Add another crazy night to my belt

So I hadn't hung out with my friends Bryce and Tracey for awhile. They invited me out Friday night to a place in Greenwich Village called Fat Cat. This place is interesting. It has pool tables, shuffleboard, ping pong tables, chess, $3 PBRs and a live band. Fortunately (or unfortunately) nights out with these two ladies always ends in complete and utter craziness and Friday was no different. All of us started out warning each other that we were in crappy moods and didn't want to have a crazy night. But as the PBRs kept flowing and we vented, we all felt better. I ended up meeting a french guy who I am pretty sure was appropriately named Jacque. I also met a german girl called Alena who I spoke german with and she told me that my pronunciation was pretty good. :) Let's just say I left with Jacque and we will leave it at that.

I also joined a book club and we had our first meeting last week. It went really well. Everyone seems really nice. We are now reading The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Everyone seems cool and it was nice for a bunch of 20 something people to sit around a bar and have intelligent conversations. Not stuffy or pretentious but still very cool. I also met a german girl there named Irma who offered to meet up with me to practice my german. She offered before I could even ask her!! How awesome is that??? We are meeting this Tuesday at the german restaurant in my 'hood that I have been wanting to go to forever. Things like that would never have happened in KC. Another cool thing about the book club is the point of it is to read classic books while eating good food at great NY restaurants. :)

I am also meeting up with a friend from college tomorrow night for dinner. I found out through facebook that he lives in the Lower East Side with his boyfriend. Super excited to see him and catch up. Haven't spoke to him since junior year of college at least. Plus he recommended a really great sounding asian fusion place.

I have been hanging out with my new friend, Olisa, a lot. She is awesome. She lives in my neighborhood. Randomly, she went to Park University back in KC and she had classes with my sister, Anna. Her and Amiran are friends too. She is from Greece and really easy and fun to hang out with. She also promised to take me to the bars that the foreign dignitaries hang out in. :) Meeting up with Amiran in a couple of minutes to purchase ballet tickets. Can't wait to actually go to the ballet! I get to dress up and everything.

Lisa will be here in exactly a month!! Can't wait. OH yeah for her bday which is this Saturday, my family is all getting together like normal. This will be the first family function that any of us have really missed which makes me a bit sad but i will be fixing tacos with peas (don't ask) on my end as well. I will also be enjoying a cupcake. And they will put me on skype so I can "be there." I am excited about that. Just wish they could pass me a piece of cake through the computer.

OH yeah. Also, on Mav and my's walk this morning, we met these two cute older ladies named Francesca and Cecilia. They loved Mav. They were happy to know we had just moved to the neighborhood and said they hoped to see me around again soon. See New Yorkers aren't that bad.

Love to everyone back home but if this post is any indication, I highly doubt I will live in the midwest again.

-S

Second Set of Visitors and Settling In...

