Random Happiness

It's really weird sometimes, the things that make me feel happy. Today, it's gorgeous weather, a little bit cold for my tastes, but sunny and cloudless. There is still snow on the ground. And for some unknown reason it makes me happy that I live somewhere that it snows. Totally nonsensical.

I guess a big reason I moved up here in the first place was that I wanted to be somewhere different than where I had always been before. Somewhere that people had common interests to me, where there was some respect for culture and individuality, somewhere that people enjoy getting dressed and don't just wear jeans and t-shirts or khaki capri pants every day, somewhere with seasons!

I really like that I live in a city--with tall buildings, and cute neighborhoods, and people walking their dogs, and restaurants, and museums, and theaters, and pubs, and coffeehouses, and teahouses, and celebrities, and taxis, etc. and etc. I don't take as much advantage of all of it as I should, but at least I appreciate it! (Except for Midtown in December!)

Another thing that is making me happy is the fact that I might FINALLY get to visit England and Scotland in 2008. My friend Desiree and I are hoping / planning to go around Labor Day! As exciting as it will be to see England, I'm really more looking forward to going to Scotland. It's another thing I can't really explain, but Scotland is calling to me! Has been for years now. Maybe it's the accents, maybe it's my Ewan McGregor love, maybe it's the Loch Ness Monster. I don't know but I can't wait.

Celeb Sighting!

Alan Cumming, walking by on East 9th, looked in the windows of I Coppi and made eye contact with me! I smiled! Well, that's my big excitement for the day.....!!!

Things'll Be Great When You're DOWNtown!

So, I spent my weekend playing tour guide to some of my family from Florida. We did all of those terrible annoying and secretly a little fun touristy things while they were here--Top of the Rock, a Broadway show, Statue of Liberty, etc. And I realized for the millionth time that I really dislike Midtown. Especially in December. It's way too crowded, everyone is rude and pushy, and there's waaaaay too much fleece on display.

What was really funny was that my cousins kept asking me very specific questions about the places we went. Questions I couldn't answer because we were at places I NEVER go unless someone is visiting me and wants to do touristy stuff. At one point my cousin's wife asked me to show her where the bathrooms in Radio City Music Hall were. Well, how the hell should I know that? It's not like I spend a lot of time just hanging out at Radio City Music Hall!

The best part of the weekend for me was when we went and had brunch at I Coppi. The food was amazing, we were able to relax, the place wasn't crowded, and the people I work with made sure we had TONS of food and our glasses were never empty. Afterward I showed my relatives around the Village--East, Greenwich, and West. It's so nice to go down there and just be in a real neighborhood as opposed to following a bunch of other out-of-towners around and acting like this is what real New Yorkers do.

I really miss living in the city, although I like the fact that now I can afford to take more trips and buy more stuff I want and all that crap. I'm really hoping that within the next few years I will start making enough to get my own apartment (not in Manhattan, although that would be awesome--help me out NY Lotto!). I'm over the roommate thing forever, I fear. The next time I move in with someone it will be because I'm in a relationship!

Also, I think I broke my foot or something. Ta!

Wow

iTunes just read my mind and played the EXACT two songs I was hoping it would back to back (on shuffle)! I'm scared and yet...overjoyed...

The Politics of Complacency

I was thinking this morning after reading a few different articles in the New York Times, that although I hate what (Fake) President George W. Bush has done to our country, at least his incompetency and refusal to do anything decent has motivated so many other, "regular" people to take action for causes in which they believe.

Maybe I just like the idea of resistance. But I also really like seeing people realize that change comes from within. There's no way you can rely on other people, especially your government (even when it's a government you voted for), to do the hard work and make the right choices.

It just proves that the U.S., no matter what conflicted feelings I or you or the rest of the world have about it, is really in the end what it sets out to be. A place where new ideas and individuality are safe, even though sometimes it feels like it will take forever for them to be fully realized or accepted. It still moves a lot faster than in a lot of other places in the world. Not ALL places, but a lot.

And I can't say enough about freedom of expression, so I won't even try.
Suffice it to say, although I and millions of others will continue to question it and criticize it, the idea of what we could be still means something to me. And that doesn't just go for the U.S., that goes for all of humanity.

Two inspirational pieces were titled:
"A Broken City. A Tree. Evening."
"The People We Have Been Waiting For"

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