Let's make happy
Awesome Things
New Jersey Transit Art
Jun 1st
Yay another trip to Oklahoma today! It is one of my top 50 favorite states (in the US). And getting there is fun too, sometimes.
Anyone been to the fancy New Jersey Transit waiting room at Penn Station? I’ve taken the train to Newark Airport from there before but hadn’t seen the waiting room before this trip for some reason. It’s such an interesting atmosphere, combining the dinginess of contemporary American rail travel with what seems like an attempt to recapture the glamour of trains from the past. So homeless people nap and tinny classical music plays overhead. Also: an art installation!
This is “New Jersey On Parade,” a piece by George Mossman Greenamyer that was commissioned by NJ Transit in 2002, according to a plaque on the wall. It’s actually a pretty neat display of New Jersey landmarks and icons made of steel suspended from a track and constantly in motion. You see, because of trains and stuff. And here is Mr. Peanut.
The nostalgic style of the piece and the clicking mechanical sound it makes going around the tracks seems so very 1940s, I think, and strangely complements the old flickering monitors, the surly passengers, the piped-in classical music, and the smell of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels mixed with body odor.
Bees Love Games Too
May 27th
Did you hear about the bees that attacked a NY GameStop last weekend? There’s always something simultaneously silly and frightening going on in this city!
Husband John blogged about it over on Crispy Gamer, so I encourage you to go read his humorous writing about the bee video and about his own recent trip to a (different) NY GameStop.
Disappearing MTA Signs
May 15th
This is a bit off-topic, but I’ve always sort of admired these signs that appear in the subway stations of New York City:
I think it’s the simplicity, the font, and the size of the sign. At first glance, it almost looks like a minimalist ad campaign. Whether or not these notices are meant to be stylish, I don’t know, but something attracts me to them.
I’ve noticed recently that they’re being replaced with a less awesome design, which is disappointing. So before they’re all gone, I took a picture of one at the Broadway-Lafayette station.
My Fashion Secret?
Apr 19th
Like most everyone else I know, I’ve been trying to cut my clothes shopping budget lately. For me, this has mostly meant staying away from Bloomingdale’s and other favorite stores altogether, but the other day my sister and I gave Goodwill in Stillwater, OK, a try. I wasn’t expecting to find much there in a small university town, but I was pleasantly surprised with some great finds!
I was so excited that I took photos while my sister was in the fitting room…
Aren’t these shoes awesome? The pair in front fit me perfectly, and the pair behind fit my sis’s narrower feet.
I love the cut of this blouse.
This print struck me as very Marc by Marc Jacobs.
Another neat print from a dress that seemed very Max Mara (especially in its fabric and cut) to me.
LOVE this necklace (from the Goodwill in Owasso).
I can’t wait to start sporting all this stuff and have handsome guys lower their glasses in my direction.
50% Off at Dollar Jewelry
Apr 14th
This sight in Tulsa yesterday kind of made my day.
…until I got closer, and saw that the 50% off sale was for handbags only. I refuse to pay full price for my dollar jewelry.
Bonus! A Google search led me to this story about two burglars who broke into this very same jewelry store last year!
