No Subject

When I last saw my father, he told me, "Rick, I am so proud of you because you are not afraid of life."

Everyday I think about how crazy I am for moving 3,000 miles away from everything I have known to pursue something so unsure.  My father is proud of me, and you know, I am proud of me as well.

I can't imagine how many lives I am inspiring because of this as well.  Many of my friends are wanting to move out here and so many people 'wish that they had my courage.'  Well, I say that when you want something bad enough courage comes as second nature.

No photograph today.  Somethings are better left in the mind.

A Lack of Sleep

It seems that I am constantly at odds with this nightly essential we call sleep.  Since my arrival in New York City, sleep and I have not been on the best of terms.  In what seems like an eternity I toss and turn in my bed, asking God to please let my body rest.  After a few hours of deep Zzz's I find myself waking up and again struggle to fall back asleep.  I can only blame this fight on several key factors:

• Thoughts: As with every change your mind is clouded with excitement and worry.  I am always thinking of my future here in the city, as well as my former life in California.  Who will be my new friends? How are my old ones? How are my brothers doing? Will they look up to me or see me as the brother who abandoned them?
• Time Change: If it is 12:00am here in the East, it is 9:00pm in the West.  My past schedule allowed my body to sleep around 10:30pm, which is 1:30am.  It is a definite possibility that my body has not yet adjusted to the time change and refuses to try to sleep at 10:30pm eastern time, which is 7:30pm western time.
• Lack of Substances: In San Diego, my body used outer substances to tell my body to sleep.  Here, I have yet to take daily doses of those substances so it is possible that I am going through withdrawals.

Either way, this battle with sleep and wake is still ragging.  Hopefully they will come to a peaceful agreement...SOON!

In other news....my new roommate Tamika is pretty cool.

X marks the spot

Starving Artist, so it begins.....

Ah, New York City.  Your unrelenting energy has yet to leave me, yet your true colors are seeping through every alley and subway entrance.  You aren't making this journey the easiest.  California has spoon fed me, forgiven me of my trespasses, and sheltered me with her promise of sunshine and relaxing temperance.  Away from her comfort, I now know what life is really like.  It is not a place where I can throw my money at every desire, and it is certainly not a place where I am allowed to take a meal or a helping hand for granted.

Your dreams are only dreams if you don't pursue them.  And in this pursuit one must work HARD and suffer HARD and sacrifice HARD.  It is a fact that, yes, life is HARD.  I had no idea what a hard life was until now, and I haven't even lived it yet.  Does that make sense?

Let me break it down.  I have a part-time job.  75% of my monthly paycheck goes to rent, 10% goes to my MetroCard, and 10% goes to utilities.  What about food? And not to mention my other items like toothpaste and deodorant and random other things.  AND I will be paying $16,000 per semester!!!
What am I to do? For one, apply for food stamps.  I guess this is the staple of the starving artist.  I had never in my life thought I would have to ask for public assistance.  But it's just that: assistance.  I am not one to take advantage of the system, but goodness I just want to eat.  And it's only until I can find a second job.

BUT in the midst of this storm of worry stands a rock that I call God.  After all, He DID bring me out here.   He laid the best foundation: my current job, welcoming family that let me stay with them, and enough money to last me a little while.   Although He didn't promise that the rest of the way was going to be as easy, he DID promise that he was going to protect this starving artist (IN THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD!). And for that, I can't complain.

 Above and Below: Central Park

Sheep's Meadow in Central Park.  

Amanda and Laura in Times Square

Washington Square Park

I think this is called the Washington Square Mews

Chillin on a beautiful day in Central Park

Brooklyn Bridge

Amanda

Park Slope, Brooklyn

Manhattan skyline

I LOVE NEW YORK!!!!