I started with reinvigorated intentions on a fine Sunday - furniture hunting. I was immediately side-tracked by the need to yet again find temporary accommodation before I move onto my new apartment on September 1. It consumed my morning, only resolved after taking a hit of maple syrup on a dutch bacon pancake, which then catapulted me into a frenzy of phone calls until I secured a bed.

I ventured into the office to drop off a spare suitcase I don’t need to be lugging around various places, even took a pic of the view from my desk.

So yes - refocus - furniture - Z Gallery (443 Broadway @ Grand) I know I may be guilty of standing at the top of a slippery ladder of gentrification here, but the furniture was not offensive (well basic bed, corner leather sofa) and the prices were better than most spots I’ve seen (haha yeah yeah, ok I’ve seen 3 places - my attention span ain’t good in the heat).

Ok - fully bored with the furniture hunt, mind moves to other things. Hmmm art … oh go on. After a time consuming transit I found my way to MoMa (Museum of Modern Art - its a New York thing, this shortening of place names - I will let you figure out what HoMo means). The size of this place is obscene … seriously, you need to get in your head exactly what you want to see and not be distracted by the serious art collection all around. I spent 30 minutes with the Hellenistic statues (not quite sure how 4th - 1st century BCE is modern but that is just being bitchy), then overwelmed by wandering around, headed for the “modern” art on the top floor.

Its funny, interacting with art hits me in the quietest yet most potent part of my being. Wearing sunglasses helps when the tears peep from the side of your eyes. I saw 4 pieces that evoked a lot of personal history for me. Monet’s ‘Waterlilys’ - I always felt safe and serene in this, a print of it hung on my wall for many years when i was a younger; Van Gough’s ‘Cypress Trees’ for me have always been about creative life in the middle of primal chaos; Rodin’s gorgeous love of the human body makes me feel warm and proud to be alive; and finally a stone bust by Modigliani - the first guy who made me laugh about art. Honestly I feel very replete. I suspect I will be spending more time in these places hehe.

Categories: Arrival, Art
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Ok, so when you have finally secured an apartment (handed the 6 month security bond over with much bitterness on Friday afternoon - so pissed off with that, I imposed self-denial and went to bed early - well after a bubble bath, come on people - can’t let your standards drop completely) - the next issue is furniture.In a city this size it should be easy, but size has its downside … I spent more of today sitting in subway cars than in furniture stores (note to self: be very thankful you didnt rent in Upper West Side - the feefee-brigade in force would have done your mind in - eeeek - the dogs are even tinier than the rest of the city - its a strange thing).

The one store that was promising was Foremost Furniture (recommended by my boss - thankyou) - 5 floors of furniture in a warehouse style place (8 W30th @ 5th/Bdway). The deal seems to be they go out with a wholesale list of furniture to the manufacturers for you. Upside, prices are better; downside, 6-12 week lead time for delivery - not positive unless you wish to sleep on the floor for 6-12 weeks.

Hmmm … so after a few of these furniture events I needed a drink and food … stumbled into Pad Thai (114 8th Ave @ 16th, Chelsea).

Yum-ing-go’s very tasty duck spring rolls and steamed dumpings, washed down with a lime margarita (new Saturday shopping policy - margarita’s at 3pm in summer), and the sweetest smiling wait-boi from Sydney … sorry people, shallow moment (though he was very kind as well - one thing I do love about this city is that people will talk to you all the time, its kinda nice when you are new and feel a bit lost at times).

I will have you know I also read the following profound thing from Martin Buber’s I-Thou during this meal and drink:

So long as the heaven of Thou is spread out over me the winds of causality cower at my heels, and the whirlwind of fate stays its course.

Cute Australian wait-boi suggested catching the free pickup bus to Ikea for furniture … given the crazy price of furniture I have looked at so far, along with its generic gentrified air about it, I may well just do that. Ok, I tipped him for his trouble - well the margarita did.

Categories: Arrival
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If I come across one more bureaucratic synchronicity this week I will confess that I have landed on the pink planet riding a pink horse who cannot remember his name (thank you Dougals Adams - Dirk Gentlys Holistic Detective Agency).

I signed my lease today - but the retentive building management required it to be notarised. Where do you find a notary when you need one … probably off having bad drip filter coffee somewhere. A couple of other dramas followed by a ride in the E sweat-train back to the WTC.

I need a footrub … anyone? Oh well, maybe sleep will help.

Categories: Arrival
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Well goodnews (Jesus saves souls, by catching the subway) … I am officially a New York Resident .. ya yah YAH … ok after that little pat on the back, it is great to confirm that I now have a property in West Village. No thanks to bloodsucking building management who have demanded 6 months rent in advance because I have no credit rating in the US. No worries that I may go bankrupt and be flat broke for the next 6 months … or that I may not be able to afford to buy a bed to sleep on!!!

Sorry, I digress, goodnews (Jesus saves, foodstamps, since he pays so much to the building managers!) … after much impatience about finding somewhere to live, I think I can tell you that I simply live in the coolest part of New York City that could exist. I can throw a stone at Magnolia Bakery’s door - not that I would, unless the were closed when I was feeling sad and in need to a pretty cupcake with ever so gay icing on it, with spinkles and a cup of steamed milk.

I will be moving in September 1 (rather than August 15, for which those bloodsuckers wanted 4 weeks rent for the remaining 2 weeks of the month … hmmm I am devious, I have a long memory you children of the beast!), this should give me enough time to sell myself on the street corners of West Village so as to afford furniture … hmm failing that I will take the savings I make from buying the best French pastry in all of New York from Patisserie Claude ($1.25 for a heavenly brioche, is a saving of $15 for the pure joy it offers).

Ok my dinner tonite is at Johnny Rockets (42 E8th)… like a Burger King makeover, but the burgers are pretty damn nice …

Categories: Arrival
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Event summary to date:

• Waved the white hankie goodbye to New Zealand (for a wee while anyway) a week and a half ago

• Flew in relative comfort to San Francisco - though the amount of champagne consumed did not help the situation later on

• Hopped over to Denver - everything going well at this point

• MISSED the plane to Newark - ok this was not so good - United Airlines woman was a double horned beast from the firey places … for a moment I felt a movie quote coming on “Now listen you mullet, why dont you light your tampon and blow up your box, because its the biggest bang you are ever going to get sweetheart” … I refrained … prozac is a truly wonderful invention

• Denver hotel was actually very comfortable, very blueberry pie (that includes the room decor that felt a cross between a tropical garden and a bridal suite - I expected Elvis to appear at any moment, instead I got a plastic peace lily - nonetheless when you close your eyes all of this is a mere illusion)

• Arrived in Newark next day (Note to Other Kiwis - Newark is not New York, it is in another State … its just like Wellingtonians, they will never be real Aucklanders), hopped a cab (Note to Self - catch the PATH train next time - at least it knows where it is going, unlike the cabby who knew less of NYC than I did - shame for him, it was a fixed fare)

• Mistake 1: allowed work to book me into a hotel in Midtown Manhattan - bad idea … rude staff, hideous part of town … unless you like tourists (thats right baby, I don’t consider myself a tourist!), rubbish food and horn honking all hours of the day and night

• Moved into temporary place in West Village … now that is much better. West Village is well, its a village, and its west of all the rubbish. Simply put it is just lovely. This is where I am staying at the moment … until I find an apartment (this may be cystalising today if I am lucky … let you know tomorrow)

Categories: Arrival
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