Paying closer attention

That there, is my everyday view of an autumn sunset when I stay late enough at work when the sunsets come earlier. I probably have a couple of hundred different shots of the view from this perch and in our former building a few blocks down. I have two different views of the same landscape, and I can’t quite make up my mind which one is the better one.

Once upon a time, I only saw this on the screen and in postcards. You’d think that after almost two decades of looking at this cityscape, it would’ve become ordinary in my eyes. And yet I find myself continually awed by this breathtaking skyline.

I normally take pictures at the end of the day to capture the sunset, but from time to time, I’d do it when the skyline becomes a silhouette in the rain or under then clouds.

There is no view of this cityscape that is ever ordinary. Be it the play of lights or the shadows that the sun casts on the buildings or the water, nature’s brushstrokes never fail to amaze. You just have to pay closer attention to what you think might be ordinary– and there you will find the fabulous..

Simply breathtaking.

Skipped the snow

No matter what they say, I miss my iPhone camera.  I haven’t been on Instagram because I don’t have the app, although I think I can manage an upload or post via the blackberry if I put my mind to it and the app I downloaded.  Unfortunately, the company software doesn’t allow s to go into the Instagram website because it’s an uploading site.

So there was just rain but no snow.  (Hooray!)

I couldn’t resist last night.  Q10 in hand, I snuck up to my favorite corner of our top floor and saw this.  It’s just about capturing the moment and not letting it get away.  We do too much of that — letting the chances we get or the opportunities that are given to us slip by.  And once it’s gone, it’s gone.  The next one that comes along, chances are, will never be the same again.  The good thing is, it might be even better.  Might.

 

Gorgeous Sunset over Manhattan

Gorgeous sunset over Manhattan and the Empire State Building couldn’t stop dancing! The lights kept changing as if in a never-ending dance. What a glorious way to end what was a beautiful autumn day.. #empirestatebuilding #empirestate #mynyc #mynewyork

A Happy Place Apart

I am finally back on Instagram and back to snapping shots of my home city!  Although it’s a tad bit disappointing that I wasn’t upgraded to the coveted iPhone 6 just yet — there’s a company freeze on the upgrades — I suppose, at least until the big bosses get theirs.  I’m not complaining.  I’m just glad to have my main cell phone number back on line, although arranging the apps and icons on my various screens is still in progress and keeping me on the verge of a vertigo attack.

Sometimes, I get lucky.  The shot above was actually just one of those I took after walking to the other side of my floor, and I discovered a new trick to prevent the reflection of the interior lights from bouncing off of the glass window.  I simply stuck the phone to the glass, as in on top of it, as if it were a filter in front of the actual phone camera.  Voila!

Posted on my Instagram feed 2 weeks ago before the other iPhone changed hands, this picture was reposted by the official @empirestatebldg Instagram account and was liked more than 2400+ times on that page and garnered me at least a dozen additional “followers”.  Of course, I was honored.  Again, sometimes, I get lucky.

Yet another reason to smile.  Another little note to tuck into that bucket of “happy”.

My sister wrote me a rather pointed inquiry on my state of heart with a single sentence e-mail.  (“Are you okay, sis?,” she wrote.)  She has a knack for emphasis by decluttering her message and going straight to the point.  I’d usually just call her back but it was late last night and I thought I’d give her something to read.

Yes, I’m okay.  I’ve just been very busy of late, but I am doing okay and trying to concentrate on “happy” thoughts and bits and pieces that bring me to that happy place.  I’ve come to discover that there are actually a lot of things to tuck into my little virtual scrapbook in my heart — the one I go to when I feel the need to try and lift my spirits up.  It’s where all the reminders of “good” and “okay” are — in simple thoughts, lines, memories and snapshots.

You know how you would often remember bits and pieces of a conversation, or scenes framed by a certain event or moment in your mind.  It could be words you read somewhere — perhaps a magazine, an e-mail or a written message handed to you.  It might be the taste of something you had, a movie you keep wanting to watch over and over again, or a line in a song.  And even in this place of “happy” thoughts there are buckets for the different things that bring you there, from the ordinary to those special ones that bring you to a happy place apart.

Four words that have stuck with me through most of the past week and a half — “A Happy Place Apart”.   You want to keep going there but then you want to save it for when you need it most so that you can savor the smile, the warmth of that thought, of remembering things, or laughing over something you laughed about not too long ago.  And it actually works.  It brings me to that happy place apart from all the other happy places I have tucked in my heart.

It is that happy place apart that makes me say, yes, I’m okay.  Because in the midst of it all, I have a lot to be thankful for.  I have a lot to smile about.  I have a lot to remain hopeful for.  I’d be hard pressed to justify sulking or moping, or even asking “Why me?”.

