new york diary part two

Or possibly part one section two since I pick up partway through the second day.

Again edits and omissions in square brackets. Nothing sinister just stuff that's none of your business.

I had contemplated adding in notes where I've changed my mind but that would betray the point of the diary. No prefiguring. If you want to know whether I change my mind on things you'll have to read the lot.

And so back to Monday.

The other parts
http://santiagosdeadwasp.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-york-diary-part-one.html

http://santiagosdeadwasp.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-york-diary-part-three.html

http://santiagosdeadwasp.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-york-diary-part-four.html

http://santiagosdeadwasp.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-york-diary-part-five.html

http://santiagosdeadwasp.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-york-diary-part-six.html

http://santiagosdeadwasp.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-york-diary-part-seven.html

http://santiagosdeadwasp.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-york-diary-part-eight.html

11/10/10 Evening
Also a good idea to come out for a drink this evening. More like making myself at home. And it stops the introspection about 'oh maybe I should have spoken to more people, done more things etc...'

Not far from where I'm staying Fulton Street seems to have all the grocery stores, bars and cafes I've been looking for. Get me. Thirty-one hours in the country.

This evening after two beautiful days when I got sunburnt there's the most amazing thunderstorm high over the city complete with bursts of heavy rain fizzing off the road in a white blur.

A couple more impression. From the bus driver at the airport to the woman at the bar here a lot of the people here are really generous and friendly.

I was though taken aback by what strikes me as the disrespectful calling out to and commenting on women in the street by men. If anything it's worse that the UK.

I spent some time listening to voices and city noises with the intention of having some material already in mind for the performance on Thursday. I haven't come up with much - some bass rumbles, some rattling, rhythmic voices singing which can be nonsensical and that's about all.

[My friends were] right. Like I wrote before I already want to go away again.

Then it was mostly the flying and getting away from Manchester. Now after a period of doubt it's all about being in a new place.

A sudden biblically heavy hail storm means the door has to be held shut and turns the pavement white.

Lightning continues to flash overhead.

Really warm and friendly atmosphere here.

[Omitted]

Streets running with water.

The other things Fulton Street has that I've been looking for are a post office and an internet cafe. Everything within ten minutes of the hostel including the subway and bus stops I need.

I thought London transport was better and better integrated than Greater Manchester's. New York's is even better and seems almost socialist in the sense of ideals of affordability and accessibility. Similar to London's but superior - although again the infrastructure and vehicles seem from a different age.

It's nice here. [The] Fulton Grand. I can see myself coming back.

Felt tired earlier today. All the walking in hot sun. That and expending energy on being terrified on the two 21-minute walks across the Manhattan Bridge.

As a result I contemplated staying in the hostel reading after I'd eaten at around seven. But that would have meant an early night. This way I'll have a normal bedtime and be adjusted to the times here fully tomorrow.

If I can sleep on the flight home there shouldn't be too much adjusting to UK time.

A big day for expenditure but I think it's the only big day. Anyway I have my ISA and I can worry about money when I get home.

Thinking about it coming on my own to a bar in a new city let alone a new country is a big step for me.

It's been a year of big steps. First exhibitions - the [sound] installation in Kraak last December. First workshop - at Kraak in spring. First exhibition alongside established international artists - at the Chapman in summer. First paper at a conference - the Salford Uni noise conference in summer. First booklet published by someone else - North from Knives, Forks and Spoons in the new year. First CD published by someone else - ZimZalla Object 003 in spring. First London exhibition - part of Writing/Exhibition/Publication in autumn. First international exhibition - Department of Micro-Poetics here in New York now in the autumn. First sound art/sound poetry performance outside [Greater] Manchester - the London performances just over a week ago. First international performance of any kind - coming on Friday at the AC Institute as part of Department of Micro-Poetics. First time out of the UK and first flight - this autumn trip to New York. [Omitted] My first time with studio space. My first serious sculptural work. The first time I've applied for residencies. Leading to this trip the first time I've blagged a performance. Counting Backwards isn't a first but it's more successfully what I want than Happy Demon ever was, and with more of my imprint on it. I'd say that's a pretty packed year. More than I could have expected or planned for. And of course the late flourish of [omitted] and starting TH /GOOD OLD W~AY.

I'm a different person and I don't yet know who. The reason I held off the reflections above earlier is I was worried about it being nostalgic or sad. It probably would have been then, but now it felt right. Apart from the odd drift of melancholy I'm happy. In fact I keep having waves of happiness so intense I want to laugh or sometimes cry.

More from Monday to come...