I love this picture. What can I say, parties are tiring!

I know, I never write. But, I just found out that an essay of mine, that I wrote for Nerve.com awhile ago, is featured in the book Nerve: The First Ten Years. 

[Here’s the essay itself—note that I wrote it under a pseudonym]

Anyway, the book is a great, nervy retrospective of the sites history and has a lovely pink cover. 

More later—right now, lots and lots of writing is happening, and I’ll post any links/cool stuff as it happens!

So,a couple of weeks ago, I had an essay posted in the Paper of Record. 

And, by that, I mean, after six tries and two years, I finally published a Modern Love essay in the NYT Sunday Styles section. It’s funny, I had set the goal that I wanted to get a ML essay published before I turned 26, and the piece snuck in right under the deadline—one week before my birthday.

First off, for those people who’ve stumbled (somehow) across this blog and had reached out and contacted me, I want to say a huge, from the bottom of my heart thank you. This was one of the most public things I’ve written, so receiving support was amazing and oh-so appreciated.

I’m proud of the piece. My favorite play of all time is Moon for the Misbegotten, by Eugene O’Neill. For those who haven’t read it or seen it, it’s gripping and heart-breaking and electrifying, about two characters—a man and a woman—stumbling toward love, with the woman, Josie Hogan, finally realizing that the man, Jim Tyrone, could never ever love her because he’s too broken. In no small way, I think the essay is indicative of the force that Moon has had in my life. . . I think every woman, especially when she’s in her early twenties, has her Josie Hogan moment of despair and fulfillment where she simultaneously realizes that a man depends on her and yet, she CANNOT—will not—perform that role for him. And, in this essay, and this relationship, that’s sort of what I came to.

It’s weird putting a relationship demon, of sorts, out there. More so because you realize that these “sins” or “perversions” are so, so, normal and we all give them more power because we keep them secret. Ultimately, it’s been freeing to write the piece, because it’s about a specific time. I used to be confused and unsure, and I’m not (as much) anymore.

Anyway, thank you for reading, and while I don’t promise, let’s hope for some more blog action!

It’s been a while, I know. Initially, I intended to talk about writing, etc on this blog, but, as you can see, when it devolves into pulling pictures of NYC parks, it’s not working. So, until I find some inspiration, check out Ed Speaks. Ed Speaks is the communal blog for Ed2010, the organization committed to helping young magazine editors achieve their dream job, and kind of talks about what’s on editors minds these days!

This whole summer, I’ve been bitching about how there are no outdoor pools in Manhattan, that they’re all expensive, rooftop places and that I have to trek all the way back to New Jersey to swim. But I just realized—there’s a public pool just 10 blocks from my apartment. It’s the John Jay Park and Pool, on 77th past York. 

Doesn’t it look nice and clean? I sort of want to go but I’m scared. Has anyone been?

New York has all these awesome resources, but you kind of forget about them. Especially in summer, New York has millions of awesome free events, and I actually go to so few of them. The first summer I was in NYC, when I was 17, I tried so many weird and New York-y things. I remember being so excited on weekends to go exploring, which I called adventuring. But now, 8 years later, I’m so settled into a routine that you kind of forget that wonder. Hmm.

So, my Blueprint cleanse is over. I did a five day excavation cleanse, which the website promises will “give your insides a serious rest so they can finally unearth those crayons you ate when you were three.” [Guilty as charged!] What this means, is that every day, I had six bottles of liquids, four of which looked like water from under the Colony Pool docks, one that was water+lemon and one special cashew nut milk drink. For five days!

And THANK GOD I’m done. First off, I didn’t do the cleanse to “lose weight,” I just really wanted to sort of push the reset button on my eating habits. For me, summer is way more indulgent than winter, what with margaritas, guacamole+salsa, beers on the rooftop, ice cream, spontaneous bar nachoes, vacations . . . getting hungry just writing this! So, that was the first reason. The second reason is what I mentioned before—that I’ve gotten into a bad habit where when I sit down to write I feel like I need to have a snack. 

