It has take me this much time to feel I could sit down and write, so much has happened, where to begin?
The weather is delicious at the moment, after the first week of oppressive humidity, it is now in the high 70ties and sunny and windy. More heat to come I hear….
I conveniently forgot how stressful it is to get settled into a new apartment. It is like giving birth…Initially no internet, TV with complicated settings, no radio – my NPR addiction got a big dent – and how dependent are we (am I) on electronics. I also got a brand new phone and did not know how to work the half of it.
I packed the wrong clothes, I thought it was cooler at night, so half of what I brought is useless (and paid overweight- fees taboot!) and also had to find some sleeveless shirts and shorts quickly. Then I needed crazy glue (my purse broke) light bulb, supplements, band-aids (first day I treated myself to a deep cut in my hand), washing soap etc etc. It just goes on and on, settling into a new place without all your own little thingies at your fingertips.
The apartment is very nice, a 2 bedroom (come and stay with me!!), fairly spacious and fairly light, albeit, no view whatsoever.Walls on all sides. Good shower!!
The neighborhood is very ethnic (again!!) and once again I am a minority (Antwerp), but this time not among Moslim, but Hispanic ethnicity , mostly Dominican and Mexico. I feel safe, but somewhat alienated, everybody speaks Spanish exclusively. The express train is on the corner, so in 20 minutes I am in downtown. It is seemingly, the only affordable neighborhood in Manhatten and is consequently gentrifying rapidly.
I have already seen many apartments for sale and rent and the prices are depressing, i.e. astronomical. I don’t know yet if I/we think we can live here. The most extreme is the constant attack on your senses: smells, visual, sounds and even touch, especially in the subway. But apartments are often build facing away from the streets, so this one and others, are 100% quiet, as if I wassomewhere else.
At the same time all the activity is delightful and interesting.
New York is all of what it is made out to be: exciting, ugly and beautiful, inspiring and confronting.
I saw Helen Mirren in a preview for her new film and going to Shakespeare in the park next week with Al Pacino in the Merchant of Venice.
60 Pianos are put all over Manhatten and anyone can play them. I caught some opera students from Julliard at Lincoln Center.
The first week I was here I got invited to a party and met the producer of “Lost”, the TV show, who is now organizing a party on my behalf, as in “welcome to New York “(any excuse will do)
4th of July is insane here. Nobody works for days, everyone has parties in-and outside, buzz buzz, wondering if anyone actually celebrates the birthday of this country…? At night there is the huge fireworks on the Hudson river to top it all of.
I fell in a crack in the sidewalk, which I find out everybody does once in a while. I really hurt myself in many places and I am forced to walk less and not try and sort it all out in one week or two.
Clients, or potential clients, are coming out of the woodwork. I found an office for a low fee, so that is very encouraging.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
March 24th - Back in Austin
March24th - Back in Austin
Arrived yesterday and spend the whole day doing laundry, working with the dogs- they have gotten very naughty – cleaning house pool and yard. It is leave -dropping time, they are everywhere!
How was it? I wish I could share a clear and precise answer, but I cannot. I loved the hustle bustle, although truth be told, it also got to be too much at times. Of course when you live there you do not spend as much time in the streets as I did. I saw millions of apartments, houses, neighborhoods and was awed by the expense of it all. If we sell this gigantic house we will be lucky to be able to buy a 2- bedroom apartment in Manhatten. Of course you can travel to suburbs (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and even out of city, for less money and more space, but is that ok?
There are two dilemma at this moment ;
1) can we get something in a neighborhood we like that we can feel comfortable in, including the dogs?
2) do we want to live the full city life or maybe suburbs within reach of the city?
I don’t know.
The next step is going back, finding another sublet and looking and feeling some more, 3 weeks was in the end not very long.
Sarah got officially accepted at her college, all the more reason to find a rental, so I can be there in the beginning stages. This is a big challenge for her and could not have been further from her life now, which is safe, white/asian, warm weather, quiet and predictable. Fill in the blanks!
She woke up in sweat this morning, fearful that this was all a big mistake…
I will sign off for now and will not write the blog until I hope June/July, which is when I am planning to go back to New York.
Meanwhile investigating the real estate market here and getting the house ready to sell.
