Another amazing Saturday

Today I slept in a bit then Abby and I went to the farmer's market in Brooklyn. We got this incredible chocolate milk that is served in a glass container. People bring back their containers week to week to get refunds, and refills of the fresh milk. So quaint! We proceeded to buy the ingredients to make an "end of summer" meal since both of us will be gone next weekend and she'll be gone for a lot of September. I think fall will be upon us before we know it!

For our end of summer meal (all ingredients purchased this morning from local farmers):

• Fresh bread
• Gazpacho (pureed tomatoes, onions, cucumber, bell pepper, basil, and garlic)
• Zucchini and Squash sauteed with onions and butter
• Mashed potatoes
• Corn on the cob
• Pear and blue cheese roasted in the oven

And of course, two bottles of red wine. And fresh flowers on the table.

Ahh! Beautiful!

Tomorrow - bike ride to the BEACH!!!

Mystery

Someone from the Vicksburg area code called me three times yesterday afternoon (I missed all three but I would have picked up). They left a voicemail which sounds something like a Radiohead song, but I can't be too sure.

Slammed with more bad dreams and feeling a little sick - probably won't be too adventurous today.

Living it up

So things have been going well. I went on an 8 mile run today in the park near where I'm staying - Prospect Park. I must say that I conquered it well although towards the end my "run" looked more like some lady's "walking the dog." Whatevs. She didn't walk her dog for 8 miles. So this is the tunnel that my phone conversations keep cutting out on (MawMaw):

And this is a shot of the park from where I sat and read my book for an afternoon:



The last two days have been much more laid-back and I've spent more time with my friend, Abby. Today we went to the farmer's market here in Brooklyn, then to the restaurant where her roommate works, The Farm:

(View of the side of the building from outside on the patio where we were sitting. Yes people lived in this building - and the others around it - and yes it would be incredible to have this to look at out your window). After a 3pm "brunch," we headed over to the Brooklyn Flea Market - filled with all the second hand items your average hipster would drool over: vintage glasses, hangbags, and wall hangings. And records.

We have tentative plans to head out to the city tonight and hang out - sort of low-key for a Saturday night. But we've had a low-key weekend since last night was spent drinking beer on the roof and watching the planes circle in to LGA (or JFK, who knows?). Beach tomorrow?? Maybe?? Hopefully at least a bike ride through Brooklyn.

Loving life a little bit. For now.

Woe is me

Every shoe that I brought here is giving me blisters. Stupid walking everywhere...

Day 2 in the City

Today my only plan was to stop by my friend's cafe and drop off a resume. I wandered around the area a bit (the Village) which is one of my favorite spots in Manhattan. I made it to a Peanut Butter & Jelly place I really like. So here was my lunch:


That's a grilled PB, honey, and banana sandwich, carrot sticks, and chips. And a cup of milk, of course. After that I realized I was near Union Square, another favorite place, and I headed that was to meet my friend Katie. They were having a large farmer's market and I bought a couple peaches and some veggies. Maybe I'll make something to eat tomorrow. On the way to Union Square, I walked through Washington Square Park, yet another favorite park of mine.

There it is with the archway and fountain. All in all a good day and tomorrow I think I'll do more wandering - with my unlimited Metro card - and end up in Central Park?

NYC - finally

On my second train of the day, I sat with my giant duffel bag on my lap, the other one between my legs and my booksack resting on the seat against me. A tourist threw a piece of garbage out of the subway door and onto the tracks. A New Yorker across from me appeared ready to kill him.

Welcome to NYC!

I took a wrong turn out of the subway and walked eight extra blocks with said bags in tow. But I made it and will soon venture out for my job interview. Then meeting friends for dinner laters??

Big first day in the city.

Progress Report

I ran 6 miles earlier this week and the fact that it didn't seem like a big deal is a pretty freaking big deal to me. Miles 3 and 4 were rough and I kept thinking I had gone further than I thought, but when it was all over I felt like I could keep going which is a good place to be. Tennessee has been laden with hills and that probably presented the greatest challenge, but I ran them well and my legs burned in thanks.

Tomorrow I fly into New York City on my one-way ticket. I have a lot of anxiety about this but am trying to deal with it the best way I can. Earlier I dealt with it by packing, now I am writing a blog post about it (and frantically trying to email my hostess, Abby). Later I will probably call Paolo and write down everything he tells me to do, from what bus to take to what stop to get off and how much money to have.

Plus I will be navigating all of this with three medium sized bags. No fun, I say.

But after that I will be in my new temporary residence and then I will be off to my first job interview. Navigating the subway a second time, I will have to get to SOHO and interview for a management position at a bakery. Hopefully the job is what I wanted and I will not have to look again for some time. And I can start making money again and begin to look for a place to live. Although I keep thinking I will try the city out, I don't know if I can try it out without staying for longer than a few months.

Roommate, anyone?

Dreams

I dreamt about my family last night. I dreamt that we were at my grandfather's house and that they had decided to fill the pool with water again to preserve it. Asher was walking and he walked right in to the pool while we were sitting outside. I walked right in after him, pulled him out and held him close to me until he was breathing again. My aunt needed to leave and my grandmother was going with her to clean her house. My parents and my sister and I were leaving also to go back home. We would all be leaving PawPaw at home while we went to do other things. He was upset Asher had fallen in the pool. I heard him crying. I did not want to leave him alone.

It was weird to see him, so real, in a dream.

I said goodbye

I said goodbye to you today. I went through old photos. Old boyfriends. Old friends. Old places. I threw most of them out. I piled all of my things in the living room in front of the fire place. I should apologize for spending most of our last day together watching tv, but I've never been good at goodbyes. My old room? Haven't slept there in forever. So I spent my last night in the guest room - I've been a guest in that room for a while. We used to have parties. We used to swim, run, lay out, and play. It's been a while since we did all of those things. But I'll miss my house.

I said goodbye to you today. You weren't there. I came to the place I last saw you and the last place you would rest. I sat at your feet and rubbed my hand across your name. My name. I listened. It is so quiet here! You've got a nice place to stay, I guess. The only sound heard is the breeze blowing through the flowers left here, the memorials. Flags fluttered. Birds chirped. And I could hear the echo of your voice. I could hear the echo of my tears. I asked if you were proud of me. You didn't answer. I told you that I just wanted to be like you. I told you what I was thinking of doing and that I didn't know what I was thinking of doing. I told you I was going to take a trip like you. I was going to lead like you. I thanked you for the things we could not talk about when I last saw you. I wish I could remember our last conversation, but I'll remember this one for a while. I'll miss you because you're gone but I'll miss you because I'll be gone, too.

I do

Remember when we rode bikes to get spearmint snocones with vanilla ice cream. With bubble gum stuck in them.

Remember when you sat outside with me so that I could swim. You would say a category and I would jump into the pool, naming the item.

Remember the time you brought ducks to my show and tell.

Remember when we went to Ship Island and saw dolphins.

Remember playing on the computer with me. Reader Rabbit was the best.

Remember going outside to play with chickens, ducks, Sugar, rabbits, pigeons, goats, etc.

Remember when snakes would be on TV and you would yell because you hated snakes.

Remember your riding mower. Fast like a rabbit. Slow like a tortoise.

Remember watching movies with me.

Remember hiding Easter Eggs in the house (or outside). We had all our favorite places to hide (like the fishmouth).

I remember your swing. And watching for lightning bugs in the summer. Singing "Swing Low."


Swing Low. Sweet Chariot. Coming forth to carry me home.