Spring 2011

Not actually from Spring. From February, when everything was still cold, gray, and yellow.

And then suddenly it was spring!

Cherry blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens (04.23.11)

April showers bring May flowers (now I finally understand what that means).

hello, tulips!

I never used to like tulips. At least not in a vase. But seeing tulips all over the city was very heartwarming. There are also green leaves on the trees now too! I've never been so amazed! It's like I've come from a foreign land and have no concept of things blooming!

I finally feel like I have some spare time for myself, and it's nice that it coincides with the weather finally getting better. People have been telling me that this was an unusual winter. I wouldn't have known the difference. In fact, I'm fully prepared to reach for my wool coat and boots at a moment's notice. I'm still not convinced that it is truly spring. (It still rains too much to my liking).

I think I mentioned in the last post that the cold winter made it challenging for me to enjoy New York. That may sound silly, but I really think that it was really part of the reason (the other parts include: school work getting in the way, and lack of money getting in the way). I'm truly a warm weather person, and even West L.A., where I lived the prior 15 years, was a bit too chilly for me (seriously!).

There was one particularly cold day in February, I was trekking back to my place from the Westside Market 9 blocks away with two bags full of groceries. I had about 5 layers on and my nose started running as it is apt to do in cold weather but I had no free hand to reach for tissues. It was so cold and I felt so miserable I was nearly in tears!

Granted I've learned to let go of some old habits and adjusted grocery shopping substantially. Gone are the days of "one-stop shopping" - I buy things in piecemeal from 4 different stores on a regular basis. And although I've learned which store is cheaper for which products, at times, convenience (or lack of inconvenience) prompts me to close my eyes, ignore the price stickers, and just buy what I need or want wherever I am.

It's little things like that.

Looking back on some of my posts from last fall is interesting. The things I observed about NYC, my unhealthy obsession with stuff (still ongoing), and the general feeling of not knowing where I'm going....well, I still don't know. Lots to explore and do this summer.

I'm so acutely aware of it being cold again soon (even though soon is not for another 6 months) that I'm trying to come up with a list of outdoorsy things to do. Time seems to be flying by. It seemed to me, without notice, the leaves changed, it became ridiculously cold, it snowed a lot, and then the flowers bloomed...it's truly a foreign concept to this SoCal girl but in some sense it makes me more aware of my day-to-day, and more aware of making sure I make the most out of my time. Perhaps the lack of drastic changes in SoCal weather makes one day blend into another, and one month, and one year, and so on, making us lose track of time. (thinking positive)

Well, I would say I'm off to enjoy the warm weather this Sunday afternoon, but unfortunately, it's raining right now.

Long Winter

Apologies for the delay in posting. At some point I ran out of things to talk about (*gasps* is that possible??) and then I also became swamped with work. But I promise to make an effort to blog more in the near future. (After all, do I ever run out of things to talk about??)

It's been a long winter in NYC. I feel like I have been cold since November. I can't recall exactly. But I seem to remember it dropping from 70 to degrees to 40 degrees between October and November. Sometime in early March it hit 65 one day and dropped back down to 40 the next day. Such a tease.

I have to admit, the weather is putting a real damper on my enjoyment of the city. Not only has it been cold for over 6 months (cold is anything under 65 for me), but it also seems to rain every other day, and even on days when it's sunny, it doesn't feel sunny. Maybe it's because we are farther from the equator, or maybe it's because all the tall buildings block the sunlight...

My room, meanwhile, gets too much sun. I'm on the 15th floor facing south-west, which means I get sun shining in my room all day long and moon shining in my room all night. If not the moon it's lights from other buildings. I suppose I can't complain because at least it's a nice view and the only place I can truly see sunlight. If I lean close to the window and peer to the right I can see a snippet of the Hudson River and if I peer to the left I can see the tops of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. This is prime real estate!

Between mid-January and mid-March I did not leave this concrete island (yes I'm calling it an island not jungle, well, it is both). I was actually kind of surprised when I realized it. Two whole months without stepping foot off of Manhattan! I can see how people can get cabin fever. It kind of reminds me of the time I was on a transatlantic cruise. For 5 straight days I saw nothing but blue ocean. (I was going a little crazy but right now I wouldn't mind that view).

I can see now why people need to get out of town once in awhile. And now I understand the true meaning of "spring break." For spring break I went to DC for a couple days and stayed in the city the rest of the time. I think next year I need to head to warmer climes. My mental and physical health depend on it. Last weekend I headed to 80-degree New Orleans and it was great. It was just what I needed. I didn't want to come back.