Thank you all for reading, it has been helpful for me as well to formulate what was happening, I felt very honored you wanted to know .
Arrived yesterday and spend the whole day doing laundry, working with the dogs- they have gotten very naughty – cleaning house pool and yard. It is leave -dropping time, they are everywhere!
How was it? I wish I could share a clear and precise answer, but I cannot. I loved the hustle bustle, although truth be told, it also got to be too much at times. Of course when you live there you do not spend as much time in the streets as I did. I saw millions of apartments, houses, neighborhoods and was awed by the expense of it all. If we sell this gigantic house we will be lucky to be able to buy a 2- bedroom apartment in Manhatten. Of course you can travel to suburbs (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and even out of city, for less money and more space, but is that ok?
There are two dilemma at this moment ;
1) can we get something in a neighborhood we like that we can feel comfortable in, including the dogs?
2) do we want to live the full city life or maybe suburbs within reach of the city?
I don’t know.
The next step is going back, finding another sublet and looking and feeling some more, 3 weeks was in the end not very long.
Sarah got officially accepted at her college, all the more reason to find a rental, so I can be there in the beginning stages. This is a big challenge for her and could not have been further from her life now, which is safe, white/asian, warm weather, quiet and predictable. Fill in the blanks!
She woke up in sweat this morning, fearful that this was all a big mistake…
I will sign off for now and will not write the blog until I hope June/July, which is when I am planning to go back to New York.
Meanwhile investigating the real estate market here and getting the house ready to sell.
Thank you all for reading, it has been helpful for me as well to formulate what was happening, I felt very honored you wanted to know .
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
March 16th - overwhelm
March 16th – overwhelm
I have seen many places, towns, apartments and houses. The FEELING is I would like to live here. The realities are very daunting at the moment, how is this going to happen?
Day by day I try to discover more, see more, think more, feel more. Seeing old friends is delightful, that is, those who show up.
Being in New York feels like I never left, everything feels so normal and goes without saying, how odd is that after 12 years1
I have seen many places, towns, apartments and houses. The FEELING is I would like to live here. The realities are very daunting at the moment, how is this going to happen?
Day by day I try to discover more, see more, think more, feel more. Seeing old friends is delightful, that is, those who show up.
Being in New York feels like I never left, everything feels so normal and goes without saying, how odd is that after 12 years1
March 13th - Ralph Nader
March 13th – Ralph Nader
Are the dems still angry with him?
Well, I went to see and hear him. New York is definitely a horse of a different colr: people in the audience were calling out his name, yelled support, got up regulary and applauded, what a rowdy bunch, I loved it!
What is the point of Ralph Nader? I am not sure. He tells you were its at, but what bothers me is that he is only negative in his speeches as he blames the state of affairs .
Where are the solutions?
I don’t presume to know, and I am not politically oriented.
Day after day I decide, if at all possible, to choose the positive, not the negative. It is so easy to go with the negative and so tempting and all around us all the time…
Are the dems still angry with him?
Well, I went to see and hear him. New York is definitely a horse of a different colr: people in the audience were calling out his name, yelled support, got up regulary and applauded, what a rowdy bunch, I loved it!
What is the point of Ralph Nader? I am not sure. He tells you were its at, but what bothers me is that he is only negative in his speeches as he blames the state of affairs .
Where are the solutions?
I don’t presume to know, and I am not politically oriented.
Day after day I decide, if at all possible, to choose the positive, not the negative. It is so easy to go with the negative and so tempting and all around us all the time…
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
March 10th - Anything goes - in New York
March 10th – Anything goes- in New York
Tonight I was given a ticket for the musical “Memphis”, dazzling, uplifting and as always in an amazing theatre – they look like museums those theatres.
This afternoon I was having coffee with a friend and some guys told us: you either have to move or you will be in this movie”. Cameras all around, hustle and bustle, not what you call a quiet coffee, but fun nevertheless and so New York.
Everyone is making something, doing something, going places.
Yesterday a whole band stepped into the subway and began playing and got off the next stop. NPR is amazing, you can get all your information by just listening to the radio, political, educational, cultural,spritual, etc At the moment they are playing a piece “earth meets the sky” with tubas only.
Well, here is a sniff at all the action that takes place.
