Flowers, Dumbo Style

Wall Flowers in Dumbo, Brooklyn.

I am...

I am very excited for Spring! This post is for Inspire Me Thursday, and I couldn't quite focus on what I am... Right now, I am just overly excited to see the signs of nature coming back to life. I walk looking up at the trees, glancing down into the flower beds every so often in the hopes of seeing a new Spring bloom. I can't stop looking, imagining, dreaming. Soon it will be here, and I will be happy!

I know it's Spring, somewhere, even if it's not quite turning here. I see the pictures throughout the blogs I follow and the flickr pictures posted (like here, here, and here). We have only small signs. This lovely tree, an avenue up, is one of the first to start shooing winter away and making way for Spring.


I first saw these beauties on Saturday, but the sun was falling behind the buildings and the natural light wasn't there to really make my pictures great. I watched for the sun to get in the perfect position and share the natural lighting for a few pictures. Oh and be on the watch for this flowering tree again later this week. I have a great Flare Friday shot!

Postcards of the Weekend

Sending postcards to himself saying 'Wish you were here' so when he gets back home he doesn't forget...
--StoryPeople

Here's me sending myself a postcard to remind myself of the wonderful weekend I had. Mr. and I spent a lot of time just being together (after he finally got over his sickness and fever). I also had an amazing time with Seth's family (sans Seth). How lucky am I to have such an amazing family of in-laws :) Seth wasn't feeling so ill this morning, so we tried brunch again at A.O.C. and he made it all the way through! A friend showed up with his sister (to share the wonderful french toast with her taste buds) and joined us. Love the idea of running into friends in our still somewhat new home. It was also wonderful to share our meal over great conversation :) After brunch I wondered through a green boutique I've always wanted to check out, and then up the street to find the pink flowering tree I've been watching for the past few days. On the way I found a few great books that I want to use for a collage project. Love the stoops in our neighborhood!

This photo post was inspired by a flickr group called "Theme of the Week" where a challenge was posted to find a picture and a quote that go together using the StoryPeople website. This is the first time I've actually taken the time to look through the quotes and align with a picture. It's been fun, and hopefully there will be more to come!!

Saturday with the Boy in the Alligator Hat

Seth spent the day sick laying in the living room. I spent the day doing what he really would have rather been doing, hanging out with his family. First, brunch at A.O.C. (was really happy when they agreed to walk down to meet us there, as I woke up craving it.) Then, through Dumbo and across the Brooklyn Bridge, a must for any visitor to NYC! Here are some pictures from the day. Loved the way they turned out after a bit of processing and playing.

Williamsburg Bridge in the background.

P is the reason I got some of the cool shots I did. He grabbed hold of my hand and tagged me along behind him as we climbed over the rocks to a small beach I hadn't yet visited.

Under the Manhattan Bridge. Lovely.

I love this shot. This is about when he informed his mama that the rock he wanted to take with him happened to be the rock he was standing on. :) I ended up with the tiny rock he picked instead, but I placed it in a safe place so it could be returned to its owner.

Meet Winston (I think that's his name). He was waiting outside the chocolate store. Isn't he the cutest?

Famous Dumbo chocolate store. I didn't let myself get a treat, but I regretted it later. Sweet Phoenix shared a bit of the chocolate from ostrich-sized chocolate egg. It was amazing. I might have to go back soon and get some for myself. (...and it definitely has left me craving chocolate all evening!)

Love Dumbo. Love Dumbo. Love Dumbo. Am excited about plans to return next weekend for the flea market (must check to make sure it's still in the Dumbo location next weekend).

Breathtaking bridge. I greet it every morning from the Manhattan Bridge. Wonderful to see it up close in the middle of a sunny day.

A moment on the bridge.

Lines of the bridge.

Hello City. I have taken shot a hundred times over, but I cannot resist when I am standing with it before me again!

Check out some of my other posts with Dumbo and the Brooklyn Bridge:
Bridge of my Heart
Telescope from New York City to London
Tour Guiding
I Get By With a Little Help from my Friends

First Broadway Show

Friday night was my first Broadway experience. I enjoyed it completely. Sadly, Seth couldn't join. Instead he was home suffering through a fever. Sometime later this spring, when he's feeling better, we'll have to go to another show!

Friday Fill-In: The Fifth

And...here we go!

1. Why do we have to go to work?

2. Keeping my Metro card in the same safe place at all times and swiping it as I enter subways and busses are now habits.

3. I have a terrible pining for spring break (13 school days).

4. I had never heard the phrase "coming at you sideways" and it really makes me laugh at how serious my elementary-aged students are when they say it (in their world, you do NOT want someone to come at you sideways).

5. I made a mess of the stove, just the way I always do.

6. How was I to know when I didn't.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to my first Broadway show, tomorrow my plans include spending time with Seth's family at brunch, Dumbo, and across the Brooklyn Bridge and Sunday, I want to relax and enjoy the day with my husband (and maybe make it somewhere to get some pictures of spring)!

