Bear with me, I'm new here.

Well today is the first day since my move to New York that I have risen from slumber and felt sad. I'm not sure if it's because I recently saw photos of my best friends at our favorite restaurant/bar in Grand Rapids, or if it's because today is Claire's 21st birthday and I cannot hug her or high five her or afford a present for her or get her drunk. It could also be that the excitement of moving to a place like New York is quickly wearing away to expose the nature of the city... which is not always beautiful. Or maybe it's that New York could be a fresh start to my new life, but I'm right back to the grind of working in food service. Maybe it's just a healthy dose of straight-up homesickness. Whatever it is, it makes me uncomfortable. And a little sad. But I'm doing my best to remind myself that I am currently going through a time in my life that will bring the most substantial (and, consequently, the most uncomfortable) changes. Change is good. Discomfort is good. And even when sometimes it doesn't feel so peachy, it's nothing a brief and slightly teary Skype with mom and dad can't solve. (Thank you.)

Though my heart feels heavy today, I've had so much to be happy about in the past couple of weeks. While visiting Zak's house, we took a trip with Karin to IKEA. Our wallets are a bit lighter, but the counter space has already made up for the void...

I also bought and ate grapefruit for the first time in years. So delicious.

How about some various apartment photos taken by Zak? Okay.

(A brief, unrelated interjection... perhaps one of these days I'll take an audio sample from the window of our apartment. Sometimes I feel like reminding drivers that yes, your horn does serve a purpose but no, it is not to express your frustrations.)

A couple weekends ago Zak and I went to Central Park. Just about everyone and his brother had the same idea. I guess that's what to expect on the first really beautiful day of the year. I met Zak at work and we left from there. What a beautiful studio that boy works in. 

And then the boy humored me. I liked the lighting.

Onto the park.

In the time it took me to write this blog post, I have dimmed the lights, lit all the candles, and finished cooking dinner. Chicken pot pie soup is on the menu. It WAS supposed to be chicken pot pie... but I made an ill-timed discovery. Our oven does not work. And so the lord said, "it shall be soup!" And with a bit of tweaking, it is. And it's not too bad either. 

As though this post doesn't have enough photos already... I'll end with a couple ridiculous, recently snapped Photo Booth shots. 

Red lips, cool shirt, Coors can. There's some happiness for you.

A good hair day is a prime happiness catalyst as well.

And now Zak is home. That's some happy too.