Well now here we are, mostly all the way through April. Time is moving so quickly! Lately I have really been hating on New York, so I wanted to relieve some of my irritation by writing about things that I like about it and will probably miss when I live elsewhere. So, here we go:
1. Yesterday when I was leaving work, a "Nuts 4 Nuts" vendor was trying to push his cart onto the sidewalk, but couldn't pull it over the apron. As I walked by he said "help! help!" so I pushed the cart up while he pulled it. It was funny, and it probably doesn't happen often in other cities.
2. The Brooklyn Bridge. I've walked over it twice, and even though it was crawling with tourists both times, I still loved it. It is the coolest bridge, and the best walk I've gone on in the city. And you can't beat the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory on the other side. Something about sitting on a pier and eating ice cream after a long-ish walk. Yum.
3. The Chrysler Building. It's so pretty, how can you not love it?
4. Extreme proximity of everything. While I sometimes find this overwhelming, it is really convenient. Need some gochujang? Got it. PG Tips Decaf? Also got it. Need a freaky costume when it isn't Halloween season? Check. However, if you need to buy shampoo and cereal in the same store, you're SOL (but that's for another list...)
5. The history. New York is old. Washington Square Park used to be where people were hanged for various treasons and then buried right there in the ground. Also Wall Street used to be an actual wall! Crazy. There is a lot to learn about this place, and I don't think I've even scratched the surface.
6. Public transportation. It is mostly nice.
7. The Met Opera. I have to say I am really bummed that I won't be here when they do Carmen. But maybe I'll come back for that!
Okay, that is all I can think of right now. 7 Things That are Cool About NYC (That I Will Probably Miss). There you have it! If it's another month before I post, I will be oh so close to leaving this town. And I have to say another nice thing about New York: it is really easy to leave.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
what happened to march?
Well my friends, it seems that March has come and gone. I hardly noticed it, and I really can't believe how quickly time is flying. March was a busy and fun month for me - I had 2 band concerts, and I went to Maine to visit one Ms. Kate! Maine was so beautiful, full of snow and pine trees, and I really loved spending time with Kate and her boyfriend Ryan. They made delicious food for me, and apparently homemade ravioli, bread, waffles are all a normal thing for them!
This month I also made a speech in Toastmasters which was modeled after my last blog post. It was my third speech, and I thought it went really well considering that it was our membership drive and there were 50+ people in the room including some well-seasoned toastmasters! I have never been that nervous standing in front of a group of people.
Last weekend I went back to Hackettstown to visit Paris, Natalie and Abbie, and I have to say it was absolutely WONDERFUL. It made me so thankful that we have remained friends for so long, despite periods of time where we might have lost touch.
Well, I am excited for the weeks ahead, as my time in New York winds down. April and May are really nice months in the city, as you begin to see signs of life in the warmer weather.
This month I also made a speech in Toastmasters which was modeled after my last blog post. It was my third speech, and I thought it went really well considering that it was our membership drive and there were 50+ people in the room including some well-seasoned toastmasters! I have never been that nervous standing in front of a group of people.
Last weekend I went back to Hackettstown to visit Paris, Natalie and Abbie, and I have to say it was absolutely WONDERFUL. It made me so thankful that we have remained friends for so long, despite periods of time where we might have lost touch.
Well, I am excited for the weeks ahead, as my time in New York winds down. April and May are really nice months in the city, as you begin to see signs of life in the warmer weather.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
This past weekend I went on a trip to Ithaca to see friends, hear music, and eat delicious food. It was a lovely trip, and although the weather was unbearably cold, I had a great time and was granted with a greater appreciation for the balmy NYC temperatures. On Saturday morning I had coffee with Chris, my unusually tall friend, and we had a conversation about how we each feel about Ithaca, now that we've moved on and started to carve out lives for ourselves. We agreed that, although we both love Ithaca (and probably always will), neither of us felt like it was home anymore.
At various times in the past 6 years I've thought of Ithaca as an answer to something. Before I was a student I was sure it would be the place where I would "find myself." It's been a refuge, a home, a place I wanted to get out of... but I guess that is the way with any place you live for an extended period of time. The last time I visited post-graduation it felt alive with memories. Anyway, the conversation with Chris reminded me that you can't go home again.
And it's true: you can't go home again. I have always found this phrase immensely depressing. I used to hate any reminder of the general impermanence of things in life, but this time I found the phrase comforting. Knowing that I can't go home again helps me resist the temptation to pine for that ever elusive and beautiful ghost: the past. Ithaca is not my home anymore, but I can enjoy it now with fresh eyes and a sense of possibility.
At various times in the past 6 years I've thought of Ithaca as an answer to something. Before I was a student I was sure it would be the place where I would "find myself." It's been a refuge, a home, a place I wanted to get out of... but I guess that is the way with any place you live for an extended period of time. The last time I visited post-graduation it felt alive with memories. Anyway, the conversation with Chris reminded me that you can't go home again.
