Vindicated

For all you nay-sayers out there (especially my coworker Joe!) who think I'm a crazy cat lady, I would just like to say that the kitties spotted, grabbed, attacked, tortured and killed something I thought was a cockroach but I am now convinced was a scarab beetle or some other mythical creature from the Middle East.



It was so cute to see them following it around like a science experiment, and it was a little cathartic to watch them dismantle it like I wanted to see done. I'm so happy to have my pretty little house-dwelling predators



It was a win-win-lose situation: Win for me being saved from such a monstrosity, win for the cats and their adventurous spirits and carnivorous tendencies, and lose for the scarab beetle who I think was ultimately consumed.

Studio Woe

I'm pretty sure there are funner and better things going on in my life than complaining (like the Brooklyn outing to Barcade last night!) but the only thing plaguing me in this moment is the CLEANING going on in my studio. In a place this small, and living by myself, HOW is it that I need to clean this often?? I'll do an entire weekend cleaning session, with baseboards and vacuums and bathtub included, and feel like I'll never have to clean again for another month... yet in 4 days I find myself cleaning again!!

Maybe it's my studio itself, maybe it's me that I never noticed before, maybe it just looks like more of a mess since it's so small, or maybe it's the cats. I do get frustrated about it, but it doesn't take long to remember that it's all part of the whole experience I guess, of living alone, of not being able to afford a top floor penthouse, and that it's a small price to pay to be able to live alone, and live in the neighborhood that I do in New York City.

I know that some of it is the cats, and it's definitely been an adjustment to have strictly indoor cats, but it's another small price to pay for the company they afford me.

Still, despite all that, in this moment, I am so annoyed at all the cleaning that I need to do tonight!!

Weezer B-Sides

A few occurrances lately have sparked the revitalization of my love for all Weezer b-side tracks. I lived off of these in high school and I somehow forgot about them, and am back to listening them incessantly and feeling like a sophomore all over again.

And on that same note I am back in a musical frenzy phase, all I want to do is listen to music all day every day in every way. I wake up and get ready to music. I listen to my ipod through my subway ride to work and into the building. I youtube music and listen via headphones for as much as I can during the day, and clean, cook, and do everything with music on.

I don't understand people who get territorial about music, who feel like other people "don't really like" a certain band or genre, that they are faking it. Doesn't a good bass beat or guitar riff transcend clothes or profession or social status? And I've never worked well with the question "what kind of music do you like?" I like EVERYTHING! There's a time and a season for every genre. I like Michael Jackson, REO Speedwagon, Dixie Chicks, Heart, Weezer, The Smiths, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Lady Gaga, Ben Harper, Tchaikovsky, Bruce Springsteen, The Killers, David Guetta, The Carpenters, Jimmy Eat World, The Sundays, Lauryn Hill, what's the point of listing more, I just love music!

Yesterday I finally got to celebrate Ronnie's birthday with him. We met up in Times Square and I got my first Shake Shack! After that we did what Ronnie insisted on doing... riding the Ferris Wheel at the Toys R Us.



I was extremely embarrased about it, but you know, once you're on the car, it's not so bad!



Just another night in NYC

Rainy Days and Mondays

Today was both a rainy day and a Monday. I liked the rain. I think I grew numb to the sunny weather in California. I mean really, when every day is sunshiny and beautiful, and there's always someone raving about it, you always feel guilty for not feeling so happy to be out enjoying it or something. Sometimes you just want rainy weather to sulk in!

Work went by fast, and I had to rush home for my landlord to fix some shower tiles that fell off. I really didn't feel like going home, I wanted to enjoy NYC in the rain. But I came home, and once you're home... and you change... that's just it, I don't go anywhere, especially on a rainy day.

Lately I've just been wanting to listen to music, and also compose music. Why do I get obsessed with this the most now that I am no longer around any guitars or pianos? I went to a Sam Ash the other day just to try to play the piano for a little, but I didn't have sheet music, and there were all these showoffs being annoying, and I couldn't hear myself think. And after music, I want to paint (of course all those supplies are at home too), and write. Writing's the one thing I can really do.