So my parents came up last week and stayed for about 5 days. It was pretty awesome. I couldn't take as much time off of work to spend with them but I think they had a good time. I had fun just hanging out with them. It was a pretty big surprise that my dad could get time off of work to make it up here so I am really grateful. We had all kinds of mishaps and adventures that are normal for our family vacations such as my dad buying souvenirs for everyone, carrying it around all day and then leaving it in the cab. Not sure if it will get recovered or not. Still working on it. Also, on the way up here, my dad accidentally went in the toll lane for the EZ Pass instead of the cash only lane. He managed to get through and is still awaiting the ticket or fine in the mail. Of course we just kind of explored my neighborhood and enjoyed each other company. Didn't do any much different than if we would have all been back in Liberty and of course, Maverick liked having the house full of people to pet him. When they left on Sunday, it was much harder than I thought it would be. I cried and was pretty sad for a good hour or so. I called my friend Steph because she has been out here for like 6 years so I am sure she has been through it and wanted to know if it gets easier. She said it does get easier but you never stop missing them. It feels weird at 28 to miss my parents so much. I didn't even have that hard of time without them in college. Oh well.
So this pay period, I am broke so nothing too exciting. Must stay in and eat the food my mom cooked for me. I know HUGE hardship. ;) Things will be better after the next paycheck. And of course this is when there are mistakes with fandango taking too much money out when I purchased mine and my sister's midnight showing of breaking dawn. Hopefully, the money will be put back in my account by today or tomorrow. It is also helpful that I have plenty of tv shows to catch up on so I am not bored.
Found out a friend from college lives here in the city too. Can't wait to meet up with him and his boyfriend. Haven't seen him since college. Was supposed to meet up with him tomorrow night but I already had made plans with Amiran (my mom's friend's adopted/foreign exchange student). He is going to introduce me to one of his friends who lives in my neighborhood.
Weird to have conflicting plans. Hasn't happened so far in NY. Signs of an actual social life to come?
My sister comes to visit in like a month and half. Can't wait. Going to be exhausted because of all the plans she is making but it will be fun. And less pressure because she knows exactly what she wants to see and do.
Broke down and joined a gym that I can't really afford but I hate the extra weight I have gained since moving here. You would think with walking everywhere that wouldn't happen but the bagels are the devil. I think I need a bagel intervention or aversion program. So hopefully by the time thanksgiving comes around I will be back or close to where I should be.
Steph came up last night and stayed because she goes to school in Manhattan once a week. It was nice to see her. I need to make her a set of keys.
Oh yeah, I joined a book club and our first meeting is next Tuesday night at some restaurant. Supposed to read a short novel before then but I need to finish the book I was already reading. Only about 60 more pages to go but so little time in the day. Maybe I need to start reading it on the subway.
And I had my first subway groping experience yesterday. It was creepy. I was about to turn around and yell at him but I chickened out. Next time...
Two days ago, a guy hit me with his umbrella and I yelled at him but he didn't even turn around.
A couple of possible flirtations in the works but nothing concrete yet and since I am wary of relationships anyway not going to act on anything. Just going to let them happen or not happen. Maybe more next time.
-S
Tip: Don't give crazies the benefit of the doubt of shouting coherent, rational thoughts. If a crazy starts talking in your direction: ignore, keeping walking, look the other way, etc. No matter what. You will just be frustrated when you try to make sense of the nonsense coming out of their mouth.

I think Maverick might have more friends than I do...

So Maverick and I are starting to develop a bit of a routine. I guess according to Caesar Milan (the dog whisperer) you are supposed to walk your dog at least twice a day for at least 30 minutes each. So that is what Mav and I are doing. He, of course, has to stop at every tree, try to pick up every crumb that someone has dropped, and jump into the fenced in flower beds.

He has so many admirers around the neighborhood. We can't walk without getting stopped and told what a sweet and adorable dog he is. He is also a big hit with the children.

But I am intrigued by the number of people (children AND adults) who seriously swerve to get away from him. Like he looks like a remotely viscous dog. I know some people have been traumatized and all but I think they are being a bit dramatic. He doesn't even go towards them. Weirdos.

He also sometimes takes so long to pee on one tree, that a pigeon pooped on my shoulder the other day. Yes, it finally happened. My big fear of being pooped on by a bird and it is a pigeon. I kid you not, it actually burned a little. Like acid or something. I have heard that it is a good sign when a bird poops on you, so maybe it will bring me good luck. Or at the very least, increase the odds that it won't happen again anytime soon. Sort of the like lightning, right?

Got through my first cold by myself up here. It sucked not being able to go home and have my mom take care of me. She usually fixes me homemade chicken noodle soup and toast. I had to fend for myself. I actually think I got better in record time. Pretty much just slept a lot and drink lots of OJ.

Fall shows are starting again. Thank goodness. I am so glad to have something to watch. :)

Also, very exciting my cousin, Chad, and his wife just gave birth to their beautiful baby girl. I am sad I wasn't there and I won't get to officially see her until Thanksgiving. It is so weird seeing my cousin holding his daughter. I am so proud of both of them.

First chilly day and I turned off the air conditioner. Can't wait to save money on the bill but I am not excited about it getting cold. AT ALL.

No plans for this weekend yet but I did find out about a Mizzou bar on the Upper East Side so I might go watch the football game and maybe make some friends.

