Michael Jackson—Gone but Never Forgotten

I have always been a Michael Jackson fan. I guess it all began with my mother's love for young Michael. As a kid I remember playing Jackson 5 songs, especially "Kansas City" on repeat and watching our VHS recording of "Thriller" and "The Making of Thriller" over and over again. My freshman year of high school my brother lip-sync to the Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" and it became a school hit, him going on to repeat his performance at other school functions. To carry on this family legacy "Michael Jackson's Greatest Hits" CD frequenting my car stereo in high school, I became known as a Michael Jackson Fan among my peers. To carry on this title, in art class I made a t-shirt with Michael's famous silhouette and the phrase "I wanna be like Mike..." Then Freshman year of College my college roommates I am sure wanted to strangle me as I played his new "Invisible" CD over and over again. Needless to say, hearing of his death on June 25th, was a shock and I mourned the loss of such a great music legended and genius.




Being in Harlem during this tradegy was a special experience. The Apollo Theater (one of the venues where the Jackson 5 got their start) became a meeting place for those that loved Michael to gather and not mourn but celebrate his life by singing and dacing to his greatest hits. With the Apollo Theater only being a few blocks from our apartment, the next day (June 26th) we headed down to pay our respects to MJ as well in enjoy some grade-A people watching.




It was amazing how less thatn 24 hours T-shirts, CDs, buttons, and tons of miscellanious Michael Jackson memorialbelia had already been made and was being marketed.




A contruction wood wall next to the Apollo became an unorganized place for people to write notes expounding their love for the King of Pop.




Later that night they made this wall a formal memorial where thousands were able to leave the words of appreciation and in Pat's case a promises of deeds to be done:
"Michael, don't worry we will do your work for you. Love, the Koellings"




We were glad that we were in Harlem to be able to show our respects for Michael in the proper way.

Mammatus Clouds

On Friday, June 26th, Pat and I were just walking by and happened to see a natural phenomenon—Mammatus clouds. At the time I didn't know what was happening and even got a bit scared for the end of the world. The whole sky was filled with jelly fish like clouds that seemed to be alive in some fashion. Everyone was stopping and staring as well.

However, the next day I found out that it was a mammatus cloud which are often indicative of a particularly strong storm (we had one earlier that day) or maybe even a tornadic storm. They tend to form more often during warm months and over the midwest and eastern portions of the United States.

The next day there were also a tons of pictures uploaded from the event on Flickr.com. Here is one that really displays that craziness of it all.

Dinosaur BBQ

Ever since we got to NYC people were always telling us to go to the "Dinosaur Barbecue." Well, this past week we took those peoples advice and went.



Knowing it was in Harlem, we thought it would be a local dive or hole in the wall. We were blown away by how nice it was and how many people were there on a Monday night. We were starving and not anticipating the hour wait we were going to call it quits.

But outside they have open seating (if you can grab a seat in time). We were lucky and a family from our ward was just finishing up. So we got their table!



The food was good and decently priced for NYC. Dinosaur BBQ is known for its ribs so that is what we got!

Another Joy of NYC

The grocery store is much farther away here than it was at our old place. I would have to go to the market 2 or 3 times a day because I couldn't carry much that far.

We decided to track down these carts we see people with around town. We finally found one and for $30 dollars we now have a more convenient way to carry our groceries home.

It's amazing how people adapt to their surroundings.

P.S. It's June and STILL raining!

Humidity or Hard Work?

So with the all my free time and living so close to Central Park I have been going running (really just jogging and walking mostly) everyday. I went running with Pat the other night and I was so proud of my sweat marks. I felt like I worked out really hard because I usually never brake a sweat in utah. I say it is because I am getting in such great shape but I think in reality it is the humidity.

Book Review: Dracula

My favorite genre to read is Young Adult Fiction, however, Pat gives me a lot of beef about that because he says I should be reading something more educational. So in order to feel like I am not wasting my time with just "entertaining" books I decided for every fictional book I will read one classic or non-fiction book.

Thus, the pattern continues with my next read the classic "Dracula," written in 1897 by the Irish author Bram Stoker. The novel is mainly composed of journal entries and letters written by several narrators where the lives are tied together by the vampire Count Dracula.

It was interesting how the author created an entire novel with a very in depth plot all through journal entries. It was my first time reading a "classic" so it was much different than my typical reads. I am not an English major or anything of the kind so I guess I do not appreciate the art of language. I think this may have contributed to my not enjoying this book because I felt the author was too descriptive, as it would take FOREVER to get a point across.

All in all it was a good story, but could have been cut in half.

I am glad I read and finished "Dracula." I feel more cultured even though I did not enjoy it.

