In need of sleep

Yesterday, I officially accepted a new job. In the next couple of weeks, I am going to prepare a new itinerary for myself to make sure I still have time for writing and extracurricular activities. Stay tuned.

DJW and I finally got to see the new Herzog movie last night. Because I am not an artsy-New-York-hipster-boy, I feel like I tend to miss out on appreciating Herzog to the fullest capacity, but I still enjoy the ride.

We tried to go to the Gold Bar (check out their great website!) to celebrate my graduation, but there was no way on earth that the bouncer was going to let us in. Maybe it was our Chuck Taylors and t-shirts. I have no idea why DJW thought this would be the place to go because after spending some time chatting with the bouncer, we learned that the only people who are allowed into the club are friends of the owners.

We decided to be more reasonable and headed to Fontana's for a couple of drinks.

In a few hours, I'm off to Boston to graduate. I'm thinking of drugging myself with Sleepinal on the ride to finally get some rest after a mostly sleepless week.

Reading The Collected Stories of Amy Hempel. Sometimes I get stomach pains from reading one of her brilliant stories; she's that good.

Mememememe...

Transitions, Ink tagged me to do this little survey, and you know me, I never resist the urge to talk about myself.

Six unimportant things about me:
1. I have never seen Indiana Jones.
2. Sometimes I think about all the germs I touch during the day, especially on the subway.
3. I shave my toe hairs.
4. I'm a no-nonsense card player, particularly Spit, Gin Rummy, and Threes.
5. In the third grade, I accidentally stabbed my own hand with a pair of scissors.
6. I ruined any chances I had of getting a date with a certain cute boy in high school because when I tried to toss him my White-Out in English class, he got hit in the head with the bottle and started to cry.

According to this silly game, I have to tag six people to play the same game.

Buki
Isaiah
Jen G
Polarchip
Tammie
Vanessa

The rules of the game are as follows:
1. Link back to the person that tagged you
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. Share six unimportant things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your entry.

Have fun.

physical/mental connections

Last time in Aikido, I accidentally threw Grace down onto another woman's foot. Her head really hurt and I was hoping she'd come to class today so I could confirm that she was back to good health, but she wasn't there.

Gali, another Aikido woman is moving back to Israel next month to begin her MFA in Creative Writing. Today we exchanged stories; we're going to read and critique each other's work. We're both nervous, but this is good practice for me to share my writing.

Turns out Alexandra, who also practices at the dojo quit her tenured professor position to work toward publishing her novel.

Ran into Gerald from Interlochen and Oberlin on the street before Aikido today. He's the same except he gave up the violin to work in marketing and he said he really enjoys it. After we left each other, without knowing it, we simultaneously texted Jen H to tell her that we had seen each other.

In other news, because of a new job prospect, I am learning the importance of the iron. After I burned my thigh while ironing a skirt on a table, I finally broke down and purchased my very first ironing board yesterday. Adulthood is full of growing pains.

Two days until I head to Boston for graduation. I've noticed my resistance to planning my seminar, and I think it's my fear of closure. I've begun to find my voice through this grad program.

Borough Voyeur

It's been a long time since I stayed out until 4 am. I had such an enjoyable evening, walking around Manhattan, going to the movies, and drinking at the new International Bar with DJW. There was even a harvest moon. When I finally got back to Astoria, I couldn't imagine committing to Pilates in the morning.

Instead, Kim and I did brunch and she introduced me to more of the magical (and often bewildering) world of Astoria.

I never feel like I'm actually in Astoria with everyone else who lives here. Even when I'm not taking pictures, my life here seems voyeuristic and separate. This isn't a complaint, but more of a phenomenon.

Here's pictures from the Steinway Street Fair and from Kim's discount shopping tour of the neighborhood.

boots are to books as...

My dad sent me a nerdy literary email, which I thought I'd share:

I recently came across the following paragraphs about the (British) Society of Authors (which will celebrate its 125th anniversary next year) that I thought you might find interesting. (It was originally called the "Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Authors"):

It has published a quarterly journal ("The Author") since 1919. In 1903, George Bernard Shaw writing in the journal, bemoaned the scarcity of bookshops. "If you turn to the Directories and compare the number of places where you can buy books with the number of places where you can buy boots you will arrive at the conclusion that the average man wears out over fifty pairs of boots, while he is reading a single book. How are boots advertised? Not by reviews...but by innumerable shop windows. Abolish these shop windows, and Manfield of Northampton would be a ruined man, almost as poor as an author, in six months. It is the lack of shop windows that impoverishes me."

"Whenever a publisher gives me literary advice, I take an instant and hideous revenge on him. I give him business advice."

