Humidity is far more bearable when you can go jump in a massive cold pool - for free.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Day 32: Bicycles & Big-Box Stores
I went on a long bike ride, first to the gym (where, I should also note, I am grateful for my physical health) and then up to Atlantic Center. In my three years of being in New York City, I have to say I have only rarely shopped at big box stores. I've been in Century 21 several times (of course), but I haven't been to a Kmart or a Target. There's the Kmart on Astor Place, but New York in general doesn't have the space to allow for big box stores, and I haven't missed them.
So when we went to Target at Atlantic Terminal, it was kind of like a mini-vacation, in a very bizarre capitalist way. I went to Target routinely when I lived in LA (West Hollywood, La Brea and Santa Monica) and the Northgate Target in Seattle. But even though I transfer at Atlantic-Pacific all the time on the subway, I have never been in the building above it. While I don't plan to shop at big-box stores all the time, I was reminded of how nice it is to be able to buy more than 2 rolls of paper towels at once. I'm looking forward to being back in LA where I can have a car and some storage space - and not have to ride home from Target with paper towels and mattress pads on my bike.
So when we went to Target at Atlantic Terminal, it was kind of like a mini-vacation, in a very bizarre capitalist way. I went to Target routinely when I lived in LA (West Hollywood, La Brea and Santa Monica) and the Northgate Target in Seattle. But even though I transfer at Atlantic-Pacific all the time on the subway, I have never been in the building above it. While I don't plan to shop at big-box stores all the time, I was reminded of how nice it is to be able to buy more than 2 rolls of paper towels at once. I'm looking forward to being back in LA where I can have a car and some storage space - and not have to ride home from Target with paper towels and mattress pads on my bike.
Day 31: Journeys
for Friday, July 15 - tardy!
A few days ago my meditation for the day was "Give yourself to the journey." I thought this very appropriate, given my upcoming Westward journey. Yesterday I went to the Rubin Museum for their Cabaret Cinema events, as they're open late Fridays and the cafe turns into a lounge. The galleries are open until 10pm, and if you buy $7 at the bar, you get a free ticket to their Cabaret Cinema. Last night's film was Le Grand Voyage, 2004, directed by Ismail Ferroukhi. The title in Arabic, Al-Rihla Al-Kubra, actually means the greatest journey.
It's the story of a French-Moroccan son and father who go on hajj from France to Mekka, driving across Europe. The father insists on going, and compels the son to drive him. It is the story of their relationship. It made me excited to go on my road-trip, with my mother, as I go back to California.
I noticed a few things that I thought were interesting - the son always spoke French to his parents, who spoke back to him in Moroccan Arabic. So they are literally speaking different languages. This reminded me of an installation by one of my favorite artists, Zineb Sedira (I have written about her here too). She created a video installation entitled Mother Tongue, 2002, where she looks at her Algerian mother, speaking Algerian Arabic, Sedira herself who speaks French, and Sedira's daughter who speaks English, and how these generations communicate in and outside of verbal communication.
The film was introduced by Imam Shamsi Ali, a prominent Indonesian-born imam who is a key leader in New York's Muslim and interfaith circles. He commented that hajj is a duty discussed in the Qur'an as one for "nas" not "muslimun." The significance of this in Arabic is that hajj is a duty for all people (nas) not just Muslims (muslimun)- pilgrimage is for everyone, that we are all journeying around the center of something, circling as Muslims circle the Kaaba, and we all need to honor this spiritual center and journey of our lives.
I am grateful for my Friday evening - I am grateful to be able to travel, to be preparing for a journey back to the West Coast. I am grateful to have been with a group of people in a museum of Buddhist and Hindi treasures, discussing Islam and Christianity and pilgrimage, and generally reaffirming that we all are on a journey. And we'd be wise if we gave ourselves to that journey.
A sneak peek of some of the things I'm looking forward to - more on this soon!
A few days ago my meditation for the day was "Give yourself to the journey." I thought this very appropriate, given my upcoming Westward journey. Yesterday I went to the Rubin Museum for their Cabaret Cinema events, as they're open late Fridays and the cafe turns into a lounge. The galleries are open until 10pm, and if you buy $7 at the bar, you get a free ticket to their Cabaret Cinema. Last night's film was Le Grand Voyage, 2004, directed by Ismail Ferroukhi. The title in Arabic, Al-Rihla Al-Kubra, actually means the greatest journey.
