I'm going to go ahead and say it: This summer was a bit of a disappointment. Don't you agree? It rained all of June; July came and went; and I'm not sure what happened to August. And now September has come and gone. How has this happened?
That said, I made it through about half my summer to-do list. Now, onto fall, which I enjoy even more than summer. In fact, this morning, I woke up with the windows open and the cool air breezing in and I felt happier than I have in a long time. So, here goes ... this fall, I will:
* Hike Breakneck Ridge
* Go to Maine and visit Salt Water Farm -- DONE! I went last weekend for my birthday. More on that soon, when I get my pictures developed. (Yes, developed. I shot with film if you can believe it ...)
* Sit on the edge of Lake Metacomet
* Volunteer at the New York Marathon again
* Go to two weddings in the midwest -- one in Chicago this weekend, the other in Minnesota
* Volunteer at 826 Brooklyn
* Apple pick
* Meet baby Elsa, the daughter of my friend from my Country Home days, in Virginia
* Spend the rest of my 5 vacation days, which means I just might go back to Oregon and spend it on the coast. Maybe!
Anything else? What are you doing this fall?
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
My week without ...
I've been reading ReadyMade's A Week Without blog posts for a while now. First, my friend Amy gave up processed foods, and now Virginia is giving up spending any money for a week.
Well, so am I.
But I didn't plan on it. My purse was stolen on Monday night, right out from under my legs. Sneaky McSneakerson purse-snatcher just slipped it away from me as I was having dinner with a friend. Sigh. Gone are my credit cards, debit cards, cash, MetroCard, cell phone, iPod, digital camera, sunglasses, keys, driver's license, etc. etc. etc.
Since all my means of spending any money are frozen for at least three days, I can't spend a cent. My dear Calley gave me $100 and a new MetroCard, and so far I've used $50 of it to buy a new cell phone. That was priority.
Otherwise, nothing. Nada. No happy hour. No dinner. No groceries. No yoga. But really, it's kind of invigorating in a city like this. It's made me realize just how much I do spend every day and how much of it might be not be necessary.
And I am suprisingly not that upset about the whole thing. Sure, it's a pain to replace things, but stuff is just stuff. It's like I'm starting completely over, since in just one day, I have a:
Well, so am I.
But I didn't plan on it. My purse was stolen on Monday night, right out from under my legs. Sneaky McSneakerson purse-snatcher just slipped it away from me as I was having dinner with a friend. Sigh. Gone are my credit cards, debit cards, cash, MetroCard, cell phone, iPod, digital camera, sunglasses, keys, driver's license, etc. etc. etc.
Since all my means of spending any money are frozen for at least three days, I can't spend a cent. My dear Calley gave me $100 and a new MetroCard, and so far I've used $50 of it to buy a new cell phone. That was priority.
Otherwise, nothing. Nada. No happy hour. No dinner. No groceries. No yoga. But really, it's kind of invigorating in a city like this. It's made me realize just how much I do spend every day and how much of it might be not be necessary.
And I am suprisingly not that upset about the whole thing. Sure, it's a pain to replace things, but stuff is just stuff. It's like I'm starting completely over, since in just one day, I have a:
- new phone
- new driver's license
- new work building ID
- new bank accts
- new credit cards
- new fraud alerts
- new locks
- new relationship with the NYPD
Saturday, August 29, 2009
One Year
Despite my absence on this blog, I figured it shouldn't go without noting that yesterday was my one-year anniversary in New York. And, well, kind of my one-year anniversary for the blog, too. But that day did go unnoticed—it was sometime in July.
Ironically, I didn't get to post yesterday because I was on a plane on my way back to NYC from KC—which was exactly where I was last year. Much different circumstances, though.
A few highlights of the year ... in 365 days, I:
Ironically, I didn't get to post yesterday because I was on a plane on my way back to NYC from KC—which was exactly where I was last year. Much different circumstances, though.
A few highlights of the year ... in 365 days, I:
- Moved ... not once, not twice, but three whole times. In a year.
- Job hunted
- Killed a few cockroaches
- Landed a job! A good job! A job I love.
- Re-launched a pretty huge website
- Got my byline in ReadyMade magazine
- Learned to snowboard
- Survived match.com
- Painted two rooms
- Endured delays in many, many, many airports.
