Free money, Mac store

Hi Mom,

The weather got cool tonight, I wore my new zip-sweatshirt (American Apparel, how trendy). I had gone in because I had a gift card and picked it out because it was on a rack marked 'sale'. Turns out only half of the rack was half-priced. My sweatshirt; other half.

By then I was already very attached to it, so I bought it anyways, cursing the way gift cards by their very nature make me spend money when I had set out to just plain get something for free. Always works that way (hence, I've hidden my Borders gift card somewhere impossible to find).

Made my way to the Mac store (seen above), which needs to fix my dear Macbook before it stops working altogether. You have to make appointments in advance. They're booked until Saturday.

Still walking well, standing tall; I continue to be a pro at laying flat. Doctor's out of town until the 10th. My Mac should be fixed by then. Hopefully my back, too.

Love,
Karen

Butterflies

Hi Mom,

I like butterflies. When they are alive and flying around a butterfly garden, for example, I like them. When they land on a flower, a park bench, or my purse strap, I like them. I do not, however, like them in glass cases.

Went to a restaurant that has them up on display and couldn't stop staring. Something about the whole thing bugs me (no pun intended). They're all pinned up and streched out. I don't think it's as pretty then.

I'm not sure if this parallels my thoughts on taxidermy, though, as I was at the Natural History museum--great place to spend a rainy afternoon, plus pay what you wish admission--this weekend and found some of the animals to be fairly magnificent. Maybe it's the difference between having them up for education versus just for art. Or I'm overthinking it and just don't like butterflies specifically.

I'm not next in line for a bearskin rug or anything, so I guess I can leave this one unresolved for now. And just avoid butterflies.

Hope your weekend is going well.

Love,

Karen

Bus station

Hi Mom,

While I'm not going to Montreal anytime soon, my friend Anastasia is. Back when I was planning on going, she decided she'd come meet us for the weekend. Last night I went with her to find her bus at Port Authority--a big adventure for someone who has been laying flat most of the week.

We went to the terminal, Greyhound's main office was closed. We asked for directions, the janitor sent us up two escalators the wrong direction. We came back down and two guys leaning against the gate laughed.

We hunted for bathrooms, making large loops around the large station. Finally found the line for her bus, it was long. Turns out you don't buy tickets in line for the bus; you have to go across the entire terminal to the only office open late to get them, then come back. We did. She even got a window seat. And promised to send me a postcard.

Love,
Karen

MRI

Hi Mom,

Never spend an hour in a tube if you can help it.

Love,
Karen

P.S. Stop worrying, I'm fine. :)

Steve in traffic

Hi Mom,

It's fun having Steve here, getting to show him a thing or two even though I can't really do a ton of exciting stuff thanks to my back. Today's venture (since walking is wayy easier than sitting)--a trip to High Line, the new park built on the old train tracks.

Steve made friends with everyone up there, including the man who sells coconuts. He said it was the best coconut he'd ever had, and meant it! The guy was thrilled, totally thrilled.

They also have an overlook where you can peer directly into the traffic below. While this may appeal to tourists, I can't imagine New Yorkers really getting a thrill out of staring at traffic. Especially those with cars--as I'd imagine they spend most of their time in it.

Very relaxing up there, some interesting shrubbery that's currently passing for gardens or fields or whatnot. We agreed that the freeways in Michigan have better foliage, but maybe that's just plain old Midwest snobbery.

Love,
Karen

Guess who?

Hi Mom,

Guess who I found! Can I keep him!? 

What good fortune--threw out my back just as my little brother came rolling into town on his way to Boston. Guess he can help me carry my laundry downstairs before he leaves (clean socks). 

Meanwhile, I'm a bit more cooped up than usual. I can walk, can't really sit in chairs for that long, but am becoming an expert at laying around. Not a habit I want to get into, but I hear it'll help me heal. They're going to run some test on me Thursday, so I'll have more info then. I ran my doctor's note by work, so that should get taken care of one way or another, too.

