Sticking to the Point

A week in photos

I don't quite know how I've become a random blogger. I used to be consistently present. I had posts in my queue, I was chomping at the bit.

Suddenly, life has gotten in the way of my favorite time suck past-time, which is all together, a good thing.

Almost daily, I'm composing posts in my head. I'll have something I want to share, in just a minute. Suddenly it's 10pm and the alarm is set for 6:20am. If get into anything other than bed, I'll be doomed.

Despite my lack of appearance around here, I have been taking a photo a day, (even if my lovely camera was delivered this morning to Melville, NY, sniff), which will be a nice way to catch up visually.

Last Sunday morning, M dropped Nina and HPD at the airport and I got ready for our last, big derby game. A great game (we won!) made even better by H-girl's appearance as a guest ref.

see that super cute necklace H has on? she made me a matching one for mother's day.

I've been super busy at work, yay me! As a sole practitioner, I am a healer and a business owner. Not always the best combination. My business marketing efforts are minimal at best, but that's even over-stating it.

I'm a listed acupuncturist with many different insurance companies, free advertising as far as I'm concerned. And I have my office in a wellness center which invites a constant flow of like-minded individuals; my brochure is next to the elevator in a prime location. This is it.

I'm grateful for referrals, but I also work really hard at manifesting what I want for my practice. Trust me, I'm the first person to roll my eyes at tree hugger manifestos. With my work, if my intention isn't there, neither are the patients. My daily wishes are recorded in my wish book and it has made a difference.

I've gone back to the gym. Talking the talk this time, I didn't let being sick way lay my routine. It's brilliant, the way I feel from exercising and being strong. I can't stop looking at myself.

Is it wrong to love Target as much as I do?

Like a deer caught in headlights, I am so awkward when I have to appear in public. This morning there was a health and wellness expo at my gym. I thought it was a good marketing idea.

When I arrived, it was clear to me, that I sabotage myself.  My display was spartan, I didn't feel completely prepared.*  It worked out fine in the end, but here is my lesson. I've got a list of items that I need to take care of, systems really, that will help me be prepared and professional.

That brings us up to date. I'm hosting bookclub tonight, we read Divisadero. Tomorrow is Friday Love and photobooth strips, but I'm busy at work and probably won't get back here until the weekend.

Smooches.

*The other acupuncturist at the expo, is someone I went to school with and we're friendly. She had a big herbal display and I know for a fact, that she didn't study herbs. Which chafes me, I have to admit. I studied ridiculously hard to be both an acupuncturist and herbalist and because there's no licensing on herbs in this country, herbal medicine is a supplement and anyone that wants to, can call themselves an herbalist.

 

What I did this weekend by Kiki

I arrive in Bear Mountain, NY early. A change in plans due to weather,

I pick Nina and HPD up Friday morning before work. Depositing them at home, I'm back hours later, someone small in tow, and we hang until M gets home.

As is our way, we have shopping to do, so Nina, HPD and I take off Friday evening for the mall. Planning to meet in one hour, we split ditch HPD and head off to Nordstrom. Nina and I are good at shopping together, something I don't take for granted. Normally I prefer to shop alone, (Nina's probably saying, of course she does), but we have similar shopping styles. Somewhat determined and focused, without a lot of lingering or waffling.

After working for a few hours Saturday morning, we take an afternoon train into Manhattan. I have a haircut appointment and we have plans later that evening for dinner. Leaving HPD on a corner, we head off for the East Village and a couple hours HPD-free.

We stop for a photo,

make-up,

and then we tried to meet-up with HPD, who allegedly had "cell phone issues" and was unavailable for almost 2 hours. Here's Neen annoyed, trying yet again to reach HPD on the phone.

We managed to entertain ourselves with coffee and a trip to the bookstore, eventually locating him in one of two bars M recommended.

Dinner reservations at 6pm turned into three rounds of margaritas with a little food. One might say, I drank my dinner. 

Drunk dialing began in earnest, as did bad decision-making, when I decided I too needed a nightcap.

It's a little fuzzy from the time we left the bar I have no idea where that bar actually is to us sitting on the train, but that's when my troubles began.

A happy drunk, I quickly realized I was in trouble.

"I need to get off the train. Right. Now."

"You'll be fine, Kiki"

"No, we need to take a car, I can't be on this train."

