twits

So as most of you know or have figured out I have a twitter account. For those of you who had no idea, there it is, now you know. For those of you who won't be my friend now that I've revealed this, I don't want to be your friend either.

I've only twittered (tweeted, whatever) maybe once or twice, and probably log in three times a week at most. I'm not that much a fan of the site, and though it can be slightly intriguing it is pretty darned pointless. Plus, I hate the fact that all links are scrambled and you can never get an idea of what you'll be linking to. Dangerous, I tell you! But I'm certainly not going to hate on people who tweet like there's no tomorrow. Not only is that unfair, but I know that Twitter has become a relevant Thing (like, it's a Thing with a capital T, something culturally significant, maybe more of a fad than anything lasting in our world but not just a plain ol' thing.) and plus it allows me to stalk, ahem, find out about people and kill some free time. I know, me, free time, crazy right?

Today, however, I found that Twitter can indeed be a really useful, stimulating and even educational tool.

Okay, yes, I think this way because it will tell me things like the location of the Kogi truck and what flavors ice cream the General Greene is serving on any given day. Nay, any given MINUTE. But that's not why I'm blogging about twittering (like whoa, so 2009 of me). See, I've been racking my brain to find ways that I can stay in tune with the art world. When I was in college, (Ready, time warp machine?) my very right brained self was relatively sharp in making art world criticisms, comparisons, and assessments of works and of artists. By the time I graduated I had trained myself to talk art lingo, to see things in art that did not exist, and to familiarize myself with not only older art history figures, but current and emerging artists as well.

Then a funny thing happened - I forgot everything. It was like my brain was wiped clean by alien mutants! (weird comparison, sorry.)

I went from knowing how to talk about art, to knowing how to talk about a signle roster of 25 artists. I suppose this happens in many fields, and frankly I'd love for my neurosurgeon to be focused on exclusively my brain and the synapses that are firing...not my brain a little, and my toes a little, and oh, a little bit of my gall bladder as well. But art is not a science (duh) and is informed so SO much by its history and by it's relevance, you gotta be in it to win it.

Now, of course I can do my own reading and research. But I'm not disciplined enough to do this, aside from the fact that I'm so far removed it's hard to figure out where to jump in, or even how to retain any information that I do manage to collect.

This is where twitter comes in. I knew that everyone was on twitter. But I had no idea that EVERYONE IS I ON Twitter. Artnet, The MoMA, Art Fag City, the list goes on, all these amazing institutions and publications and super knowledgeable art sources, they are all there talking art and art world gossip. What I like about art news in twitter feed is the more approachable and digestible format for which art news is presented. I love ArtForum just as much as anyone else, but sometimes the articles and reviews are so scholarly and so word-centric that I get lost in the writing and can't even begin to analyze what the art is about. All I need is a 140 word round-up about what's going on, who thinks what, which artist is featured in which museum this month. Twitter, I've discovered, allows me to pick up names and bits of information much like I would gain in any normal discussion.

140 words or less. That's how I'm going to get back into the art world.

workplace blues (minus a workplace)

Is there ever an ideal place to work? I can't seem to decide if it's better to work a job that you don't like but that allows you to live life to its fullest (whether it be because you are compensated tremendously or you are insanely connected...or both...), ORR to work for years and years at something that you are truly dedicated to, but find it hard to separate yourself from work/can't pay rent.

I've been struggling with that idea a lot lately.

I came across this article today, which using a more extreme and detailed example, is able to sum up my feelings about work culture, involvement, dedication, and the irony of it all, and really why I don't want to work anywhere....

I'm thinking I really should continue where I left off in Then We Came to the End...

Sabado Gigante

I've been meaning to write about Saturday for the entire week, but just kept putting it off. I just meant to brag about what a deliciously funtastic day I had.

After brunch with Tanya and her family, I strolled around the West Village for hours, listening to an Etta James station programmed into my Pandora Mobile. It was the first time I've let myself wander, get lost, and end up walking around in circles, since I first arrived in New York. I bought my first peach of the season at the Abingdon Sq. farmers market (and oh what a fine peach it was), walked by the cheesy 14th St. street fair, stepped into the WVil Branch of the NY Public Library and read some books on calligraphy (nerdalert), checked out the public pool, and walked by Little Owl no less than five times (I don't think I'm exaggerating).

Finally I was able to cajole a friend into hanging out with me, and we decided to go for 3pm Saturday afternoon drinks at Cabrito. For anyone who is thinking of getting drinks on a fine weekend afternoon, I highly recommend it. The place was empty, the bartenders were friendly (from California, so duh), it was temperate (VERY important in NY summers), and the drinks were tasty. I would also recommend with going with a cool friend like I did, but that's up to you.

Cabrito

Mexican fare

50 Carmine Street

NY NY 10014

Image via Eater

Look at this pretty picture while I talk deep thoughts

I had a cup of coffee with a friend from the yoga studio today (new friends! wheee!). After delving into some pretty deep, almost excessively yogic conversations, I was left pretty enlightened by her outlook on life, her seemingly wise yet humble demeanor, and dammit she's two years younger than I am! I started to wonder how she was able to, even in the most frustrating of situations, set all the negative bullshit aside. I mean, if I were able to do that, I think I'd live a life that was exponentially more peaceful, not to mention a helluva lot simpler.