And it's true: you can't go home again. I have always found this phrase immensely depressing. I used to hate any reminder of the general impermanence of things in life, but this time I found the phrase comforting. Knowing that I can't go home again helps me resist the temptation to pine for that ever elusive and beautiful ghost: the past. Ithaca is not my home anymore, but I can enjoy it now with fresh eyes and a sense of possibility.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
to tweet no more
I left twitter. It was too weird.
The main reason is that I didn't like the false sense of community that it provided. I get enough false community from Facebook, thankyouverymuch. For instance, I have a friend who lives 135 miles away, who I talk to often, but rarely see. But, through twitter, I knew what he was doing every day, so I felt like I didn't need to talk to him, because I already knew what he was doing. And so rather than feeling closer to him, I felt further away. Anyway, it was too weird and distracting, so I quit.
In other news, I saw The Bridge Project's "The Winter's Tale" last night at BAM. I had never read it before, and didn't know much about it, but I thought it was really beautiful. I'm still processing it, so I don't have much to say about it other than that.
Yet another news item: going to Ithaca this weekend! I haven't been back since December of 2007, so I think it will be a nice treat to see it once more. I can't wait to eat at CTB and Viva, and see old friends and professors! Yay.
Ok friends it is back to work for me. Farewell.
The main reason is that I didn't like the false sense of community that it provided. I get enough false community from Facebook, thankyouverymuch. For instance, I have a friend who lives 135 miles away, who I talk to often, but rarely see. But, through twitter, I knew what he was doing every day, so I felt like I didn't need to talk to him, because I already knew what he was doing. And so rather than feeling closer to him, I felt further away. Anyway, it was too weird and distracting, so I quit.
In other news, I saw The Bridge Project's "The Winter's Tale" last night at BAM. I had never read it before, and didn't know much about it, but I thought it was really beautiful. I'm still processing it, so I don't have much to say about it other than that.
Yet another news item: going to Ithaca this weekend! I haven't been back since December of 2007, so I think it will be a nice treat to see it once more. I can't wait to eat at CTB and Viva, and see old friends and professors! Yay.
Ok friends it is back to work for me. Farewell.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
delicious
Since Kate is off in the mountains today, I have no one to talk about food with. So I decided to share this recipe with you all, and you can try it if you wish! It is simple, and you can really do lots of different things with it.
This is a kind of variation on the Korean bibimbap, and kind of a regular stir-fry.
Ingredients:
red chard (or any swiss chard)
carrots, sliced thinly
scallions
mushrooms, sliced
garlic
ginger (optional)
brown rice
firm tofu (or beef if that's your thang)
one egg (optional)
sesame oil
rice vinegar
soy sauce
First, start your rice cooker because brown rice takes a loooong time to cook. If you don't have a rice cooker, I would make the rice before you start any of the sauteing. Also if you don't have a rice cooker, you should get one because they are awesome.
If you are making this dish with ground beef, you will want to cook it before you do the vegetables. Cook it up in a frying pan until it is almost done - medium rare - because you will cook it more later.
Heat a couple tablespoons of sesame oil in a large frying pan or wok. When hot, add diced garlic (or a whole clove if you just want the flavor without eating the actual garlic) and ginger and heat until you hear it sizzling. Then add the carrots, mushrooms, and scallions (and whatever veggies you like!) and saute for about 5-7 minutes, until the carrots soften a little. Then add the firm tofu, crumbled (or beef), and saute for a minute or two longer. Finally, add the swiss chard and saute until the leaves are wilted, but not mushy. Then add a splash of rice vinegar, mix it up, and add a splash of soy sauce.
When the rice is done, add it to your frying pan and mix everything together. Crack an egg in the frying pan and stir until egg is cooked. If you have Korean chili paste, or any hot sauce you like, add it now. It's delicious!
Well this was my first try at writing out a recipe that I semi-made up. I hope it works if you try it. You will be in for a treat!
This is a kind of variation on the Korean bibimbap, and kind of a regular stir-fry.
Ingredients:
red chard (or any swiss chard)
carrots, sliced thinly
scallions
mushrooms, sliced
garlic
ginger (optional)
brown rice
firm tofu (or beef if that's your thang)
one egg (optional)
sesame oil
rice vinegar
soy sauce
First, start your rice cooker because brown rice takes a loooong time to cook. If you don't have a rice cooker, I would make the rice before you start any of the sauteing. Also if you don't have a rice cooker, you should get one because they are awesome.
If you are making this dish with ground beef, you will want to cook it before you do the vegetables. Cook it up in a frying pan until it is almost done - medium rare - because you will cook it more later.
Heat a couple tablespoons of sesame oil in a large frying pan or wok. When hot, add diced garlic (or a whole clove if you just want the flavor without eating the actual garlic) and ginger and heat until you hear it sizzling. Then add the carrots, mushrooms, and scallions (and whatever veggies you like!) and saute for about 5-7 minutes, until the carrots soften a little. Then add the firm tofu, crumbled (or beef), and saute for a minute or two longer. Finally, add the swiss chard and saute until the leaves are wilted, but not mushy. Then add a splash of rice vinegar, mix it up, and add a splash of soy sauce.
