for day 26, i was having a hard time coming up with what i wanted to do. i had a bunch of errands to run (BORING), so i hoped that as i was checking some things off my list, the days challenge would somehow present itself to me. my friend chris had asked me to water his plants while he was out of town, so i decided to walk over the williamsburg bridge to get to his place (a 3 mile walk) so i could also get some exercise. while walking up bedford avenue and jamming out to some sweet tunes, i noticed i was coming up on two girls with clipboards and i immediately started to tense up. if you've lived in new york - you know that feeling i'm talking about. as new yorkers, we really just don't want to be bothered. ever. there is ALWAYS someone who wants something from you (usually money, sometimes directions) and you get used to just walking around with your head down or saying no thank you as you breeze by because you just want to get 2 blocks without being solicited. it's such a common feeling that it was even parodied in the video below, which also happens to include several other annoyances that are completely accurate as well.
but as i've been saying, i am working towards being in a state of 30 day zen - and that means challenging what feels comfortable to me (ie, walking to the other side of the street to avoid them, pointing at my headphones semi-apologetically and walking by, etc) and doing what feels uncomfortable - stopping and talking to them. and i swear even they were surprised. as it turns out, they were trying to raise signatures and funds for gay rights, which is something that i feel very strongly about. so i listened to the spiel, signed the petition, and donated what i could. she was super thankful and nice and i was happy i could help support something that i believe so strongly in. i even got this sweet sticker. winning!
so on the walk back towards my apartment, i started to get hungry from the all the do-gooding (ok fine, it was from the walk) but nothing was sounding good. the beauty of living in a city like new york is that you can usually gain inspiration from your surroundings, which is what happened to me when i decided that i was going to ALSO make this day about a new york challenge and try the pancakes at clinton street baking company. now, i have tried to get the pancakes here several times, but it's always been on a weekend and there is ALWAYS at least a 2 hour wait that i couldn't possibly do because i am sooo busy. but, because i'm an unemployed freelancer this week, 2pm on a tuesday was golden.
everything on their menu sounded good, but i was there for the pancakes so i tried not to drool over the buttermilk biscuit sandwich or the egg deliciousness or the fried chicken sandwich or, like, everything listed. pancakes meagen! focus. there is a choice between wild maine blueberry, banana walnut, or chocolate chunk. i opted for the blueberry since they had been voted best pancake by nymagaize twice. and um HELLO. holy shit these pancakes were good. light, fluffy, perfectly cooked. they were dusted lightly with powdered sugar and served with a warm container of maple butter on the side. no syrup needed. i will DEFINITELY be coming back to try the banana walnut...like tomorrow.
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| PANCAKES. check out how jealous the people waiting outside are. |
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| NOM NOM NOM. |
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| ugh, so full. i don't think i can go on. |
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| weird, somehow i was able to finish them. |
so all in all, day 26 was a major success. i moved out of my comfort zone, talked to strangers and donated to a cause i truly believe in. AND i ate the best pancakes i've ever had in my life after a 6 mile walk on a tuesday afternoon. it is definitely going to be hard to go back to work next tuesday.
day 26 - complete!
xoxo
meags
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