In other news around town, it's free wafel day at wafels & dinges. There are also giant hotdogs in the middle of the pedestrian walkway downtown (I saw when I stopped by work to pick up a paycheck and drop off a copy of my doctor's note). Wonder what they're up to with that.

More later.

Love,

Karen

Out of order

Hi Mom,

A very strange thing happened at Whole Foods. I had gone to pick up sundry items for Steven's stay, organic chicken, and some rice pilaf on sale. *Note: The Whole Foods in Union Square is always busy, with lines wrapped around the store and fleets of people on line to buy their sesame-basted kale salad or whatnot.

I made a beeline for the always long but slightly faster-moving express lane, where they restrict you to ten items or less and regulate your movement with the help of a giant automated lane board. You divide into columns, it's divided into columns, it tells you what checkout your column goes to next on a rotating basis (they're numbered). Flawless, except when the whole board fizzles.

The voice in the regular line chirped on, but the express lane was strangely silent. Employees materialized to help manually usher customers to the correct checkout. People in line discussed what could have happened and about the line chaos that could potentially ensue. I went home wondering if the automated system was really that much more effective--wouldn't people prefer a human directing them all the time, just on principle? Then I remembered nobody's lunch break is that long, and that we all go for expediency around here.

Love,

Karen

Back soon!

Hi Mom,

Temporary hiatus, back with you Monday!

Love,
Karen

Think coffee

Hi Mom,

A new contender has emerged on my coffeehouse scene. It's called Think Coffee and it's well worth a stop. It has two pretty cool locations, lots of places to plug in laptops, and better coffee by the week.

Last time I was there they asked me to smell a new blueberry-scented, hand-pressed coffee they were making. I almost bought a coffeemaker on the spot, just so I could buy a pound of it and make it at home in the morning.

My friend Henry introduced me to the place--he seems to go here a lot after work to do work (and meet me!)--so now I can haunt there, too. They also have dangerously tasty brownies, cookies and other assorted baked goods. I find they punctuate a long workday well.

Love,
Karen

Blast from the Past

Hi Mom,

Guess who I found? She's from Jersey, went to Ealy, and sponge-painted her bedroom pink in fifth grade...that's right, Aliza. I found her out on this coast, living in Hoboken, knitting, dining and shopping with the best of 'em.

We had Korean for lunch today and caught up on life. A lot of life, actually, given that the last time we hung out was when I went to visit her at American during undergrad.

She had a lot to say about life on the East Coast versus life in Michigan. Funny thing is that after living in New York for four years, I think I do, too. It's only two hours away by plane but some parts of the culture are really different, from vacation spots (Up North versus the Hamptons) to how people think about big universities versus small liberal arts colleges.

Her parents live down here now, her brother moved to Israel, and Aliza, well, she's almost the same, but with less of an accent.

Love,
Karen

Pic-i-nic basket

Hi Mom,

Today was a picnic kind of day. The weather was warm but not too sticky (in most New Yorkers' opinions, anyway) and the park was full. My friend had arranged a blanket under a tree and collected a great group of people. We had wine and cheese, fruit, crackers and bread. I brought strawberries and blackberries, as my latest theory is you can't go wrong taking fresh fruit places in the summer.

They had tied a balloon to a tree so they'd be easier to find. I couldn't find the balloon--turns out, a small child had run off with it; his parents had tied it to the back loop of his pants. We had a good chuckle as a kid in tiny green crocs dashed around the park with a "welcome back" mylar attached.

Eventually dusk fell, the park closed, and we reconvened at the organizer's house for further adventures. Good people. Good eats. I like stealing other people's friends.

Love,
Karen

Could have been me

Hi Mom,

Today I passed the Boston University tour. I heard them talking about the towers where the freshmen live, the cafeterias, city living and SAT scores. That was me TEN years ago. My brain tilted. 

I almost went to school here, remember? We came and visited right before decisions were due: I stayed over with a freshman host to check the place out, and then made my final decision with just moments to spare. My whole life would have been different if I'd come here.

I'd have been a city girl earlier on, with a journalism degree. I probably would have never gone to Columbia for my Master's, and might not have gone to Spain to research and write a thesis. Bonus, less debt. Bummer--I might not have ever lived in NYC?!? 

