Day 12: November 7, 2010.

HAHA, okay so my "like" today is going to actually be a somewhat embarrassing personal habit I seem to have formed this year that I've caught myself doing on several occasions, but it's so silly I feel like I have to share!
Walking is the transportation method of choice in this city.  (It's less costly than driving and the delays aren't usually so bad.)  Listening to music is, of course, my go-to way of finding enjoyment in my many daily walks.  But not at night; don't listen to ipods at night when you're alone on the street.  It's just not smart!
Anyway, I've found that I do this especially during the middle of the day when I'm making my way down the sidewalk back to the dance studio for my second wave of classes.  So I've got my headphones in, my music on, and I can't help but get the feeling that I could be in a movie.  I mean, it's New York City, right? There are film crews around every corner all the time!

But here's what I mean...let me give an example of the first time this happened.

I was heading out of my building to back to music class one afternoon.  In the elevator, I turned on "Coming Up," one of my favorite tracks off of Brendan James' new album.  (SO GOOD!)  Somehow, the music and my exit was timed absolutely perfectly so that my right foot stepped out of the revolving door onto the hard cement of the 13th street JUST as the big downbeat of the first chorus kicked in with the guitars and drums and whatever else it's got going on.  Also at that same moment, my eyes left the ground and fixated on the world in front of me, exuding some sort of really weird, REALLY sudden energy shift.  If you listen to this song (which I highly recommend you do, both for personal enjoyment as well as to get the full effect of this story), you may agree with me with I say that it's the kind of song that would be played at the end of a film as the character is "coming up" out of the hardships that he or she has endured for the past 2+ hours.  It's a song of hope, one that would be a great lead in to a fade out and some end credits.

I speak the truth when I say that until the end of that song, I felt as though I could very well be that character concluding that unnamed film.

It was so random and so weird and so ridiculous, and the fact that I've found myself thinking this way on more than one occasion is cause to make me laugh at myself!  (But I'll be the first to admit that it's kind of fun!! :))

Today, laughable trains of thought make me happy :)

Day 11: November 6, 2010.

I'm going to be performing at the annual Tisch Gala in early December :)
The Tisch Gala is a fundraiser event put on every year by NYU's School of the Arts that attracts famous alumni and financial benefactors.  This year, the money raised is primarily going to the building at 111 Second Avenue, which was the original home of Tisch School of the Arts and is now the home of the dance department.  It's where we all spend so many hours together every day, and the money raised will be going toward much-needed renovations!
Billy Crystal is this year's Honoree--having graduated from Tisch's film department in the class of 1970--and will be speaking during the event.  Myself, along with an amazing cast of dancers, will be opening and closing the performance for the evening, and this year's third year class will be performing a special new work!  Check out this link for more info on the event!

http://support.tisch.nyu.edu/object/gala2010

Rehearsals for those of us in the opener and closer are going to be December 1-5 (with the show on the 6th at Lincoln Center!), so it's going to be a whirlwind of a week but I couldn't be more excited to experience it with such AMAZING people!!  What an opportunity!  SO thankful!!

On this day, special performance opportunities and wonderful communities of artists make me happy :)

Day 10: November 5, 2010.

Again, today's been more of a challenge for me to recognize my "likes."  (Ladies, keep this in mind...Mother Nature isn't really a fan of The Like List!  Every so often she'll come around and try to get you down!  Don't give in!! :))  Here are a few things that are getting me through this Friday--

It's Friday.  Enough said.  :)

After my next (and final) class of the week, I'll be done for the day!  Meaning I'm going to be able to enjoy some much-needed downtime and try to kick the tail end of this obnoxious cold!  So looking forward to that! :)

I just enjoyed a nice turkey melt and some really good yogurt.  My mom and I used to enjoy this together senior year of high school every other day when I'd get out at 1:45.  At 2 p.m. we'd grab our food, sit on the couch and turn on The Ellen Degeneres Show.  They were the perfect lunch "dates" and when I need a touch of home, this is one of the first memories I draw on! :)

I'm also thankful today for the celebration of my wonderful Nana's birthday!!  I talked to her on the phone just a little bit ago and just hearing her voice is enough to ease my unsettled heart!  She's THE best and my childhood wouldn't have been the same at all if she and my Pop-pop hadn't played such a huge part!!  Love them TONS! :)

Today Fridays, rest, yummy lunches (and even better memories!), and my Nana make me happy :)

Day 9: November 4, 2010.

Today's been the first day during this project that it's been a push for me to find things to be excited about.  Between the cold, gross city rain and this nasty head cold that won't go away, it's been quite a morning!  However, I am happy to report that after thinking about it, I can actually list a few things that have happened so far that put a smile on my face!  (Or at least relieved my mind from the annoyances they seem to be dwelling on today!)

Last night I got over nine solid hours of sleep.  It was glorious! :)

Hayk was our accompanist in ballet this morning.  (He's the best!!)  He played "Hey There Delilah" during barre and some MJ during one of our center exercises!  That always, always makes me happy!! :)

At this moment, I am really enjoying this bowl of oatmeal in front of me.  I'm a huge oatmeal fan in general (Maple Brown Sugar is the best, of course!), but for some odd reason I like it even better when I eat it out of a ceramic mug--the one my mom got me last year in particular--with this really old, really cute teaspoon. I don't know why, but that's become my favorite way to eat oatmeal!  So a nice hot mug of it is just what I needed on this cold Thursday!

Those are just a few little things have have perked up this otherwise dreary morning!  They may be small, but I'm thankful for them nonetheless!

Rest, great musical taste, and oatmeal in a mug make me happy :)

P.S. I want to wish a happy, happy birthday to my beautiful roommate and friend Dana!!! :):)

Day 8: November 3, 2010.

I came across this picture on my phone today:

First of all, it's important to know that I couldn't be a bigger fan of Burt's Bees.  In my opinion, it's the best remedy for chapped lips available to us these days!

More importantly, though, I think it's so funny that my chap stick ALWAYS ends up looking like this!  Every tube, without fail, morphed into a shape looking like this.  I think it's just kind of funny :)

(Also, please note: This photo was taken a few weeks ago I think.  I'm pleased to announce that this is the first tube of chap stick I've ever actually finished!  I always lose them before I have the chance, but this time I have managed to successfully use up the entire thing!  Haha!  Woohooo!)

One last thing--that blasted take-home midterm you all have heard me complaining about for the past few days is done, it's turned in, and it's now history :) :)

Today, Burt's Bees, weird geometry and assignment completion make me happy :)

Day 7: November 2, 2010.

Every Tuesday on the corner of 2nd Avenue and 10th Street outside St. Mark's Church I pass by this farmer's market:

In the morning on my way to class I walk through as they're setting up.  In the early afternoon as I'm walking home for a lunch break they're in full swing. At night at I'm heading home after classes are finished for the day the tents are coming down and the workers are getting ready to head home as well.  

For some reason, something about knowing that it's the day of the farmer's market makes me happy :) 

Day 6: November 1, 2010.

Today's recipe for happiness:

1 part clear, blue skies.

1 part cool, 47 degree weather.

1 part November :)


The fact that November is here and that it's come upon us so beautifully makes me happy :)