So in staying home, I at least got to catch up on my correspondence. I got to talk to May in Israel, Ronnie in Queens, and Mat in California, who hath betrayed Riverside by buying a house in Perris. Inexcusable!



I finally found out how to take the snapshots too. Mat says I need the California flag to remind me where to buy my plane tickets home to.

Aunties!

I guess it's just family weekend around here. I never did get to give a public thank you to some of my incredibly awesome and very supportive aunts.

Aunt Patricia!
She surprised me with a complete dish set, dish towels, linen napkins and napkin rings, and picture frames! I can now have a 4 person dinner party at my place, assuming 4 people will fit in here! My dish towels:




Aunt Jo Ann!
She surprised me with an electric kettle and a juicer in the mail. SO excited for these, especially the juicer since I still haven't gotten a blender and I enjoy taking in the nutrients of fruits via liquid form.




Aunt Judee!
I never could've gotten through San Diego without Aunt Judee. It was great to have family just around the corner and she offered her support in so many countless ways, and was even beloved by my roommates too

Aunt Judee took me out for sushi on my second-to-last day in San Diego, and came to see my work too




Aunt Frances!
She always surprises me and is so fun! She made me this great picture frame out of Bordeaux postcards that I always keep nearby and rotate Bordeaux pictures in. She's always very encouraging and is part of the glue of the fam, always hosting and putting together holiday events, especially with Aunt Judee!

I'm far from family but I'm very fortunate and thankful for my loving and supportive family.

End sappy post!

Sisters!

I never did get to really talk about my family's trip out here in August. My dad and two younger sisters came out, my dad left after a few days and my sisters stayed a few days longer. My dad had just been out in July, and my sisters and I had come to New York in 2005, so it wasn't all crazy tourist plans. I was more looking forward to just seeing them and having them around. Still, we did quite a bit...

Times Square of course!



Fashion District



The girls came to my work and took me out for lunch. Then they went out and about for 4 or 5 hours and met up with me after I got done. What did they do for 4 or 5 hours? They went to Toys R Us in Times Square, and... THAT. WAS. IT! Only us.

Me at work:



Us catching the ATM by my work



On the subway!



The Staten Island Ferry, my favorite thing to do with guests apparently



The Brooklyn Bridge



...and of course, who can forget the old tradition of movies and photos like these ones on a lazy sleeping-in and hanging-out-at-home kinda day, the kind I don't get to have with them so easily anymore













Booyah.

Looking forward to Christmas in California.

Ikea and Volleyball

Part of my role of housing here is the upkeep of our dormitory residence for students... staffing, supplies and design. What this meant was that yesterday, the center director and myself drove out to the Ikea in Brooklyn for some interior decorating purchases. It ended up being an extremely long day (imagine loading lamps, blankets, rugs, and bath mats for 70 rooms and 135 beds!) but it was a great time out of the office!

I got to drive over the Brooklyn Bridge and go into Red Hook for the Ikea mission. It's the exact same store as in Costa Mesa, Phoenix, anywhere. However, we had lunch there (yes, my boss and I had a great conversation of fascism and waining ideological actions in this generation over Swedish meatballs and salad) and the cafe was overlooking the rivers, with a clear look at the Statue of Liberty. It was so beautiful!



Then yesterday I went out for the volleyball league. It was semi-humiliating. Good news was that I qualified, bad news was that I'm still operating as a free agent. The two girls that I made friends with were immediately scouted after some impressive spikes. My embarrassing first serves put me in an uncomfortable mood all night. I redeemed myself with some back sets, but the net was men's regulation height and I'd been playing on womens all summer, so that also messed me up. In the end, I'm in the league, but not yet on a team. I felt so drained by the end of the day (mind you this was after all the furniture loading and moving of Ikea) and I felt so blah I went and got a drink afterwards.

Sometimes it's hard to continually put yourself out there.

Round Two

Tomorrow I'm going out for another (and a different) volleyball league. I am inexplicably nervous. I think it's because I've gotten comfortable with current surroundings, and I'm opening my world again. I decided to switch leagues for the fall because a) the last one wasn't challenging enough b) it was player-manned. For this new one, it costs more, but it will be indoor with gyms, equipment, refs, etc. The first one was perfect for summer though, since we played outdoors in Central Park. I'm looking forward to trying the new one and meeting even more people now.



