Terrible, Awful, and Poopy

Don't you hate it when your hipster-Hasidic upstairs neighbors take a 20 minute shower at 2am causing your toilet to overflow as expected as you told them 5 hours ago that your drains flood over with poop and band-aids if water is run anywhere in the building for more than a minute and that you would be calling a plumber first thing in the morning but until then to please please please only take 2 minute showers?

I hate that.

In Manhattan

Imprompt-to Baroque Opera under a bridge in Central Park.


Sunset on a lake by a castle.


Halloween shopping on Broadway.


Staring at gigantic advertisements at night.

Mondays = Fridays!

So this summer I bought some green bean plants. 4 to be exact. I wasn't sure at the time when to pick my beans, and I got a bunch, but I let them whither on the vines, unfortunately.
However, I had a survivor! I recently planted some indoor herbs, and also transplanted my one remaining bean plant with the one surviving bean still clinging on.

My bean baby. The last survivor.


Turned into a delicious creamy bacon pasta! One bean. He did a good job.

Last night we got all dressed up and went to this restaurant (originally for drinks and dessert since we already made dinner) called Chez Oscar that I bike by all the time. It turned out to be really great. And I tried 2 new things: steak tartare and escargots! Both so good.


Also, I only paid $3.95 for my boyfriend. How much did you pay?

DUMBO Art Fair!

A merry-go-round that I really wish I could ride (not enough space around the edges so no one could.)
A rainbow tee-pee made of plastic strips!
An old brink building with pyramids of plastic bags filled with green kick-balls.

'bucha baby!

I harvested my first batch of homemade kombucha! Harvest might not be the most appropriate word, but it just seems so fitting...

If you're not familiar with kombucha, here's the run-down: it's a fermented tea drink, made commonly with black tea but also with green and herb, that has live cultures and enzymes that are good for you.

But to make it you need a "scooby" or a "scoby" or a "mother" or a "baby" or a "bucha shroom," whatever you want to call it. I call it a "jellyfish" because don't know another way to describe it but to call it what it looks like: a jellyfish-mushroom. Really, it almost looks like an old slimy pancake sitting in the bottom of a trashcan filled with coffee grounds.

I don't know how you grow your own jellyfish. I got mine from some friends who didn't want to travel cross-country with it in their car. What happens with the jellyfish is that as you feed it the tea mixture during the fermentation, it grows. You can cut and peel as many layers depending on how big it gets. I could give several people layers of my scoby so that they could start their own kombucha batchs.

You've probably seen GT's Kombucha
in the grocery store. They have a bunch of great flavors. There's a few other pricey brands, too. This one decided to channel the wine look. I generally like ginger, but I'm a ginger fanatic. The guava is good too, and even GT's green one is delicious, although it takes the first bottle to realize it.

Kombucha smells like vinager and tastes like sour cider or vinger tang. I like ginger because it gives it something spicy to bite on.

Anyway, my batch is currently on the last third of fermentation... 2 weeks in the cupboard, and 1 week in the fridge for fizziness. This first batch is ginger, and I started a basil-mint for next month.
Even The Economist had an article on it.

Here's my set up. Boiling water, black tea, jellyfish... pretty easy, you just have to make sure it's all sterilized.

I don't know how to find time to do all this, but I also made a batch of homemade soy milk tonight, between watching the movie King of Kong: Fist Full of Quarters. Godo movie, good milk. I think tomorrow before work I'm going to grab a begal, a bottle of soy, and go to the garden.

The jungle

I sit here somewhat shamefully watching another episode of the second season of Lost. My boyfriend recently got into it and sucked me back into the abyss. I almost escaped it when I left the country and didn't have a TV for 2 years, but alas, I am now all about Sayid, Sawyer, Kate, and Charlie romping through the jungle fighting polar bears and building themselves a nice little island life.

But I have my own little jungle just behind my house! I'm lucky enough to live in a real house in Brooklyn with an actual backyard. However, as much as I've tried, it cannot be tamed. The boys at one point weeded it down to the dirt, but the weeds are dinosaurs and continue to take over. I tried planting wild flowers and sunflowers, and the sunflowers came up all pretty.