Love,

Karen

Bubbles

Hi Mom,

Notice anything strange about this fountain at Copley Square? The bubbles it's filled with inexplicably, you say? I agree. On our way see to A Comedy of Errors in the park, Mike and I noticed a white fluffy patch hanging from a tree branch. Then another came floating towards us. We traced the source back to this entire fluff-stuffed fountain. The water underneath was slimy but the surface sure looked clean. People (including me) had their cameras out to witness the spectacle. We checked--it's allegedly not an everyday occurrence.

We pressed on, late, as sometimes happens in my world, and arrived at the lawn five minutes ahead of showtime. I bemoaned our most certain fate of either not being able to enter or having at best to sit miles from the stage. Then, the unthinkable happened...we put down our blanket not halfway back and settled in to watch the show. Acting was great and the rain held off mostly. Incredible.

Mike says things just aren't as crowded here. My jaw probably hit the empty space between our blanket and the next one. Apparently, in some places, people see Shakespeare in the Park without lining up days in advance, no camp-outs necessary.

As they used to say over the PA in middle school, "with something to think about," I'm Karen Schwartz.

Love,

Karen

6 a.m. on a Tuesday

Hi Mom,

This is what 6 a.m. looks like on a Tuesday. From a train. Going to Boston. Yes, I astoundingly and with no small effort actually made it onto said train, despite my penchant for missing early morning transportation due to its, well, earliness.

I packed the night before, and got to Penn Station with half an hour to spare. There's something great about being in train stations as daylight breaks. Makes you feel like you're really going somewhere. I've been in a lot of stations in a lot of towns, and even though they're often smelly, uncomfortable and full of slightly stale croissants, I like them. You can stand under the big boards and see all the places you could be going, check out luggage you'd like to own, and even sleep against a pillar for a bit without anyone thinking it's weird. Is it possible I am destined for a life of transit?

They were hosing down the sidewalks when I arrived, so I had to walk halfway around the terminal to get in. That’s how far ahead of normal travel time my train was leaving. They weren’t even anticipating the crowds yet. It's a New York I don't usually get to see, at least on the I've-just-woken-up side of things.

Love,
Karen

Dust off

Hi Mom,

On a stressful Monday morning, there's almost nothing better than grabbing a can of air, pointing, and shooting for all it's worth at your keyboard, mouse, phone and monitor. I know, it sounds strange, but something about breaking the cadence of keyboard clicking--or in August, sometimes just the silence--with a piercing blast of decompression is, well, rewarding. 

It's a bizarre experience because you know you're kicking up all the dust that ever settled on your desk and sending it not only circulating into shared airspace but also directly into your own face. Still, that doesn't stop anyone from seeking this particular satisfaction. Or wondering how they got air into a can in the first place, much less how they can charge for it.

The can gets cold eventually, as you hold down the red trigger, and your fingers either go numb or you wise up fast and put the can down. Even then, you keep watching it out of the corner of your eye, just thinking to yourself, hrmm...10:10...I could stand to do that again. Just then, someone a few desks over cracks a smile and asks if you'd mind passing the can on over so they can clean their desk off, too. And then it all begins again.

Happy Monday.

Love,

Karen

Corn on the cob

Hi Mom,

PS1, the Long Island City contemporary art museum, has always been cool/strange/a great place to visit. Today I discovered their summer Saturdays music party, and it got even better. Apparently during the summer and up until Labor Day they have these all day outdoor events that feature music, dancing, good eats and beer. 

A $10 ticket gets you in (cash only), and more cash nets you hot dogs, burgers, corn on the cob and the like. It's easy to eat endlessly because the lines are pretty efficient and even though the chili is $8, sitting amidst an installation, you somehow feel it's worth the price.

The crowd was decked out in huge sunglasses although the sky was overcast. A faint mist came spraying out of hidden spritzers to keep us all cool in the August humidity. I saw at least three dresses I'd like to own. Inside, they had an exhibit showcasing all the past installations. Every year it's a different concept but the same idea. I'll definitely be back next year...if not sooner.

