Whatchoo doin in NY?

So, I have been asked this question in one form or another by several of my blog readers. The real answer is that sometimes I am not totally sure what I am doing here. The truth be told, coming here was sort of a spur of the moment decision. I received my last pay check at the University in April and I won't be paid again until August 30. That is a long time to go without money. I am teaching some classes this July at the University but I won't get paid until 8/30. It is really hard to find a job that will hire me for only 8 weeks. That is the problem that I was facing looking for work where I live. My sister in New York owns a moving business and she offered to give me a job with decent pay (especially considereing that I am staying with her rent free for two months), no training, and no application. Really, the money is only part of the equation though. I am not the best brother in the world. I don't mind not being the best, but I want to get better. I went Y-E-A-R-S without having a real conversation with this sister of mine. It is not that we hate each other - as far as I know she doesn't hate me, and I don't hate her. We just didn't put any work into building a better relationship than what we had. So, about a year or so ago she drove across the country and stayed at our home on the way. Since then, she has really reached out toward my wife and I. She has invited us many times to come out and see her here in NY. It has never worked out because of money or time issues. So this time I was in need and I had no other real time issues and with this job she is helping me out with some of my money issues. I am hopeful that it goes well financially (I sort of need it to), but regardless I am happy to be here. Her daughters are just about 3 and 5 and my son will be 4 early this fall so there is a possibility that as cousins they could really get to know one another. But it will take work - work that we, as parents and as adults have to put in. This is not my forte but I am willing to work at it. I really feel missed at home when I talk to Becky and Gabe on Skype; I hope that they know that I am not doing this to hurt them. Two months can feel like a long time apart. I might be lying if I said that I didn't like a little bit of space sometimes. Sometimes marriages can be pretty stressful and getting a break could be nice. But this isn't really a break in that way. I don't have a lot of time to myself here. I am far more dependant here than I am used to being. I have a lot of space to myself at home already. I have a pretty long commute that I make alone, I work long hours between school and teaching classes. Here, on the other hand, I have no vehicle, I don't really know where stuff is, I don't own the fridge or much that is inside of it. I really don't have a lot of me time here. When I tried to go out to Sprint today my sister was leaving and decided to walk with me. That is okay, but I am really used to doing a lot of that sort of stuff alone where I live. Now, that being said, let me just emphasize that my sister is very respectful of my space and we have not stepped on one another's toes at all. I just want to point out for my wife's sake that this isn't some huge move away. In case you are wondering, Becky, this isn't some great escape; it is hard work. I think that by the time that July rolls around I am going to be more than ready to leave.
Remember, time only crawls going forward - every time you look back it seems to fly. This summer will pass quickly.

Here are some photos I took today:

This is a church, in case you couldn't tell. It is here in the neighborhood where I am staying. I really liked the little plants growing on the building itself. This is a photo I took with the phone.




Lesson - always leave extra room. You can always crop, but you cannot add more to the photo. I framed this in a way that I really liked and then when I took the photo the camera took a tighter photo than I was trying to get.


I like the stars here. This is sort of what the front of my sister's apartment building looks like. We don't ever enter from the frond though. This is not here building.


The building on the left here is where one of my brother's works. We moved some stuff for his office today.

I like the clouds here. I like looking up.

This is Efran. I worked with him today and yesterday. He is a good guy - really friendly.

I think that this is Union Square at the end of the street. These last few photos are all right in front of where my brother works. All the photos to this point were taken with my phone. The reflection in the van's windshield is the same building and clouds that I took a photo of above here.

These next photos were taken with my little old camera. It is actually my wife's camera. She had it already when we got married. I don't know how old it is.

My sister told me to keep these curtains closed or people would look in. Really, though, who would look? You? Are you a peeper? Would you look in at me? I am sort of okay with that, but I still keep them closed. If there was a roller-coaster wrapping around this building like some of the hotels in Las Vegas then, yes, I would expect people to look. I think that those roller-coasters were built with that in mind.

This pink mess is where I sleep.

Alon.

Ari. She is dead.

Monday, my first day of work here, I was given a $100 tip. We worked hard, but still that feels like a lot of money to earn as a tip. That day we didn't eat lunch until almost 3 o'clock. Anybody who really knows me knows that that doesn't work for me. I can't not eat and still function. The whole idea of fasting was not thought up by somebody like me. My metabolism is just too fast. When my tank is empty I can't function. I told my sister that I am quitting if I have to wait until 3 pm to eat lunch again. She took me to Costco. I bought myself a box of Quaker Oats and several bags of mixed nuts. Between that and a new case for my phone (because I somehow broke the one I had getting into the truck) my tip money is pretty well spent. At least I won't starve.

I will try to keep updating this. It is 1 am here right now and I have to work like 6 hours from now. If I have to blog so late at night I might not do it every day.

love,

me