8 years ago today

…was my first day of high school, in New York City.

All cell phones went dead that morning. My parents walked over 100 blocks to my school so that we could be together, for whatever came next.

It’s hard to describe the feeling that morning – it was a sort of quiet chaos, numbed by shock and tinged with fear.

My parents and I stopped in a deserted restaurant and watched the television coverage, grateful for some news when all lines of communication seemed blocked.

We then began the trek back uptown, walking with hundreds of thousands of other people.

It was an overwhelmingly vulnerable human experience. The streets were filled with people walking the entire length of Manhattan and beyond; eerily like a mass exodus.

Once home, we watched in horror as the towers fell.

We later had to close all windows to block the smoke and ash that was spreading from downtown.

It’s difficult to feel grateful for any consequence of that day – but it did profoundly change the way that people interacted with one another, particularly in the city, for quite some time afterward.

Author Augusten Burroughs has a thoughtful set of photographs with commentary that I find to be in tune with my feelings today.

It’s surreal to think that eight years have passed. I don’t know what else to say.

Sunday senses 9/6/09

With all of my cranky laziness and ignoring of the mission, I forgot to do Sunday senses. So here goes:

Looking: well, reading this very true post on love by Raaachem, one of my favorite writers of honest observations about life, relationships, friends, and women.

love is not just a noun – not just an emotion that you feel. it’s a verb..it’s an action.. it’s in the way you are and it’s in what you do.

i feel as if people are afraid to work. that love “feeling” starts to go away and all of sudden they forget about “acting” love. and i’m not talking about holding hands, or pda, or being gross and teenage-like acting. i’m talking about keeping that respect for your partner. i’m talking about not forgetting about his feelings as you try and acknowledge yours.

Let’s just give this the biggest word up ever. Click here to read the entire post. Check out her words on how technology has changed our day to day here.

Listening: to Mean Girls playing in the background of my lazy day. I’m always amazed that Regina is really Rachel McAdams under all that bitch.

Smelling: impossibly strong concentrations of lighter fluid from the neighbor’s backyard-I know it’s Labor Day weekend, but let’s take it easy, people.

Tasting: New York tap water.

Feeling: my parents’ couch, clearly made more for style than comfort.

don't remember where I got this so my apologies for the lack of photo credit!

Drowning

What. is. wrong. with. me. today.

Maybe it’s being alone, maybe it’s the result of sleeping in, but I am a worthless blob. I’m in the city I love and I can’t get out and do something. Part of this is because anything I’d do would require spending money, which I don’t need to do after the past few weeks. Regardless, it sucks.

I feel like this today:

Chris Anthony

Help!

Chris Anthony

Devouring vintage: edith machinist

Ready for the day in my favorite sneaks (Tretorn navy patent high tops)

Shopping for vintage can be a frustrating experience. With the recent surge in popularity of all things vintage, I’ve found quite a few boutiques that seem to think they can get away with passing off old clothes as “vintage,” with little attention paid to style or quality.

An exception to this trend is edith machinist in the lower east side. Besides a kick-ass name, they have an amazing selection of shoes, clothing, bags, and jewelry that are of a condition unmatched by other vintage shops I frequent.

This afternoon, I soaked in the sun (wearing SPF 100 – wish I were joking) and headed downtown with no specific purpose, which is usually disastrous for my wallet. But today, I found that two of my favorite activities – eating and shopping – might have something unforeseen in common. At edith machinist I found two delicious pieces that, in their quality, completely satiated my spending appetite.

Marino Orlandi (with exquisite details I couldn't capture due to camera battery death!)

Basic but lovely boots circa 1970s, made in italy - unsure of brand/designer.

Needless to say, my photography doesn’t capture the details or beauty of either piece (I was scrambling to shoot them before my battery died), but I highly recommend edith machinist for your vintage (especially accessories) cravings. You will be satisfied.

Inside edith machinist.