tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12984817286639565772024-03-05T23:49:46.783-05:00Bright Lights:Love and adventure from an Empire State of mind. Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-27977395345953754782014-04-22T18:07:00.002-04:002014-04-22T18:07:40.753-04:00Boston Strong <br />
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Boston Strong.<br />
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Two very simple words, combined for one very powerful mantra.<br />
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Yesterday, thousands of runners participated in the prestigious Boston Marathon, a race that was forever changed in the face of tragedy last year.<br />
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I am in awe thinking about the strength and courage of each and every single runner, especially the survivors. As I read about what a powerful day it was, I am overcome with a mix of emotions that I was not part of the courageous group.<br />
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Last year, 4.15.13, is a date I will never forget. As the sign-up deadline once again rapidly approached for this year's race, I simply did not feel ready. I had emotional scars that I was still dealing with, but I am grateful every single day for my safety and that those are the only scars I left Boston with.<br />
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More emotions came pouring in when Meb Keflezighi took the top honor. He was the first American to do so since 1983 and what a meaningful moment it was. "<i>Most people thought my career was done, but you can't test the heart</i>," he said in a post interview.<br />
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After everything, I will race again. I am confident I will soon find the closure I need, by crossing the finish line on Boylston Street. For now, I have the mantra that I hold close to my heart and apply to daily life. Until we meet again, Boston.<br />
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<br />Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-53532007091326593022014-04-02T22:07:00.001-04:002014-04-02T22:07:10.797-04:00that's all folks<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEZjbkhSG9p82btZd11BSNcPHJGItjpmvc8g3q9pBcRNrnlqfOsX9VTG0US3hLMlC-ToE11cfzFryYo1BTWXJvQcHwVUkaSNoOt9ogntAGsHcdFAfXzEalOVsf2LpnTgTNyGPi9zg1Vw/s1600/how-i-met-your-mother-season-6-cast-promotional-photos-how-i-met-your-mother-15957316-2560-1920-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEZjbkhSG9p82btZd11BSNcPHJGItjpmvc8g3q9pBcRNrnlqfOsX9VTG0US3hLMlC-ToE11cfzFryYo1BTWXJvQcHwVUkaSNoOt9ogntAGsHcdFAfXzEalOVsf2LpnTgTNyGPi9zg1Vw/s1600/how-i-met-your-mother-season-6-cast-promotional-photos-how-i-met-your-mother-15957316-2560-1920-1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of CBS</td></tr>
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Call it the end of an era.<br />
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This week, fan favorite "How I Met Your Mother" aired it's finale, after nine witty years on air.<br />
As full disclosure, I can't consider myself a die hard fan who has been there with the gang since the beginning. Instead, I jumped on the bandwagon a bit late, but at full speed nonetheless.<br />
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The characters are all extremely likable, at times relatable and the whole premise is extremely smart.<br />
I would love to sit down with creators/writers Carter Bays and Craig Thomas and pick their brain about crafting their idea of the perfect (or most appropriate and real) ending for the characters, how do I make that happen?<br />
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Until then, here are a few of my own observations, what I thought went well and the scenes that I didn't agree with or fully understand:<br />
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-The episode was far too rushed. If they were going to break up Barney and Robin, why did we spend the entire season prepping for their wedding?<br />
-The meet cute scene at the train station was perfection, even after nine years of waiting.<br />
-Although my eyes welled up with tears watching Ted read to his wife in the hospital bed, it did explain the storytelling aspect of the show.<br />
-It also opened up the opportunity to end his story with Robin. At first this move angered me, because he had lost his soulmate, but I still enjoyed watching Ted's story come full circle. Flashback to his first meeting with Robin at the bar, where he almost immediately calls her "the future Mrs. Mosby."<br />
-Maybe Tracey was Ted's soulmate and Robin was his love. I'm not even sure if the terms are different or one in the same, I'm sure everyone's definition is different.<br />
-Either way, the story really was always centered around Robin. The finale proved that fact.<br />
-I couldn't help but feel depressed about the idea of getting older and growing apart with friends. I REFUSE to let that happen.<br />
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Even with so many mixed emotions, I still tip my hat to the writers for presenting the unexpected and a few twists and turns in an effort to portray real life instead of sunshine and rainbows. Of course there was some sunshine though, in the form of a yellow umbrella.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;">“If I hadn’t gone through Hell to get there, the lesson might not have been as clear. You see kids, right from the moment I met your mom, I knew I have to love this woman as much as I can for as long as I can and I can never stop loving her even for a second. I carried that lesson with me through every stupid fight we ever had, every 5 AM Christmas morning, every sleepy Sunday afternoon, through every speed bump, every pang of jealousy or boredom or uncertainty that came our way. I carried that lesson with me, and I carried it with me when she got sick. Even then in what can only be called the worst of times, all I could do was thank God, thank every God there is or ever was or will be and the whole universe and anyone else I could possibly thank that I saw that beautiful girl on that train platform and that I had the guts to stand up, walk over to her, tap her on the shoulder, open my mouth and speak.” </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;">--from Ted Mosby (loved this moment) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span>Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-10696326609381621642014-03-26T12:26:00.002-04:002014-03-26T12:26:52.491-04:00dog days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>"Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much the larger and better in every way."</i><br />
<em>-</em>John Muir<br />
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Animals make life better, it's as simple as that.<br />
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This past weekend my day to day routine was enriched by this K-9, Duke, who I was lucky enough to dog sit for through Dogvacay.com.<br />
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While there was no shortage of responsibility for four days, there is no other feeling quite like coming home to an excited and loving dog. Duke was a stranger to me up until last week, but he still jumped for joy when I returned home from work.<br />
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I spent the weekend taking Duke on a number of walks and even runs -- he was a great jogging partner for a lap around Central Park. At the apartment, he loved to play fetch or cuddle while watching TV.<br />
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And the best part: Duke is a rescue. His parents adopted him from a shelter. One day I will be financially stable to do the same, to save a puppy and welcome him into a loving home. Until then, thank you to Dogvacay for letting me be a sitter and in turn, bringing some extra happy moments into my life.<br />
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Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-19226932848202746452014-03-19T16:40:00.000-04:002014-03-26T12:27:43.714-04:00girl power<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Shailene Woodley is making the red carpet rounds -- insert excitement here.<br />
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She has two hit films out this year: "Divergent" and "The Fault in our Stars," and both are adaptations of books that I've read and enjoyed. The first is an exciting futuristic page-turner about what life would be life if personality traits controlled your status in society. The second, a much less somber tale about two cancer patients fighting for life and love.<br />
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Woodley is most certainly having a moment, following in the footsteps of other franchise favorite Jennifer Lawrence. In fact, she even took advice from the star before accepting the role:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">“<i>I said no to the role at first, and everybody was shocked. I asked Jennifer Lawrence, ‘Are you happy with your choice to take on ‘The Hunger Games?’ And she said she wouldn’t change it for the world. She told me, ‘There are some things – don’t make a sex tape, don’t do drugs, don’t do things in public — that you wouldn’t want other people judging you for. But this is the best decision you’ll ever make.” </i>(Told to <a href="http://www.teenvogue.com/entertainment/cover-stars/2014-03/shailene-woodley/?slide=1">Teen Vogue</a>.)</span><br />
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Here, enjoy her on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," where she brings in some odd-shaped roots and remedies for the host.Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-7551655824891058542014-03-02T18:02:00.005-05:002014-03-26T12:27:28.793-04:00and the Oscar goes to ...Time for applause ... Oscar Sunday is here!<br />
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I love everything about the Academy Awards -- the comedic moments, the fashion, the speeches, the inevitable surprise comedy bits from presenters and overall, I truly enjoy seeing the best in cinema being honored.<br />
