Work work work

Well, the title basically says it all. I won't complain too much because I still get to leave at a normal hour, but the projects I'm working on now are so much more mentally consuming that I have to make an effort to think about other things when I'm home.

That being said, we are doing a pretty good job wrapping up the summer. We enjoyed a wonderful picnic on the banks of the Hudson for our anniversary. And we went to Summer Streets, where the city shuts off Park Avenue to traffic so that people can run and bike from 72nd all the way down to the Brooklyn Bridge, and different companies set-up booths with freebies. Frozen chocolate covered banana...why yes, thank you Banana Boat. But hopefully we will still have a few more weekends that feel like summer before it leaves us again.

My latest tragedy has been that my bike is broken. We spent part of last Saturday cleaning and putting new tires on my bike only to find out that the derailleur has stopped working. So now it is in the shop, and I only hope that they can replace it tomorrow and that it fixes all the problems so that it doesn't ruin our Labor Day plans of riding over to the Palisades in New Jersey.  Sometimes I wish I didn't own things because I am so bothered when they stop working. Well whatever we end up doing this weekend, I'm glad it includes an extra day.

Summer Vacation

Week one done after being gone for two weeks to Utah, and I am finally feeling back in routine. We had such a fabulous time seeing so many friends and family members while there. I don't know how we got so lucky as to have the kinds of relationships where we can show up after months away and jump right back in to being so close to the people we love.

We hiked the Narrows in Zion, went up to Sundance to explore the back side of Timpanogos, and spent time among the aspens at the Thorley cabin.  I'm realizing more and more that I don't miss the Utah/suburban lifestyle so much--I can get by with apartments and taxis, but I certainly miss the mountains. There is nothing like that feeling of open space and being above it all that you get when  in the mountains of the West.

Brooklyn at Night

We've recently been venturing beyond the familiartiy of Manhattan to explore some of the other boroughs. It turns out Brooklyn is as cool as everyone says. The cheaper rent draws a younger, hipper crowd, so you get awesome things like this night street fair/concert. It was a reminder of the single life and how long it's been since we were there. 

 

Crossing over to Manhattan on the Brooklyn Bridge.

A view of midtown at night.

Botanical Gardens

There are so many free things to do here in the summer, and we have been so very busy taking advantage of them all. There are outdoor movies, concerts, food festivals... It is a lot to keep up with. We spent a Saturday morning a few weeks ago at the New York botanical gardens, and here are some photos of my favorite spots.

Jones Beach

I've found my new favorite place. It's called Jones Beach, and if we ever have a car out here, I will be spending every summer weekend here. I have always wanted to live on the coast, and even when I knew we were moving here, I didn't quite realize that it was fulfilling that wish. Now we've spent the last 2 weekends at the beach and will likely spend a few more before Dane is too busy with school, and I couldn't be happier. This day had particularly strong waves, and the sky was so blue-the perfect day at the beach. On the drive out, we passed all the white sailboats in the bay, and I resolved that I need to learn to sail before I die.

Independence Day

When I left work last Wednesday, the number of backpack toting, stop in the middle of where everyone is walking tourists had quadrupled, which could only mean one thing--the 4th of July. Oddly enough while everyone else wants to be here, something like 5 million people leave the city for the long weekend, so in the end the numbers balance out and the weekend ended up being surprisingly not hectic or crowded. My brother and sister-in-law were in town on their way back from Italy, so we spent the day with them camped out on the Hudson waiting for the fireworks show, eating picnic treats and reminiscing other 4th of July's.

It was hot, but it could have been worse. Macy's sponsors the fireworks and shoots them from 4 barges in the river, so it's an impressive show, but the best part though may have been the cold shower when we got home. Sorry Macy's, maybe if you include refreshing mist and free ice-cream during the show, you'd have the upper hand.

Downtown pier

Copter fly over. The police presence was very, very palpable. Isn't Riverside Park lovely at sunset despite the view of New Jersey.

Some Monopoly Deal to pass the time.

Yesterday

Yesterday when walking to the subway, I saw our local Halal cart (the food carts that guarantee you'll never go hungry or thirsty because they're never more than 3 blocks apart) man kneeling face down on the ground between his cart and a trash can in the sweltering heat. To be honest, at first I thought he was a homeless man sleeping in an odd spot, but he didn't look homeless. And then I saw the mat he was kneeling on and realized he was Muslim and saying his daily prayers. What devotion.

I've never felt so confronted by people in my life as now. Whether I want to or not, I am a daily observer of the lives of complete strangers. Sometimes I'll consciously recognize them, like giving up my subway seat for people who look tired and drained. And sometimes I ignore them with effort, like the people who talk and sing to themselves in all forms of crazy.

But I appreciate the funny or thoughtful moments that pass between people that I pretend not to notice. Sometimes they'll be the most memorable part of my day, and I wonder how random and weird it would be if I ever were to meet these people later and have to pretend that I didn't know them.