Oh yeah, recently a friend from high school starting messaging me on facebook. I have always liked this guy (as a friend) and was happy to hear from him but now he is texting me all the time and wanting to hang out when I come home for Thanksgiving. I don't want to sound like a selfish bitch but I am probably not going to have much time. There are so many people I am going to need to make time for. Plus, I just don't want to do the whole text message conversation all night. When I am watching a movie, watching a tv show, out doing something, I don't want to constantly be getting messages or having to come up with nice and witty remarks. I know this sounds ungrateful and mean but I just don't have it in me. I don't mind sometimes but if I respond, it NEVER ends. Not kidding. And he was planning on cooking me dinner. Already thinking of the recipes. Too much pressure. So I just suggested we get together for coffee or something.

Here are some tips from me to you:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Concrete at Shake Shack. GOOOOOOD. Also the burgers are really great too.

Street meat, more specifically a lamb gyro with tzatziki is even better cold the second day.

Crazy night out and being my own handywoman...

So Thursday I went to see Follies on Broadway for my first Broadway experience. It was awesome. Reminded me of being in musicals in high school.

Last night I met up with my new friend Bryce who was meeting a bunch of her former coworkers. We went to this place in the West Village called Wicked Willy's. It was awesome. Some of the cheapest drinks I have seen in NYC. Like $3 miller lights. Hell Yeah! They had real beer pong tables set up and a band was playing. It was a really good time. Did at least two tequila shots. Ended up making out with a guy who was pretty cute. Looked kind of like Taylor Lautner. But after awhile, and I do this a lot, I just don't like having someone following me around constantly. So I started talking to another guy. And of course, the first guy was like what is going on. He actually handled it pretty well and was like, do you want to be talking to him now? I was like I am just talking to him. I just was not in the mood to be glued to anyone. It was fun for a little while but I wanted to talk to people. Then I guess Bryce liked the 2nd guy who I had talked to so I stopped talking to him. Then I was trying to get the first guy to stop hanging on me but he didn't get it.

Then one of the other girls had to catch a train to connecticut at Grand Central which is a stop on the green line that takes me home. So I took advantage and was like I am going to go home too. The guy was all like can I come home with you? I was like no sorry. I want to be alone and go to sleep. He asked several times. He did ask for my number and I was like I am not going to give it to you if you aren't going to call me. But he said he would. Whatever.So I just shared a cab with that girl and got out of there. Another thing that is funny is before this guy showed up, his brother's girlfriend told me he was coming but also warned me that he is a player. Why are the players always attracted to me???

So I made it home and it was a fun night out. There were lots of cute guys and I talked to several of them. :)

So this morning once I slept in, I figured I need to build my couch that I bought from target and that was delivered yesterday. So I included pictures of the process for your viewing pleasure. At first I was afraid I would need real tools and then it didn't seem to come with instructions but I managed to get it put together and I finally have a place to sit besides my bed!!! And it is a futon too so more sleeping places for people who visit!!

My tiny apartment seems huge now...

Maverick says, "Hi!"

So my mom left today. Not on a plane but on a train. She is crazy. But I guess at least there is a mode of transport that will get her to visit. So glad to have Maverick here. Would definitely be very lonely without him.

Her visit was good. Started very frantic with losing out on a couple of days due to the hurricane but we got soooo much done while she was here. My couch should get here by this weekend and then it will be almost done and I will post pics. I am pretty proud of it. Not too much decorating done yet but I have ideas. So Sunday we took the ferry to IKEA (because it is in Brooklyn) and that was an experience. Mom and I were only a couple of blocks from where the WTC towers were but she was too tired. Again, my mom is interesting. Well, IKEA was an experience too. One of the most crowded places I had ever seen. THe kind of crowded that just drains any kind of energy you have. I will have to order from there online. YIKES. Or go during an off peak time (if they have one). I took her to Times Square yesterday and I think she really liked it. She wasn't so impressed with the East Village but I was! They had lots of bubble tea places!! Now, I love my neighborhood and everything but I really should have researched the bubble tea ratios. :)

So I think Mom really liked New York. While I was at work most days, she took Mav on several walks and got to know more people in the neighborhood than I do. Like there is a little coffee shop just down the street that these cute Asian girls run who LOVE maverick. They even let him in the store. My kind of place. I think she really liked having the freedom to walk anywhere. She did drive me crazy on how slow she walked. In NY you need to walk pretty fast to avoid multiple things such as being trampled by cars, taxis, busses, bikes, people, hoverrounds, etc. I was so afraid on multiple occasions that she would get lost and/or trampled but she made it through unscathed.

