A Procrastinator's List

My list of the things I need to get done before I leave for Salt Lake, not to return to the City for six whole weeks.

--laundry, yuck
--pack, more yuck
--figure out how to fit everything an over-packer needs for six weeks into one suitcase
--decide if I should buy my fam Christmas presents in the city or wait til I get to Utah
--see the Van Gogh exhibit at the MOMA
--work one more night at the Crew
--clean up my room, so if, fingers crossed, someone does sublet my room they will have their own space
--make cookies
--decide on how I'm going to get to the airport for my 7:02 AM flight
--have dinner with a bunch of friends from the Crew to celebrate Hanna's birthday on Thursday
--temporarily change my address
--try to finish the books I checked out from the Library
--see a bunch of New York things that are only here during the holidays
--stop wasting my time doing things that aren't necessary (researching my newest obsession, Ray LaMontagne, and other such banalities)

Thankfully I have Thursday and Friday off from the Crew, so hopefully most of these things will get done. Last night I went to the tree at Rockefeller Center to cross that off my as-yet-unformed-except-in-my-mind list. Here's a few pictures (my camera batteries died so these pictures are from my phone, hence the poor quality).


Even though I absolutely love lights and trees and all that jazz, the tree last night didn't have the same punch as it had when I saw it for the first time last year. Perhaps I'm more jaded, a real New Yorker. I think it was because it was unseasonably warm and I was much too bundled up, and therefore a little uncomfortable. Plus, as I sat on a bench on sixth avenue, looking at everything and breathing in this crazy city, I had this melancholy feeling like I was leaving forever and would never see it again. But I'll be back in six weeks, and the city will still be crazy.

Mormon Humor

Last week was the Lingos Film Festival, a yearly event put on by the New York Stake Singles to showcase aspiring filmmakers in the city. I didn't attend this year, but last year I did submit my documentary from my production class at the U. This is the winner this year (that's not to imply that mine won last year; although the programmer did schedule it for the last showing because it was his favorite) and I really wanted to post it because it's HI-larious! And the guys who made it, including the star, Ryan Simmons, are in my ward.




And then I also found this sweet little nugget of a gem. It wasn't part of the Lingos Film Fest, but it sort of made the rounds on Facebook. I also thought this was priceless, and hope that no one is offended by the use of Hitler.

Can I Pet Your Dog?

I don't normally go ga-ga over babies or dogs when they come in the Crew. It just seems silly, as they're not mine and I have no direct relation to them, ankle-biters or canines alike. But I do have a slight soft spot for cute dogs, and having just seen Bolt last week, and loved it, I was quite taken with a dog that was in the store today. I'm not fluent in dog breeds and such, but I'm pretty sure this was the same dog as Bolt. She was just so beautiful and well-behaved that I had to ask her owner if I could pet her. And would you know, her owner was none other than Kathryn Erbe....the chick from Law and Order: Criminal Intent! So I know she's not a huge celebrity, but she gets mondo extra cool points for owning a dog, Lilah is her name, that she rescued from a pound. Wow! She and her dog were just so nice and friendly that I had to tell you all about them.

SubTalk

When you ride the subway, there's a wealth of information available to you in the form of posters and advertisements. Since there's not a whole lot to do on the subway, and it's rude to stare at people, you find yourself looking at all the ads and posters. There's almost always a poster for some school, some lawyers promising you lots of money, or some doctor promising you results. The MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) has decided to use some of the advertising space for its SubTalk. Some of these tout the goodness of the MTA, let you know about special fare offers, and that "If you see something, say something." And then there are those select few that have quotes from books and poems. This is one that I've seen quite frequently and wanted to share.

America was discovered accidentally by a great seaman who was looking for something else when discovered it was not wanted, and most of the exploration for the next 50 years was done in the hope of getting thru or around it. America was named after a man who discovered no part of the New World. History is like that, very chancy.
--Samuel Eliot Morison

When I read this it made me reflect that life in general is also quite chancy. How often are we looking for something entirely different than what we ultimately end up finding? I love the idiosyncrasies of life and that someone else could put it down in words, and compare it to finding America. Sometimes we just gotta take what we find even if it seems like it's not worth it, because who knows what treasures it could end up holding.

Let it Snow?