When the rice is done, add it to your frying pan and mix everything together. Crack an egg in the frying pan and stir until egg is cooked. If you have Korean chili paste, or any hot sauce you like, add it now. It's delicious!
Well this was my first try at writing out a recipe that I semi-made up. I hope it works if you try it. You will be in for a treat!
Monday, February 2, 2009
tweet tweet
Today I joined twitter, despite my skepticism about ambient awareness. But I think it's kind of cool to see little random updates from my friends throughout the day. Even though it is cyber, it still makes me feel connected to people. Technology is weird.
Also, today is Groundhog Day! Apparently Phil saw his shadow so we are in for six more weeks of winter, which stinks. All day I was thinking about the movie Groundhog Day, and everything I did I thought, "would I do this again if this day kept repeating itself?" Most of the time the answer was no. If this day repeats itself tomorrow, I think I will get up and make my oatmeal and tea the same way, but then I would go outside and bask in the 50 degree weather. I would not go to midtown, or to my office. I'd go to a museum and walk around the city for a while, during the day when it is relatively empty. I would rent a boat and paddle on Central Park Lake. I would also plan for what I would do the next day, and the next, and the next...
So happy Groundhog Day, my fair readers. I hope the next 6 weeks of winter are a little warmer than the last.
Also, today is Groundhog Day! Apparently Phil saw his shadow so we are in for six more weeks of winter, which stinks. All day I was thinking about the movie Groundhog Day, and everything I did I thought, "would I do this again if this day kept repeating itself?" Most of the time the answer was no. If this day repeats itself tomorrow, I think I will get up and make my oatmeal and tea the same way, but then I would go outside and bask in the 50 degree weather. I would not go to midtown, or to my office. I'd go to a museum and walk around the city for a while, during the day when it is relatively empty. I would rent a boat and paddle on Central Park Lake. I would also plan for what I would do the next day, and the next, and the next...
So happy Groundhog Day, my fair readers. I hope the next 6 weeks of winter are a little warmer than the last.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Pancakes and some music
For the last 2 weeks I've been adhering to a new diet called Macrobiotics. It is pretty complicated, so for simplicity's sake I will say that it is basically like being vegan, except you eat sea vegetables a lot, and you can eat fish. It's also about balance, so it's not super restrictive and there is no holier-than-thou attitude about it. Anyway this morning I made amazing vegan pancakes that I found at vegweb.com. It's a very simple recipe:
1 c. plus 2 tbsp whole wheat flour
1 tbsp brown sugar (I used dark brown)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp applesauce
1 c. plus 2 tbsp water or soy milk (I used vanilla soy milk - it added a nice extra bit of sweetness)
Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Then add the applesauce and water/soy milk and stir well, until batter drips from a spoon but is not runny. Heat the griddle or frying pan and spray with olive oil or cooking spray. When the pan is hot, ladle the batter onto it. Flip the pancakes over when they bubble a little bit on the edges. Keep them warm in the oven or microwave while you cook the rest of them. This recipe makes 8 medium-sized pancakes. They are delicious plain or even with a tiny bit of Peanut Butter & Co. peanut butter spread on them.
I enjoyed my pancakes with some Iron and Wine too, who I've been obsessed with for the past week or so. I even learned 2 songs on the guitar, and am trying to work my way up to the finger picking - although it is hard to know where to start with that. I guess it'll be best to just dive right in! I've also been listening a lot lately to Neko Case and The New Pornographers, and I highly recommend TNP's album Twin Cinema and Neko Case's album Fox Confessor Brings the Flood.
So there you go - a new recipe and some music recommendations! How do you like that.
Also, happy new era with President Obama.
1 c. plus 2 tbsp whole wheat flour
1 tbsp brown sugar (I used dark brown)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp applesauce
1 c. plus 2 tbsp water or soy milk (I used vanilla soy milk - it added a nice extra bit of sweetness)
Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Then add the applesauce and water/soy milk and stir well, until batter drips from a spoon but is not runny. Heat the griddle or frying pan and spray with olive oil or cooking spray. When the pan is hot, ladle the batter onto it. Flip the pancakes over when they bubble a little bit on the edges. Keep them warm in the oven or microwave while you cook the rest of them. This recipe makes 8 medium-sized pancakes. They are delicious plain or even with a tiny bit of Peanut Butter & Co. peanut butter spread on them.
I enjoyed my pancakes with some Iron and Wine too, who I've been obsessed with for the past week or so. I even learned 2 songs on the guitar, and am trying to work my way up to the finger picking - although it is hard to know where to start with that. I guess it'll be best to just dive right in! I've also been listening a lot lately to Neko Case and The New Pornographers, and I highly recommend TNP's album Twin Cinema and Neko Case's album Fox Confessor Brings the Flood.
So there you go - a new recipe and some music recommendations! How do you like that.
Also, happy new era with President Obama.
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