Two months since my last entry, here I am finally sitting to write about it. Things have changed since you last heard from me. I've moved to an apartment with my best friend here and her 1-year-old. I drink a cup of coffee almost every morning (as it turns out, so far I like Hazelnut best, just like my favorite aunt). I wrote a new song, my first since 2006. I haven't slept past 8am or so in a month. I played piano at a wedding's cocktail hour, I climbed Mt. Washington, I saw my ex-boyfriend (now friend) for the first time in 6 years, I visited some old dear friends (including Caffe Lena) in Saratoga, I have completely ignored my gym membership. OK, so I'm lying on that last one, that's nothing new. I wonder why I don't just go ahead and cancel the damn thing. I guess it's a matter of pride, or of misplaced optimism.
It's too overwhelming to consider much in the way of details about all these things, so here are some pictures with "captions" instead:
Here is a silly picture of Maurizio and me, at the bar after Caffe Lena, last week. He was one of my very first friends, when I started going to the open mic, and we've had some good times. I'm pretty sure we are both laughing at the photographer at this point. [photo from Maurizio]
It was really great to be back in NY, after waiting far too long... playing at Lena's went so much better than I expected, given that I hadn't played/sung in public since I moved away (May '08), and only took a few days beforehand to learn a new cover and write a new song. I was surprisingly calm, once I put my fingers on the keys... maybe it was all the moral support. It was so good to see everyone and be in that "vibe" again, I hope I can go back soon.
At the summit of Mt. Washington with Matt, after hiking up via Tuckerman's and the Lion's Head trail. It was like climbing 4.2 miles and 4,300ft of elevation on one big, steep, rock staircase. The first half was the worst for me, which was more gradual and relentless... the second half, which was open to the sky and required lots of rock hopping/scaling, was strangely liberating... I love heights, and the adrenaline rush of knowing you are climbing a mountainside (instead of walking up a rocky path in the woods) made it fun, even though by the end I was pretty exhausted and so ready to just take the dumb bus back down (which was our plan, thankfully). hehe. [photo from Matt]
This is Tegan, my roommate Erin's little girl. She's usually pretty loud and rambunctious. But here she is settling down so I can read to her about T-900 and the Pablonator. [photo from Erin] It's taking some adjusting to living with a toddler, but it's going ok so far. [As I type she is screaming in resistance to her nap, hehe.]
And here's our table at Bethany's wedding. Erin is just to my left, she was a bridesmaid for our high school friend Bethany. I played the cocktail hour and got to stay for the reception, which was pretty fun. I love an excuse to dance to cheesy classics. Two weddings down, one (my brother's) to go! [photo from Bethany]
Speaking of which, my bro's Hawaiian-themed wedding shower is this Sunday and I believe I (as the maid of honor) have some planning and preparing to do... I have the day off so I have some time, but perhaps I should get started on something... like buy a shower gift? Ha ha.
and THEN, in a mere 2 weeks, CHRISTA is coming to visit! We'll spend the first night in Portsmouth, the second in Boston, and the last few days up here in NH. It's been about 2 years since we've seen each other so it will be so great to meet up again. Yaaaay! :)
later folks! Hope you've all had good, eventful summers too!