There are many things that I want to pursue, or at least, try. For now I am content to keep with volleyball. It's active, it's fun, it's co-ed, and hey, I'm even a little bit good at it. New York City offers so much in the way of everything, and I've barely scraped the surface of things that I know I like. I can't wait to discover more and more.

Other than that, life continues. I go out with my co-workers more often. Ronnie and I are starting a production company. On lunch break a few weeks ago I visited a Borders and bought 4 books and am currently wrapping up the first, a 700 page biography on Michael Jackson. It's SO engulfing and I devour any chapter or paragraph I can on the subway. Today marked September's eyebrow threading down in the Financial District, which I always look forward to. I write a lot, and keep my ears open for new music. It's getting colder in general. I can still go without a jacket, but it's starting to be a bit of a gamble, especially if I'm not coming straight home after work. I'm trying to start early to build up my winter armistice of clothing while it still might be even a little less expensive since they're just coming into stock.

And at this moment, all I want is a huge bag of M&Ms!! I don't even want chocolate, I just want plain M&Ms and to eat them til the cows come home.

When Work Meets Play

...Ronnie usually tags along.



My coworkers Jenny and Jayna, and Ronnie in tow. I think the best thing about this picture was that Jenny got her sparkly shirt for $5 in Singapore.

That Looming List of Things

Last night I went out to a birthday party for my coworker Jayna's birthday at this place called Carnival in Union Square. It was really fun! My other coworkers and Ronnie and Jayna's friends were there and I was able to get dressed up a little bit too, so it was a grand occasion for me.

And this Sunday, I overslept for church, and have lots of things I need to do... laundry, dishes, buy cat food for starters. (I'm relegated to my bed. My cats are so good about not bothering me if I am laying down on my bed... but if I stand up, they come a-yelpin'!) but I can't bring myself to do anything!

I got internet in my place yesterday, and today I am just too content to be laying in bed with my Dip snuggled up with me, sip my coffee and youtube all the Carpenters songs I can get! It's cool enough to get under the covers finally, and this weekend I have been on a huge Carpenters kick. All that other stuff can wait I think. Contentedness like this can never be planned.



The coffee cup is part of an entire dish set all thanks to AUNT PATRICIA, and when this picture was taken, Rainy Days and Mondays was playing

Labor Day Weekend Unveiled

My best weekend to date in NYC was (by far) Labor Day weekend with the arrival of San Diego friendy Wendys to the Big Apple. Unfortunately my work schedule was still running when they came, but still had the nights and weekend to enjoy the city with them. Below are the pictures I was finally able to get

The great Central Park fountain with the Angel of the Water statue


The girls on the steps


This is most likely the cover of our CD


A snippet of our half an hour debate on whether or not we should rent bikes to ride in the park (we didn't)


Me and Ronnie in what looks like a bad photoshop version of myself


"Jungle Love" is a fresh coconut hollowed out and inside is iced coconut milk, mango and banana or something like that. Delish!


Me and Priya in Strawberry Fields


Me and Priya napping in Sheep's Meadow


Grand Army Plaza in front of the Plaza Hotel


The Girls in front of the Plaza Hotel


Me and Ronnie :)


I was thankful for Ankita, who goes to Columbia U and has spent a significant amount of time in NYC to be able to lead us around to some great places, including a rooftop bar in the Flatiron District... this is us taking the elevator up


Here's a group shot of us in the complementary robes available for that windchill factor


...and another


And me and Nilam laughing, although I don't remember over what


Look at the view of the Empire State Building from this place!


Us in front of a plaza with a section of the Berlin Wall (though you can't really see it here)


One night we went to Gotham to see some stand up comedy. Our favorite, and the headliner, took a picture with us afterwards


And us in Times Square




And us taking the subway out to the Lower East Side where we spent our nights






Kamikaze shots!


...and my first Yankees game with Pam and Doug on Labor Day


Sooooo thanks for a fun weekend Pam, Doug, Sri, Priya, Palak, Nilam, Ankita, Sirj, and Ronnie