Looking for Spring

Seth's oldest brother and sister-in-law are in visiting. As I headed up to meet them at his other brother's place early last evening, I took my camera in search for spring.

I wasn't surprised to see signs of spring in the trees. I was surprised to see the flowers! I've been looking up so much that I forgot to look down. (Not that there are a bunch of flowers when I look down... mostly cement.) It was so nice to get my camera out and snap a few pictures as I wondered my way up to meet the rest of the family. The weather was perfect, the sunlight was still shining between the buildings.

I was completely excited to see our nephew. It's been a while! He's so amazing and wonderful... and Smart! We shared quite the conversation at the restaurant. And he wanted to see the photos on my "new camera". I think I'll show him all my photos... as I flipped through them he responded to many of them with "Love it! Love it!" Just what this aspiring photographer wants to hear! Someone who appreciates a photo :)

Dinner was wonderful (Thanks B & M!!) and of course our time with Seth's family was amazing, as it always is. I know Seth was very happy! He definitely misses the family time when everyone is together (not that we had everyone here... still missing half of them, but it is the closest thing we've had in a while.)

Aisha in the City

My wonderful friend Aisha came to the city last weekend, and through my complete exhaustion from the weekend and the lack of internet, I am just now posting pictures. We hung out Friday night for a while (Oren Lavie show). The picture above was taken Saturday night on the Upper East Side at a Wine Bar we met up at. She introduced me to a few of her friends, and I hope we'll get to meet up with them again soon (and I may have a photo "job" opportunity with them...!) On Sunday, Aisha joined us in Brooklyn for a couple hours in the afternoon.

I had a most amazing time with her. We headed up to the Flea Market, 2 avenues up. Her and I searched through piles of jewelry, looked at so many random pieces of furniture and other random items. It was so nice having someone to search through all the items in the flea market, admiring and discussing. I didn't think we'd spend that much time there, so Seth was stuck waiting for us while we enjoyed every inch of the Flea Market, only being rushed along at the end because it was closing down.

We were very happy with our finds. Between the two of us, we got 11 pieces of jewelry that we are going to fashion into necklace pieces. I just need to get a few parts and a chain or two to go with the pieces. I am also a proud owner of my first apron! It was made by Moni Briones (check out her website here at www.sewmoni.com).

Here I am acting like I'm putting it to use! This is definitely a good idea for me... ask Seth, I'm Very messy!After the Flea Market, we headed across the street for a sweet trip to Sweet Melissa's. I enjoyed this wonderful cheese cake. Chocolate espresso cheesecake with a raspberry syrup. Divine!

Love the Park Slope Flea Market. Check out more posts... Reflection of the Day and Finds at the Flea Market. Oh, and I took another great reflection picture at the flea market. I'll try to get that posted here in the next few days!!

Hopeful

Spring weather is here today! Wonderful warm weather... and I keep watching the trees; they are getting so close to waking up. In my excitement of green and life, I'm posting a picture I took during February's visit to the Botanical Garden.

Modest Mouse Concert

Last night was the night of the Modest Mouse concert. A little while back, I posted about the wonderful surprise tickets that came in the mail from my stepmom. The weekend was eventful, so this concert was definitely a nice wrap-up to the weekend. Below is a video of a moment during my Favorite song (as mentioned in the post about the tickets here.)

There were a couple bands that opened for Modest Mouse. First was Tab the Band, a band from Massachusetts. They only played a few songs. You can hear them here. Second was my favorite out of the openers, Japanese Motors, a band from California that can be heard here. I need to see about getting them added to my playlist. I especially like how much the lead singer got into the show! The last band to play before Modest Mouse was Mimicking Birds. Seth really enjoyed their music, heard here.

This concert made Seth and I realize that we were getting a little old! I liked the venue. It was smaller than most I've been to. I thought I liked the standing area for general admission, but I didn't end up enjoying the standing as much by the end... and Seth's back was hurting pretty bad. We ended up towards the back (as you can see in the picture at the top - which I'm very happy with!) but it was still a good spot. O and the young people who are at these concerts can be a bit over the top... We observed an interesting (& funny) experience with a girl having "blackout rage" (as she coined it) and then apologizing within moments of threatening to fight everyone while yelling obscenities, and Seth spotted a miserable young soul suffering in the bathroom stall, x marks on his hands marking his underage status, despite it all.

From the Living Room Friday Night

Friday night at the Living Room, we met up with Aisha and some other friends to watch Oren Lavie's show. I'm buying the CD soon, when I get the time to sit down and order it online. Here's a quick clip from the show and my favorite song! I'll be watching for him to come back to NY for a show, and I think I want to check out the Living Room again soon for other live shows (and get a table next time!)



