New York City 2012

I heart SANDY

Last week, we were in New York City visiting Keov. Keov is a significant person in my life. She was an answer to my dreams and prayers last year and I hers. Together we traveled to Cambodia and Thailand and fulfilled one of our life goals, living and volunteering in Cambodia. My encounter with her was anything but coincidence and perhaps our latest encounter in NYC during Sandy was the same. We seem to find ourselves in life-changing, environment-altering situations and I'm glad the universe has deemed her my partner for moments like that. 

John came along which I'm so happy about. It was his first time in the Big Apple and we ate it all up together. We covered most of Manhattan, spent a day in Queens, and shopped in little Brooklyn. Like Keov, John is an excellent travel partner as he has traveled throughout Europe and Peru. He gets the best deals, loves to talk to new people, and carries my bags. Also, if it weren't for him several international tourists, especially the French-speaking ones, would never have known a hurricane was on its way. Thanks for being so friendly and helpful and bringing out the best in public transit users.

Four days turned into seven days because of Hurricane Sandy. We made the last three as memorable as possible. We covered a lot of ground in Harlem and Queens. Keov has the privilege of living around the corner from Harlem, so we walked there one day for some great shopping and Sylvia's chicken and waffles. While walking toward the bus, an egg splattered six inches in front of us. It didn't just splatter, it smacked to the ground. It had to have been chucked from a window in the high rise adjacent to us. As we looked down at the sidewalk then up to the sky in shock, a man next to us assured us that "that is what happens when you walk past the projects in Harlem." So I ask myself was Harlem worth it? Definitely. Two pairs of shoes, cacti, and one Harlem-balanced meal later and I would welcome more eggs to be hurled at my head. Thank you, Harlem.

Highlights of the trip:

• Shake Shack
• Ni**as in Paris
• Spa Castle
• The Walking Dead
• The 1 Line
• Kuru Karma Cafe
• Pisticci's
• Guggenheim
• MOMA
• Barbara Walters's personal driver

LDS Manhattan Temple after piano competition at Julliard

Keov and I in Times Square

Adirondack tour of Central Park

Everyone has a dog and a friend in NYC. [Brooklyn]

Biggie Smalls

Lady Liberty [Staten Island]

9/11 Memorial

Morningside Park and St. John's Cathedral

Sandy's remnants

St. John's

Columbia University's 24-hour library

Guggenheim [I got in trouble for this picture]

Near Julliard 

Central Park Fifth Ave. [handsome]

9/11 Memorial near Survivor Tree [my survivor]

Something to Remember

Two weeks ago I went to a funeral for a coworker. She died suddenly from a second battle with cancer. It was shocking to come to work and hear that she had died after knowing her for only three months. Even in that short time, she made work so enjoyable. How enjoyable? Enjoyable in the way that she would ask me what the criteria is for a good butt was and if I had seen one that day. She was funny. So at the funeral, one of her daughters told a story about her and quoted her for saying "It's never going to get better than this." That saying has resonated in my mind ever since. It is the anecdote for discontentment. It is the opposite of "The grass is greener on the other side." It helps you make the most of any situation you are in and prevents you from expecting something better or hoping for something more. It changes your perspective of your circumstances. At first it sounds pessimistic like you have lost ambition or are submitting to whatever life has thrown at you, but when I think about how often I say to myself that things will be better when .... I get a different a job .... the next paycheck comes .... I go back to school, this sentiment cures those destructive apathetic thoughts by helping me accept my current status. Make the most of your time and embrace who you are and where you are and let go of expectations, self-loathing, and disappointment. I'm glad I met Rhonda and saw how she believed and lived this value. She was really happy and made time move slower and cherished every minute. I witnessed it.

It really can't get better than this. This being sitting by the fire in the living room among the crumbs of freshly devoured smores and the calming conversation between roommates sitting on the couch and lying on the floor. Yea they may be talking about children with auto immune disorders and crippling injuries .... and Russia .... but we are here and we are cozy and we are talking and it doesn't get any better than this.

Tried a new thing

yesterday and today.

Yesterday I made Cucumber-Tahini Open-face Sandwiches. I liked them a lot, but I didn't anticipate how much my roommates would like them as well, and that is why I'm sharing the recipe:

1 cucumber, thinly sliced (pick one from our garden!)
Ciabatta or french baguette, sliced
1/4 c. Tahini
2 Tbs. Rice vinegar
4 oz. mandarin oranges
Sunflower sprouts
2 tsp. white miso or Miso Mayo
1-2 Tbs. water

In a small bowl, whisk tahini, oranges, vinegar, miso, and water. Spread evenly on bread and top with cucumber and sprouts.

It's pretty wild, tangy, a little bitter, but mostly fresh and crisp.
Tip: put the sprouts on before the cucumber so that they stick to the spread and don't slide around. 
Tip 2: Miso Mayo is the best thing after Veganaise. I'm never going back.





Today I am trying a new hairdo. It is inspired by the Friendship Bread I am currently nursing. The directions for the bread warn that if I fail to keep a starter for the bread after distributing my friendship bread bags, then I will be permanently left without a starter and thus without friendship bread because the starter can only be acquired from the Amish, for they are the only ones who can produce this particular bread. Well today I pay my respects to the Amish and will cherish that starter. #thankgodfortheamish #friendshipbreadconcept #weird #yetmoistandsweet #notpc