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This time around, I caught seven of the nine Best Picture nominees (sorry to "Nebraska and Philomena") and was very pleased. "Her" was a very bold and risky movie to make given its futuristic nature, but it was executed extremely well and was a believable and charming love story. And "Dallas Buyers Club" truly was a beautiful story as well, I loved watching the transformation and acceptance of Matthew McConaughey's character. As for Jared Leto, well his performance was just remarkable. Both proved what it takes to be a method actor.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3LNXnVvETHGcTDQbnmHTpl5jq85dyEAsmOviBOXi0jPWZrmq_diCktRu92k_JK0n8iRE3dODhoxlwB_rGz3K1WIzAOTLKsf-yHbyAz4bapUNqdopsZtx6x_Wu0NU5g7hjCkBuJbSKI4/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3LNXnVvETHGcTDQbnmHTpl5jq85dyEAsmOviBOXi0jPWZrmq_diCktRu92k_JK0n8iRE3dODhoxlwB_rGz3K1WIzAOTLKsf-yHbyAz4bapUNqdopsZtx6x_Wu0NU5g7hjCkBuJbSKI4/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" /></a>Then there was "Gravity" with its beautiful cinematography and "American Hustle," with a few of my favorite actors and actresses as the leads. My girl Jennifer Lawrence is once again deserving of the praise, Christian Bale can do no wrong in my book; and ultimately, it was a very entertaining story. Also, "12 Years a Slave" was remarkable. While it was hard to watch at times, I do agree with most critics ... it is a heartbreaking story that deserves to be told.<br />
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It was another exciting year for cinema, with brave, exciting and memorable performances. Here, a list of my vote for the top categories:<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Best Picture:</span></b> "<b>American Hustle"</b><br />
*This was my toughest decision to make (as I'm sure it was for the Academy too.) My other frontrunners included "Gravity" and "12 Years a Slave." I can honestly say that all three are deserving contenders.<br />
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<b style="color: red;">Best Actor: </b><b>Matthew McConaughey</b><br />
*I never thought I'd be glad to see McConaughey have his moment, but I truly am. He deserves all of the praise coming his way. He becomes his character in every aspect and I loved watching his transformation from homophobic to a caring leader.<br />
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<b style="color: red;">Best Actress: </b><b>Cate Blanchett</b><br />
*Her performance was the perfect mix of raw, real, emotional and crazy. For me, this was an easy pick.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Best Supporting Actor: </span>Jared Leto </b><br />
*I'm glad that Leto returned to acting when he did. He truly transforms himself into a beautiful and troubled character and the entire film is better because of it.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Best Supporting Actress: </span>Lupita Nyong'o</b><br />
*While it is extremely difficult for me to vote against Jennifer Lawrence here; Nyong'o is a breakout star who deserves her moment. Her courage and vulnerability in this role takes your breath away and it is impressive for someone that doesn't even star in the entire film.<br />
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<br />Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-56148765534746162002014-02-26T17:31:00.002-05:002014-02-27T10:47:50.602-05:00SJP shines ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today, my "Sex and the City" dreams came true.<br />
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Or at least my quest to become one step closer to a real life version of Carrie Bradshaw. As cliche as the comparison sounds, Sarah Jessica Parker's character is a successful columnist and author. As a writer, I strive for similar accolades.<br />
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During our meeting today, at the newly minted NYC pop-up location to fete and sell her exclusive footwear collection, SJP was not in character (obviously.) She was also far from what I expected -- she was extremely engaged in our conversation, eager to discuss the line, genuine and overall a very charming person.<br />
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Her confidence and business savvy nature radiated and it was motivating, too. As a mom of three, we also discussed her ability to multi-task and juggle endless amounts of work. Even us non-moms can relate and appreciate that.<br />
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To point out a small case of irony -- this meeting came exactly a week after a cab driver in Las Vegas said "sounds like I'm shuttling around a real life Carrie Bradshaw."<br />
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Everything comes full circle, right?Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-21812145135401530962014-02-16T13:20:00.000-05:002014-02-16T13:21:45.442-05:00hearts and reflectionsI'm in love and I still don't love Valentine's Day.<br />
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As cliche as it sounds to call the day a "Hallmark Holiday," the phrase most certainly rings true. It leaves those without love feeling slightly lost and those in love feeling pressure to make the day perfect. </div>
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In all honesty, this day is still sort of new for me. I spent almost all of my adult life without boyfriends on Valentine's Day, and now, this is my third with Ruben, and that feels wonderful. </div>
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But at the end of the day, it is still just another day. I don't need to be wined and dined, I just enjoy being together. We spent the night cooking, listening to music and it was absolutely perfect. No pressure to get a reservation, spend lots of money, or shower each other with gifts. Although I have to admit that getting beautiful flowers is always a nice touch and something I am extremely appreciative of. </div>
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I also got to spend part of the weekend with the other loves in my life -- my girlfriends. As part of the Zac Efron fan club (or our own version), we decided to spend the night drinking wine while watching his latest flick "That Awkward Moment." I'm guessing you are not supposed to bring wine into a movie theater, but I digress … </div>
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While I knew that we would enjoy the movie, if not for anything else but its lead actor, I laughed much more than expected. The film did a pretty decent job of depicting the trials and tribulations of dating, and mostly from a male's perspective. Coming from men who run from relationships, a key theme in the movie was about conversations that start with "So … " and how it's impossible for them to end well. For example, "so, where is this going?" Facebook relationship statuses also played a humorous role.</div>
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The theme was relatable, as I'm sure we've all dated that man who refuses to define. I can also say with sincere honesty, that while those were great you live and you learn times, I'm so happy to not be in that place anymore. </div>
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One of my New Year's resolutions was to be grateful every day, and I am most certainly grateful for the ones I love.</div>
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P.S. NYC is still extremely snowy, yet, not enough to cancel our football game. We played in the snow and it was both crazy and amazing. The photo is from our run to the game and Ruben said he felt like Rocky. </div>
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Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-60080944615783963752014-02-03T16:26:00.002-05:002014-02-03T16:26:46.532-05:00paradise in Puerto Rico!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was a trip for the books; a trip I will never forget.<br />
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Who doesn't want to leave 10 degrees in NYC for 85 degrees in Puerto Rico? (This coming from a girl whose idea of a tan comes in the form of freckles.)<br />
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But after over a year of waiting for this wonderful trip, an extremely thoughtful Christmas gift from my boyfriend, I was more than ready to leave the skyscraper skyline behind.<br />
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We stayed in Condado, a charming area of San Juan. Our hotel was right on the beach, where the water was a crystal clear shade of blue and the sounds of waves crashing lulled me to sleep nightly.<br />
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The first day we spent time on the beach, of course, drinking and laughing under the sun. We later spent time exploring Ashford Avenue, the main street filled with great restaurants and bars. The following day, we kicked off the morning with a 3-mile run to Old San Juan, the historic district and heart of the area. It's important to mention the many picture perfect viewpoints we stumbled upon during our run -- a reason I think running/getting lost is one of the best ways to explore a city. Upon arrival, the cobblestone streets and brightly colored shops/buildings reminded me of Europe. There was something so charming about the area, my giddy demeanor continued.<br />
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The rest of the day was spent back on the beach, playing in the water and playing games of paddle ball. We also had a perfect under umbrella spot on the beach (thankfully, Ruben enjoys shade just as much as I do.) For a late lunch/early dinner we ventured to a local spot, where we ordered Mofongo, one of the most popular dishes. The plantain based meal, with one pork option and one beef, was so mouthwatering I think I ate myself sick. Sangria with the meal was the best added touch.<br />
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That night we spent exploring more local bars, including a very cute outdoor garden spot, and as a night cap, we bought wine and took our towels to the beach at 1 a.m. There is something so peaceful/therapeutic about nighttime on a beach. The weather was still about 75 degrees and I was so tempted to jump in the water, but my childhood fears of the movie "Jaws" prevented me from doing so.<br />
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On Sunday we had the most adventurous day. To start off the tour morning, we took a hike through El Yunque National Forest, one of the most green and picturesque locations I've ever laid eyes on. Halfway through the hike, we reached the main waterfall and just had to jump in. Freezing water aside, the rush of the water on your face has a way of making you feel so alive. Almost as if it were a reminder to constantly live life to the fullest.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJSZ4Y7715ybAIgXZa6lSyFJnrYiGOVOxQgGw6ryC8wRKAXpHFmjW9rR2cDRZqGFyRwJA4XCYmWPNK5GJPdCYCW42aJVn8XE7TYe2imF4xgtoweSnjtGFNNJwbA1eI0_Uqzy4A8Z8YbU/s1600/photo%5B2%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJSZ4Y7715ybAIgXZa6lSyFJnrYiGOVOxQgGw6ryC8wRKAXpHFmjW9rR2cDRZqGFyRwJA4XCYmWPNK5GJPdCYCW42aJVn8XE7TYe2imF4xgtoweSnjtGFNNJwbA1eI0_Uqzy4A8Z8YbU/s1600/photo%5B2%5D.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a>For lunch we hit another local spot and then were transported over to another beach, Luquillo. After a few hours of relaxation it was time for the main event: night kayaking at the Bioluminescent Bay. Prior to our trip, I had read about this adventure, but I had no idea what to expect. First, kayaking in the pitch black and peaceful moments of the night is something that everyone needs to experience. And once we reached the bay, we stuck our hand in the water and watched the microorganisms illuminate around us. When you scoop the water in your hand, it looks like millions of tiny shooting stars scurrying across your fingers. Magical is the best word I can use to describe this evening.<br />
