Laugh.

"A pizza shop at Ninth Avenue and 41st Street, about a block from the shelter, she said, is a popular target area. On West 41st Street, between the pizza shop and the shelter, there is a block of scaffolding that the Covenant House staff tells children to avoid, because it is another hot spot for pimps on the prowl for new recruits."

From the September 16, 2013 New York Times article, Stubborn Cycle of Runaways Becoming Prostitutes, by E. C. Gogolak.

Going grocery shopping at the Union Square Trader Joe's on a Sunday afternoon was the stupidest decision I've made all weekend.

"There's gotta be more to life,
Than chasing down every temporary high,
To satisfy me."

From the song There's Gotta Be (More to Life) by Stacie Orrico.

Modesty.

Keep your negativity and bad energy away from me.

It's such a brisk and beautiful morning here in NYC.

I'm currently house/dog-sitting for my friend Junho for a few days, and I just took Oscar to the dog park at Gramercy Park. It was nice to get some air and watch Oscar socialize with all the other dogs. It had been a while since I'd been to a dog park, and just watching all the pooches play and run around really was such a great way to start the day.

Happy Saturday, everyone. I hope you have a great weekend.

What I would give to take a motosai ride through the busy streets of Bangkok right about now to just clear my head for a moment...

"Don't look back in anger,
I heard you say."

From the song Don't Look Back in Anger by Oasis.

Community.

"I am on a lonely road,
and I'm traveling,
traveling, traveling, traveling,
looking for something.
What can it be?"

From the song All I Want by Joni Mitchell.

I'm a thirty year old man and my voice still cracks all the time... why oh why?

"Love is stronger than pride."

From the song Love Is Stronger Than Pride by Sade.

You get what you give.

Nobody ever said it would be easy.

Learn.

Evolve.

Grow.

Live.

"This book always had a great effect on him: he never read it without agitation, and the perusal of it invariably stirred his bile."

From The Captain's Daughter by Alexander Pushkin. Page 4.

I loved tonight.

And congrats to Esther for winning the grand prize after we all played a drinking game! It was so nice to go out after a while and spend time with everyone again.

"Have a good day. Stay blessed."

Said by the random woman I had a conversation with this morning on the 1 train when we parted ways.

I love NY.

Today we remember all those who perished on this day.

God bless America.

"As she shook her bare backside for the sparse afternoon crowd at Rick's Cabaret, the dancer introduced as Vanessa appeared to be more committed to her work than the typical clock-puncher. But a federal judge ruled on Tuesday that she and her fellow strippers were hourly workers who deserved at least the minimum wage."

From the September 10, 2013 New York Times article, Strippers Are Protected by Labor Laws, Judge Says, by Patrick McGeeHan.

The past week or so.

  

 

Foam earplugs are God's gift from heaven.

Unwinding at 3 in the morning.

"Oh listen to you. You don't have to prove anything!

You are stunning, and intelligent, and funny. And what is she? Married---that's all."

Said by the character Charlotte in the series, Sex and the City. Episode Attack of the Five Foot Ten Woman, Season 3.

"In its 15th season, the campground has become so popular that the owners are in the process of tripling its RV capacity, adding more spaces for tents and installing a second pool.

Most surprising, perhaps, is the way local residents generally react to the camp nowadays: with a shrug, or maybe an awkward grin. Once the target of notable harassment --- gunshots, vandalism and runoff from a strategically placed hog farm --- Cactus Canyon now enjoys a much more peaceful existence."

From the September 7, 2013 New York Times article, A Hideaway Where "Out in the Ozarks" has Multiple Meanings, by John Eligon.

Oh, Magda---I get you.

After running around the city for literally almost 12 hours, I was a bit tired by 9pm earlier tonight.

I'm currently working this freelance gig during fashion week for an Italian photography company. Everyone is really nice and all has been great, but by the evenings, I'm usually pretty beat. I was on my last assignment of the night earlier before and it was my first time being at Lincoln Center in the evening. This was my third day working, and my first two had me at places downtown when I was done for the night. 

In the daytime, the square at Lincoln Center can seem like a real shitshow, but to stumble onto this at night was a really nice surprise. It was the first time I had seen the large screen on, and there was loud fun music being pumped out for everyone to enjoy. A dotted crowd of others seemed to be already enjoying it by the time I got there, and it was such a nice scene to unexpectedly discover after coming off the 1 train exhausted. I was a little early when I arrived, so I too was able to plop down alone near the front of the large telecast to just enjoy the moment for a little.

Ahh, NYC.

It sure was a beautiful day to walk outside today.

Generalizing gets you nowhere in life.

The weather in NYC today is just glorious!

Always making the same mistakes means the same awful results.

Even at the age of thirty, I'm constantly still learning so much about life and myself, and now I'll never be the same again.

Cher.

Share.

It doesn't even matter anymore.

"Don't cry for me,
'cause I'll find my way.
You'll wake up one day,
But it'll be too late."

From the song Hung Up by Madonna.

I really am so happy to be home in NY.

While taking the subway alone back to my friend Judy's place just before, everything in life just seemed to make sense. I had had a few drinks, but was completely fine and just observed everyone else on the subway-cart throughout the ride home. I loved it so much because life was happening all around me, and it felt awesome to be surrounded by it again.

Being able to spend the past month-and-a-half in NY for the summer has been great, and while I'm sad to see it go, I'm always ready to move on.

Have a really enjoyable Labor Day!

And here are some pictures I recently just took while walking around. The last one is my favorite, because I'll miss you, coconut icies.

It's just you and me, New York.

Woah, it's September now.

Hanging out earlier tonight with my sister was so much fun. I really love her so much, and cherish our nights out together.

We started with dinner at The Redhead, and then moved to Nowhere afterwards for a few rounds. Then for a blast from the past, we ended up at Decibel for old times sake and a lot of sake. 

It's nice because with the holiday weekend, the city seems a bit emptier. Man, it sure is nice to be back home for holidays.

Dear kids,

The word of the week is "CRAZY."

As always, NYC tap water is really refreshing as hell.

People-watching.

Happy Labor Day!

I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend.

Every day is a new learning experience.

Walking around NYC is the best!

It was so nice hanging out with Susy back in Astoria. 

Catching up over lunch on a beautiful day was great.