Celebrations

By Susan | Published: February 1, 2010

John and I were lucky enough to crack an invite to the amazing Preston Bailey’s launch party for his latest book, Celebrations last week Thursday and, in true PB style, it was a breathtaking event. I knew what was in store when I first received the invitation:

Note the dress code…Hot!

Preston is the premier event planner, responsible for the weddings and birthday parties of people like Donald Trump, Oprah, Uma Thurman, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones and with this party he surely did not fail to impress. Preston transformed a pretty ugly military hall into a purple and pink wonderland with a large runway / printing press onto which he projected moving images from his book, seemingly falling off a scroll attached to the ceiling. Larger-than-life trees, fitted with ribbons and crystal flanked the entryway and huge wire globes were alight with battery-operated ice cubes, creating a space that was just…breathtaking.

Oh and don’t get me started on the food. Entire stations dedicated to dessert? That’s my kind of party! Not only was the decor spectacular, but he also organized some top notch entertainment, starting with four, uhm, naked models, covering the basics with only pink and purple flowers. Nothing wrong with showing your guests some candy, right? However, when Gloria Gainer, and Martha Washington both performed, it took this party to another level – never has “I Will Survive” sounded this good.

I was also delighted to hear that Preston’s partner, Theo Bleckmann, was nominated for a Grammy – you go Theo!

This party was truly not a bad one to end my “social career” in New York with. I know we’ll remember this party for a long time coming, and if we ever were to forget, there is a gorgeous signed copy of Celebrations on the coffee table to help remind me.

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Selling on Craigslist

By Susan | Published: January 20, 2010

There’s a free service in the US called Craigslist and I think it’s one of the most underrated services out there. (The term ‘Craigslist Killer’ does spring to mind, but let’s not focus on the negative for now, shall we?) With a couple of clicks of a mouse button you can find / buy / sell anything online without it costing you a cent. We found our apartment through this site and have bought a couple of things through there over the past couple of years too. Now, with the big move about to happen, it’s time to turn towards this site again…

John and I divvied up responsibilities and tasks to ensure that we get everything done in the three weeks that we have left before we leave and the selling of all furniture has fallen on my plate. And boy oh boy have I been selling! The full-length mirrors went first, then the modern bookcases and the comfy swivel chairs. Now there are a couple of things left, but I feel pretty confident that we’ll be able to get rid of all of these before our time is up.

Considering that we arrived in the US three years ago with a total of four suitcases and a smallish case, filled with boots, photo albums and some small trinkets, we really have come a long way! And it’s strange how detached we have both become in regard to these furniture pieces that we spent so much energy, money and time in collecting. That dining room table that we agonized over, rented a car to drive two hours and pick it up? Sell it. Same for the book cases that we trawled the net for, trying to find the ultimate best deal on. Sold. And it’s quite liberating in a way. We are leaving New York to start over. Start new. Fresh.

Now if only they sold the energy required to do all of this in small little sweet tablets. I’d definitely be first in line to get some for when the whole process of searching, agonizing, bargaining and shopping starts all over on British soil!

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Leaving the city…

By Susan | Published: January 19, 2010

After exactly three years of Manhattan living, it is time for Sue to leave the city. And it feels like the worst breakup in the world. My heart is aching and my head is confused. New York is like the boy you love but know you have to leave for there is definitely another one out there that will treat you better. One who will have your best interest at heart.

For us this new love is London. John was offered a great position within his company’s office and we have to start this new affair in mid-February. While neither of us feel quite ready to leave New York (how can you ever feel ready?), I have to be honest an say that  we are both excited about the prospect of living closer to family and friends – and even on the same time zone – and being back in a European culture.

See, I don’t think you can ever really ‘be done’ with New York. It’s like drug and it’s one I’m hooked on. Now every time I buy a latte from my coffee cart guy I think ‘Will I ever see this guy again?’ and when I side step a puddle of vomit on the sidewalk I do so with less disgust in my heart, because it is New York vomit, after all. The big apple will be hard to get over. But I’m opening my heart to whatever will come next.

