New to New York

Born and raised a southerner, "sir"s "ma'am"s and all, I've recently lost my senses and moved to the ultimate Yankee land, New York City.

There are a few things I dearly miss about my past life. I miss being able to wash/dry my clothes at home--I've already had many items fall victim to the unforgiving world of highly communal machines. I miss my dishwasher, but not as much as I thought. Since it's so hard to get groceries I don't cook as much, hence fewer dishes to wash. No big deal. The one necessity of life I am still in withdrawal over is the cheap Mexican food found in the South. The kind where only 2 or 3 people who work there speak enough English to seat you and the salsa is never-ending. I miss my chicken tacos, white cheesedip, and my endless salsa. I will never stop searching for that here, but many others have told me my search is in vain. If I were more of a risk-taker, I would open up that sort of restaurant here and make my fortune by 28.

Now, I expected a lot of things to be different. Everything would cost more. People would not be as friendly. I would NOT have to drive a car! It would be crowded. So after living in Arkansas and North Carolina, what really caught me off-guard about NY? Parking lots! Or the lack thereof. How do you grocery shop without a car? Not easily, I'll tell you that after years of packing the trunk full and driving my delicious loot right up to my door at home. I still have trouble not buying more than I can handle on the journey (by foot or by foot+train) home. Will my love of cooking persist in this new world? Only time will tell.

With this entry is a picture of El Rodeo, in loving memory of my dear southern mexican cuisine.