(The photo is of the Manfield Shoe Factory.)

it just keeps getting shorter and shorter

Veronica came over tonight and she cut my hair so I'd be looking my best for graduation. She brought me a rugby shirt and pin from her trip home to Romania.

I'm trying to collect all my photos from her haircuts for my Veronica Haircutting Portfolio in case there comes a time when she needs an alternate form of income. I would happily pay her (if she would let me) and I have many friends who would go to her, too.

macro thinking

Last week, Vanessa encouraged me to use the macro function on my camera when photographing food. For the second time this week, I went to my favorite restaurant, Mundo for dinner and thought I'd practice my new camera technique.


Kim and I ordered the Red Sonja (Pureed red lentil balls w/bulgur, scallion, parsley & spices on a bed of romaine lettuce w/lemon).


For dinner, Kim had falafel.


And I had my standard crabmeat burger.

We drank wine and enjoyed a chocolate souffle while the summer air grew cooler. Everything is changing whether we want it to or not. Blame it on the weather (me) or Saturn Return (Kim). Somehow in all of this, there's a calmness that's come over me that I haven't felt in a long time.

Be careful, she suffers from a.p.d.

My luck is turning around: Today FedEx sent me a check for one hundred dollars!

I guess filing a claim because they lost my thesis was the right idea. Though it's a great start, I hope that this is not the most that I am ever paid for my writing.

This past weekend, Noah described someone with the term, "Acute Perception Disorder," which I promptly added to my self-diagnosis.

These horrible horse posters are the latest New York epidemic. Baby-steps to embracing the equine.

the good life

Today, I visited Polarchip for lunch on the rooftop of her work. I'm so glad we got to see each other once more before she heads back to Cali.


Check out the ridiculous free lunch! I used my macro function on my camera, which Vanessa insisted I try.


I had a moment where I wished I had brought a giant purse as my grandmother might do, so I could shove it full of more food from the buffet.


And dessert!


We discussed the importance of being malcontent. As my sister said when I was little, "If you're going to be malcontent, you should at least try to be happy about it."


I could really get used to this. Move back here, Polarchip!


Sigh.

eleven is my (new) lucky number

My mom and dad are in town. We hung out at Polarchip's preferred diner, Skylight for a quick grilled cheese (me), fruit cup (mom), and salad (dad). I'm really glad they're here right now.

I wore the new dress from Polarchip for the second day in a row. (Don't judge.)

This morning I found eleven dollars on the subway stairs. I think it's a good sign.

Tonight, Sharon reminded me that we have to learn to be our own unconditional best friend. It's cheesy, but cheesy has never stopped me before. I'm going to give it a try.

Eyes: Joy Williams' Taking Care. Again, I'm intimidated by her brilliance.
Ears: Kronos Quartet revival (Takes me back to my high school days in Michigan).
Seriously: Sad to say, I need to never buy Two Buck Chuck again. My good friend, Sandra alerted me to this. Read more here.

the rites of such a species

Vanessa asked me to join her for an evening at the Lincoln Center to see the New York City Ballet.

We met for dinner at Fairway Market.


It turns out neither of us is a lettuce snob.


Our appetizer hit the post-Aikido spot.


As did my main course.


Cultural immersion.


The most amazing/fierce/outstanding piece was "The Cage," which Jerome Robbins choreographed to the music of Igor Stravinsky.

About "The Cage," the playbill reads: "There occurs in certain forms of insect and animal life, and even in our own mythology, the phenomenon of the female of the species considering the male as prey. This ballet concerns the rites of such a species."


Good news: My thesis has officially arrived at my grad school. Major sigh of relief.

undeniably, she belongs in new york

Polarchip is back and I took her to my favorite place for dessert, Billy's Bakery. (We skipped dinner.) She didn't seem as enthused as me, but that might have been my hyper post-Aikido rush.


As always, many outfit changes took place at Polarchip's apartment and I got away with sweet loot, including an adorable vintage dress. Just in time for summer! And Polarchip didn't skip a beat; the infamous orange dress will never vanish. Luckily I was spared the humiliation of wearing the dress tonight.


I had my best Aikido class ever today (or one of the best). Slowly, I'm beginning to develop a muscle memory. And look! I have new muscles!


So


Darn


Cute!

birds: yes; bugs: no

Enemy update: The roach is trapped in my bathroom. This means that I had to waddle to Starbucks in order to pee. My sister won't be home until late and I'm hoping she will have the stamina to "take care" of the situation.

In order to avoid my apartment, I made myself at home at the Himalaya Tea House. A baby bird hopped into the restaurant and wouldn't leave. My day is turning out to be so nature-oriented.

