Catch-Up: In Pictures

Here's what's been going on in my life, in case any of you are still with me. Let's open with a shot of the street where I live, on a sunny Sunday morning.

I celebrated my arrival (and my dear friend L's 2-year New Yorkaversary) at Serendipity.

My parents visited NYC...their first time ever!

Got to see my brother bless his new baby.

This one I just had to put on here because, oh my gosh, how cute is this? Both the baby, and how much my parents love being grandparents.

I made a quick trip to Utah for some meetings and took in the homecoming game.

Went to Coney Island and had my first stroll on the Boardwalk.

Met Billy Collins.

Spent Halloween with my brother and SIL and newest nephew.

Went to Chicago for work and happened to catch the Wallenda tightrope stunt live.

Enrolled in a new gemology class.

Cut my hair into a pixie.

Went to Cleveland for work and took in the first home Cavs win of the season.

Had my office send-off party, where they presented me with this parting gift. (Bitch, I'm from Cleveland)

And now Christmas has arrived in NYC. More holiday goodness to follow as we get closer.

NYC, Two Weeks In

Cons
crazy high rent
crazy high produce prices
crazy high everything prices
having to worry about money in general
getting lost
key to inner lobby building always gets stuck
don't know very many people
working from home makes me feel lazy
my neighbor is loud
my neighbor watches a lot of tv
my neighbor stays up late being loud and watching tv
gas stove
having to use a laundromat
the impending NYC Ebola outbreak
the metro refill machines don't seem to like my credit cards
my mail isn't being forwarded (but that's more on Cleveland)
increase in Ramen noodle consumption
could end up unemployed, impoverished, etc.

Pros
apartment location
good landlords
new stove my landlords installed when I worried the old one would blow up
post office right around the corner
not having to see my ex anymore
not having to wake up until 8 AM
being able to walk to yoga at lunch
being able to walk to yoga at lunch every day
being able to walk to Central park
being able to walk to Central park every day
being able to walk (or cab/sub it) to *insert awesome NYC place* 
being able to walk (or cab/sub it) to *insert awesome NYC place* every day
escaping RITA local taxes
working in my pajamas
spend much less time cleaning
much more to do (events, eateries, etc)
more people visit
proximity to Tiffany's
proximity to GIA campus
proximity to brother and his family
could end up with dream job

Catching up

I spent a week in Chicago. (For work...and also snuck in some play.)

I had a garage sale.

I cut my hair.

I said goodbye to Cleveland.

And I moved to New York City.

And then there were 4

 My brother and sister-in-law had their first baby last month, bring my nephew total up to 4. New baby E is the sweetest thing, and when I met him I was filled with the same feeling that always overcomes me when I meet a nephew...and that is how much I instantly love him, and how much I can't even picture loving a niece nearly as much. Of course, should I ever have a niece, I know she'll be just as immediately special, but there's something about a baby boy that strikes me as sweeter. I snuck in a visit to see the older 3 in Colorado just prior to an NYC trip where I met the new baby, so here are some pics of them, the nephews.

California Adventure

I didn't actually go to California Adventure. This is the girl who hasn't done Disney in less than 4 days since my age was in the single digits, so to only have 2 days in the park, I stuck to my beloved Disneyland. Usually my BFF is with me, but this was my first solo visit. Kind of depressing, but the only thing I really hated was that there was no one to take my picture, or worse, to take a picture with. Still, it's my favorite place. And for those 2 days, I forgot about the mountain of cares on my back and was reminded of simpler times.

The reason I was in California in the first place was to take a jewelry class. A gem identification class, to be specific. I can't say enough about it, both about how intimidated and overwhelmed I was on day 1, and about how much I learned by the end. Simply amazing to me that with a few (relatively) simple tests involving a few (relatively) simple machines, you can identify a gemstone. Any gemstone. And anyone can learn it. When I got handed my box of 5 stones for the final exam, at first glance I totally panicked. They were harder than anything we had practiced, but even with the handful of basic tests we had learned, I was able to identify 4 of the 5 correctly. I couldn't believe it! And I was sad to leave, not just the class, but the entire Gemological Institute of America campus, which is beautiful and steps away from the ocean.

 My hotel was also steps away from the ocean, and my routine became class, then beach. At some point I'd drive myself somewhere for dinner, eat it while reading a book, back to the beach for the sunset, then I'd do it all over the next day. Idyllic. Charming. And so, so sunny. What a whole new world California is, and even though I was getting up at 6 every morning and studying and learning all day, it felt so much like a vacation. Probably because of the weekend bookends, Disney on one end, and some time with my Aunt A in San Diego and La Jolla on the other. She lives a life that is not reality, except it is. It is her reality, and it is wealth I cannot begin to fathom. I was happy just to bask in the luxury of it all, even if only for a day.

The Letter Lifeline

When M walked away, my sister sent me a card. It's quite a funny card, one that I still have displayed on my fridge: "If this card could swim, it would do the backstroke across that river of tears you've been crying and build you a brand new love boat full of tasty buffets and lots of very handsome lifeguards." She's continued to send me cards and letters every week for the entire year since. I've kept all of them, and in a year that was emotionally the most challenging I've ever faced, the Letter Lifeline was such a highlight. Probably the highlight.

The finale to this Letter Lifeline showed up in my mailbox last week in the form of a piece of jewelry. One that expresses just about the sweetest and most hopeful sentiment I can think of. And on this night, the night that M is on a first date with another girl, I am wearing this necklace and finding comfort in the fact that someday it will be my turn. That eventually the person who's meant to be in my life will find me...and stay.

It's NYC

*Pretty sure the man to my left is peeing, but that's New York for you.

I only planned 2 vacations this summer, and of course I had to pick the 2 most expensive vacation destinations in the country. Honestly, the amount of money one can (and *has to*) spend in NYC is just, well, sort of frustrating. I know I was just there in the spring, and I can blame my quick return on the jewelry event I attended while in town, but as to why I stayed 4 extra days, I can only blame that on my pure and unadulterated love for NYC.

                                             Brooklyn Museum

                                             Grand Central Station

                     The Tiffany Diamond (128 carats of fancy yellow)

                                             Central Park

                                             LDS Temple

                                             Chrysler Building

            Carrie Bradshaw's apartment (Sex and the City)

     Dinner and dessert with my brother and SIL who took the train in from Jersey

                                  Sunrise on the Brooklyn Bridge