Goodbye, 2010

I started off by naming this "Aufwiedersehen, 2010" but then I realized while it simply means "goodbye" in German, literally it means "until we see each other again". The same goes for the French "Au revoir", and we'll never see 2010 again, so it didn't add up. And the Japanese "Sayonara" just wasn't aesthetic enough, and the Romanian "La revedere" is more of an exclamation than a farewell. So there you have it. The last day of 2010, which is fine with me.

The most obvious transition (and surprise!) of 2010 was my transplantation to New York City. At this time last year I was settled in San Diego and saving to buy a new car, with no long term plans at all, and to be honest no real short term plans at the time either. I've stopped trying to plan my life, or set age limits, on anything. All it does is serves you with frustration when it's not working out, a feeling of failure if you don't make it happen, or stops you from other opportunities because it "wasn't in the plans" when really other situations and other plans are no failure at all. All I have are goals, and to be honest, living in the ever-busy and extremely expensive New York City, all I can do is go one day at a time here, and I do, and I love it. I am wondering what the next step is, or will be. I'm not sure what direction to take, or what to focus on, or know if I should simply just relax and live for awhile. I've found that life will press you into a corner when it's ready to make a change, so I guess I will wait for that to come about.

I am very, very happy in New York City. It used to be that I was restlessly located in San Diego, wondering if and how I would ever live abroad again, if I could make it work in Europe, or teach abroad in Asia, or follow through with the Peace Corps in Africa. But since I've been in New York, all of the longings have quieted, and I don't feel so restless here. Still, if other opportunities present themselves, I am open to that. The idea of "settling down" still scares me, so I've stopped putting boundaries on any plans or my life in general.

All this to say that, who knows what turns 2011 will bring, but I hope I have the grace to receive them. I will be welcoming the new year in via a champagne bar/club in Brooklyn. Auld lang syne!

Christmastime Revisited

First of all, welcome back to the city, self! The flights were easy and absolutely painless. I watched Inception on the flight to Newark and then spent the rest of the time sleeping. When we landed, I was thinking "where is the snow?" then I realized I was looking at snow, not concrete, and it had been shoveled off just the runway paths and there were curbs of snow lining it.

After a lengthy and expensive cab ride into the city, I didn't even recognize my corner when we got there because of the snow! It was piled up to my waist around cars and trashcans and the corners, and very narrow diagonal walkways up the curb at intersections. I tried to unpack a little, to air out my place a little, and to crash early, but I was still exhausted this morning.

THANK GOODNESS FOR MY TIMBERLANDS!! I was even slipping and catching ice walking in those this morning, and it felt weird just head out in the neighborhood, but next to huge mounds of snow lining the streets, while otherwise it was clear blue skies and no snow left in the trees or on buildings. And welcome to snow in the city: trash in it, over trash cans, and slushy and black in the streets. There are a few pretty piles left though, and I haven't seen Central Park yet...!

It's hard being back in the city, so far away. Last night was hard to come back to my place alone after my time surrounded by friends and family at every turn. Coming into work was nice though, and I am slowly getting adapted to being right back where I was before and I'll be taking it one day at a time and exploring the city and my new life.

Sadly I forgot to bring a camera home so I only have a few pictures from my time there. But here is what I have at my disposal right now since my updating hiatus


From the company holiday party, this is the Student Services team along with Kam, our Asias admissions ally!


The Fabulous Student Services Dream Team


Dancing up with Joe, the last piece of Student Services Dream Team who came too late for the rest of our nice pre-drinks pictures!


Just me, dancing away


Just us at grandma's, preparing my famous Greek Salad, which is not at all in keeping with Christmas cuisine. Still, it's so fresh and healthy, and no lettuce, and I like that


Whose glasses were those?


The Kelley's at Aunt Patricia and Uncle Steve's vow renewal


Kathleen and I agreed that the festivities of the wedding of our aunt made us all feel more festive and like the holidays, and it was great to have those sides of the family together in one place. It was small, intimate, fun, and beautiful, and I am so so so happy for Aunt Patricia and Uncle Steve. This picture of all of us is the first of its kind!

It's nostalgic to look at these and then be back in New York City, but I'm getting through it like I did before: one day at a time. And it's great to know the people supporting me who will always be there whenever I am home.

From Phoenix, Arizona

My mind is on fire with the events of the past days… of the people I saw, of the places that I went to, of the nostalgic conversations and the feelings I felt as I revisited it all. I missed it all, I missed them all, and there were still so many people I wanted to see that I didn’t get a chance to.

