Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The pursuit of happiness and love, even on the days when the going is just going
It's easy to write about the days in our lives in which exciting things happen. It is easier still to write about the happenings that are the opposite from exciting. But what about the days that just are, well, uneventful?
Perhaps uneventful is not the best word to describe them - because all days are eventful if you take the glass is half full approach. I guess I am referring to those days in which nothing happens that makes you want to tell a story, or get something off your chest, share something with a coworker, family member, friend. Some days, many days, we look to the news, media, television, our environments for some sort of something. We talk about the weather, or the upcoming weekend, or some distant thing we are looking forward to. These are the days that it is perhaps most important to find love and happiness...to be appreciative of what you have, and for that moment, for that day. Even in times of uneventfullness, we are still living. So why not love? Why not be happy? Why waste any day by waiting for the next? I know I have spoken of this topic before. It is something that is on my mind often.
Today is probably one of those days. Not exaclty anything in particular planned, not exactly anything unusual or "eventful," but still, there is something great about this day. There is greatness in the yoga I practice during my lunch break. Greatness in the sweet smell of late spring. There is greatness in the fact that today is my brother Mark's 23rd birthday!!! Greatness in many many things.
The weekend that just passed was a wonderful one. It was a long weekend, Memorial Day Weekend. My brother Mark was visiting for it. We shared in a Yankees game together, drank a beer from a plastic bottle, ate Nathan's, went out with friends, walked around the city, did a little shopping, and ate pizza at a restaurant Andrew and I have never been to. It was, in definition, an eventful weekend. Perhaps that is the reason I feel today is a "normal" day. I am back to work, back to my routine, back to the usual. And it's nice.
I love the spring. I love the summer. I love the fall.
I really don't love winter.
But I do love Christmas!
This time of year makes me happy. Andy and I went bike riding yesterday, and it was such a liberating feeling. We both felt a vast sense of freedom being able to get on our bikes and go. And we went - everywhere! We rode from 12-8! It was a wonderful way to spend Memorial Day, and I am so grateful to have a partner who enjoys being active, and being outside, and exploring as much as I do.
The only thing that went wrong yesterday (eventful, and not in a good way) was that Andy's bike was stolen. Yes, that is right. Taken. Right from under our noses.
Andrew and I had decided yesterday morning that we would ride out bikes down to Prospect Park. So we did. We rode there, and by the time we arrived we were pretty hungry. After much deliberation we chained our bikes up, and walked over to Key Foods to buy juice, followed by Subway to get a sandwich. Little did we know that in just those few minutes Andy's bike would be taken.
I have to admit that I was a little paranoid about leaving the bikes to begin with. There's something about leaving something for the first time that is scary - I felt the same way when I left Cleo in the apartment alone for the first time. I don't like leaving a new scarf in the "locker room" at yoga while I take a class the first time. See, kind of silly right? After I've had something for a while it loses that faux fragility, and I know that it is not going to disappear (because it hasn't yet). Point is - I was nervous about leaving the bikes for the first time, and in this case rightfully so. Post theft, Andy and I came up with a scenario that we think is very probable. You see, there was a man standing outside of Crunch (where we chained up our bikes), kind of watching us do it. I just figured he was waiting for someone or something (little did I know Andy and I were both of those!), and in waiting had taken to watching us chain up our bikes. I did get a slight strange feeling abou it, but I chalked it up to my paranoia, and we were on our way. I'm pretty sure he watched us, saw where we went, and knew it was his moment. Since we had uknowingly chained our bikes to something that they could be lifted off of (a parking meter), we assume the perpetrator simply lifted the bike right off the meter and was gone. I suppose the good part of the story was that he was only one person, and on foot, so he could only grab the one bike. Thankfully, we were only out one bike for the day. The other good thing about this situation - Andy and I learned a valuable lesson: we will not only chain our bikes to actual bike racks, which are engineered so that you can't pull anything off the top of them. We will also be weary of people around us when we are chaining them up.
The saddest part about the whole thing was not the loss of the bike - although it really stunk because Andy had broken that bike in, and loved it, and we had saved up to buy it. The worst part, in my opinion, was that I lost a little bit of hope/ a little bit of faith in my fellow man/ woman. To think that someone would knowingly steal from Andy and I - it hurt me. I try to see the good in people, and don't like being cynical - but the unfortunate thing is that there are people out there who steal, and cheat, and hurt people, animals, and things. And many of them do so without a guitly conscience. Score: +1 for lesson learned & knowledge gained, Score -1 for my faith in people to do what's right.
I hate to take such a negative viewpoint. The whole thing is just very unfortunate.
