When I am in New York...

In recent years I have developed a certain affinity for New York. I try to get there, in some sort of capacity at least twice per year. It might be my vice. When I am in New York it feels as though anything is possible and this feeling is not duplicated anywhere else and I crave it.

A few weeks ago I went to New York for the weekend to visit my friend, Josh. It's all fresh in my head what about New York is so appealing to me. I was conscious of it all this time & took note.

When I am in New York I am inspired and my mind is moving a million miles per hour with all sorts of ideas of what I could be doing or making or recording & watching. I walk all over leering and jeering. I jump on the subway and watch everyone around me trying to imagine their stories and where they're going and why.

When I am in New York I write down all sorts of lists of things I will do when I get home to Minneapolis: write more, journal more, take more photos, play piano more often....sometimes I follow upon my homecoming, sometimes I don't.

When I am in New York I try to spend at least one day to by myself walking and walking and taking photos and stopping to write here and there. I usually pepper it with dates with old friends. This time I did this while recovering from a weekend of debauchery thus I was a little slower and didn't see as much as I typically do. But I was able to have lunch with my friend, Melissa and see my friend Ted's work and work space for Space Gloves. Yes Space Gloves. Seriously.

When I'm in New York I drink more. I don't think it's because I'm on vacation either. In the middle of the afternoon on a anchored ship on the Hudson or in a piano bar filled with gay men singing show tunes, a drink in hand is supposed to be there.

When I am in New York I make all sorts of new friends. On the subway, at a thrift store, on the street...my most memorable was a few summers ago on the Staten Island Ferry. A life long Jamaica-Queens resident named Vernon & his young granddaughter Davina. We were all in it for the free boat ride. We sat together both ways and had a fantastic time. When we landed back in Manhattan they walked me to my train and hugged me goodbye. He confessed that while he was tempted to exchange contact information to keep in touch he truly felt we would cross paths again. I think of him fondly and kind of look for him every time I'm in New York wondering if our paths will cross again sooner than later.

When I am in New York, I try my hardest to blend in & feel I've succeeded when someone asks me for directions. I feel really accomplished when I can answer and direct them correctly.

When I am in New York I always spend one afternoon in a bookstore. Everyone reads in New York, have you ever noticed this? Everyone and I love that. I find myself picking up books in contemplation to buy that I would never in Minneapolis or anywhere else for that matter.

When I am in New York I feel fashionable. This kind of makes me giggle as New York is filled with people who are switching out their entire wardrobes every season. But just walking down the street whether it's 1st Avenue at 14th or Lenox at 119th I feel very chic and cool...and New York. This is also why I end of with mad blisters. Instead of wearing sneakers I wear Steve Madden flats with no socks and walk miles and miles.

When I am in New York I make a million and one resolutions to myself that someday, yes someday indeed, I will live there. Maybe only for a summer or a winter or a minute, but I will, I will, I will. I am supposed to at some point.

xoxx

The magic of NY.

When I was in New York last month I felt magical. It seemed that everywhere I went I evoked conversation from all walks of people. I was ever snapping photos with my beloved camera and always journaling. That trip left me yearning to live there like never before. Someday perhaps. In the mean time here is a favorite of the many shots I took in those amazing few days. I loved these ladies, though I am pretty sure they didn't love me photographing them.
xoxx

why I can't go in public.

I have always had a tough time with public restrooms. A few years ago my dad, uncle & I were in the midst of a two hour journey by car when I had to pee bad. I looked at them both and said, "Just find a rural spot, I'd rather pee outside than in a gas station." I did exactly this. This is nice illustratation of how I feel about public restrooms, except say at The 112 our favorite restaurant or my gym. I have peed behind in an alley behind a garage in the dead of winter to avoid a house party bathroom. The idea of sitting bare bottomed on a seat wher many others have just grosses me out.

So tonight. I'm in NY at this Cuban bar (best Mojitos in Manhattan) and I need to use the restroom. So I walk to the back of the bar and there's a line. No big deal. But, the man ahead of me insists I go before him. So chivelrous, so nice. Except that I walk into the one stall, one room loo and there is pee all over the seat.

Now, this would not be that big of a deal in most situations as I would squat over the seat do what I need to & be done. But, I can't do this because I have made friends with the person who is not only next in line, but was kind enough to let me go ahead of him. He will think I am the one who peed all over the seat. I wiped the foreign pee, washed my hands and did what I needed to, left the bathroom with a smile and a thanks to the man in line and was on my way.
annoying.

But what else could I have done? Squatted and come out of the bathroom saying, "Thanks & good luck!"? That would not be me.

So imagine pee on a toilet seat and dealing with that in a unisex bathroom (with multiple stalls and people all over) with no doors on the stalls. This was also me tonight.