I love Riverside more than ever, now that I don’t live there. It’s a wonderful place to go home to. The only thing that is weird is how I don’t live there, and now it’s a vacation destination, and I can only see as many people as I can cram into different dinners and coffee dates. Everyone asked me, with a serious tone “Are you happy out there?” and the truth is that I am very happy in New York City. I love being in the center of the world. I love that city, and the events, and the life there. It is hard being away from the comforts, normalcy, and yes even slower-moving life in southern California. But I know that it’s still there for whenever I come home, and the life I have on vacation that I love is not the life I would lead if I was a resident there in the normal grind of life. So I just take it one day at a time and it allows me to be in the present fascination of the new adventure of my life.

I’ve always loved the desert landscape, and I always love these stopovers in Phoenix where I get to stare out at the orange and red rocks and mesas and palm trees, it’s my halfway house and it’s my haven that marks my way both to and from home. Off to a new adventure, or coming back to the comforts of home, I see both of that in Phoenix. And as of now, I’m not sure which stage I’m in, because I was a little homesick for New York City already.

All the family, the aunts, uncles, cousins, my only grandma, my sisters, the cats, all my friends in San Diego, Orange County, Riverside, and beyond… thanks for a warm homecoming and see you all again in the future.

Casual Friday

If anyone deserves a casual Friday today, it's our team at the office here. The festivities yesterday started around 11:30 and wine and beer were included in the catered lunch, with plenty of amazing desserts (cheesecakes and gingerbread and chocolate mmmmmm) and then Student Services had our own karaoke session with me and Jayna entertaining ourselves with Dirty Diana and Total Eclipse of the Heart

We got ready at work and took a cab to the Latin Quarter, and the open bar there more than did us in but it didn't end when the lights turned on... instead we all jumped in cabs (I happened to be in a cab with 5 people in the backseat alone) and went to a swanky club called Greenhouse in SoHo. I lost all concept of time but it sure didn't feel like I slept long when I had to get up this morning to get ready and finish cleaning up my place... and then lugging my suitcase on the subway with me. We all went and got breakfast this morning and are just trudging through the day.

I leave tomorrow!!

Ready for Home

Lately, all I can think about is coming home. I guess once I hit about two weeks to go, it became all consuming to get a break from the city and come back to wide open (and warm, sunny) spaces. Everything is just annoying to me, and the days at work are stretching into long, mindless hours, and I can't seem to focus on anything in my free time to unwind or relax either: not music, not reading, not watching Seinfeld. All I want is to be out of this cold and home in California :/

Tomorrow is an entire day of holiday parties and celebrating, including the nighttime gala for my company at a place called Latin Quarter on the Upper East Side. So I'm sure an open bar will take my mind off of things :)

And also, the San Diego Chargers are playing the San Francisco 49ers tomorrow in the middle of the party (darn Eastern time!) so I am giving my Chargers support now!! Let's see it Rivers ma boy! (Where you at, Sri??)



Three days... just three days and I will be out of the cold and back in a land where I can see the horizon and mountains...

The Snow Stuck

Last night it didn't look like the snow was enough to do more than melt on impact with the ground, or just fill the cracks on the sidewalk, but when I left this morning, there was a light dusting of snow everywhere! Cars, sidewalk, streets, plants, the park.

So, so beautiful... even if I do need warmer and more snow-treading shoes

Buon Natale

I had an easy Monday. After work I went down to Little Italy to do some shopping. It wasn't too crowded, it was cold on my face but I felt cozy in my coat and earmuffs, and I went around Little Italy's little streets doing some shopping under all their Christmas lights.



I stopped in Chinatown for some Chinese food before coming home, putting on a Christmas movie and baking cookies and watching the snow outside. I mixed the dough in my cooking pot since I don't have a mixing bowl, and since I couldn't fit them all in my few Tupperware bowls, I had to eat a lot :/

It's so beautiful to see snow in the city!

5 days

The New Soundtrack

When I hit a slump, what usually picks me up is NEW MUSIC. I love new music! And I love music! And there's a time and a place for all kinds, all genres!

I caved in and bought Ke$ha... the poor man's Gaga. Sorry! I couldn't resist, but it's FABULOUS, plus it's great work out music! A few singles were thrown in there as well, including the blast from the past Monica's "Don't Take It Personal (Just One Of Dem Days)" and it's made a great soundtrack for my rainy Sunday.

Six days! Six days! Six days!

