Slippers

 My first pair was way to big. They will be guest slippers. They'll come in handy since the NYC streets are so dirty and now with the snow we take our shoes off in the foyer.
And no the gray doesn't tell right from left i just ran out of yarn, though it could be helpful.
I think I want to try another pair but tweek the pattern. not in love with the pattern

Daniel's slippers

 

 

 

 

 

Fire on the block!

Friday night at 3:30am I woke to firetruck sirens. It was loud and getting louder. Then there were bright lights outside. So I thought, ooh. I went to the front room of our apartment that looks out onto our street and there was black smoke billowing from the building across the way. Then there were sparks coming out of the roof. Three firemen climbed the fire escape to the 3rd, 4th and 5th floor and proceeded to bust in the windows with their axes.
Firemen are a crazy breed. They're great but crazy. They run into burning buildings.
I don't believe anyone got hurt but the 3 floors are toast. And some of the other apartments got beat up since the fireman have to come in and toss the place to make sure the fire didn't jump.
It was all very exciting.
I feel bad for the people whose space burned. To think that all your possessions can be gone in a few minutes. But what are these things we surround ourselves with. Would our lives really be devastated for not having it all? Yes we need some cloths, etc... but the rest.
If you only had 30 seconds to grab something from your house that was one fire what would it be?

It's been a while

So it's been a while since I've written. 

November was fun. Wendy, Mike, Jeanne and Steve came to visit. We checked out galleries, museums, plays, and restaurants. Wendy and Mike stayed with us for a few days, what is now called 

Casa de Soto B&B. 

After they left Mariana and Sean came to visit. So there was more eating and checking out museums.

Daniel left for Mali, Africa on November 28th. It was a bit lonely not having him around but we ichated everyday so it seemed like he was here. He got a lot done there. Got the program up and running for buying electricity. They had wanted him to stay longer but with the storms in Europe they couldn't get him tickets so he came home when he was suppose to. Which is good, a month is long enough. 

The week we were suppose to pick him up, New York got hit with a storm too. I was spending the weekend at my parents out on Long Island so I got to shovel their house and help my brother at his place. I guess getting away with not shoveling for 15 years I had some making up to do.

This pic is my brother and his girlfriends place.

 

I haven't been doing any art. Not sure why. I certainly have the time. I haven't been doing much of anything. Reading, crocheting. I think between missing everyone and the winter I'm in a funk. My dance class will start up again next weekend so hopefully that will help. I'll also be helping the teacher with an up coming performance and being on the board of her dance company. Maybe when I get in better shape I can even perform. 

I am going to take some anthropology classes this semester as a non matriculated student at Hunter College. I am going to apply there in April for their MA anthropology department. Which means I need to take the GRE. Which I have been studying for. The English part isn't so bad for me but the math..... I'd rather have my teeth pulled out with plyers.

Really, I'm not kidding. I basically have to learn everything. Most people just need to review but it's been 20 years. I was such a horrible student and worse at math that I'm learning most of it for the first time. I cry a lot. But Daniel's helping and thank god for youtube. I swear you can find anything on the internet.

I'm just hoping they don't put to much on the GRE scores.

I'm not really sure (if i get in) what I'll do with the degree or really why I'm going, I've just always been interested in it. And it gets me excited to think about doing it. Maybe I just need something to pull me out of this funk. I know, going for an MA seems extreme but why not.

Well, it's snowing out. It started early and is suppose to snow all weekend. I ran out early to go food shopping before it got bad. I did have a bunch of errands to do today but I might have to put them off.

Here are some pictures on my way back from shopping at Fairway market. You can't tell but it's snowing.

 

I'll try to write more frequently. I guess not much has been going on though. Maybe I'll post my crochet projects. I still have yet to master the sweater. 

Missing everyone.

Happy New Year.

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.

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.

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.