a new environment

The new workplace is full of tools, plants, and kitties! The outside at least. Inside - computers, books, models, more tools. And the bathroom has a shower! Oh boy...

happiness is...

A soft warm kitty named Smokey curled up in your lap on your first day at work at an architecture firm (finally!). Tiny steps.

grow your own veggies

Some of these things are not edible but you get the idea. Not pictured were eggplant, bell peppers, tomatoes, chrysanthemums, a bay laurel tree, and chili peppers. As long as I've known, my grandma plants as many veggies as she can and even sends us packages once a year, full of Korean side dishes made from home-grown vegetables. We grow some herbs at home but now I want to plant even more, live healthier and grow more of what I consume.

the Museum of Modern Art

On Thursday I went to MoMA with Steph! After I got off the subway up onto the street I could see an enormous line forming and my heart sank a little, but what else did I expect? I got my ticket, dashed after Steph in the lobby as she passed me by and we embraced. Winding through the exhibitions was a little stressful because there were so many people, and I lost interest in photographing the art. No big deal though, as I have my own eyes! Not to say I didn't snap things at all, but the images shown here are an incomplete companion to the full experience, as I said in my post about the Met. Seeing a museum at such a speedy pace is a little harrowing but I guess necessary in such a busy setting as New York. Repeat visits are an absolute must.

current events: occupy wall street

On my last day in New York I went to Zucotti Park to check out the Occupy Wall Street protestors. It had been raining, so everything was wet and kind of filthy, and the protestors seemed restless, but I caught them on a mellower front. Cops were on every corner of the block standing patiently and answering any questions curious passersby were asking. But as I circled the park and walked through it, so many different agendas became apparent and I got the feeling anyone who is upset about anything was stamping his foot and trying to get his voice heard. This protest has set off a chain reaction worldwide, and people are 'occupying' over 80 countries - Canada, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, South Korea, Portugal just to name a few. Will this mark a changing of times? People are certainly raising their voices..

fall in new jersey

In the town of Leonia where my grandparents reside I wandered around the neighborhood until I found this fiery tree and watched a squirrel scramble up its trunk and regard me with slight curiosity. It had been raining and a few droplets trickled down in between leaves, further dampening the sound of my boots on the ground. After spending time with this tree I realized how grateful I was to be able to step away from New York, for my first impression had been lukewarm. The mini-escape from the city, to family was just what I needed.

thank you Steve

While wandering around Manhattan yesterday Steph and I stumbled upon the 5th Avenue Apple Store and a small memorial to Steve Jobs right out front. The Apple Store was under construction but still open (that sign in the diptych does not mean they closed it for Steve's passing, sorry if it comes off that way), and on the way out we rode the glass elevator up to the street. Talk about magical...!

Internet is a little bit spotty at my grandparents' place in New Jersey, so here I present one photograph of my grandfather during his time on an army (naval?) base in Texas in, I want to say, the sixties(?). So unsure but will have to confirm. This trip has suddenly become a pilgrimage to a mecca of family history and memories!

edit: 1963!

the High Line

The High Line. What a glorious way to see the city! I loved all the foliage juxtaposed with the concrete walkway, the overall angled yet sinuous movement, the 'Urban Theater' that in my preconceptions thought would be lame but was actually quite great in terms of if you're on the higher part of the High Line and peeking into that occupied 'box.' Such a seemingly simple, but elegantly executed project, and such a great urban gesture! So inspiring. I'm a little incoherent because I'm so tired. They say New York is the city that never sleeps, but for me it's not that I'm so busy going out and about, I just can't seem to grab more than three hours of sleep a night. Going to try to break that routine now...

brunch

I've been strangely very lazy about documenting my trip, but I'm unapologetic. Pictures are a little sub-par too, I guess I was tired on that morning. Max brought a baguette from work and I forget now what kind of bread it was but we made a mountain of mini-french toasts and ate them out in the back patio with cups of darjeeling tea and the fat cat named Skid. After that we went to the High Line, which is way more unbelievable than I thought it could be, and then the plan was to stop by Washington Square Park by NYU before going over to the occupy Wall Street protest. But we never made it to Wall Street because we people-watched in the park for three hours. One giant slice of pizza for dinner, then drinking too much at a bar near Williamsburg, leaving my favorite blue shirt back at the bar (and I have a feeling I won't get it back...) and then stumbling back to Max's place equaled most of yesterday's adventures.