I have 2 tomato plants that are on their way out but still getting me tomatoes. 1 chive, 1 mint, and 1 chocolate basil given to me from farmer Joe at the McCarren Park green market.

This backyard is impossible. That mound in the middle, that's actually a chair. We've been using it as a measuring point, but now it's completely overgrown. A morning glory plant started on the back fence but now they've crept through all the weeds, crawlen up the sunflowers. There's some yellow flowers springing up, too.

So it's kind of pretty in a way, but frustrating that I couldn't get the garden that I wanted. At this point though it's not worth it. Not only is it almost winter, but with winter I have to move out of this house for reasons I'll leave for later.

It's surprising how dedicated NY is to gardens and plants. It's more evident at the farmers markets, all kinds of farmers come down from up state. There's also a ton of community gardens and rooftop gardens. My neighborhood around Pratt in Bed-Stuy has a lot of community gardens. There's a Target garden around the corner that's got a nice lawn, and another with a lot of veggie plots next to Evan's apartment. Having my few plants, it's nice having basil-mint tea in the mornings, and decorating my room with sunflowers.

I stumbled across this garden initiative called the "Dragonfly" vertical farming. Doesn't sound like it's going to happen anytime soon, but it's an extension on the vertical gardening idea that could feed cities locally, and which the rooftop gardener pioneers have already started.

Luckily, there're green markets all year round when I can't grow any more tomoatos.

Dedication

I haven't written lately. It's been a while, actually. But now my computer is fixed, I can share photos again, and I'm still in New York.

This photo is my dedication to keep blogging, to keep writing at least once a week, to critique food I eat, review places I go, to tell you about my molding, flooded house, and the new cocktails I've tried. As I sit here at 1am, watching old episodes of Lost and eating a sandwich made from really old vegetables, I realized I want to keep telling people about the old vegetables I eat.

I got home tonight from meeting two friends in Chinatown for some bubble tea. We all know each other and have been to the same places during school, but all during different times. But it was strange because it felt like we had hung out together before when really this was our first union as the 3 of us together. We hashed a lot about school, and work, and the awk-offs we're going to have, and the triple date we can go on for the first time because we all have boyfriends now. I felt like I've been in a weird rut lately with jobs and social circles and nothing really special or exciting. But now that it's fall and there are people here I love, during my favorite time of the year, and I'm going to do fun things in New York and write about them. I'm going to tell you about the awkward triple date we go on. Hope you don't mind.

Cheers! This isn't going to be like my friend Sasha's blog, which has also inspired me to start up again, but it's not going to be a diary either. I'm going to do this at least once a week. I need to keep writing to stop from such a terrible routine.

Tomorrow I have an interview and a date in Central Park, and need to spend some time working out my schedule. Wish me luck!

Humbert Humbert the Turtle wants out REAL bad

It has been a while, my friends. Cause... stuff... live.... I graduated. And I'm working. And my sublet turned into a real house (literally, with a backyard and a huge kitchen to boot). Still don't have a working computer of my own, but luckily the bf does.

It's strange being in the city with no one here. It feel almost like I'm in another country waiting for something to happen. Stuck in my hotel room, willingly imprisoned because you're too scared to be alone in the city, because you don't know what you'll do alone. It's weird. I really like New York, but I haven't done all the seeing-things I've wanted to yet. Haven't been to the Statue of Liberty. Haven't visited the MoMa. Haven't gone to Times Square. Stuff like that. Everyone thinks "wow, you live in New York. You must do crazy stuff all the time." To which I respond: "Oh ya, like watch episodes of The Office in my bedroom? Totally."

Doesn't help that the weather has been shitty, and subway rides are going up to $2.25 or $89 for 30 days unlimited which is mostly the best deal. I decided the real best way to go is to get a bike. I do feel bad, though, cause bf is building me one but it got halted. But I really need a bike by the time my metrocard runs out.