It might be knowing I got featured by THE @empirestatebldg account, and I got congratulated by people I don’t even know from Adam.  Or the thought of indulging in a piece of my chocolate treat from Lilac at Grand Central Market, the uber sinful milk chocolate caramel nut bar.  (Seriously thinking of stopping by this morning despite the fact it will mean a major detour in the commute into the city, and a major dent on the diet, at that!)  It might be about happily anticipating some books I ordered in connection with an online History course I enrolled in recently.  (That’s another blog post altogether.)  It might be simply writing or pinging one of my three siblings across the oceans for a conversation.

And sometimes you hear something random like the latest news and it reminds you of something connected.  Even that can bring you to that happy place.

Another weekend for all of us — another weekend for more happy thoughts — and in case there’s a shortage of that, there will be that happy place apart tucked somewhere in my heart.

Into February – Feedback

I have made it a habit to take a picture of the Empire State Building when it is all lit up in something colorful and today it was in all red. Trying to get New York in the mood for what others call Christmas of the hearts, I guess.

Again, another post not quite centered on one topic but which I just wanted to finish before I hit the sack.

It was a rather busy day that saw me doing a lot of things other than drafting or getting a post ready here.  Instead, I clicked to check stats occasionally but I didn’t see anything remarkable.  On my way home, I clicked on my wordpress app and saw a rather lengthy and very meaningful comment that truly made my day.  Thanks, Mike, for the note.  As I said, I will write more lengthily later although I can’t see what needs polishing given your comment.

Sometimes it’s the little things that mean a lot.  This was by no means “little”, but in the grander scheme of things, it was but a minute in my day but a full minute that made me pause a while to smile.

Try and make someone smile today.  All it might take might be a simple smile, a thank you, or a quiet acknowledgment of someone or something we usually take forgranted.

 

Glorious Fuschia Pink Empire State Building

You’ll have to forgive me for the fuschia overdose.  I couldn’t believe it when I saw that the Empire State Building was in fuschia pink last Monday.  Gorgeous!

I always make it a point to take a peek when I can before I walk out the door, but this was one of those days that I had no chance to.  When I saw it as I looked up as I walked onto Avenue of the Americas, I had to cross the street away from my bus stop to get a good vantage point for a picture.  Not quite as crisp as I would want, but I took my time and experimented.

If there’s one color that makes me happy, it’s fuschia pink.  I wear it practically everyday.  Oh, correction, I DO wear it everyday because I have at least 4 coats in that color.

My printer just “ate” a 32gig micro SD memory card.  I saw it slip into an outer paper tray when I lifted the paper in the feed, and it somehow found its way into the printer, somewhere I cannot dig in to get it out.  I will worry about that tomorrow.  I have another memory card to put into the adaptor for the camera.  The fog is so heavy I don’t think I’ll get the chance to shoot any pics tonight, but you’ll never know.  (Reaching into my stash of spare 2gig micro SDs in my purse.)

My Christmas Tree and other holiday trimmings are all boxed up and ready to be put away for good until next December.  This year, I’m getting the holiday cards together and recycling, and what I cannot recycle or repurpose before the month is up will be disposed of.  I get all sentimental about holiday cards and have promised myself to do this the last 2 years but I haven’t been too good with that.  The good news is that I am participating in a Recycled Christmas card Artist Trading Card swap which should give me an excuse to get started on this “project” tonight.

And I did finally get to put up a listing in my Etsy Shop.  This lovely Freshwater Pearl Bangle Trio is available at the shop for $45.00.

“You are looking at a set of three bangles (hence, the “trio”) with alternating quartets of pastel blue, pink, yellow and beige set on gold-tone memory wire. The ends are fastened with a tiny gold tone clasp. The round potato freshwater pearls are approximately 8-9mm each. There are 27 pearls in each bangle and this trio is made up of over a strand of these pearls. The circumference of the bracelet is at approximately 8″ which makes it hang nicely below the wrist. I love the sound of the pearls when they give off their own unique “jangle” as you move.

The inside diameter of the bracelet is 7 1/2 inches. I can extend this bracelet by adding gold-tone chain links on the end to which the lobster clasp attaches to.”

I think I’ve finally ticked off my list over the weekend.. a few days late, but did them all!

Time to head out.. into the cold rain.. or maybe even some snow.  First, I have to change attire — don the jeans and the pretty fuschia pink puff jacket. =)  Another day done..

I almost forgot — new “ABOUT” page here…

So 2013 begins…

My new year has been quiet, just the way I like it.

New Year’s Eve was uneventful and rather relaxing thanks to dinner out, and when the clock struck midnight and the ball dropped in Times Square, the boy was lightly snoring on the sofa beside me, so we went straight to bed afterwards. January 1 was spent at home and I just relaxed between cooking meals for everyone. I sat on the breakfast counter and had caught up on several episodes of  CSI NY, Criminal Minds and NCIS all throughout the day — and even got to begin work on my new Art Journal Every Day book. I thought about stopping by here and writing up a New Year post, but I was just too lazy.  I just wanted to enjoy the last day of my 1 1/2 weeks vacation before hitting work today.

