Hope

I long for the day when I can look up at the sky and freely say I'm doing alright. Crisp blue sky, gentle breeze lightly caressing the leaves, at their peak---right before they surrender to December's Winter. One can only hope, continue to work on moving on, and taking life as it comes. I don't know what I'm doing, but knowing that at the "end of the day," (one day) everything will be serene and all this heartache will be but a distant memory...

Attention to Details

Attention to details. Attention to details. That phrase drives me insane. Every position that interests me in the Finance, Economics, and even Accounting, fields posits that the ideal candidate must possess the unequivocally perfect "attention to details" skill. I've always thought of myself as possessing said skill, but I guess it's not enough to appeal to some of the "big dogs" out there. Oh well, I used to panic a lot more about this---not getting a job immediately out of college, and wondering what I would do with myself---but now, I dunno, I kind of feel that I'm slowly but surely coming out of my shell, putting myself out there and networking and whatnot. (...my current plan, which I impulsively jumpstarted a couple of days ago, will hopefully work...if it does, y'all will surely find out about it!)

Anyway, let's pay attention to other details. The fun and light details in life, found effortlessly by chance. Enjoy:

Only the best coffee candies EVER!

One of the cool things about working at Pier 1 Imports during the holidays: free Christmas ornament of my choosing.

Circle of life. I dunno about you, but I absolutely love this rich yellow.

Something about this out-of-focus PINK dog just tickles me so.

Pier 1 Imports Easter bunnies, before they faded from being out in the sunlight too much.

A side note on the "best coffee candies EVER:" there's an Asian Market near my workplace, and one day, the owner came by and dropped off a few candy bags for us to enjoy (you know, because we're just soooo awesome) and at first I was reluctant...I mean, the wrapper didn't have an actual name brand...but when I tried this small three-dimensional coffee colored oval confection, I was immediately wooed. These so-called "CAPPUCCINO candies" are definitely worth looking for, and just look at the adorable wrappers! SO CUUUUUUUUUTE! <3

[Another side note: I absolutely love Pier 1 Imports. Just go into one of their stores and explore...you're bound to find something new and interesting on every visit! (And I'm not just saying that because I worked with them a few times!)]

Tidbits Adventures: New York

Good evening to all!

It's quite blustery-windy tonight (and it has been practically all day) in good ole Dallas. I cleaned out my purse last night and I found all of my New York receipts, plane ticket stubs, and other little mementos. This ablution of sorts brought with it a moment of reminiscence: I remembered the thrill of exploration, the thrill of getting lost and finding my way back home. I miss New York dearly, I miss my love, I miss my limitless freedom. While I can't exactly have all of those things here, it does feel good to remember all the crazy things I did on my trip. (And since I did mention before...if I had a chance to write about the actual trip, more than just the "catalyst story," here's what happened...)

Wednesday:

I woke up in Texas, briefly touched Georgia soil (well, Georgia airport floor), and arrived in New York in a span of 6 hours (give or take that time zone change). The moment we got off the plane at the LaGuardia Airport, we were greeted by a different rhythm. Everybody moving along, nobody stopping, all with a purpose. Taxis and cars and buses honking in the airport traffic. My sister and I called for our shuttle bus and shared it with a bunch of Canadians talking about Rugby. Upon arriving to our room, we were famished; we hadn't eaten since morningtime, unless you count the tiny pretzel baggy from the plane ride. Nani used her awesome food ordering skills and ordered pizza. Dinner was served and we were exhausted from traveling. Sleep.

Thursday:

Our first time at a subway/train stop.

So we got on the 7 train, Times Square-bound. I unknowingly sat next to a homeless man with a crossword puzzle---it's okay, he was dozing off. We kind of knew where the train was headed, but we didn't really have an idea of where we would get off---it was, after all, our first day in the actual city. Luckily, Grand Central Station was the penultimate (I think) stop, so we got off there. To this day, I still don't know how we wandered up to the well-known center-lobby-place-thingy, you know, the setting for that big scene from Friends With Benefits, but we did, and with just my Google Maps app on my phone, we navigated out of the station.