Beast is in Germany mucking horse stalls. Face is back from Germany and will be drivin' out here in her new biodisele van soon. Buila's in P-Town. Alley Cat's back in CO gettin' all healed from surgery. Bf's working at Radegast Bier Garten.

I've been going to yoga more. And will hopefully keep it up. Yoga to the People. Donation based yoga studio around Manhattan, with a new studio in San Francisco- check it out. I'm hella sore.

Really excited to be going home for Fringe in the end of July. I realized a lot of my being unmotivated and sad here is because I didn't have a transition from being a college kid to being just a person. I didn't go home for the summer to chill out. I'm just stayin' here. Which is fine and dandy, but I'm looking forward to some Minnesota summer. Hopefully my boss won't think 2 weeks is unmanageable and I won't have to look for another job when I get back. Cause that's exhausting.

Really want to go to California. Really bad. I miss sushi-ing with my Twin-san.

eXCALmATION poiNTS

I DON'T HAVE A JOB BUT I HAVE AN APARTMENT!!!
AND A BOYFRIEND!!
AND I'M ALMOST DONE WITH COLLEGE!!!!
I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS RIDICULOUSNESS.
!!!

What's Love Got to Do With It?

F-ing spring, popping up and all screwing with my emotions. What is it about fresh air and flowers that turns your heart to butter? At the time you need it to be the strongest?

Especially great timing for more drama, what with the already overwhelming anxiety that is the end of college. I have a thesis to write. I have homework to catch up on, an internship to attend. Jobs and places to live to figure out. Am I moving back to Minnesota next month? Am I staying here? What am I DOING with my LIFE is the main question bobbing around these days.

I've applied for 3 jobs, one with a tutoring organization and one with a elementary school in Harlem as a teacher's aide, and one with a youth retreat group back in Minnesota. I'm also going to be applying for a job as a leader with People to People Student Ambassadors. If I don't get a job I can't stay in NY. If I stay in NY, I'll miss out on skinny dippin' season in Minneapolis.

My entire block has been taken over by the movies. Well, a TV show I guess. It's called Bored 2 Death. I don't have TV so I don't know anything about it but apparently Jason Schwartzman is supposed to be in it although I haven't seen him today. They're filming at the coffee shop on the corner and there have been hipster kids hanging around all day.

TOday I also met Jimmy, Tina's 45 year old Saudi Arabian friend who lives around the corner. He is weird and creepy and has always chatted me up when I walked by before. But tonight we had pizze with him and watched a bellydancing DVD. Still weird and creepy. He definatley jerks off to that video. "Ya, you go, look at you."

Awkward.

Spring "Break"

More like, Spring Work Week. Thesis writing and internship, woo! There have been a few things to do. Actually, last night was the first time I went to bed before midnight in about 4 days. Blame it on Kayla's Birthday Margarita and Dance Night on Thursday, Birthday party for a high school from on Saturday night, Holi on Sunday (pic), date on Monday, and St. Patrick's Day on Tuesday. A favorite musician of mine, That 1 Guy, played last night and I had planned on going, but plans change and I was passed out really early.

New York weather... I thought Minnesota was random. The last 2 days have been beautiful, and today's it's rainy and gross. I can't wait for NY in the spring. And everyone is saying NY in the summer is even better. Not going to lie, I kinda want to be around for it. I'm leaving my options open. If something comes up here... maybe I'll stick around for a bit.

St. Paddy's day was disappointing. The parade was more a procession of all the Irish people in the city. And the streets were full of drunk high schoolers drinking beer "secretly" from Starbucks cups and trying to pick fights. We left pretty quick and got a Guinness at some Irish pub on 2nd full of suits and ties. Pretty rad. I got to see my friend Ian from Hopkins that night, celebrate his 21st in the Village before I ducked out early to go sleep for once.

Speaking of sleep, now that I've done that, I need to get some work done.
Peace!

Borscht and other things good

I made borscht last night and I can't help but show it off cause it was fuckin' amazing. It also took forever between our hotplate that barely gets hot enough to boil and our 2 cup blender.

Look at the delicious redness!!







