Afterglow
Winter's finally released its deathgrip on the city, and it's been nothing but clear skies. My neighborhood is absolutely vibrant. Last night Billy, Nico, and I walked to dinner and everyone was out on the sidewalks-- kids playing ball or taking turns with a swing, families sitting on the concrete steps leading to their apartment buildings. One guy was having his cornrows done. Another played Latin music from his double-parked car for all of his friends. And I've never seen the chimichurri van doing such good business.
It's really like something out of a movie. A movie that I'm too white to be cast in, but it's still exciting. Especially after all these insular months of curling in on oneself.
Billy had a workshop with the legendary Maurice Sendak on Saturday, while I joined David, Nico, and his visiting friend Rachel for a daytrip to Philadelphia. We walked around town a bit, enjoyed the sights (oh, to see guys in shorts once again!), ate pretzels on a lawn, and saw Garbage in an impressively intimate venue. I like the new album, but was especially pleased that they played a lot of old stuff. I elbowed some poor girl in the head during "Push It," but she was a good sport.
Shirley Manson really knows how to work a crowd. She's looking a bit older, but is amazingly sexy. And endearing. Can you be both?
Anyway. A fantastic day.
On Sunday I had every intention of going in to work (work has been KICKING MY ASS) but the weather got the best of me and I followed the gang to a dog run at the Cloisters. Paisley made some friends; I read for a bit and then went for a jog. I don't know how people handle cross-country terrain. I ended up off the beaten path, splashing through mud, hopscotching rocks, climbing under fallen trees and jumping iron fences. Just last week I was able to run for half an hour in my grandmother's neighborhood. I barely made half of that in this park. But it still felt better than going to work.
Where I am now. Our new assistant started today, which means I'm no longer The New Kid. In fact, I'm to spend my afternoon training her. I'm hoping she doesn't change the dynamic here too much. And that my newly found ambition doesn't impede our relationship--professional or otherwise.
It's really like something out of a movie. A movie that I'm too white to be cast in, but it's still exciting. Especially after all these insular months of curling in on oneself.
Billy had a workshop with the legendary Maurice Sendak on Saturday, while I joined David, Nico, and his visiting friend Rachel for a daytrip to Philadelphia. We walked around town a bit, enjoyed the sights (oh, to see guys in shorts once again!), ate pretzels on a lawn, and saw Garbage in an impressively intimate venue. I like the new album, but was especially pleased that they played a lot of old stuff. I elbowed some poor girl in the head during "Push It," but she was a good sport.
Shirley Manson really knows how to work a crowd. She's looking a bit older, but is amazingly sexy. And endearing. Can you be both?
Anyway. A fantastic day.
On Sunday I had every intention of going in to work (work has been KICKING MY ASS) but the weather got the best of me and I followed the gang to a dog run at the Cloisters. Paisley made some friends; I read for a bit and then went for a jog. I don't know how people handle cross-country terrain. I ended up off the beaten path, splashing through mud, hopscotching rocks, climbing under fallen trees and jumping iron fences. Just last week I was able to run for half an hour in my grandmother's neighborhood. I barely made half of that in this park. But it still felt better than going to work.
Where I am now. Our new assistant started today, which means I'm no longer The New Kid. In fact, I'm to spend my afternoon training her. I'm hoping she doesn't change the dynamic here too much. And that my newly found ambition doesn't impede our relationship--professional or otherwise.