Soul Food

When we first arrived to NYC and we were asking around what we should do, someone suggest "Soul Food." Not knowing how it was spelled I assumed they were talking about "Seoul Food" as in Seoul, Korea.

However, if you simply walk around NYC you will see tons of "Soul Food" places, especially in Harlem.

So what is "Soul Food"?

Soul food is an American cuisine that is the traditional cuisine of African-Americans of the Southern United States and of black communities beyond. In the mid-1960s, soul was a common definer used to describe black culture (for example, soul music), and thus the name "soul food" was derived.

Apparently Waffles are a big part of Soul Food. I have no idea why, but everything is served with a waffle!

Nate and Pat HAD to get Cool-Aid...to really enjoy the Soul Food experience.

My roommate Meri deciding what she is going to get.

When they brought out the corn bread while we waited and decided what we wanted we knew this place was going to be GOOD. I mean...who doesn't like CORNBREAD!?

Pat sure does.

On the Move...AGAIN!

It has been a while since I have updated our blog due to the fact that we moved last week. We didn't have the internet until today, so let me show you a little place!

Shown above is our bedroom. It has a bathroom connected to it and a walk-in closet. We are living the life! We wont live in this nice of a place for a long time, so we are really enjoying the posh life style. (NOTE: That bed is a double! That is right, after two years of enjoying the space of a king sized bed, Pat and I have downgraded to a double. Suprisingly it is doable.)

Our Kitchen/Living room.

This apartment is "furnished" meaning it comes with a kitchen table and beds. But that is okay because there are so many benefits to living here one major one being a MICROWAVE! (haha you can tell NY has really made us be grateful for the little things).



Little Story:
Our old apartment is only about a mile away from our current apartment. Not knowing how much a taxi would cost we decided to trek all our luggage across town. We stole (temporarily borrowed without permission) the bellman trolley thing and made our journey. It was a lot harder than we thought, pushing the trolley up and down hills, through parks, up and down stairs, until we finally arrived at our destination. With the heat and humidity of NYC Pat and I were both drenched.

When we arrived at our apartment our roommates were already there. They took a taxi from the same place we lived to our new place for SEVEN DOLLARS! We couldn't believe we did all that to save $7! Never having taken a taxi before we thought it would be a lot more.

Oh well. Now we have a good story to tell.



Our new place has a little balcony (very little). There is just enough room for one person to sit and enjoy the excitement of living in Harlem.

I caught Pat eating his breakfast out there one morning.

Roommates!

When Pat and I got married I thought that would be the end of roommates. Little did I know that we would be reliving college memories again by living with another couple. In order to save some money and live in a nice place we decided to split the rent with another couple, Nate and Meri (Meredith) Le.

It has been a blast. Nate and Meri are a really fun and funny couple and with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms its perfect. We really enjoy the company and having a couple to do something with all the time!

What is Art?

As I was reading up on things to do in the city I came across this new art installation:

Beginning Monday 8, the pedestrian tunnel in front of the Central Park Zoo is set to transform into a Sound Tunnel, a sonic collage by composer and sound-installation artist John Morton. “A big part of this project is to embrace and celebrate coincidence,” says Morton. “I want people to have that sense of ‘Where’s this coming from?’” Six speakers will blast a 20-minute performance every half hour, comprising remixed chimes from the nearby Delacorte Clock; field recordings from the park itself (including those of pigeons, fountains, street musicians and jackhammers); and a prerecorded poem called “Centrally Park,” read by Bob Holman. Each of these elements blend with the noise occurring in real time outside the tunnel, like cars whizzing by. “Some people might stop; others might walk through,” says Morton. “How are different people going to perceive it? I can’t wait to find out.”


It sounded like a fun thing to experience so Pat and I headed out in the "Art City" to enjoy the Art. We got there with minutes to spare, as we got lost several times in the massive Central Park. I waited in anticipation for something really cool to happen...(watch video now)

however, I guess Pat and I need a little more culturing in order to understand the depths of this piece. We thought that maybe the point was to sit and watch peoples' reactions as they walked through the tunnel unknowingly, however, no one really noticed and those that did, didn't care. I don't know what I was expecting but needless to say, we were a little disappointed.

Madison to SoHo

The "Unbeatable Duo", Pat and Johnny.

A couple of weeks ago Pat finished his first internship at Y&R and started his other internship at Lowe. He loved Y & R there and was really sad to leave. We don't know if he will be back there in the Fall, but if not I know he will always have great memories of Y & R and his friends there.

