anywhere but here.

x-processed hula

I am currently in New York, alone, and aimlessly roaming. I haven't really experienced aimlessness since a very small amount of time I decided to venture out alone in Japan, back in November of 2007. Before that, it was in Europe where I really felt......alone. Isolated from people who were so casually going about their way!

I can't believe that in this random street in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, I have people bidding me adieu, smiling, standing by the iron gates. I can barely get anyone in Toronto to look me in the eye at mutual recognition of random funny moments, seconds of irritation, and hours of sitting in waiting rooms, concert lines, and on subway platforms.

But I guess that's just the way it is. But it makes me feel at home here, seeing neighbourhood friends meet and hug and kiss on the corner. And the bakeries and cafes are filled with friendly people, neighbours to all their customers.

I have discovered a few cool things here:
1. my sense of direction is maturing with age.
2. Carol Shields' The Stone Diaries on a stone step. FREE!
3. Picked up an EP today by Fleet Foxes "Sun Giant" at a cool record shop (almost as cool as soundscapes, but not quite, except that they have vinyl....which leads to
4. Picked up a vinyl from Now-Again Records label at the same place called "Cold Heat: Heavy Funk Rarities", which I've only ever checked out online but I loved the looks of this label and figured anything on it was gold.
5. New York is filled with people that make me want to laugh. It's probably because everyone seems so happy right now...which probably has something to do with the weather.
6. Another cool band called Felice Brothers. Very awesome. Sort of Justin Rutledge-ish and Bob Dylan-esque.

Check em all out.