So words to the wise - chain your bike up to bike racks, and if there aren't any available tote your bike along with you!
Perhaps uneventful is not the best word to describe them - because all days are eventful if you take the glass is half full approach. I guess I am referring to those days in which nothing happens that makes you want to tell a story, or get something off your chest, share something with a coworker, family member, friend. Some days, many days, we look to the news, media, television, our environments for some sort of something. We talk about the weather, or the upcoming weekend, or some distant thing we are looking forward to. These are the days that it is perhaps most important to find love and happiness...to be appreciative of what you have, and for that moment, for that day. Even in times of uneventfullness, we are still living. So why not love? Why not be happy? Why waste any day by waiting for the next? I know I have spoken of this topic before. It is something that is on my mind often.
Today is probably one of those days. Not exaclty anything in particular planned, not exactly anything unusual or "eventful," but still, there is something great about this day. There is greatness in the yoga I practice during my lunch break. Greatness in the sweet smell of late spring. There is greatness in the fact that today is my brother Mark's 23rd birthday!!! Greatness in many many things.
The weekend that just passed was a wonderful one. It was a long weekend, Memorial Day Weekend. My brother Mark was visiting for it. We shared in a Yankees game together, drank a beer from a plastic bottle, ate Nathan's, went out with friends, walked around the city, did a little shopping, and ate pizza at a restaurant Andrew and I have never been to. It was, in definition, an eventful weekend. Perhaps that is the reason I feel today is a "normal" day. I am back to work, back to my routine, back to the usual. And it's nice.
I love the spring. I love the summer. I love the fall.
I really don't love winter.
But I do love Christmas!
This time of year makes me happy. Andy and I went bike riding yesterday, and it was such a liberating feeling. We both felt a vast sense of freedom being able to get on our bikes and go. And we went - everywhere! We rode from 12-8! It was a wonderful way to spend Memorial Day, and I am so grateful to have a partner who enjoys being active, and being outside, and exploring as much as I do.
The only thing that went wrong yesterday (eventful, and not in a good way) was that Andy's bike was stolen. Yes, that is right. Taken. Right from under our noses.
Andrew and I had decided yesterday morning that we would ride out bikes down to Prospect Park. So we did. We rode there, and by the time we arrived we were pretty hungry. After much deliberation we chained our bikes up, and walked over to Key Foods to buy juice, followed by Subway to get a sandwich. Little did we know that in just those few minutes Andy's bike would be taken.
I have to admit that I was a little paranoid about leaving the bikes to begin with. There's something about leaving something for the first time that is scary - I felt the same way when I left Cleo in the apartment alone for the first time. I don't like leaving a new scarf in the "locker room" at yoga while I take a class the first time. See, kind of silly right? After I've had something for a while it loses that faux fragility, and I know that it is not going to disappear (because it hasn't yet). Point is - I was nervous about leaving the bikes for the first time, and in this case rightfully so. Post theft, Andy and I came up with a scenario that we think is very probable. You see, there was a man standing outside of Crunch (where we chained up our bikes), kind of watching us do it. I just figured he was waiting for someone or something (little did I know Andy and I were both of those!), and in waiting had taken to watching us chain up our bikes. I did get a slight strange feeling abou it, but I chalked it up to my paranoia, and we were on our way. I'm pretty sure he watched us, saw where we went, and knew it was his moment. Since we had uknowingly chained our bikes to something that they could be lifted off of (a parking meter), we assume the perpetrator simply lifted the bike right off the meter and was gone. I suppose the good part of the story was that he was only one person, and on foot, so he could only grab the one bike. Thankfully, we were only out one bike for the day. The other good thing about this situation - Andy and I learned a valuable lesson: we will not only chain our bikes to actual bike racks, which are engineered so that you can't pull anything off the top of them. We will also be weary of people around us when we are chaining them up.
The saddest part about the whole thing was not the loss of the bike - although it really stunk because Andy had broken that bike in, and loved it, and we had saved up to buy it. The worst part, in my opinion, was that I lost a little bit of hope/ a little bit of faith in my fellow man/ woman. To think that someone would knowingly steal from Andy and I - it hurt me. I try to see the good in people, and don't like being cynical - but the unfortunate thing is that there are people out there who steal, and cheat, and hurt people, animals, and things. And many of them do so without a guitly conscience. Score: +1 for lesson learned & knowledge gained, Score -1 for my faith in people to do what's right.
I hate to take such a negative viewpoint. The whole thing is just very unfortunate.
So words to the wise - chain your bike up to bike racks, and if there aren't any available tote your bike along with you!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Reflections on life, post a wonderful weekend with Andy.
