Things that I have learned about public transportation

See where I come from we have cute names for our public transportation system--which is made up entirely of buses. Each one has a pathway that is equivilent to one full street (it just runs up and down the same street day in and day out). This system is then linked by a bus that runs around the entire city. I live in Boulder, this does not have much area to take care of. So we have the Hop, the Jump, the Leap, the Bound, the Stampede, the Skip, etc. Pleasant names. They do the job required to cart a few hundred thousand people about.

Moving to NYC has required me to learn an entirely new system that is constructed of subways, buses, trains, and even monorails at the airport. For my entire life I have driven anywhere I want to go, generally in a cute little economical gas saving device.

Naturally being in such close proximity to people makes me: a) nervous, b) overwhelmed, and c) wishing I knew where I would actually end up when I get on a bus or train. And not to mention I begin to mix letters around when talking about the names of trains. And local vs. express. Crosstown, uptown, downtown. I get dizzy.

To say the least...I remain confused, less than pleased, and ready to be sipping tea on the veranda of my cute little cottage which exists only in my dreams.

Moving to Brooklyn

I have no new subway antics to share! Bummer. Truth be told I have been carting myself and my dog around in a car to meet potential roommates and see new places to live.

So I am moving to Park Slope. I have yet to decide on a location. But soon enough my friends!

And for added pleasure I have attached a picture of my dog whom I have deemed a "bona fide love bug"

Hard to 'Go Home' Again

I recently returned home to Colorado where we simply don't have subways. As a result, I didn't have much to say. But what I can say is that upon my arrival to Denver International Airport I noticed something rather odd--I no longer looked like a Coloradan.

Everyone waiting in line for the AB bus from Denver to Boulder was wearing a Patagonia and/or North Face puffy parka paired with grubby jeans and Birkinstocks. I admired all of them, as I too dressed like that a mere six months ago. But as I watched them board the bus I was astonished to realize that was wearing skinny jeans, riding boots over said jeans, a boiled wool coat, and I had quite the 'New York' hair.

It was clearly inevitable, I have become a New Yorker.

F Train to Brooklyn

Today I was thinking on my way to Brooklyn how strange it is that I rarely see any Caucasian panhandlers on the train. More times than not, they just aren't there. There is of course the flute dude who plays everyday in the Downtown Broadway/Lafayette station, but he is the only one that I can place notably in my lexicon for folk I am currently writing about.

But today on the way home from Brooklyn I ate my worlds. I ran into an honest man, or seemingly so, seeking out money on the train. Considering I take this train back and forth between Brooklyn and I have never seen him makes me wonder if he was legit.

His speech was heartfelt and earnest and very well rehearsed (too rehearsed perhaps?). He was homeless, just out of jail, and kicked out of his family. He had stayed at a homeless shelter for the past two nights, but was recently attacked in a homeless shelter. He was seeking out a total of 15 dollars so that he could stay at the YMCA for a night.

Curious, I asked him how much he currently had. His reply, while emptying out his pockets, "About six bucks." So I handed him a dollar and I said he better get off the train at 25 bucks, otherwise I would be severely disappointed.

His response. "Ma'am, I don't want to be on this train anymore than you do. Its just a necessity. I start work Monday, so I will certainly be off this train by then. Embarrassment doesn't even begin to cover how I feel right now." I bid him farewell, and wished him luck. If I see him again in a few weeks, I will worry.

But then again, here I am calling him honest and believing his story. And he was the first panhandler I gave money to....I think this plays into so much of the racism that I had ingrained into my brain at a young age in Southern California. It was "common knowledge" that beggars weren't white. Right, common knowledge. That is until you see them and you realize that you grew up being lied to. But sometimes its hard to bury those lies....


I hope he finds what he is looking for....

Clarabella NYC and Quarter Life Crises

Today I dropped on into my friends shop in the Lower East Side to pick up an amazing little bracelet I ordered a while back. While there, I discussed with her all of my options in my life currently. I would list them all but the list is rather daunting and I would rather not.

She reminded me that I am young, have a lot of talent and will do just fine--Just need to find, ya know, FOCUS. (yay Erin for the pick me up)

So that said, I am slowly etching out a plan for the future. It feels good. I will keep you all updated on the process.

And if you ever need an awesome handbag, pair of shoes, belt, pair of earrings or whatnot go check out Erin's shop. Its pretty spectacular and the company ain't so bad either.

Annie Leibovitz

I believe from my heart of hearts she is one of the most fantastic portrait photographers in the history of mankind. There is something about her signature, slightly over photoshop-ed style that I just can't get away from. The use of color, her concepts, her models reaction to her work...its all rather extraordinary. Below is a video which I just found that shows how well she interacts with her subjects and the resulting work the occurs.

She is truly astounding.

Note to a member of the NYC Public

Dear Sir,

Pushing you way up the stairs on a staircase that is already full four across is not advisable. This is not spawning season, you are not a salmon, but you may need to get laid. Please note: This is not our fault, so don't act as if it is. Good luck finding sex, you most certainly need it.

Thanks,
Makenna

Not that I want to...

But I can't ignore this. Nope. Just can't. And I really hate dealing with politics on any blog I do. But this is not something to take lightly.




And this is why America can be really scary sometimes.

Commencement of a New Blog

Sound the horns ladies and gentlemen, a new blog is here on the internets.

This is a place for me to do quite a bit of things. But primarily it is a place for me to post partial chapters/whole chapters of the book I am currently writing. Please watch out for updates, and keep the comments a going.

Allow me to introduce myself (beyond the scope of my bio). I'm a recent Smith College graduate who is now studying economics and sustainability at New York University. I live in Manhattan with my lovely dog Kiri, my cat Colfax, and my girlfriend Kellie. I'm into photo documentary projects, protesting anti-queer folk, advocating for what I believe is just and right in the world, and being outdoors in the wilderness as much as possible.

I work for the infamous Pulitzer prize winning photo journalist Edward Keating. I also own my own marketing firm. I am always spread thin, but seem to manage my ability to balance everything...Although it can be challenging.

So there you have it sports fans.