It snowed last night. Well, I'm not sure "snowed" is the right word. It flurried. For about an hour. Nothing stuck to the ground, and the city isn't covered in a blanket of snow this morning. But while snow can be really exciting and pretty, especially when it's Christmas time, it can kinda be a pain in the city. It looks pretty for about half an hour, before all the people and cars make it slushy an dirty. And then it's just awful, having to drudge through snow and wet on the streets...and on the subway...and in all the stores. And then the snow is less exciting and more excruciating. Oh, to be a kid again when snow was always exciting and snow-days applied to you.

Grant and Bryant

Did you know that General Grant is buried in New York? And it's not far from where I live. Since I had the day off (the Crew is getting short on hours...something about a bad economy...) I decided I would spend it doing some cool things in New York. Some people like New York because of its nightlife, or its fashion scene, or the places to eat, or its school offerings. I like New York because it's old and has so much history. Question: Why didn't I major in history? (a: because I was lazy in college!) So I'm taking full advantage of my opportunities to see history while I'm here.

General Grant was a rather interesting figure in history. While being a great General in the Civil War, almost single-handedly turning it around in favor of the North, he was a not so celebrated President. It was plagued with scandals and other misfortunes, but did have some distinguishing marks, such as signing the bill that created Yellowstone National Park and the ratifying of the Fifteenth Amendment. He was an interesting character, having battled alcoholism and becoming bankrupt after his presidency while in New York. I'd definitely like to read a biography about him.



It's officially called Grant's Tomb, and it really is quite remarkable looking. It's technically a mausoleum, and it was modeled after those of Napoleon and some other famous dead people I was not familiar with. I didn't take any pictures inside because it seemed wrong.

I'm such a sucker for these historical sights.





And then I was off to Bryant Park to see the lighting of their Christmas Tree. For those who don't live in the city, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree is the most well-known, but there are lots of other trees in the city. It wasn't too cold of a night, and probably not nearly as crowded as it will be tonight at Rockefeller Center. The tree is beautiful, although I do like mulitcolored lights more. But it was a great way to feel festive and partake in all that the city has to offer.

So this is the tree before it was lit...

And after.
And here I am with the tree. I'm also a sucker for Christmas Trees.

A Lovely Lunar Delight

Yesterday was just one of those days where I hated New York. Everything about it was awful. I left work--at 4pm--feeling absolutely tired. All I wanted to do was go home and just be lazy, but I needed to first stop by the library, try to attend Winter Eve Fest at Lincoln Square, make a quick detour into Fairway for some groceries, and hopefully see the moon in its crescent shape along with the two bright "stars" of Venus and Jupiter.

But, alas, none of it would go as planned. First the one train was not running because someone was running around on the tracks. So I walked to the B/D train on Sixth Avenue and 23rd street. When I got to the library, the book that was being held for me--because I had returned it a week ago with a sentimental bookmark still in it--did not have the bookmark still in it. Feeling dejected about that, I headed outside, hoping I could at least see the moon, even though seeing stars in the city is practically impossible. I must've been in the wrong part of the city because I couldn't see the moon, and couldn't tell which way I needed to be facing to actually see it. Too many tall buildings. I was now doubly dejected, thinking how much I hated the city and it's tall building and city lights. I no longer felt the need to stand out in the cold for Winter Eve Fest, so I just walked on up Broadway to Fairway to get a few items. Of course they were busy, as always, with about five bajillion people in a store with little tiny aisles and maze-like walkways. I waited in a long line for three items, all the while increasing my hate for the city and all its people who need to buy groceries. I thought that at least when I got off the subway at my stop I would possibly be able to see the moon, since there are less tall buildings. No. No moon.

By now I was completely bummed, and completely absorbed in my hate for the city and how much it makes me walk and tires me out. So right then and there I decided to go my favorite deli, the Nadal Deli, and get a sandwich. It's something that I love in New York and I wanted it to erase my hateful feelings. Mission accomplished.

And today, since I had the day off, I went around the city doing a few things (which I will blog about later). And it just so happened that when I turned onto Broadway around 122nd street I looked up and saw the crescent moon in the twilight sky! What luck! I could barely make out the two bright spots of Venus and Jupiter, and knew that if I just waited a little bit til the sky got darker I'd be able to see it better. So I sat myself down on a bench in the middle of Broadway and waited. And boy was it worth it! The moon and the two planets looked beautiful in the dark blue sky; all of them shone so brightly. I'm a sucker for the moon and the feelings it evokes--feeling small in this huge universe and yet also like you're a part of something bigger.

This picture in no way does it justice, but just as I was getting ready to cross the street and get something better some clouds covered up the moon. I waited for the clouds to continue moving, but they never did and I needed to get going. But man, was it breathtaking.