Half-Master

I have officially finished my first year of grad school. Can you believe it? It feels like Brennan and I were just packing up the U-Haul yesterday. It's been quite a year. Here are some things I've discovered, learned, and accomplished this year.

1. Social work IS the field for me. I have been affirmed and validated through everything I've been learning that I was made to do this work.

2. New York moves fast.

3. The school system in New York is MESSED UP! Hence, I will not have babies here.

4. Not all social workers are nice, or smart. I unfortunately experienced this first hand.

5. Brennan is the love of my life and this year would not have been possible without him. (These are not in any specific order). :)

6. There are some gems in Brooklyn, which have made me toy with the fact that I actually do like it here.

7. My roommates are amazing. I really lucked out.

8. I can now write a biopsychosocial.

9. I love Dough donuts.

10. I like going to the Farmer's Market, even if I don't buy anything. It reminds me of home.

11. It's hard to live in New York and not shop.

12. It's impossible to be in social work school and not in therapy. You must recognize and face your own issues in order to help others with their's.

13. I can still write papers.

14. I love yoga.

15. I am more of a country girl than I ever imagined.

16. But, I do really love the city.

17. NYU costs a lot of money, but the program is top-notch. Totally worth it. (I hope I still say that twenty years from now).

18. New York is an amazing city to study social work.

19. My parents are the ultimate supporters of everything I do.

20. You may now call me Half-Master.

Mab Visit = Good food, Guggenheim, 9/11, and the Twins!

A couple week's ago Brennan's mom, Mab, came to visit. It's fun having visitors because it forces me to break my routine and remember that I live in New York City! She spoiled us rotten, it was a blast.

Here's a highlight of some of our adventures...

 Brennan and I in front of the Guggenheim museum.

 Inside the Guggenheim, looking down. Such a cool building.

 The 9/11 Memorial. This place is quite amazing (thanks for the pic mab). There are two pools in the place of the Twin Towers. Water flows down on all four sides and empties into the square in the middle. It's quite beautiful, and so significant of the amount of loss and grief experienced that day.

 The water flows down, never filling up the pool, and falling into the abyss of unknown.

 You can't see the bottom of the pool, as if it is never ending.

 The names of the victims circle the two pools. It was quite emotional.

 Here is one of the towers being built.

 This is called the Survivor Tree. It was found in the aftermath of the attack and was planted on the memorial.

Whew. So that was a lot of emotional stuff, but we also went to a Yankees vs. Twins game! And, the Twins won!! New York was not happy with us that night, but we had a great time cheering on our home team.

It was a great week full of fun times! New York ain't so bad when visitors come!

Just another day in Washington Square Park...

The High Line

The High Line is one of Manhattan's little gems. It's a park built on the rail line elevated above the streets. It's full of amazing architecture, design, and green. That's right, green grass, plants, and birds. A perfect little escape from the hustle of the street.

Here's some bird feeders on part of the walkway. Just in time for spring!


And a perfect place for relaxing!

Cafe Lalo

Does this look familiar?


Or this?


Or this?


What if I stand in front, like this?


If you haven't figured it out yet, you do not love cheesy, romantic chick flicks like me. This is where Meg Ryan waited for Tom Hanks in the beloved movie You've Got Mail. I love this movie. Ever since it came out it made me want to move to New York and open a cute little bookstore and live in an amazing Upper West Side apartment. :) Well, at least I live in New York.

Cafe Lalo is about a block away from church. Brennan and I have walked by it a few times and every time I said, "That is so darn cute? Do you think it's expensive? It looks expensive. Let's go there. It's probably expensive. How cute!"

But, last Sunday, on our search for a coffee, we stepped in and Brennan said, "This is the place from You've Got Mail." I wasn't sure I believed him, but then I thought, YES, it is! And then we argued about it for a while, and then we saw the sign on the window that said it was true. Hahaha. So I had to take a bagillion pictures so I could have proof. And now I have made Brennan promise to take me there. I'll wait inside with my rose, and he will come in and sweep me off my feet, and we will pretend we live in Paris.

Man, I love New York. And for the record Brennan, You've Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle are NOT the same movie. Geesh.

It's not March, but...

I am Irish. And I don't feel bad about it.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! I love Easter! It's like Christmas for me, kind of. Early church and celebrating Jesus, and then... egg hunts, candy, pretty dresses and hats, cinnamon rolls, ham, baskets, pastels. What more could make a day so amazing? Peep jousting. Yes, peep jousting.

This is how it works.

Step 1: Get your peep, place your sword, face your opponent.


Step 2: Place in microwave and watch the battle. Peeps will expand, joust, and possibly explode (if you're lucky).


Step 3: Announce your Champeepion! Congrats, Dan!

And that is Easter! He has risen indeed!

p.s. Mom, the cheesy hashbrown potatoes were a hit.