We were fat and happy afterwards with Tina's NYC Garbage Conference stolen fruit and cookies.

My apartment almost caught fire today

I suppose it's ok since Tina got a NYPD officer's phone number out of it.

The rest of the world is ignorant

"There have been over 9 million refugees and internally displaced people from conflicts in Africa. Hundreds and thousands of people have been slaughtered from a number of conflicts and civil wars. If this scale of destruction and fighting was in Europe, then people would be calling it World War III with the entire world rushing to report, provide aid, mediate and otherwise try to diffuse the situation. This article explores why Africa has been largely ignored and what some of the root causes of the problems are."

I think it's worth taking a look at.

Give My Regards to Broadway

Ya baby! Saw a Broadway play yesterday after orientation where I meet a bunch of awesome Friends Worlder peeps. The show was In the Heights, which apparently won best Broadway Show last year. It was an interesting story, and the set was really well done. And we get to go see it again since the website had the wrong times and about 40 people were late. So ya!

Times Square last night was really, really cool. It's so bright and flashy. I have to say that all the billboards and advertisements are more for asthetic. Seeing a 100foot Bud Lite does not make me want to drink a Bud Lite. And the 10foot Yahoo! sign does not want to make me use Yahoo! But it's all about flashy lights and the reputed atmosphere of Times Square. I wish I could have been there for the inauguration. We watched it in the student lounge. It's strange to think that most of my academic years have been reigned over by Bush. And now most of my post-academic years will be a completely new rule. A better one. Wooo Obama! Obamarama!

I really like Brooklyn so far. Our apartment is really great, it's a cute nook in the wall. The floors are creaky, everything is slightly slanted. The kitchen is tucked under the stairs. It's very bohemian. I can hear our neighbors either behind us or above us watching TV all the time, and their cig/pot smoke drifts through my vent. Our landlord Glenn is really nice, too. But it's weird that he wants rent in cash...

I really like the center staff, and I think my classes are going to be fun. My African Lit professor is smart, obviously, but I can't really tell if he's all that into teaching us, cause he rolls his eyes a lot. I like my advisor and senior thesis teacher. I have to pick a thesis topic still, and get my internship set up. I was really hoping I could get a part time job this semester just to have some pocket change, but I don't think that's going to be a reality. I have enough to get me through the semester, pay for rent and groceries and have some leeway with fun stuff, but I'd like to have a little bit coming in.

I was going to post video of my Japan dorm and center, but I can't find the cord to my camera... so those will be up soon, and also of NY!

What is a "butte" and how is it "crested"?

This is the view from Tina's friend Beth's place in Crested Butte. That mountain, which I fell down for about 4 hours last Monday on my first snowboarding trip, is apparently a "crested butte". I get what a crested butte is, but I still don't know how to describe it...

Well, my lovely friend tonsilitis has flared up again, as usual, at the most convenient time. We leave for New York tomorrow, and it dumped snow last night. It's really pretty here, but who's too afraid to do anything except drink orange juice in case her throat decides to really go haywire?

Colorado's been fun, though I feel bad I've been mostly a bum, due largely to not feeling very well. But all of Tina's friends are really cool. We had a good time in Crested Butte snowboarding and barhopping (one of the reasons I've been feeling sick- sore and sick. That and Tina refusing to let me roll the window up for about 45minutes despite me beating her ass at cold tolerance. Minnesota, bitch. Can't beat those winters).

I'm ready for New York though, I can't wait to get to the apartment. I'm still working on finding an internship. It's rough going, no one is getting back to be. I've found a few cool organizations, Freedom House and School for Human Rights, Tibet House, and the American Indian Youth Council. But no response yet. I haven't gotten anything done on my thesis yet either... ugh. But it's good to know that I'm not the only Friends Worlder who is behind... guaranteed, 90% of my class doesn't have anything yet either.

Here's dear Tina, showing off our new motto after cute snowboarder boy got in the way of us enjoying Batman. (The paper says Til Dicks Do Us Part. We're classy, we know)

The Internet is Impermanent!!! and other things

It turns out that journalspace, where my blog was hosted before, cannot recover their database after the crash. So, new blog space! Woo! Happy New Year!