I have no recollection of how Nina convinced me to stay on the train, but we do.

At some point I began to feel hot and claustrophobic and decided the only solution was to remove my long-sleeved t-shirt. In my seat. There was a lot of shimming and I heard threads breaking as I removed a tight shirt, from the neck down.

Happy again, I decide we need photos, the last three photos my camera takes. In repose with a color issue, my camera is packed and ready to be sent to Nikon, in hopes that she can be fixed.

This photo is totally staged, although the level of intoxication is not. Just look at Nina's gaze drunken haze.

As you can see, the focus becomes unstable, so that the last photo, the best one, is a hand-shaking blur. That's HPD in the background. This picture sums it all up.

The rest of the evening quickly deteriorated. I began an earnest search for the train toilet so I can vomit, mumbling down the aisle that I'd reached a low-point as the only passenger on the train wearing a tank top in 40 degree weather. There are repeated visits to the skankiest bathroom imaginable, vomiting on the train tracks and also, at home.

The most remarkable thing about the whole evening? Waking up Sunday morning hang-over free. Really? How is that even possible?

The end.

The last 4 days...

A weekend of late nights and roller derby, combined with pushing my body, it's no surprise that I ended up sick.

In complete denial, with a fever and raw throat, I went here,

and it was worth it. The venue was surprisingly fantastic. I'd heard about Webster Hall for years; first as a dance club past its prime, and then as a concert hall. Walking up the stairs, I thought how great it would be to have the opportunity, camera in hand, to be inside the hall during the day, capturing its turn of the century atmosphere.

I really enjoyed Kate Nash's show. She's effervescent and cheeky and a multi-talented musician. I loved that most of her songs, especially my favorite, were played at a faster tempo; it made the show less predictable. And I love that she closed with her first big hit, Foundations. I don't know what she played for encore, by that time I was delirious and aching, I needed home.

I ended up as you know, sickie sickerton, blessed by two friends that tag teamed my girl in a day she described as, 'the best day of my life' allowing me to spend the day like this,

watching a lot of television. I watched this and this, my regularly scheduled programming. I also watched a lot of this channel. Once there was nothing else to watch, I'm ashamed to admit, I became hooked on this.

More of the same on Friday,

I watched this and this (should I admit to this after admitting to liking the Kardashians?) and finally, I caught up on this.

Remarkably, I woke up on Saturday morning feeling like myself. I had a light day at work, received the best kind of mail love, (JC, you're the best),

and I took photos of my girl.

I was in love with my z-pack.

Perhaps I jumped the gun. Tonight my throat is so sore and raw, I'm so disappointed. I'm canceling all plans for tomorrow,  in hopes that this is temporary and I am indeed, on the mend.

Even though I've convinced myself I have strep, I'll know for certain on Monday. Until then. 

Sacred Life Sunday :: sister

Because our family is small, I whole-heartedly embrace and believe, that family doesn't have to be blood. Assuaging my guilt about raising an only child, perhaps. Feelings aside, the families that we're born to aren't always the family members we'd choose, given the choice.

How lovely that we're given the opportunity in this life to choose the friends that become your family; sisters who you connect to instantly. A friend that gets it about you from the start.

'we get to see each other more now because of derby, than we ever have...'

Lucky me.

shitty picture with the point and shoot but it makes me smile.

Today

I didn't mean to be away this week. I've been looking for a way to put all the words and thoughts, ideas and images into focus and something concrete. Until then.

Monday mash-up

I thought I'd try something new; a way to catch up on the random. A mash-up for Monday's, because lord knows I love a good mash-up.

• The coffee-tea party on Sunday was a lot of fun. Rachel, Susanna and Bella made it; U.U. and Mo, you were missed! Strawberry cupcakes and fiber bars aka f-bombs; cucumber sandwiches and a  good cream Gorgonzola. We had other delicious nibbles, good conversation on a wide array of topics and an easy, creative spirit that circled us. I felt inspired after they left, I rushed them out the door because I had practice, leaving me  with a desire to get together again. Very soon.