Lately I have come to some revelations on life - my own in particular. The things that make me happy, and the things that fulfill me. I have also reflected on the things that don't, the unimportant things that I have sometimes focused on.
First thing - my life is not an episode of Sex and the City nor do I want it to be. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the show. But it was fiction. A fictional depiction of the way some circles of people are in NYC. I think it's humorous, and I truly enjoy it. But my life - my life is not like this.
I think that many people who move to NYC, and those who watch from afar have a certain image in their mind of what life is like here...an image very much created from television and film, advertisements, magazines, and the like. Often times people ask me how I do it - how I work and live in such a fast paced city. I think they envision me walking through Times Square every day, seeing broadway shows three times a week, and eating out for every meal. This is not my life. My life is actually quite simple, and I like it that way.
I wake up, I go for a run with the man I love, and I come home to get ready for work, feed my kitties, get my coffee ready (see, I don't even go to Starbucks), and on most days I run to the train because I'm walking the fine line between being on time and being late. Then I wait for the train amongst a hundred nameless people, and I try to squeeze my way in just to be encased like a sardine. I then put on my ipod because I would like to have a few minutes to myself that don't involve listening to the conversation next to me, or the awful sound of Sean Paul blasting from someone else's ipod...I hope that the train runs smoothly all the way to my destination with no delays, and I settle in. Glamorous? I think not. But I love it. I couldn't think of a better way to get to work. It's real.
On the weekends I don't go out to fancy dinners or brunches, or spend my time shopping at Bloomingdales for the night's outfit. At least most weekends. And don't get me wrong, I enjoy these things as much as the next person. But honestly, there are things I enjoy much more. Things like volunteering with animals, or in the park like we did this past weekend. I enjoy running with Andy, and riding our bikes, and playing with our girls. I love exploring new places, and trying new things - learning as much as I can about NY and it's history. Just this past weekend Andy and I learned about many different kinds of trees in Prospect Park (the park we are getting married in!), and how they got to be there. Some were native to the park, and some were brought here from Japan and Europe and other places. The focus of the environmental team is now to only plant and cultivate trees that would naturally be found in NY. It was very interesting to learn the difference between alternate and opposite trees, and why mustard garlic is bad for the park (it releases chemicals that don't allow other plants to live and grow around it). We even found a robin's nest, and saw a bright blue egg inside. It was beautiful being out in nature, surrounded by people who really wanted to be there and to make a difference on their Saturday.
I love my life. I love the life I live with Andy in Queens. Unpretentious, imperfect, perfect. It's beautiful. I love our apartment - which sometimes smells like cats. I love the shower that always grows mildew no matter how hard we scrub it (ew). I love our garbage disposal that leaks water and floods the kitchen floor, and I love the multitudes of empty disposable contact cases that I find scattered around the apartment thanks to little Kennedy.
I want to thank Andrew and my mom for giving me the strength to be me...to not apologize for who I am or for what I believe in. It is sometimes a struggle to stand up strong for yourself and for your beliefs, but through their example and encouragement I am learning not to apologize for being myself.
First thing - my life is not an episode of Sex and the City nor do I want it to be. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the show. But it was fiction. A fictional depiction of the way some circles of people are in NYC. I think it's humorous, and I truly enjoy it. But my life - my life is not like this.
I think that many people who move to NYC, and those who watch from afar have a certain image in their mind of what life is like here...an image very much created from television and film, advertisements, magazines, and the like. Often times people ask me how I do it - how I work and live in such a fast paced city. I think they envision me walking through Times Square every day, seeing broadway shows three times a week, and eating out for every meal. This is not my life. My life is actually quite simple, and I like it that way.
I wake up, I go for a run with the man I love, and I come home to get ready for work, feed my kitties, get my coffee ready (see, I don't even go to Starbucks), and on most days I run to the train because I'm walking the fine line between being on time and being late. Then I wait for the train amongst a hundred nameless people, and I try to squeeze my way in just to be encased like a sardine. I then put on my ipod because I would like to have a few minutes to myself that don't involve listening to the conversation next to me, or the awful sound of Sean Paul blasting from someone else's ipod...I hope that the train runs smoothly all the way to my destination with no delays, and I settle in. Glamorous? I think not. But I love it. I couldn't think of a better way to get to work. It's real.