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For our final day, we enjoyed breakfast on our hotel patio and savored every last beach minute before catching our flight. It was a true escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and one of the very few vacations where I went sans cell phone. There is something freeing about that too.<br />
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As we sat starring at the water, Ruben and I shared our woes about leaving and I said to him. "I'm a NYC girl and I love city life very much. This is the sign of an amazing vacation, that I don't want to return."<br />
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Sunshine and vitamin D have a rejuvenating effect and I'm so grateful for this trip. A big thanks to Ruben for this dream vacation. All you need in life is love ... and Puerto Rico.<br />
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<br />Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-9456922826825112652014-01-17T12:25:00.003-05:002014-01-17T12:27:01.894-05:00lights, camera, action!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzDA6VtOj6ChOf6Ga7T-6Tq7OZLrikfI4wJtcDIA2vSfqyoj4CUHaMFSPoPZPBtKk4onTDItX9iC5VpI_95txTePoB3A5zU9lhPV5bowRRegloJf7EfuKHeIckDV7ntNOLB0ZhtShaf0/s1600/DORP_02704FD_r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzDA6VtOj6ChOf6Ga7T-6Tq7OZLrikfI4wJtcDIA2vSfqyoj4CUHaMFSPoPZPBtKk4onTDItX9iC5VpI_95txTePoB3A5zU9lhPV5bowRRegloJf7EfuKHeIckDV7ntNOLB0ZhtShaf0/s1600/DORP_02704FD_r.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #777777; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 15px;">François Duhamel/Annapurna Productions</span> </td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Roll out the red carpet ... award season is upon us! </span><br />
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For as long as I can remember I've been a fan of movies, and that probably explains my excitement for this time of year. The Golden Globes brought me so much joy (I love you Tina Fey and Amy Poehler) and now that Oscar nominations are out, I have my check list ready to see all of the Best Picture films. I am also a big fan of Ellen Degeneres, so having her as the Academy Awards host is just an added bonus. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">BEST PICTURE:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Captain Phillips"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Gravity"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"12 Years a Slave"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Philomena"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"American Hustle"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Her"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Nebraska"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"The Wolf of Wall Street"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Dallas Buyers Club"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While the list above was pretty much exactly what I expected, it seems the snubs that can't be ignored include: Tom Hanks, Robert Redford and Oprah ... meanwhile, Jonah Hill managed to sneak his way in with a nom for Best Supporting Actor. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some big questions in my mind -- will Matthew McConaughey continue to prove his talent (and that he can act in more than cheesy rom coms) by snagging the Best Actor award and will Oscar darling Jennifer Lawrence win again? As much as I love JLaw, her wit and charm and real girl appeal make me feel like we are best friends, I'm certain Lupita Nyong'o of "12 Years a Slave" will give her a run for her money in the Supporting Actress category.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I can't wait to dive deeper into these films as I go out and see more. There is just something about great movies that I can't ignore, they are an escape from a reality and sometimes an adventure into the unknown. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Who has your vote in the major categories?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-55273046012717885092014-01-09T17:08:00.002-05:002014-01-09T17:08:50.389-05:00the polar vortexMy boss used the word "dramatic" to describe the phrase polar vortex, which is currently taking over my city.<br />
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And while it is most certainly a dramatic way to describe the below freezing temperatures, I've never quite experienced weather like this. I'm a California girl ... I didn't even own anything heavier than a leather jacket before I moved to New York.<br />
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So here I am, five years as a resident of this beautiful place, and now I'm being warned to not go outside for fear of frostbite. Insert quotes like "I have a feeling we're not in Kansas [ahem, Orange County]" here.<br />
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As many New Yorkers, I'm in the office for nine hours a day, so the cold escapes me for the majority of the morning and afternoon. But the walk to and from work has been quite an adventure. How exactly do I dress for weather that I've never had to been in before? Layers, layers and more layers.<br />
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By the time I left my apartment I could barely zip up my jacket and felt as if I could topple over at any moment from an unbalanced top to bottom ratio. (Imagine the boy Ralphie in "A Christmas Story" for a proper visual.)<br />
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But what I didn't prepare for was the stinging sensation that hits your face the minute you walk outside.<br />
Some prepared for that with scarves wrapped their mouths, while others wore ski-type masks that resembled that of a bank robber. Others seemed to care more about fashion than warmth -- one man in basketball shorts after a workout and another in just a trench coat. I find them crazy, but maybe they find me crazy for going overboard with the layers.<br />
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Meanwhile, while all of this is happening, my friends back home are sending me sunny beach photos. While I definitely could use some sun right about now, I would not trade this NYC journey for anything in the world. After over five years here, it definitely feels like the perfect second home.<br />
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<br />Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-54523117789487941912014-01-06T12:50:00.000-05:002014-01-06T12:50:53.520-05:00new year reflections<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A new start, who doesn't want that?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm not sure I'm in search of a brand new life, but I welcome change with open arms (positive change of course.) 2014 allows me the chance to reflect on 2013 and make a list of resolutions intended to make some changes in the new year. </span><br />
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When I look back on the past year there is a lot to smile about. A few milestones include my best friends wedding (I'm talking 23 years of friendship), plus several other weddings of wonderful friends, celebrating four years at my magazine <a href="http://www.wwd.com/footwear-news?module=tn">Footwear News</a>, my mom hitting the five year cancer free mark and marking two years with my wonderful boyfriend. </span><br />
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But for so many ups, there is always a down. When I think about 2013 there is another large event that I will never forget: the Boston Marathon. I was invited to run the race last April, a life goal I never believed would become a reality. </span><br />
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And because I've never shared the full story in print, here it goes:</span><br />
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I was not a race finisher. The scariest part? If I was only 5 minutes faster, I would have been at the finish line. I was .5 miles away when the first explosion went off. </span><br />
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We were stopped by police, I was in the front of the pack. I was told it was an incident. The panic didn't set in until someone behind me checked their phone, only to find that there had been two explosions at the finish line. </span><br />
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The actual scariest part? My boyfriend, Ruben, was waiting for me at the finish line. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ruben was there, in the thick of it. He was knocked to the ground from the blow and saw horrible images and carnage that will likely haunt him forever. And that breaks my heart. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm not sure I'll ever be able to explain how he found me. He just started running back down the race course and within 30 minutes we were reunited. At the risk of sounding cheesy, it had to be some sort of fate. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">A tragic day that will go down in history. A day I will certainly never forget. </span></div>
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When all is said and done, we were very lucky. My heart breaks for those that didn't have the same fate. But this event, the race that made myself and so many others Boston Strong, helped remind me to be grateful for life every single day. </span><br />
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Therefore, it is one of my top resolutions. Here are just a few more that I want to share, as a way to hold myself accountable: </span><br />
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</span><span id="docs-internal-guid-2de022aa-5ff0-ba22-954f-c12600e0802d"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. Be grateful for every day; wake up and name at least one thing I’m grateful for.</span></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To run at least one half-marathon</span></span><br />
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. Travel somewhere new</span></span><br />
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</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4. </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Start volunteering again - run at least ONE race with Achilles. Find a local shelter.</span></span><br />
