Which was fine by me.
Saturday morning I headed out to my favorite Starbuck’s and wrote for a bit before SB called. It was such a beautiful day, we took a walk, Ellie in tow of course, stopping at Sephora’s to ogle beauty products we didn’t need.
Afterwards we had lunch at her place – well, SB and I did. Ellie licked cream cheese off pita bread (gross) and then resisted her nap, getting crabbier by the minute. When she finally ate, the faces she made while immensely enjoying some delicious banana were hilarious. Are all kids this expressive?
That afternoon I spent a lot of time in the Park – wrote on a bench and ran the Loop. 6.1 miles! Woohoo! While I was running, my left hamstring and knee were achy, but today my leg feels okay. Maybe the pilates is working.
There are some excellent hills on the Loop. It’s interesting to see the entire jogging/biking/rollerblading population start to move in slow motion when we hit a steep one. Suddenly we runners are pulling ahead of rollerbladers, and some cyclists start walking their bikes. Then of course when we reach the downhill portion, everyone’s zipping past us.
I love the Loop because it takes me to parts of the Central Park I don’t otherwise see, like who knew there was a giant public pool? Probably lots of folks, just not me.
I was thinking yesterday how it’s taken me two years to really begin exploring the city. My first summer I was caught up with getting used to this new life, post-divorce, living on my own again. I spent most weekends wandering up and down 3rd or Park Avenue, visiting the same museums over and over.
Last summer I was caught up with dating DK, but I did start to get to know the Park a little then. Sometimes we’d meet at the Bandshell, and since he lived almost directly west from me, I learned to maneuver across the Park, rather than taking the very slow bus.
This summer I’ve finally gone out of my way to delve into this huge playground just a few blocks from my place, whether it’s reading by the Alice in Wonderland sculpture, climbing up Belvedere Castle, or trying to find peace in Shakespeare’s Garden.
On July 4th, I went running in the rain, and on my way home, I passed the little pond where people sail miniature boats. Usually that area is packed, but that day of course it was empty, and I was amazed at how peaceful it was with the rain falling on the water.
Yesterday I did some more exploring, this time walking to the East River. It’s pretty nice from the low 60s to about 75th Street, but after that you’re pretty much on the FDR, which between the fumes and kicked up grime, is not so fun.
I also woke up with a sore throat yesterday and was feeling kind of run down. So I didn’t mind staying in for most of the day and working my writing. I ended up revising three pieces, two of which are close to being finished, one of which kind of stinks.
This morning I was hoping to get up early and go to the gym, but last night some idiot stood below my window and screamed into his cell phone for a solid hour. I didn’t get to sleep till after midnight.
My throat hurts today too, and I still have that fatigued feeling. Lots of liquids and vitamin C, and a light workout at lunch. Hopefully, it’ll go away in a day or so, and not grow into a full-blown cold.
new york
16
Jul 07
Quiet week into a quiet weekend
24
Dec 06
Off for the holidays
I realized I won’t be able to post again till I return from my parents’, who still have dial-up which is about as slow as watching plants grow, so I thought I’d do a quick entry before taking off.
Friday was YP’s last day. It felt weird to me though I think he was distracted by having to get all his stuff packed up and by being sick. Although the office was empty well before noon, I stuck around with him. I wanted to see him off and as well staying gave me the chance to do some grunt work that I’d otherwise would have put off for another year. We left around 2:30.
I keep thinking this is goodbye forever and I have to remind myself that it’s not like he’s moving to Zimbabwe.
Yesterday I finally got up early and saw all the store windows like I’ve been meaning to. Since I’m sort of rushing, I won’t post any pictures just yet. Is it just me or does Blogger get all screwy when you post pictures? Like a million spaces will be inserted after I do. Anyway.
So yesterday I got up at 6:30, left the house by about 7:30, and finished seeing all the windows by 11. Along the way I stopped for a breakfast sandwich and some lovely coffee, which was weirdly the best part of the morning. Then I went down to Jacques Torres, got the last part of my mom’s gift, and was back home by before 12.
Spent the rest of the day lazing around. Played with my pictures, read, packed. I hurt my toe somehow. Just the skin but in the wrong shoes it KILLS. I don’t know what happened. I ran more than usual last week – 4 miles on Monday, 1 on Tuesday, 5 on Wednesday, 4 on Thursday, and 5 on Friday – but I don’t know if that’s it. I won’t run again till tomorrow.
In the evening I watched part of the Sound of Music, still one of my favorite movies.
I gotta get outta here soon. I really want to avoid the crowds and I can’t believe how much stuff I have. Gifts mostly.
Happy holidays, everybody! (Happy holidays, Dr. Nick!)