At the moment I’m compiling a list of all the things that we still have to do before we go. And my list is long. It’s like dragging your ex to just one last supper, because the conversation is just so good. And if you will, I’ll drag you along on these final experiences so we can cry together over the loss of our mutual love, New York.

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Invictus…

By Susan | Published: January 11, 2010

Yesterday we returned from three glorious sun-drenched weeks in Namibia and South Africa. In an effort to stay awake and combat the dreadful jetlag that a six-hour time difference and a 23-hour door-to-door journey leave you with, we decided to head to the movies and see Clint Eastwood’s Invictus, featuring Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon as the captain of the Springbok rugby team, Francois Pienaar.

As the camera panned the Cape Town scenes that I love and know so well, John whispered, “Do you think there’s anyone in the theater that saw Table Mountain in person more recently than us?”. No. There definitely couldn’t be. But most importantly, I felt pretty sure that no one in the packed theater was viewing this amazing film with as much love for that country as we did.

It was a strange experience, seeing what went on ‘behind the scenes’ during the run up to this momentous rugby match. I was a 15-year old girl living in Namibia at the time of the 1995 Rugby World Cup and all I remember of it is the immense pride with which we watched every game the Springboks played in, right up to that final kick by Joel Stransky that declared the Boks the winners.  As a white teenager living in the relativele luxury of white suburbia, I really was oblivious to all the politics and drama that was happening on our doorstep. (Namibia became independent of South Africa in 1990 and has remained a politically stable country ever since.) What I do remember is the absolute passion with which I fell in love with Madiba. His humility and passion for his country was contagious and the way with which he embraced all races inspired me and everyone around me.

The camera panned a scene of the townships outside Cape Town and Johannesburg and John again said, “It’s shocking that it hasn’t changed much since 1995, right?” and I felt a surge of anger…and of shame. What are we doing to change that? Here is a country filled with so much hope, so much creativity, pride and an overriding belief that things can change, that everyone has a chance of being who they want to be. And yet the vast majority of people in this country still live in absolute poverty, with so little hope. And, not for the first time, I felt ashamed. And I decided that this year I will do something to change, for the better, the lives of at least one person living in my homeland. How I’ll do that I’m not yet sure. Perhaps we should each sponsor one child’s school fees for the year. Perhaps I will start a fund to help our domestic worker in Windhoek to send her kids to school. One thing is for sure – the problems in Southern Africa are not going to fix themselves. It is the responsibility of us all to help in whichever way we can.

The year ahead is filled with opportunity and change – for me and John and probably for you too. What will you do to help others?

Invictus – William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Posted in Entertainment, South Africa | 2 Comments

Dreaming of Christmas

By Susan | Published: December 17, 2009

Rockefeller Christmas TreeIt’s that time of the year where all you hear is Jingle Bells and you truly feel like you’re Dreaming of a White Christmas, wherever you go. This year we’re lucky enough to be going far, far away from a White Christmas. In fact, our Christmas will be kind of brown…like a dune, to be exact! On Saturday morning we leave for a visit to Namibia – my first in three years. John once did visit before we met, but the real highlight is the fact that his parents are joining us for their first visit. My mom’s been in organization overdrive for almost six months and I’ve been told that the biltong and droewors supply is looking good and that the white wine is well chilled (just the news I wanted to hear!).

We’ll be traveling for 26 hours to get to our destination (double ugh!) and I already know that my luggage will be a) overweight and b) unable to close. Dammit. How does Christmas shopping always go this route? I have put tomorrow night in the calendar for packing so if you hear loud wailing coming from Manhattan, that will be me trying to decide which summer outfit NOT to pack.

Wishing you all a warm Christmas and a safe holiday – whether you’ll be having a White or Brown Christmas.

Posted in Home & Family, Travel | 1 Comment

Bonemarrow – the ultimate Christmas gift…

By Susan | Published: December 11, 2009

The holidays are a time for giving – gifts, time, money, but I’d like you to give something else.