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</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5. </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Eat healthier and become more knowledgeable about my nutrition needs. (It's been hard enough to part with Spaghetti-O's.)</span></span><br />
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</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks for reading my return to the blogging world, I hope we meet again.</span></span><br />
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</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cheers,</span></span><br />
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kristen</span></span><br />
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-91054224792034647292010-05-02T13:48:00.015-04:002010-06-02T19:52:11.169-04:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">About three weeks before the Brooklyn half-marathon, I was out enjoying one of my long runs. On one particular Saturday the weather was beautiful out (about 85 degrees, which is rare in New York), so I went out along the East River all the way over through Battery Park to Tribeca, where there is a great view of the Hudson and the Statue of Liberty. As I was running, a quote displayed along a fence caught my eye:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"One need never leave the confines of New York to get all the greenery one wishes -- I can't even enjoy a blade of grass unless I know there's a subway handy, or a record store or some other sign that people do not totally regret life." </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">- Frank O'Hara from "Meditations in an Emergency"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I am definitely someone who enjoys traveling, I think its extremely important to experience other countries and cultures. Yet, something about this quote still stopped me in my tracks and made me smile. I think people all over the world live life free of re</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">gret, but I think for me personally, New York City is exactly what this quote illustrates - a place where people are inspired to live life to the fullest. I am inspired to branch out of my comfort zone on a daily basis and that is something worth staying for. I'm very much enjoying living in a city that allows me to pursue my wildest dreams and I'm grateful for every day spent here.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div></span></span></span>Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-37531874034137497162010-04-19T22:24:00.002-04:002010-04-19T22:25:45.568-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTb10N62gGkneoPYcM3RMNgCandiOiZturOgz7SOVXiFPRZFLYgtN7Nznn-KXFhNDG91ziisG_eQdPD2fVMx9-njoHlQZemmxG4Q49xkP3N5vkGIwVvC06FHe9HjqPzFVjTMokqQ3uz5E/s1600/42679-hi-Ad1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTb10N62gGkneoPYcM3RMNgCandiOiZturOgz7SOVXiFPRZFLYgtN7Nznn-KXFhNDG91ziisG_eQdPD2fVMx9-njoHlQZemmxG4Q49xkP3N5vkGIwVvC06FHe9HjqPzFVjTMokqQ3uz5E/s320/42679-hi-Ad1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462040157636980994" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We surf the Internet.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We swim in magazines.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The Internet is exhilarating. Magazines are enveloping. The Internet grabs you. Magazines embrace you. The Internet is fleeting. Magazines are immersive. And both media are growing.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Barely noticed amidst the thunderous Internet clamor is the simple fact that magazine readership has risen over the past five years. Even in the age of the Internet, even among the groups one would assume are most singularly hooked on digital media, the appeal of magazines is growing.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Think of it this way: during the 12-year life of Google, magazine readership actually increased 11 percent. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">What it proves, once again, is that a new medium doesn't necessarily displace an existing one. Just as movies didn't kill radio: Just as TV didn't kill movies. An established medium can continue to flourish so long as it continues to offer a unique experience. And, as reader loyalty and growth demonstrate, magazines do.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Which is why people aren't giving up swimming, just because they also enjoy surfing. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">----------------------------</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">This ad (created by Young & Rubicam) has been out for a while, but I only recently saw it in GQ. It is now going to serve as a form of motivation and a daily reminder that my industry isn't going anywhere. Which is great, because I don't plan to either. </span></span></span><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-83902960004706274422010-04-06T22:25:00.007-04:002010-04-06T22:29:09.175-04:00all you need is love<blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: -1; "><a href="http://realsimple.chtah.com/a/hBLmj0uBAuBI6B8GYPcFNoe7M.BAuBI6A-/nldt13-1" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination, full of hope.”</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> ― Maya Angelou</span></span></span></span><br /></blockquote>Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-84455254436938322112010-01-24T18:26:00.014-05:002010-01-24T18:51:42.481-05:00live like you were dying<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">A new year, a city that still feels new and a new me. It sounds so simple … that should be how it works, right? A new year always seems to offer new beginnings, a chance to start over in a sense, whether you're ready to or not. Most people (including me) spend January making resolutions, some actually attainable and others so far fetched that they never really intend to keep them. To hold myself accountable for what I plan to achieve this year, I’m posting some of my resolutions here for everyone to see. None are earth-shattering, but all will hopefully lead to a happier and more improved me. And thanks to one of my besties Jackie Jones (check out her talented work</span></span></span><a href="http://jacquelynrachel.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> here</span></span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">), who is insanely good at multi-tasking and staying on top of personal projects she’s passionate about, I have a plan to actually get through my entire list this year instead of just checking a few off and letting the remaining goals slip through the cracks.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Times CE""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">*Write more frequently - both blogs/Examiner posts </span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Times CE""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">*Apply for more freelance writing gigs</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">*Devote more free time to reading. Free time is hard to come by, but I miss hanging at bookstores and reading for fun. </span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">*Run at least 4 days per week and complete one half-marathon and the NYC full by year-end.</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">*Volunteer at least once a month</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Times CE""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">This month not only signifies a new year for me, but also a big birthday. Turning 25 has always scared me. It's a number that causes an uncontrollable reaction of panic every time I hear it. When I was younger I thought my life would be totally figured out at 25. I would be set in my career, successful, happy and already conquering the world. As unrealistic as it sounds, I’ve always felt pressure to have everything totally figured out by the time I turn 30 and I freak out when I think that 25 is ONLY five years away. I think it has finally set in just how unrealistic those ideas truly are. In no way do I have to have everything figured out by a certain age. Living in a city where people are independent, career-driven, OK with being single and headstrong (unlike anywhere I’ve ever seen) has helped me to realize that.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Times CE""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">At almost 25, I’m a lot better off than I was at 24. I lucked out by landing a job I absolutely love, which in turn might also get me one step closer to accomplishing another very important goal of mine – to run the NYC full-marathon. I’m happy, I’m young and I’m pursuing my dreams in a city that still makes me feel like a kid in a candy store even over a year later.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Times CE""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span style="Times CE";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Being 25 doesn’t have to be so scary, if I tell myself that age doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm happy, healthy and doing what I love. Now that’s a simple idea I can wrap my head around</span></span></span></span></span><span style="Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-55260469619375624082009-11-15T13:00:00.022-05:002009-12-04T23:12:43.400-05:00what goes around comes around<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I've been working at a new job (probably my fifth since I've been here) for almost three months now and my first official day was Monday. