anyresemblance

Diorama

Yesterday I managed 22000 steps.  Early morning walk to Central Park, visit to the American Museum of Natural History, excruciating excursion to the cheap fashion options of 34th street, and finished off with a walk to the Amish Market to get our new favourite brand of ice cream.  

It was a good day, not too hot, and I loved the faded dioramas of the AMNH.  As always, we like the mammals better than the ethnography which is always loaded by its assumed authority. I would have longer end in the south american session but the pan pipe soundtrack was excruciating.  I secretly think the London Museum is better laid out for kids but it was packed and many families  were having enjoyable experiences. Except, that is, for the grumpy lady who was complaining about the smell in the toilets and asking the attendant if she couldn't find some air freshener. She clearly had not absorbed public bathroom instructions from her mother: hold your breath, don't sit on the loo seat and wash your hands throughly.  Worse though was her disapproval of the Latin man behind me with his small daughter. He  was waiting to use the cubicle to change her nappy. While I think the museum could do a better job of providing some good family rooms for exactly this purpose the guy needed, her passive aggressive sighing and tutting were stupid.  In a tiny gesture of solidarity, I asked if he wanted to go ahead of me.

Today there is a triathlon in Central Park so we plan to investigate the dog park at 72nd. 

Friday night is my delight

Some days I wake up exhausted at the volume of change.  I do know, from years of experience, that it will get easier and that I will grow fond of this place I am living in but right now the sheer volume of new things has me fondly longing for knowing the right brand of soap powder and where to buy a certain thing.

If I'm  feeling this low level anxiety, my truly anxious kid is suffering greatly.  Thank heavens her younger sister has arrived and brought optimism and enthusiasm with her for a few weeks.  I walked up to Central Park this morning with Charlie and another dog were looking after and that easy routine is one of our many pleasures of this city, and she told me she has constant anxiety dreams about losing me in a crowded place.  I know that feeling - at low times, I would dream of seeing my mother across a crowded room but her not recognising me.

Thanks also to empathetic pets who sit close to her and reassure her.  Charlie, of course, has already featured on a dogs of Central Park Facebook page and has many fans.  We're dog sitting a little King Charles spaniel who is not much bigger than our cat but is playful and friendly.

Last night we went to the Whitney which is pay what you think it's worth on a Friday night.  It was rainy and the queue was long.  And it was cold.  We are so unused to inconstant weather - at home, if it's sunny, it stays sunny or cold stays cold.  Anyway, it was good to be out and to look at the biennial although to be honest we probably liked the roof top view best and even more through a mist of rain.  It was a good night and I know things will come together.