Friday night was another adventure. I had a friend in town and Seth had a friend from high school come in his girlfriend after attending a concert in Jersey (Britney Spears??). We hung out in the Lower East Side and East Village for a while. Then got picked up by Seth's friends on the way from Jersey and gave them directions back to Park Slope... which was an experience in itself, considering that Seth and I don't normally ride in cars or have any experience driving places in the city... other than cab rides, which are usually taken late at night when we are in a whole other state of mind. We made a few extra turns and headed in the wrong direction a few moments, but we did make it home with relatively no major issues. Crazy to think Seth and I are starting to gain some direction in this huge city.

Oren Lavie Tonight

Recently found this when I stumbled upon a link to this video from another blog. Oren Lavie. I'm in love.

And tonight, I'm going to see him with Seth, Aisha, and a few other friends!

Check out more here. And here. And here. I'll come back with a report to let you know if it's as amazing as I hope! I've only listened to My Morning Elegance 727 times in the past few days! Can't wait to hear it live :)

Friday Fill-In: The Fourth

And...here we go!

1. When I look to the left, I see a small pile of clothes.

2. The living room window is the room that has the best view in my home. (Can see the Chrysler Building!!)

3. Let it work the way it works?

4. MoMA done dirt cheap! (still in love with last week's trip for FREE FRIDAY!)

5. Voting is a responsibility that all qualified citizens must share.

6. If you have any advice on photography feel free to send it my way.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a music show on the Lower East Side (Oren Lavie, video here!) with a friend from out of town, tomorrow my plans include hopefully hanging out with Aisha again and Sunday, I want to /will be attending the MODEST MOUSE Concert!!!!!

Join Friday Fill-Ins HERE!!

A Shadow in the Reflection

Here I stand with Alissa. A break at the MoMA. You can see us stand still as others pass us by. Sometimes I feel like I need a moment just to stop. Stand still. Breathe. Today is one of those days.

If My Apartment Were Big Enough...

A chandelier of dishes. Another piece from last weekend's trip to the MoMA. Have a few more I'll post throughout the rest of this week, and then I'll find something new!

I'm starting to think that this is a great use for our dishes... considering that Seth and I both have a strong aversion for doing dishes. I wish I took after my mother in the way she does dishes. They are always done every night, even when all her children were still living at home piling them into the sink. Plus, she had No dishwasher!! The horror! Seth and I are just two, and we still cannot get our dishes done, AND we have a dishwasher! Sadly, the dishes have been the reason I haven't made dinner the last two nights.

I actually put dinner on Seth tonight... could have done it myself, considering I was home an hour earlier than usual. I actually thought he was going to go to the grocery store, get food, and come home to cook (that's what I do... and grocery store stops are a couple times a week since I have to be able to carry everything I buy from the store to my 3rd floor walk-up). Of course, I haven't completely learned yet, but men do Not think and work as women do... Leave this man to his own devices, and I'm eating Phad Thai while he enjoys his chicken fried rice and spring rolls... And since I put him in charge, he doesn't even have to get Thai approved (he'd eat it everyday if I let him!)

One of the reasons I made Seth take care of dinner tonight was my being on the phone with a good friend from home. I'm so lucky to have such great friends. I spent hours (2 and a half to be exact) on the phone talking to Paula, catching up, going on as if we didn't live states apart, as if we were hanging out in the same room, as if we hadn't had as much time between our last conversation and now. Sunday I was greeted by a weekend call from Lauren. And Saturday night, Seth and I enjoyed a phone call from a few good friends who were enjoying a K-State Fake Patty's celebration (and telling people they smelled like cheese... yah, we're not sure what that means?)

Last summer, when I first moved to NYC, I posted about my homesickness and how I missed our friends. A lot. (Post here.) Sadly, I still feel homesick. I still completely miss our friends. I thought maybe by now, 9 months later, I'd be feeling a little better... and maybe I am a little... but I still have the void in my life, the lack of our friends. We have friends here, and we've met a lot of great people... but I am beginning to realize and trying to accept the fact that it won't be the same. But how can it? How can I possibly find people to replace the amazing friends I have? I cannot. It's impossible. My friends are too good to make it possible. (That can't be so terrible, right?)

Despite how lucky I am, I have been feeling a bit down on the friend front here in NY. I'm working on not feeling so sad about it. I'm going to work on accepting the fact that I cannot replace my friends from my former life (the Midwest). I'm going to try not to get down on myself about the friend scene here. I'm going to remind myself that even if I don't remember, it took a while (maybe?) to build those friendships. I'm going to dream of the possibility that every single one of my good friends will consider moving to where ever Seth and I decide to live (you still have the chance to move to NY before we head off on our next adventure... destination unknown). I'm going to be thankful that I have such good friendships with such amazing people. I'm going to smile because I must have good friends if I'm having trouble finding people to fill their shoes. I'm going to send all my friends letters thanking them for being such wonderful people.

Last, I'm going to enjoy the friends we've made here so far and continue to be patient because the best of friends are not grown over night!