Hot Chocolate Festival

Welcome to the 6^th floor.

Today's contributors are: Ann, Sara, Tabitha

Subject: Hot Chocolate Festival

“It's that time of month again.”

“Pills are in the medicine cabinet.”

“No no..not that time of month. This time of month!” Sara holds up her City Bakery cup.

“Hot chocolate festival! Which one is that?!”

“Arabian Nights hot chocolate.”

“Sounds intriguing.”

“I think it's..”

“No no, let me guess. I'd say it'd have to be some sort of middle eastern spice. Maybe some cardamom? Saffron? Tumeric?”

“Very possibly. Something citrusy. Orange peel maybe. Or I guess it could be saffron. What do I know?”

“I want to go for Sunken Treasure Hot Chocolate.”

“Hershey kiss at the bottom of the cup?”

“Maybe. Can I have a sip Sara?”

“Oops..sorry. All done.”

Entertaining Ashley

Welcome to the 6^th floor.

Today's contributors are: Ann, Sara, Tabitha, Frank, Billy and Scott.

Subject: Sara’s Sister

We’re all hanging around in the living area with Sara’s sister Ashley who’s here visiting until after New Years.

“So Ashley, what are you going to do while you’re here?”

Ashley: “Oh, well, whatever Sara wants to do, you know? I’m really just here to visit her. And get up to Zabars.”

“Ahh, yes, the yearly pilgrimage to Zabars.”

“Zabars. So cliché, I suppose you want to go to Times Square and take a picture with the naked cowboy as well?”

Ashley: “No no, that's touristy stuff! I do want to try to go to that cool restaurant you guys took me to last time I was here though.”

“You mean Catalina's? I don't know if I'd call it cool.”

“I certainly don't think it's cool. You should check out that Italian place downtown that we went to last month.”

“That place was delish! Those Raviolis...mmmmmmm” Billy rubs his stomach contently.

Ashley stares oddly at Billy for a second. “I'm really not into Italian.”

Frank gasps.

“Just stick to the tried and true plan. Never fails.”

“Drinking?”

“Drinking!!”

Billy grins and high fives Scott. “Drinking!”

Ashley: “Is that all you guys do?”

Tabitha giggles.

Ashley: “How about we just walk around, take in the sights?”

“It's kind of cold..”

“Aww, don't be a wuss Tabitha. Just walk faster and it's not too bad.”

“We can just make frequent hot chocolate stops.”

Ashley: “Sounds good to me.”

Oblivion

Welcome to the 6^th floor.

Today's contributors are: Ann, Tabitha, Frank, and Scott.

Subject: Oblivious

It’s early afternoon on Tuesday. Tabitha and Ann are headed to Starbucks to get some coffee and see Scott at work.

“I’m in the mood for one of those syrupy, sugary frappachinos.”

“You’re still on a sugar high from Halloween aren’t you?”

“Yeah, I think so. The candy’s almost gone though, and then I can fight through the sugar crash and be okay I think.”

“I’m going to get a hot chocolate. Those new ones are very good.”

“Yes, they certainly are.”

“Hey look, Frank’s here!” Tabitha says, as they walk in.

“Hey Frank! What are you up to?”

“Hi there ladies. Nothing very interesting. Normal poker stuff, chasing this fish..”

“You remember to vote?”

“Vote? Crap..today’s election day?”

“How could you not realize it’s election day? Are you really that oblivious?”

“I haven’t really been paying much attention to anything but work lately. Well, work and beer.”

Scott jogs over, and skids to a stop. “Hi guys. I don’t know how you didn’t realize Frank..there has been so much election talk here today..I’m so sick of it.”

“Well, only one more day and hopefully it’ll be done with.”

“Thankfully. Although, I’m sure I’ll be bored of the teeny-brats talking about Gossip Girl and other such shows just as much.”

“You just love your customers don’t you?”

“Only the annoying ones.”

“Since you’re here, you can take our drink orders!”

“Like this one!” Scott says, ruffling Ann’s hair.

“Extra espresso shot?” Scott asks, as he walks back behind the counter.

The Bitter End

Welcome to the 6^th floor.

Today's contributors are: Ann, Sara, Tabitha, Frank, Billy and Scott.

Subject: The Bitter End

The holidays have come and gone too fast and it’s back to the daily grind for most of us. Holiday decorations have started to come down, and even the leftovers have been eaten or disposed of. Soon discarded Christmas trees will start to line the curbs having outlived their usefulness. The weather has dropped to sub-zero temperatures so that cheeks are turning rosy and noses feel like they’re going to succumb to frostbite. Everyone is bundled up and rushing about from place to place even faster than usual, desperate to get out of the cold. It’s almost as if all the love and warmth of Christmas has been sucked out of the city to leave us with a cold dispassionate wasteland.

I exit the subway, taking the exit that’s farther away because it’s closer to my destination and allows me to stay out of the cold for an extra 50 feet. Everyone is bundled up in hats and scarves and gloves, and the few that aren’t look miserable. Every drop of moisture is quick to freeze; globules of spit have frozen to the sidewalk and coffee quickly cools off between the coffee shop and the office. Even though it's technically been winter for a couple of weeks, this is the first time you walk outside and think to yourself 'I want to just stay in and hide under my blankets all day'. The calendar has turned to 2008, and it's tempting to think of the future, of spring, baseball, barbecues, and the beach but there is still two or three long cold months to dredge through. There are snowstorms, ice pockets, slushy street corners that you have to leap over, cleaning off and warming up your car in the morning if you have one and always wondering if the jacket, hat, and gloves you brought with you are warm enough. Snowstorms can be beautiful, and plenty of people prefer the cold snaps of January to the heat waves of July, but when you're shivering while standing around waiting for a subway or a bus or a taxi, you're rarely thinking of how beautiful the snow looks against the backdrop of the Empire State Building.

The best part of the day is upon me, as I can return to my apartment until tomorrow, safely out of the elements and surrounded by my loving friends. The apartment is full of energy and warmth, and it's easy to forget it's below zero outside when you're joking around watching family guy reruns or playing Apples to Apples, a game Tabitha got for christmas. I unlock the door and go in.

“Hey Ann! We're going to watch Evan Almighty. You in?”

“Sure, I love Steve Carell.”

“I've got a pot of hot chocolate on the stove. You want some?”

“Wow, I can't think of anything I want more. I brought marshmallows and whipped cream.” Ann says, holding up the bag from the store.

“Add a splash of Rumplemintz in there, nothing like warm peppermint to soothe your soul.”

“And your liver!”

“I hate to admit he's right, but it does taste good this way.” Sara says, indicating the mug of hot chocolate she's drinking.

“Bring those marshmallows over here!”

“With pleasure.”