See the forest through the trees.

It has been exactly one month since I packed up and left Chicago for good.
Nothing to say, so here are the pictures I promised (coast to coast):

One month ago.






West Coast.














East Coast.











*****

Notwithstanding

Today, I ordered a rug, and finally came up with lots of decorating ideas. A lot of them specifically involve objects re-purposed for function, or just plain fun, which makes me excited. I need to find a new creative outlet and way to keep artsy for my own sanity.

Other accomplishments include: ****

Seeing the "Top of the Rock" (Rockefeller Center) and the CBS Late Show building.

Finding a dive bar with a good jukebox (and the occasional free shot and free cannoli).

Meeting up with an old friend from Chicago.

Making it through my first classes, and actually understanding the reading.

Doing all my homework.

Walking up and down the stairs in my apartment building at least once a day (on average) instead of taking the elevator all the time.

Buying lots of fresh fruit off the street and not even bothering with Whole Foods.

Cooking omelets and broccoli for myself (hey, at least it's cooking).

Buying six notebooks today for a penny each! And general coupon-clipping.

Learning when to walk away from conversations that a) make me unhappy and b) I don't need to be a part of. (Mostly, I am referring to the table talk at the student housing pizza party that revolved around exams. I moved tables.)

Planning a different outing to a different show with a new music buddy. (!) Or rather !!!, that is [chk chk chk] in Brooklyn in just a couple of weeks. I'm excited. New band. New venue. New friend. New new new = new excitement.

**** I do want to point out that almost none of the things mentioned in my last entry ever happened/came true/still hold. I did not go to that show, or join that gym, or invite anyone upstairs for honey wine after the pizza party. But in spite of all that, I feel pretty good. Not settled, but on my way.

Hello, New York

The first thing I saw when I walked into my little studio for the first time on Friday:
Skyline view, south from 11th Street.

It was a good way to start the day and my new life here in New York. But, I have to say, this city is crazy. Like every other city and niche and fetish on steroids. There is a store around the corner that just sells lacy designer stockings. And another devoted just to the Russian photography movement known as lomography. And about five 24-hour deli/grocers where you can get anything you need from bananas to beer to toilet paper and cereal -- for about three times the price it should be.

Yesterday finally felt right. Slept 'til noon, but that was excusable considering I was up until 7 a.m. unpacking and looking for furniture and other household essentials on craigslist and Amazon. After running a few errands (groceries, post office), I checked out six thrift stores and came home with a nice, white, upholstered chair -- which my mother immediately warned me to check for bed bugs. (Fair enough, and I did, and I feel confident that this prudent purchase from the City Opera Thrift, only $43 including the cab ride home, has passed the NY Dept. of Health Bed Bug Safety Inspection.)

After a little more unpacking, it was off to 24-Hour Fitness at Broadway and Houston to check out my replacement for kickboxing with Mike. Louise's advice was good: Body Combat seems like the way to go. It was a bit of a culture shock, though, to see that this tiny, upstairs, smelly, sweaty place, jam-packed with young, eager, worker-outers, would be my new gym. But I guess it will work. The hardest part was trying not to laugh when all the Yelp reviews came true, especially the ones about trying to have yoga class below a weight room. (Might as well be a bowling alley upstairs.) But jogging through Soho and pushing through another 20 minutes on the treadmill and Body Combat and yoga class seemed to do the trick. Finally, I relaxed. And as a reward for pushing through the day, I went out for a single class of wine at Gittono on Greenwich Avenue about 1:15 a.m., met a nice hipster bartender who suggested a Sicilian table wine called Scinniri. It was perfect -- full-bodied and flavorful, yet dry, and complete.

I don't think I'll have time to bake cookies today before the pizza party downstairs in my building, but I did manage to get to Trader Joe's for some honey wine. So if in the next three hours or so I manage to clean up the mess in my apartment, and hopefully I manage to meet and talk to some interesting people at the little welcome party, I can invite them upstairs for a glass. If I can find/unpack the glasses.

Oh! One more bit of exciting news. In all likelihood, tomorrow will be my first real night out in the city, to see Eliot Lipp open for BOOMBOX at the Bowery Ballroom. The venue seems really cool and not overpriced. Plus, since thankfully Eliot Lipp is not the headliner, I'll get to enjoy a sweet dance party with one of my old favorite DJs and still get up on time for Orientation on Thursday.

Last thing: If anyone has any ideas about decorating and/or rearranging/acquiring furniture, here is the layout of my apartment. Comments welcome!

Life in the Redwoods

All is well. Spent yesterday and today chopping and stacking wood, clearing brush, cooking and cleaning around the house with other WWOOFers. Journaling is easier (and nicer) than this computer stuff, so I'll touch back later.

Soundtrack:
Townes Van Zandt

Drink:
Homemade Merlot from Heelsberg

Food:
Veggie Quiche/Souffle, Quesadillas, and (tonight) Tom Kha and Lemon Bars