J'adore New York

One of my favorite things about the city is the extremely convenient ability to have small adventures. Waking up on a relaxing weekend and wandering out the city is not easily a boring thing - especially in the fall. Pleasant coffee shops welcome you to have conversation. Street musicians play their ditties, hoping for your change. Flea markets buzz, full of little trinkets. Ah, the list goes on. My favorite thing about living here are these things. I've stopped using my camera as much... this has got to change. I'm going to capture these pleasantries from now on.

And now back to work.

I need internet at home...

Happiness...

...hit her like a train on a track

- "Dog Days Are Over"

by Florence and the Machine

The wonderful thing about my work/life complete and utter separation is that life outside of work has become an exceptionally happy place. A few things to love about life...

1. I spend many of my evenings amusing myself by learning the guitar. It's becoming a super-hobby of mine. I don't expect to be good any time soon, but I am thoroughly enjoying becoming mediocre.

2. My room is nature themed.

3. I indulge in a lot of reading of books and watching of movies. Two things which I simply love.

4. I'm coming to an end of a 4 day weekend that was jam packed with wonderful people. I had lots of lovely meals, celebrated birthdays, caught up with old friends, spent time with new friends, and hiked up a mountain. Thank you, Rosh Hashanah, for making it all possible.

5. There is always something new to see in NYC.

6. There is always something new to discover.

7. There are always new memories just waiting to be made, and old ones available to be fondly remembered.

Enjoying life with wonderful people is without a doubt an excellent reason to live each day.

Change

Oh my - it has been far too long since I have blogged. I attribute this to my 2 week vacation (amazing - to be blogged about in the near future), over 60 hour work weeks, and my free time being mostly devoted to the treacherous process of moving. But alas, here I am - in Barnes and Nobles for use of free internet - finally blogging again.

Soon, I'll blog about all the wonderful things - mainly my trip to the south, weddings, new apartment, and fun happenings around the city. For now, I need to blog about something that has almost consumed my mind as of late: change. There are few things that remained constant in my life the past few years, and I find my life altogether changing drastically again.

"There is nothing wrong with change, if it is the right decision"

- Winston Churchill

New Apartment

I am so excited to be living in my new apartment. I never understood the psychological effects of space until now - moving from my tiny, lonely studio into a spacious apartment, and specifically into my new bedroom, I just feel more at ease. There's really no rhyme or reason to it - I just automatically feel more comfortable because of the space, the division of rooms, and the fact that I'm not alone. This, dear Winston, was definitely the right decision.

A Place to Call Home...

A change that has been developing pretty steadily since moving is my comfort level in NYC. I can now say that I feel comfortable in my own skin here. I feel at home here. And I feel like I have an established set of people in my life that I can rely on - happily, a set that continues to grow.

Finding the positives...

There are many other changes (mostly dealing with work) that have been very difficult for me. Because of these changes, I often have to fight feeling devalued or without confidence or just so frustrated I begin to not care. My 2nd year teaching has definitely had a rocky start... but I'm trying to find the positives and embrace the hell out of them and then in turn settle with the things I'm currently struggling with.

Glad to be back. LYMI

1 : 12 : 4,006

1 year. 12 books. 4,006 pages.

In my book of goals for my life, one was to read 12 leisure books in one year. Check!

Now this may not seem like a big accomplishment, but in the past I would be really impressed/surprised if I had read more than 2 leisure books in a year... so this was a big deal for me. I've always enjoyed reading... but now I have found my love for it! Now it is a part of my everyday life (thank you subway and lack of television) and I would hate to lose that.

1. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim

by David Sedaris

David Sedaris has a way of taking every day life and highlighting all the little pleasantries, even where you don't expect them. This series of short anecdotes made me laugh when I needed to laugh the most.

2. The Lost Continent

by Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson's account of his travels across small town America is simple and hilarious. After moving to the big city, it was refreshing to read about our tiny towns, so rich in character.

3. The Year of Magical Thinking

by Joan Didion

After reading books that made me laugh, it was time for a book to make me cry. Joan Didion, a well respected author, shares with us her process of recovery during the year following the death of her husband. Though very technical at times, this book gave me a new insight to sickness, death, grief, love, and hope.
"Life changes in the instant. The ordinary instant."

4. Catcher in the Rye

by J.D. Salinger

A classic high school read, but I'm delighted I chose to read it again. I loved following Holden through this interesting time of transition and self realization.

5. Pillars of the Earth

by Ken Follett

It is a powerful thing when literature captures you and brings you to another place and time - this book did exactly that. Set in medieval times, Follett takes us across countries, spanning two generations, telling a story of love, war, and most importantly, passion - an intense passion for fulfilling a life long goal of building a beautiful cathedral. I will forever look at cathedrals with a new fondness.

6. A Brave New World

by Aldous Huxley

Yet again returning to the high school classic, A Brave New World was a refreshing re-read. An intriguing story about the expectations of society and the few who defy them.

7. Neither Here Nor There

by Bill Bryson

I decided to return to Bryson for another trip - this time, traveling across Europe. Unlike the trips to London, Paris, Rome... Bryson took me to places I hadn't heard of, and once again found many amusing moments in the simple things of these foreign places.

8. To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

Yes, another delightful re-read. Such a beautiful story about justice, childhood, curiosity, and personal secrets.

9. First They Killed My Father

by Loung Ung

Loung Ung writes her personal story of surviving the civil war in Cambodia as she struggles through loss, starvation, and separation. At times, a depressing read as it reminds us of the terrible things humans have done to each other; at the same time a beautiful story of strength, hope, and family.

10. The Mole People

by Jennifer Toth

Toth takes us underground to the interesting world of the Mole People - communities to the hundreds that are living underneath the subways. A fascinating story about people who escape society only to create one in the dark tunnels of abandoned railways.

11. Brooklyn

by Colm Toibin

A story about a young Irish girl who moves to Brooklyn to pursue education, employment, and love. This book did not fulfill my expectations... I was not drawn in until the last chapter of the book. Overall, a rather boring story about a rather boring girl.

12. Letters to a Young Teacher

by Jonathan Kozol

My year of reading 12 books happened to coincide with my first year of teaching. What better way to end both than reading a book of letters written to a first year teacher in inner-city Boston. This book was very appropriate to read at this point in my life as I think about the purpose of education, and my personal purpose as a young, developing teacher.

This year has developed a love for reading that I never thought I could have.

"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."
- Mark Twain

one person

Its amazing how one person and one simple interaction can change your mood completely. I've been in quite a 'blah' mood these past couple days for just a variety of reasons, and I woke up thinking today was just going to be another 'blah' day. Then the exterminator came. Not only am I super excited that he was here because I hate bugs, but my simple interactions with him literally changed my mood, getting me out of that 'blah' funk in 2 short minutes!

There was nothing significant about our interactions... he was just nice, and funny, and helpful. But for some reason, it meant everything.

Smile at somebody.

Be nice.

It just might change their day.

:)