Abominable snowman

Possibly because marathon training requires a certain pacing and discipline, both the summer heat and the city feel relentless, and slightly oppressive.  My wife and I are planning a trip out to Oregon, partly stemming out of our discussion that the value system prevalent in our version of New York City feels out of whack with our own sensibilities, and to visit her friends that have left to put their roots down elsewhere.  Maybe that is out of our lack of experiencing the full spectrum of New Yorkers too.  We had a visitor earlier this year, and she had mentioned that "You know, this only exists in New York City, it exists nowhere else."  It was an observation that struck a chord - both good and bad; the uniqueness of the city and the diversity of experiences that it offers, along with all its excesses, seemingly needless and ersatz.  This is all I ever wanted to call my home, but I don't know if this is all that I need, as the song goes.

Summer salt - Abominable snowman.

Just one kiss

Between the summer heat and marathon training, it's just been difficult to keep up with all the streetart coming up around NYC.  I have a long backlog of sites to cover, but neither the time or energy to keep up.  It's forced me to be a bit more selective, which is not entirely an awful thing.  

This message for this piece resonated with me - in the artist's words, "This piece is meant to be a break from the daily horror of global events, a momentary pause to let your mind wander and escape the collective anxiety felt in the United States today. I was compelled to paint something intentionally apolitical. A literal INTERMISSION from the noise and madness - nothing more."

Thank goodness for momentary pauses, the luxury to let one's mind wander and reflect.

Raphael Saadiq, Joss Stone - Just one kiss.

The rat

I finally got to visit the Heavenly Bodies exhibit at the Met with my wife.  As expected, it was super crowded, but the staging and curation was well thought out.  This view was just a nice unexpected treat upon exiting the show.

The Walkmen - The rat.

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