Central Park – Nicci Carrera

September 25, 2015September 25, 2015 Nicci Photography, Writing

Waiting for a contract for my new novel…and New York life

It has been very convenient not to have a contract in September because I’ve been vacationing like mad.

I have some scenery shots from the New York portion of my September vacation, plus some photos of New Yorkers living their lives. You can see that despite the stresses of the city and the crowding, that people here live normally, exercising, walking their dogs, playing with their children, and going grocery shopping. I didn’t take photos of all of these activities, but I’ve seen them. The parks are what make the city livable for people. Because I grew up in the mountains, I didn’t appreciate the value of parks until I came to New York City.

Even while on vacation, I’ve been checking email 10 times a day, hoping for one from my publisher saying they’d like to offer me a contract for Third Strike’s the Charm. So far, nothing.

I did get up early to take photos at Riverside Park. The rewards for crawling out of bed so early were there, and I have to ask myself why I’m not doing the same for writing. I have to think about that. I bet I could get some good creative thoughts first thing in the morning (and then go back to bed for a nap later.)

Heading to work — Morning by Riverside Park

Old railway ties with New Jersey in the backgroun

In the middle of the day, I could do your standard kind of work, the editing, research, promo, and networking, just like I took an amble through Central Park and snapped a few good travel shots.

Around lunch I could enjoy some time with friends like this man with his best friend.

Walking with your bestie in Central Park

In the afternoon it’s important to have some refreshments,

Having some refreshments — Having something to drink

Finally, evenings after dinner can be left for:

For the rest of today, I’m going to imagine receiving the email that says something like, Dear Nicci Carrera, The Wild Rose Press would like to offer you a contract for THIRD STRIKE’S THE CHARM.

What dream of yours are you imagining into reality?

November 28, 2013March 20, 2014 Nicci Australia, Food, Local, Manhattan, Netherlands, New York, Paris, Poem, San Francisco, Travel, Writing

A Thanksgiving day poem and highlights of a foodie

Love is what it’s all about–
but food is a close second.

Nia Simone, November 28, 2013

I was asking an Australian friend if they have any holidays that are basically about food. Not really. Okay, so I have several Australian friends, many of whom I’ve met through blogging, so pipe up if you disagree! Of course, as you know, the food in Australia is amazing, so perhaps we don’t need a specific holiday centered on feasting there.

Australia is my other home, and this is becoming clear as one fellow blogger thought I was Australian. I love Australia and my Australian friends. Today is an American holiday, though, and I’m going to celebrate it by starting this celebration of food off with home-grown and home cooked foods before moving on to some of my international culinary samples.

Home grown and home-cooked:

P1070154 — Vegan Thai with other veggies

Greenwich Village Manhattan:

Turophilia (excessive love of cheese) Greenwich Village, sign outside the cheese shop

Octopus, beer and a dolmata at Boukies, Greenwich Village

Australia:

P1060761 — Stuffed squid at a tapas bar in Melbourne, DeGraves Street

P1060975 — Joe’s? I think, Sydney, by the river

P1060977 — Smoked salmon at Joe’s in Sydney

San Francisco:

Paris:

Self portrait — I guess you could say wine was a big feature in Paris! This was dinner on the deck of our apartment.

Crepe de Frites Maison Robert on Champs Elysees

Tomato jam mozzarella bonito and basil sorbet, Opera House

Green pea soup cold with cream and goat cheese on toast, Opera House

Opera House, Grey Goose is the house vodka

Amsterdam:

Thai food

Appetizers ready to go out to the deck of the houseboat

Texas:

Torchy's Tacos, The Independent — Torchy’s Tacos, The Independent

More Manhattan:

Days 16 019 grilled camembert — Grilled camembert at The Eatery

Days 16 021 meat loaf ravioli mac and jack — Meat loaf ravioli mac and jack at The Eatery

Days 16 018 sweet italian sausage risotto croquettes — Sweet italian sausage risotto croquettes

Days 20 21 050 A — At The Boathouse in Central Park

Days 20 21 052 A — The Boathouse, Central Park

Days 20 21 085 A — Flor de Mayo, Peruvian restaurant upper west side

Days 20 21 088 A — Flor de Mayo, Peruvian restaurant, upper west side

Day4 Hot Pretzel — Hot pretzel in Central Park

Flor de Mayo, Peruvian restuarant, upper west side

Shmear, a deli in the upper west side — Shmears at a deli in the upper west side

Pain au Chocolate at the Pushkin cafe across from the Museum of Modern Art — Pain au Chocolate at the Brasserie Pushkin across from the Museum of Modern Art

Blackbottom cheesecake from The Bake Shop

Grasshopper (mint chocolate chip) from The Bake Shop

July 30, 2013July 30, 2013 Nicci New York, Travel

17 (Central Park) reasons to love Manhattan

Time to make your reservations for New York if you want to go in September. These photos are from a month in New York last year, half September, half October. You can rent an apartment through VRBO, one with Wi-Fi so you can work. Hopefully these photos will inspire you to try living in the Big Apple for a month, experiencing what it’s like to be a New Yorker.