Lazy Days

Michael will tell you all about our fabulous Saturday in Pennsylvania here. We had a relaxing getaway out of the city, and now we're back for a beautiful Sunday. Sadly, Michael is in the office.

Our two months of rain in May and June really changed the City. People are now doing all they can to take full advantage of any beautiful day we have. I think more of us are clamoring for some sunshine, finding our own spaces on this crowded island to soak up some rays and enjoy the blue skies.

Today, our sky looks like this:


And so many of us are doing this:

Can you see the man sleeping on the bench in the sunshine? Perfect.

Traveling

On a bus from New York to Bethleham to visit James, soak up the sun at a blueberry festival, possible enjoy dinner at Emeril's Chop House, and try our hands at the slots. Sounds lovely, doesn't it?!

Today, at the market, I found corn, nectarines, peaches, yellow and red beefsteak tomatoes, and the real thrill: cantelope! Between these delicious goodies and the humidity of the past week, I think summer has officially arrived!

The view from our bus is a pleasant one: green all around, with some rolling hills as well. Love just listening to country and looking out the window.

Life is good.

Motivation

This is worth watching - in just 56 seconds, you'll see why we work so hard!

Barbara

From "A Prodigal Summer":

"Soon it would be warm in here, the chill of this June morning chased outdoors outdoors where the sun could address it."

Just Right

A quick spin around City Hall Park to warm up. Paul Simon singing, "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes," an uplifting soundtrack thanks to my iPod shuffle. Bright blue skies and marshmellow clouds.

Just right.

One Thing

A girlfriend and colleague of mine recently spent four days at a yoga retreat center. She reported wonderful things, despite the fringe folks who do nothing but eat raw food and meditate all day every day.

She said the best lesson, or reminder I guess, happened when a teacher challenged her with, "What if we really only did one thing at a time?"

I've been realizing that it one reason I love my quiet hour in the morning. I might be reading or checking email, or (a behavior Michael likes to mock me for) just staring out the window. But that's it. No fancy business. I'm focused inwardly, giving myself time and space to wake up and enjoy some peace. Once the day gets started, multitasking abounds! At work I'm thinking about responsibilities at home; at home I'm thinking of my never ending to do list. When watching TV, Michael and I are both likely to be playing on our phones or with our computers. But not now. From 650 to 8, I'm doing one thing at a time.

It's a nice way to live.

Spotlight

Reading After Work

Heaven

Clouds

A Nearby Park on Sunday

Gambling

Drinking

Curiosity

Yesterday, while walking home, I passed an adorable 2-year old boy. He was out with his nanny and her friend, happily waiting for them to finish up their conversation. The two adults were clearly smitten with this kid, smiling down at him and rubbing the top of his head multiple times as I waited next to them for the light to change color. It was, in a word, adorable!

And then, I looked more closely at this boy and realized he was carrying: A HAMMER! It was so amusing, and made me wonder what kind of battle the boy put up before leaving his home that lead him to walk around the Village with a hammer in his right hand. Too cute.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Summer Sunshine

Well, what an amazing weekend we just had! In fact, I think it was the best since my birthday! Henry came to visit us, and since he's the most relaxed, easy-going guy I know, it made for a utterly relaxing few days. Henry is just so chill about everything, willing to do whatever we're in the mood for. So, we spent a lot of time like this:

And like this:


We took full advantage of the glorious weather, spending most of our time outside, lounging by the water, walking around town, shopping at the farmers' market and riding the Staten Island Ferry.

To celebrate the 4th, we followed in last year's footsteps and went to a Staten Island Yankees game. Michael and I have decided that this is the best way to enjoy the fourth in New York. We manage to avoid crowds, spend time outside and on a boat, enjoy a baseball game (and all the food it implies), and see a great fireworks display. The baseball field is always full of families, and shrinks New York down to an enjoyable, small-town size. And, this year, the weather could not be beat!

The Staten Island Yankees Stadium

Henry & his friend Anna

One of the highlights of this outing is always the ride on the Staten Island Ferry. It takes on special meaning on the 4th, given the incredibly view of the Statue of Liberty. Michael and Anna both commented on how lucky we are as New Yorkers to see this symbol on a regular basis. We're always so humbled on the Ferry to see tourists running from one side to the other in order to catch a glimpse of this beauty. Cameras come out, as do elbows, as people clamor towards her.

Sightseeing

I love this building! I pass it along my way home, when I walk down on the water front, and I always stop to admire it. I love the way it is all on its own, and feels like an old building fully restored. The color is always stunning when the sun is setting. And today, when I stopped to admire it, I noticed three men on the roof, looking back down at me - or, more accurately, at the sunset behind me. Lovely.