My friend Lauren’s boyfriend Seun Adebiyi is facing the the battle of his life, and for his life. This 26-year old has leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant. Time is running low and because he is from Nigeria, finding a match remains an exceptional challenge. In addition to fearlessly facing leukemia, Seun is a super-hero in many other rights: he is a Yale Law School graduate, a massage therapist, a private pilot, and an Olympic hopeful (in the skeleton – which is similar to bob sledding – hello Cool Runnings!).

We need you to help raise awareness in the fight against leukemia and lymphoma. Only about 17% of African-Americans ever find a match.  We need help finding a match for Seun.

Seun’s employer, Goldman Sachs, will generously be sponsoring a bone marrow drive in New York City on January 10th. Goldman Sachs is also helping Seun take the search global, by sponsoring his travel to Nigeria, where he and his mother will host the first-ever Nigerian bone marrow drive.

If I haven’t yet convinced you that you need to register to become a bone marrow donor and tell everyone else to do the same, read this article in the  New York Times, and follow Seun’s blog here. If you have a blog, please help me spread the word by posting this on yours.

If you are not yet a registered donor, please register now at http://www.dkmsamericas.org/. All it takes is a simple cheek swab. You could save a life.

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If you like it, put a ring on it!

By Susan | Published: December 1, 2009

After ‘doing it‘ back in June 2007  (two and a half years ago!), the big question on my mind has been when we were going to ‘do it’ again. For real. With friends and family present and preferably with me wearing a big dress, with a big cake, a professional photographer and an opening dance like the one I’ve been dreaming of having for the past 29 years. You see, if you’re a girl you’ll understand what I’m on about. If not, let me explain.

From the day that a girl gets her brain going the right way (probably around age five?), she starts planning her wedding. It’s always an elaborate affair and for all the years after that, every boy she meets has the potential of being Prince Charming. Mr Right. Some of us are lucky enough to find The One at some point in our lives and his face usually slots onto the body of the man in our dreams (and into our dream wedding) just perfectly. Often you ‘just know’ shortly after you meet the handsome Man Of Your Dreams that he is the one and then, ladies and gentlemen, the waiting game starts. Will he do it? How? When, oh when, oh when will he get down on one knee and ask you to marry him? Popping the question is just the cherry on top of the cake and the final hurdle a girl has to pass that will allow her to go into a full wedding planning frenzy.

When one gets married the way we did it back in 2007, it still has a certain charm, but it most definitely does not quite live up to that lifelong dream. Yes, you still get Mr Right, you still get to say ‘I Do’ (a big think for an Afrikaans meisie such as myself), but you lack the magic. And magic is what makes the world go round.

The ringAnd very often, magic starts with a diamond (or eleven diamonds, in this particular case!). Two and a half years ago we promised to do it right at some point in the future and Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies‘ took on a whole new meaning as John had to endure many repeat sessions of ‘If you liked it you shoulda put a ring on it’ by me and a myriad of girlfriends who all ‘get’ the dream.

My poor Prince Charming did not stand a chance.

During our trip to Brazil last week the big moment finally arrived – and I had no clue that it was happening! Mr Right had bought the most perfect diamond, gotten the most perfect setting and went down on one knee on the most romantic setting in the world – atop Sugar Hill in Rio de Janeiro.  Newly engaged to be married againOf course I had to take the bling right off as we left the mountain as we just couldn’t risk having my now-precious finger cut off on the streets and I think John was quite amused by me wanting to spend as much time as possible inside our holiday apartment where I could prance around wearing my ring, my eyes never straying too far from my now-beautiful left hand.

Annie kindly offered the use of her bridesmaid’s dress which she wore at the original ceremony (Ha ha!), but I think this time we’ll do it right. We are, after all, officially engaged-to-be-married-again. I am such a lucky, lucky girl.

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Anticipation Flu?