Anyway, I was surprised with the cleanse. It didn’t suck that much, even though the green drinks tasted like mulch. I wasn’t that hungry or tired. And while I didn’t lose that much weight at all (only 3 pounds, and I feel like that could have been easily done in five days with a bit of discipline) I feel really good, and I know I sound like an infomercial. The weirdest thing is that this awful sinus infection that I’ve been fighting for 3+ weeks is totally and completely g-o-n-e. Not even kidding! I think most of it is because of all the vitamins, plus the fact that I was bored this weekend—there’s not much to do when you can’t drink or eat—so I slept a lot. So, yeah. But now I’m all for breaking the cleanse!!

Anyway, that aside (I know, it’s always sort of boring to hear about what other people eat/drink—or, in my case, didn’t eat/drink) I’m sure I’ll find some way to spin the cleanse into some sort of adventure/story. . .

Last night, I went to Bliss Spa for a Blissage 75 massage. I had a couple gift certificates and figured that this was the best time to use them, especially since I’m in the middle (now I’m almose done, its day 4!) of my Blueprint Cleanse. 

Anyway, massages do not relax me. I get ultra stressed out and worried about if I should be moving, if I have an itch, if my nose is running, etc, etc, etc. If anything, I was more tense when I walked out of there. Which makes me sad, because all I really want to do is relax!

Also, probably because the juices aren’t giving me enough vitamins/minerals, this morning I woke up to huge bruises on my back and shoulders—I kid you not! I’ve always been a bruiser, and I did say I wanted hard pressure but still.

And now, onto the juice cleanse. The real reason I did it was because I thought it would help break my procrastination habit—a lot of the times I tell myself I’ll sit down and write once I drink a venti latte, get a black and white cookie, drink a diet coke, etc. I wanted to see what would happen if I didn’t have that as an excuse.

Annnnnd, I procrastinate by drinking water.

Basically, while I’m glad I did this for the experience, I will be so more than glad when it’s done (and am actually going to cheat and break the cleanse a little early, don’t tell!) I think a lot of it is a placebo effect, I don’t think limiting yourself to 6 juices a day, even short term is healthy, and I sort of hate how I went into it in the first place. Again, cannot WAIT to be done!

This is the inside of my now-working fridge:

And of course the pic is sideways, because I don’t know how to work my computer (help? I saved it right-side up in the jpeg) but you get the point: slim fast, juice, wine, and lemons. Yikes. And lots and lots of Croc Lounge pics on the front!

I love the Olympics, and last night’s 4×100 meter men’s relay was AWESOME. Right now, I’m reading an article about it from Le Monde, and c’est sensationale!

What I love about France is how dramatic they are (and, to be honest, my high-school french is more than a little rusty). I mean, if you look at this article, there are so many exclamation points. Mais, patatras!

And that’s why I love the Olympics. It really does bring the world together, like the cheesiest Visa commercial in the world. I mean, come on, because of the Olympics, I’m reading articles in Le Monde newspaper. Do I ever do that? Mais, non! But I wanted to hear about the agony of defeat, from their point of view. But still, an awesome race and I also love how the Olympics gives people something to talk about together. That’s what everyone, from the bagel guy to the spin instructor to the sandwich maker in the cafeteria was buzzing about. And, I guess that’s what it’s all about!

Nous sommes les champions? 

In an interview I read, Tony Kushner once said that he used to eat a whole box of Entenmann’s chocolate chip cookies before he sat down to work on “Angels in America.” He said he gained something like 100 pounds in the process. He also gained a Pulitzer. 

I drink two 20 ounce bottles of Diet Coke. Right now I’m also eating frozen grapes from the freezer and listening to iTunes on shuffle. And yet the focusing is always the hardest part. That’s why it’d be awesome to have an office. Having my apartment do triple duty as a sleeping space/chillout spot/writing center can be draining.

Panera Bread, in Hoboken, used to be my go-to writing spot for its free-wifi, unlimited soda refillers, killer salads (and, who am I kidding, delish scones!) but I live in Manhattan, and going there is an hour each way, and more than once, I’ve almost cried when the seats next to the power outlets were filled (my computer only lasts for about 45 minutes on battery) So if I do decide to go to Panera, it’s an all-day decision and it means that I’m waking up and leaving my apartment at 7:45AM on a weekend to make damn sure I get one of the coveted seats. Not worth it. 

Any suggestions?