Sipping my Market Spice tea after a long day of shopping in Midtown and Union Square, not quite finding what I was looking for, but scoring a couple of great sale items anyway. I’ll try again on Monday, with my day off. I knew it was time to go home when I overheard a woman say into her cell phone, “If I see something navy blue and white striped, I always have to buy it.” Hmm, I’m shopping in the wrong stores perhaps.

On my way to the train coming home, I treated myself to a small cupcake at Cupcake Cafe — it was beautiful, and the frosting was delish, but the cake was kind of dry. Thus, my cupcake heart still remains true to the Chocolate Room.

I just read this article about trekking Mount Kilimanjaro, and I followed the links to the trekking companies listed and seriously investigated their itineraries, equipment lists and pricing plans. I checked out the Machame route, which seems to be an interesting seven-or-so-day trek that allows plenty of time for altitude acclimation. We made it through our four-day trek to Machu Picchu just fine, but even the highest elevation on that trek (4,500 meters) is lower than the peak of Kilimanjaro, and I had piercing headaches from the altitude on that day. Altitude sickness can knock even the fittest person off their feet, and is sometimes fatal. (Read Tom Bissel’s account of the ravaging effects of being foolishly unprepared for Kilimanjaro.)

Still, it seems like an amazing and alluring challenge that keeps tempting me. Eight years ago, I celebrated Christmas with my travel partners in Moshi, Tanzania — near the base of Kilimanjaro. We were just traveling through then, but vowed over a shot of Amarula that we would trek Kilimanjaro before we were 30. I’m halfway through 30 now, but it’s still on my someday list. Given the steep price tag to do it well, it won’t be happening anytime soon, but definitely before 40. Who’s with me?