Fireflies

Last night, my wife and I walked home from the gym, and the fireflies were out, and blanketed the lawns around us.  A few fireflies even flew alongside, giving us an escort at dusk.  Though fewer in number compared to my childhood, I have very fond memories of chasing fireflies with my sister on Staten Island.  We would run around the backyard, jam jars in hand, catching and releasing them back into the sky.

Owl City - Fireflies.

Dreams

Impossible to ignore - I think that accurately describes the state of the world today.  It's strange, that we all come forward with our dreams and aspirations, and with good intentions, and yet there is so much resistance along the way.  To share, and, in return be let in, to seek out more happiness while having the awareness that everyone else is owed this right is so simple an idea; yet we bungle the execution.  I am guilty of the same.

The Cranberries - Dreams.

Complainte de la butte

As we approach the solstice, the summer heat has arrived and fully entrenched itself, bringing with it a lethargy that is as commonly worn by the city's residents as flip-flops.  There is an honesty about summer; having shed nearly all possible layers, we react to the oppressive heat with acceptance, and it is a universal experience.  I have yet to decide if there is greater confidence in my slow amble, or if it is a pensive walk, designed to maximize time in seeking shelter under shaded streets.

Rufus Wainwright - Complainte de la butte.

Man in the mirror

A few days ago in Chicago, I was jogging past a yoga class in the park.  The instructor kicked off the class talking about self improvement and its importance in the current environment; how the tiny incremental improvements we make tally up within and across individuals, eventually changing the world.  Father's Day is perhaps areminder of that in exercise - I spoke with some new dads at the beginning of their journey about their approach to raising children.  The response was universal, and went something like, "You try to instill certain principles, and hope one day, when you're not there to instruct them, that they draw upon that to do the right thing."  It's a long game, to know that things will eventually improve.

Michael Jackson - Man in the mirror

Hear you

It has been raining here consistently, offering more time for introspection, which can be a mixed bag.  Truth be told, I'm in a bit of a funk - finding it difficult to concentrate at work, feeling my body is in a slump from physical training and exhausted with internal dialogues.  The streets are a bit more deserted as people seek shelter from the sudden storms, and so the city feels a bit slow to start each morning.    

Waxahatchee - Hear you (demo version).     

Table for one

Modern urban living has its own nuances that I navigate poorly; NYC has an estimated population of over 8 million people, of which a percentage I come into contact with.  Some interactions occur out of necessity, others out of wont to connect. Though, selfishly, I may be most comfortable in quieter environments.  Left to my own devices, I'd prefer to explore the city at odd hours, when it is less populated.  Yet, I know that the city was not built for one, it could not exist if not for the other 8 million people coursing through its veins and arterial streets.

AWOLNATION - Table for one.  

Daylight

This day was just a fantastic bike ride, and I got to watch the sun rise over Greenpoint Avenue.

Matt and Kim - Daylight.