Bite of the Big Apple

                                             -MOMA

Moved once again. This time completely metro. Landed an amazing tax attorney position, working to pay these loans off. Living with friends and having endless opportunities (and delicious food experiences ! at the end of any subway stop and around every corner) is amazing. Where do I start? I'm so grateful and thankful for finding myself here. Seems as if I worked  hard for years towards the goal of success and am starting to sumerge into the pool of payoff. I enjoy the days as they come, living in the moment and the details always work themselves out. After work I emerge from the tax world,  walk out of my skyrise office and the city swarms around me -to my surprise sometimes that I'm am in NyC. It's truly a beautiful experience that I'm taking a day at a time- grateful and excited. 

Graduated

I did it. The three years here ended as quickly as it began. I've fallen in love w the capital region but am off to the big apple in the fall. So many wonderful celebrations after years of important foundational studies. I'll miss most all the wonderful new friendships that formed here but will treasure each person in my heart as I carry forward on this wonderful journey of life. 

Lost in Central Park

Visiting NY for less than 24 hours and am cooling off in the park. I always underestimate the heat and energy that swirls around you and consumes you in the city. So many smells, stores, people, buildings, and on and on. I want to stop and say hello to each and every person. Where are they coming from? Where are they going? 

The wind is blowing but it's hot air as well. The humidity is thick and relief comes from corporate steel and cement boxes. Sitting in the shade, shoes off, my feet are slightly cooling in the grass blades.  

My summer has begun and already, only here a few hours, I have said hello and goodbye to two of my favorite ladies. We really could all sit together for ages and not run out of fun things to talk about. Now ill sit here and open a book- maybe steal away to the Met in a bit. 

Lookin for a blue box to post my mail

Took a stroll through town to find the nearest mailbox. It began to rain a bit but w the flowers, trees in bloom, and warm air it didn't bother me at all. Albany really is gorgeous in the spring. There was a calm light over the park and the sight and sound of seeds bursting from the ground. I'm so very grateful for the spring (and the mailbox I eventually found).

My week in pictures

Afternoon at the museum

I've never explore museums by myself but I'm finding it very pleasant today. Seeing all the old pieces of our history seems to oddly project truth and understanding to our present. I'm working on a novel, very early stages, and here i can write. My thoughts are flowing. Inspiration is a powerful force. Although I wouldn't deem it necessary to produce all things the great things in life will be accompanied by it. I'm grateful for inspiration.

My capital view

Sitting in the park during lunch- listening to the water in the fountain cascading into the pool, the rush of cars and the wind blowing through the trees. But above all that is the top of the hour church bells playing an old tune competing loudly and proudly with the pounds and drills over the capital as the construction continues on. The view from my office window allows me to see the crane high above the capital construction site. I'm absolutely amazed at the size and architecture on many of the old buildings. And just as amazed at today's technology and workers craftsmanship that allows for restoration and preservation. There is so much life and growth here. I look forward to waking everyday here knowing that when I step out my front door there is always something and someone new to meet me.

Connecticut

Rode bikes to the beach this morning after eating the most anticipated Sally's apizza. I've come too discover a whole different life and grade of people in CT. The love and loyalty of all those on the eastern coast state is beyond that I have ever experienced as a new yorker. My short time here has been filled with delicious food, random adventures, and fun people. The pace is a bit slowed down and the ways are set but at the end of the day the tide of the ocean is as steady as the culture here. back to New York soon to begin my new job, move into my new apartment and begin a new school year. My life is blessed and so grateful for the wonderful moments that grace my daily life.