Santacon Saturday

Today in NYC is Santacon... it's basically a pubcrawl but everyone participating must dress up as Santa Claus. When I first heard about it I was planning on partaking of the festivities, but it crept on me and I didn't have the energy to go buy any Santa regalia. Nevertheless, it really warms my heart to know that there is always something badass going down in the Big Apple.



Last night was a "Bossless Happy Hour" put on by my boss. Both the academic and operations departments have been without immediate supervisors and we have been relying on our Center Director for direction and support. (And I love Greg, I think he is the best boss / supervisor I've ever had the privilege of working under) but he referred to himself as "the grandpa who spoils us" so as a last hurrah before the academic manager starts next Monday, he took us all out for a happy hour. And of course, my "I'll just stay for one drink" turned into a few more than that. And tonight is a cocktail party at the former academic managers' place, actually in my neighborhood, so I didn't want to spend the day drinking at Santacon and then going for cocktails.

In exactly a week I will be in a plane on my way to California! But I've got a lot going on before that: Cocktail party tonight, church and open play volleyball tomorrow, last volleyball game on Wednesday, the company holiday party on the East Side on Thursday, and training my fill-in all week for my two weeks off... it's going to be amazing!! Like a winter break in college!

May I add that we are all incredibly excited for the holiday party next Thursday? My company may have taken away our color printers, but I don't think they will ever forfeit our monthly happy hours or holiday parties. I'm excited to be in New York with corporate where they really know how to throw a good gig... these things are apparently legendary. Yesterday during our lunch break, Jayna, Jenny and I headed off to Macy's to help Jayna find a dress (I will be reusing my Vegas dress from October) and it got me really excited for it! The only problem is that it's going to be on a Thursday! Hmmm.

Time for me to go running in Central Park. I have a few new Ke$ha songs to run to!



This picture is from a few weeks ago, but still cute. I was probably excited about my freshly threaded eyebrows. I love that. (P.S. I was wearing a strapless top, not naked!)

BODY FUZION

I was thinking about how next week is the last volleyball game for the fall season, and how I was sad because I want to continue to be active, and even take it up a notch. Everyone says it's hard to do things in the winter around here because it's just too cold.

Still, I thought about getting some winter warmups for running in the cold, and then I thought about aerobic videos, and then I remembered this little number from SNL that I just love and couldn't resist showing. Anyone who ever saw their moms aerobic videos as a kid can appreciate this (suffer through the ad, it's worth it!)



Also, I'm not sure if it's possible but I think that I might be getting sick again?? At this point I just want to be home already :/

Eight days!

Dive Bar

I went to Boston this past weekend, got in late Sunday night. On Monday, my team had a make up volleyball game at a gym just a few blocks down from my place. Because of this, i was easily swayed to join them afterwards to the nearby "Dive Bar" (called Dive Bar) where we crowded into an already crowded bar for the Jets v Patriots game, and watched the Jets be absolutely annihilated (much to my joy!) over pitchers of Brooklyn Lager.

Tuesday was the late night venture into Koreantown with Reginald + Betsy & Co.

Wednesday was the regularly scheduled volleyball game and after the late night Monday rounds, I decided I would go straight home after the game. HOWEVER... I didn't take into account that we would have such a fabulous game that should have been shown on ESPN! Our normal setter was out, so our designated coach told me I would be setting in her place. I have to say that I am not half bad at setting up the ball for some hits, but since the setter controls and manages the court, I didn't want to do it! However, it ended up being awesome, I had way more of a workout from the run-around, and got to have SO MUCH netplay! I was blocking balls at the net, tipping them over and down, and setting up our hitters left and right. We won the game by a game point made by a player who had fallen and was laying on the ground as he hit it! It was incredible, so I had to go for a celebratory drink... again at Dive Bar, and again going home pitchers of Anchor Steam later. And it's right in the neighborhood so it was a short walk home. (Mind you this picture below must be from the summer cause there is DEFINITELY no one sitting around OUTSIDE at night with the weather we have now!)



I hate that volleyball is only 1 day a week (having the double header this week was great!) I want to join some more sports and be more active during the week, but it gets expensive. I really should've taken more advantage of those sports and activities in school while I was a student.

Down to 9 days (single digits)!

Koreatown

Before I moved to NYC I had never had Korean food, not even once. I couldn't even tell you what constituted Korean food or even a basic idea of the cuisine. And now, maybe it's just more popular here, maybe it's because I work so close to Korea town, or maybe I've just finally branched out, but since I've been in New York City, I can't even count how many times I've had Korean food now.