On the weekends I don't go out to fancy dinners or brunches, or spend my time shopping at Bloomingdales for the night's outfit. At least most weekends. And don't get me wrong, I enjoy these things as much as the next person. But honestly, there are things I enjoy much more. Things like volunteering with animals, or in the park like we did this past weekend. I enjoy running with Andy, and riding our bikes, and playing with our girls. I love exploring new places, and trying new things - learning as much as I can about NY and it's history. Just this past weekend Andy and I learned about many different kinds of trees in Prospect Park (the park we are getting married in!), and how they got to be there. Some were native to the park, and some were brought here from Japan and Europe and other places. The focus of the environmental team is now to only plant and cultivate trees that would naturally be found in NY. It was very interesting to learn the difference between alternate and opposite trees, and why mustard garlic is bad for the park (it releases chemicals that don't allow other plants to live and grow around it). We even found a robin's nest, and saw a bright blue egg inside. It was beautiful being out in nature, surrounded by people who really wanted to be there and to make a difference on their Saturday.
I love my life. I love the life I live with Andy in Queens. Unpretentious, imperfect, perfect. It's beautiful. I love our apartment - which sometimes smells like cats. I love the shower that always grows mildew no matter how hard we scrub it (ew). I love our garbage disposal that leaks water and floods the kitchen floor, and I love the multitudes of empty disposable contact cases that I find scattered around the apartment thanks to little Kennedy.
I want to thank Andrew and my mom for giving me the strength to be me...to not apologize for who I am or for what I believe in. It is sometimes a struggle to stand up strong for yourself and for your beliefs, but through their example and encouragement I am learning not to apologize for being myself.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
May 10
Getting back from two weddings in the last two weeks has really been quite the trip for myself and Amanda. To see what others did and how their weddings fit their personality was quite amazing. I can speak for both of us and say we loved them both in their own special ways.
During each ceremony, the officiants both touched on the meaning of marriage in a few distinct ways. They both talked about what marriage means to them. It made me think about what marriage and commitment mean to me, because it is a special bond that you share with only one other person in the universe.
Marriage to me is the symbol of making the love you have for someone known to the world. That is why you are "introduced" after, and that is why you wear the rings. I was watching TV with Amanda today and I saw the "Real Housewives of New Jersey." Now growing up in NJ, this was obviously of interest to me, however I thought of it more as a joke than anything. It actually turned out to be an enjoyable program, and a few things struck me. I get copious amounts of joy doing things, providing, loving, caring, buying, etc., things for Amanda. She is my baby. The love of my life. And I love making her happy. As they said on the program...happy wife, happy life. And writing that, I just sneezed on the truth. Two of them men on there want to be there for their wives in all capacities. They want to provide, they want to love, and they do.
One of them said their family was as thick as thieves. That is how I am. If you are my family, you get my utmost loyalty. That is it. If it is tattooed on my body, then I am obviously taking it very seriously. I do for my own blood as I do for my new family. I gained two new brothers recently. I am so proud of them as I am my own. Its just how I am. They can come to me with anything, just as my own brother can and I will always lend an ear. In fact, if any one of them ask, I'd give it. I love my family. Family is definitely a very important part of this commitment.
My relationship with Amanda is the singularly most important thing to me in my entire life. There is nothing that comes before that. I love her with everything I have. It is one year ago today that we got engaged. Since the day I met Amanda, I can say it has been the best years of my life.
I absolutely adored the wedding last night. It was fantastic. I loved it. I loved the way that Amanda looked (what else was I going to say first?? Ha!) and I loved the overall feel of the ceremony and reception. The mojitos were great. I am so glad to have been there. It was an excellent getaway and a fun time was had by all.
I have no other weddings to go to the rest of the year. Ours is next. And I can't wait.
I love you Amanda. Forever. And Ever. And ever.
"Good morning sunshine..."
During each ceremony, the officiants both touched on the meaning of marriage in a few distinct ways. They both talked about what marriage means to them. It made me think about what marriage and commitment mean to me, because it is a special bond that you share with only one other person in the universe.
Marriage to me is the symbol of making the love you have for someone known to the world. That is why you are "introduced" after, and that is why you wear the rings. I was watching TV with Amanda today and I saw the "Real Housewives of New Jersey." Now growing up in NJ, this was obviously of interest to me, however I thought of it more as a joke than anything. It actually turned out to be an enjoyable program, and a few things struck me. I get copious amounts of joy doing things, providing, loving, caring, buying, etc., things for Amanda. She is my baby. The love of my life. And I love making her happy. As they said on the program...happy wife, happy life. And writing that, I just sneezed on the truth. Two of them men on there want to be there for their wives in all capacities. They want to provide, they want to love, and they do.
