I'll be home for Christmas!

I am loving life right about now, sitting in my rocking chair in the Baltimore airport.  I’m on my way home for Christmas, and I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited to see the south.  New York has been really good to me so far, but I am ready for some sweet tea and southern accents. 

My bag was way over the weight limit, so I had to pay the additional fee.  It’s all because of those Christmas presents that I intended to wait and buy when I got home.  I decided that New York gifts would be better.  I’m glad I did a little shopping though.  While in the Chelsea Best Buy, I got this huge ego boost by some random stranger.  I was looking at the television series dvds, when he walked by and pointed at one of the covers and said “that should be your face instead.”  I could’ve kissed him square on the mouth.

I love the airport at Christmas.  There are kids and dogs everywhere, and people have generally been in good spirits…even after the security line that took an hour and a half.  I’ve been fortunate to see my family over the last few weeks while they have been visiting, and now I get to see my friends too!  Yay for vacation!

The Sound of Music

It's amazing how influential music is over your mood.  A song can make you feel like you can conquer the world, or make you curl up into a ball and rock yourself back and forth while crying hysterically (never done it).  Music does provoke all kinds of emotions, and that's exactly why I love it.

I recently changed up the selections on my ipod, and intentionally chose more uplifting songs.  On my way to work this morning, I just couldn't stop smiling.  I honestly don't know the title or the artist, but the lyrics of my new favorite "on my way to work" song are about nothing being impossible for God....and about He holds my world in His hand.  Those are some pretty powerful statements that reminded me that nothing matters in this world without Him.  He is the reason to get up everyday, and face all that life throws our way.

This week in New York, I plan to explore multiple musical venues, genres, and performances.  Last night I went to Trinity church on Wall street, to hear Handle's Messiah.  I honestly just went to hear the Hallelujah choral song that mom used to play in our living room while she was working out to Charlene Prickett.  After the first two hours with no Hallelujah chorus, I was afraid I had made a terrible $30 mistake.  Finally, at the end of the second act, I got to hear exactly what I had come for and it was beautiful.

Tomorrow night I am going to hear Dave Kellan at Backfence in Greenwich Village.  Dave is a friend of a friend, and has played in Nashville many times.  The venue he is playing in is apparently listed in the book 1000 Places to See Before You Die.  I'm really excited about hearing him, and being at a legendary club in the village.

Finally, on Friday night I'm hoping to go to Bill's place in Harlem.  Apparently Bill is a world famous jazz musician and has opened a venue in his brownstone for Friday night performances only.  It always sells out, and is in his living room, so seating should be interesting.  Regardless, I am ready for a week of music in the city!

The "New York Moment"

New York is not an easy city to live in.  Everything is expensive, nothing about it is laid back, and you are in constant competition with people who are either your equals or superiors in talent and ambition.  It can be exhausting in so many ways, and there are times when you wonder if you have chosen wisely by making it your home.

And then you have a "New York moment"...

Such a moment confirms that your decision is probably one of the best of your life.  It can be anything from participating in the filming of a movie, to finding a fabulous new restaurant that was probably in a movie, or encountering a celebrity on the street.  These moments are distinctively unique to New York, and provoke thoughts of awe and wonder to a new resident.  They remove all doubt and make you think"so this is why I live here."

I've been really lucky to experience many New York moments since moving here.  Most recently (this evening actually), I was walking around in Greenwich village looking for the Chick-fil-a at NYU, and ran into Meg Ryan.  She passed me at the intersection of Broadway and Astor, and was with a man who I did not recognize.  She had her City of Angels hair-do, and really big lips.  Definitely not the same face as in You've Got Mail (one of my favorites).  But it was really cool, and totally made up for the fact that Chick-fil-a was closed.

Another World-not the soap opera

New York is filled with a plethora of sightseeing options, but none of them can quite compare to the happenings occurring daily on New York City public transit.  The next time someone asks me what they should see when they visit, in order to have a true NYC experience, I will direct them to the nearest 4,5,6,7,1,2,3,N,Q,R...etc...etc. You are assured the biggest bang for your buck in this whole other world, affectionately known as the subway.

I have visited many cities in the country (and world, for that matter) that have public transit, but none can quite compare to ours.  There are incredibly pleasant experiences, such as the one I had this afternoon.  While commuting to a client visit, a group of about six men started walking through the car, shaking money cans and causing a commotion.  The jaded almost-New Yorker in me just rolled my eyes, and kept talking to my colleague.  This type of scenario is usually followed by a speech requesting a monetary donation.  But instead, to my surprise, they started singing Christmas carols and they had unbelievable voices.  My coworker told me that they have actually make television appearances, and are fairly well known.

Tonight I sat across from a mother and her baby heading downtown from Morningside Heights/Harlem area.  It was endearing to watch them interact.  It looked as though she was on her way home from work (this was around 10 pm), and they were both equally ecstatic to see each other after being apart all day.  Sitting next to me during all this, was an elderly Asian man who found joy in making faces at the baby.  He, too, was on his way home from work and was carrying a bag full of Chinese newspapers.

The only thing that I find incredibly obnoxious is when people play on their phones NON STOP while riding the train.  I literally had to look away from a woman last week who was so obsessed with whatever she was doing on her phone, that she missed her destination.  I mean, can't you just stop looking at something electronic for a fifteen minute commute?  Bring a real book or magazine, listen to music, or here's a thought....maybe even have a conversation with someone next to you.   I bet when the first subway was built in 1904, people spoke to their neighbors, men gave their seats to women, and the floors were urine free.