Thursday was a very eclectic day! I had finally so run out of clothes that I could put it off no longer, so I arose early and carried my three bags of laundry down to ET Laundry, all the while weighing my options: have them do it for me (only 85 cents a pound!) or figure out the system myself. In the spirit of trying new things, I decided to do it. Get a card, put money on it, locate the right machines, figure out how in the world to get the card to work, wait in the hot laundromat with complaining lady right next to you, take clothes to the driers which are big enough to put Smart Cars into them, by now I'm a pro with the card, 20 minutes later done!
Frustrating to figure out how to do it, simple once I know what I'm doing.
Walked to the Crosstown Diner for a California Omelette (lots of veggies, including avocado!) and lots of coffee. Continued to read my book "Maine," which still is the only book I've read while I'm here. I gotta get a move on! Put on clean clothes (YAY! Note to self, don't wear khaki in NY: it never gets clean again!), purchased my unlimited Express Bus and Metro pass--which I'm never leaving home without again-and went into the city. The bus ride was very stressful for those of us in the front seats and probably the driver too, as people were driving AND BIKING like complete morons. It was a miracle we didn't collide with anyone. The weekend must start on Thursday here, as the people, taxis, and cars were out in droves. Once we got past Central Park I could have walked it faster that we could go. The trip ended with a traffic jam caused by a New Jersey driver colliding with an ice-cream truck. Yup. It closed 5th Ave. down to one lane, to the jeering of many New Yorkers.
To Lincoln Center for a couple of very pleasant hours in the New York Performing Arts Library- nice music collection (I'll take one of these upcoming rainy days and go sit and work there on opera workshop program of French literature) and a really lovely Noel Coward exhibit. Actor, director, playwright, man about town. The exhibit made me curious to learn more of his songs, and to get a silk dressing gown of my own in which to greet visitors after shows! Magnificent. Sadly, couldn't take pictures in there, so you'll have to imagine silk tie dressing gowns with sophisticated prints and matching shoes (one pair of shoes with his name embroidered onto them!). To the Juilliard Bookstore, and didn't really find the windfall that I did in the spring, but did get "The Mastery of Music: Ten Pathways to True Artistry" by Barry Green, which looks really good. I think the two things I like about the bookstore are 1. There just aren't print music stores left that are devoted to classical music, 2. the energy, passion, and greatness that Juilliard stands for is so inspiring. However, students are the same everywhere, and I heard two tenors at the checkout counter circling around each other, trying to figure out what their package of five (arias) was. One plays coy, the other desperate. How annoying.
It starts to rain, but I am optimistic as I head for Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens where I will attend a Met Opera in the Park concert with my friend Seonaid. She got stuck in traffic, so while waiting for her, I talked with a weird looking guy on the street handing out fliers who turned out to be a decent guy, and decided to travel to Sweden at the end of the summer.
Yup, you heard me right.
After mulling it over for a few days and conferencing with my mom, I decided to travel to Sweden at the end of August with my friend Nancy. She found the tickets, she reasoned that since she was already going whether I went or not, my only costs would be food and the ticket over there. Now, those of you that know me know that it is impossible for me not to spend money while traveling (not when there are books to buy, jewelry to oggle, and foods to eat-although apparently Sweden serves lots of FISH. Ick) so that was an optimistic statement :) but I want to go. I know nothing about Sweden except the people are blond, beautiful, and bundled up in handknit sweaters. And Swedish meatballs, chefs, reindeer (?), and some type of massage?...... Anyway, it's time I learned something about Sweden! What a great cap to an unforgettable summer, which was my goal back in May. To make the most of every day, which I have been trying to do.
SO, called Nancy and let her know, Seonaid came and we walked the 8 blocks to the "park." More of a clearing by the river really, and it kind of smelled like dog-doo doo, but the concert was lovely, the audience appreciative, the river view lovely, and there was a van there selling picnics! I bought a one person picnic and shared it with Seonaid- yum! We sat and talked after it was done until we got kicked out of the park. When we got kicked out, we defiantly went over to the water's edge for pictures and made jokes about the Astoria Assaulter (the best we could come up with- violent A words are few and far between) since it was pitch black there and the park used to be very dangerous before it was cleaned up. Missed the bus on the way back home, so had about 40 minutes to windowshop on Madison Ave. and 5th Ave. All the jewelry was out of the windows, but there were still beautiful displays to look at, and it was interesting watching people go through the garbage outside the frufru stores (Dior was a popular one). I wasn't above picking up two brand new fashion magazines that had been put in the recycling (hey, they were on top- I didn't dig!)- reduce, reuse, recycle man!
Home again, couldn't sleep for some reason. I really think I'm dehydrated and on a strange diet here, and I'm pretty sure I didn't sleep until near dawn.
I'm about to head out to go to the Whitney art museum and the Morgan Library, and I'll probably eat Japanese noodles tonight. Sara and Seonaid may or may not join me, depending on weather and schedules. I feel like less of a tourist now, and am developing a love/hate relationship with the city. The horribly humid weather and all the pokey TOURISTS as well as how long it takes to get anywhere are maddening. Then you see the view of the river, you hear up and coming opera singers for free, you watch a small child dancing to "Largo al factotum," you discover the Botanical Gardens. Then in takes two hours to get home-a distance of four miles.
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