Subway Artist

So many performers fill the streets and subways of New York City. Today, I got on a crowded subway to see this artist sharing his talent by drawing out portraits for fellow subway riders.

Mermaid Parade

This is my favorite photo of the day!

Two weekends ago, Seth and I rented bikes and biked to Coney Island with our friends, Scott and Chelsea, for the Mermaid Parade. It was an amazing time! The weather was perfect, the costumes were beyond fantastic, and the day was great fun! (& I didn't get a sun burn!)

I am amazed by the costumes, the body paint, the lack of clothing, the creativity. There would never be such parades or people in the Midwest!

I snapped this photo quickly, not even realizing at the moment that he was the squid and the whale from the Natural History Museum!

I ended up getting the best photos on the board walk at the end of the parade. All the costumed participants posed and paused for photos.

Anything goes.

There were plenty of costumes related to the oil spill.

I will definitely make it out to the Mermaid Parade again! It was one of my favorite New York experiences!

Another Week, Another Bridge

[Ooops! This was supposed to be posted 2 weeks ago! I didn't realize it never went through... Soooo I'm posting it now :)]

Another Friday found us meeting in Union Square wondering what to do to kick off our weekend. Last Friday, we headed across the Manhattan Bridge to dinner... This Friday, we decided to walk the Williamsburg Bridge and get dinner at a place called Diner just south of the bridge in Williamsburg.

As we headed up the bridge, walking and talking, a guy on a bike rode by and stopped quickly. He turned to Seth and asked if he'd been at the Yeasayer concert last weekend. It took a second to realize, but this was one of the guys from the hand clapping circle that we created on the ferry. One of the other guys that was also a part of it was just ahead of him. We couldn't believe the chances of running into them!

It's interesting... Last weekend, we'd had so much fun. I'd kind of wanted to get their information and try to hang out with them again. But Scott pushed us to move on - saying that it was something that just happened, that we couldn't re-create. So off we went, thinking we'd never see our hand clapping friends again. Yet, by some random chance, we met them again! This time, we made sure to share information :) They were talking about how people had approached them after the hand clapping performance asking if the group did events!

I love when things like this happen... Things you'd never think would being in such a huge city. It makes it feel a little smaller, and even though I love the large size of the city, I also love feeling like it's a little bit more like home, not so incredibly big.

One of my absolute favorite things about the Williamsburg Bridge is the graffiti. Even the ground is tagged... Yet, not as much as it was last time I crossed the bridge - They've redone it. Only a matter of time before it's completely covered again I'm sure.

Hello sunset! Hello favorite bridges! Hello New York City!

Safely in Brooklyn.

Our Love Story

I met his eyes as he headed up the stairs at the 14th Street stop from where I sat on the subway pulling away.

In that moment I was overwhelmed with happiness and love. I was also hit with the realization of how much I have to lose, knowing that someday, my heart, or his, would be broken from loss, knowing that intense love leads to intense heartache.

Over 5 years ago, I spotted him at a party, a party I had no interest in going to one summer night after work. A party I only agreed to go to if my roommate joined me, thinking she'd say no. We had just arrived and were standing in the doorway of the living room. Somehow, he felt that same strong pull between us and for days following he tried to do everything possible to get me near him. Our best friends were dating at the time, so he was constantly telling mine to bring me along.

We fell in love instantly. A night of shooting stars, a camping trip, and many sleepless nights spent talking and laughing later... I think we were both scared, nervous that we'd gotten too intense. We were still young. We had plenty of life to live. But it was just meant to be.

Almost 2 years ago, while I visited him in New York City, he asked me to marry him on the East River between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Our wedding was beyond perfect, written together and performed by our closest friends and family. Our lives together, loving and living in New York City, are more than I ever dreamed to have and share with the man I love.

One of the things I love most about Seth is the way he makes me better. The way he encourages me, so naturally that I wonder if he even realizes. The way he balances me out. The way he pushes me when I doubt myself.

Someday, when our lives part ways, we will lose, but it will be because we have so much in each other, because we love so intensely.

Week 25: Where our feet take us

This week's photo theme was feet and the places we go. Mine was taken in Coney Island following Saturday's Mermaid Parade. You can see NYC in my photo perfectly... The blacktop is covered with litter, shredded paper from the parade, and even a metrocard from a subway or bus rider. Mrs. E's photo was taken from a creek on the farm. It's exactly the kind of thing one would do in the middle of the summer heat!

In both photos, flip flops are used to protect our feet :) Mine from NYC streets and hers from the sharp rocks at the bottom of the creek!

Top Photo: Metropolitan Magic, Me
Bottom Photo: Country Charm, Mrs. E

Photography

I took these photos back in February, but have recently pulled them out. I created this collage to share a few of the photos I took. I'm hoping that I'll be able to talk this now mama into letting my photograph her beautiful baby girl when I'm back home in July. (I just hope it doesn't take me months to get the photos to her like it has to get these ones taken care of!)

What do you think? I'm soooooo incredibly critical of myself and unsure. I am terrified she won't be happy with them!

This summer, I'm planning to take some senior portraits, including my brother's. I am also hoping to get some other portrait sessions set up so I can continue to practice and grow.

Comedy in the Park

Remember last week, when I shared a quick post of the Norah Jones concert we saw in the pouring rain? Tonight we were back in the park to Celebrate Brooklyn with a comedy show. As to be expected, it was hilarious! We hadn't planned on going, but a friend from the neighborhood text earlier today asking if we'd be interested. I almost canceled because I'm so exhausted from lack of sleep this week and sickness. Good thing I put socializing over myself ;) because I would have missed out on a great time!

Some of the acts included: Eugene Mirman, John Hodgman, Michael Showalter, Janeane Garofalo, and Jerry Minor. The band Blitzen Trapper played a few songs to end the show, too.

Anyway, off to bed... I think I might have laughed myself to a headache tonight (which is JUST what I needed after the breakdown and stress I went through at work!)

Week 24: Sunrise

I'm a little slow at getting this post up this week. Mrs. E had rainy weather for a while last week, but she was able to get this colorful sunrise. Mine was taken from the subway platform on my way to work. I always love when a train comes above ground for a while in the morning so I can see the morning light.

Top Photo: Country Charm, Mrs. E

Bottom Photo: Metropolitan Magic, Me

Picnic in the Park

I spent Monday in Central Park, showing off a few of my favorite spots and enjoying a picnic and a few games in Sheep's Meadow.

We also heard a few musicians, which is always a treat!

World Guy

A couple weekends ago, we saw this man, his dog, and the big world moving through Union Square. He's walking for a cause (diabetes awareness? or something... the nerds we are, we pulled out our iphones and punched in the website painted on the side of the world...)