Pen to Paper

Hard to believe it's been almost three years since I last wrote. I have had it in my heart for a few weeks now to begin posting again and it took just a lil something extra today that finally brought me here. A new soul has appeared on my life's path. I find his company refreshing, invigorating, and slightly addicting, and today he encouraged me to share my love of writing with others- a statement that rang so true I could not continue to write in silence. I may not always have something fascinating to say or I may not say it in the best way possible but bottom line is that I do have a lot of words itching at the tip of my fingers. From pen to paper, or keys to screen, writing doesn't have to be that difficult. It is the lack of conviction and decision to just do it that keeps me away sometimes. But here I am, no longer wanting to dwell on my 3 year absence but very excited to reenter the wonderful world of blogging.
My love for life is apparent in my inability to sit still or hold tight to any schedule for long periods of time. I can't be held down and I have a yearning inside of me to be around people. I'm constantly looking for adventures and new ways to experience the 24 hours we get to live over and over for years until our deaths. This week I was able to both meet new people and have an experience unlike any other. I entered Beulahland, a place of art, new friends, and blossoming beauty. Located in the rolling green hills of upstate NY this small summer art festival happened upon me through a friend and given the opportunity to forget myself and work I went. The night began with a feast of delicious food inside an old barn house, carried us away with live Russian folk music on the lawn, and lit the night sky with our floating candles and toasty bonfire. I didn't know it but my soul was hungry. I woke this morning with a smile on my face and a fullness in my heart. Connecting with others and moving out of my comfort zone to learn and create is a full meal and I ate every piece on my plate.
I do believe it is important to feed our souls. Not just by doing what we love but letting others in our lives, and allowing ourselves to experience places and things that we have absolutely no control over. We truly can grow and become better people when we gather, unwind, and share a little about ourselves.

I found joy in it all

After leaving Utah we drove and drove and drove through the hot Arizona deserts towards the Grand Canyon. Then in the middle of the desert we saw this beautiful rock formation just on the horizon. Our route towards the Grand Canyon followed these Vermilion Cliffs until crossing the Colorado river. That night there were lightening storm across the sky for miles.
We rolled into the Grand Canyon and were joined by thousands of tourists. The look out points were just beautiful as the sun that rose overhead. All around the canyon were signs and warning about the dangers of hiking into the canyon during the hot summer months. Feeling slightly exhausted as well as cautious we decided to enjoy the view from above instead of pushing our physical limits.

Post Grand Canyon we jetted off towards California. We took a southern route so we could drive through Joshua Tree National Park and up highway 101 along the coast. We arrived at Joshua Tree at twilight and took an exciting drive through the eastern corner of the state. I knew we were on the other side of the country when we started to see very large strange cacti looking plants. There were gardens of them that we strolled through but you are not supposed to touch them; supposedly very dangerous. So of course, both John and I touched them. They are very sharp but beautiful. The drive through the park took a few hours but anxious to get to the coast we kept on going west.
Finally, made it to the Pacific Ocean! As soon as we got there we parked the car and picnicked on the beach as surfers caught the Los Angeles waves. Blue skies and pacific wind met us on the coast and continued on with us all the way along route 101 up along the ocean. We headed back inland around the area of the National Sequoia Forest. WOW! These trees are so awesome. Not only are they huge and old but they have been standing firm through natural distaters; some as old as cleopatras' reign. We took a walk through the 100 Giants trail. And as it sounds there were about a hundred Sequoia trees that you could walk right into the trunks of! The forest felt almost spiritual as you wander, dwarfed, beneath these ancient trees.
Heading north we entered into our final National Park before driving to San Francisco; where we are now. Yosemite National Park is so majestic and upon entering the giant wilderness you feel so small. This is another park that has much to be discovered. After walking beneath the old Sequoias and peering up into the sky at the large rock domes that were shaped by the last ice age glacier movement you really obtain this sense of understanding of how big the world is and how little our everyday problems really are. We took a bike ride to the lower waterfall (as you can in the photo on the left) and slept that night beneath the large trees of the forest.

So here our camping and forest travels end. But our adventures and explorations have just begun. It is very difficult to ponder how to sum up a summer experience like the one we just had. I had a dream to travel, to see the national preserved beauty of this country, and to some day see the rest of the worlds' beauty. But one definite finding from these travels is the realization that I live in beautiful geologically brimming country. There is so much to learn by just experiencing and getting out there and doing it. I feel empowered yet smaller. After that bike ride in Moab I am almost confident I could try anything just as physically demanding. And after standing next to the Grand Canyon I feel smaller in comparison to the Earths' magnificence. But more than anything else I have discovered that I am nothing more than a single soul on this earth; here to niether destroy nor change what has been here for millions of years before my existence. To love my family, friends, and the natural beauty around me is all I need when searching for joy in my life.