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September 30, 2006
Gimagua
Gimagua, one of the more popular subway performers. The rhumba-flamenco guitar-playing twins hail from Cartagena, a nice old coastal city in Colombia. In between the three short pieces they played while we stayed, no less than 4 people had their picture taken with the duo, including N.
Posted by quickness at 09:39 PM | Comments (3)
The United Nations
... and the Chrysler - two of my favourite buildings in the city.
Posted by quickness at 02:35 AM | Comments (0)
September 29, 2006
Summer has ended (See you soon)
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September 26, 2006
Photograph
If you've read the about page, you will know that I keep this site running mostly for those family members and friends with whom I have not had the chance to be in regular contact. I also do it for the kids who would in the future have access to cached records of them growing up, and of their surroundings.
One other reason that I have never mentioned, perhaps because it's more self-serving than anything else, is I use this site in lieu of real photos - sometimes. I carry with me a wallet-sized photo of the family that N printed before one of my trips a few years ago. But if you've ever been to my office, our apartment, or wherever I had been residing in a particular period of time, you won't find a photo hanging on the wall or framed on my desk, if not by the insistence of another. Which is a bit strange, I admit, for I enjoy photography, I enjoy holding prints, I enjoy looking at the reflection on the photo surface and the sense of permanence that it gives to a piece of memory. However, I can't, unless I am under pressure of time or request, seem to bring myself to have something printed and framed.
And for that reason, and because most places I'm at have good internet connection, I can easily access my files and pull up a photograph instantly, framed by the borders of the computer screen - according to the dimensions of my preference.
Posted by quickness at 08:49 PM | Comments (0)
September 16, 2006
Miss, Behave.
Girls, I hope you're not giving your mom a hard time. See you soon.
Posted by quickness at 08:35 PM
September 12, 2006
The Chrysler
And its neighbours.
Posted by quickness at 03:38 AM | Comments (0)
September 11, 2006
dusk@westside.nyc
Midtown, and part of the Upper West at dusk.
Posted by quickness at 01:39 AM | Comments (0)
September 10, 2006
Subterranean Musicians
Unless they lose their orientation, subway commuters move quickly often without having to look for directions. Quite understandable, because the air seemed to smell like a mixture of stale smoke, vaporized metal, and urine. Well... it's usually not that bad. But, even when the air seemed fresh, standing around would mean the difference between finding a spot on the other side of a set of closing doors and having to wait for a train fuller than the one that had just left.
Commuters on autopilot are a feature of many big cities, but it unfortunately lends to the impersonal nature 'progress'. I think together with the Permanent Art program, the MTA has done good to subway riders by introducing live music into its stations. According to the MTA's site, there are around 100 performers under the Music Under New York programme. Performers under this program are auditioned by the MTA, and while they don't stop hardened zombified commuters, many are good enough to persuade a small crowd to give 5 minutes of their time, and maybe also a buck, for a break from their daily mechanized routine.
And, if you have been generally missing out on this world beneath the city, Travis Ruse will show you the way.
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September 09, 2006
One Moon
After an errand in Jersey that took much more time than we anticipated, we took the kids to look at the island where they grew up in. It was just getting dark and the small parks overlooking the view across the Hudson slowly filled with shadows and muted conversations. Azmina had just woken up from her nap and still had not warmed up to the idea. She had been bothered by a canker sore and had ealier told us that she won't be talking as much that day. Farizah was predictably happy to be in a space where she could be free to do her own thing. She quickly assimilated into the scene, playing and making friends with kids years older than her, simply by smiling, mimicking their actions and just by being honest.
Maybe because of the partial lunar eclipse that could be seen from other parts of the world, the moon has been bright yellow for the last few nights. I've no distinct memory that I can relate to the moment, except for a feeling that we were on the road the last time when it told us to slow down and remember things that are nearly forgotten. I think it was after our grocery shopping in Queens a couple of years ago with N when we stopped the car and looked at the same moon. And also during a long drive a few years earlier, back into the city in a van that I co-drived, with only the radio helping us to keep awake.
The people around us may change the same way songs on the radio change, but regardless of how far we think we are from home, all of us are still looking at the same moon.
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September 07, 2006
Castle
After lunch.
"Papa, look at my castle..."
I am a father. I am proud. Can you tell?
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September 06, 2006
Only a matter of weeks now...
Posted by quickness at 11:58 PM | Comments (0)
September 05, 2006
Antistrophe
This is to FLC who's going to Luxembourg in order to take on a new job and a new life. FLC, one of the nicest person one can ever meet, and deservedly lucky to be moving to a place where she can pursue her writing. How so bohemian this new life sounds...
All your friends will be missing the laughter you always bring, and will be expecting you to keep in touch. Have a good flight Sunday!
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September 04, 2006
Victorian Gardens Afternoon
During Labour Day Monday, NZ and SAM invited the family for a get together so that our kids can meet. Hannani, their daughter, had been Azmina's best friend since they arrived just over a year ago. And since we are leaving very, very soon, it was the perfect plan for a cool afternoon. For Azmina, it was a double surprise - she get to spend some time with Hannani and play on rides.
Azmina and Hannani sat together in the twin stroller while lining up to get tickets into Central Park's Victorian Gardens, and were together in half of the rides that they went.
They used to call each other, but, since both were constantly waiting for the other to speak, they had not gotten very far in their 3-minute calls. I can't speak for Hannani, but Azmina, looks forward everytime we tell her she was going to meet Hannani. That's the time when we can get Azmina to eat (semi-)properly, and that's the time when we can get her... well, force her to shut her eyes and sleep in a more civilised hour.
We thank NZ and SAM for the whole afternoon, for the food and for the company. We can easily stay in touch, but it won't be as easy for the little ones. Azmina will miss her best friend.
Posted by quickness at 11:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 03, 2006
Today's colour is pink
Here's to everyone who's having a crappy Monday during this Labour Day holiday. We hope it passes as quickly as those days that you never want to end. And it won't kill you to smile.
Posted by quickness at 11:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
A very good morning to you too...
Farizah just stepped on her sister's chest while she was sleeping. She just smiled at us while her sister laid on the floor screaming. Yesterday she found a sharpie (magic marker) and in less than 5 seconds she tagged a chest of drawers and a glass display case. Obviously tickling her silly is not working.
Cousin DD is coming by for a very short visit in a few minutes after arriving from Florida yesterday. Not sure if he's been to New York before, but it's a chance for us to become tourists even for a few hours.
If he has family who worries for little reason, this is to say he's fine.
Posted by quickness at 01:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 02, 2006
Honest, Raw.
Posted by quickness at 11:52 AM | Comments (0)
September 01, 2006
Fellow photographer
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