In A New York Minute

It seems fitting for me to use this title for the first post of the new year. Not only did 2006 retrospectively seem to go very quickly, but I also spent a week in New York City just before Christmas.
To recap the recent trip:


Erik and I spent 5 days in NYC, staying at my cousin's apartment right near the Museum of Natural History. We did a number of activities while there, including art museums and libraries, a broadway show, ice skating, and visiting friends at Columbia U. All in all Erik's blog sums it up pretty well. I'm also happy we didn't want to kill each other after ;)
Also, a recent holiday note: the "Santa" House on my street seems to draw flocks and droves of people every year. I am all for people having the "Christmas Spirit" and enjoying the holiday lights...but seriously, this is causing a huge traffic flow problem in the neighborhood and I'm worried someone will get hurt. This is a semi-circle street so those of us at the bottom of the circle can just opt to go the other way. The problem stems from the people that drive 5 miles an hour down the whole street in what appears to be anticipation of the house. Don't worry folks, it's lit up. You won't miss it if you go 25 miles an hour for the rest of the street. Also, please either stay in your car and TURN OFF your own car's lights, so those of us passing by on the street do NOT think you are going to pull out at a moment's notice and run into us. Also make sure your kids look both ways before they get out of the car and run across the street to marvel at the little train or penguins okay?
Now that that rant is out of the way.
New Year's Eve:
I made turkish pizza for some friends, it was successful: yay for me and basic baking.

We went to the Dublin Underground. It was also fun. I even got the doorman to take a picture of all of us at the end of the night.
So, mostly, my point is, things happen quickly in life. You'll blink and miss something wonderful. So as 2007 is upon us, remember to stop every once in awhile and reflect on the great stuff that happens. It's alot better than stopping to dwell on the negative. Here is wishing you all a happy finish to 06 and a healthy happy start to 07.

Mechanism to Cope over the Summer

Listening to: Dare You To Move (acoustic)- Switchfoot
Looking forward to tonight. The two girl revolution. Traci and I will eventually change the world, I promise. And, if we don't, then at least we dare to dream big.
I was trying to figure out my classes for Spring semester, and decide which of the electives I can take and should take (12 hours total, with core and electives). That's the funny thing about "electives" because when you are paying out of state tuition, you really want to make sure that they are relevant towards your career path. Well, I wonder what sort of career path I'm truly on these days anyways. My former boss was able to help me possibly score an internship this summer in the Art Library back on UI's campus (because this way, I can make money at a random job, do the internship and also live for free in the basement at my parent's again), and I think that is what I really want to do with my life. Work in an art library.
Regardless, even though I really don't want to be back in Iowa City this summer, because I've just finally gotten OUT of that town, the fact of the matter remains, sometimes you have to take what seems like a step backward in order to leap ahead. At least I've never felt like I needed to rebel against my parents, in fact I consider my relationship with my folks to be quite a lucky one. I think of my mom as a wealth of advice given in the kind and generous manner she has about her. I think of her as my "older" best friend even. There are few things I won't tell her and few things I would want to keep from her, so I cherish the bond we have. My dad and I bond over traveling, tech savy new toys (he's always got SOMETHING new it seems) and our passion for watching t.v. in the downtime. So, another summer spent at home to save money isn't so horrible, plus the experience at the library will make it worthwhile I think. I'll get to spend more time with my boys and gals in IC too, as they continue to grow up and make their own life decisions. (Hard to believe the younger set are finally turning 21 this year!) And, I must keep in mind, that some of the friends from Bloomington won't be far away...Trac will be in Quincy, IL doing her own internship and I'd LOVE to introduce her to the crazy IC folks. Oh ya, Roadtrips baby!
And perhaps I"ll go out to Cali and visit Steve at some point to, when the scenary of Iowa City gets to be hum drum as it often does. And when I get an actual job, it'll be farther from home, in a great city where all of the friends will want to come and visit ME instead of me always visiting them, and I can pay them back with hospitality and a fun city full of cultural treats to explore.
ya, that would be cool. I can see it now. Dreaming big is a valuable coping mechanism.