Have you heard about Olafur Eliasson’s Waterfalls exhibit in New York? Some people seem to love them, and some people think they are $15 million scaffolds with water pouring off of them. People on the NY Times City Room blog are all in a tizzy over it, here are a few comments I enjoyed:

The Brooklyn Bridge is throwing up.
If only it could jump off itself.
— Posted by Dan

Well put, Dan. Bravo to you, sir!

As stated in the article, 2.1 million gallons are pumped every hour between the four waterfalls ranging from 90? to 120? (so take 100? as a conservative average). Calculating the total energy used in one hour is therefore (you can plug the following into google):

(2100000 gallons/hour)*(1000 kilogram/(meter^3))*(9.8 meter/second^2)*(100 feet)*(1 hour) in kilowatt*hour

= 660 kWh

If electricity costs 15 cents per kWh in NYC, then you’re looking at about $100 per hour. For a 15 hour operating day (7am - 10pm), you’re looking at $1500 per day. Not to mention the fact that this entire analysis is assuming 100% efficiency of the pumps. If they are only 60% efficient, then you’re talking about $2500 per day just to pump the water.

And I thought my electric bill was high…
— Posted by Greg

From Greg, who hasn’t gotten laid in 14 years.

And finally,

How lame it is!
— Posted by gianduio

Lame, indeed, Gianduio!

Anyway, I woke up Saturday on my Premium-grade air mattress with not a whole lot planned for the day, and decided that I’d knock out a problem and walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, and also see the Waterfalls while I was at it. I took my iPod, and two pair of shoes (because basically every pair of shoes hurts me eventually) and headed out. The Brooklyn Bridge is only 2 miles from my house, so I figured after crossing it and getting on a train, I’d walk a total of about 3.5 miles. But once I crossed the bridge, I just kept going. Maybe it was the beauty or the “lameness “of it all, or the high cost of electricity to run the waterfalls, but something just kept me going.

Here you can see my route, it was 8.25 miles total. I think it took me 4.5 hours. The dizzy feeling hit on the W-burg Bridge. Next time I need to pack snacks. And if you’re wondering what that detour is at the end, Built by Wendy is having a sale. And I was so dizzy that I bought a few things.

I ate like a horse when I got home, had a glass of wine and then passed out.

Here are a few photos from the journey, and my deep thoughts on the waterfalls:

Here is a photo on the BK Bridge walking towards Manhattan.

On the BK Bridge I could see 3 waterfalls at once, and I thought it was pretty. They’re very calming and it’s really beautiful to have something organic and moving in grey, still surroundings. God, my Art History teachers would be horrified at that sentence.

Walking under the Manhattan Bridge…

This way to the falls!

And then…

Eh. Scaffolding with water coming off of it. Just like the nay-sayers nay-said.

And finally to the Williamsburg bridge.

In conclusion: Keep your distance when viewing the Waterfalls. Don’t walk 8 miles and then go shopping. A glass of wine leads to a good nap. And another problem solved.

Today I have broken my personal best record for Laziness in a Single Day. I think I even beat my Christmas 2007 lazy record, in which I watched an entire season of Weeds with my brother while drinking vodka at 2pm. Good for me.

Today’s laziness agenda included: waking up, walking to get lunch, watching 6 episodes of Nip/Tuck, which is wonderful and terrible in equal amounts, walking to get thai food, finishing off with looking up things on the internet for 3 hours. Which leads me to now. But I did take a shower which is something, and besides, yesterday was a big day. I went to the Mermaid Parade at Coney Island (I was expecting to see way more boobs than I did, so… eh.). Then I saw Jaws and the MoMA, which is amazing of course, and finally I went to see two of Riki’s friends play a show. So you see, a big day. I deserved today off.

Anyway, I need to add some stuff to this list, and since I’m in New York now, and people are coming to visit soon, I will get Culture Vulture out of my life once an for all. So here we go:

72) Go to the Brooklyn Museum - I want to see The Muramaki exhibit before it’s over, I think July 13?

73) Yankees Game - Is Yankee Stadium closing this year? I feel like I read that somewhere. I dunno.

74) Ride on one of those Double Decker Red buses - Here is where I lose the tiny bit of coolness that I’m already desperately clutching by the skin of my teeth.

75) Top of the Empire State Building - It’s tall. I’ll see so far. Then I’ll get lunch.

