New York or Bust

Blogcation

rkingsley — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:12:43 +0000

Folks, I need a break. I wont be gone forever, I promise. I’ll let you know via facebook or email when I return. Miss you already!

Iron & Wine

rkingsley — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 01:53:43 +0000

Sometimes I feel like there’s “my music” (Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry) and then there’s “Brad’s music” (Belle & Sebastian, Bright Eyes, The White Stripes). There’s also a third category that I’m really emotionally attached to, it’s called “our music” and that’s what we’ve discovered and come to love together. He thinks my music is way to pop-culture and produced while I think what he listens to is weird and raw… both of us are right. The music that’s “our music” has become really special to us. I almost feel like it’s an extension of our relationship- and I’m a little protective of it. Someone will say “Oh, I love to listen to so-and-so” and in my head I’ll say “Well, not as much as we do, you don’t even know the half…”

We’ve been lucky enough to see three of our most favorite artists while in New York. Two summers ago, we saw The Decemberists the day before I started my first job in New York. Last summer we ventured out to Long Island for a Ray Lamontagne concert at Jones Beach. Both were fantastic shows. I am so glad we had the opportunity to see them.

Last weekend we saw Iron & Wine, or in reality, Mr. Sam Beam play at Radio City Music Hall. The concert was Ah-mazing. Sam is such a brilliant song writer. His set integrated various musicians at different intervals but the best was the encore where was Sam in his element- an acoustic guitar and a spot light. His did The Trapeze Swinger to an extent that would bring tears to your eyes, and maybe did just a little bit.

Snowtastic

rkingsley — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 16:24:44 +0000

Madmen Yourself

rkingsley — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 17:09:35 +0000

Brad's ready for work!

www.madmenyourself.com

Desiderata

rkingsley — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:25:44 +0000

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be.
And whatever your labours and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

- Max Ehrmann, 1927

New York’s 35 Best Pork Dishes

rkingsley — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 14:41:44 +0000

Men aren’t pigs, but they sure do love a good pork chop! Brad found his ultimate challange in last month’s New York Magazine. He will eat his way through New York’s 35 Best Pork Dishes. In the words of Barney Stinson, Challenge Accepted!

We’ve already been to Vinegar Hill House and we will both attest that the Country Pork Chop (number 32) is to-die-for amazing. If the rest of the list is of the same caliber, we’re in for a fantastic food adventure!

Pinstripes and Top Hats

rkingsley — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 15:55:25 +0000

I was so excited to learn that my dearest friend Ashlea and her hubster Ryan were coming to New York for the Pinstripe Bowl and staying for New Years Eve! Ryan is a pretty intense fan of K-State football and would have traveled nearly anywhere to see them play in a bowl game so I consider it an act of God that K-State wound up coming to the Empire State, merging college football and college friends!

We had a blast together. They had both been to New York before so the list of to-dos was more focused than first timers. We aimed for more local spots with just a sprinkling of the big stuff ie. Ground Zero, Wall Street, Central Park.

We pretty much ate our faces off that weekend too. From amazing paninis to home-made gnocchi and the most ridiculous desserts on the planet. You may recall a little move called “You’ve Got Mail”? Well, we ate dessert at Cafe Lalo which is featured in the movie. It’s just a few blocks from our place.

New Year’s Eve was super fun as well. We reserved a table at a quirky and fun place called 675 Bar. It’s one of those places where you’d never know it was there unless you knew it was there. We had a raucous good time and ended the evening (or technically it was morning by that time) with a quick spin through Grey’s Papaya (Amazingly enough, also in You’ve Got Mail) for a few hot dogs. Yum!

Blog Stats Overview

rkingsley — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:29:29 +0000

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 8,800 times in 2010. That’s about 21 full 747s.

In 2010, there were 81 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 186 posts. There were 157 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 175mb. That’s about 3 pictures per week.

The busiest day of the year was December 20th with 124 views. The most popular post that day was My 29th Year.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were facebook.com, elsieandthegang.blogspot.com, lindsaytravelblog.blogspot.com, Google Reader, and alphainventions.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for www.newyorkorbust.wordpress.com, newyorkorbust, newyorkorbust.wordpress, newyorkorbust.wordpress.com, and generation y quotes.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

My 29th Year December 2010
8 comments

Why we’re giving up cable October 2010
9 comments

Master of His Domain May 2010
6 comments

Perfect Paintings January 2010
5 comments

Generation Y thinks in movie quotes April 2010
1 comment

2010 Christmas Giftie Awards

rkingsley — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 20:31:26 +0000

Brad and I embarked on a week-long Christmas trek through Kansas and Missouri. We enjoyed all of our stops along our zigzag path and loved seeing our family- especially the youngest two who grow and change so quickly. I thought that instead of composing a summary of who, what, and where that I would do something a little different. I would like to present our family members with awards based on some of the gifts this Christmas. May I present, the 2010 Giftie Awards:

Most Flexible Gift: Because economy of space is important to us and because Lynne was unable to help this year (broken leg), my dad gave us all MasterCard gift cards. They look just like a credit card so they can be accepted anywhere. I’d say that’s pretty darn flexible!

Daily Integration Gift: My sister, Beth, gave me the most amazing new mascara. The wand thingy is the best part. It’s Smashbox: Hyperlash Mascara. It is head and shoulders more awesome than the classic pink tube of Great Lash.

Silliest Gift: No surprise that my mother gets this one. She gave me, Beth, and her two boys matching neon green Christmas PJ’s from Pajama Gram. We nearly glow in the dark. (But I’m wearing them right now!)

Best Gift with a Made-Up Name: Brad’s mom, Nancy, gave me a Moppine this year. What the heck is that? Well, it’s a Rachel Ray creation- who I love- and it’s a hybrid between a kitchen towel and an oven mitt. Brilliant!

Most Unexpected Gift: Brad’s dad and step-mom gave me a necklace with ruby, sapphire, and emerald gem stones. I was pretty overwhelmed to open that little box!

Longest Distance Gift: Neva Klassen, my paternal step-grandma in California sends Beth and I Christmas gifts each year without fail even though my grandpa, Howard Penner, died when I was pretty young. I don’t get to see her often, but I can always count on a special box from her at Christmas.

Best Revival of a Traditional Gift: My grandparents gave everyone little brown paper bags, reminiscent of what they received after Christmas Eve Church as children. In each bag were peanuts, fruit, a few pieces of candy and the modern twist was a little Christmas green (if you know what I mean).

Merry Christmas

rkingsley — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 02:01:24 +0000