Well, back to work for me.  It was a long day at work and I’m not even all caught up yet.  It’s good that I have the rest of the week to hopefully get things in order after my long break.

I’m not complaining, though.  But can they just stop the goodies from flooding the pantry please?  They actually had authentic rum cake today — thankfully, it was drenched in enough rum to make people take teeny-weeny portions instead of full slices.

Lunch was cheese and crackers (left over for lack of a toast at the strike of midnight — Note to self: buy the bubbly next year) — and I have a new cheese favorite beyond my old regulars  Camembert and Pont l’Eveque: the Saint-Andre (from FreshDirect).  Creamy and served in a thicker chunk — it’s like biting through a cheese-only cheesecake minus the sweet but with the creaminess and richness of a milky cheese.  Perfect with my olive and rosemary crackers.   I wouldn’t have minded sparkling cider — no alcohol needed, but it would be great with champagne.

I took a look out my window 41 floors up and saw the Empire State Building in glorious red and green.  It doesn’t matter that I see this every day I am at work — it still makes me awestruck even if my favorite, the Chrysler Building is just a short distance away with its perennial white illumination.  I look down and pan from left to right and back and I am just mesmerized by the view.

I wanted to go home but I thought I’d try and grab a few shots and maybe try working the panoramic “swing” which I am trying to get the hang of.  This was an angled down-ward “swing” from right to left capturing the Empire State Building and the New York Public Library and Citipond down by Bryant Park.  42nd Street is visible on the lower left-hand portion of the photo.

One gem out of around 20-30 panoramic shots made it worth it.  I just might try again tomorrow during the sunset.

Thus went my first day back at work after New Year’s.  Tomorrow, it’s back to the grind for me.  10:33 and I’m trying to make a mental checklist of the rest of the chores I need to do before turning in.  I wish I had an extra 4 hours… or that I could drag myself out of bed at 4am.  (That only gives me 2 hours on the morning end — and I’m really a nocturnal person.)

Time to sign out and get ready for bed.  I might yet get an Art Journal Every Day entry somehow.

Weekend to weekend

Hand-drawn on a reproduction of a watercolor background I had originally done for an Art Journal Every Day entry

So I have been remiss, I know.  I’ve been busy and blogging takes a tad bit more effort when I have to skirt around security issues at work which, alas, were “lifted” magically.  I’m not going to ask, I’m not going to complain.  I’m just going to blog.

This card here is going to get on its way to a friend soon.  Bringing well wishes, prayers and a warm hug to boot.  I wish I could deliver it personally, but sometimes you need to keep away and just let the card do the talking.  My friendship with this lady has been mostly on paper literally the last couple of years.  We have kept the postal service on its toes, although I had given them a break the past few months.  She is also one of a handful of people I make sure I see whenever I land in Manila.

Well, I am back.  I’m glad it’s Friday again.  I’m going to try and catch up with the Newspaper Collage Postcards which I haven’t done for most of the week.  I also uploaded a tutorial or how-to on my postcards in GothamChick if any one is interested.

A sad thing just happened a few blocks away from where I work.  And to think I had just passed that very same area around 40 minutes before this shooting around the Empire State Building took place.  I have nothing more to say about it at this point except a silent prayer for all.  Thank you, though, to those who messaged me on Facebook, via text and e-mail.

I’m thinking if I get to get out of the office early enough, I’ll make a stop at the Columbus Circle branch of Michael’s.  That would make two boys happy since it means I won’t have to make the stop during our errand run this weekend.  I am always grateful that they indulge me even if sometimes the lines get really long and it takes me forever and a day to get whatever it is I’m getting 40% off or what not.

It’s really quite a ways away from me, but a detour worth making given that polymer clay is currently at 4 for $5 again.  I try to stock up on polymer clay when that happens because I want to get it at its cheapest.  (The economics of maintaining a hobby.)  But again, it depends on what time I can make it out of here in Midtown where I am.

I’m also thinking I’ll just head straight home.  I have a burger dinner date with the son — home-made angus beef burgers from Pat LaFrieda of FreshDirect.  Yum!  Time for me to go.. my weekend just started.

The Empire State Building in red

That’s the Empire State Building all decked out for Valentine’s Day yesterday.  Taken with my trusty blackberry as my rechargeable  batteries (at least the ones that are newest) are currently powering the boy’s Wii paddle.  My trusty camera is out of commission but I still bring it with me wherever I go.  (Note to self: get a new set of rechargeable batteries.)

I normally head away from this particular nightscape but had moved towards it tonight, completely missing the purple and orange lights adorning its top.  Drats!

I am tired and ready to turn in at just a few minutes to midnight.  This is early.  I am exhausted (I think it’s the asthma) and I really want to get a headstart on the sandman.  I am so exhausted that I have foregone picking up the plyers although I have two pieces I wanted to create which didn’t even require any manueverings or creative exertion.  It can wait.

Goodnight.