I'm back in the states and definitely happy about it. As much as I've loved Europe, I miss being home.
I'm in Philly right now and I love how artsy it is here. There's an artist here that does murals with mirrors, glass, broken ceramics, etc... all over buildings. The whole side of a building will be covered, or an entire alley way. The outside of the artist's studio is just incredible. I was never planning to come to Philly, but I'm glad I did. I'm couchsurfing with this 50-something year old guy and his wife and he's like the loud, funny, dirty-mouthed and teasing uncle that you look forward to as you main source of entertainment during boring family gatherings. He's a craftsman and artist who is friends with the aforementioned artist. He's been showing me these bracelets and belt buckles and what-have-you made out of moldings of body parts... fingers, bellybuttons, nipples, lips. This guy is fabulous. And his "couch" that I'm sleeping on... a bed suspended from the ceiling in the loft of his house that use to be a storehouse for a bakery. This house is pretty amazing in itself.
Tomorrow I go back in NY for 1 more night and then I fly home on Thursday! I'm so excited to be home. I'm excited to see my friends, but especially my niece and my nephew. I've missed Max so much and I can't wait to see Mia walking everywhere (she was only just starting to take steps when I left). It's bittersweet because in 2 weeks, my sister is moving to Atlanta with the kids. Her husband is already there starting his new job as of about 2 weeks ago. I'm driving with them cross-country so that I can have some more time with them and probably stick around for a few days before I have to go back to work the first week of August. It's been hard dealing with the idea that they're moving so far away and I won't be able to see them very often. I'm used to literally going downstairs, out the front door, around the back of the house, and into the back basement door nearly every day to see them to at least say hi and for a hug and a kiss. I won't be able to do that anymore. The one good thing that's coming from this is that I'm moving into the basement apartment once they're gone. Now I just need a roommate....
I'm in Philly right now and I love how artsy it is here. There's an artist here that does murals with mirrors, glass, broken ceramics, etc... all over buildings. The whole side of a building will be covered, or an entire alley way. The outside of the artist's studio is just incredible. I was never planning to come to Philly, but I'm glad I did. I'm couchsurfing with this 50-something year old guy and his wife and he's like the loud, funny, dirty-mouthed and teasing uncle that you look forward to as you main source of entertainment during boring family gatherings. He's a craftsman and artist who is friends with the aforementioned artist. He's been showing me these bracelets and belt buckles and what-have-you made out of moldings of body parts... fingers, bellybuttons, nipples, lips. This guy is fabulous. And his "couch" that I'm sleeping on... a bed suspended from the ceiling in the loft of his house that use to be a storehouse for a bakery. This house is pretty amazing in itself.
Tomorrow I go back in NY for 1 more night and then I fly home on Thursday! I'm so excited to be home. I'm excited to see my friends, but especially my niece and my nephew. I've missed Max so much and I can't wait to see Mia walking everywhere (she was only just starting to take steps when I left). It's bittersweet because in 2 weeks, my sister is moving to Atlanta with the kids. Her husband is already there starting his new job as of about 2 weeks ago. I'm driving with them cross-country so that I can have some more time with them and probably stick around for a few days before I have to go back to work the first week of August. It's been hard dealing with the idea that they're moving so far away and I won't be able to see them very often. I'm used to literally going downstairs, out the front door, around the back of the house, and into the back basement door nearly every day to see them to at least say hi and for a hug and a kiss. I won't be able to do that anymore. The one good thing that's coming from this is that I'm moving into the basement apartment once they're gone. Now I just need a roommate....