18
Dec 06
Soooo tempting
I’ve emerged from my cave and finally taken notice of the Nike + iPod Sport Kit. It’s the recent ad that’s gotten me, featuring a guy running on a treadmill against a movie screen to this catchy tune, which has a pretty cool video involving, yes, treadmills (one take, people! it’s done in one take).
The thing about the sport kit is that I’d have to buy a Nano. I already have a Mini, but I’ve had it for about 2 years now, and the battery’s wearing out. Like I’ll charge it all day and it’ll last only about two hours, while when I first got it, it’d last up to 5 or 6.
In other news, on Saturday I went to the 11 Spring Street open house. For those who don’t know, 11 Spring St. has long been a sort of graffiti landmark. Artists have come from around the world to make their mark.
To honor its place in the artworld and as a part of New York history, the owners invited street artists to do up the inside of the building before beginning renovations. Two months later they opened the doors to the public, hence the open house this past weekend. Renovations began today.
Hours were from 11 to 5, and I got there at about 11:30. The line went around three square blocks. Crazy! I waited for about an hour, taking pictures all the while.
I didn’t mind the wait except that it was colder than I expected so after a while I started to freeze, and then I had to pee. Oh well.
Inside, needless to say, was pretty darned cool too. A few of my favorites:
Afterwards, I stopped in Rice to Riches to use the bathroom. I’ve yet to actually try the rice pudding there. I was starving but resisted as that blast of sugar would have f’d me up. Instead I went up to Astor Place and had ramen and boba tea at Saint’s Alp. Then Whole Foods for a couple of Christmas items.
It was about 3:30 when I got home. I had left the house at 10 and was exhausted for some reason, but a good kind of exhausted. Later that night I met my mom at the Grand Central JFK bus drop-off, where we picked up the free shuttle to Penn Station. I got her on the very crowded train and took off.
Yesterday was a hermit day. I stayed in and cleaned like crazy. It was worth it. I love how my floors shine afterwards. I also rearranged and got rid of some books that I knew I’d never read or just didn’t want, ie, DK’s castoffs that he had given me. As the Gilmore Girls say:
Rory: “You know what it means when a man gives you a book.”
Lorelai: “That he’s already read it?”
Rory: “Yup.”
Should be quiet this week.
06
Dec 06
Let it go, the damage in your heart
For some reason I can’t get enough of this toddler singing Weezer. I’ve been following little Owen’s growing up since late last year. He’s such a cutie! His dad doesn’t post nearly enough.
While I’ve heard Owen sing Weezer several times, I’ve only recently listened to a sample of the real song. It kind of makes me want to cry, especially the refrain.
~ ~ ~
I’ve broken out the hat, scarf, and gloves so I know winter’s finally here. The cold gives me a peaceful feeling. The streets are quieter and the air more still. But also it reminds me of last winter, which was when I began to make peace with myself.
I’d been living on my own for ahout half a year, and it had been two months since my divorce was finalized and C. dumped me. All at once I was able to let go of a lot of negativity, or it decided to leave me. Whichever, it doesn’t matter.
Winter also reminds me of walking around the city. Last December was the subway strike and so every morning and evening I walked to and from work, up and down 2nd Avenue. Luckily it wasn’t too cold. Friday nights I’d stop in at the
Buttercup Bake Shop and pick up a couple of breakfast buns – all baked goods are 50% off after 5 PM – for the weekend.
And it was last winter that I began to feel like people were really reading my blog and that I started writing for the city blog. I felt like I was entering this new exciting world.
Maybe “exciting” is a bit much, but it was to me at the time after going so long writing and not being read, knowing that my words weren’t just disappearing into cyberspace.
09
Nov 06
ANTM & other stuff
I’m so glad they kicked Anchal off. I liked her in the beginning but now think she’s a whiner. “Wah, I’m fat. Wah, I used to run.” So run! And stop eating ice cream! I run my butt off and try not to eat ice cream and I’m no model.
Hate Melrose, love the twins. I also like CariDee and really wish they hadn’t kicked off Brooke last week.
Sometimes I feel like Tyra’s critiques are BS. Like that stuff about worrying that CariDee didn’t listen to Jay or the instructors in that simulated skydiving thing. Seemed as though she just needed something negative to say and was grasping at straws.
I liked Gabrielle Reece and her feedback for the girls. But she’s definitely a poster woman for SPF protection.
~ ~ ~
Looking forward to upcoming plans.
Friday: Y. and I are going to our coworker’s concert. She’s the opera singer.
This weekend: Nothing exciting. Laundry and NaNoWriMo at the ‘rents’.
Monday: Y.’s comedy gig
Next weekend:
Canstruction and the Race to Deliver11/21 thru 11/23: ES crashing with me. I’d like to see the inflating of the Thanksgiving parade balloons Wednesday night. We may also go to the actual parade on Thursday.