- Saw the Yankees play in the old and new stadiums
- Voted for Obama and watched him win (ok, well all did that)
- Said good-bye to my favorite dog
- Ran across the Brooklyn Bridge
- Ran a 10K
- Ran a half marathon
- Traveled to Hudson, NY, Washington DC, Virginia, Boston (many times), Vermont, Portland, Kansas City, and Montreal
- And basically survived NYC.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
General 54
Favorite neighborhood in Montreal: Mile End.
We ate bagels (though they were not as good as New York bagels) and drank coffee ...
(photos by jes)
And we shopped. A lot. We stopped by General 54 before it opened, and stalled and stalled and stalled until they finally opened the doors sometime after noon. The store carries Jennifer Glasgow Design and it's because of her that I dropped way too much money. But it was Canadian dollars, right? Right? I bought:
This dress in gray, and it criss-crosses in the back. (Don't worry, I wear a cami underneath to keep it decent.)
And this skirt. And I have no guilt. Even when my credit card bill is due, I'll have no guilt ... because they're super cute and I can nearly guarantee that no one else in New York'll be wearing the same outfit as me.
Looks like Glasgow isn't carried anywhere in the States—but you can shop online!
We ate bagels (though they were not as good as New York bagels) and drank coffee ...
(photos by jes)And we shopped. A lot. We stopped by General 54 before it opened, and stalled and stalled and stalled until they finally opened the doors sometime after noon. The store carries Jennifer Glasgow Design and it's because of her that I dropped way too much money. But it was Canadian dollars, right? Right? I bought:
This dress in gray, and it criss-crosses in the back. (Don't worry, I wear a cami underneath to keep it decent.)And this skirt. And I have no guilt. Even when my credit card bill is due, I'll have no guilt ... because they're super cute and I can nearly guarantee that no one else in New York'll be wearing the same outfit as me.
Looks like Glasgow isn't carried anywhere in the States—but you can shop online!
Montreal
Over the Fourth of July, I pulled a really un-American move. I left the US and went to Canada.
Some friends and I traveled an hour and a half by plane to Montreal. It isn't as European as I'd heard it would be, but regardless, it was a good getaway to another country in which English isn't the dominant language.
We really had no agenda, but we saw fireworks on the Fourth, thanks to the International Fireworks Competition. Thanks, Australia!
We discovered the neighborhoods, and ate a lot and drank a lot of coffee. And shopped. More about that later.
Plus, we strolled around Parc du Mont Royal and stumbled upon their Sunday drummers circle. Reminded me of the movie, The Visitor (which you should see.)
Then we got lost in a Labyrinth, with a bunch of 12-year-olds and it was fantastic.
And in the middle of Old Montreal, a street performer entertained the crowd for our loonies and toonies.
And of course, we (er, Jes and Sarah) tried Poutine, Montreal's delicacy of French fries covered in gravy and cheese curds. As you can see, Jamie wasn't loving it.
So, everything about Canada was great, right? Well, except, for the journey back. See, on my way back, I forgot I had mace in my bag. Yup, that good ol' mace—bought for me by my grandmother—has made it through nearly every single security check in the past two years, so I totally forgot I had it. (That's disconcerting, yeah?) But who gets randomly searched at the border? Moi. (See that? That was French.) So they go through my bag and find the mace. Long story short, I was berated by six big Canadian policeman about having it, and apparently if I called it "dog repellent" instead of having it for personal defense, I would have been ok. But mace is not only not kosher to fly with (duh—totally my fault, I get it) but it's also just plain illegal in Canada. So I was essentially breaking the law.
Then, they start asking for all my information, and to see an ID with my current address. But I don't have an ID with my current address—I shamefully still have an Iowa ID. (That was, um, four or five addresses ago.) So I had to explain where I've lived, and then they yelled at me about that, too. (I'm now a proud owner of a New York driver's license. I'll be getting called for jury duty soon, I'm sure.)
About 30 minutes later, lots of speaking in French, and a debate on how to say "editor" in French, they let me go. Phew. But, I might not ever be allowed back in Canada. Sad. Glad I enjoyed it while I was there!
So, lesson learned: Don't bring mace to Canada and you'll be fine.
Some friends and I traveled an hour and a half by plane to Montreal. It isn't as European as I'd heard it would be, but regardless, it was a good getaway to another country in which English isn't the dominant language.
We really had no agenda, but we saw fireworks on the Fourth, thanks to the International Fireworks Competition. Thanks, Australia!
We discovered the neighborhoods, and ate a lot and drank a lot of coffee. And shopped. More about that later.
