This is the view from the end of my street in Queens, NY. I took this photo in April, 2009, on my way to work at CitiField. April was beautiful, albeit bitterly cold at some points, but the sun shone extra strong as if it knew that 90% of the summer would be rainstorms. I walked an extra 20 minutes (in the opposite direction) to the 7 train in order to walk along this park, stop at my favorite coffee spot, and enjoy the wonderful waterfront and artsy village that stands in contrast to the grimy, slimy housing project grid that I live within. This photo is the background of my laptop because even though its spitting rain in London, the feel of the sun on my face that day still warms my heart every time I look at it.

For a long time, I was the only non-resident that would walk "through the block" in my neighborhood. I was escorted the first few times by residents, telling me that I was safe for a few reasons that would probably sound more racist and classicist than funny if posted. I'd like to believe that more and more it's less threatening, although I'm constantly reprimanded for walking at night. It's a great short cut through the grids of housing projects. Out and around the grids is slime, and grime, and inner-city dirtiness that can only be summed up by numerous bodegas, Chinese and fried chicken joints mixed with unmarked stores and warehouses.

...But in the spring time, at the corner of one of the most inner squares is a cherry blossom tree. When it blooms, and it does for such a short time, it's exquisite. It's a lovely reminder that there is more than just a concrete and brick laden world. I loved passing it, and one day it was so sunny and the diagnol in which I was walking made the blue sky swirling above the pink blossoms against the red bricks and the blue reflected from the windows... It was a moment to capture.