Saturday, April 24, 2010

Recording Studio

Yesterday I went to the recording studio in East Village.
I've met a producer (I shouldn't even say just a producer. He is a recording artist himself, GRAMMY award winning producer, composer, engineer, and a song writer) here in NY, and he kindly offered me to see his studio.

I've been to a couple of recording studios before, and his studio didn't look like any other studios. Well none of the studios look the same and has unique treatments and structures, but I felt so comfortable being there immediately.

He is unbelievably an humble person, and he even let me help doing his work! (FYI I have no tech knowledge, but he made me feel like I'm doing something!) He was working on a track for an upcoming major label artist and showed me how he's working on.

I had such an amazing time just to be with him in his studio. It could be intimidating, but I tried not to think who he is and tried not to freak out. lol

Since I start doing my internship, I've met so many artists not just singer songwriters like producers for example. They are so friendly and humble, and it really amazed me all the times. I know that the producers need to be excel at communications since that's what they do with artists now matter how famous he is. I do appreciate their attitude. BIG UP MUSIC!

Monday, April 19, 2010

The mistery of the libraries

OK, Whenever I go to a library or a bookstore, I'd have a stomach problem. I heard that my body is reacted by the chemicals in the link. So believe it or not, I have some bookstores that I can't possibly stay any longer than 5 minutes.

Yesterday, I went to two of the NY public libraries; Stephen A Schwarzman and Mid-Manhattan library. I couldn't tell when I started feeling SICK, but by the time I got home I was dead from a heavy headache and body-ache. I even had a trouble sleeping! I didn't have a stomach issue however, I really don't know why I felt sick like that. So weird.

Anyways, spending time in the library by myself on Sunday afternoon was awesome.
I love Stephen A Schwarzman building where Carrie from the Sex and the City was supposed to get married with Mr. Big. That building is almost like a museum or a castle. It is very historical and gorgeous, so you can even feel like you are in the Harry Potter movie!


So I borrowed one old Japanese film (Crazed Fruit. 1956) and Scott Fitzgerald book, and I start wondering about people who touched and read this book before. The book is so old, and it must be read by countless people in the past. Isn't it kind of strange and mysterious just thinking about that fact?

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Healthy Mind+Body+LIfe

It has been a wonderful weekend, and I feel just simply great.

I woke up around noon on Saturday morning and made a big fat breakfast (as always).
It was beautiful outside, so I decided to go to the mall close by my place. Downtown on a weekend is way too busy and crowded, so I'd rather stay in Queens.

I bought a nice stress relief massage oil and a scrub from Bath and Bodyworks. I like Aveda products as well, but I'm in love with those stress relief series from Bath and Bodyworks. They have body lotions, hand soap, pillow mist....and other series as well.


After I came back home, I cleaned the bathroom and took a nice long bath.
Since I left Japan, one of the things that I really miss is this part: take a bath everyday.
I literally took a bath everyday back home. It's quite usual for us, and we have a deeper bath tub, so I could completely soak my body into a nice hot water.

My body and mind was all refreshed, and here was a big surprise....one of my roommates gave me a foot massage!! What a nice hospitality!! I was in heaven for a while and drooled a little bit. lol

Obviously I didn't wanna do anything after this relaxation, I turned on the TV thinking nothing would interest me...but I saw Sinatra on the TV! ...what? I doubted my eyes and paid attention this time....they were showing a good OLD film "High Society"!

So I thought this would be a great night for me...I haven't had time just to sit and watch a good movie. Well I should probably say I didn't even wanna do it since I don't have a company to do it here. (How much I miss Ms. Kitty and all my friends who snuggled with me and watched movies together!!)

The movie was very classy and jazzy, and watching Luis Armstrong automatically made me smile.

They showed another film right after. It was an indie film directed by UK director, Shane Meadows; "Somers Town". All black and while, artistic, foreign, and simple yet smart.
I immediately drew into this film due to the beautiful opening sound track. I didn't know the song, but it was freaking good, so I decided to watch it.

After watching those films, I was thinking about all the fancy CG, 3D movies that Americans are freaking out. Is that really necessary? How about the story itself?
I'd prefer to be an old school.

This calls "Natto"(Fermented soybeans!ha!).
Ridiculously healthy and makes you smart. (don't ask me why)
I eat it with "Genmai"(Japanese brown rice), and it's so good.
I am trying to start Macrobiotic diet as much as I can. I still love meats (CHICKEN!) and can't live without them, but I am limiting the intake of meats!



Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Breakfast Perfection


I love breakfast.
I love it enough so I sometime make it for my lunch and even supper.

My favorite thing is to make a BIG breakfast on Sunday morning. I usually play some happy bossa nova music while making buttermilk pancakes and omelets with veggies, and a cup of hazelnuts coffee. I love this process so much, so I don't mind waking up early even if I have nothing to do for a day.

I can't go anywhere without having a breakfast. It's that important to my day.
I don't know who started to eat toasts and eggs in a morning, but I admired someone who started. I also have a big thank to someone who invented French toasts! Ahhhhh sooo good. I cannot be tired of eating French toasts!

I also make really yummy breakfast potatoes...I use baby red potatoes (diced), garlic, sea salt, pepper, paprika, rosemary....yum. Garlic makes everything yummy like Rachel Ray always says....I have to agree on that opinion. Garlic makes everything yummy!

Ohh breakfast. I Love you.

Bits of New York City Scenes







Brooklyn Bridge
Statue of Liberty and Water Taxi
Wall Street Sign and The Trinity Church
Inside of the Trinity Church
Central Park

Sunday, April 4, 2010

春の訪れ。

久しぶりに更新。
ずっと書きたいことが山ほどあったんだけど、ありすぎて書くのが面倒になっていたり、家のネット接続が悪くて写真のアップロードができなかったりで期間があいてしまった。

いろいろあるときだからこそきちんと書き留めておきたいといつも思うのに、そうゆうときってやはりものぐさの自分には難しい。

何はともあれ、毎日いろいろ刺激を受けながら、こんな自分で大丈夫?と疑問に思いつつ、春の陽気に誘われていい感じに毎日過ごしてる。

朝の太陽に嬉しくなったり、床を磨いてみたり、マーケットの安売りのイチゴを見て興奮したり、本当に自分って幸せだと思う。何をやっているんだか。こんなに浮かれているからダメなんだよなあ。幸せでいることはいいけれど、そのことによって他人を不幸にしている気もしなくはない。今はとにかく世界を見たい病がいつにも増していて、ビザの関係でしばらくはアメリカを離れられない身としては苦痛の日々。

仕方がないから世界地図を眺めてはどうやって一周するのが効率がいいのかだとか、自分は世界を廻ることで何をしたいのかを妄想中。各国で中途半端なボランティアをして、自己満足するようなことはしたくない。もっと何か意義のあることをしたいし、そのためにはお金も必要だけどまだまだ教養が足りないし、第一お金もない。

夢を見ることはいいことだけど、そこから現実に持って行かないと何も意味がない。
少しずつでも現実になるように計画中。
何をするにも時間はかかる。

ちりも積もれば山となる。

あれ、やっぱり写真アップロードできないな。
また次回ってことで。