• Roller derby. I'm helping out with H-girl's game on Saturday,  and Sunday, my own league has its season opener.
• Speaking of rollerskating, I figured out the cause of last Fall's sciatic-ass. It's not skating. It's the standing around in skates as opposed to rolling around, that causes the pain. The too-small speed skates that I wore last season, because I thought my cheapo-s weren't good enough, didn't help. 
• Skating has always been a favorite outdoor activity. Growing up, I had roller skates and skated my way up and down the strand, year round. When roller skates were no longer fashionable and blades were the way to roll, I got myself a pair and enjoyed many years of skating the loop in Central Park. Closed to traffic on the weekend and after 10am weekdays, the loop is a little slice of paradise in the most urban of environments. I'd have my music (at the time it was a walkman), and I'd be transported.
• Finally, finally, cleaning up my work space. It's far from perfect but enough already! I'm done with procrastination and the mind-set that it needs to be the 'right' environment. As if I'd even know what the right set-up is, I haven't even worked there yet.

• Working the Artist Way. Doing this for a second time, directly on the heels of the first round, has been so good for me. I still have no definition of myself as an artist, but I'm cool with being unclear and riding the ride until I figure it out.

Fun Finale

I've been ribbed recently that our home is like a B&B. I love having house guests and our close proximity to Manhattan, makes our home an easy destination.

On the heels of Nicole, Holli and Faith came to visit, (I can't believe  over a week has passed already), to celebrate miss A's seventh birthday and a special birthday trip to the American Girl store.

We have a tradition for A's birthday. She gets to miss school on her birthday (or close to), we go into the city and we do anything she wants. So far its always been the American Girl store, but someday I'm hoping it will be a Broadway show.

Beating the morning rush on the train into the city wasn't a problem. In the city however, it was ridiculous how many people were on the streets and in the subways at 10:30am. Doesn't anyone have to work?

The store was as crowded as you'd expect. Holli heard a sales person on a walkie talkie describing the first floor as, a mob scene and it wasn't an exaggeration. Mia came home with us and Samantha went home with Holli and Faith.

Instead of trying to navigate the city on the weekend, we decided to drive down the coast to Seaside Heights for a little photobooth-ing and shooting on the early, spring beach.  Seaside Heights probably wasn't the best choice in hindsight; most of the arcade fun is geared towards adults (read slot machines). The only kiddie fun were those machines with the grabbing hands that are weighted so you'll never grab the fucking webkinz and you throw your money down the drain while your kid bursts into tears because you will never, not ever win.

Looking around, I didn't see the vintage photobooth that was there in the fall. Turns out, the booth is put away for the winter; it's too cold for the chemicals and the crap digital booth wasn't working.

We still had fun. I got to cross a portion of #12 off my list and Holli and I got the money jump shot; consolation for no boothing.

Love Thursday :: love is everywhere

The Suitor

We lie back to back. Curtains

lift and fall,

like the chest of someone sleeping.

Wind moves the leaves of the box elder;

they show their undersides,

turning all at once

like a school of fish.

Suddenly,  I understand that I am happy.

For months this feeling

has been coming closer, stopping

for short visits, like a timid suitor.

-Jane Kenyon, Otherwise.

House Quake

It has been a whirlwind 10 days. House guests and Miss A's seventh birthday, a busy work schedule with little time to check in, my space here has felt quiet.

Having Nicole come visit was delightful. She arrived on a Friday, and later that evening, we were in the city for dinner and boothing.  Our first stop was a bar in the East Village, full of dudes with serious fugly style.  We watched 2 euro-looking men as they mauled one another posing, their arms and legs shooting out from the sides and bottom of the flimsy curtain. Next up was the craggy-looking actor and his friend. I really wanted their strip and half-jokingly, I devised a plan that would have me grabbing their strip as we bolted. It would have been really embarrassing if we were caught and it wasn't a sure thing; instead we took our strips and headed over to this place, for a few more.

On Sunday we roamed the city for a day of shooting our way through Soho and various flea markets; eventually making our way to B&H Photo, an unforgettable experience.

See more photos from our day here.

5 good things and a little love

wind and sea beach, san diego.

In the spirit of Liz Elayne's lovely project, 5 good things, I thought I'd post 5 really good things in my life right now.

1. Looking into the morning sky and spying the downy white under belly of a hawk right above my head. Gliding low, almost hovering, seeking.
2. Spring has arrived. I can't get enough of it.
3. B & H photo for camera accessories that make all the difference.
4. A visit from holli and faith for A's birthday this sunday.
5. #86 on the list.