One of them said their family was as thick as thieves. That is how I am. If you are my family, you get my utmost loyalty. That is it. If it is tattooed on my body, then I am obviously taking it very seriously. I do for my own blood as I do for my new family. I gained two new brothers recently. I am so proud of them as I am my own. Its just how I am. They can come to me with anything, just as my own brother can and I will always lend an ear. In fact, if any one of them ask, I'd give it. I love my family. Family is definitely a very important part of this commitment.
My relationship with Amanda is the singularly most important thing to me in my entire life. There is nothing that comes before that. I love her with everything I have. It is one year ago today that we got engaged. Since the day I met Amanda, I can say it has been the best years of my life.
I absolutely adored the wedding last night. It was fantastic. I loved it. I loved the way that Amanda looked (what else was I going to say first?? Ha!) and I loved the overall feel of the ceremony and reception. The mojitos were great. I am so glad to have been there. It was an excellent getaway and a fun time was had by all.
I have no other weddings to go to the rest of the year. Ours is next. And I can't wait.
I love you Amanda. Forever. And Ever. And ever.
"Good morning sunshine..."
Friday, May 1, 2009
May 1st & Kristin & Nathan's wedding!
Welcome welcome to May.
So exciting!! I love May. Spring is more in the air than ever...the rain will hopefully subside some, and leave sunshine in it's path. I look forward to days of bike riding and exploring with Andy, beautiful flowers, parks, ice cream (ha!). I am looking forward to a lot.
This past weekend was a fantastic one. Andy and I attended the wedding of two of our very best friends - Kristin & Nathan (Verni!). I was a bridesmaid in the wedding, which was an amazing honor. Kristin and I have been friends since freshman year of college - we went from friends in class, to roommates, to moving to NY together (well, at the same time), to now getting married within the same year. Kristin has been an amazing friend to me, and I love that her and her HUSBAND have become so close to Andrew too! Both Andy and I value our friendship with them very much, so spending the weekend celebrating their union was truly terrific and inspiring! I have to say that I was even more excited for our wedding (if that is possible!!) after witnessing theirs. Their vision was beautiful - it was such a romantic wedding. From Kristin's gorgeous dress, to the great music, beautiful decor, beautiful weather - wow - it was a sight to behold! I think that weddings are so great because you really get to see what the couple is like - a bit more of their personality - displayed visually through their wedding. Kristin and Nathan's wedding reminded me of a modern day Romeo and Juliet - it was very victorian and romantic...but the music was extremely modern and the actual ceremony was in a garden which felt both old and new at the same time. Everything about this wedding was so "them." I can't wait to display mine and Andrew's personalities through our wedding. I know that we have a strong vision, and I have confidence that every part of the wedding will bring it into reality. Eeeek! This is all getting so exciting and so close!!
Anyways...getting to work now.
I am going to post a few pics from the wedding this past weekend. Enjoy!
ps. In 9 days it will be the one year anniversary of the day that Andrew proposed to me...the day that changed my life. I love you Andy.
So exciting!! I love May. Spring is more in the air than ever...the rain will hopefully subside some, and leave sunshine in it's path. I look forward to days of bike riding and exploring with Andy, beautiful flowers, parks, ice cream (ha!). I am looking forward to a lot.
This past weekend was a fantastic one. Andy and I attended the wedding of two of our very best friends - Kristin & Nathan (Verni!). I was a bridesmaid in the wedding, which was an amazing honor. Kristin and I have been friends since freshman year of college - we went from friends in class, to roommates, to moving to NY together (well, at the same time), to now getting married within the same year. Kristin has been an amazing friend to me, and I love that her and her HUSBAND have become so close to Andrew too! Both Andy and I value our friendship with them very much, so spending the weekend celebrating their union was truly terrific and inspiring! I have to say that I was even more excited for our wedding (if that is possible!!) after witnessing theirs. Their vision was beautiful - it was such a romantic wedding. From Kristin's gorgeous dress, to the great music, beautiful decor, beautiful weather - wow - it was a sight to behold! I think that weddings are so great because you really get to see what the couple is like - a bit more of their personality - displayed visually through their wedding. Kristin and Nathan's wedding reminded me of a modern day Romeo and Juliet - it was very victorian and romantic...but the music was extremely modern and the actual ceremony was in a garden which felt both old and new at the same time. Everything about this wedding was so "them." I can't wait to display mine and Andrew's personalities through our wedding. I know that we have a strong vision, and I have confidence that every part of the wedding will bring it into reality. Eeeek! This is all getting so exciting and so close!!
Anyways...getting to work now.
I am going to post a few pics from the wedding this past weekend. Enjoy!
ps. In 9 days it will be the one year anniversary of the day that Andrew proposed to me...the day that changed my life. I love you Andy.
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