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Enter sigh of relief here</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. For probably the first time since I've been here I'm truly happy with the daily grind. As part of a writing assignment for this job, I was asked to work the red carpet at an awards ceremony and I learned firsthand that everything comes full circle - A phrase I've heard quite often, but never really believed until now. For those of you that know me, this assignment was </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">huge</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. My daily life sadly revolves around reading celebrity gossip blogs and even though this event was more focused on designers, I was excited and I was overly eager to jump on board. I was more nervous than I'd like to admit, surrounded by other reporters from well-known and respected magazines. The night went surprisingly well and I found myself stepping up to the plate with relative ease. As I got to chatting with another reporter, I began to wonder why she looked so familiar. It hit me pretty quickly that I had interviewed at a staffing agency that she worked for, almost exactly a year prior. She told me at the time that she was a full-time freelancer for </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">People</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> magazine and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Life & Style</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. I left that meeting (with my roommates Phoebe and Jeni) and said "I want her job, I know I can do what she does." I had a conversation with her a year later about how I remember being thrilled about her writing gigs, wishing I could be there myself. She responded with "well look at you now, you're doing it." It was such a simple moment, but also surreal. Over a year ago I moved to the city jobless, never imagining that I would find myself in her same shoes. Although I might not be exactly where she was and now is, I'm closer than I've ever been. I loved everything about that conversation, because it was humbling, it was real and it proved to me that everything does come full circle. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On a side note - a few weekends ago I went out with the roommates and a visiting friend. We were lucky enough to be with someone who has a car in the city (not very common). He drove us across the Brooklyn bridge on a foggy night, which made for an amazing view of the skyline, covered in a misty fog that closely resembled something straight out of Gotham City. As we admired the view, Jay Z's "Empire State of Mind" came on (our theme song) and as we belted out the lyrics we know so well, I thought this is it. I'm here, I'm in love and thanks to the security of a full-time job again, I know I'm not going anywhere for a while.<br /></span></div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">------------------------------------------------</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragement, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.” <br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">* My roommate sent this quote to me and said it reminded her of me, which completely made my day. I think it sums up what I've been through in the last year career-wise and I hope it continues to play a role in my life if the toughest city in the world decides to throw something an obstacle my way again.</span></div></div></div>Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-25228659337270805172009-10-05T22:02:00.006-04:002009-10-05T22:25:06.209-04:00life's a game but its not fair<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Before I left for New York, I had a somewhat stable job in California. I added somewhat in there because unfortunately no magazine or newspaper is every truly stable in my industry. Unless you're a powerhouse like "Vogue," but we'll get to that later. I worked for a good magazine and I worked with even better people. Sure, we experienced layoffs as most magazines do, but I was lucky enough to survive the first round - due to my low pay and fairly low place on the office totem pole - so I probably could have survived a few more. I might have worked there for another six months and I would have known every morning the exact route I would take to work. Instead of playing it safe, I opted for a rather large risk when I moved here, a place that is not exactly known as the safest city in the world. Are there lots of magazines and publishing giants in the city? Of course. Are any of them ready and willing to open their doors and hire a struggling writer and former editorial assistant from California? Not so much.<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In the last year, I've transitioned jobs so many times it's hard to remember all of them. I had my very own "Devil Wears Prada" experience, where I played Anne Hathaway and I interviewed for what felt like hundreds of random jobs, a lot of which were outside of my industry. I was willing to take anything until things settled and then it would hopefully be easier to get my foot in the publishing door again. I would stare at a computer screen for hours on end, for long enough that I thought I might go cross-eyed. Now, a little over a year later, I seem to be on the right track again (knock on wood). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I'm working in editorial finally and after seeing "The September Issue" last night, I couldn't be more excited about it. The documentary follows the production of the 2007 September issue of Vogue, also known as "the fashion bible." Vogue was probably the first magazine I ever read, I've always been drawn to the genius outfit stylings, the well-written cover stories and their ability to always be one step ahead of the fashion curve. Prior to this movies release, Vogue's Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour was already extremely well-known in the industry, just not necessarily well-liked. She is a very powerful person in the industry and both the book and movie of "The Devil Wears Prada" show that she is certainly not the easiest woman to work for. I was pleased to see that the documentary showed a different side of Wintour, not quite as crazy of a side, but still cold. Although when managing a magazine with a circulation of over a million, you probably have to be stern at times. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">If you've read any reviews you know that most critics agree standout star Grace Coddington - a former model who has worked as Creative Director at the mag for the past 20 years - actually steals the show. I couldn't agree more. I've been following Vogue's photo shoots in the magazine for as long as I remember and it was so amazing to finally put a face behind the stylists name. She is not quite as dominant as Wintour in the office, but still evokes such a respectable presence that it must be a joy to work beside her on a daily basis. Especially when she utters lines such as "nobody is perfect, but models are." Her ideas for the spreads are astounding and inspiring. The film also touched on the works of a few of my favorite photographers, Mario Testino and Patrick Demarchelier.<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I'm not quite sure that I'll ever work for such a phenomenal magazine or generate the same fame that some editors do, but now more than ever I'm motivated to try. For the last six months a tiny voice inside my head has been screaming "get out while you still can" and even though that might be the wiser choice in such a shaky industry, I don't think it's the best choice for me. For every door that slams in my face, I have a renewed faith that another will open. I plan to devote myself to the industry I love in the city of lights - another new love of mine. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div>Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-13818896816361061762009-09-20T20:10:00.032-04:002009-09-20T21:52:41.555-04:00concrete jungle where dreams are made of<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"The present in New York is so powerful that the past is lost"</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I decided to move to New York for a number of reasons. I was hoping to jump start my career in the journalism world and I was searching for a drastic change outside of the OC bubble I lived in for 23 years. New York was a new start for me, I could leave the past behind and only bring the good memories that I will always hold close to my heart. For a while I thought I was doing well, I left my problems behind me and I was off to a great, fresh start. To my surprise, I quickly found a new set of problems waiting. This last year has been a whirlwind of emotions, I've transitioned jobs more times than I ever thought possible, my family has spent countless difficult hours at the hospital and I lost a very close family friend. Today, we are celebrating our one-year anniversary in the city and everything I've been through doesn't seem quite so bad in retrospect. Life seems to turning around and I wouldn't change the last year for anything. Even the rough patches add to the overall journey and at the very least make us that much more grateful when the good times finally come. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I can't believe it has already been a year. It's hard to find the words to describe my experiences, but I can say this has been one of the craziest, most stressful, adventurous, rewarding and overall best years of my life. I feel so alone here at times without my family and friends, but I have learned from the independence and I'm stronger because of it. <br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Some of my fav moments so far (the list could go on forever):</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">*The first time I saw snow falling in the city</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">*My 24th birthday weekend and Nicole's - I'm so lucky to have BFF's who will fly to NY to celebrate</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">*Tyrone Wells concert at the Highline Ballroom, where he sang "Dream Like New York" to us in an exclusive back stage performance - we were like giddy school girls </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">*NYC half-marathon - through Central Park, Times Square, along the Westside Highway with the finish line in Battery Park - it was the most amazing feeling to have my teammates and coaches cheering me on and I felt so accomplished when I crossed the finish line</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">*Cruise along the Hudson for Phoebe's last weekend - we had perfect NY weather and the skyline view was priceless </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">*Susan G. Komen 5K in Central Park - this cause hits close to home and it was such an empowering feeling being with so many survivors and supporters</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I have no idea what the next year will bring, but I'm excited for new adventures and opportunities in the city that never sleeps.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">My theme song of the moment from Jay Z:<br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; font-family:georgia;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"In New York</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Concrete jungle where dreams are made of, <br />There's nothing you can’t do, <br />Now you’re in New York, <br />these streets will make you feel brand new, <br />big lights will inspire you, <br />lets hear it for New York, New York, New York" </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3by5Wtm36ZXW8_40b5DKIj6GZvOclGcCoSKVJidsbkwcJIxGkUn0bLRLSkC86Lkr3yHuWRqrk8dHlF-2J1Er3PY4ckL_FNly2f6n0X_OwWDuT8R2niC3091P33cLtCgSYl_a9w2fzMI/s1600-h/IMG_1431.