The good thing is you can be totally anonymous at what you wish to be or do and the bad thing is, you can be totally anonymous. And lonely.
I admire the energy and also makes me stagger sometimes. The prices of everything and anything, are staggering.
I am gathering information and don’t know yet if I can see myself living here
I am disappointed that that answer did not come loud and clear and quick and it makes me feel even more lost in this transition.
I attempt to stay in the here and now – I wandered into a gorgeous church today and accidently attended a mass –and not worry too much about where this is all going.
Oddly, the friends I thought would be knocking on my door are nowhere to be seen and others are very forthcoming, you just never know.
Thank god for cheap wine, ginger tea and a good shower. Speaking of which, the apartment is beginning to feel like home.
Tonight I was given a ticket for the musical “Memphis”, dazzling, uplifting and as always in an amazing theatre – they look like museums those theatres.
This afternoon I was having coffee with a friend and some guys told us: you either have to move or you will be in this movie”. Cameras all around, hustle and bustle, not what you call a quiet coffee, but fun nevertheless and so New York.
Everyone is making something, doing something, going places.
Yesterday a whole band stepped into the subway and began playing and got off the next stop. NPR is amazing, you can get all your information by just listening to the radio, political, educational, cultural,spritual, etc At the moment they are playing a piece “earth meets the sky” with tubas only.
Well, here is a sniff at all the action that takes place.
The good thing is you can be totally anonymous at what you wish to be or do and the bad thing is, you can be totally anonymous. And lonely.
I admire the energy and also makes me stagger sometimes. The prices of everything and anything, are staggering.
I am gathering information and don’t know yet if I can see myself living here
I am disappointed that that answer did not come loud and clear and quick and it makes me feel even more lost in this transition.
I attempt to stay in the here and now – I wandered into a gorgeous church today and accidently attended a mass –and not worry too much about where this is all going.
Oddly, the friends I thought would be knocking on my door are nowhere to be seen and others are very forthcoming, you just never know.
Thank god for cheap wine, ginger tea and a good shower. Speaking of which, the apartment is beginning to feel like home.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
March 6th - New York
March 6, 2010 New York, 3rd day
Yes, I am here and at the moment it already feels like a long time.
I rented an apartment on 54th and 9th ave, which upon arrival was a pig sty – what is it with me and messy, cluttered apartments? –I mean, indeed shocking. The first night I worked till 3 am, so I felt I could go to bed without breathing dust, cat hair or stepping in litter (no cat here now). The person who rented it to me dropped out of sight, turns out there is more to this rental than I was told, I will not bore you with the complications.
Now, I have a clean apartment, albeit above a construction site and only windows in the bedroom and again, no TV, very New York
I bought hyacints and good food, burned incense and candles and it feels more and more like home, I will go back to Austin on the 23rd and report on this scouting trip.
Yesterday I went around the tip of Manhatten with a broker, which is supposedly the only affordable area left. The pull for us is the view on The Hudson River, spectacular.
Tomorrow another round and working on other areas outside Manhatten.
Today was a noteworthy day. I went to Central Park since the weather is glorious, clear blue sky and in the 50ties. I forgot that about NY, more sunshine than in Holland, even though it gets equally cold, but therefore feels nicer.
Everywhere people, businesses, sounds, smells and activities. Saw rollerblading with ski poles in the middle of the road, drank coffee while walking like a New Yorker, saw Strawberry Fields – the John Lennon memorial – for the 100th time, jumped on and off buses and trains – public transportation is fantastically fast – horse carriages, people on horseback, funky clothing, in short, New York
Tonight I had dinner with my 2nd cousin (achterneef) in the West Village. It was my old stomping ground and it felt like home, although the noise level and congestion is harder for me now that before.
Tomorrow I once again see houses in the north, where it is also much quieter
It may be a better compromise for us, further travel, but more small town like.
PS: a new page on the website, link “about me”
Yes, I am here and at the moment it already feels like a long time.
I rented an apartment on 54th and 9th ave, which upon arrival was a pig sty – what is it with me and messy, cluttered apartments? –I mean, indeed shocking. The first night I worked till 3 am, so I felt I could go to bed without breathing dust, cat hair or stepping in litter (no cat here now). The person who rented it to me dropped out of sight, turns out there is more to this rental than I was told, I will not bore you with the complications.
