Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Got a job!

So not a full time job but it helps.
I got a job teaching an after school program 3 days a week at a middle school. The class is an hour long and i'm working with 6th - 8th graders teaching ...... jewelry.
That's right. No i've never taught it but hey they're 11-13 year old. I just need to stay one step ahead of them. And that's what google and youtube are for.
The kids are super sweet and the school is a 15 minute walk from our apartment. It's pretty chill and it pays well. Who knows maybe something more will come of it.

I also found an aerial dance class. It's in Brooklyn, which is a bit of a trek from my place but it's worth it. I'm enjoying the class and getting my chunky monkey ass in shape again. The style is similar to what i've done. Though not as wonderful as Terry Sendgraff :)

Winter is coming...... It's getting cold out there and i'm not looking forward to it.

The city - crowded, dirty, smelly, expensive, falling apart, people don't watch where they're walking, lots to do, expensive, take-out everything, museums, galleries, need to get out more, subways, expensive.

Hiking in NY - 10/23/10

Daniel and I though it would be a great idea to get out of the city and go for a hike. Get some exercise, check out the changing leaves. East coast falls are beautiful. And you can take this north bound train and hour and it drops you off right by a trail head, Breakneck Ridge.
Well everyone between 20 - 40 who receives an REI catalog decided to come as well. There were close to 100 people on the train with us.
The first part of the hike is climbing and scampering up boulders. So there were tons of people who never even hiked before or were just slow. I felt like i was trying to get out of the subway in down town rather then commune with nature. People had their heads up your ass behind/ underneath you. Unfortunately I didn't have any gas that day, yes unusual, because it would have been awesome to fart in someones face to teach them a little hiking etiquette.
Eventually we were able to get away from the mass of people. Had a nice lunch by a lake. Got some exercise.
In the future we'll have to find somewhere further away if we want to commune with nature.   
Making it work in NYC.







Thursday, October 21, 2010

Day by Day

This past weekend Daniel and I walked across the George Washington Bridge and around Fort Lee park. It was a nice long walk.



I went to the MET the other day and checked out my favorite Egyptian exhibit. There's so much to see there that one section at a time is enough. Next week I'll hit another one. Walking through the park to get there is always nice. I try to take a different trail each time. Even stopped off on the way home through the park and did some sketching, boy do i need to practice more. I was sucking at proportion.



The days are going back and forth but it's becoming an east coast fall. Daniel and I are going to try to get out of the city saturday and go on a hike to check out the changing leaves.

I finally got a job. Whoohoo. It's an after school program at a middle school that's a 10 minute walk from our apartment. I had gone into the interview thinking I would be teaching sculpture. The woman had already hired a sculpture teacher though, I think she was disappointed she didn't hire me once I started talking about projects. But since she really liked me she offered me another subject to teach. Jewelry, yes that's right, jewelry. Except for a class or 2 I don't know much about it except for that I love to wear it. I told her outright I've never taught it but am enthusiastic to learn and try. It was good enough for her. :)
I figure it's 11-13 year old girls. I can wing it, just need to stay one step ahead and that's what google and youtube are for.
First project is macrame friendship bracelets :) I'll eventually get fancier, maybe even work in metal. We'll see. But it's a job and will give use those few extra bucks that will help.

Tonight I'm going to the museum of art and design with Daniel and this girl we met through Daniel's program. The museum looks really interesting and they have an artist in residency program I want to check out and will apply for. So we'll see, can't hurt right.

Hopefully this week has pushed me out of my little funk and i'll start getting out more. There's to much to see hear not to take advantage of it.
Until next time.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The Big Apple


Well we're here and settled. It's been difficult keeping up with everyone so i'll try the blog thing again, though i'm not that good at keeping it updated.
Daniel has been hard at work as soon as we got here and he will most likely be going to Mali, Africa at the end of November. I will have to miss this trip but hopefully will be able to tag along for the next one.
The apartment is looking good. Only a few boxes to go, though there is only so much room. We actually have lots of rooms, compared to the last place :) but not that much storage. Well, we are using the Kaplan storage facility on Long Island (aka parents garage) I believe my dad is regretting offering the space. What can I say between art work and being a pack rat i have a lot of shit.
The front room is my studio/office. Which is great and terrible. I am able to do art work whenever I feel like, a few minutes here or there but the bad side is it can be 3 or 4 days before I leave the house or shower.
Hey, I thought the grunge greasy hair look was back.
I guess I've been so occupied unpacking, getting things settled and looking for work but now I need to start getting out there and exploring the city.
Don't get me wrong we've done some exploring; checking out the village, Little Italy, China town. Went into some galleries, the Guggenhiem, Natural History Museum, walked around central park. I just need to do it a little more through out the week.
Though I did find an aerial dance class I've been going to on Sundays. It's kicking my butt and feeling great.
I can't believe it's only been about a month and a half since we got here. It feels a lot longer.
I even got a NYC driver's license, the photo looks terrible and I forgot the marriage license when I went so I will have to go back to get one with my new last name.
Well hopefully I'll keep updating the blog and let everyone know what's going on with us.
later.