Thoughts & Such

1. Did I tell you that I'm going on a safari in South Africa in early 2013? 

photo credit here

I'm going to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Victoria Falls, and on a safari for a few days with my friend's family.  So excited.

2. There are 122 steps that I take ONE WAY to my apartment from the time I get off the subway every day.  If I ever break a leg, heaven help me.  You would think that after months of walking up and down so many stairs that I'd be in shape, but you'd be wrong.

3. Have you read Unbroken yet?  If not, please do.  We read it for book club this last month and it was amazing.  I typically don't really have interest in WWII but I could not put this book down.

4.In the last week I also read East of Eden.  Holy cow.  800 pages in a week; that is how addicted I was.  If you have read it, email me and let's talk about Cathy.  WOW.

5. Now, some photos:

Me and my roommate Mala at Jen's bridal shower.

Jen got engaged and had an engagement party all within 24 hours.  Dear Jen, You are beautiful and I want to be you.  Love, Me.

Margie was in town so we got to hang out in New Jersey.  Her 10 month old son had a crush on me; it was amazing.  It was SO good to see her.  Hard to believe that we've known each other for 13 years!

Scott and Annie came over for tacos and then I made them box each other on the Wii. 

Heather and I went kayaking on the Hudson for 3 hours a few weeks ago.  Luckily there were no river sharks.

My yearly Maui Jim's.  Thanks, Four Seasons!

6. The other night I was talking to an anonymous friend and she was telling me that she worries about her parents' mental health as they are getting older.  The conversation went something like this:
Her: I think that my dad is losing it.  Do you worry about your parents at all?  I mean, your dad has always seemed to have a really clear mind. {5 second pause}...How's your mom doing?

I may have laughed for at least 10 minutes straight.

7. This weekend I am going camping in the Catskills.  I am also going tubing down a river, which is what made me decide to go since you know how I feel about camping. {I love not camping}

8. A recent topic of conversation for me lately is how hard it is to live in New York and I'm not talking logistically.  Yes it is expensive (cereal at the store by my house is $7.50 for a box) and we will not discuss how much I pay for my room, but I mean emotionally.  It is rare that people actually settle here.  Maybe it is because of the cost or maybe it is because of the space restrictions or the amount of stairs.  Most of the friends that I had when I moved here are gone now, off on other adventures in other cities.  At any given moment any of my friends could tell me that they are moving and it is almost expected.  New York is something to conquer; people move here and either conquer it by making a ton of money and buying a piece of property here or by doing so well career wise that they get an even-better offer somewhere else and move out as fast as possible.  Defeat happens - people get tired of the cost, of their jobs that aren't actually that great, or they decide that they want to be closer to family out west. 

I haven't decided what New York is going to do to me yet.

And let me make this much clear: we all love it here.  Despite the cost and the jobs and the emotional instability of it all, New York is amazing.  The food, the people, the entertainment, the Type A personalities that make wonderful things happen, the proximity to whatever your heart desires.  I love this town.  I'm sold on it.  Two years in and I'm so glad that I took advantage of the opportunity to come.