Free Writing

Hello friends. If you've been a dedicated checker-of-the-blog, I thank you. Obviously I haven't written in a very long time. I felt that I didn't have much going on and I had nothing much but whining to dish. While me whining is nothing new I try to keep it to a minimum in order to keep ya'll happy. Maybe I fail at that mission but maybe I don't!

So I decided to just drop in and say what's up with me.

Some of you know that the month began with me becoming engaged. In a way it's nice to see a relationship develop. It's totally like a promotion from Mark. 'Congrats on being a wonderful mate, you move up to the next phase!' Of course many people have wonderfully happy long-term relationships that never become 'engagements' so all this is my personal take on my relationship.
The proposal was a total surprise which I think is my favorite part of all this. No, I didn't see it coming. No, we didn't go on a vacation where all I could think is "This is it!" (not that I'm that kind of girl anyway). No, it wasn't a Christmas or Valentine's proposal (Thank God!). In a way the election of Barack Obama will always be the "when did he propose" reminder.

We quickly went to stores to get my finger sized because the size 5 ring was much to big. After learning I'm a size 4 we sent away the ring and we were told it would take about 8 weeks to get it resized. I said goodbye to my ring "see you in January!". True to their excellent customer service (and unbeknownst to me) Blue Nile, our jeweler, had my ring back in exactly one week. Which means Mark not only surprised me once with a ring but twice! That guy is good!

Other than that, November has been pretty standard. I'm not in love with my job but some days are okay. Some days I think that the kiddies are just the cutest things in the world. I'm more just nervous of where to go from here. I still don't know what I like, what someone would hire me for,what I can stick with.

I'm grumpy about the time change. It's already dark by the time I (and thousands) get off of work. Which means my after-work walks through the trees are cancelled until further notice.

Have you seen the new Go-Phone ad with Steve Buscemi as the voice of a gingerbread dad repairing his gingerbread house? Awesomely funny.

Thanksgiving Dinner at the Uncle and Aunt's house was tasty. My highlight? The latest addition to our family is now 2 years old and he's a cutie.


My introduction to the world of Yoga is going well. My Saturday class is pretty much done. It was really basic but it gave me something to do. The teacher told me she has another class on Tuesdays and Thursdays which I didn't know about, it was never advertised. I wonder if it's like an invite only type of thing since all the students know her well.
So I registered and attended, not wanting to lose my rhythm of having any physical activity. It's intense! Nothing like my Saturday class which is filled with some Senior-types. I loved it even though it leaves me with a rushed feeling all day, having to get home quickly to walk the dog, eat, and change before class. And then when I get back from class it's pretty much bed time!

While the positions are challenging I really like it. The "challenge" I don't love is my right wrist. It's so damaged from time at the computer and using a mouse that it's really weak and I have trouble supporting my weight doing some poses. A huge bummer since I'm only in my twenties!

I'm having trouble getting into any reading. I haven't finished a few books I started and nothing is really catching my interest. I'll have to do some big shopping at the library. I'll need a good read for my holiday break coming up. If you have any suggestions please let me know!

'Til Later.

14th Street

I obviously love the city I grew up in. I made Mark move back here with me so there must be some affection, right? But at the same time when I walk through my neighborhood all I can think is "I hate it here." But maybe it's just my neighborhood. Today as I was walking west on 14th Street heading towards the A train I saw all this randomness that made me feel glee at being there.

First, I fucking love the architecture. I never knew I loved architecture but every time I learn anything about architecture and/or the history of a building and why it appears and was designed the way it was I soak up the information and feel pure happiness at learning it.
The way the sun set was glowing off the top of Empire State Building and the subtle artfulness of the details on the older buildings along the street made me so excited. And even though it can be heart wrenching when some ugly glass beast gets erected occasionally they are so stylish that the juxtaposition of the shiny structure next to a beautiful pre-war building can be quite charming in that Old World meets Modern City kind of way.

I especially love the new ways that awkward old buildings are being used. On the corner of 14th and Eighth Avenue there is a Balducci's, an upscale grocery store. It's housed in an old bank building. Awesome.


Then there was the energy of being in Union Square. The people who conglomerate there trying to make a buck. You've got tables of "pashminas" next to rows and rows of Obama buttons, stickers, T-shirts. You've got the table with African inspired earrings and bracelets, the guy selling all his old James Patterson novels, the smell of hand mixed frankincense being burned. Today my particular favorite was the older man with the snow-white hair in the style of Doc from Back to the Future. He was decked out in his plaid suit complete with vest, buckets of fresh vegetables lined up in front of him demonstrating these knives, maybe a vegetable peeler. A kitchen knife demonstration on the corner of 14th and University?

Sometimes I feel self conscious walking around that area. So close to the Village, NYU housing, Fifth Avenue. Everyone is so freaking trendy and stylish it makes me feel like a hobo. But then you pass Forever 21 and Strawberry and realize that you can appear trendy for not too much money it's just a matter of putting a lot of effort and a little less body fat into it. And who needs trendy anyway, right? If anything, I enjoy the fact that there are so many senses of identity, so many ideas of what style is. I can appear perfectly fine in my sneakers and SSC fleece, my knee length jacket. As long as I have headphones I appear to be like everyone else.

So that's when I like New York. When I'm in an area where there are so many great sensory things to take in. My neighborhood just doesn't have that glam. Never will.

Updates and Thoughts

I love the fact that New York City parking tickets come in neon orange envelopes. There is something festive about the bright color. Like Halloween! But then again it might also be reminiscent of convicts coveralls. And that's not so festive.

It's like:
Dear NY City vehicle owner. Welcome back to your car! Here's a surprise for you!

On Thursday at 9am I will have ALL FOUR of my wisdom teeth removed. I'm terrified. The scheduling of the whole procedure was a real pain in the ass. As someone who works in a classroom taking time off during the school week can be a real issue with your employer for obvious reasons. I was hopeful that I could schedule my appointment for this coming Monday afternoon and then have Tuesday off for Veteran's Day. Problem solved!

But with this procedure I'm having general anesthesia so they expect you to come in early in the morning because you will have had the whole night with no food or water. So I have to go in early. Top that off with the fact that the oral surgeon I'm seeing only works on Thursdays. What a life! So now I have to go in on Thursday. The scary part: I'm expected at work bright and early on Friday. UGH. I really hope I'll be able to pull that off. It's just one day right? Yeah, right.

In other news Your's Truly is engaged. Freaky. It's so adult I don't even know how to process it. But I really like my ring! It's sparkly.