It's the story of a French-Moroccan son and father who go on hajj from France to Mekka, driving across Europe. The father insists on going, and compels the son to drive him. It is the story of their relationship. It made me excited to go on my road-trip, with my mother, as I go back to California.
I noticed a few things that I thought were interesting - the son always spoke French to his parents, who spoke back to him in Moroccan Arabic. So they are literally speaking different languages. This reminded me of an installation by one of my favorite artists, Zineb Sedira (I have written about her here too). She created a video installation entitled Mother Tongue, 2002, where she looks at her Algerian mother, speaking Algerian Arabic, Sedira herself who speaks French, and Sedira's daughter who speaks English, and how these generations communicate in and outside of verbal communication.
The film was introduced by Imam Shamsi Ali, a prominent Indonesian-born imam who is a key leader in New York's Muslim and interfaith circles. He commented that hajj is a duty discussed in the Qur'an as one for "nas" not "muslimun." The significance of this in Arabic is that hajj is a duty for all people (nas) not just Muslims (muslimun)- pilgrimage is for everyone, that we are all journeying around the center of something, circling as Muslims circle the Kaaba, and we all need to honor this spiritual center and journey of our lives.
I am grateful for my Friday evening - I am grateful to be able to travel, to be preparing for a journey back to the West Coast. I am grateful to have been with a group of people in a museum of Buddhist and Hindi treasures, discussing Islam and Christianity and pilgrimage, and generally reaffirming that we all are on a journey. And we'd be wise if we gave ourselves to that journey.
A sneak peek of some of the things I'm looking forward to - more on this soon!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Day 30 - New Opportunities!
Today I got some good news. Nothing official yet, no signed contracts, but new opportunities. More soon!
Day 29: Yoga
I am grateful for yoga! I felt strong today and enjoyed my practice - I was truly focused on myself and not comparing myself to those next to me. I feel better when I make myself a priority - a lesson I need to embed in myself!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Day 28 - Sabah
Gratitude today for:
1). Movies I've never heard of but that are streaming instantly on Netflix. Like this one. With the apartment to myself, I can watch whatever movies I like, regardless of whether they are cheesy romcoms or dance the line between progressive/Orientalist and would make my graduate advisor from NYU purse her lips, smooth her hair, and say, "I think that is a very normalizing/homogenizing statement..." (And she'd be right. Guessous is always right.)
And 2) hearing Syrian Arabic spoken, in said film, for the first time since being in Sham. Qalbi ma3'k ya Sham.
1). Movies I've never heard of but that are streaming instantly on Netflix. Like this one. With the apartment to myself, I can watch whatever movies I like, regardless of whether they are cheesy romcoms or dance the line between progressive/Orientalist and would make my graduate advisor from NYU purse her lips, smooth her hair, and say, "I think that is a very normalizing/homogenizing statement..." (And she'd be right. Guessous is always right.)
And 2) hearing Syrian Arabic spoken, in said film, for the first time since being in Sham. Qalbi ma3'k ya Sham.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Day 27 - Relief!
Today I'm grateful for the big relief that comes with making a huge decision or taking a giant leap towards something you need to do for yourself.
Today I made such a step. I am relieved, exhilarated, scared, sad, and excited all in one. I gave notice at my work for the end of August so that I can move back to Los Angeles. This is something I need to do for myself. And I'm going to make it happen. It might get a little dicey. But I'm a big girl, I can handle it. I brought myself to New York, I can bring myself back.
This picture is how I see LA from here, some bedroom in Brooklyn - a little blurry, and definitely in the distance - but absolutely gorgeous and glowing with possibility.
Today I made such a step. I am relieved, exhilarated, scared, sad, and excited all in one. I gave notice at my work for the end of August so that I can move back to Los Angeles. This is something I need to do for myself. And I'm going to make it happen. It might get a little dicey. But I'm a big girl, I can handle it. I brought myself to New York, I can bring myself back.
This picture is how I see LA from here, some bedroom in Brooklyn - a little blurry, and definitely in the distance - but absolutely gorgeous and glowing with possibility.
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