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3by5Wtm36ZXW8_40b5DKIj6GZvOclGcCoSKVJidsbkwcJIxGkUn0bLRLSkC86Lkr3yHuWRqrk8dHlF-2J1Er3PY4ckL_FNly2f6n0X_OwWDuT8R2niC3091P33cLtCgSYl_a9w2fzMI/s320/IMG_1431.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383721718035864354" /></a><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEpsNelC-PN2U0wBYjY_iAgWM6OQdDjwN5crUAa6fQLFkuzxEN4xecmnqwUGE5n85FwIgnBgAfKaQ8EDbPvjvAiFiisBqphWTzpVRxCMxbrHs6jnNv5FoJ1JT5PJNZupJOcdQ5PG9KUc/s1600-h/IMG_1440.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEpsNelC-PN2U0wBYjY_iAgWM6OQdDjwN5crUAa6fQLFkuzxEN4xecmnqwUGE5n85FwIgnBgAfKaQ8EDbPvjvAiFiisBqphWTzpVRxCMxbrHs6jnNv5FoJ1JT5PJNZupJOcdQ5PG9KUc/s320/IMG_1440.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383721709935809506" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOvUHddJuSfl0k5QoECdgGY9SwEvyvLTkKtU3V7mjYlsG1YE-iVyGWpcwIbdUJeusXkSWev0Pjn1kjQBxrPgXpB1ovA5vsrzkORh7MN9v4Q1vaEMhyphenhyphenzMJG6ZEEsFS9zbCpTZWxuGTAk8/s1600-h/IMG_1488.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOvUHddJuSfl0k5QoECdgGY9SwEvyvLTkKtU3V7mjYlsG1YE-iVyGWpcwIbdUJeusXkSWev0Pjn1kjQBxrPgXpB1ovA5vsrzkORh7MN9v4Q1vaEMhyphenhyphenzMJG6ZEEsFS9zbCpTZWxuGTAk8/s320/IMG_1488.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383721699778173778" /></a><div><br /></div></div>Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-32952049545899440852009-08-12T14:26:00.055-04:002009-08-13T12:57:48.313-04:00good times never seemed so goodA good friend of mine emailed me recently to catch up and one of his questions was: "Is it like 'Sex and the City' out there?" My initial response was to laugh, especially because when my roommates and I first arrived, we had a man yell the TV show and movie title at us from down the street. His reaction can be attributed to one of two reasons, either he was commenting on the fact that there are four of us with the appropriate hair color to match the actresses (even though I continually lie about mine) or he had already consumed far too many tasty beverages. Either way, it made for a good first memory of what life in the city was going to be like. I'll admit that I own the box set and movie, which I've watched hundreds of times. I don't consider myself a typical girl, but I guess in this situation I'm attracted to the somewhat cliche lifestyles the characters lead. As an aspiring writer, I often dream my life in NY will end up exactly like Carrie Bradshaw's. She has her own column, stays out all night and writes from home instead of from an office cubicle, confined by walls that never see a ray of sunlight. Who doesn't want that?<br /><br />Back to reality ... sort of. After ten months in the city - most of which were filled with snow, rain storms or muggy days - we finally ventured to the famous Hamptons, South Hampton to be exact. Friends of ours rent a house there for the summer and invited us to stay, so we packed our bags, had some friends fly in from CA and we were on our way. The train ride there on a Friday evening after work was everything you would imagine. Far too crowded and filled with people drinking. Not all of us could find seats, so we had to stand, tall can in hand. The first night was spent hanging out at the house - equipped with a spa, pool and a beer pong table. I haven't played beer pong for some time now, so although I was rusty it definitely reminded me of the La Veta days. I'm not sure anything will ever top the parties at La Veta 222, but nightlife in the city does come close at times.<br /><br />Saturday was our beach day, so we drove down to the water and had a chance to see all of the large and beautiful houses - at least the ones that weren't completely enclosed by gates. There are rich areas in Hollywood and you'll even find mansion-sized houses in some of the Southern California beach cities, but these houses had a different charm to them - the surrounding areas were a lot more green. It only took us two hours to get there by train and it was as if we had spent days traveling away from the hustle and bustle of New York City. A nice escape to say the least. We spent the day playing soccer and volleyball, while enjoying the waves and sunny weather - something you don't see in NY. Although the beaches were beautiful and the weather was close to perfect, I do see now why a trip to the Hamptons is so hyped up. After months and months of cold and horrible weather, New Yorkers take what they can get. It was a great weekend overall, but us Californians know a good beach when we see one. So even though the beaches might not compare, at least we got to live out our girly desires and spend a weekend in the Hamptons just like the SATC cast.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjWMNyFk4vICggciZniNfUYodDisWL-UKzDtTytKuXlyY0FzOq32LjJlql0fX014n7SiKP21pd1TgHVmgRr-V9pjri00msfsRXMwMTCX2lldUPx_2jhddG6ymjV68R0rVuqt3CsVgObc/s1600-h/IMG_1300.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369229880782259570" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjWMNyFk4vICggciZniNfUYodDisWL-UKzDtTytKuXlyY0FzOq32LjJlql0fX014n7SiKP21pd1TgHVmgRr-V9pjri00msfsRXMwMTCX2lldUPx_2jhddG6ymjV68R0rVuqt3CsVgObc/s320/IMG_1300.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCMKSe_umqKbqsxDfWKP7AIBTLJmjUpimx4zfEqInHkJ46lhxqSIeU4S703E_0eRZr5HAa64GbcXUoF7kOB50xT8vRsOxnTOGp94IX7eEZA7P-g1xshvPda_UbkGOQf_wrqshCvTJ7BY/s1600-h/IMG_1319.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369229875943360914" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCMKSe_umqKbqsxDfWKP7AIBTLJmjUpimx4zfEqInHkJ46lhxqSIeU4S703E_0eRZr5HAa64GbcXUoF7kOB50xT8vRsOxnTOGp94IX7eEZA7P-g1xshvPda_UbkGOQf_wrqshCvTJ7BY/s320/IMG_1319.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-rBhyphenhyphenTcgf2LsogDQR4Vo_0OA4-KNk7U1tFf4Gz1aY5Xqk7slySG8q4QYWsS0qdide-rgu0CurdFMHge9MTG6MvygG7vSBQeCxRKMUY9YWbydYW2Kr6vkyV5iS12nNcSsvmZpWBJ2iEw/s1600-h/IMG_1301.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369229867155374658" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-rBhyphenhyphenTcgf2LsogDQR4Vo_0OA4-KNk7U1tFf4Gz1aY5Xqk7slySG8q4QYWsS0qdide-rgu0CurdFMHge9MTG6MvygG7vSBQeCxRKMUY9YWbydYW2Kr6vkyV5iS12nNcSsvmZpWBJ2iEw/s320/IMG_1301.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />In other news, the half-marathon is this Sunday! I'm definitely excited to put my training to the test, but also slightly nervous about a number of factors such as weather. The race starts at 7 a.m. in Central Park and after doing the full loop of 6 miles, we'll run down 7th Ave through the heart of Times Square and then all the way down to the Hudson, finishing at Battery Park. I've heard the views from the course are amazing. A HUGE thanks to all my friends and family for your support and donations. Thanks to you I exceeded my fundraising goal, and as a chapter we raised over $350,000 for LLS. I'm extremely grateful for your help: <a href="http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nikenych09/khenning">http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nikenych09/khenning</a><br /><div></div>Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-42034882809686849622009-07-23T00:03:00.035-04:002009-07-24T13:32:03.787-04:00she took the midnight train going anywhere<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">My roommates and I just celebrated our 10-month anniversary and I'm happy to report that we're still surviving and doing our best to dream like New York, thanks to Tyrone Wells. Three of us have decided to renew another year-long lease, which leaves time for many more big adventures. I think this is the first time in my life that I haven't had a real time constraint and in many ways, it feels good. In high school, I knew I had only four years to spend playing volleyball and making new friends and in college I also had four years to find myself and make the most of my time with some pretty amazing people. Before moving here, I said I would give it at least one year and then reevaluate once that time was up. So even though I am restricted by the lease, I am not tied down by a specific number as I was throughout school. I'm not even bound by work - for the majority of the past four months, I haven't known where I'm working the following week - giving me a lesson in spontaneity, something I could use a daily dose of. As long as we don't upset the building owners, we can keep renewing year after year. At this point, I truly can't put a number on my stay, only a value. That value is getting higher as the time passes and I value every memory here. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">One of my favorite parts about living in New York is the variety of people. This city gives the phrase melting pot a whole new meaning. Residents flock to the city of lights from foreign countries, out of state and of course there are a few who made the same cross-country trip I did, all the way from California. The reactions to my move are usually the same, "Why would you leave California?" One look at my pale skin and they should already know I'm not your typical beach going Californian. While some don't understand my decision, many give me faith simply by sharing their own journey. I've heard a lot of stories about people making the move for just one year and now they are approaching their third or fourth year here. I just met someone from Arizona yesterday, who moved here to pursue music and fell in love with the endless opportunities the city offers. He has been here for three years now and has no plans of leaving anytime soon. As my love and curiosity continue to grow, I don't see an end in sight either.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">----------------</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br />Below are a few pictures of the artwork right around my apartment. Most are over-the-top cheesy, but I love that each one still makes me smile and serve as a daily reminder to slow down once in a while and enjoy the view while I can.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPOa7XWD2-_VvIfs_VcNQ93FYOAkeZYznM41y_52ppaJuO86KQQFQfwBVZPV2FRN2W9wzGJsqrqlz8PGHc33Lf2GuL6yAJV91-l6GYoM64kSTcBfgK9fJP4K_3OnnkdmEu7VT0TRLhAw/s1600-h/IMG_1213.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPOa7XWD2-_VvIfs_VcNQ93FYOAkeZYznM41y_52ppaJuO86KQQFQfwBVZPV2FRN2W9wzGJsqrqlz8PGHc33Lf2GuL6yAJV91-l6GYoM64kSTcBfgK9fJP4K_3OnnkdmEu7VT0TRLhAw/s320/IMG_1213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361503096403109858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0S3DDrpC9s1sVt31SkC0_3Fe13gOYScaax0X0u-JF3MzNJaagHsG4dej1cB8VkhXGA0QTrQm1QRmqJpi2hY3YjI-nrcGpT9Pf0ntwAEHtURdfK7PiJ1IHITzLMn47b98HKW7GSSDM54/s1600-h/IMG_1220.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0S3DDrpC9s1sVt31SkC0_3Fe13gOYScaax0X0u-JF3MzNJaagHsG4dej1cB8VkhXGA0QTrQm1QRmqJpi2hY3YjI-nrcGpT9Pf0ntwAEHtURdfK7PiJ1IHITzLMn47b98HKW7GSSDM54/s320/IMG_1220.