(Left to Right: Johnny, Michon, Casey and Billy)

Book Review: Pretties

This book by Scott Westerfeld is the sequel to "Uglies" which I previously read. I do not want to give a summary of this book in fear it would give away what happens in the first book. "Pretties" is part of a triliogy which I plan on finishing soon because each book ends leaving you needing more. This book was just as good or not better than the first. They are VERY quick reads and entertaining through and through.

Free in NYC

Surprisingly there are a lot o things to do in New York City that are free. As we are very poor (paying $1,700 for rent for a studio apartment in Harlem) we are always looking for inexpensive entertainment.




This past Friday we went to a free concert in Central Park. We didn't know the singer but thought it would be fun, and it was! However, not knowing how things worked we left a little late and ended up only catching the end of the show.

They have many events like this one throughout the summer (for FREE!) so we plan on hitting some up, if not all!

Stumbling Upon Fun

One thing that is SO fun about exploring NYC is the events and happenings that you just stumble upon as you are walking around. It has happened to us quite often that we go somewhere trying to find one thing and find something much cooler in the process.

This happened to us this Saturday. As we were trying to find this floating art exhibit we came upon a fair on Pier 17.



There we found a cool out-door and in-door mall, a nice pier....

cool old ships,

and a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

We happened to be there when a wedding was occurring on a yacht.

Target was hosting a concert and fireworks later that evening. They gave away tons of free yo-yos. Pat was loving it and got several.

The concert featured the Brooklyn Philharmonics and was really good. We felt very cultured listening to it and actually enjoying it.

When the evening came the Brooklyn Philharmonics played Mozart to fireworks.

The combination of the music plus amazing fireworks made for a great evening.

This is the grand finale. I have never seen such amazing fireworks before! There were so many fireworks in the sky it seemed as though it was midday! If this is how NY does weekend fireworks, I can't wait until the Fourth of July!

My life here in NYC will never be the same

This morning as I was sitting in bed talking to Pat as he was getting ready to go to work I saw something HUGE move out of the corner of my eye. I quickly turned my head to see what it was, however, without my glasses all I could see what a humongous object quickly, and I mean quickly scurry under my bed. I freaked out and jumped up now standing on my bed telling Pat to find it. Then before we knew it, it was all the on the other side of our bed climbing into our dresser! Now its in my clothes! I scream for him to find it but by the time Pat opens the drawer its already gone! I was freaking out! There was no way I was going to be able to live in this apartment knowing I had another roommate!!!! Then just then the cockroach is climbing on out bed, to the pillow to the wall in a matter of seconds. That is when I leap from the bed screaming and move onto a chair across the room, yelling for Pat to get it.

The whole episode only lasted a few minutes but has forever changed me, especially while I will be living in this apartment for another week. After Pat left for work I didn't know what to do with myself, paralyzed with fear. I couldn't move scared that a cockroach would come out of no where and crawl up my leg.

I don't know if I will be able to sleep knowing there are possibly cockroaches crawling into be with me. I guess it is a little more motivation for me to get a job and get out of the apartment!

Book Review: Nickel and Dimed

More free time means more books read. I decided to read this book because as Pat and I come in contact with so many "less-fortunate" people in New York our conversation has often led to a book he read in high school, Nickle and Dimed.

Book Synopsis:
Barbara Ehrenreich’s non-fiction bestseller, Nickel and Dimed, is the story of an essay writer who went undercover as a low wage worker to find out how non-skilled workers make ends meet. The experiment took place in Florida, Maine, and Minnesota, with the author finding a job and lodgings in each location. The experiment was held for one month in each location, working full time and living only off the amount of money earned in low-wage jobs. The goal was to determine whether or not the author could both live off the money earned and have enough money at the end of the month to pay the next month’s rent.

I was not particularly enthralled in this book or find her lifestyle astounding. I even laughed a few times as she described our currently living conditions in New York. However, it was humbling to see how I have been given so many opportunities to live a successful and comfortable life. It makes me thankful for all the hard work of my parents, their parents and so forth. It opened my eyes to the difficult cycle of poverty and how it takes a strong will and even maybe a little "luck" to break out.

Sunday Games

Despite the fact that our shower frequently wont turn on, our mattress springs jab in our sides, and the horrible and over-priced food, there will be one thing that we will deeply miss about living in the I-House—the friends.



The nights are filled with laughs as we spend hours eating and sitting the cafeteria and Sundays are filled with games and fun. It has become a tradition every Sunday evening to spend time with our new internship friends and play games. These games include: knock-out, catch phrase, cards, telling scary ghost stories, and Frisbee at the park.



Here is a picture of everyone playing Frisbee at Riverside Park, the park across the street from us.

Random pic of Pat's find on the way to play Frisbee—a tree growing into a fence.