snowpocolyps

I almost forgot! Everyone is panicking about the snow that we're supposed to get overnight. I mean, flipping out about it. In fact, all of the public schools are already closed for tomorrow. And, on the 1 train tonight, John and I overheard a straight up fight between a native New Yorker and a guy from Cincinnati/Canada. In brief, New Yorker told quasi-Canadian to, "Go back to where [he] came from!" It was epic.

postcards from italy

It has officially been one month since we've moved to New York and I must say, it certainly doesn't feel like it. Some days it's as if we've been here forever. For example, when you're riding on the subway in major traffic at 9:30 in the morning and all you want is to not be touching several people or overhearing very loud music through everyone's headphones at once. Although, some days it feels like we just got here. For example, when you're wandering around Bowery lost and alone in the cold, without anywhere to go or anyone to see. You could wander and wander forever. Right now, I have the feeling we just got here.

I've been looking into other internships - most at literary agencies. I've been hoping to change internships for awhile. When I moved here and began working at HERE, I realized that it's not what I'm cut out for. So I figured why not give literature a go. I've only emailed one place thus far because everywhere else is looking for summer interns, which I'm just not capable of doing. Reasons why I can't intern over the summer: 1. too poor, 2. going to New Zealand, therefore making me more poor, 3. very very poor. New York City is ridiculously expensive. And by that, I mean every object of food costs 3 dollars more than it should. Which adds up and pisses me off.

I also looked into apartments, and let me tell you, the experience was mindblowing. The majority of apartments (the cheap ones in Brooklyn, even) were close to 1,000 dollars...for one bedroom or just a studio apartment. That means two people living in one bedroom would each pay 500 a month PLUS utilities. PLUS food and travel expenses. Literally everyone has two or more jobs to foot the bills. I don't know how people stand it or when they have free time to enjoy living in New York. I mean, why live in a city like this if you can't even go out into it because you're working all the time?

I've also been looking into grad schools here. I know for a fact that I cannot afford grad school, let alone school here in New York, however I'd like to keep my options open.

Living here makes me even more uncertain about the future. In fact, it makes the future seem impossible, painful and no-good.

Perhaps New Zealand will be the perfect opportunity to turn this pessimism into something more productive.

Today's news: Stayed in bed all day watching movies and such, until John went to work at Bowery Poetry Club and I took the movies back to the Redbox at Walgreens in Times Square. Afterwards I wandered around Houston and Bowery until John was off of work and then we came home to Europan for pizza. He paid because he owed me. He also bought me canolli, which was underpar but beyond sweet in thought. I really like that kid.

the tipping point

New Yorkers have attitudes. There's nothing surprising about that. (We all know that Yankees fans cause the most trouble at games.) However, it is still a bit shocking when the attitude is turned towards you. For example, you'll be in someones way and you'll get an earful or you can't figure out where to order your veggie wrap at the local cafe and you'll feel moronic when you're told what to do. It's like the attitude is everywhere. So, here's to hoping it becomes just one of those things. Like pigeons or traffic at the Columbus Circle subway terminal.

The first half of today was terrible - entirely because I wasn't feeling well. I could barely enjoy the Whitney as we got to explore two amazing exhibits, Roni Horn and Georgia O'Keeffe. Horn's portraits were fascinating but her sculptures were simply mind boggling. One was of what looked like a 4 foot by 4 foot ice cube (minus the ice). The top was clear and you could look inside of it to see the different layers. However, one of my favorite parts about the Whitney was that there were windows. This ice cube was placed next to one of them and it reflected the nearby buildings if you looked at it from an angle. My favorite room of Horn's exhibit was of photographs she had taken of the water of the Thames. On the photograph were placed tiny numbers which corresponded with notes which were written on the bottom. Example, "Water is sexy" and "Black water is not sexy."

The Georgia O'Keeffe exhibit was beautiful. Her use of color boggles my mind and it was awesome to see her first abstractions in charcoal. The portraits taken of her naked were beautiful...I didn't know she was so sexy! (I should have. Her work is sexy.)

After the Whitney, I took the bus back to the hotel where I napped until I felt better. I am very sad for John, who lost his metro card. Mitch found it, but not thinking it belonged to any of us, he tossed it. Sad faces all around. I'm hoping the purchase of a new one doesn't put a huge dent in John's budget! After being at the hotel, the two of us went to Cafe 71 for dinner and then head to the New York Guitar Festival where we got to watch two silent films whose music was played and improved live to us by two wonderful guitarists. I don't have the program in front of me so I can't recall their names, however, next Thursday Justin Vernon of Bon Iver will be doing the same for another silent film. Lucky ducks that get to see that one...

Tomorrow, I have another day at HERE and then I get the night free. Maybe I'll finally get the chance to go to The Strand to get some postcards and a photo for Mrs. Williams to prove that I went. Love to all and to all a good sleep.