronicities seem to increase when Im in a good state of mind.

Wishing you all happy experiences and good times.