Joint Effort

Today, Michael had to work. Because I love him, I went too!

I met Michael at 30 Rock; he rushed up to the office after our weight training class, while I stayed behind for yoga and errand-running. By the time I made it uptown, he had already logged in an impressive 4 hours. We were both happy to leave the neighborhood today, because the Gay Pride Parade ends about 2 blocks from our apartment. Though a worthy cause indeed, the Parade turns our neighborhood upside down, and seriously limits our mobility. Streets to our north and east are blocked off and police baracades keep us close.

So, when Michael received word that he needed to come in today, I happily tagged along. When I was growing up, I would occasionally do the same thing with my mom. We would both pack our bags, me with coloring books and homework and she with typical
professional needs - including a leatherbound organizer that never left her side. I can't imagine what a pain it must have been for my mom (and, for that matter, Michael), dragging me into the office on a weekend. But I enjoy these little glimpses into my loved ones' professional lives. When they tell stories about their work days, I can actually see the events playing out, all in their office contexts. And I feel like I leave a little mark in these spaces too.

In any event, these trips give me what I love most - time with my family.

Afternoon in the Park

The shocking realities of today:

1. It was a Saturday.
2. The sun was shinning.
3. Michael didn't have to work.
4. We got to visit with friends.
5. We were in New York.
   

These thrilling facts made this a relaxing, refreshing and enjoyable Saturday. In addition to our regular Saturday routine, we celebrated the day with Mona, John, Anna and the ever adorable Naomi. Here's a picture to prove the point:

My Work Week

This week was a successful, and exhausting, one at work. It began with an intern & new staff orientation and fiscal year fiesta and ended with a brief glimpse of the new commissioner and time working through the logistics of a spend down. Friday's workday ended at 7, but the whole week was worth the effort. My amazing bosses were very grateful for the efforts I put forth - always a rewarding and gratifying experience. And the highlight came when one of my bosses called me, "the backbone of our office."

While I do find myself exhausted with the rhythms of working, I'm so grateful to be where I am now. We're doing important work - making fruits and veggies cheaper and easier to buy, improving school and daycare environments so kids eat better and move more, and increasing the accessibility of aerobics and physical activity. And I work with such an outstanding group of people. Truly, I am constantly inspired by them. I've been in the workforce long enough to know what a unique experience this is, and I hope to savor it as long as possible.

One of the projects I'm working on right now would expand free fitness classes at schools in low income neighborhoods. It's an exciting prospect, and has the potential to both increase fitness levels and provide some income to working women. We'll see how far this goes, but just being a part of a team willing to think about new initiatives is a thrill.

Here are some pictures from our fiscal year fiesta!

Rhonda, Landon and Jalene
Christina, Jenny and Jalene
Our Summer Interns
Rhonda, Liz and Cathy
Rachel, Kristin, Gabrielle, Alyson, Donya and Karyn

Oh Happy Days

Today, I had fun at the office. It started with a breakfast meeting, the highlight of which were the strawberries I brought in from the farmers market around the corner from our building. Then most of the day was spent rushing around, in meetings all over the place. But then, one of my bosses said nice thing to me and brightened the afternoon.

Yay for uplifting moments!

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Restlessness

I took a walk in the rain today. Sometimes that just can't be helped. The clouds rolled in quickly this evening, starting north over the Bronx and coming down through the City. Or so it seemed from the street. The threat came while I was already walking around in our neighborhood, and when the rain finally began, it felt like a great release. And then the sunshine fought its way out, showing off a slow sliver of what summer could be. Despite the cool chill that the rain brought on, I walked by the water and felt soothed by the rough tides in the Hudson River.

Lately I've been feeling restless. Perhaps most of us have, given the weather we're facing this June. But today that urge was almost overwhelming.

My forth year in college, when I started to feel like Charlottesville was just a little too small, I would get in my car and drive. Aimless. I would hop on 64 West, and go for an hour or two. Just feeling the road under me and the freedom of going for as long as I could stand it would help calm me down. It would help quiet my restlessness.

I haven't yet learned how to regain my sense of calm in the City when the impulsive need to leave hits me. Obviously, the best option is to hop on a bus, in a plane, on a train and go off on our own adventure. But that seems to be harder and harder to do.

In any event, I know seeing the sun would help quiet this urge. Maybe tomorrow?

Resumes

Okay, I'm going to sound crazy. Or like an old, cranky person. But who is teaching people how to make resumes these days?!??! In the past few months, I've reviewed many resumes at work and I've been shocked by what I've seen.