Still in NY. This time at a gay bar called, Splash. We arrive, I have to pee like a racehorse. We got to the bathroom. I choose the stall that is right next to the towel dispenser and go to close the door but there isn't one. Right, I knew this, I was warned. So I turn & the seat has pee all over it.

Okay, I think, I can go with this, I can.

And I do.

I pull up my dress and pull down my undies. I squat (This looks so hot by the way).

As dozens of bathroom users acquire paper towels to dry their hands they look at me: the girl with the crazy red hair, squatting, hot pink undies clutched in one hand (so they don't get splashed or fall to the floor), balancing per the wall with my other. I make eye contact with a few and laugh in self deprication. No one else does. Not a single one.

xoxx

little ny man & his music.

Having a ball in NY.

I'm here for a few more days & will post more tomorrow when I'm better rested..but I loved this little man & his music.

xo

ny, again.

I am really happy with this shot.

xoxx

synopsis of ny.

this weekend handsome randy and I went to NY.
It was a fanstastic trip. We ate a lot of great food & enjoyed each other's company.
Oh, and our friend, Brother Ali was on Conan O'Brien** on Friday night and Randy was the magic of the soundboard. That entire day was spent at NBC studios in Rockefellar Center...it was really, really great. In addition to Conan O'Brien, we also hooked up with a few old friends and walked all over. I shopped a little & Randy worked more.



A good time was had by all.
xoxx

**To Watch Brother Ali with Mint Condition on Conan O'Brien go here & pick Friday, October 19 & skip ahead to "Act 5".

ny

new york.

i left for new york in the wee hours of monday morning. my lovely aunt pal picked me up at 5:30 for my 7am flight. I arrived & took the train into the city where I was greeted by one of favorite friends, Josh. Josh promptly brought me to this fantasitc restaurant (westwood east) where we were waited on by a very funny young hipster who was from iowa. I had an amazing array of fresh, raosted vegatables from the market: beats with walnuts, green beans & my fav, whole roasted fennel with parmesan. we gossiped & caught up. We then took the subway to central park & spent the afternoon walking through the park and meandering through Time's Square.
After a good nap, I went to Pratt Institute to see my college friend, Ted & his Master's Thesis Exhibit, Articulation. Ultimately, Ted made space gloves as part of a contest for NASA. The exhibit was amazing & I am so impressed with my friend's work & talent - I can hardly wait to see what he does next. I meandered around at Ted's opening for a while & chatted with his mom & lovely girlfriend, Flora. I hadn't seen Teddy in nearly 4 years - crazy. Needless to say, it was great to drop in on him & see his thesis exhibition; it was a terrific excuse for a last minute trip to NY.



I took the train back to the West Village, had a late night pedicure & met up with Josh again. We went to a great hot dog restaurant called Grif's and then wrapped our day up (& my time in NY) over a few pints at a great little Irish Pub. It was a great trip - I am so glad I did it. xoxx

midwest guilt

it's been a while since i've posted (nearly 2 weeks!)..but i worked a lot after the fashion show was over (maybe too much). now i've had a couple of days off in a row which has allowed me to land back on earth. on my way back to earth, I purchased 2 awesome pairs of shoes, a couple of great summer dresses & made plans to fly to new york for a quick little trip on monday flying home on tuesday in time for work at 4pm.
this is so exciting and spontaneous and...stressful. funny. one of my new year's resolutions for 2007 was to travel more. i loooove to travel & I am currently in a place where i have the means & a flexible job...so, monday I'm going to ny, the week after to atlanta & the week after that i'll be in LA. good times, right? but oh do I ever feel guilty.
I was raised in a middle class family in the midwest. modesty was the motto, don't buy the name brand green beans, buy the store brand, they are the same after all & we'll save 10 cents.
At age 28, I am so intent on going against that ideal, sometimes I laugh at myself. No matter the cost, I have intense brand loyalty for shampoo, yogurt, milk, fresh basil, dish soap, apples. APPLES! Seriously. I don't know, maybe it's silly, but in some weird way, it kind of makes me feel like a bonafied adult or maybe it allows me to feel grounded..or maybe it just assures me I am not like my mother.
well, my mother's voice was ringing in my ears last night as I purchased my ticket to NY. I found myself grilling & questioning my reasoning for going and in some instances wondering if I was somehow shirking responsiblities or bills. for example:
is it necessary to go? no.
could you use the money in other ways? yes.
is your rent paid for may? yes.
for june? no.
well, you are going on two more trips in may...
ACH! Midwest guilt!
In the end, I remind myself that this was a new year's resolution. I don't have kids, I have the money, why not? This is the time to do spontaneous trips! By Sunday night I should be over the guilt & feel excited to be in the big apple..even if it is just for one night. xoxx