Today wasn't bad. I got lost at Central Park again. That's always fun. Y'know when I always realize how big Central Park really is? When I'm at the Great Lawn and I look around. That's when you see ... trees ... trees ... trees ... and ... oh ... looky ... cityscape! It's amazing though and sorta makes you even forget you're in Manhattan.

Eric lives on the upper eastside. Not that far from Central Park actually. I sorta woke up but then went back to sleep when both Eric and Amber got up and got ready to go to Westchester. Amber officially moved into the city. My real waking time was probably around 10. I don't do much on Saturdays and I don't really watch tv ... or I would've just done that the whole day. The weather was just so awesome though. I showered, had 2 bowls of Honey Nut Chex (my new favorite cereal) and then packed my bag. Pencils and pens, sketchbook, eyedrops, chapstick, an apple and a pack of cinnamon Trident (all-time favorite gum) that's about halfway down.

I knew I'd probably not sketch at all but I like carrying my sketchbooks to parks anyway. It's so I'd never have to say "Damn! ... If I only had my sketchbook right now .... I'd do a drawing of that swan on the pond that would later go on to earn me fame and fortune."

I love parks. I love just going, walking around. I could easily walk around a place like Central Park for hours on end and not even realize the time. And ... I did today. It was just so great out. I started out walking along the Reservoir ... then I turned off and ended up on the Great Lawn. I should've had one of those tourist maps of the park. Hell ... I should've had a guide. I got lost the very first time I went to Central Park. Hmmm .... the second time too I think. Today was only my third time there.

I tried making little mental notes of where I was so I'd be able to get out when I needed to. They had these beautiful pieces of ice on display. Flowers frozen in the thick blocks of ice. I stood there a while and watched. I think that's pretty much when my little mental notes went the window. If I turned around to retrace my steps then ... I would've realized I was already lost. Didn't matter .... I was clueless and went on.

The thing I really love about New York City is the fact that something is always happening. Always. I think it was Earth Day or something .... so they had kids doing paintings at the information center .... I think that's where it was .... that little castle thingy. I love watching kids paint. They do it without a care in the world .... yet a slight look of concentration on their faces. I envy them .... their free-spirits.

My brain made new little mental notes about where I was without even knowing that I had forgotten everything else. I smiled while watching the gondolier serenade a woman and 3 kids on the small boat. I smiled while watching a couple of swans on the water. Everything I was worrying about before just faded away. I now had the memory of a goldfish and only lived for a few minutes at a time. I sat on a bench and ate my apple. Watching people play, jog, blade and feed squirrels. I had no idea where I was but I didn't care.

I walked around the Ramble. Climbing rocks and looking around. Sitting on rocks and looking around. Walking along rocks and looking around. Sitting on rocks and sketching. Lightly. Random things. The crease in my jeans near my knee. Rocks. Trees. I tried to sketch ... remembering those little kids I saw before. I couldn't. I would start ... making free lines .... random lines ... then they would start needing a reason. Reasons can suck.

I sat on a rock that became a mini-Everest. People just had to climb up the steep side. Especially little kids. They'd climb up and I'd be right there waiting for them. Waiting there ... watching them and cringing when their feet slip a little. I saw that it was pretty dangerous from where I sat.

I loved just sitting there and watching everything that was going on. A couple of guys started playing friz-bee, started working up a sweat and took their shirts off. I felt myself being to gawd and realized I wasn't alone when I looked around. People had stopped walking the path to look. I packed my sketchbook away and walked a little again.

I saw this dog that looked exactly like my dog back home. I was sitting on this bench looking up at the trees and when I brought my head down ... there he was. I wanted to call him over and hug him the same way I used to hug my dog. He used to just sit there. Sit and let me hug him. Not licking me or anything ... just resting his head on my shoulder while I hugged him as long as I want to. His tail patting the ground every now and then. I miss him.

What made it even stranger is when the dog at the park ran through this little stream and his belly got wet. The curly hair on his belly dripping and hanging in little clumps. And then ... the red nylon collar. An exact clone of my dog.

I sat there a while just looking at him play with his owner and in a way living through the owner. I wanna get a dog. In a way I'd feel guilty because I have 2 back in the Caribbean and I can't give them the life the dog I'd have here would have. I can't bring them to New York because they're getting pretty old now.

It started looking like it was gonna rain so I figure I'd start heading home. That's when I realized how lost I was. I'm a proud moron and hate asking directions right away. I don't have that male 'dont stop and ask for directions' gene though. I'd ask ... but when I need it. I figure ... if I ask right away ... I'd never learn how to get around on my own.

I walked back to places I thought looked familiar. I got back to Great Lawn but realized that I hadn't seen the Reservoir path and I walked along there when I first came in.

I ended up on the westside. Probably the complete opposite side of Cental Park. I spun around and figured ... I'd just keep walking east. I mean ... I have no compass but I'll just keep my back to the exit I was just at. That should get me east. Umm ... no and after walking in circles a while and seeing things more than 4 times .... like those ice sculptures I caved and asked for directions.

When I got back to the apartment, Amber's cat and her stuff were there .... but no Amber. I love animals and 99% of them usually like me back. I ate more cereal and 'hung out' with the cat.

Amber and Eric got back soon after and we went out for dinner. This cool Mex place near the apartment. I love where Eric lives cuz he has everything around him. Good food is less than 2 blocks away.