happy, but sad
Feb 17th 2010 03:25:39 pm
Living in New York City is difficult. Especially for a midwest girl who spent the previous four years in the laid-back, hippie town of Eugene. I have been trying to stay positive about the move (almost a year later!) and have tried to be the strong, confident, optimistic woman that I would like to be. Ha! Some days it works, some days it doesn’t.
On Monday, I had a meeting in Manhattan and then Travis and I planned to eat dinner at one of the many confusing, but oh-so-popular Momofuku restaurants. I was so cheerful and energetic when I started out! I took the 40 minute subway ride, ran some errands, went to my meeting, did some shopping, then hung out at Barnes & Noble waiting for Travis. Barnes & Noble is cool because they let you use their bathroom even without a purchase (very rare in NY), but they are uncool because I got scolded for sitting on the floor reading a book. There are no comfy chairs in this NY Barnes & Noble, only a handful of folding chairs that were already full with other tired city goers, and apparently, you aren’t allowed to sit on the floor. So… basically, by the time Travis got to me I was exhausted and dehydrated, and promises of Momofuku pork buns wasn’t enough to get me pumped up. Plus, we had to walk lots of blocks to the Noodle Bar (one of the Momofuku restaurants), which was too crowded. Then, we walked lots more blocks to the Momofuku Ssam Bar and waited for a seat at the super-crowded, loud bar. I was so tired and so hungry. Poor Travis. BUT, here is the good news: New York City always seems to make up for its inherent hassle and hardship. Our pork buns and barbecue sandwich arrived and they were just about the best food I have ever tasted! Too expensive, too trendy, too difficult to get, but still worth it. Plus, then we went next door to the bakery (the Milk Bar) and got two slices of amazing cake and their signature Cereal Milk (above you see the left-overs in our fridge). Travis even splurged on a taxi ride home! Ahhhh.
What else have I been up to?
- Watched The Hangover last weekend and I loved, loved, loved it! I was totally caught off guard by how much I loved it. It is, like, my new favorite movie, and I don’t even like Las Vegas!
- Travis and I have also been making our way through Entourage, and again, I was surprised by how much I like it. I thought it was all about womanizing and partying (and it is), but it is way sweeter than I expected.
- Oh. This isn’t great, but I have abandoned the thing-a-day project. My daily creative submissions just weren’t very good and I didn’t need another thing to feel stressed over. I am a thing-a-day failure.
- This guy is my favorite thing about the Olympics.
- I had another article (a book review of Weekend Sewing) published on CraftCritique.com this week.
- I have been doing these Dance and Be Fit workouts on FitTV and I am really enjoying them. The instructor, Kimberly Miguel Mullen, is really cute and fun. They make me want to take some “real” dance classes…
What have you been doing to keep sane during this long, cold February? I need suggestions!
11 Comments » Categories: Birthday, Feeling Happy, Feeling Sad, Food, New York
anonymous on 17 Feb 2010 at 3:42 pm #
Why don’t you volunteer…there are millions of people in NY that could use some food to eat, some clothes to wear. Use the money you spend on everything and buy a family some food.
Cody on 17 Feb 2010 at 3:47 pm #
I’ve always heard that being a mid-westerner in NYC is hard. I never really thought of people as extremely friendly here (Michigan) but, I suppose I don’t really know, not having lived anywhere else.
I second volunteering, but I would also be very interested in taking dance classes. If you have a lot of drop-in fitness studios, it could be another NYC review series.
rachel on 17 Feb 2010 at 4:35 pm #
Volunteering is a great suggestion! I have been seriously looking into volunteering at a few museums (the Tenement Museum most of all), but I stay really busy working on Swap-bot (it is really a full-time job), plus I have picked up a bunch of recent design jobs. So.. I am worried about adding another major commitment. I do need to interact with other humans, though… maybe I should just do it!
Libby on 17 Feb 2010 at 5:08 pm #
I don’t know if that is what you should do. You make it sound like you have all this free time on your hands. Especially living in NY. It is so fast past. Slow down smell the roses. You could try volunteering, but you should leave that to all the under achievers and retirees. Unless you are trained for it, it is very hard to work with mentally ill and the sick. You are already virtually volunteering your time to Swap-bot.
Gareth Ireland on 18 Feb 2010 at 6:31 am #
Hi Rachel
i think you are being really hard on yourself. A year in a new place, especially a city, isn’t long. You don’t have all your support networks around you (although I know Travis and Crusher are supportive) so everything is tougher.(plus you are also looking after Travis and Crusher) I think you do a lot all ready, but perhaps a night class, dance class or teaching children crafts may get you into New York life. Toget through Winter and to make new friends I started a drama class which I love. Last year, I was in my first play. From the drama class, I’ve met some great people and had fun.
Sometimes I get frustrated by Edinburgh, people can be snotty but then suddenly something really good happens that changes my mind. However, I’ve noticed that when I’m in my home town I don’t notice the rude people as much because I’ve got more of my family around me and I feel more centred. It’s a tricky one – please don’t beat yourself up.
nina on 18 Feb 2010 at 9:28 am #
i agree with that last comment! i think moving/adjusting to a new place is very difficult, not to mention moving to THE major city in the US. i think you’re doing great
adam on 18 Feb 2010 at 8:33 pm #
i agree with the commenter above me. she sounds really smart. i’m totally jealous of the life you’ve lived so far and the things you’re doing now. i’ve been in kansas my whole life and get suckered into taking care of my parents’ dogs on the weekends.
Kathleen on 19 Feb 2010 at 12:10 am #
Hang in there Rachel. You may end up being one of those people who it takes a few years for New York to grow on them. And then you’ll end up being a “New Yorker” who can’t imagine living anywhere else.
Oh, and for the record, I have missed your thing a day posts, but I won’t hold it against you.
Stacy on 19 Feb 2010 at 8:43 pm #
It’s especially hard when you’re working at home. I just moved from the Midwest to SoCal a few months ago, and it’s hard! I work part-time from home and the job market is dismal. I just need to meet some people so I can hang out with people who aren’t my spouse!
I’m hoping to take a class or join some sort of book club to get me out and socializing with other people in the community. So you’re not alone! Good luck!
Lisa on 20 Feb 2010 at 7:45 pm #
Hi Rachel!
Oh! I am so sad that you are sad about living in New York. But I know what you mean, I am a native New Yorker and there are many times this city just brings me down. I think Gareth is right, you are being too hard on yourself! Hang in there! Lots of transplants always tell me it took them a couple of years to really get into New York and now they just love it.
What are you looking for? If you want to volunteer, I used to do it with New York Cares. You can volunteer whenever you want and they have different events to volunteer for and you can pick and choose what you want. Crafternoons at the NYPL are starting up again http://www.nypl.org/blog/2010/01/13/mark-your-calendars-spring-2010-handmade-crafternoons
(of course we missed the first one of this year today, but we already worked with Esther K. Smith! *been there done that!* LOL)
My CD mixer groups is taking a winter hiatus but may start up again in either march or april. I’m going to make you come to one!
And I also miss your thing a day posts but I’m with Kathleen, I won’t hold it against you. It’s hard work!
Keep your chin up!
OXOX
Lydia, Clueless Crafter on 23 Feb 2010 at 8:07 am #
Momofuku! I’ve had their Crack Pie and boy was I messed up from its super sweet deliciousness. Rachel, I totally understand the hassle of the city, but the amazing ways it makes up for it – like awesome pork buns.
Chin up!