Call me a skeptic, but I usually think people who are so easygoing, so tantric and so meditative are pretty spacey, loopey, and frankly just not in-tune with the real world. I also usually feel like it can be an act, and whatever evil a person is trying to suppress with this falsely blissful way of living will come out eventually. It's all a bunch of Patchouli. (Get it? Like Baloney, but Patchouli? Haaaaaharawrrrrr)

What, me, skeptical? Judgemental? nahhhhhhhh...okay, so maybe a little. But back to my original point- talking to this friend today, and working at the studio in general, has made me rethink a lot of things, has suddenly made me realize that some people really do live by certain codes and really don't care what you say or think. Some people really do just want to hold hands and sing, some people really do want to sit in silence for ten days straight. And you know, more power to them, because they have this crazy peace of mind that I don't think I will ever have, a greater sense of what their life means and how it affects others, a more evident peacefulness surrounding themselves. Rather than being concerned ALL THE TIME with their thoughts, their jobs, their bosses, their bank accounts, they are able to LET GO (so important!), and my biggest revelation today- take everything with perspective. This. is. genius.

So what, does this all stem from daily yoga practice and meditation? Uhh, probably, but I'd like to think it can be achieved just by opening one's mind to this world. It's hard for someone has cynical as I can be to let go and flow with the wind. But I think I've got it in me. I mean, I'm a nice enough person, right? And I surround myself with only good people, right? So here's my newest resolution to myself, that I'm hoping will help me deal with my super scattered way of life right now: I'm going to meditate daily.

Yeah, you heard me. I'm going to be "ohm"-ing with the best of them. Whatever, to meditate doesn't mean you have to chant and sit cross legged on a 10-foot stick. I've just realized (literally, this morning) that meditating simply means clearing about ten minutes from your day to breathe, to think singular thoughts at a time, to make resolutions or identify problems. When you set aside ten minutes to be still, no matter if you call it pranayama, meditation, time out, chill out session, recess, whatever, ESPECIALLY in New York, I'm sure that only good things can come from it.

I'll probably end up thinking a lot about my CSA. But whatever, at least it's quality time.

Also, finally graduated to arm balances.  Successfully.  I did this in class today:

Indian Ashram

Time to wind down from a busy, too-much-stimulation week(end).

Click here for a great article from National Geographic about Ashrams, or yoga retreats. I promise it's not a super hippie cultish article. If you liked Eat Pray Love, you'll enjoy this.

Off to yoga!

PME 2

More from the pointless mom email archive...

These three snapshots are from a powerpoint file my mom sent me. Obviously, it's in Chinese. Her instructions were to enjoy the photos and maybe find some words to "feel for the illustrations". Really, her words exactly. My mom knows I can't really read Chinese, but I guess this is her attempt to pretend like I at least used to. I recognize a lot of basic characters, ones like "he" and "she" and "fly" and "run" and "noodle" and "ma po tofu" and "soup dumpling". Oh, wait, I'm talking about in general, not in this file, but that would be something, wouldn't it? For this powerpoint presentation to be a guy and a girl who ran all over the world to find noodles and ma po tofu? Anyway I can pick out a lot of super simple words, but it's not like I would ever be able to write "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog". Come to think of it, I don't even think I would even be able to say that.

Nevertheless she has never given up on me. What a great mom.  Always, ALWAYS these huge emails in Chinese. Usually they are related to religion or faith. Since she also loves powerpoint, she also likes to send me powerpoint files in Chinese. Which as you all know is my second favorite thing, next to religious Chinese emails.

Hm. I wonder when I'll be getting a powerpoint of the Ten Commandments in Chinese?

oh yeah, it's summer

Currently 10:40pm, 80°F and 70% humidity. Thank god air conditioners were invented.

Calling All Pawsengers

Can you believe there's an airline that only caters to animals? It's Pet Airways, designed to fly your furry four-legged friends across the country in style and comfort. Launched this week, the airline consists of what are essentially private chartered jets with seats gutted out and replaced by kennels. You drop your pet off at the designated airports (in the pet lounge, swanky ooh lala), and trained pet attendants supervise your pet all the way from the time you drop them off until you pick them up at their destination. The animal never travels in cargo or under the seat, rather each animal has his/her own kennel space. Attendants check on the animals every fifteen minutes (supposedly) and during layovers will take them on short walks or litter breaks. Because the animals travel like human passengers, the company has made it possible for pets to travel at any time of the year. Previously, there were tons of restrictions on specific dates and times allowing animals to travel, due to the extreme and uncontrollable temperatures

Prices are virtually equivalent to, well, a human-priced ticket. But let me tell you, I know plenty of people who would pay double the price to make sure lil Sparky gets home safe. I would, for sure.

As much as I think this is a silly idea and an even sillier image in my head (mental picture: yorkshire terrier in the cockpit with a poodle as his co-captain), I've gotta hand it to the CEO for creating a business that will probably do extremely well.

