Further steps toward (EEEEEEK!) adulthood

Matt and Connie share many things with me: their friendship, their joy, and their possessions.


Last night, I conned Matt out of his prized possession: the Volvo!


I purchased his car and he threw in this lovely American flag for free; what a friend! He also gave me a stack of his most embarrassing, angsty CDs from his high school youth to help put me in the mindset for my new job.


Joe and I rocked out--if you could call it that-- to Tori Amos on our way back to New York.


Thanks, Matt! I love my new car.

15 Things About Today (in a less-than-particular order)

1. I had black-poodle-envy in Cambridge.

2. Farrah Fawcett died.

3. I tickled Brian Bouldrey's neck at Lesley.

4. I made peace over facebook.

5. Kimberley drank blueberry juice.

6. Valerie and I unintentionally wore almost the same outfit to the Camera Obscura concert.

7. A Claude Cahun book was found and purchased... USED!

8. Riva taught me that according to PBS, a person remembers more when they hear something in their right ear instead of their left.

9. Michael Jackson died.

10. Abbey sent me the most genius text ever (re: Michael Jackson): "I'll hold ya like the River Jordan."

11. A canvasser told Riva and I that we look like nice people; we adamantly disagreed.

12. I've come up with my new favorite ice-breaker: If you were stranded on a desert island, which personal issue would you take with you?

13. I decided to take my long-chin-insecurity with me to the desert island. I'd abandon my insomnia and anxiety in a flash.

14. I forgot and then remembered all four names of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' characters.

15. I could only come up with 14 things about today, not including this one.

Ah, New England Summers

First activity in Boston: Riva's sailing lesson.






Riva had things under control.


I entertained myself with the camera.


She's a natural.

Full belly, tired feet, can't lose.

While in Boston, I borrowed Kimberley's camera. Upon arriving back in New York, Joe presented me with a camera to borrow for the summer. There are a million new buttons and choices. This is a Real-Deal camera, the kind where it helps to understand words like "aperture," "shutter," and "single-lens reflex." Most likely it will take me much longer than the entire summer to get a grip on this mysterious world of photography, but I thought I'd begin practicing in the way I enjoy most: by photographing my loved ones' every move.

We spent Sandra's visit walking around Manhattan, sitting in parks, and eating. Lots and lots of eating.
This is a list of some of the amazing places where we ate in the past two days:
Ess-a-Bagel (twice); 16 Handles; Donut Plant; St. Dymphna's; Cafe Habana; Porto Rico Importing Co.; Abraco; Sweet Revenge; Cafe Grumpy; and the amazing tuna-melts made by Joseph.

Thanks for the perfect break from reality, Sandra (and Joe). Now if I could just convince Sandra to take me with her on the Amazing Race. We'd be such a good team!

sunny side up

To top off my visit to Cambridge, we met up with the lovely Matt and Connie for a picnic brunch from the Oxford Spa.


Trend watch: sunglasses.


I prefer squinting.


Kimberley chose the academic approach with regular glasses.


At Simon's, Riva and I decided to infiltrate the ex-gay community. We're going to find her a nice post-homo with whom she can shack up.

Tonight, Sandra and I head back to New York. I wish I liked Cambridge more since I love all my friends here. At least I have a good vacation home at my sister's whenever I need a break from the big city.

Movies not to watch: Burn After Reading and A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints

Another delicious visit to S.H.O.P.

Sandra and Rui-Bing "produced a cornucopia of breakfast foods" for Riva and me at Sandra's House of Pancakes.


We agreed that breakfast is the best meal of the day with fewer variables than lunch and dinner, breakfast has the highest potential to be amazing.


And it was just that: amazing.


Here's Riva and my album cover.
Album name: Noah's Abstinence-Only Ark.
Band name: Goes Down Smooth

Centered

Today I attended my first seminar.


Leading up to it, all I could think was there is no way I can live through six full hours of Aikido in one day.


Each class was incredible in its own way.


(These are pictures of Nicole and me practicing in between classes.)


I never thought that Aikido would be a part of my destiny.


Everyone I spoke to had a different path to learning about Aikido.


I'll never forget the first class I observed, how I almost cried.


Alex, Nicole, and I traveled from our New York dojo to attend the seminar.


Everyone welcomed us.


After the first three classes, we hit my favorite sushi place in the Porter Exchange building for lunch.




Wee-Wow Dumlao, one of our instructors spoke to us about incorporating Aikido into every aspect of our lives. She confirmed those feelings I had the very first time I watched Aikido: this practice is a larger metaphor for how we can live in relationship to our environment and to other people. Among other things, Aikido is about taking up space, setting boundaries, and relating to others with love and compassion.


Lorraine DiAnne Shihan, another one of our instructors brought positive, calm power to her teaching.


And Fiona Blyth encouraged us with warmth.


I took my second ukemi in front of the class with Fiona's instruction.

Too many emotions to list right now. This was such a powerful, brilliant day. I'm so happy that I fought through the anxiety and decided to show up. Now that I know what seminars are like, I'm ready to attend a longer one.

Tonight, I plan to sleep soundly.