We are like rats in the maize that is the New York subway…running up and down stairs, waiting on platforms, getting our skirts blown up by thick air as trains screech by, heaving that hot, stuffy air into every possible space until you step onto the airconditioned train for a bit of cool relief. On Thursday I had to go to a meeting and opted to take the subway cross-and-downtown over getting stuck in a cab in traffic. As we know, New Yorkers are always in a rush. So when the crowd surges out of the train towards an exit, you’d better be rushing with the crowd, or get left behind (and possibly trampled on!).

As we were rushing out of the train the crowd surged up the steps towards the exit when all of a sudden it happened…the guy behind me got too close and his big shopping bag got stuck on my heel. I almost lost the grip on my handbag, my high heel twisted and my hair flew around my head. As if in slow motion it happened…I saw the dirty step coming closer, instinctively reached out and then recoiled, thinking that under no circumstances should a hand have to touch that dirty floor. Lucky for me three people around me grabbed at my arms and within one second of the trip’s start, it was over and I was back on my way out of the station with nothing more than a bruised ego. Or so I thought!

I pulled my hair into place and got my wobbly legs back on the high heels. As I got to my meeting I looked down and realized that I had chipped both my big toe nails! Thick black dirt was embedded into my professional pedicure. Ugh. So I did what any self-respecting New York girl would do. I got another pedicure. Nothing quite like shiny toes to heal a bruised ego.

I’ve never really been to outdoor music festivals before. Well, I guess if you counted seeing Kurt Darren do his ‘Meisie-Meisie’ (watch this movie completely at your own risk!) hip swing at the KKNK (Afrikaans Arts Festival in Oudtshoorn) you would say I have, but I’ve never been to the type of music festival where you’d actually see someone really famous perform. Like, outside of Africa famous. On Saturday, I did.John and I went to the All Points West (APW) festival in New Jersey and saw Kings of Leon, The Roots and Radiohead perform. At a guess I’d say there were about 50 000 people at this festival and it had the works – from the hippie food stalls selling hemp burgers and soy shakes to the spray tents where fine mist sprayed from the roof to keep the festival goers cool. It was awesome! The weather was perfect and the setting…oh the setting. We were right across the southern most tip of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty had her back to us while we were bumping to the tunes of The Roots. Yes, I know…at the last show I was slightly less impressed, but oh my. This time I finally became a convert.John’s sweetest moment of the day was when I forced him to pose for a photo with the drummer from The Roots – this man has a serious ‘fro and his signature style includes an African comb which magically stays stuck in the do, even while he’s drumming his head off on stage.The downside to this experience was that it took us 4 hours to get to the venue – first we had to go straight down to the Financial District and then stood in line to buy tickets for the ferry after which we stood in line to get onto the actual ferry (longer line than at the Apple store for the launch of the iphone, I think…or maybe not!) and then, once we made it off the ferry, we stood in line to get through security. But all in all, very worthwhile! Another fabulous New York experience.

On Sunday morning we did the most unheard of thing…We got up at 8.15! I know…gasp! Why, you might ask. We had booked tickets to go see The Dark Knight at the huge IMAX screen – it was fabulous, even by a shoe-and-bag-girl’s standards. Following our early morning movie session, John, Justin and I went to Bistro Cassis on the Upper West Side for the best damn French Toast I have ever had in my entire life. Read my review on www.yelp.com here and remind me to take you when you come visit. It’s worth every calorie!

My baby sister turns 21 today. In South Africa, 21 is the age where you become, legally at least, an adult. It feels surreal to think that the little girl whose bum and tears I used to wipe and whose countless sessions of ‘oefenedinge’ (her version of exercise) I had to applaud, the little innocent blonde-headed cutie-pie who could shove two pacifiers into her mouth at the same time (in fact, she actually prefered two to one and always had her bottom lipped curled protectively over the lower half of one (or two)) is now a woman in the legal right and one living a rather independent life in Johannesburg. I really love this picture I have of the three sisters with our blonde hair and fabulous 80′s hairstyles. If photos could talk, I think this one would’ve had lots to say about the future lives of the girls in it! (ha ha ha!)

Whenever I get into a funk about living my life abroad I start something fun to cheer me up. Last time this happened these funk-induced ventures lead to me starting book club and also to joining the summer art classes which led to my purple and pink piece-de-resistance. This year the funk has been slow in it’s attack. I’ve been feeling a bit homesick (missing my friends and family and life in Cape Town) and have been a bit moody and somewhat snappy (poor John!). All in all, I just haven’t been myself.

And then I realized…it’s that time of year again! Summer is nearing its end and I feel like we just haven’t gotten round to doing enough fun things. John’s going on his annual Cape Town work trip and will be gone for three weeks as he’s also swinging around home to say hi to all his friends on his way back to New York and the month ahead kind of lies ahead in a big sweltering heat wave with very few highlights in the foreseeable future, apart from my mom visiting in September (yay!).

So I decided to venture out and find another funk-battling activity. The question is just what… I’ve done reading and painting so far, so which option should I take a jab at for my next funk-battling activity in this city that offers endless options? Any ideas?