Daddy and ivry walking past Westbeth to the Hudson River 
The new construction building 
Friday sunset on the New Jersey shore 
Ivry and MommyMonday, June 16, 2008
Pictures and Videos from New York City
Daddy and ivry walking past Westbeth to the Hudson River The new construction building Friday sunset on the New Jersey shore Ivry and Mommy
Monday, June 9, 2008
Home for a Few Days
It has been quite muggy here in NYC visiting my mom. I practically fainted in the 101 temperature walking Ivry back from the park today. Ivry was red as a beet, too.
We stayed indoors in the air-conditioned NYC - Greenwich Village apartment and watched cranes pull up woden stairs for the 14 million dollar townhouses across the street from us. Sadly this view afforded a view of the Hudson River, which is now, eternally blocked.
Deb from g's Cottage inspired me to write some of my observations since I've returned. Book writing has occupied much of this blog and no that I am back at Westbeth, the artist building where I grew up, it was a perfect opportunity to reset time to fit the times of 2008 and where I am.
It's hard to come back after 20 years of living in Israel and to see that the place I grew up is surrounded by celebrities and a lot of Europeans (the Euro is very strong) considering that when I left in 1989, nobody wanted to live in Greenwich Village - it was slumsville. Now everybody wants to live here. The building where my mom lives is subsidized by the government and the city council. The votes of the westbeth council is paramount to the recent developments of the recent struggle to keep Westbeth affordable for artists as its initial vision since its inception in 1970.
For me, Westbeth will always be home with its urbanity and profound artist foundation. I said that this morning to my mom's long time neighbor and visual artist Christina Maile. And I said this to my neighbor and friend Mary Bassett who lived down the hallway from us. I was so happy to see the exterminator come to my mom's door. I recognized him right away - just speaking to him made me feel better and not displaced like some refugee. I said he looks timeless - that help put everything into perspective like everything will be ok - for a brief moments, I felt my dad was practicing his art upstairs and my mom was practicing her piano.
Here I am not anonymous and the struggle to feel at home is not as pronounced because everythig is so familiar. The guard lets me in when he says: "Oh, you're Carmen's daughter" and Jacaman, Westbeth's beloved security guard downstairs from Puerto Rico has been here from 1973 - for me that is approximately since I was three years old. He always asks me "where's your brother?" and that makes me feel good because I've come back to my roots. telling him "He's in San Diego' is not as comforting. I wish I could tell him "He'll be back soon" but that is not the case. Everybody misses him around here.
People don't know where Pittsburgh is and I don't feel yet home.
the artist life is my foundation even if I don't practice in every day life. I love this part of New York City and I wish we could live here for at least some parts of the year.
I am at a serious crossroads in my life. Sometimes my day is occupied wondering what my future will bring. I have yet to find my home in Pittsburgh. Starting over is much much harder than I thought.
We're flying back to Pittsburgh later this afternoon. I think I will need come back to Westbeth more often to visit my mom and feel comforted. I aited much too long to come here - almost 7 months.
Will posted some amazing pictures soon.
We stayed indoors in the air-conditioned NYC - Greenwich Village apartment and watched cranes pull up woden stairs for the 14 million dollar townhouses across the street from us. Sadly this view afforded a view of the Hudson River, which is now, eternally blocked.
Deb from g's Cottage inspired me to write some of my observations since I've returned. Book writing has occupied much of this blog and no that I am back at Westbeth, the artist building where I grew up, it was a perfect opportunity to reset time to fit the times of 2008 and where I am.
It's hard to come back after 20 years of living in Israel and to see that the place I grew up is surrounded by celebrities and a lot of Europeans (the Euro is very strong) considering that when I left in 1989, nobody wanted to live in Greenwich Village - it was slumsville. Now everybody wants to live here. The building where my mom lives is subsidized by the government and the city council. The votes of the westbeth council is paramount to the recent developments of the recent struggle to keep Westbeth affordable for artists as its initial vision since its inception in 1970.
For me, Westbeth will always be home with its urbanity and profound artist foundation. I said that this morning to my mom's long time neighbor and visual artist Christina Maile. And I said this to my neighbor and friend Mary Bassett who lived down the hallway from us. I was so happy to see the exterminator come to my mom's door. I recognized him right away - just speaking to him made me feel better and not displaced like some refugee. I said he looks timeless - that help put everything into perspective like everything will be ok - for a brief moments, I felt my dad was practicing his art upstairs and my mom was practicing her piano.
Here I am not anonymous and the struggle to feel at home is not as pronounced because everythig is so familiar. The guard lets me in when he says: "Oh, you're Carmen's daughter" and Jacaman, Westbeth's beloved security guard downstairs from Puerto Rico has been here from 1973 - for me that is approximately since I was three years old. He always asks me "where's your brother?" and that makes me feel good because I've come back to my roots. telling him "He's in San Diego' is not as comforting. I wish I could tell him "He'll be back soon" but that is not the case. Everybody misses him around here.