Now Barnabas can come visit! He'd love the big city smells and big city dawgs, I think.

phlogging

Greetings earthlings.

I am blogging via mobile. (Phone blogging, hence the title 'phlogging') Like, whoa. So 2009 of me.

Internet's still down. Well, at least my thumbs are becoming quite nimble as a result.

summer time fun

still no interwebz at home. I realized, after not having internet access at my fingertips for a few days, that I spend a heckuva lot of time online, and that there's not much to do at home without it.

Luckily it's summer in New York.

I know, I know, technically it's summer in many places in the world, but summer in New York is special, unlike any summer anywhere else. How do I describe it? The city becomes an ultra-lively activity-driven place on the weekdays and the weeknights, and then slows down to a perfect strolling pace on the weekends. Lots of out-of towners parade through midtown, walking far too slow for anyone's good, and all the hipsters and yuppies alike come out of their hipster yuppie holes to bask in grassy ditches in Parks. Outdoor seating is set up at every other restaurant, free shows and movies and markets are offered throughout the each borough, and any mode of transportation can be taken on Fridays to get OUT of the city. Oh, and the magic word to get people to come to your party: ROOFTOP. It's like a strange mix of summer vacation and summer camp and summer projects rolled into two months worth of sun (well, this year it's more thunderstorms than sun) and humidity and friends. It's my third summer here - yikes! - and though this seasonal city-wide celebration has become quite familiar, there is a difference this year in that now I am unemployed. All the better! Also for some reason my friends have suddenly become cooler this year, more adventurous, more available to eat see hear do new things.

So what kind of "things" can one do in New York in the upcoming weeks? I, for one, am going to try to make it out to a Hudson River Flick next week. Maybe pick up some picnic fare at the Chelsea Market and watch the sun set over the Hudson. Lots of park frolicking, including NY Phil's summer series in Central Park next Tuesday and Friday (which reminds me, I should check out the much discussed Anne Hathaway in Shakespeare in the Park). There are market market markets galore in Brooklyn each weekend this summer....and something's going on between the South Street Seaport and LIC that I need to explore too. Free Dirty Projectors concert in Wburg next Sunday, and then a yoga party the Saturday after that at the studio - a yoga class choreographed to music by The Beatles. whoa, am I becoming too much of a granola nut now with all this enthusiastic yoga chatter? Sorry.

***image taken last summer from Madison Square Park looking towards the Empire State Building

Book of Hours at the Met

A friend told me this morning that the Met is having a special exhibit on a Medieval Book of Hours. Illuminated manuscripts were some of my favorite things to learn about in the ancient art history class I took...well, ages ago. I had a favorite one at some point, but have since forgotten which one it was. Time to bust out the old art history books.

For all you art history geeks like me who love this stuff, let's go check it out!

Karma Payment Plan

Life is giving it to me straight today, for reals. I think it's karma putting me in check, saying to me "Hey, you had a super great excellent time this weekend, but remember, you are unemployed and can't live like you are retired and have been working your whole life".

After a great weekend in Maine, I am back to real life. Today I woke up late and missed opening the yoga studio on time...BIG no-no. Then our internet in the apartment, which has been down all weekend, still hasn't been fixed (I am sitting in a cafe down the street, doing "work" on the computer, college style). I opened a letter from the IRS telling me that my 2007 taxes were filed incorrectly and that according to calculations, I OWE $500. You'd think they'd let that go, huh? While at the cafe this afternoon I discovered that my battery charger for my Powerbook stopped working. Had to go into the city and spend a superfluous $85 at the Apple store to buy a new one...

yuck. It's just been one of those days...

Karma Payment Plan is a really great song I used to listen to all the time by Modest Mouse....

Happy Weekend!

I'm off to Maine to celebrate the 4th of July! Going to take a funcation with fun friends. Destination: Damariscotta; home to an annual rubber ducky race. How much more small-town-wholesome can it get?!

Keep your fingers crossed for sunny skies....

random picture found via kecute

CSA! CSA!

I know I always talk about how great it is being a part of our local CSA. I am just SO into it, veggies are my favorite things in the world! (Next to cheese. And pork. And dim sum. Okay, fine, maybe I have a few faves)

My roommate and I are splitting a half share of just vegetables- half share meaning we pick up every other week. Here is this week's pickup list:

1 head bok choi

1 bunch kale

1 bunch swiss chard

1 head broccoli

1 head green lettuce

1 head red lettuce

.5 pint sugar snap peas

5 garlic scapes

.3 lb braising mix

1.5 lb zucchini

And here's a lil snapshot of dinner! I used the garlic scapes, sauteed in olive oil, and drizzled them over some things I already had in the fridge- Trader Joe's beluga lentils and chicken jalapeno sausages topped with cooked spinach and ricotta salata. Then a small side salad with the CSA lettuce and snap peas, dressed with lemon, olive oil, and parm. So simple, so yum.

Garlic scapes are really becoming something of a hero to me- It adds such a sweet garlic flavor when tossed in a dish, but it's so much more subtle than regular garlic. Plus it's green and looks so purty!