Love,

Karen

Red, red wine

Hi Mom,

When I say I’ll bring a bottle of wine somewhere, I mean I’m going to spend an hour in the wine store puzzling, and then bring the same Yellowtail Shiraz I take everywhere else. So when I saw a chalkboard advertising a tasting class at the wine store next to my office, I decided it made sense to drop in.

I figured they could enlighten me, enhance my knowledge base or…okay, they had gin and tonic water, but some neat wines to try too. I can’t tell you what I tasted or how it was that different from what I usually drink, but I know where it is on their shelves. Maybe it’s just a clever way of making sure I only go back there to buy my wine. I came from work and got there 45 minutes late, so for now I’ll assume the explanation happened before I arrived.

Or I could just start taking chocolate or flowers places instead.

Love,
Karen

Lamb on a roll

Hi Mom,

The latest cart to join the fleet, the Bistro Truck, looked promising when it rolled up. My friend read about it in the Post, I had seen it on a few eating blogs, and well, it was caddy-corner from the pizza truck just down the block from where I work.

It has an ambitious menu, with lamb and rice and Belgian fries. The line wasn’t too bad—the sandwich cart, for example, takes longer, and they just make egg sandwiches (no offense, they make good egg sandwiches, just a different gig).

My friend had the lamb, called it overdone, said the fries were just fine but nothing worth writing home about. I opted for sushi instead, not from a cart. But that doesn’t mean I’m not willing to try anything once.

If I were really ambitious, I'd start following all eight of the carts in my office 'hood--cupcake, treats, pizza, sandwich, beverage, mexican, falafel and bistro on twitter, just so I'd know where to look for them when. For now, though, I'll just see when I pass them, and go to sedentary restaurants the rest of the time.

Love,
Karen

Sustainability and other things green

Hi Mom,

The room was jam packed with Albanians, Latvians, Belgians, and I’m not even sure who else. It was rather crowded, especially for a multi-hour presentation on global warming and sustainability. We took up all the tables, ate up all their hummus, and drank up all their wine.

The event was a chance to hear about how New York’s lights and lives would be affected if we didn’t do our part to keep an eye on the environment. The presenters, a director from Columbia’s urban energy program, and a mayor’s office planning guy, explained how if we keep straining resources, at some point the lights will dim because there won’t be enough energy to keep this place running. And that was just the beginning.

Lots of people there seemed to know each other, I met a few interesting new folks; an educational time was had by all. Guess there's a lot of people talking about saving this fair city.

Love,
Karen

New dill

Hi Mom,

We clearly need more time to shop. More time to eat, a longer visit--I know, if wishes were horses, right? We didn't even make it to cheesecake. I'll start the list for next time.

Mama Mia was a lot of fun last night. I walk by it all the time, had always wondered what it was about. Now I know. That was a very excitable crowd (and great seats). The last time I saw a solid plot line about parent-seeking was "Are You my Mother." No trucks in this one, just a lot of singing and dancing. I'd recommend it to a friend.

I may never eat again after that massive quantity of corned beef late last night...oh wait, I did at brunch this morning. Ah well, so much for that theory.

More Scrabble, more walking, more fun. Even though it rained, we still managed to make it work.

Happy trails home, and thanks for stopping by.

Love,

Karen

Game on!

Hi Mom,

This entry is brought to you live and in 3-d--welcome to my city! It's great to be able to write to you knowing I'll see you again in the morning, and that you're right down the street. Ever thought of moving here? There's always room for one more...

I was glad you got to partake in New York's time honored tradition of brunch. And I was impressed by your adventurousness--the japanese eggplant, egg and tofu combo at Eatery. I know the ingredient combination sounded unorthodox, but their food is pretty imaginative in all the right directions. I think most of their regulars are out of town on summer weekends, meaning no lines; yet another bonus.

There's lots more adventure to be had (hence I own travel Scrabble; we can play anywhere). The tiles are small but the pieces click in. Maybe we'll give it a go at Central Park. I can show you where I got Mike lost last weekend.

Love,

Karen