after the flat tire

I like free events





And I like rooommates




Yay Brooklyn Philharmonic :)

Just saying...

There are few things more disappointing in the morning than paying $2.75 [$3 with tax] for a latte and getting something that tastes like bad hotel coffee. Given, it's always disappointing, but when you haven't actually bought a warm beverage in about a month because your budget doesn't allow it and you finally splurge and it's badly flavored hot water, it's sort of detrimental to your morning.

Sharing Thought Bubbles

I read this bit that I wrote about being so happy last May and how my "newest favorite conversationalist" made me "feel validated". It's strange because I always know what's going to happen next (my June journal self knew too), but I never find the thing to do to stop the other shoe from dropping. What's that word for when something happens only because you feel it'll happen? Maybe it's that... maybe it's not.

Forget the shoes, I'd prefer to be barefoot.


And to be alone* is breathing solo,
An exhale without an in,
A deflated heart and an empty hand-

///

For you, I'd stay.
For me, you left.







*alone meaning lonely

Restoring [my own] Sanity

As I prepared to depart from my office for yesterday's run, the giant storm stopped! The storm ended up being much more dangerous than I had realized at the time (trees uprooted, roofs taken off buildings, ect.), but that was probably why the air felt so perfect when the storm was through. This was my first run in a 2ish weeks and only my third since returning to the city. Yet, I ran a great six miles. I'm not sure how long it took me, as I forgot to restart my watch at a crosswalk or two, but I stopped for about 10 minutes to enjoy the Hudson (pictures below) and just briefly at Central Park and I still managed to get home in about an hour (so maybe sub830). I think seeing other [more in shape] runners along the Hudson and in the Park -along with having so much emotion to run off- just gave me a new sense of energy. I even kept my core strong for most of the run.
I love days when I feel like a runner again. My head cleared;I felt alive. It was perfect.


What was my mid-run stretching spot last fall, while looking South


And North


I'm pretty sure the people who think this city isn't beautiful have just never opened their eyes.



After a great run, I showered, warmed up, ate, and then- it's important to do it in that order- went grocery shopping with Lindsay. We bought ice cream and made a new "friend". Okay, maybe he isn't our new 'best-e' for sure, but it was an interesting conversation to say the least.

With the run and ice cream in, I slept quite solidly.
No matter how I sleep, I rarely feel motivated to get out of bed (Mondays-Fridays). However, this morning I managed to get up with the first alarm and every train came right as I walked up to it. I arrived at work 20 minutes early. With that 20 minutes I confirmed that one of my favorite college friends is coming to visit AND I booked a bus to DC for 10-30-10 because I'm 22 and I want some sanity (or fear- not quite sure which) in this country. It'll just be a one night trip and I will get back to New York in plenty of time for the East Village parade. I <3 Halloween.

In other bits of news:
*Last night I bought a mini-strobe at target
*I am hoping to purchase a bike tonight... we'll see how well Craig's List steared me
*I LOVE Autumn and saw my first beautifully fallen leaves in my neighborhood on the way to work this morning.


I believe in beauty and I believe in adventures!

A Spattering

Friends are important. I like the idea of spending time with them.
We had our very first dinner party last night and it was absolutely wonderful... laughter and delightful foods were enjoyed by all (I think)(at least by me a lot).

Success, by any definition is hard to find. Ralph's definition is particularly difficult. Must we all post it on our fridge?
To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one's self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition.; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--this is to have succeeded."

I'm scared of not succeeding.

In order to fight against the "but I'm too tired to run" thing I've been doing for the past month, I brought my running clothes to work and I'm just going to run home with my phone in one hand and my keys in the other. Woo!

It's going to DOWNPOUR on the way home. I'm banking on it being cleansing.



Songs like this make me cry.

Don't smoke, but here's a light.

I'm an enabler.

I was explaining this to my roommates last night and realized that I've been an enabler for over a decade now. Even back in the sixth grade I was the door guard during spin-the-bottle. We ate lunch in our classrooms and so I would stand by the door and let everyone know when the aide was coming and so they needed to stop playing. I didn't necessarily feel moved to participate in the actual kissing, but if that's what people wanted to do, I was more than willing to facilitate it.

Such is life.

Double Feature

Vote of the [insert appropriate time period here]
Does this belong on the "Ways to tell you're not even ready for searching for a new relationship" or "How to know when you need to eat dinner" list?

Yesternight I was walking down the street when two very attractive guys passed me. I suddenly realized I had been staring and the one noticed. He gave me that "I know you were checking me out smile" and continued passed. It was only once I felt the acknowledgment that I realized where the look came from. He was quite attractive, but I had neglected to check him out. The pizza box he was carrying in front of him, however, deserved all of my attention.

Un, Dis, Can't

I don't want to become a cynic.

The moth three years later

I thought I had been watching how high I was climbing, but I suppose I misjudged. My weight hadn't changed much and gravity is a constant, but when I fell the equal and opposite force was far greater than I imagined it would be. I had avoided the mountains for quite a while, choosing to stroll upon low hills with slight possibilities. But, you were more and so I ignored your words of warning and pleaded with you to come with me. I was tired of the ground and wanted to enjoy more with you. You could not have given me enough reasons to avoid the beautiful rush and the view. I didn't realize how far I'd wandered and how bruised my knees would be when the scene was over.

Wires and Angels

There are a lot of reasons I encourage people to walk without headphones in their ears. They mostly stem from three:

1. You stay aware of your environment and therefore safer (from cars, animals, and people)
2. You can help people... sometimes they need directions or a seat or... you'll never know if you don't open up your ears
3. You learn all sorts of things!

There are many days when you just want to zone and music seems like a great way to shut out the world. This is okay; I do it too. It's just important to remember what you're doing and make it a conscious decision instead of a default action.

Today I received the ultimate reward for keeping my ears open. As I was walking from the subway to my house, an East Harlem couple was walking in front of me. We were walking in the same direction (they live around the corner, I guess) and all of a sudden the guy starts singing. He had an AMAZING voice and his range... sigh. He was singing something that sounded like a mix of 70s soul and gospel and it was fabulous. The female with him joined in, with background bits, and I could've followed them for miles. They sounded like the angels about which they sung.