Inspired by an NPR piece from this morning, I've decided to put together a list of my recommendations:

1. Unless you are applying to be a professor, your resume should be ONE PAGE. Learn how to edit!
   
   
2. A job should only be listed only once, not twice or three times under different headings. It looks like you're trying to cover up a lack of experience.
   
   
3. Your email address should be professional. Out of courtesy I will refrain from sharing the absurd addresses I've seen, but come on people! This isn't hard.
   
   
4. Your resume should be in PDF form.
   
   
5. Your entire resume should be ordered from most recent to least recent. Or at least it should be in the same order across sections.

And I could keep going. But that would make me crazy.

Sorry for the rant! I guess I've spent too much time in the office as of late...

Cool

A few weeks ago, the Health Department wished a fond farewell to our dear leader, Dr. Thomas Frieden. As an ode to his service, the Department threw him a goodbye party, complete with a photo op for anyone interested in getting a picture.

Well, I was first in line.

Or, not quite, but I was close - #44. And here's my reward! A picture with the head of the CDC! I look huge next to him...

Miami

Along my route to work, I pass a large warehouse that is frequently used for fun activities - fashion shows, TV shows, movies, etc. I often see them putting sets together, moving huge pieces of equipment into this space, creating VIP photo ops, or organizing throngs of people. This morning, it was Miami!

Here's a shot, just outside this studio, with palm trees all around:

Given the grim weather this month, seeing some palm trees definitely brightened my morning!

Daydreaming

More

Read here.

Thoughts for a Sunday Night

From my current read, "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle":

"I have a farmer friend who would definitely side with my grandfather on the subject of time's economies. He uses draft animals instead of a tractor. Doesn't it take an eternity to turn a whole field with a horse-driven plow? The answer, he says, is yes. Eternal is the right frame of mind. 'When I'm out there cultivating the corn with a good team in the quiet of the afternoon, watching the birds in the hedgerows, oh my goodness, I could just keep going all day. Kids from the city come out here and ask, "What do you do for fun around here?" I tell them, "I cultivate."'

Now that I'm decades older and much less clever than I was in college, I'm getting better at facing life's routines the way my friend faces his cornfield. I haven't mastered the serene mindset on all household chores (What do you do for fun around here? I scrub pots and pans, okay???), but I might be getting there with cooking. Eternal is the right frame of mind for making food for a family: cooking down the tomatoes into a red-gold oregano-scented sauce for pasta. Before that, harvesting sun-ripened fruits, pinching oregano leaves from their stems, growing these things from seed - yes. A lifetime is what I'm after. Cooking is definitely one of those things we do for fun around here."

A good friend and spiritual guide reminds me that God is found in the tasks of daily life. I grasp tightly to that lesson on Sunday nights, when an entire week of routine chores awaits. I try to remind myself that work is a blessing, that ritual is necessary and my profession is fulfilling. Some nights that is harder to remember than others.

But here's a goal for me: to not rush through each and every task before me, but to take my time and find joy in those efforts. Recently, in the mornings I've been trying to do more yoga breathing and stretching, to find comfort in that early hour, rather than just feeling exhausted. It's become a treasured time.

Isaac

Isn't he just too adorable?????!?!?!

Growth

My weekend started like this:

The walk home yesterday was marred by lots of wind and enough rain to keep you unhappy and wet. I saw LOTS of umbrellas discarded between work and the gym.

But, everything began to turn around with yoga. On Friday evenings, Renee teaches a class that is absolutely perfect. She goes beyond simple sun salutations, asking us to do insane amounts of stretching to open up hips, work our backs, and get limber. Her body seems to defy all rules of biology and gravity, and it just inspires you to keep pushing. I went farther in Lizard than I have before, and that was very satisfying.

Today has been pleasant as well. Want to know the highlight?? THIS!

That little round green thing is my very first tomato growing!!! Isn't it beautiful?!?? I am praying that my landlord and the squirrels let me keep these plants and veggies growing. I am worried that they are getting too big for the pot - I may have to sacrifice a couple of plants in each pot:


Isn't it amazing how quickly they have grown? Here's a picture from when I planted them just two weeks ago! Anyway, as you can tell, I am terribly excited!!

AND, to top it all off, my friend Melissa finally had her baby boy! Isaac was born on Thursday, and he is a looker!

Wait Wait!

One of my favorite Friday activities is listening to "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me," the NPR news quiz, on my walk home from work. It's an uplifting bit of radio, generally pretty funny - especially when Paula Poundstone is on.