Now, I have a clean apartment, albeit above a construction site and only windows in the bedroom and again, no TV, very New York
I bought hyacints and good food, burned incense and candles and it feels more and more like home, I will go back to Austin on the 23rd and report on this scouting trip.
Yesterday I went around the tip of Manhatten with a broker, which is supposedly the only affordable area left. The pull for us is the view on The Hudson River, spectacular.
Tomorrow another round and working on other areas outside Manhatten.
Today was a noteworthy day. I went to Central Park since the weather is glorious, clear blue sky and in the 50ties. I forgot that about NY, more sunshine than in Holland, even though it gets equally cold, but therefore feels nicer.
Everywhere people, businesses, sounds, smells and activities. Saw rollerblading with ski poles in the middle of the road, drank coffee while walking like a New Yorker, saw Strawberry Fields – the John Lennon memorial – for the 100th time, jumped on and off buses and trains – public transportation is fantastically fast – horse carriages, people on horseback, funky clothing, in short, New York
Tonight I had dinner with my 2nd cousin (achterneef) in the West Village. It was my old stomping ground and it felt like home, although the noise level and congestion is harder for me now that before.
Tomorrow I once again see houses in the north, where it is also much quieter
It may be a better compromise for us, further travel, but more small town like.
PS: a new page on the website, link “about me”
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
February 16th - Back in Austin, moving to New York!
February 16th
There, it is out !
Eight days ago I landed. Funny how you cannot know what you would feel or will feel. I felt very little. I think I had expected to be excited “coming home”, this was not the case. Everything looked ordinary, uneventful, the same.
Of course it was very nice to see David, Benjamin and the dogs, but even the house felt, how shall I say, empty. I feel disoriented, disconnected and exhausted
Now 8 days later, the house mostly feels like a huge chore that never finishes. The few plants that survived are back,the fridge is full again, but the yard still needs a lot of work, everything froze dead (unheard of in Austin) and I feel little enthousiasm to contact anyone. I am wading my way through paperwork, bills, notification etc
Today I met the neighbors in the street, while walking the dogs. The feigned kindness feels like a cold shower.
The good news is that the weather is gorgous, I swallow up the sun when I can
We have decided whilst B. is still going to school for a year and we do not know when the move north east will take place, we are keeping the house for a while. In the meantime I have emptied our guestroom – funny how you think a room is empty and lots and lots of things come out! – in order to rent it. Hopefully I will find someone who needs an office space in a quiet location.
I intend to visit New York in the March, to see and feel and hear. After that ,we take another step, daunting as ever
My web site was compromised (thank you google), which I discovered a week ago, I had not looked at it for a while. This past weekend David and I worked very hard and it is now up and running again, better I think, more informative, some humor.
Please if you have a chance, give it a look www.soul-works.com (or .net, I own both)
There, it is out !
Eight days ago I landed. Funny how you cannot know what you would feel or will feel. I felt very little. I think I had expected to be excited “coming home”, this was not the case. Everything looked ordinary, uneventful, the same.
Of course it was very nice to see David, Benjamin and the dogs, but even the house felt, how shall I say, empty. I feel disoriented, disconnected and exhausted
Now 8 days later, the house mostly feels like a huge chore that never finishes. The few plants that survived are back,the fridge is full again, but the yard still needs a lot of work, everything froze dead (unheard of in Austin) and I feel little enthousiasm to contact anyone. I am wading my way through paperwork, bills, notification etc
Today I met the neighbors in the street, while walking the dogs. The feigned kindness feels like a cold shower.
The good news is that the weather is gorgous, I swallow up the sun when I can
We have decided whilst B. is still going to school for a year and we do not know when the move north east will take place, we are keeping the house for a while. In the meantime I have emptied our guestroom – funny how you think a room is empty and lots and lots of things come out! – in order to rent it. Hopefully I will find someone who needs an office space in a quiet location.
I intend to visit New York in the March, to see and feel and hear. After that ,we take another step, daunting as ever
My web site was compromised (thank you google), which I discovered a week ago, I had not looked at it for a while. This past weekend David and I worked very hard and it is now up and running again, better I think, more informative, some humor.
Please if you have a chance, give it a look www.soul-works.com (or .net, I own both)
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