More city hangouts+being a beginner

Mostly work has not been too noteworthy. It's a good thing because that means I am not mega stressed. The days go pretty fast, and while it can be stressful in the moment, I definitely have a better handle on things! It helps me to have the attitude of giving my best while I'm there but letting things go once I leave. I think like this I have a better work/life balance. Things will not be so peaceful once I start studying for the MCAT, but I'll just have to accept that as it comes.

For me, the most fun things of course are what I do outside of work! My pottery class has been going well. It's still tough, and I have a looooong way to go. But for example, even last week, the second class, I felt something click in the way I was doing one certain part. That part seems relatively easy now while the week before it was a mystery. Trying something new can be unsettling. I think especially when you get older, you can get discouraged because things are not coming so quickly. You might think, I wish I started this earlier, by now I could be so much better. But it really is never too late to start something. I remember in high school I would see other people my age really talented at something like drawing or an instrument. I would feel discouraged, but I just had to remind myself that they took years of practice to be at that point! Anyways, mini pep talk to myself. I do really enjoy the part of a craft when it can just feel natural and you can start challenging yourself. But the initial building of muscle memory and building good habits is a hurdle I just have to accept.

This weekend I met Malika's boyfriend and we hung out at the park the next day (just me and Malika though XD) I saw Mary and Uncle Philip and it was a pretty calm time. I think it's really fun that we can meet up so easily :) Growing up, my family would like to go to restaurants often. Especially after church on Sunday, it was an unspoken tradition. We tended to go to the same places, which is fun, but now that I'm older, it's fun to branch out. In New York, it's quite easy to do so.

[rainbow cookies at the Italian bakery Malika and I stopped at. I was enchanted by the M&M cookie, and I'm not sure if it's representative here but it was HUGE. I'm still working on it days later]

[The coffee was a taro latte! And the tea stuff was a place I went to with Mary and Uncle Philip. We shared a tea set and they have the most luscious french hot chocolate. The pie looking foods are a place Malika wanted to try where they have Georgian cuisine. I had never tried this nor knew anything about Georgia the country.... I thought it was good and the flavor profile was definitely unique. Malika got their cheese bread, and it was interesting to see how cheesy this kind of food is!]

Sunday, I spent time working on my cardigan. I'm very happy to annouce, as they say, it is off the needles! Ie I'm done with the knitting. I still have to fix the ends, and then there is still a last step involved that I want to do, which is called blocking. This is when you wet the knit and let it dry out into its final form. I've never done this before but just bought the materials to do so. I'm curious to see how much it truly changes, because people say that it really does transform the piece for the better. We shall see! I'll take before and after pictures. But even without that, I am very pleased with the result so far! Most of the clothes I'm knit/crocheted, I feel hesitant to wear. They could be nice, but since I'm still learning the fit is never quite right. This one though is very promising.

[I wanted it on the short side and the sleeves to not be too long. Sleeves are always too long for me :( so it's my chance to really make it perfect for MEEEE. the buttons were from a notions store downtown :) I love funny and silly buttons]

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[yesterday we had a lab barbecue on a nearby island where a lot of the employees of my workplace are housed. It's not offered to techs, but the housing seemed nice and in a great location. The barbecue was fun and it was cool to see another corner of the city I otherwise would not have known about/ventured out to.]

Also to note: tomorrow is the official start of fall!!!! I'm already feeling in the spirit <3 We are at the cusp.