More on that later...

My First Snow Day

Blizzard at midnight - My unplowed street

The morning after

Mr. Frizzle, the Snow-mizzle

A little sledding by yours truly

Central Park at dusk

The weather has been unusual in New York. Or so I have been told. I really had no idea since I had no frame of reference. I thought it was normal for temperatures to dip below 20 and for January to see 38 inches of snow.

So on Thursday, January 27, 2011, I had my first official Snow Day! And I can truly call it a snow day because school was closed and other students and I made an all-day snow expedition out of it! This was nothing like the Smog Days that I had growing up in a valley of Southern California (those were no fun at all).

Mounds of white, fluffy snow filled every imaginable place in the city, including tree branches, street lights, and garbage cans. Luckily it was a nice day, with temperatures in the upper 30s, very little wind, and some sunshine too.

We went to Riverside Park, tried to build a snowman (it's harder than you think!), did a little sledding (a little scary on the plastic saucer sled), and then moved on to Central Park for some more sledding on a giant hill. Both parks were filled with squealing and delighted children and adults alike. I have never seen so many happy people in one location, at least not in New York City.

All in all it was a pleasant day.

Xmas Vacation

Over the winter break, the Kao roamed to her hometown, Los Angeles, California.

Santa Monica

It was not, however, sunny. In fact, it rained for 6 consecutive days, which seldom happens (maybe once every seven years?). But I didn't mind. I still got in my car and drove, and drove, and drove. And it felt damned good.

It was kind of strange to go back, at first. Since I arrived to NYC in late August, all I did was whine about going back to L.A. In mid-October I purchased my tickets. I eagerly anticipated the date. I thought about all the stuff I left behind and kept a running list of things I needed to remember to bring. I lamented over small objects, such as blue Pentel pens and yellow highlighters, certain articles of clothing, and socks.

By early December something happened. Not sure what. But it suddenly felt "OK" to be in NYC. I stopped counting down the days.

The first few days back in L.A. felt a little odd, or strange. It's hard to explain. My parents' house, which we moved to in 1981, didn't feel too different (except now boxes of my crap occupy multiple rooms). It felt..."normal." Like it was any other xmas break, like how I was there over most xmas breaks over the last 15 years. No big deal. What was strange, instead, was not having a "home" to go to that was mine. I drove by my old apartment in Westwood while searching for parking - no longer could I simply pull into the garage. It appeared to be vacant still. That, was a strange feeling.

Before long, without even having a work routine or any type of routine, it felt as if I had never left. My life in NYC a forgotten blur. I visited friends, favorite restaurants, and new restaurants too.

At one point, after hanging out at Father's Office in Culver City (a popular bar), my friend and I walked down the end of the plaza, saw that there was nothing else to do, and headed toward the car and left. It dawned on me, I wouldn't have this problem in NYC. There's always something else to walk toward, something else to do. And for a brief moment, I looked forward to going back. (A very brief moment).

People ask me what I missed most about Los Angeles, so here's my list:

1. driving
2. blasting the radio and singing along to whatever comes on, while driving
3. view of wide open spaces (and being able to see far in the distance, on non-smoggy days)
4. view of palm trees
5. getting a good night's sleep (on my firm mattress, in the quiet, pitch-black darkness that is my parents' house)
6. knowing where all the good restaurants are
7. just knowing in general (i.e., being familiar with and knowing where to go, when to go, how to go, and what to do)
8. not needing hat, scarf, or gloves (can't believe I used to wear these things for fashion!)
9. West coast sunsets (see photo above)
10. last but not least, my friends (awwww)
    

Snowy mountains...in the distance

After two weeks there I actually felt ready to leave. I think part of it was not necessarily missing New York, but wanting or wishing for my own personal space. Nothing against my folks, of course, but as an only child I've always been sort of a loner. I need quiet time. I need me time. I need spaces that are mine and mine alone. Nevertheless, at the end of three weeks there, it was bittersweet leaving. After a somewhat long, and arduous security process at LAX (never fly on a Sunday, heck, avoid LAX in general), I boarded a plane bound for JFK. Unlike my flight back in August, this time I didn't sit there feeling defeated. In fact, I didn't think about anything at all.

Dragging my heavy luggage down the hall I was not greeted by anyone. Nary a "welcome back" or even a "hello" from the security guard. Entering my cold, dark room I had a fleeting feeling that it was all just a dream, except I was watching the dream vaporize before my eyes. It wasn't a dream. I really lived here. And still do.

A welcome-back snow