I bring it up because last night Ronnie's mother, who is in town, took us out to dinner... a table of 5 friends which included ourselves and Betsy and Casey. It was AMAZING, not only to have dinner with everyone, but just Ronnie's mother herself, who apparently only trusts Queens, Bloomingdales, and Koreatown, for her living, shopping, and eating needs while in New York City, respectively. She was so concerned about everyone enjoying their food, that everytime I ventured a name of what I was thinking about to Ronnie she told me "no". And actually, her and Ronnie ended up getting into an argument about my meal... and Mother Ronnie won! I had some sort of barbecue bul go ki beef? It was delish. And the appetizers were all good too, except anytime someone would reach for something Mother Ronnie didn't think they would like, she would tell them "no, don't eat it". At the end of the meal she ordered this icy soy dish for us. She is so sweet! After that we went and got coffee and tea, and Ronnie made me order the "Longing Heart" tea, which looked like an aquarium. It was a good mid-week meal and fun to see Betsy and Casey too!

On the way out, I went to the same subway stop as Ronnie and Mother Ronnie, who didn't like where we stood. "No light! Come this way" and walked us over to a brighter platform. When the train was coming: "Ronnie! Stand back!" She was just the cutest thing ever!



I am happy to have so many Korean experiences with Mother Ronnie in them

Snow Flurries

In checking the weather for Boston for last weekend, it kept saying there would be "snow showers" on Sunday. Though my bus left in the late afternoon, I never did see any snow.



This morning as I left my apartment for work, I was thinking about the missed snow, and walking to the subway, it looked like there was debris, or ash, in the sky. I realized that it was snow. It wasn't sticking, and it wasn't very heavy, but the first snowflakes of the season are here (time to man up and go get my winter wardrobe stocked... anything more than the 3 days worth I have now is probably a good thing).

Boston in Autumn

This past weekend was my 3rd trip to Boston this year... my very first time was in the spring, then I hit it up (along with Cape Cod) in the summer, and now my autumn trip to visit my friendy-wendy Chrishon.



I always took the train up to Boston, it was generally a 4 1/2 hour ride non-express (sometimes more) and could cost upwards of $60. However, I found this express charter bus company in New York that travels to Boston and Philadelphia for about 1/3 of the price and gets there EVEN FASTER than the train since there were no stops inbetween. The cons were: no room to move, me getting very nauseous from the car sickness, not a lot of room to move, getting stuck in traffic in and out of Manhattan. Also, waiting in the cold at the bus stop was... cold, but I did get to see Sandra Oh walk by.


(Of Grey's Anatomy and Sideways fame)

Since Chrishon and i go between Boston and NY to see each other, at least it's good to know there's a cheap alternative to the train.

I had forgotten to charge my camera battery, so I didn't get more than 3 pictures out of the trip, but it was still great. Chrishon and I went out to the Boston Commons and got Starbucks, walked some of the Freedom Trail, and just explored the downtown, stopping into some of the historic buildings, shopping around.



I must say, of all the US cities I've visited, none makes me feel more connected to history and thankful for this country than Boston. (Not even DC!) As the birthplace of the revolution, the whole town, the statues, the museums from original houses, meeting halls... they all boast of the workings of the Founding Fathers, of where they met to discuss independence, to plan for the revolution, etc. It was their workings that gave us our freedom and our nation...


(Old South Meeting House)


...and some good beer, thank you Sam Adams!

The city was done up right nice for Christmas, it was so festive and beautiful! I was in heaven with Starbucks and the lights in Boston :)


Pretty pretty Winter St


The big beautiful tree behind Faneuil Hall

On Saturday night, Chrishon and I also went out to eat along the Charles River (and got our entire meal comp'ed + desserts, since they had to have us move tables for a huge party coming in, not bad!) and then we made drinks and got ready at her home before heading back out and going to an Irish pub / club (pub on the first floor, club on the second!) called Sissy K's, it was great music, reasonable drinks (I think everything is "reasonable" coming from New York City) and fun people.


Look what the K stands for... and even spelled correctly!

It was a quick trip, but so fun and refreshing. Always nice to have company and be in a new city.

Happy Hanukkah!

I knew a handful of Jewish people in California, I'm not an alien to all things Jewish, but nothing says the Jewish experience in America like being in New York City!

The first night of Hanukkah was last night, and my work has a menorah on the front desk in the lobby and it's so festive! I just love holidays, and learning about new religions. I have met plenty of Jews in the city here, their devotion all varying degrees, but I love telling them Happy Hanukkah (really gotta work that word-initial pharyngeal fricative too) and hearing about their celebrations.



...another seven nights of fun!