76) Walk the Brooklyn Bridge. - The whole thing, there and back. Wait, actually, how long is it?

77) Ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

78) Visit the MoMA - Not just to watch Jaws, either.

79) Visit the NY Public Library - Free guided tour bitches!

God this list is exhausting to look at. I need to watch Hulu some more to recover. But first, I leave you with some boobs from the parade:

As promised, some photos from the Hot Doug’s trip:

Look at this line. I waited in this line. Why did I do that??

4 Dogs and 2 men. Can they do it?

Another for fun. And I can’t remember if they finished the dogs, that’s how long my attention span is.

Alive and in New York.

Today Riki texted me asking if I was giving up on my blog, and I realized that it has been forever since I’ve updated. But no, I haven’t given up, I’ve just been overwhelmed with moving and staring the new job, and the thought of looking for an apartment, and moving into a sublet….and the 100 degree heat wave for four days didn’t help either.

But I’m here, and the hardest parts of all of this are over. Well, except for the driving the truck from Chicago to New York part, but Riki is taking care of that while I sip margaritas on the roof of our new apartment and call occasionally to check in.

So the quick update:

- My sublet has worked out well, I’m staying with 2 really sweet guys. I do have a mouse in my room, which sort of freaked me out when I first saw him. But he’s tiny and cute, and now I think we’re friends. I wonder if he walks on my face at night while I sleep.

- The job is great so far. My coworkers seem really talented and smart, I think I’ll learn a lot from them. And, the company is a great fit for me - for example, they have an in-house group that tracks how much waste and resources the company uses, and reports back to everyone with ideas on how to decrease energy use, increase how much they recycle, etc. I love that. Plus, they have drinks every Friday at 5 in the kitchen, and have a huge spread of breakfast on Monday mornings to start the week off.

- I found an apartment! I looked at only 5 places, and there were actually 3 that I loved. We decided on the place we took because it’s the biggest - and it’s a loft, so we’re going to build it up. I move in with my air mattress and 1 bath towel next week, so i’ll post pictures.

- I went to the beach yesterday. I’m sorry Lake Michigan, but you lose.

And, since my last update I’ve completed quite a few problems. Because I need to catch up and get the blog back on track, here is the quick read of what I’ve done:

- Went to Hot Doug’s with Riki and his friend John. I had a coke and watched them eat all kinds of nasty tubed meat. I have photos, but I think they’re at work, so i’ll post them tomorrow. Spoiler alert: They’re gross. So gross.

- Made the blue dragon cake! It was delicious and so cute. See for yourself:

The red part is his tongue. And he has coconut claws. Use your imagination.

-Threw a fun party (sorry, no pics, take my word for it. It was fun. Even though I was kind of on edge because I was leaving the next day. Actually, I was very on edge.)

- Margarita party (umm.. sorry, no pics of this either… This took place during the fun party above. Is that cheating? eh, oh well.)

- Made Julio sugar-free cupcakes. Lets just say these didn’t turn out to well, and Julio wasn’t shy about letting me know how terrible they were, which was really nice of him.

- I planted an herb garden and a regular garden, that Riki is watching for me now. (Right, Riki?) Argh! No pics of this either. I’ll get him to send me some. Last I saw, the lettuce was growing like crazy, and there was one jalepeno plant that was doing really well. And the tomatoes seemed ok too. I hope they make it. Godspeed, tomatoes.

- And finally, the apartment!

Minus 8, suckers.

The past week I have not been working in preparation for the Big Move. Not working, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways:

1 ) Sleeping until 9 a.m. every day

2) Lots of daily eating out

3) NOT sitting in front of a computer for 8+ hours

4) Glass (es) of wine at 2 p.m.

5) Matinee with Riki

6) Breakfast date with Riki

7) No daily work anxiety

Smew is my only co-worker

9) Got cute bangs / haircut during the day

(Simon, did I just describe your daily life? Lucky jerk. )

I could go on and on about how I love it but I won’t. But I have had a few mini freak-outs this week about moving. It’s hard and annoying and I’ll miss people. I sort of just want to get rid of all my stuff and move with one suitcase, but I think I’d regret that.

Anyway, problem updates tomorrow, I owe you fools.

Edit: Apparently the number 8 with a closed parenthesis will make a smiley with sunglasses on. who knew?