One of the show's best episodes included an interview with Mavis Staples. The first time it aired, I was on a bus with Michael, traveling from DC to New York. She was utterly captivating. She spoke casually about relationships with Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bob Dylan. Her voice, deep, husky and perfect for the gospel music she's known for, transported me off the bus and into a place full of hope. I remember looking at me as I listened to the podcast, laughing at how much I enjoyed NPR. But that interview, to me, defines oral history.

Last week, they re-aired the 17-minute interview with Ms. Staples, and let me tell you, it's worth a listen. Here's the link. Enjoy!

Asparagus

Since late April, our Saturday mornings have been marked by growing excitement. Saturdays are our trips to the farmers market, and as summer approaches, the days of just buying yogurt and pasta dwindle. We've been waiting for the start of this year's growing season, when our bags overflow with leafy veggies and melt-in-your-mouth fruit. In mid-winter, I didn't really believe Michael and I had been eating very locally. But now as tomatoes, sweet corn, and Jersey peaches are on the horizon, I realize we did better this year than in previous winters, because it's been months since those items entered our home.

The veggie that I couldn't wait to see? Asparagus!! I remember last year that asparagus (and rhubarb too) began cropping up at the market in mid-May. They marked the return of delicious veggies to the market. So each week, I've been eager for their arrival.

And then, two weeks ago, they appeared!! Our weekly take home is growing - spinach, sugar snap peas, yogurt, mushrooms, onions, pasta and FINALLY asparagus were last weeks items.

Now I can't wait for the tomatoes!

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Olive Kitteridge

Quotes from a lovely read:

"They had fun together these days, they really did. It was as if marriage had been a long, complicated meal, and now there was this lovely dessert."

"What young people didn't know, she thought, lying down beside this man, his hand on her shoulder, her arm: oh, what young people didn't know....And if her platter had been full with the goodness of Henry and she had found it burdensome, had flicked it off crumbs at a time, it was because she had not known what one should know: that day after day was unconsciously squandered."

Relaxation

From Friday to Sunday night, the key focus: relaxation. From my private happy hour with white wine, a yellow peach and a book on Friday evening, to our dinner composed of almost everything local (potatoes, spinach, cucumbers from the market and herbs from our garden), we spent the entire weekend relaxing.

Which pretty much means, I have nothing major to report! On Saturday, we slept until noon. We took a million walks all around the Village, spending a ton of time strolling on Hudson Street. We read outside, down in Hudson River Park. We worked out, me and the gym and Michael with long runs by the water. It was wonderful!

Friday Night's Happy Hour

Our Sunny Sunday Spot

My Studly Husband

Naomi, John & Anna's beautiful baby girl

Mental Health

Today I took a mental health day. Initially, I was hesitant to do it. Michael has been working so much harder than I and he couldn't join me. And work has been really stress-free this week. But I decided to go for it anyway, after some support from a colleague and seeing the outstanding weather forecast. And I must say, I'm so glad I did!

My day has been filled with gardening. This morning, after sending Michael off to work, dropping off laundry and dry cleaning and doing a couple other odd chores, I set off for the farmers market. My goal was solely flowers and herbs - and I think I went a little overboard...

I planted some herbs for our fire escape - parsley, rosemary, dill, basil and mint - as well as some flowers. The herbs smell wonderful!


Then, convinced by my friend Melissa that I could do it, I picked up some tomato plants!! I thought I would give it a try - what's the worst that could happen, right? So I purchased 4 different types and, after encouragement from neighbors, put them up on our rooftop. We will see how it goes!


This is the fourth year I have planted our "garden" over Memorial Day weekend. The first time Mom was here to guide me, and each year since I've been expanding little by little. I take my planters outside and dig and fill on the front steps of our building. With each passing year the experience has become more and more communal. Several neighbors that we know stopped by and told me how beautiful everything looked. A couple of German tourists meandering the Village commented on the herbs. And all of these little interactions helped me remember how amazing this experience is. While I think both Michael and I are getting ready to live in a slightly bigger apartment (one, perhaps, with a door or two), I know we will always romanticize our time here. I love this apartment, and this life we've built. I hope that our next place will become what this is to us - a community and a home.

And one more picture from the water:

Contrast

Also, can we note the contrast? Just a month apart, about the same time of day:

April

May

Signs of Summer

Today was a brilliantly sunny, warm day. The kind of day when everyone discusses how glorious the sunshine feels, how summer really is just around the corner.

A promising start. Green, happy trees along my route to work, just before walking by Jon Stewart and his very friendly driver.

After work, down by the water. Everyone in bikinis and swim suits. Our "pools."

The brilliant boardwalk in the Hudson River Park on my walk home. Every time I walk this path, I feel grateful for taxes.

