At the Javits center this afternoon. The girls are incredibly sweet-looking, but the athleticism of the male dancers is incredible.

Travel show gave my diminishing wanderlust a new boost.

Been trying to get to work on time, as opposed to whenever I get there. I think I’m gutsy to take on such an endeavor during the autumn, when it’s still dark out when I turn off my alarm.

If I were a much more motivated person, I would use the early mornings to go out for a jog, or do some other morning exercise.

But I think I’ll take it one step at a time. Get used to waking up early first, and then we’ll move over to this exercise business.

I’ve lived in this city since 1993 and there are still things about this place that I haven’t seen before.

Yet another notch to add on that fleeting phenomenon known as ‘internet fame’ (Scroll down to the bottom — they featured my review of The Jakewalk).

Or, maybe it’s just additional proof that I go out drinking a lot.

We rode bikes around the island. They were free for one hour, which is all the time that we needed. The entire place felt like a ghost town, which is essentially what it was.

Two years ago today, I said yes. I’ve never regretted saying it.

more cat pictures

You must admit that I’m pretty weird to go volunteer at animal shelter when I have a perfectly good cat waiting for me at home. But volunteer I did, and it actually made me appreciate the little furball that I already have.

The Queens Animal Center is a no-kill shelter for cats and dogs, located right off Queens Blvd, near the mall. The have volunteers coming in to walk the dogs, clean out the cages, and play with the animals. It’s an even exchange, in my opinion: the people get the benefits of having a pet without having to actually own one, and the animals get affection and clean cages.

They have a lot of kittens that they’ve rescued. It’s sad how some of these babies may not find a home. They were all so soft and small, and the crazy cat lady in me was yearning to take one home to foster. I know that I don’t have the funds (and space) to get another one, but I could at least take care of one temporarily.

Rest of the photos here

I met him at his internship yesterday, and because we had time to kill before going to Angels & Kings, he suggested that we walk down to Battery Park to go check it out. I think I’ve only been around that area only when we take visitors to Liberty Isl. and Ellis Isl. I never really take the time out to see what else is there.

I also have a confession: before yesterday, I didn’t know where Stuyvesant HS was. Yeah, all his talk and all my snarky comments aside, I never really knew where the school was located. Its reputation preceded everything else. But I knew that area, that neighborhood, carried a lot of nostalgia weight — so walking around there made him chattier than usual.

I enjoy hearing his stories about those years. I sometimes complain that THAT’S all he talks about, but I also don’t blame him (and his friends) for enjoying their time in high school. I suppose it isn’t the best (public) high school in NYC for nothing.

While waiting for the Q23, Continental Ave., around 10pm –

A young family waiting for the bus, the husband carrying the sleeping boy and sitting on the bench as the mom stands by, carrying the boy’s shoes. Mother is Japanese, which I realize once she begins talking to her husband in that language. I think she obviously knows how to speak English, but I think it’s neat that she and her husband are able to communicate in two languages, his and hers, without missing a beat.

When does something become a tradition?

This was the second year that I went with Mikhail, Kris, and Ian to Coney Island on Memorial Day weekend. The weather was definitely more pleasant this year: 70 degrees and lots of bright sunshine.

It certainly helps that this year, he’s going to be around for the summer. His internship doesn’t start till the first week of June, but I know I feel less stressed knowing that I’m not rushing to spend as much with him as I can. Three months is not a long time, but it’s longer than the one-week spans that we had last year.

I’m getting this new rush of also falling in love with New York again. Seeing and experiencing things with him and not feeling at all embarrassed about being enthusiastic is freeing. It’s yet another reason why I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy as I’ve been in the time that we’ve been together. He doesn’t make me feel bad that I’m me.

Additional pictures in this album.

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On Saturday, I trekked out to Brooklyn to see the new Takashi Murakami exhibit on display at the Brooklyn Museum. You know, it’s weird, I’ve been to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens several times, but never made it next door to the museum till this past weekend. Which is a shame, since the BM is beautiful, and I’m sure I would have enjoyed the other exhibits as well if I had more time.

It was wonderful going to the museum with people who are smart AND snarky, who could spout commentary about the male gaze one minute, and the next minute giggle self-consciously about a sculpture of a boy (portrayed in anime style) gripping his penis.

Top that afternoon off with a luscious dinner at Cheryl’s Global Soul, and I’d say that you have the makings of a top-notch Brooklyn outing.