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Hot Dog!
Olive relaxing in front of the fan. The heat wave is continuing - it's still hot, but not topping 103 degrees like it did earlier this week. The heat advisory ended yesterday, but my newly acquired heat rash has not. Needless to say, the scorching temperatures have put a damper on a lot of things - even going for groceries was a task I'd rather not do again.
It was time to do laundry this week - I loaded up the cart, and hauled it to the laundromat that was reccomended since its larger and has air conditioning. Of course, I chose one of the hottest days to do this, and the laundromat is about 9 blocks away. After saving quarters for over a month now - the laundromat doesn't even take them, so I had to purchase a "card" to use in the machines. Apparently doing laundry in a public location has changed over the past 8 - 10 years, when I was last in a laundromat. Three loads of laundry, and $18 later I was on my way back home - rollin' through the heat. Since my eyesbrows were on strike again, I'd stop every so often to wipe the sweat away from my eyes
- and everyone commented "it's a hot one, isn't it?" I told Jeannine that if she ever comes to visit and doesn't take advantage of my washing machine, I'd kill her. She's not allowed to go home with dirty clothes and that it might even be cheaper for her to load up Shadow with all of her laundry and come for a visit.
So in the past few days, I've gone out for groceries and a few odds and ends I need to make my stay a little easier. With all of the discussion about the cost of living in NYC amongst all of the shopping opportunities - how is it that people can afford to and do live here on average salaries? So, I've figured it out - it's all about the commitment. First of all, you find the place you want to be in - and move in. Chances are it won't be huge, but that's ok - you don't want a large space. Large spaces = more to clean, more to furnish. So, you commit to moving in a small area - but have committed to having less furniture also, which means you're buying less. But
maybe the furniture you do buy is fabulous. So, you have less closet space? Well, that's easy - buy less clothing. But, what you do buy is better - maybe you don't hang onto the "oh I can wear this to paint in" shirt - becuase really, how often do you paint the walls? Chances are, you won't - its a rental. If you want to buy something, you have to really be committed to it - not only because you're spending the money on it, and putting it in a seemingly smaller space - - but you have to haul it yourself, through the subway - or pay a delivery service. So, whatever you choose - - choose wisely. Take for example the rolling/collapsable clothing rack I bought at Target the other day.... I needed it, but did I need it so much that I was willing to carry it on the hottest day of the year through the subway in all of its awkwardness? ....Yes. As for the smaller place - - you should be out working or doing things, it's the city that never sleeps - with all the people I see out and on the subways,
Thursday night concert at MoMA
On the terrace with wine, ice cream and some good art. you can't tell me that the majority of New Yorkers are at home - they're not.
Last night, the Museum of Modern Art was open late and had a concert on the terrace, apparently this happens every Thursday in the summer. So, I went - and became a member too, so when I go back a few more times, I'll have saved more than what I paid for the membership. Too, if anyone comes with me they get in for $5 instead of $20+. It was a nice night - a little bit of a breeze and it was shaded by all of the tall buildings, unlike Brooklyn. Not to mention the fact that I was reacquainted with some old friends/paintings and worked on my own photographs that I've been developing for some time now based on what you don't get to see at museums because of the people surrounding you.
I ended my Manhattan visit with a stop for dinner and the most expensive iced tea ever - $4.75! Then, watched Lebron James announce his big mistake before heading to the D express train to get home where I had a pupster waiting for her nightly cemetary-edge
Jasper Johns
and of course, the people standing in front - blocking my view. walk.
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John Kuijper
non-member comment
Space economy
You're exactly right about choices within space. Scarcity! Limits! The rest of America is overburdened with too much space and they fill it with so much disposable junk.