standing naked on 5th ave

So a gazillion people have asked me, "What's up with 'standing naked on 5th ave'"? After nearly two years of active blogging, here's the answer you've all been waiting for.

Two years ago, after I graduated college and right before I became a full time corporate troll, I took a long trip to New York City. I found an awesome studio apartment on E 82nd & 3rd (or thereabouts) which I had a short term rental with a consultant who was out of town on business (go Craigslist!). While in NYC, I did a lot of wandering. At one point, I found myself at the corner of 5th and E 59th, a pretty busy New York City intersection as city intersections go. The hustle and bustle of New Yorkers and their dogs, tourists, taxis. Across the street stood the grand Plaza Hotel. In front of me was the closing of FAO Schwartz's flagship store, the fading memory of Tom Hanks hopping on a giant floor piano in "Big", the end of an era.

As I stood there, watching the world around me rushing through the night, headlights ablaze, angry horns resounding into the night's crisp air, I wondered if I really was standing there. With or without you, time inevitably goes by. Was I the one seizing every second, standing still, listening, watching, contemplating? Or was I the one, missing the moment, captivated by the sights and sounds, unable to move, unwilling to move, nowhere to go, no one to see, no plans to fulfill, no family to feed? Like a large rock in a stream, too heavy to be carried, diving the flow, there I stood, a roadblock on a New York City sidewalk. Would it matter if I were naked? Would the stream cease to flow? Would the cars slow, would the horns silence, would the time stop?

So, here lives my blog, just another rock in the stream.

Spelunking

Such is life in a cave, I guess. The only light is the light I brought in with me. As life goes, it's slowly draining. Once in a while, you can give it a hard whack and it'll flicker. If you turn it off for awhile, it does seem brighter when you turn it on again. But what's the point? The way I found myself in is the only way out. Nice cave, pretty cave. Should I stay until the light is gone? Some find peace in darkness. It's constant, unfading. Just close your eyes. Sometimes I wonder if I explore deep and far enough, will this cave be a tunnel? How exciting would that be? But when I turn off the light, I see nothing. Of course there is always the option of digging. Digging to find another way out. Maybe I'm just stubborn. Maybe it's just time to turn back and start a different adventure. Maybe.

Rachel's New Rocking Horse!

So cute! Mommy and baby!


Guess which wonderful auntie bought Rachel a new rocking horse?

Unfortunately, Rachel can't say "horse". Instead she says "arse". Ah, close enough! Look! She finally got on!


She's so smart! In just two days with me, she learned how to say, "What's up?" and "Boogie!". But she still hasn't said "San San". We'll get to that. It's in Lesson 2.

Carneros

Wine tasting with the chicas and Ross at Artesa in Carneros.



Left to Right: Ross, Nichole, me, Danielle, Jenny