People don't know where Pittsburgh is and I don't feel yet home.
the artist life is my foundation even if I don't practice in every day life. I love this part of New York City and I wish we could live here for at least some parts of the year.
I am at a serious crossroads in my life. Sometimes my day is occupied wondering what my future will bring. I have yet to find my home in Pittsburgh. Starting over is much much harder than I thought.
We're flying back to Pittsburgh later this afternoon. I think I will need come back to Westbeth more often to visit my mom and feel comforted. I aited much too long to come here - almost 7 months.
Will posted some amazing pictures soon.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
A Late Wordless Wednesday
This flower setting I made during the women's gathering last Sunday in honor of Shavuot. I even surprised myself. It's so nice to look at, keeps me company during the long writing hours and jazzes up the room. I can't stop looking at it.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Just a Small Email
Yesterday, I received the final email confirmation from my coauthor which I wanted to hear: she will send the book proposal to our propspective editor at Corwin Press. How sweet! How quick!
It's hard to believe that what started as a dream back in Israel, has evolved into subsequent drafts, 50 to be exact.
I put the dream into motion as a new immigrant in Pittsburgh, writing on my own in the Squirrel Hill library in Pittsburgh for months from my laptop along with files of the teacher's life, then collaborated with a coauthor after a talk with my editor.
It has been a journey.
Now, the waiting time begins.
It's hard to believe that what started as a dream back in Israel, has evolved into subsequent drafts, 50 to be exact.
I put the dream into motion as a new immigrant in Pittsburgh, writing on my own in the Squirrel Hill library in Pittsburgh for months from my laptop along with files of the teacher's life, then collaborated with a coauthor after a talk with my editor.
It has been a journey.
Now, the waiting time begins.
Monday, May 12, 2008
A Brief Update for Those Interested
On the outside, it's just another day. Getting ready for the writing desk, living, mother to Ivry. But there's a lot going on inside, too.
Bulleted points of interest for those following my footsteps...
* Celebrated my first Mother's Day in the States was nice albeit rainy. The Sunday plans to join other Israelis at a local park was cancelled, so we went shopping for a vacuum cleaner. How fun! Now the carpet really looks clean after we threw out the second (or third) hand one.
* Our request for an additional year of absence from the kibbutz has been approved. We intend to stay in Pittsburgh for the upcoming year.
* Work is underway with coauthoring the book "Developing Literacy in K-2 English language learners." I recently checked the draft folder. 50 drafts! (and counting)
* Recently, I discovered a beautiful easy-to-walk trail out in Schenely Park last week. I came back half-energized, half in reverie. It's been a while since I escaped from the computer.
* We're thinking of renting a car for a few days. The last time I drove in the State was in 1997 and before that was in 1989. There are days when I am more adventurous than others. Truthfully, I wish there were buses that went via Raccoon State park and other beautiful nature reserves that I can only see on the Internet.
* I've signed up for a writer's coach / summer boot camp. I think it's what I need right now to take the writing to the next level. I've also applied for a community service program called Literacycorps under the Americorps division. I've got a few site interviews lined up soon. Full time position starts in September.
* Recently, we were looking at flights to Israel. I am getting a little bit homesick to see our kibbutz, family, friends, but apparently, not enough to pay $1500 just for me, let alone for Haim and Ivry. Yowza!!!!! Unfortunately, the price hikes in gas do not intend to stop anytime soon.
* I'm feeling isolated a bit so I'm glad I stepped out of my shell and contacted a few local mothers - one via my writing groups who put me in contact with others. Not sure on what is to be, but at least, it's a positive move in some direction.
* Yesterday, I bought a skirt at Target. Nice dark cream brown. Twenty bucks. Cotton. With slits. My kind of color. Earth colors.I'm wearing it now. Makes me look like a few more pounds. Probably due to the buttermilk pancakes I just ate.
* I've decided to be more accountable with the time I spend on the computer. Too much time checking emails! So after writing in this blog entry, I am going to hold myself accountable for the writing/Internet time. A schedule's a powerful thing!
Anyhow, have a great week, folks! See you in the 'burgh'...
Bulleted points of interest for those following my footsteps...
* Celebrated my first Mother's Day in the States was nice albeit rainy. The Sunday plans to join other Israelis at a local park was cancelled, so we went shopping for a vacuum cleaner. How fun! Now the carpet really looks clean after we threw out the second (or third) hand one.
* Our request for an additional year of absence from the kibbutz has been approved. We intend to stay in Pittsburgh for the upcoming year.
