Pardon me while I digress from the past summer into the now: a bit ago on Wednesday night this week, the Metropolitan of Art opened its doors to the college students of New York City and welcomed them with by throwing a Great Gatsby themed party for the opening of their newly renovated American Wing. I, of course, had to attend.

A group outside the doors, waiting for the event to open at 7pm.

“By seven o’clock the orchestra has arrived, no thin five-piece affair, but a whole pitful of oboes and trombones and saxophones and viols and cornets and piccolos, and low and high drums…. Already the halls and salons and verandas are gaudy with primary colors, and hair bobbed in strange new ways, and shawls beyond the dreams of Castile. The bar is in full swing, and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside, until the air is alive with chatter and laughter, and casual innuendo and introductions forgotten on the spot, and enthusiastic meetings between women who never knew each other’s names.” (F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby)

"His gorgeous pink rag of a suit made a bright spot of color"(102). Not pink, but close.

More people waiting in style outside the Met.

There were also student-led tours through the American Wing should guests choose to do so.

In the spirit of the Great American Novel, the College Group at the Met invites you to celebrate the opening of the Museum’s New American Wing. Guests are encouraged to don attire inspired by the party-throwing, mansion-building, and art-loving Americans of the early 20th century—such as those who might have attended Jay Gatsby’s lavish soirees.

The honor will be entirely ours, old sport.

So in the last two months since posted, I’ve been from California to China and back and then to New York, where I am currently. It’s been a hectic two months that still hasn’t settled yet, because now, 2 weeks into college, I’m already backlogged with work and readings. Half of that is because as of this morning, 1 hour ago, I still only have about 60% of my books and am missing some key, very necessary, books for my macro class.

Today also happens to be one of my friend’s birthday, so as she is the princess of the weekend, gets to dictate where our fate goes for the remainder of the day. We will be off to central park in a few hours, thus making me more broke than I already am, it being not even halfway into the month and me already being perilously low on funds.

Of course, it must be taken into consideration that I purchased 4 pairs of shoes and a new jacket in the last week or so.

Perhaps soon, when I’m procrastinating, I will reminisce my trip to China and my ardent desire to go back again next summer. For now, I need to clean my quarter of the giant quad that is my dorm room.

Lately I’ve…

1. Been exercising an counting calories, oh my! Nothing except the thought of going to China where I’m probably a size L motivates me to get off my butt and lose a few pounds (or at least a few centimeters in girth). This endeavor (a week or so in) has included Tony Horton, a banana for breakfast, and sparkpeople.
2. Actually this isn’t so recent, but since I mentioned it on the last few “lately”s, my 35mm f/1.8 Nikkor came. I’m not sure if I like it as much as I expected to.
3. Witnessed an interesting incident with a woman at the grocery store when a woman left her cart in the middle of the asile with her kid in it. Because it was blocking everyone’s way and causing a traffic jam, a nice lady pushed the card forward a few inches (closer, I dare say, to the mother). The mother began yelling and scolding the woman and as others stood up to defend the poor lady, the mother began to snap at them, too. I do believe their mistake was to even talk back to her; giving her a dismissive look and then walking away would probably have shut her up faster.
4. Made an Excel spreadsheet of what exactly (minus clothes) I will be bringing/needing in college.
5. Sent out my essay of affirmation to Tierney Hall.
6. Shuffled through 3 computers to find old family photos to print and bring back to China on request of my paternal grandmother. There were about 60+ that I printed. Then today when my mom handed me the stack of pictures to bring back, I noticed that it was ridiculously thin. Alas, she’d pilfered off her favorites and all those she didn’t think she looked good in. Which totaled to be a lot.
7. Watched Watchmen; am in the process of digesting the comic. I wish American comics had prettier pictures, because after watching Malin Akerman in her hot! costume (I want her hair by the way), and Dr. Manhatten’s finely chisled abs and uh, blueness, the distinctly masculine pictures just don’t cut it as well. Eh, I’m probably writing blasphemy though. I’m sure the comic will reveal a lot more details the film only got to glaze over.

Mother has also just informed me that she expects my brother and I to bring a small carry-on roller luggage case and a backpack to China between the two of us. She is obviously delusional. I brought that my for a 3 day trip to New York by myself. Three days!