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361503092479940114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwM1cnGujrR55_awZQogpU4hfevkdizJHuhqznfw2QfDZyOtk-wiygeuC3j3jO_1pwwxFbKbKi4W8z05Y6m1H3VkCxuu4vdngaSFiY37YuNfZOOY7BpRXNrPLnzXxhTEKiXmXcbnU7j0/s1600-h/IMG_1175.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwM1cnGujrR55_awZQogpU4hfevkdizJHuhqznfw2QfDZyOtk-wiygeuC3j3jO_1pwwxFbKbKi4W8z05Y6m1H3VkCxuu4vdngaSFiY37YuNfZOOY7BpRXNrPLnzXxhTEKiXmXcbnU7j0/s320/IMG_1175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361503081842072018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">On a side note, we're headed to the Hamptons this weekend ... where craziness will probably ensure. Expect photos and updates soon.</span>Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-21090626525623423282009-07-14T22:16:00.067-04:002009-07-15T13:25:08.000-04:00waiting on something good<div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zrEIQ0p3BlnR-_OeDgrPW4S59NPk4BMrUvW9_OMjJnUS6pFGGAiOOPUhhPltdAqUh3b14y55kY0sofMoxR_TSwut_bpeaF9sQfP87K9DifXXxXggG9BeDDOqTejh8CNSMIU2tX4IRzs/s1600-h/IMG_1153.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358508345351190530" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zrEIQ0p3BlnR-_OeDgrPW4S59NPk4BMrUvW9_OMjJnUS6pFGGAiOOPUhhPltdAqUh3b14y55kY0sofMoxR_TSwut_bpeaF9sQfP87K9DifXXxXggG9BeDDOqTejh8CNSMIU2tX4IRzs/s320/IMG_1153.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw17XbMe_reDOmOCxZIgjczsJjmnXGurbXKjyWRDsCi3aQb5xTFKVSPH_jgL-q683vqE4LlEIL2agoZQeAMgjenyPzCm9Bis_FTkwsJX9TgjKEhBAp8aqHj1DPcGTdTM9CQglfzheqr3w/s1600-h/IMG_1141.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358508340871151490" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw17XbMe_reDOmOCxZIgjczsJjmnXGurbXKjyWRDsCi3aQb5xTFKVSPH_jgL-q683vqE4LlEIL2agoZQeAMgjenyPzCm9Bis_FTkwsJX9TgjKEhBAp8aqHj1DPcGTdTM9CQglfzheqr3w/s320/IMG_1141.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uABH5asCWpt8ordfjhCa5JWqaHsiFXN7VOCtGSM3DsGMMMpSh2mxND9hxdLOAqMWcZTM-MMw1WwR6tqkmvNfgUjvRJHcmV4ix_3zGhyxFg6TTclTsCf0zYzniqhnK8bRe36y4N9HZiY/s1600-h/IMG_1145.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358508335154232402" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uABH5asCWpt8ordfjhCa5JWqaHsiFXN7VOCtGSM3DsGMMMpSh2mxND9hxdLOAqMWcZTM-MMw1WwR6tqkmvNfgUjvRJHcmV4ix_3zGhyxFg6TTclTsCf0zYzniqhnK8bRe36y4N9HZiY/s320/IMG_1145.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Thanks to a couple good friends of mine, I came across musician Joe Purdy about two years ago. I realize this is a little late to jump on board as one of his fans - he has been making amazing music for much longer than a few years - but I'm sure glad I did. A lot of his songs relate to his time spent in New York, including a specific intersection at 3rd and St. Marks in the East Village, where he used to enjoy people watching. That intersection just so happens to be on the way to the subway for me, so I pass it daily. Music starts to have a whole new level of meaning and importance when it hits so close to home and I can't get enough of it. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Joe (we're on a first name basis for the sake of this entry) performed at The City Winery last week as part of "New York Magazine's" city pairings series. His opening act, Meiko, had a similar mellow vibe, mixed in with awkward humor that I just couldn't get enough of. Check her out</span> </span><a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=meiko&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g10"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">He performed for about an hour and a half, mostly new songs from his latest album, "Last Clock On the Wall." He is well known for doing his own thing, producing under his own record label and selling albums online instead of in stores. While I wouldn't consider myself a musician - I did try it out as pianist for two years, but quit to play sports - I can definitely respect the level of dedication to his craft. He is clearly performing for himself, his love of music and the dedicated fans, instead of searching for that ridiculous level of fame and money that other artists strive to obtain. </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Joe stuck to a lot of his slower melodies, which made for a very relaxing night and it happened to be exactly the type of night I've been craving these days. I'm happy to report that he played a few of my favorites such as "Paris in the Morning" and "Waiting on Something Good." There is something about the way Joe performs that not only relaxes me, but inspires me to want to get up and go do something outstanding. I consider myself a passionate person - I'm passionate about writing, literature, athletics and my family/friends mean the world to me - but he inspires me to search for a new level of passion, one that matches the energy and love that radiated the stage during his performance.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">He spent the rest of the night cracking jokes about not remembering lyrics while sipping on his whiskey. As the whiskey started to run dry, he seemed to forget more lyrics, which should make sense to anyone brave enough to try the manly drink. His subtle humor was a nice touch, but didn't take away from the strong power and passion behind his music. Despite all the ups and downs in my life and the struggle with the job search, I was still left with an overwhelming feeling that I too, am waiting on something good. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">And for those of you that know my weird celebrity obsession, which has heightened since my move here, another highlight of the night was when Justin Long walked in ... apparently he is a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">fan too!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">To listen to Joe Purdy's music for free, go to: </span></span><a href="http://joepurdy.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">http://joepurdy.com</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">. I think it's safe to say that there is a song for everyone. And because I owe a lot of my love for his music to these people: get some extra reading in by a fabulous writer,</span> </span><a href="http://jacquelynrachel.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Jackie Jones</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">or listen to some great music from </span></span><a href="http://dkrikorian.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Dan Krikorian</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I recommend the track "Burn."</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div></div>Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-21800550689648678152009-07-06T14:31:00.057-04:002009-07-07T11:05:26.328-04:00raised on promises<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">When I think about the 4th of July, a few images come to mind: Drinking by the pool, fireworks and my best friend Brittney - her birthday is July 6. For as long as I can remember most of my holiday weekends were spent celebrating both the 4th and her birthday, with close family and friends by my side. I've spent quite a few holiday weekends in San Diego, where the sun is always shining and the crowds are always out. For the first time in about 20 years, I was not with Brittney and Katie - two of my oldest friends - to celebrate. When I think about how much has changed since this time last year, it often scares me and makes me miss the people I love the most. Change is most certainly not a bad thing, but it does take some getting used to.<br /><br />To celebrate our nation's Independence this year, my roommate and I decided to make our way to Coney Island, to watch some great beach volleyball. We sat on our towels in the sand, very aware that we weren't in California anymore, but it was still OK. Sure the view wasn't quite as pretty, but I was excited and grateful to be in a completely new area, venturing out from my comfort zone and yet still watching a sport that I absolutely love.<br /><br />Later that day we went to Trader Joe's and bought more food than probably necessary for a picnic. We came prepared with wine in paper bags and a rather large assortment of cheese and crackers. We set up camp and spent time enjoying each others company before the big show. Now I've seen plenty of firework shows before, but I can say with confidence that this one topped them all. Maybe it was my new surroundings, maybe it was my new lifestyle or maybe it was the Empire State Building right behind me, proudly shining a display of red, white and blue - whatever it was made for a pretty amazing night, with some very wonderful people.<br /><br />I will always miss my best friends and family on a daily basis, but this weekend left me with an overwhelming feeling that I will also really miss New York and its bright lights if I ever decide to leave.<br /><br />"There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction" - Winston Churchill</span><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_IgJYr19OG9M8_ExB2zjLHKPj7P7oMtCwmRQPNRueHUBdQ5qZ-qw1uZt-Wv3ATOAeh0rKsooAX84uEfq2DP_WSogL69BwWba_aiSVAjDupUXaSgLcC-WX5qTsittCFVFRGoSG3slpcI/s1600-h/IMG_1070.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355544019646689314" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_IgJYr19OG9M8_ExB2zjLHKPj7P7oMtCwmRQPNRueHUBdQ5qZ-qw1uZt-Wv3ATOAeh0rKsooAX84uEfq2DP_WSogL69BwWba_aiSVAjDupUXaSgLcC-WX5qTsittCFVFRGoSG3slpcI/s320/IMG_1070.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IEkxIL92oyVW7BsacsI8uQ13J0t8ERft6vpc0uGS5dYqAKxsGAMLDoEwyoJAw8OWoojM_IOFvDAEkRGQbFdZhj4W-RstmSsvtYWXDuGBMseCmpKhwwoYPep52SpB70vOHyMi8kUAc1M/s1600-h/IMG_1087.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355543629827392994" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IEkxIL92oyVW7BsacsI8uQ13J0t8ERft6vpc0uGS5dYqAKxsGAMLDoEwyoJAw8OWoojM_IOFvDAEkRGQbFdZhj4W-RstmSsvtYWXDuGBMseCmpKhwwoYPep52SpB70vOHyMi8kUAc1M/s320/IMG_1087.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_pZAHZOpvmD8eJYoyPp-bbqKgQ0Aj5eZlPXAZFEKdgKpU6WquGTvPNDYSZDPVpXI7XPL4pvBo4UeNacajSrUrkrO9i3iZ73v_L6IafCAcLma_EBI5z7wvF0BERE0IPS_L1X22xzul2Y/s1600-h/IMG_1098.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355543459084785458" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_pZAHZOpvmD8eJYoyPp-bbqKgQ0Aj5eZlPXAZFEKdgKpU6WquGTvPNDYSZDPVpXI7XPL4pvBo4UeNacajSrUrkrO9i3iZ73v_L6IafCAcLma_EBI5z7wvF0BERE0IPS_L1X22xzul2Y/s320/IMG_1098.