NYC!

If you need a challenge, I urge you to try to cram your life into two huge duffel bags, throw a dart in a new direction, set your sights on new smells, new faces, and new places and head out. Don’t worry about getting lost–someone is always around the corner with the answer, signs will point you in the right direction, and the pounding that you feel in your chest will eventually settle down to its regular rhythm again. In the process you will find new muscles you never thought you had that will come in handy when your are dragging your baggage (called your life) around the streets of a new city (I mean this literally and figuratively).

You will realize that an unknown place that once felt too big to handle suddenly becomes small, compact, and manageable. Crowds of people, lines, clutter, slow walkers, fast walkers, busy corners, hustle and bustle will wear you out. Coffee shops, parks, public gardens and museum galleries will become your new refuge to seek out the calm and quiet. And along the way you will find a whole host of folks that are in the exact same place in life as you–a major transition.

My latest cup of cosmos is overflowing: NYC

Most recent happenings and observations include (but are not limited to)

A pigeon roaming the baggage claim at JFK

A shoebox of an apartment, crammed with too many people with too many things

Random mist that falls from god knows where and lands in your hair/mists your face (gross) as you walk down the street

Sales tax that surprises me at every purchase (something I will probably never get used to)

A grubby homeless person on the train that gave an incredible speech about what a poor candidate Romney is and to do everything we can to support Obama–I happened to agree with everything he said and he made some good points

Washington Sq. Park is one of my favorite places

New Yorkers are super friendly–don’t believe everything you hear

New Yorkers are so friendly that they walk you where you need to be, before heading off to where they are going

People apologize for their shoes

Dress to impress ALWAYS–Tim Gunn is not joking

If you feel dressed up, chances are you are still underdressed

The subway is hot and smells like pee–it’s just the way it is–and it’s quite clean compared to India, Morocco, Egypt, etc.  so no complaining

At 10pm rats come up for air and roam the tracks, but they are small compared to the rats on the tracks in India…so be thankful

There is always going to be some sort of mysterious puddle somewhere…don’t think too hard about what it is…actually…don’t think about it at all

If you look like you know where you are going someone will stop you and ask for directions

I need a blindfold walking to class up 5^th Ave–the shopping is unreal

Personal goal: find a new coffee shop everyday

You walk your dogs off here and the blisters are well worth it

Humidity is not my friend

The water taxi to IKEA rocks!

Not everyone wears heels to work–you change into them when you get to the office

The lines at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are so long you think a tornado is heading this way and this is the last day to buy anything–but this is just normal everyday grocery shopping in NYC

Not everyone on the streets wears deodorant and everyone should

Restaurants are open late (LOVE THAT)

People walking around are from all over the world

Every time you turn around you spend money

The first time you take the subway alone feels like the biggest accomplishment of your life

It seems that there are fewer hours in the day on the East Coast then the West Coast

The city never sleeps

If you don’t hold onto rails in the subway you will fly forward/backward

Asking people for directions is more reliable than an iPhone

The Farmer’s Market has the biggest sunflowers I have ever seen

The minute you take a shower and head out into the world you will feel like you need to shower again

Wait for the crosswalk sign or risk being flattened

Walk fast–you can cover more ground

Don’t call your friends on the West Coast when you get up in the morning–they are  still sleeping

Find a post office for snail mail

Help a tourist take a picture

Eat everything

Remember to run

Smile

Get plenty of rest–be it a park bench, coffee shop, chair, subway car, or bed

Find a friend–things are better in pairs

Find lots of friends–the more the merrier

And most importantly–Enjoy a cup. It’s New York!

This cup is for Jessica: who's last cup in the city was my first cup in the city (which I find so poetic). Thank you for helping me land on my feet.