The City Glows

The city glows at night and melts into the sky on beautiful days. I was lucky enough to see a Broadway play today (Pillow Man) and enjoy a beautiful day with friends (David and Grey). In 2 more weeks I'll be lucky enough to spend that time with Michelle. 7 weeks is a long time. I can only imagine what it must be like for the men and woman who must leave friends and family behind to go fight in war. It must be devastating and frightening and incredibly numbing. This thought puts my time away from Michelle in perspective. All the same, I can't wait to see her amazing soul right in front of my eyes, her arms around my body, her smile, her laugh, her fidgeting, her. 2 more weeks. I had a wonderful day today. I can't wait to share some of those days with my wife.

Walking home on a Thursday Night

Walking home on a Thursday Night
Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

Walking home on Thursday night turns into shuffling home on Friday night turns into 3 AM on Saturday night. You get no sleep in NYC. Fuck the city that never sleeps, what about the Oregonian that never sleeps?

David Enjoys a Lagunitas Censored Rich Copper Ale

It's raining and thundering in NYC. We decided to drink a fine Californian beer (Lagunitas) and visit the roof for a view of the city. Enjoy the view.

It Smells Like Beer

It smells like Portland. It smells like a quick journey through the city. I ran into a Farmers Market, a sunny week, the Brooklyn Brewery, a night in the East Village, a massive amount of sleep deprivation, a rainy night, a new apartment and a painting of a dog.

It's funny. I find myself on the other end of the moving equation. Always, I was on the end that tried to convince the person that had moved to a new town (Portland) that that new town kicked so much ass (and it does) that the place they had just moved from paled in comparison. Now I'm on the other end of that equation. People espouse the wonders of NYC to me always, and it is a wonderful place, but it's just one of many wonderful places. My move here has already broadened my world and somehow I feel like the people who have never lived in Portland are missing something. Just like the people that have never lived in NYC are missing something. I'm Evan and Ginger and Gabe and Sarah and all my friends that moved to Portland and there are now many native NY that are serving the place of me. That being said NYC is great and Portland fucking kicks ass! This moving thing is a total trip. There are so many incredible, interesting places. The journey has just begun.

I can’t wait until Michelle joins the journey.

Finally

Not so good pictures of our new apartment. After what seemed like a million different apartments, I finally found "the one". Here's a few pictures of it. They don't give it justice, but it'll have to do until you come out and sleep on the couch. A few of the highlights are: really large bedroom, full top floor of a brownstone, it's in Park Slope a block-and-half away from Prospect Park, a big bathroom with a full tub, two skylights (one in the bathroom one in the kitchen), a dishwasher (yes!), a small living room, a small room off the living room, access to a common backyard and a coin-op washer and dryer in the basement. But, to really experience it you'll have to come out and see it yourself. I'm looking forward to seeing you all.

Mother's Day at MOMA

I woke up in the morning, went to a French Bakery, took the subway to MOMA, walked through Central Park, met up with David and his dad (who dropped in on a whim from Estacada) and went to Paul's for a rooftop BBQ.

Mother's day in NYC was really interesting. The streets and the Subaways were filled with people carrying flowers for there mom's. NYC was in bloom for all moms.

(Click the picture and see the rest of my day at MOMA.)

Our House

Holy shit. Our house in Portland is now officially for rent. Kind of harsh. I'm super happy that we decided to keep it, but to see it up on the web for rent, well... it's our home. There's a little loss associated with it. Growing can be tough. We've got so many great opportunities in front of us, but we love Oregon, our home, our nieghborhoods, our friends and family. Our house is great. To see it on the web for rent is crazy. I hope, whoever we rent it to, loves it and truely enjoys it as a home not just a place to store there shit.

The Subway

The subway is amazing. It's dirty and ugly and beautiful. It whisk you from place to place like a mole under the city. You walk into one of the tunnels, squeeze into a train, sometimes so close to people that you feel as though you're groping them or they're groping you, and off you go. Once you arrive at your destination, you walk out of the subway and into the city. I always find myself a little directionally disoriented coming up out of these transportation caves. I don't know how batman did it.

In most subway stations you'll hear music. I've heard people sing reggae, play plastic buckets, play the Godfather song on the violin, play guitar, break out the accordion, play with full bands, sing group acapella songs and play on instruments that I've never even seen before. Most of the time the music is really good, but not everyone can hear it. The subway is full, I mean really full, of people with headphones on. I think New York may have single handedly been responsible for the success of IPods. I've never seen so many in my life.

The subway is one of the many life lines in this city. The arteries, wooshing people in and out of the city. I'm one of those people now. It's an interesting ride. Hope all is well. I'll write more soon.