hello, me

There are many things I've wanted to blog about lately and I currently have a running list in my head of potential 'blog-worthy topics'. Included on that list are things like 1) the traumatic gum-graft I had done last week that, according to my dentist, is "no big deal" and "can be done on your lunch break" and "is slightly uncomfortable, but not painful" ... but I'd like to disagree and state for the record that it IS A BIG DEAL, it CANNOT be done on a lunch break (and really one should plan on taking a few days off b/c it is THAT traumatic) and it is VERY PAINFUL in addition to being "uncomfortable"!! ... 2) my experience of flying high over the Manhattan skyline on a trapeze (YES! a TRAPEZE!) on Tuesday night thanks to the Trapeze School of New York (stupid gum-graft wasn't going to stand in my way!), but really I should wait until I get pictures from anna~banana before I post on that one. Let me just say though: Freaking Amazing Experience ... 3) my discontented state at the Day Job lately and the never ending search for The Perfect Career that will allow me to use my creativity and passions in addition to somehow helping the world become a better place and working with (and for) people. I have no answers necessarily, but there has been *some* research on careers such as teaching and/or art therapy and *maybe* some talk of grad school. But I am so in the exploratory stage at this point, I'm hesitant to share too much. And who knows? Perhaps there is some amazing, soul-fulfilling opportunity just WAITING for me around the corner! We shall see...

So there is my list. My list of blog-worthy topics. But THEN I discovered THIS fun mosaic-making game which has proven to be a WONDERFUL procrastination-tool/distraction (and has taken all attention away from writing):

*hello, me*


Here's how it works: type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr search. Using only the first page, choose your favorite image, then copy & paste each of the URL’s into the mosaic maker (3 columns, 4 rows).

The questions:
1. What is your first name? (Katie)
2. What is your favorite food? (Italian)
3. What high school did you attend? (Oakton -- Becky, LOOK! one of your photos came up on my 1st page!)
4. What is your favorite color? (Red)
5. Who is your celebrity crush? (Paul McCartney)
6. Favorite drink? (Coffee)
7. Dream vacation? (This changes often, but lately: Greece)
8. Favorite dessert? (Icecream)
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? (Artist, Musician, World Traveler)
10.What do you love most in life? (Magic)
11. One word to describe you. (Creative)
12. Your Flickr name. (That City Girl)

Wanna play?

credits:
1. Katie in the sky with diamonds, 2. Arriving at the Italian Riviera, 3. 23: Oakton, VA, 4. The Photographer, 5. Paul McCartney, 6. coffee & the city, 7. Primary Stillness, 8. Waiting for icecream..., 9. IMG_2852, 10. Golden Gate, by Moonlight [2], 11. Day 8/366 • At least I look creative..., 12. red umbrellas

Central Park love

i've been catching up on my blog reading this afternoon, which is always a fun way to spend an afternoon (especially when bored to tears at the Day Job). i find this blogger especially delightful, and loved this post about Central Park. Central Park is hands-down, my absolute favorite place in the city and i totally concur with every word in her post.

last summer (or was it two summers ago?? yikes, time flies) i would take walks through the park by myself most Saturdays. it was my way of detangling myself from the constant go-go-go of the city and entering into some much needed alone-time/introspection. i could enter the park in the foulest, most frazzled of moods, but within 5 minutes of walking those winding pathways under a canopy of lush green, all stress and angst dissolved and i was in heaven. there was one spot in particular that drew me like a magnet every time -- down a path, over some rocks, through some trees and bushes, and voila -- a little nook right down by the water. my own private sanctuary. i was always amazed at how quiet it was in the nook. all sounds of the city were completely absorbed by silence...and there i was, sitting in the middle of the busiest, buzziest city in the world, enveloped in complete quiet.

i haven't done one of these walks in a long time. too many weekends away, too tired, too busy, etc. etc. there are always excuses. but reading this post today reminded me of the joy i used to find in taking time out to do this...and the NEED my New York-busy-bones have for GREEN and peace and quiet. so i think i need to *make* the time to do it, b/c it is more than just a walk in the park. it is Refreshment. Renewal. Peace.

my nook is calling me.

YAY!

YAY because the beau is here in NYC for 'business' (that business being watching me perform tonight at Caffe Vivaldi! heehee) and YAY because i LOVE mid-week visits with the beau! weekends together are lovely, of course, but it is so nice to experience the day-to-day together. to come home from work, grab a bite to eat together at our favorite thai place on Second Ave., take a stroll by the East River with our tasti-D-lite ice cream cones, etc. (all of which we did last night. dreamy). and knowing that he is so close by, and that we can meet up for lunch and/or an after work drink if we so choose ... *sigh* ... well, i like that. i like it a lot. New York to DC is not so bad, i realize. and couples manage a lot worse (my mom and georgie long-distanced from DC to Trinidad for a year!). but it is hard to not be in the same city, breathing in the same air, experiencing the day-to-day. i'm thankful for our lovely, magical weekends together, but i love these little mid-week trips that happen every so often. they don't happen often, but i will take what i can get! now, off to finish up some work, grab that after work drink :) and head home for a quick practice before the show tonight.

until next time...

happenings...

wow, it is tough to jump back into this thing once you've been gone for so long...i don't really know where to start! i feel like summer is flyin' by at an incredibly hectic and CRAZY pace, and it's been taking me along for the ride. i could probably write pages about what i've been up to in the last month or so, but i really don't want to do that to you. or me. so my suggestion is this: a list! (i like lists). a list of thoughts and tidbits on what's been happening lately in NYC (and beyond):

~ there was a wedding in Virginia that feels like sooo long ago (it was June 21) that i can barely remember it. what i DO remember though is being very moved by the beautiful ceremony of my dear friend laura and her new husband, and a delightful evening of catching up with old friends (including two of my favorites, caleb and janine! (hi!) :)

~ a few weekends back the girls and i did one of our NYC summertime favorites: Shakespeare In The Park. the beau was able to join us, along w/ some other friends, and we had a wonderful time hanging out under the canopy of trees in Central Park, watching dogs, and playing cards as we waited for our free tickets for Hamlet. the show was AMAZING and the setting surreal (we had a view of Belvedere Castle in the background. magic). man, i love this city!

~ my Julia Cameron class wrapped up at the end of June, and i was sad to see it end. she is one cool lady. i have managed to maintain the practice of morning pages, but have not been so good about keeping up with the Artist's Dates.

~ the beau and i are officially over long distance dating. O-V-E-R it! the packing and unpacking and packing and unpacking and the train rides and bus rides and AHH!!! not to mention that it's just HARD to be away from the one you love!! but alas, he is there and i am here so we will soldier on...

~ something that helps alleviate the stress of long distance dating is VACATION!! especially getting TEN WHOLE DAYS together! we spent over a week in Santa Fe w/ my dad and then a weekend back in D.C. following that. it was amazing. i love love love Santa Fe. the fresh air, the mountains, the stars. and we were able to do a mini road trip to Colorado (Denver) which took us through the winding back roads of the Rockies. beautiful.

~ although i haven't mentioned it, i *have* been working on some artwork lately (when i can. which isn't often). i made a special Santa Fe bowl for my dad (that i also tried to "shop around" to some galleries out there) and i am also working with the same city-themed decoupage effect on moleskines (pics coming soon!)...

okay, that's all i can remember/focus on for now! more later...


Santa Fe bowl

i haven't abandoned the blog...

...i am just on vacation! (in beautiful santa fe, nm). once i am back, it is back to reality and back to new posts, i promise.