Plus, we strolled around Parc du Mont Royal and stumbled upon their Sunday drummers circle. Reminded me of the movie, The Visitor (which you should see.)
Then we got lost in a Labyrinth, with a bunch of 12-year-olds and it was fantastic.
And in the middle of Old Montreal, a street performer entertained the crowd for our loonies and toonies.
And of course, we (er, Jes and Sarah) tried Poutine, Montreal's delicacy of French fries covered in gravy and cheese curds. As you can see, Jamie wasn't loving it.So, everything about Canada was great, right? Well, except, for the journey back. See, on my way back, I forgot I had mace in my bag. Yup, that good ol' mace—bought for me by my grandmother—has made it through nearly every single security check in the past two years, so I totally forgot I had it. (That's disconcerting, yeah?) But who gets randomly searched at the border? Moi. (See that? That was French.) So they go through my bag and find the mace. Long story short, I was berated by six big Canadian policeman about having it, and apparently if I called it "dog repellent" instead of having it for personal defense, I would have been ok. But mace is not only not kosher to fly with (duh—totally my fault, I get it) but it's also just plain illegal in Canada. So I was essentially breaking the law.
Then, they start asking for all my information, and to see an ID with my current address. But I don't have an ID with my current address—I shamefully still have an Iowa ID. (That was, um, four or five addresses ago.) So I had to explain where I've lived, and then they yelled at me about that, too. (I'm now a proud owner of a New York driver's license. I'll be getting called for jury duty soon, I'm sure.)
About 30 minutes later, lots of speaking in French, and a debate on how to say "editor" in French, they let me go. Phew. But, I might not ever be allowed back in Canada. Sad. Glad I enjoyed it while I was there!
So, lesson learned: Don't bring mace to Canada and you'll be fine.
Monday, July 13, 2009
The High Line
Have you heard about the High Line? If you're in New York and you haven't—how heavy is that rock you're under? If you're outside of New York, you're forgiven.
I was a bit dubious of it—it's a park on top of old elevated train tracks, which have been abandoned for years. I heard rumblings and grumblings of how much money it cost to re-hab and I wasn't sure if it would be worth it.
But I went on one of the first non-rainy days this summer, and I was very impressed.
There were plenty of places to put up your feet.
And remnants of what it used to be. The plantings are all based off what was naturally growing there when the tracks were abandoned.
This was stretch was the first section of the park—multiple more are in the works and they'll stretch up to 34th Street on the west side of the city. I have a feeling I'll be visiting again. And if you haven't gone yet, definitely check it out.
I was a bit dubious of it—it's a park on top of old elevated train tracks, which have been abandoned for years. I heard rumblings and grumblings of how much money it cost to re-hab and I wasn't sure if it would be worth it.
But I went on one of the first non-rainy days this summer, and I was very impressed.
There were plenty of places to put up your feet.
And remnants of what it used to be. The plantings are all based off what was naturally growing there when the tracks were abandoned.
This was stretch was the first section of the park—multiple more are in the works and they'll stretch up to 34th Street on the west side of the city. I have a feeling I'll be visiting again. And if you haven't gone yet, definitely check it out.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Summer to-do list
There's plenty to keep you busy in New York during the summer. When I was here for an internship in 2005, I kept a list on my fridge of things I had to get done so I would leave here with no stones unturned. But then, I had a time limit, so I was forced to get everything done before I left. Now, I'm a bit more lazy. Weekends come and go—and it's not that I'm doing nothing, I definitely am doing a lot—but sometimes the things I want to do get pushed behind boring stuff, like grocery shopping and laundry and running and going to the gym and blah blah blah. (Note to self: do laundry tomorrow.) I feel like there are summer-only things that are just slipping through my fingers. So in an effort to keep myself honest, here's my rest-of-summer to-do list.
- Listen to the New York Philharmonic concerts in the park
- See a movie at Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Go to Maine and visit Annemarie at her new cooking school, Salt Water Farm
- Go to the beach! (that's on the list multiple times)
- Rent a bike and ride for a few hours, then sleep in a hammock on Governor's Island
- Take a kayak out off the docks on the Upper West Side
- See the John Lennon exhibit at the Rock 'n' Roll Museum Annex
- Practice yoga with Lululemon in Bryant Park
- Have a from-the-farmer's-market dinner party
- Go to the farmer's market once a week (duh)
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