California Dreamin'

I just returned from a glorious seven days in Southern California, and while I will always defend New York City as the greatest city in the world, I must admit that Cali also has a piece of my heart. 

This is the view from our condo - and the current Jedi training camp in session. Each morning, I made a point of opening all of the windows and doors, and I soaked up the sunshine and fresh air like medicine. City life has me appreciating every bit of natural light I can get.

Dana Point and some good seafood.

My new favorite pastime is watching guys in wetsuits doing anything skimboarders.

After a mandatory trip to Balboa Island, I must conclude that "There's always money in the Banana Stand."

My love for Disney borders on unhealthy, but I'm not ashamed.

I took far more pictures of Cars Land, but I'll spare those of you who are enduring this mega picture overload...

Me, with the man who started it all.

"They can never get the nose!"

Cute siblings.

Possibly my new favorite picture. Mickey Mouse is my boyfriend - he even kissed my hand, twice! (What is it with me and shorter guys?)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt calls it "Angela's Plaza" in (500) Days of Summer. It's really called "Angel's Knoll," and it's filled with more homeless people than attractive young architect/greeting card designers. Bummer.

Seriously, since when did California become so photogenic? I swear I did not take one unattractive picture in all seven days.

If I could go back today, I would. And I'd see the World of Color at least seventeen more times. Amazing. Disney doesn't do low-key.

All in all, it was a fantastic week, and I'll be living through these pictures until I can find the money to return. I love you, California, despite what my fellow east-coasters say!

Like a Lamb

It turns out that the weather in New York City is quite unpredictable this time of year. The March adage of "In like a Lion, and out like a Lamb" is proving to be quite true. We've had some of the windiest, wettest, and ickiest weather these past two weeks, and I hope that the next two weeks prove to be just the opposite.

Yesterday proved to be one of the first lamb-y days, and I spent a couple of hours after work visiting some of my favorite stretches of green on this island.

Some baby crocuses deciding to peek up from the leftover fall folliage and show their true colors.

"Hello New Jersey!" This city provides many a magnificent sunset (and sunrise, too, but I'm rarely up that early).

Finally, a picture homage to Ireland, seeing as it is my favorite Irish holiday this weekend!

The Road Less Traveled

And not a cliche Robert Frost poem.

I - like almost every living thing - am a creature of habit. I follow an almost identical routine for the majority of my week, pausing on weekends to reflect and observe, as well as to do a thing or two that might be more out of the ordinary. Honestly, I have become so entrenched in my own day-to-day living, that it takes little jarring moments to make me realize that I live in an incredible city, surrounded by art and culture and diversity that many people do not get to experience.

It turns out that my life here is more normal than extraordinary. Or maybe these amazing experiences have become so commonplace that I'm a little more jaded than I should be. I see my neighborhood laundromat as a chore rather than a collection of humans and tumbling socks and sheets. Sidewalks are just a way to get from one place to another, and I ignore the cracks and stains, indications that millions of other feet have walked the same path.

But about once a week, I choose to walk home from work via Riverside Drive instead of Broadway, and the jutting beauty of Grant's Tomb and the Riverside Church reminds me that my life is far from normal, and I'm grateful to have the chance to live even a sliver of my existence in a place that so perfectly complements my soul.

I want to take advantage of the diverse paths of this city, using every opportunity I'm given to see things that I've never seen before.