Through Tammie's blog, I found this amazing blog idea that I wish was mine.

Polarchip is in town! Reunion! It's visiting season. This week: my sister, Miriam L, polarchip, and my parents.

Almost finished reading: The Boy by Naeem Murr.
Willing to trade: Cornelius for a bug-eating cat (just until summer's over).

an impossible coexistence

Does every Aikido student have an Achilles’ heel? I am a warrior with a hardened heart and a vicious bite, but there’s one creature that can send me running to the roof, exiling myself from my home and giving up residency/agency: my enemy, The Roach.

Sure, I’ve had my share of creatures. But today, I saw the largest roach of my life, climbing the bathroom wall in my apartment.

I’m no amateur: I was raised in Florida and have seen roaches the size of my extended shadow. I’ve been to Israel where the roaches fly. I’ve been to Zimbabwe where bugs are equal in size to my cat. But today, my new friend, my new roommate championed over my life.

Cornelius is no help. She is a passive, somewhat curious observer. In San Francisco, she managed to murder a bird that had somehow found its way into my apartment. And yet…

When I really need her to kill, what does she do?

Not a thing.

Kim told us over brunch that everything happens for a reason. Generally I go along with this sentiment, but can someone tell me why G-d created the roach?

Conveniently, my sister is somewhere in Manhattan celebrating Shavuot (which she explained as “getting drunk on the Torah”) with friends.

She promised to rid my apartment of the evil bug upon her return. But I’m hedging my bets on the innocent disappearance of the giant creature when others enter my apartment.

Ah! Thunder. And I’m on the roof. Where can I go?

In my haste to leave my apartment, I put on a pair of shorts that are missing their top button, so I can’t venture into Astoria. I’m trapped in my building.

Musically: Day of Locusts by Bob Dylan

Update: It's pouring. I'm braving the apartment. So far, no sign.

My sister's here!

Kimberley came to visit me today! So far, we:

-Had an amazing dinner at Souen. We ate the quesadilla special and carrot/ginger juice.

-Walked by my dojo. Kimberley surprised me by running across the street and going into the dojo to watch a class in progress.

-Ate dessert at Billy's Bakery. I can't get enough of this place.

-Chased the giant, bright red sun across town as it was setting. We made our way to Chelsea Piers where we sat by the water for a while.

-Now we're back in Astoria and winding down from a lot of running around. So good to have my big sister in town.

Reading: The Moon in Its Flight by Gilbert Sorrentino
Listening: The Distance by Dntel
Hoping: My thesis gets to the director of my grad school (I resent it this week).

My First Bookslut Column is Online Now!

Check out my first published interview for this month's bookslut!

Or click on the this link and scroll down to see my article on the front page.

Divine Design

Friday morning: Kim and I had no idea that our lives were about to change forever. I worry that you will think I am exaggerating when I tell you that this was the best breakfast we have ever eaten. It was a fluke, really; neither of us had ever heard of Clinton Street Baking Company. I found the restaurant on Yelp because it was close to the Hasidic Bra Shop where we planned to go in the Lower East Side.

Kim ordered the Southern Breakfast — two eggs any style, sugar-cured bacon, cheese grits, fried green tomatoes.

I ordered the Spanish Biscuit Sandwich — scrambled eggs, melted jack, tomatillo sauce with grilled chorizo, with hash browns.

There were many silent moments. We were shocked; we were glowing; we had connected with the Divine.

In a daze, having come closer to Nirvana than I have ever felt from eating breakfast, Kim and I made our way to the Orchard Corset Center, also known as the Hasidic Bra Shop. Again: Divine. The Hasidic man who runs this business is a kind of savant. While fully clothed, and never touched by the Hasid, I was asked to stand up straight, and then to turn around. After only a few seconds, the Hasid was able to tell me my actual bra size and the size that I was wearing when I entered his shop. He did the same for Kim.

We were given lots of bras to try on in the back, and I left with three half-priced, perfectly fitting new bras for a total of sixty dollars!

I worry that this post does not do justice/even come close to the profound planet-shifting experience that Kim and I experienced. We are frightened to go back to Clinton Street Baking Company because how could the second time ever be as good as the first?

In other news, on Friday evening, Joe and I were sitting in Madison Square Park enjoying a treat from the Shake Shack when directly across the sidewalk from us, a squirrel accidentally fell (maybe fifteen or more feet) from a tree and landed with a thud onto the pavement. The animal was still alive, but seemed to have injured its limbs. In a state of panic, it rushed like a paddling frog across the sidewalk toward me and went right under my bench and back into the grass. I can only think that this strange occurrence is somehow related to the magic and mystery of the day's events.