* Work is underway with coauthoring the book "Developing Literacy in K-2 English language learners." I recently checked the draft folder. 50 drafts! (and counting)
* Recently, I discovered a beautiful easy-to-walk trail out in Schenely Park last week. I came back half-energized, half in reverie. It's been a while since I escaped from the computer.
* We're thinking of renting a car for a few days. The last time I drove in the State was in 1997 and before that was in 1989. There are days when I am more adventurous than others. Truthfully, I wish there were buses that went via Raccoon State park and other beautiful nature reserves that I can only see on the Internet.
* I've signed up for a writer's coach / summer boot camp. I think it's what I need right now to take the writing to the next level. I've also applied for a community service program called Literacycorps under the Americorps division. I've got a few site interviews lined up soon. Full time position starts in September.
* Recently, we were looking at flights to Israel. I am getting a little bit homesick to see our kibbutz, family, friends, but apparently, not enough to pay $1500 just for me, let alone for Haim and Ivry. Yowza!!!!! Unfortunately, the price hikes in gas do not intend to stop anytime soon.
* I'm feeling isolated a bit so I'm glad I stepped out of my shell and contacted a few local mothers - one via my writing groups who put me in contact with others. Not sure on what is to be, but at least, it's a positive move in some direction.
* Yesterday, I bought a skirt at Target. Nice dark cream brown. Twenty bucks. Cotton. With slits. My kind of color. Earth colors.I'm wearing it now. Makes me look like a few more pounds. Probably due to the buttermilk pancakes I just ate.
* I've decided to be more accountable with the time I spend on the computer. Too much time checking emails! So after writing in this blog entry, I am going to hold myself accountable for the writing/Internet time. A schedule's a powerful thing!
Anyhow, have a great week, folks! See you in the 'burgh'...
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Thursday Thirteen April 17.2008
Thirteen Things that Happened at 3:00 in the Morning
One would think that calming my three year old son with his nightmarish fits at 3:00 o'clock would purport me to sleep. But that wasn't the case. now, I'm wide awake as if I'm ready to tackle the day.
1. I calmed Ivry down and he finally fell asleep on our bed
2. I went to the bathroom and tried to fall asleep
3. I tossed and truned and focused on the air-conditioning sound at the apartment above me
4. I hugged my son and saw he had fallen asleep
5. My brain started thinking
6. My stomach started hurting
7. I went to the bathroom again
8. I began to feel homesick for my four walled kibbutz apartment
9. I thought about my progress with my writing endeavors including that of my book, our impending visit to NYC to see my mom, and unfinished Passover tasks
10. I hugged my pillow
11. I hugged my son
12. I tried meditating
13. I came to the computer... and here I am!
I like to have a full 7 -8 hours sleep. Wonder what happened today? There's a lot of stress I'm feeling lately - that I know for sure. Stress with revising the book, finding enough freelance writing gigs if I make that decision to branch over to freelance writing and finding a day job. But then there are the triggers to all that stress.
Deep inside, I know where the anxiety is also coming from: I think I'd be better off knowing I've released the feelings of doubts and uncertainty. Is this just me? Is anybody else feeling this way at times.... Any thoughts?
Happy TT
One would think that calming my three year old son with his nightmarish fits at 3:00 o'clock would purport me to sleep. But that wasn't the case. now, I'm wide awake as if I'm ready to tackle the day.
1. I calmed Ivry down and he finally fell asleep on our bed
2. I went to the bathroom and tried to fall asleep
3. I tossed and truned and focused on the air-conditioning sound at the apartment above me
4. I hugged my son and saw he had fallen asleep
5. My brain started thinking
6. My stomach started hurting
7. I went to the bathroom again
8. I began to feel homesick for my four walled kibbutz apartment
9. I thought about my progress with my writing endeavors including that of my book, our impending visit to NYC to see my mom, and unfinished Passover tasks
10. I hugged my pillow
11. I hugged my son
12. I tried meditating
13. I came to the computer... and here I am!
I like to have a full 7 -8 hours sleep. Wonder what happened today? There's a lot of stress I'm feeling lately - that I know for sure. Stress with revising the book, finding enough freelance writing gigs if I make that decision to branch over to freelance writing and finding a day job. But then there are the triggers to all that stress.
Deep inside, I know where the anxiety is also coming from: I think I'd be better off knowing I've released the feelings of doubts and uncertainty. Is this just me? Is anybody else feeling this way at times.... Any thoughts?
Happy TT
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Wordless Wednesday: Can I Kiss You Before I Go to the JCC?
This is what my precious little Ivry said to me this morning just before he left for the Jewish Community Center where he attends daycare. I love you was all I could say!
On a different note, I spoke to my editor yesterday afternoon. We talked for about an hour. He praised the contents of the book suggesting that I could clearly benefit from the writing with a co-author. An hour later I called my reviewer and asked if she would be interested in doing the project with me. She gave an affirmative 'yes'. We'll, see how that goes!
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