The great thing about being in a city for the first time and wandering around in it is that you never really know where you might arrive. New York has a surplus of very interesting, unique, and always worthwhile, places and attractions to see, and frankly, I was overwhelmed. If I want to see everything New York has to offer, I'd have to move there. (And I'm seriously considering it, no lies.) Anyway, we toured the UN (an unexpected educational visit, I suppose), and after getting our dose of international relations, we decided to walk to Times Square. In perambulating aimlessly, we found several clothing stores (and it wasn't until Saturday that I was kind of able to piece my mental map of our travels together, we were on 5th Ave. without knowing it!) and bought a few things.

And then...there it was. Times Square.

So many colors. Ads and people.

Bright lights, screens, and purpose.

So we were there. And then I impulsively decided to buy tickets to The Phantom of the Opera that evening at the Majestic. It was, by the way, awesome. Amazing. Getting back home afterward, not so much.

Yes, this is the part of my travel story that gets kind of scary. It was impossible to get a taxi to take us home, not to mention unnecessarily expensive, and we reluctantly decided to take the train back home. Unfortunately, I got us off at the wrong stop, and oops, we were super far away from the hotel, in the middle of Queens, in the middle of the night, AND it started pouring down on us. But there was no time to be scared, I was in SURVIVAL MODE. I mentioned before that if a rapist or murderer or some kind of felon had attempted to attack us, he would've regretted that decision. I would have mostly likely severely injured (if not accidentally killed) that poor hypothetical criminal. Thank God no rapist was around! Thank God indeed, actually, for I really don't see how a taxi appeared out of nowhere right in front of us. Some passenger got out and Nani immediately slid into the taxi and I gave the taxi driver the address. We shortly made it back home then, too late for our tastes! The adrenaline was still pumping through my body, but I eventually fell into a deep and restful slumber.

Friday:

At the Met, with my friend Vincent van Gogh.

It was another day, and we were ready for another adventure. I mean, we had already gotten lost---at NIGHT, mind you---what else could happen to us now? We went back to Times Square and did some more shopping and walking, and then we walked all the way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You know, that museum, in all its magnitude and glory, seems like a microcosm of New York in retrospect. Just like New York, the Met has so many works and so much rich history that one day, let alone five hours, is not enough to take it all in. Overwhelming. I contemplated not meeting with the former-love-of-my-life so that I could enjoy as much as I could of the Met, but we were hungry---and tired from all the walking---God, the walking!---so we ended up meeting with him. And well, you know that part of the story: if you need a refresher, here you go.

We had some lovely tasting pizza and some really good gelato with a rather bland name---Grom, I believe? It was a nice evening, and we all parted ways at Union Square. (I do apologize, I didn't take any pictures of that evening, it was better that way, my own sense of foreshadowing, I guess.) This time, when we got on the train back home, we didn't get lost. I felt a real sense of accomplishment.

Saturday:

Our last full day in New York consisted of trains, walking, walking some more, and Coney Island, and the moment I decided to leave my heart in New York.

I wonder what these buildings would say if they could talk.

 The days before this Saturday had been mostly gloomy: the sky had been mostly cloudy and rainy, and the weather was kind of stuffy at times because of everyone crowding around and walking so near to each other.

St. Patrick's Cathedral. So majestic and stoic.

St. Patrick's Cathedral had been on my list of things to see at New York, but I had given up on finding it, since we were pressed for time. But I guess St. Patrick found me.

And of course, we had to take a picture in front of the hotel from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

And then, we finally made it to Coney Island, which I didn't know was in Brooklyn, but yeah, it was, or it is, actually. It was the perfect way to end our trip to New York. The sky was gorgeous, the great big clouds billowing above us, the seagulls letting themselves be navigated by the wind. It was then that I truly wanted to stay in New York forever, and all those moments when I used to say "I'm scared" did not compare to the things I had encountered there. I realized that I could (and can) do a lot more than I thought I could...

Boardwalk, mid-afternoon.

Some of the Coney Island attractions, empty.

Of course we couldn't forget the hot dog (or in my case, the fries)!

I am happy to say, that while I am back in Dallas now, it's quite alright. After this trip and the end of the former-love-of-my-life, I've been making more positive life-changing decisions. And regardless of how things work out with my career, studies, and love, I'm not going to regret any of my decisions and actions. It's all for the best.

Till next time, New York!