Finally, my new favorite flowers. Anyone know what they are called? They are growing taller than me all over the city.

The Bright Side

Today is the first day of abundant, not-a-cloud-in-the-sky sunshine we've had in approximately 1 month. I'm attending a graduation today, and hearing Paul Farmer (who will no doubt tell us we should be working harder to address AIDS around the world). There is a chance I could also make it to the gym this evening, and a dinner at home seems once again possible.

Today could be a very good day...

Value?

Also

Can I tell you how excited I am for dinner tonight? We are having a baked chicken, sweet potatoes, spinach and a salad (with tomatoes! we're risking it tonight...). It's going to be colorful and delicious!

On My Mind

May has not been a great month for the Dunn household. Michael and I have both been struggling with work, trying to find some sort of balance between our personal and professional lives. Some thoughts I've been thinking about through this ordeal:

1. I seem to either be on top of everything - going to the gym 5 times a week, reading for pleasure, working hard, cooking dinners at home, blogging - or not really achieving any of those things. The past two weeks, we've had few dinners at home, I've been more sporadic about the gym, have barely posted here, and have struggled to stay focused at work. Strange how these desired behaviors seem to reinforce themselves for me. Hmmm...

2. This amazing, personal and painful article in the Times this weekend is absolutely worth the read. In it, an economics reporter for the Times discusses how he and his new wife fell into massive credit card debt. It left me thinking quite a bit about what we can easily feel entitled to as members of the educated class. I think my generation, especially those of us who grew up in the upper middle class, assume that we can afford summer vacations, Starbucks coffees, clothes from J. Crew or the Gap. We think that because we're educated, we can afford anything our parents have. I include myself in this because I fight to remind myself that just because Michael and I have higher degrees, that doesn't mean we can afford everything. Anyway, I found this article very thought-provoking.

3. This reporting is utterly terrifying.

4. Babies, and in particular John and Anna's lovely newborn, Naomi, are so beautiful!

Dreaming

Looking Up

Waking

A shot from my most recent morning routine: tea, some quiet time, and a book. Lovely.

The Best Show on TV

Last night, on the second to last Biggest Loser of the season, the remaining 4 contestants completed a marathon. It was the most moving hour of television I've seen in a while. Tara, Helen, Mike and Ron all pushed themselves to the limit, and each did something they never thought they could. Ron, the slowest of the bunch, in a great deal of pain from bad knees and legs, crossed the finish line after 13 hours, 15 minutes and 48 seconds. For the final couple of miles, former Biggest Loser contestants, the trainers and the other finalists from this season joined Ron, encouraging him to keep pushing through the pain. When he crossed the finish line, with his son, simultaneously crying and beaming with pride --- wow. Not a dry eye in this house, I tell ya!

It's impossible to talk about this show without insane platitudes. But it is the most inspiring television we watch. Unlike, say, Daisy of Love or The Hills or Real World/Road Rules Challenge, we want to participate in the action. We want Jillian or Bob to beat the crap out of us in the gym. We are inspired by what we see. Not only that, but the show seems to have a social conscience beyond the gym - encouraging people to drink tap water or give to a local food bank. Ohhh, how I LOVE it.

Vote for Mike here.

The Nuclear Option

A week like this leaves me dreaming of our nuclear option.

After we both started working, Michael and I needed to remind ourselves that we are not stuck. If we're unhappy, we have options. New York is an amazing place to live, and it is also incredibly difficult. We look around at friends who live in Virginia or Florida or Texas or Barcelona to remind ourselves that our lives could be very different. We could live somewhere affordable, somewhere drivable, somewhere even just slightly slower and less... demanding. We daydream about packing our bags and moving to some small, liberal university town, say Chapel Hill or Charlottesville or Asheville or (yes, dare I say) Austin. We dream about having regular dinners with family members, sharing day-to-day routines with siblings. We talk about leaving the city, Michael passing the bar in another state, and us living a less expensive, more reasonable existence. This is our "nuclear option."

This week left me dreaming for it. Gone are the glory days of last weekend! This week, Michael worked until 8, 9, 12, 10, 7 and just headed in for a Saturday at the office. I worked until 6, 7:30, (sick day), 7 and 8. And I could (and maybe should) put in another few hours this weekend. We make a good living, but it seems so hard to believe we could ever buy an apartment, let alone a house, in this area. I still feel guilty taking a cab or buying clothes. Sometimes it feels like we're working this hard just to tread water.

And so on a week when we never left work - where we were always anxious and thinking about what we had to do and who we needed to approach - the nuclear option is incredibly appealing.