The Blog

When I think of home, I think of a place where there’s… lots of delicious reasons to eat badly for 10 days straight. And that’s exactly what I did during my trip home late March.

First up, fried chicken at mom’s. And then gumbo at dad’s.

Then my sister and I hit San Francisco for my favorite comfort food. Yamo. I used to eat there one or twice a week during my last year of school.

And then, over the course of several days, I had Wing Stop. Mountain Mike’s Pizza. Nacho cheese sauce over chips from Costco. Buttered popcorn. Crawfish and crab.

And probably a few more things that I’m forgetting. I was home, and I probably won’t get a chance to eat like that again for a long while.

I did end the trip on a high note. See post above.

I joined a gym late December of last year. In the four months I’ve been working out I’ve improved my body fat percentage. I shaved off two percentage points.

And I would have done better than that if my diet matched my workout plan. Or at least that’s what the trainers at the gym are telling me.

So, no more fat kid cakes (see photo below). No more eating after 7pm. No carbs after 5pm. (Only in the morning.) And I’ve got to increase the number of healthy snacks I eat during the day. Other than that, I’m on the right track. Feeling much better than I did four months ago, when I wasn’t exercising AT ALL.

P.S. that cake was eaten over the span of two weeks.

I’ve got just two excuses for why I’ve not updated my blog since December:

1. My computer hard drive died two weeks later that month.

2. And I had to wait until just about three weeks ago to acquire the expensive programs I lost.

…playing catch up with the next few posts. Peace.

I was expecting her call. My iPhone began ringing and I reached for my voice recorder. I’d been waiting weeks to talk to and meet my favorite food TV personality, Lidia Bastianich. I’m professional enough to not gush on the phone or in person when I meet people I admire.

I watch Lidia’s Italy almost every week. I’ve paid more visits to Eataly than most New Yorkers. I’ve incorporated a couple of Lidia’s simple pasta sauce recipes into my repertoire. And, last week, I held her attention for 15 minutes. She later told me my questions were very thorough.

Always nice when you meet your idols and the experience isn’t disappointing or underwhelming.

I’ve been saving this up for a little while. Don’t ask why.

My friend Shauntel and I met in the city during her month long, JetBlue chartered blitz around the U. S. of A. We’d gone with a friend of hers for drinks and food in midtown. Our waitress sat us underneath a tree, where fearless city sparrows fluttered about, dropping “presents” into our chip bowl and onto an unsuspecting Shauntel.

Her facial expression says it all.

Aww, Shani. It was just a little bit of bird. (As you might have guessed, I laughed my ass off.)

No sooner than Shauntel’s return from the ladies room, and settling our bill with the waitress, a sparrow planted one right on my head.

These little rats have perfect aim. I guess I shouldn’t have laughed so hard at Shauntel.

Hadn’t seen my NFL-star brother since early May. The Jaguars played the Giants Thanksgiving weekend…Kirk slid two tickets my way. Thanks, bro. Good to see Kirk (middle) and (bro.) Kelvin.

Best kid’s birthday party I’ve ever been to.

Proud parents with their little girl.

Proud auntie helping with the decorations.

Ailey’s ready to receive her guest.

Ailey and friends.

Best friends.

And, yes, Ailey had fun. http://youtu.be/MAD-rTcVq1M

Hung at my desk as a daily reminder…

Oct. 26, 2010 12:55am — 34th and 7th — New York City

Way to protect the building, buddy.

A short photo essay.

“I want to eat! I want to eat!”

“Mmmmm…”

“What? Is there something on my face?”

“Peak-a-boo!”

“I see you!”