By Susan | Published: November 18, 2009

Since this past Saturday I have been plagued with body aches, fever, the sniffles and generally feeling like death-warmed-up. Now I really don’t think of myself as a sickly person, but it seems like I was really sick not that long ago – in fact, it was  just before the New York Half Marathon. Now, less than a week before our long-anticipated trip to Brazil, here I am again…in bed, feeling like I got run over by a bus!

The timing on this flu is not great at all – we are scheduled to depart for a nine day trip to Brazil on Friday night. Three days in the Amazon, staying at an Eco-Lodge and then the rest of the days in Rio de Janeiro. And even if I get over mine, it would absolutely suck if John caught my bug and had to feel this way on a plane (or in the jungle).

So in order to minimize his chances of getting infected, John has been abolished from the germ-infected bedroom and has spent the last two nights on the sleeper sofa, which he says is not all that comfy after all. We have bottles of hand-sanitizer stationed all over the apartment and a container of anti-germ wipes in the bathroom.  Here’s hoping that many bottles of Gatorade, many doses of Dayquill, Nighquill, Sudafed and the daily dose of Iron will have me up and running in time for our flight to Rio on Friday night.

But why do I seem to get sick every time before a long-anticipated event? Could I be suffering from a newly formed disease called ‘Anticipation Flu’? Not many studies (other than my own, based on the Half Marathon and Brazil, in fact) have been done on this new disease, but it seems that the effects are definitive and real. I’m hoping that this round will work out as well as the Half Marathon one did. If not I’ll just have to throw myself in front of an Amazonian Anaconda.

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Betacup – an easy way to do good

By Susan | Published: November 9, 2009

I just pledged $20 to help fund Betacup, a project that my good friend Marcel is involved in. Betacup is looking for innovative ideas that will replace the wasteful paper cups that we use so many of (over 50,000,000,000 a year, in fact!).

If you could spare some $$’s, please follow the link and make a pledge. Also, let me know that you did so I can let Marcel know you did too. By helping each other, we help the world, right?

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What NOT to do in Times Square

By Susan | Published: November 8, 2009

So after the show yesterday, Sam and I went for a walk through Times Square. It is always such a treat to experience this noisy, people-thronged, tourist-trap through the eyes of a visitor and we’ve had two opportunities to do so recently – first wit my cousin Justin’s visit last week and then yesterday with Sam.

Part of what makes New York so fabulous to live in is the safety, and I know it sounds unbelievable to those who haven’t been here yet (and those who lived here ten years ago!), but I feel so safe walking by myself in the city. There is a very visible police presence everywhere and being a cop is such a matter of patriotic duty they get a lot of respect. In addition to looking out for the safety of tourists and locals all over, they are also a huge source of information (Sorry officer, but do you know how to get to so-and-so?) and they are always pleasant and helpful.

So imagine my delight yesterday when I finally saw someone getting arrested in Times Square! Finally, a real criminal getting the New York law in action treatment! (Sorry, this sounds very rude of me, but it was truly a first for me.) We arrived on the scene shortly after this police van had apparently pulled in front of the alleged suspect (love my cop-talk!) and two cops had this guy in a vice grip, leaning against the van. One arm up in the air, the other against his back, the suspect had purple hair, was wearing a purple shirt and these baggy jeans that the cool ghetto kids wear. And he was swearing. A lot.

Sam and I stopped in our tracks and took in the scene. So there’s the police drama going on in the background, and directly in front of it is this bridal couple pretending to run through Times Square for their photographer, with thousands and thousands of people walking by, taking photos of the wedding couple, the suspect, the buildings, the lights, the people… It was truly like something out of a movie.

And I thought to myself that if you had to get arrested, Times Square would probably be the very, very last place on earth to do that in. I mean, considering the high volume of tourists with cameras, you probably don’t want to have your face attached to the body in cuffs? Our suspect soon figured that out too and asked the cops to pull his shirt over his head to protect his identity! This is when I figured ‘what the hell’ and pulled out my camera to get in on the photo-snapping action too.

Alice in Chains?

This was such a ‘New York Moment’ I couldn’t stop giggling!

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