Eh (and other words)

I wasn't that impressed tonight. But I'm still committed to seeing the show to its end, no doubt.

Dear Abby came over to watch it with me tonight! Thanks, Abbs! It's always a comfort to be around that one. She's my Vegas connection, aka my "home away from home". I'm trying to get it through her head (and have been for months, now!), and I say that lovingly (she knows that) that it makes a world of difference when I have "home" around me more often. Abby and me in SLC (ironically, not in Vegas)

Several people have told me it took one year (a few have said 6 months) to get to the point where they transitioned/got accustomed to/enjoyed living in the NYC. And, of course, I have experienced moving and taking time to adjust to new places plenty of times. I guess what's different this time is I'm kinda over it, I've done it so many times. I used to thrive on it, for some reason. I'm coming up on 6 months here, soon. That's really weird. It's going incredibly fast, and I imagine when my time is up here (aka: graduation!) I'll be all nice and settled in....just in time to move again. Such is my life. Some day I'll have a home and stay there. I think I am realizing that is what I have wanted all along.

Commuting My Life Away

Like everyone else, I'm sure, I am shocked it's already February. Where does the time go?! I'll tell you where it goes...the New York City Transit. If I added up the time I spend commuting in this illustrious city (but I won't) I would probably find that half my waking hours are spent walking to and from and riding to and from various locations. From where I live now, it takes about one hour to get to my internship one way, and I do that commute three days a week. Two days a week I commute to school, about 35 minutes or so each way. And don't forget even the Sabbath. I take either the train or the bus at about 15-20 minutes one way. Now, that's not bad, and I realize that people commute in their cars back in Vegas easily for 30 minutes to an hour. Honestly, as much as this sounds like I'm complaining, it is nice to just sit and not have to worry about bad traffic or, even worse, bad drivers!

Night Owl = Me

It's nearly 1 am, and I'm still up. Story of my life. I have always been a night owl (right, mom?). Pretty much my whole life I feel like I'm always the last one to go to bed...when I was younger, living at home and also in my adult life. I don't know why, but I just like it. What I DON'T like is getting up in the morning before 9 am. It doesn't matter what time I go to bed, really. I don't think it matters--I still struggle with the am wake-up call. Ask anyone who's ever lived with me, and they'll tell you. The snooze button is my best friend and worst enemy.

I went with some friends to a karaoke birthday party tonight. It was a rented room all to ourselves and there was quite a turnout. I love a good karaoke night and don't experience them enough. I only knew a small handful of people there, but did not hesitate to get up and sing a few jams. My favorite part of karaoke, besides singing the songs, of course, is the awesome video images/music videos that play on the screen during the songs. During "Total Eclipse of the Heart" there were ducks on a pond and some boats and waterfalls flashing on the big screen TV. So random and so awesome. I need to find a karaoke bar to go to with some friends, because, while singing in a private room with familiar people is fun, singing in front of strangers who are most likely drunk and who will get up and sing, too, is SO FUN.

Long Live Holden Caulfield

On my ride home from my internship tonight a guy got on the subway with this book in his hand

It immediately caught my eye, because I own the same kind of copy, and I loved J.D. Salinger books in high school. There aren't many, but they are quality. I remembered reading The Catcher and the Rye and loved how raw and real the main character, Holden Caulfield, was. It's been a long, long while since I read any of the books. And just now, I was checking my email and had an email from the New York Times alert message service. J.D. Salinger passed away today, at age 91. It said the man lived in isolation for 50 years....didn't want the fame he received, I suppose. I wonder if the guy on the subway knew and was reading that book as a homage to the author on the day of his death. Or maybe it was coincidence. Either way, it was a nice little New York moment.

A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall

**WARNING** This post has a negative/complaining tone**

I'm not sure why that Bob Dylan tune just popped into my head when it came to today's title, except that a I feel like a hard rain is falling on me...again. Two weeks into school and I'm already feeling those familiar feelings of doubt, feelings of being overwhelmed and under qualified, feelings of fear that I made a wrong choice, feelings of __________ (fill in the blank with any negative emotion). The vacation is, indeed, over!

Back to life...back to reality. And I don't really like reality right now.

I'm especially over my internship. When I do see my client and get that hands-on experience, I feel like I'm a babysitter, and when I'm not babysitting, I sit around and do nothing. I've just got to tell myself, "only three more months!" Wow. Only three more months!! When I say it like that, it actually sounds short. I know it will go by quickly, so yeah. I should tell myself to shut up, get over it and move forward. I gotta make the most of what's been given to me, right?! Right!

I also should really start writing in a personal journal. It seriously opens up my thoughts and provides me therapy. I told that to my client today to encourage him to do the same. I guess I better get to it, lest I become (or remain) a hypocrite.

Blast from the Past

Disneyland has it right..."It's a small world after all."

Thanks to facebook, I recently reconnected with one of my brother's friends from high school. He actually was a friend to the whole family, rather than just my brother. That's why I remember him most, well, that and he drove a convertible. That fact was clear in my mind...the convertible part. I must've thought he was the coolest! Ha.

Anyway, I saw he was friends with one of my sisters on facebook and clicked on his name. Lo and behold, I saw that he is not only living in New York City, but he is also a social worker! Has been for years! I emailed him right away to let him know I am here in the city, earning my MSW. Needless to say, he couldn't believe it! We spoke on the phone just before Christmas and last Saturday met up to say hello.

I'm not sure when exactly we last saw each other, but this might have been what I looked like last time me and Peter saw each other...
And this is what he might have looked like then...
And look at us now! Boy, how time flies!It was really incredible to see a familiar face, being that I hadn't seen that face in a very long time...since I was a kid, really. But it brought my Vegas home to the forefront of my mind. I don't know what it is, but I really feel homesick these days. I don't know if I will fall in love with New York City or not, but I am trying to be grateful for and cherish this amazing opportunity and experience.

Disneyland wasn't the only one who got something right...home IS where the heart is, whoever said that.

Life is Swell

I went to Radio City Music Hall for the first time last night to see one of my all time favorite music groups, The Swell Season. This is the third time I've seen them, in a third state. First time was in California, second, in Utah, and lucky number three, New York.
Part of the Ladies' lounge (attached to the restrooms. the entire thing was HUGE).

The famous stage!The Swell Season!I had a really great seat...just not great enough to take the best photos. It was amazing to see them perform in such a place. The other two places were much more intimate, which is what I prefer for this type of show. But c'mon...Radio City Music Hall?! That's pretty great.