To Stay or To Go?

With less than 3 months left before my visa expires, I’m having mixed feelings about what’s next.

My Aunt-Ada would like me to stay: “YOU MUST FIND A MAN AND MARRY!! (*pause*) I’m serious!” she’ll yell. "But - HE MUST BE GOOD LOOKING!!!" Ahhh, a woman after my own heart. 


Most of me is very happy to be going back to Melbourne in Feb

I can’t wait to have:

- a proper bed

- a full length mirror

- an apartment I enjoy going back to
- old friends

- family
- trams

But part of me also thinks – how on earth will I survive without this:

(Where I practically live)

 And this:

(Sephora Make Up - where you can try, try, try and no one bugs you!)

And Central Park:

The view on the other side of the fence:

(How can I possibly jog anywhere else?) 

Thinking long term; it will be nice to know one can afford a better lifestyle in Melbs than one can here – without working your guts out, or moving so far out of Manhattan that it’s not worth it. But what about atmosphere?!?

Am I taking the easy, safe option by going back? (My old job is waiting.)


I don’t want to stay and become one of those semi-successful, yet unfulfilled single, ladies with a cat. But I also don’t want to be one of those board, stretched work-mums, who has no time to do her hair!

What do I do? Can I even stay in NY? Will I regret not trying?

Walking down the streets of NY fills me with inspiration, intense emotions and even loneliness (which is bliss for writing) but it’s also daunting. There seems to be a million people - a million times better at everything I want to do. Shouldn’t I base myself somewhere to build contacts and friends for the long term?  Careerwise - this makes sense! After all – it IS who you know. And it does excite me thinking of trying my luck in a smaller,  pond in Oz.

What’s more important family? Career opportunities? Close friends or inspiration? I do love the people here. But where is home for me?

All these conflicting thoughts are swirling through my brain, with no clear answers. I hope it shows its self to me. Perhaps I’ll do as Oprah does, and get real quiet… then have a listen to my gut instincts.

Even just saying the word ‘gut instinct’ makes me think of Melbourne. (And Itally / Paris for some reason.) Interesting.

Has anyone’s gut feeling ever led them astray?

Football

Zzzzzzz

Having hardly slept… thanks to Oprah, which comes on at 1am here, today at my writer’s office – where it is so quiet - even coughing is not permitted (seriously they strap cough lollies to the door just incase) - I put my head down on my desk, and awoke over an hour later - making vibrating fart noises with my lips. Like a horse does!

The exact noise you need to make to take these pictures:

(taken last year, in a Melbourne restaurant with friends)

I don’t know how long I’d been doing it for, but all the people around me had mysteriously put their headphones in at some stage.

Why had they not woken me? Because they just assumed I was farting?

Red faced, and bleary eyed, I exited to use the bathroom. 

Nice Post on Office Culture

I just love this girl's writings:

http://www.elizaskinner.net/2008/11/07/if-this-is-love-ill-take-spaghetti/

Let the first line of this post entice you: 

"There is no better social barometer in an office than a lunch room."

Casualties of Fall

Central Park, New York, 2009.

New York’s Welcome Back

New York has a way of welcoming you back.

There may not have been any phone messages or parties to attend. (Not like the warm Brisvegas welcome.)

But there was this, on my first subway trip:

(Break dancing on the sub-way! Note: The man yelling “Excuse me! Can you stop bumping into me!” is yelling at me. Only I didn’t realize until he totally lost it!)

Also, the homeless man outside my office noticed I’d been away, and enquired how I’d been.

It’s good to be missed!

Twi-Like. I'd tap that.

Ali beat me to this post. We both must have had Edward Cullen on the brain! (Media is saturated with him in NY.)

And even thought I haven't seen the movie or red the books, I totally get it...

Yup. I get it. 

nom nom nom.