I'm getting ready to leave Japan- tomorrow. Wow. I've got terrible butterflies already, everything is packed and waiting... I said goodbye to Dan and Barbara a few hours ago. I'm taking the shinkansen to Tokyo, and then have to switch trains at Tokyo station to the airport...

My time here has been... a learning experience. I wouldn't call it todemo tanoshi but it was certainly interesting. I learned that I don't understand Japanese culture or people, and that I don't fit in, and that I will probably never have the ability to be somewhat communicative in Japanese. It's all very ambiguous. That's what this semester has been, ambiguous.

The holidays here, though, I like. It's not a big deal, it's just another day with a moment of recognition. "Oh, it's Christmas. Oh, it's New Year." It was not nearly as stressful being in Japan for Christmas as it is in the States. Black Friday, people spending too much money to "prove" to people they love them. I don't know, I just don't get it.

Last night I went down to Heian Shrine and watched the crowds. They had it set up like a festival. Food vendors lined the main street. I stuffed myself with okonomiyaki. I almost missed midnight, and would have if people hadn't started to suddenly fidget and clap. The biggest ruckus were 3 boys who jumped off the railing behind me and shouted "Yah!"

New Years in Japan is all about family, and the first visit of the year to a temple or shrine is a big family affair. Everyone goes out (to 3 shrines, if you want to be really traditional) to pray and ring bells at midnight. At Yasaka Shrine, in Gion (an area of Kyoto) thousands of people line up to receive coils of rope that have a little ember on one end. They're supposed to go home and use this sacred fire, lit by a priest, to start the first cooking fire of the year. I saw a few people walking around Heian with coils o rope glowing on one end.

Other temples ring bells counting up to midnight, 108 times to represent the Buddhist notion of cleansing of sin and new beginnings. Heian shrine doesn't have a bell, apparently, so midnight was kind of a... anticlimax. I was standing at the back of the grounds (with a few other gaijin who were probably also perplexed about what was going on) and just watched to see what would happen. About 30 minutes to midnight, people started streaming in from the food stalls, gathering in front of the shrine. Within 15 minutes, the entire ground was jammed with people, waiting for midnight. I had no idea what would happen at midnight. Would bells ring joyously welcoming the new year? Would there be fireworks? Would the crowd collectively break into prayer? Would priests appear and do some sort of ritual? Or dance?

But, like I said, I hardly noticed that it was midnight until people started clapping. And then there was a mad press towards the shrine, when I thought the crowd couldn't get any more packed closer together, as people shuffled by the main hall, throwing coins and praying.

I thought of this crowd of Japanese people the ultimate test for any American mosh-pit or concert enthusiast. Anyone who thinks they are skilled at swimming their way through a tight crowd to front and center. I challenge anyone who thinks they are good at that to come to Japan and experience the tight press of people that is everyday life here! The ultimate test of course would be getting on a local train at Tokyo Station during rush hour, when white-gloved train attendants are PAID to push people into the trains like sardines and shut the doors without any lost fingers.

Anyway, so New Years was less excited than I had planned back when I got my tickets and had wanted to be in Tokyo. I probably could have gone to Tokyo and still have found stuff to do. The warnings of everything closing for a few days wasn't nearly as severe as I took it to be. Mostly just museums and touristy things were closed. There were still parties and bars open, like anywhere else in the world. I almost went to this Irish pub, but vetoed it. How often am I in Japan for New Years? I wanted to see what a real Japanese festivity felt like. It felt like a carnival without the rides and drunk people.

This semester has not been what I planned, but I'm still happy with coming here. And I realized the other day, after fighting all semester about whether or not I would, I knew that one day I will probably come back to Japan for a visit. I may not understand much of what's going on here, but the food's good.

One other sad realization though; I will be leaving without having made a single Japanese friend. Oh well.

Tomorrow I'm up bright and early (if I can sleep at all, that is) and off to Colorado for some fun in the snow with my friend and soon-to-be roomie. Happy Holidays, everyone!