Thanksgiving weekend: ‘rents’
12/1: Volunteer at the
Small Press Center’s Book Fair12/2: RoadRunners 4-mile holiday run
12/3: Volunteer at Book Fair
12/6-12/12: L.A. Woohoo! I’ll see my bro, my grandmother, my mom (who will be there at the same time), and my cousin, who’ll pop her first kid around Christmas.
12/16: Possibly see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Yes, you read that right. But it’s more for the group outing experience with my aunt, mom, and cousins.
Okay, that’s enough OCD planning.
30
Sep 06
Neighbors
Now that I’ve been living in my place for almost 18 months, I’ve developed a pleasant yet distant rapport with some of my neighbors.
Pleasant yet distant is how I like it. Let’s say hello and smile, and even make little comments about the ongoing mouse problem on the second and third floors (yikes!), but that’s enough. We all have our own lives. So of course I’m freaked out by both the overly friendly and the overtly bitchy.
Case in point: the guy across the hall. He moved in over the summer, replacing the distant-yet-pleasant, younger, cuter guy who lived there. The new guy is probably in his early 40s, and looked way too pleased to bump into me shortly after he moved in.
“Oh!” he said as though delighted to find a $10 in an old pair of pants. “Hi!” Now whenever we run into each other, he not only has to say hello, he has to stop dead in his tracks, make eye contact for way longer than he needs to, and not just say hello but ask what’s new, how I’m doing, how’s it going.
I guess he has a thing for me, or a thing for Asian women, as I witnessed him and a quite young-looking Asian ladyfriend leave his apartment one hot Sunday morning.
Yuck-o. Not for me.
On the other end of the spectrum, Friday I let in this woman, perhaps in her 40s, dishwater blond hair. The bitch didn’t even look at me, let alone thank me as I opened the door for her. I was so flabbergasted, I just stared at her. No eye contact, nothing. Unbelievable.
Why can’t everyone be like the nice Israeli couple on the second floor? The woman is semi-friendly while the guy always says hello but not in a gooey way, and plus he’s hot.
Or the older cowboy boot wearing gentleman who lives above me? True, sometimes I wish he wouldn’t wear those boots while walking back and forth over my head, but whenever I see him, he’s very polite but not creepy.
Or even my next door neighbor who has noisy and vigorous sex with his girlfriend whenever they’re home? I prefer not to hear the groans and grunts, especially at this date-less stage in the game, but they’re always nice when I run into them.
* * *
Speaking of date-less, I had a loser, no plans weekend. I mean, it wasn’t a total loss. I had a good run yesterday, and my apartment is spic and span. Also, I went to Chinatown to get some groceries and ended up running onto the tail end of some early Mid-Autumn Moon Festival activities.
And although I trashed MySpace, I gave in and made a profile. I needed one anyway to look at S.’s and my brother’s blogs, so I beefed up the empty one I had set up.
I’ve also done searches on people from the past. I thought I found a girl I was friends with back in elementary school, and was dismayed to discover that she is now a former drug addict living in Texas.
This was strange to me since the last time I talked to her, which was early in college, she was on her way to dental school. So I did a Google search, and I think the person on MySpace just has the same name and happens to be around the same age, and that my old friend is indeed a dentist either in Indiana or South Carolina, and not a crackwhore in the southwest.
Interesting what you can find on the web.
29
Sep 06
Boy-Less Weekend
I’m in much better shape this week than I was last week. I had dinner with SB on Tuesday and was telling her how it’s like night and day.
But, let’s face it, having no date for the weekend is going to take some getting used to. I have the whole cleaning thing to do, as well as perhaps a trip to Chinatown and some fall shopping (it’s cold out today, brrr! and me with no jacket). And a couple of runs. This is how this week went so far:
Sunday: 4 miles
Monday: 4 miles
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: 40 minutes on the elliptical trainer
Thursday: 5 miles (woohoo!)
Friday: hopefully a run after work
I wanted to go to the gym this afternoon, but a 2 to 3 meeting ran till 3:30 and the gym closes at 4:30. Not enough time for me.
I sort of feel like starting to write again. Blogging here has helped keep the writing muscles limber.
Last night YP had a stand-up gig in Williamsburg. Such a different population. Hipsters and whatnot. While on the inside I feel out of place, like I’m too old, on the surface I think I fit in more there than where I live.
I rarely get a second glance when I hang out around my area. A different experience in the bar in the BK, though some may argue Williamsburg is not truly BK. Either way, a boost for my self-esteem.
Was able to catch this week’s Project Runway yesterday. Like a sap, I actually got a tear when they found out all four were going to Olympus Fashion Week. They all seem to get along well, unlike last season with Santino and the others, and the first season with the horrible Wendy Pepper.