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">Just for kicks, here are a couple of my favorite random quotes because I've found that NY is the No. 1 spot to encounter crazies:<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">"Your naked leg will excite the lesbians. They will stalk you" - homeless man to five of us girls, all wearing dresses<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">"If you look into the sun, you can see Michael Jackson" - crazy lady rocking out during the Brad Paisley concert (she must like a wide variety of music)</span>Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-52352442569182991192009-07-02T15:49:00.044-04:002009-07-03T20:32:35.601-04:00i wanna be running, when the sand runs out<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Since I was about 14, I've had a list of lifelong goals. I would always write every little idea down, with hopes of checking them off someday. Of course goals change as we mature and grow older, but two for me always remained the same: move to New York and run a marathon. While I'm not quite ready for the full 26.2 miles yet, I'm officially training for my first half-marathon (13.1 miles) with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I'm very excited about this journey and I can't wait until race day. Sure most days I wake up sore, as I'm running more miles than I've ever ran before, but I still feel good. There is something about running that I absolutely love. It allows me to escape anything dragging me down and it gives me an overwhelming sense of freedom I can't ignore. Not only do I feel great after a run, but it also gives me an excuse to quote "Forrest Gump" more than any normal person ever would, or should for that matter.<br /></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">As part of Team in Training, we have practices twice a week and we are responsible to run two additional times on our own. Instead of practice last weekend, the coaches suggested that we participate in a 5M race in Central Park: Achilles Hope and Possibility Run. The Achilles Track Club was founded in 1983 to encourage disabled people to run long-distance races. All of the money raised through registration fees and fundraising went to the club.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I wasn't really sure what to expect from that day, I was just excited to spend time with my roommates and our good friend John Ohail. John came equipped with new Aasics running shoes for all of us and we were ready to go. The day was mildly hot, well at least for me. The sun peeked through the park trees for all of three seconds and I was already sunburnt. What can I say? It's a gift. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">About 4,000 people showed up to run - many in wheelchairs, some with prosthetic legs. When running long distances on a hot day, it's of course easy to get tired quickly. But there was something about this day that was different. It was very motivational to see people without legs finding a way to complete the race. Everyone was cheering them on along the way and a you could see the pride written all over their faces. I'm going to do my best to not get all cheesy here, but a day like this one can only leave you feeling grateful. From here on out I vow to try and never complain about putting on my running shoes again, because at least I </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">can</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> run.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Just in case you're interested in donating or following my progress, no pressure of course: </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nikenych09/khenning"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nikenych09/khenning</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJlA1OV-CX3ppgiIQdKTAQZdz6L8B6y8RWYLmzz66o_dSSvelzLety1m5yqu5fJlEwexWGORD8Ut1tv4hT8wx0ZRxZFMl2fwOqgoVJbj2IVwdfxNk1-ntO0rCJe-TLe5BJXqIgnRbIrw/s1600-h/IMG_1021.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJlA1OV-CX3ppgiIQdKTAQZdz6L8B6y8RWYLmzz66o_dSSvelzLety1m5yqu5fJlEwexWGORD8Ut1tv4hT8wx0ZRxZFMl2fwOqgoVJbj2IVwdfxNk1-ntO0rCJe-TLe5BJXqIgnRbIrw/s320/IMG_1021.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354276815804799394" /></a><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69OJ4LhTN_jz3ghYh5FXI04iG8DkEH8NSyssbUNgvDGiMxuGHyoyl2Fe9K5C3VP-fUVu8lPZ1hXqUIfE-nNmIVLVn0iH0_Lk15LWEkJmuLwDXPPYU514CU4aekrSodLcjRBMR2RVFyMY/s1600-h/IMG_1026.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69OJ4LhTN_jz3ghYh5FXI04iG8DkEH8NSyssbUNgvDGiMxuGHyoyl2Fe9K5C3VP-fUVu8lPZ1hXqUIfE-nNmIVLVn0iH0_Lk15LWEkJmuLwDXPPYU514CU4aekrSodLcjRBMR2RVFyMY/s320/IMG_1026.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354276457488153378" /></a></div>Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-13978225055207892822009-06-30T08:13:00.030-04:002009-06-30T09:36:49.018-04:00imagine there's no heaven<span style="color:#ffffff;">"I like Rock & Roll, and I don't like much else" - John Lennon<br /><br />On Saturday I had the chance to do something I've been wanting to do for a while, I went to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex. Last month an exhibit opened that particularly caught my eye: John Lennon The New York City Years, created by Yoko Ono. I grew up listening to The Beatles, as I'm sure pretty much everyone else did. My dad is a die hard fan, always making a point to tell me that The Beatles are the greatest band to ever live, outlasting any fame that the musicians from my generation will ever achieve. Even though I'll be a Justin Timberlake fan until the end, I of course can't argue with that statement. Sorry, Justin.<br /><br />The outside was surrounded by signs and flowers for Michael Jackson and of course the inside had an area dedicated to the King of Pop - displaying some of his favorite outfits and even handwritten lyrics. While going through the exhibit, you are given headphones to hear a playlist, consisting of music from all the artists - including everything from Aretha Franklin to Elvis to Van Halen to Prince to U2. Imagine one of the greatest playlists ever and that's what we were listening to. The display cases were similar to what we saw for MJ - clothes of the musicians, lyrics and thank you notes to fans from the early years. There were guitars on display and even a classic car. One of my favorites was a letter to a fan thanking her for the after shave she sent.<br /><br />The last room was the Lennon exhibit. Although he was obviously born in the UK, the exhibit describes his love for New York City in a way that illustrates why he considered it his true home. "He was head over heels in love with this city, and when you’re in love, you forget you had a past," said Ono. I will never experience the type of lifestyle Lennon did in the city, but I can at least partially relate to the love he feels, as I am constantly in awe of this place. The room features his famous New York City muscle tee, footage of the couple and lyrics for some of his most famous songs. The exhibit was extremely well done and kept my attention the entire time. I could have spent hours in that one room.<br /><br />The section that really hit me was one toward the end, displaying a brown paper bag of Lennon's clothes from the day he was shot, returned to Ono about a year later - in 1981. The glass case looked just as morbid as you're probably thinking. Beside it was a photograph Ono had taken of his bloody glasses from the same horrific day. I think I spent at least five minutes just staring at the paper bag. The quote below it was one from Ono, explaining her emotions upon receiving the bag. She said that her husband had everything in the world, anything any man could ever want and all the fame in the world. Yet in the end, one of the greatest musicians to ever live and everything he stood for was diminished to one paper bag. Despite the criticism she faced for placing something so personal and grim in an otherwise celebratory exhibit, she did it all for a very <strong>honorable </strong>reason. Next to the display was a large piece of white paper, for visitors to sign. Since Lennon's death in 1980, 932,000 people have died as a result of gun violence. The thousands of signatures will be sent to President Obama to rally for stricter gun laws at the end of this year.<br /><br />Talk about a <em>moving</em> exhibit for peace.<br /><br /><em>"Imagine there's no countries</em><br /><em>It isn't hard to do</em><br /><em>Nothing to kill or die for</em><br /><em>And no religion too</em><br /><em>Imagine all the people</em><br /><em>Living life in peace ...</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>You may say I'm a dreamer</em><br /><em>But I'm not the only one</em><br /><em>I hope someday you'll join us</em><br /><em>And the world will be as one"</em></span>Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298481728663956577.post-7785591371167709362009-06-23T09:13:00.019-04:002009-06-23T13:28:03.242-04:00under my umbrella<span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">S</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">omeone told me yesterday they heard a fun fact on the radio - we've had rain in the city for the past 35 of 39 days. Of course this is something that I should have noticed myself, yet I was doing my best to ignore the downpour. And with the way it rains in NY, downpour is an understatement. I've already gone through at least five umbrellas since my move and none seem to be powerful enough to make it through the storm. I never used to mind rain back home, I usually find it quite soothing and comforting. That was before I realized that rain is capable of breaking umbrellas and leaving me feeling like I just went for a swim in my clothes.<br /><br />With all that complaining out of the way, NY has a pleasant way of surprising you at random and absolutely perfect times, reminding me why I'm here - for something new and different. As my roommate and I were walking home from a nice Sunday of shopping, we spotted a fish in the rain. Not just any fish though, instead the creature was actually a man (probably crazy) who must have woke up that morning and been delighted by the weather. He was wearing two kiddy-sized swimming pools on his body, one on the front and one on the back, to create a suit-like formation. The pools covered his entire body, so all you could see were his walking feet, wearing white Doc Marten shoes. Attached to the front was a fishing pole and a toy fish at the end, which he proceeded to chase after us with. Once he moved on, he decided to sit on a median in oncoming traffic, hiding his feet and appearing just to be trash. A perfect scenario for him to plan his attack as pedestrians walked on by. He continued to chase them, purely for amusement and a good laugh.<br /><br />I'm not quite sure why this man - or woman I guess - brought me so much joy. I think it was just another odd moment that caught me completely off guard and put a smile on my face when nothing else could. So thanks to fish man and all his glory, I've decided to stick to a new motto throughout this weather ... "Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass ... it's about learning how to dance in the rain."</span></span>Kristen Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11864528025302645355noreply@blogger.com1