At the moment, I work in a dull, gray job in a dull, gray office in Lower Manhattan. No crazy, interesting stories to tell about Devil Wears Prada bosses. Just a lifeless job that utilizes none of my strong suits (writing, event planning, brainstorming, coordination of big, beautiful things) and exclusively focuses on mindless duties (data entry, data entry, data entry). A very viable escape route is in the works, but in the meantime, I’m just thankful to earn a secure source of income. I’m grinning, bearing it, and making an active effort to give myself something to look forward to everyday. My favorite treat? The lunch time stroll.
There are buildings in that neighborhood, particularly around City Hall, that have managed to survive the century with dignity and grace. I love walking around during my lunch break, looking up at the details and finesse of these structures. I’m not yet familiar enough with the architecture of this city to know the buildings by name like some people do, but I’m looking forward to getting better acquainted. Last Friday, I brought my camera with me for you to take a look too.
This may be my last picture of pretty autumn leaves this year; I woke this morning to find the city nestled under a blanket of fluffy snow. Like a kid, I wanted to rush out into the stuff straight away; I missed snow last winter, as I spent the year living in Scotland.
Although Scotland is so far north, the climate is temperate for the most part; in Glasgow, it rains more than snows. Last year I remember it snowing once, and nothing stuck. While I had lots of fun ducking out of the rain and into cheerful pubs, I missed the sharp cold of the northern United States, the kind that can nearly knock the wind out of you some mornings. I missed stepping onto a snowdrift and sinking until the snow reached all the way up to my knees. Today wasn’t that chilly, but the snow was a welcome sight. A homecoming of sorts.
City Hall
This fountain in City Hall Park is flanked by pretty lanterns in which little warm flames flicker.
See that glass bay window atop the pale building? I always look up to that and wonder who sits in that office. I like to think it is a thinly mustachioed mogul in a red velvet smoking jacket. While I walk around taking innocent pictures on my lunch break, he slips inky caviar into his slithery lips; he strokes an emerald iguana on a wicked leather leash.
Ha!
In all likelihood, its an elevator. Or a viewing platform. But a girl can daydream, right?
I like the stoic ladies decorating this building a great deal; they make me think of Greece and Athena’s columns at the Acropolis in Athens. Gazing up at them, I’m transported back to my August holidays, experiencing this for a blissful moment:
See what I mean?
A great spot for brown bag dining.
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There is a Green Market in my office ‘hood every Tuesday and Friday. I’ve managed to make friends with Andrew, the beekeeper.
Sometimes I like to think about my husband Shaun and I quitting city life and becoming beekeepers or organic spinach farmers. We’d have pet lamas, a blackberry patch, and a fainting goat that lives in a red doghouse and eats the lawn so that we never have to mow it. In this daydream, there is barn that is transformed into a loft/studio and we rent it out to artists on retreat. Our big farm house has loads of haunted guest rooms for visiting friends and family, and for writers looking for a nice, natural place place to work. My writing space is in the attic and there is a round window that sheds golden light onto the unfinished wood there; Shaun will have an office with a monolithic, mahogany desk.
Shaun tends to shake his head and look at me like I’m a crazy person when I bring this daydream up. Most of the time, I tend to agree. For the foreseeable future, I’m thrilled with city living, exploring Manhattan, and buying yummy jars of Andrew’s Local Honey. Like I said, daydreams are just a part of the lunchtime Stroll for Sanity.
There is another vendor at the Green Market who is too shy to chat with me much, but she bakes a mean gingerbread man.
While peeking around the internet in an attempt to learn more about City Hall, I stumbled upon an amazing blog project of NYC walks. There are maps and beautiful pictures taken by the blogger on his journeys. For all you procrastinators out there, take a few more moments and check it out.
