Something to Celebrate

Today marks one year for me as a dweller of New York City. I swear, the more time that passes, the quicker it goes. Does that make any sense? When I arrived here a year ago, I had some idea of what it may be like living in New York. I knew I wouldn't have a car, I knew I would be a student again, I knew I'd be poor, I knew I'd be challenged, and I knew I would learn a lot. I was right on all of those things. And after going through a year of grad school, not only surviving, but doing well at it simultaneously, and exploring and playing quite hard this summer, I feel much more confident where I stand in my life and what I am doing. Little by little, I feel more and more sure of the direction I am choosing to go. I had a sweet moment today in church that solidified that feeling for me. I also felt the feeling of gratitude. I have a fantastic life and have been so blessed.
Is it just me, or does August 15th look more like September 15th?

Free Stuff Always Tastes Good

Tonight I got to experience my first free concert in NYC! They happen all over the place in the summer here, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra plays every year in Central Park. A few girls I know sent a Facebook invite out and the turn-out was a good size group--about 20 people or so, I'd guesstimate. As I mentioned in the last post, it's been raining a lot here lately, and today was no exception. We brought various forms of plastic to put down on the ground to keep our blankets from getting wet. Someone brought an extra shower curtain they happened to have lying around her apartment, I brought two large garbage bags and a few park/concert pads to sit on, and my friend Karene brought this huge plastic sheet thing she bought at Home Depot for $2! That turned out to be the life saver, as we had plenty of seats for everyone. The rain stopped long enough for the concert to happen, which included fireworks at the end of the performance! Everyone kinda chatted and socialized the whole time, because, ya know, we were in picnic-like form, and it was like the orchestra was providing background music. We were too far away from the stage to actually see the performance, but hearing was the important part, anyway. I forgot my camera, but I borrowed this image from elsewhere, and it is pretty much exactly what it looked like from where we were sitting:The NY Phil. sounded sooooo good. I learned from the program handed out that it's the oldest orchestra in the United States. Not surprising. And I think it said there are 108 members. For the last part of the performance they played some of the music from Romeo and Juliet, so I actually recognized some songs! That was cool. Yes, I like classical music and such, but I only recognize the popular stuff. Don't judge me. Needless to say, it was a lovely evening spent with lovely people in a lovely park with lovely music.

Patience Unto Perfection

I've been trying a new form of scripture study lately where I choose a topic that is applicable to the current moment in my life, find a scripture or two or three on that topic, and then write my thoughts about it pertaining to my life. About a month ago or so I chose "patience". Of course, this topic can be studied every day for the rest of my life and will never get old (I just may make it a monthly ritual, at least). During my study, I found a beautiful scripture that I think gets overlooked way too often. In the church, we often hear James 1:5 repeated because of its significance in Mormon church history, but the one before it is pure and profound poetry.

"But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
I just may make this scripture my mantra. Consider it done.
I finished reading my first book of the summer (and I don't think it's even officially summer, yet)! Again, I started out small, but it was powerful. If I haven't said this yet, something else that has been on my mind lately is that I have no room to complain about my life (though I do all too often). I have a fantastic life. There are billions of people in the world who have far more challenging and trying times to concur. "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" just confirmed that thought. It's the author's thoughts and experiences after he has a stroke, goes into a coma, and comes out totally paralyzed with "locked-in syndrome". He wrote the entire thing by blinking his eye and having an interpreter figure out, using a special alphabet chart, what he wanted to say. He died two months after it was published. Now, that kind of story brings life into perspective.

Oh Boy

Ok, so I am finding it extremely difficult to concentrate on the last four week of this semester. First, the weather has turned!!! It is Spring, officially. I had to take my cardigan off while walking home tonight because I actually felt warm. Incredible. It makes me just want to be outside all the time.

Second, I don't want to face my final assignments; one 15-page paper, one 10-page paper, and another 10-page paper, plus studying for an multiple choice exam...all due in about 4 weeks. Yikes. Let's just say, I'm not promising all As this time around. I never promised those in the first place, but yeah, I'm totally OK with Bs. And third, there's just a lot goin' on around here. It's been three full months now that I have lived in my apartment in Manhattan. I think it's safe to say I feel settled in and am starting to really make friends and get to know people and be familiar to people. So, that's nice.

This past weekend was General Conference for the church and I watched all four sessions at the church. I really think I got a whole lot more out of it, because I was at the church, dressed up, sitting up, and watching a big screen. All these factors contributed to an inspiring weekend. In between sessions on Saturday I joined a small group of people in Central Park for a picnic. How's that for a New York moment?! I still sometimes can't believe I live here.

A few favorite notes from Conference:

-It is possible to feel bathed in help, even in turbulent times.

-There are those who have imagined a Jesus who wants people to work for social justice, but who makes no demands upon their personal life and behavior.

-There is no greater good than motherhood.

Frozen Beauty

My last free day before school began, I spent a good part of it in Central Park. See for yourself...

A Cold Shower? Why, Yes! Every Night, Please!

Ok, so posting twice a day won't happen forever. I've got a lot of time on my hands at this moment, so why not? I went to the Anthropologie in Soho today. It was a longer walk than I expected after getting off the subway. I probably didn't look too pretty by the time I went inside to talk to the hiring manager, because of the sweat and all. I was greeted warmly, but turned cold when I was told I had to fill out an application and have an interview at a company to which I am still employed. You see, they do things differently in all aspects out here in NYC. It's life in the fast lane, and well, I guess there is a possibility I won't get the job where I am already hired...? That doesn't make any sense. But whatev. I feel like it's about time to throw in the towel at Anthro, anyhow. We shall see. I met my cousin and his gf for pizza at Lombardi's in Little Italy (the very first pizza place to exist in the U.S.A!). It was very delicious! Then we visited this place: The weather turned near perfect for it, too. The clouds covered the all-too-warm sun, and a gentle, cool breeze began to dry my sweaty, sweaty body.My cousin is visiting before he heads off to London town for grad school. You can totally tell we're family; both tall, lanky, blonde fools. Gotta love my big, humid hair.I tell you what, the humidity about kills me, especially when down below the earth, awaiting the subway train. But wait for it...the sounds of the train approaching brings with it a breeze, albeit a warm, smelly breeze, but a breeze nonetheless! It's the sweetest/nastiest feeling in the world!! It is at that moment that I know I am going to be ok, as I step into the air-conditioned subway car, and let out a sigh. And living in this amazing city, including what's in the image below, makes the moist heat all the more bearable.