Also, I heard from "Bart" today. He emailed (and texted) saying he got tickets to a broadway show for Thursday, if I was interested. Part of me says, "RUN!" but the other part says, "Well, you have always wanted to go to a Broadway show." Decisions. If he tries anything, or didn't quite get the message from last time, then it will be the last time. I promise. :)

Mom and I also tried this cute little bakery in the 'hood called, Two Little Red Hens. If you are in the area, hell the tri-state area, please try them! I had the Brooklyn Blackout cupcake and mom had the carrot cake cupcake. The most moist and delcious cupcake ever. Must limit to once a week.

-S

Random Revelation of the Day: The subway smells like Worlds of Fun.

A home isn't a really a home...

...until you have furniture. So my apartment is really starting to feel like a relaxing place to come home to. They only things I have left to do is buy a couch, hang some pictures, and organize my pantry/linen closet. Oh yeah I need a nightstand too. But it is really awesome. Plus on tuesday night when mom and I were letting Maverick out before we went to bed, there was, sitting right outside of my building, a coffee table and a desk. So I told mom to stay by them and not let anyone get them while I took Maverick inside. We got the furniture inside and looked them over. They are both in pretty good shape. One of the legs of the desk needs to be tightened but other than that two free pieces of furniture! YAY!! (I think I found my new way to shop!) Then I discovered a thrift store around the corner and found a really nice inflatable bed (brand new) for half the normal price and a microwave cart for half price. This is the way to go!! I am going to IKEA tomorrow to check out a couch so when people visit me (ahem) they have a place to sit. :)

So my mom is here with me and it is interesting. She has the type of personality that is usually very hard to impress and underwhelmed about anything. Up until today, we haven't been able to do any sight-seeing because I have had to work and then we spent all our other time on getting the apartment organized. Trying to get what she would like to see or do out of here is like pulling teeth but when I came home early from work today she said she wanted to go to Central Park. So we walked around Central Park and I finally found the castle! I think she enjoyed that. Then we came back to my neighborhood to this little mexican bistro and had appetizers and margaritas.

Then we took Mav to the dog park. Which was fun. I met some people. Dog owners are the best and friendliest. I think Mav had a lot of fun. We will try to go there at least once a week.

Just got back from having dessert and coffee at this cute little place on 85th and Lex called Little Brown.

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. Mom wants to see Times Square, Little Italy, Chinatown, World Trade Center, and the New York Public Library. I am not quite sure she can handle the walking that will include but she asked for it. ;)

And great news, I guess dad is going to try to swing it so him and mom can drive up here next month! I can't wait!

-S

Hurricane Irene Had Other Plans...

So last Thursday, I had a one-way ticket to KC to go load up my stuff in a rental car and my mom and I were going to drive my stuff into NY. So I arrive in KC late Thursday night. I got to see both my sisters which was good. Woke up the next morning and had coffee with everyone except Lisa. And then mom and I set to work on sorting through my stuff AGAIN. Because after being in NY, I realized I didn't need a lot of the stuff I originally thought I couldn't live without. Then mom and I went and picked up a Toyota RAV 4 to pack and drive across the country.

My dad came home from work briefly to help stuff the rental car within an inch of its life. And by 2:30pm, mom and I were off. We made it into Indianapolis by 1 a.m. But were hearing some frightening things about this so-called hurricane that is supposed to hit the east coast. Of course, I paid for Internet at the hotel but naturally it didn't work. Work sent an email saying that the office was closing early and tentatively closed on Monday because the subways were shutting down on Saturday at noon!! What?!?!

I couldn't get any kind of definitive information on what this meant for mom and I as we were barreling towards a hurricane. Finally, my friend, Brandy, living in midtown tells me that the bridges and tunnels into the city were closing Saturday as well. Well. What do you do?

I called the rental company to see what they recommended, they told me because of the situation I wouldn't be charged as long as I brought back the car within 48 hours of JFK opening back up.

So what is the plan? Well, luckily, my best friend Stevo the night before had offered his apartment in case of this situation which happens to be in northern Delaware. So we just headed for his place instead. We arrived Saturday evening around 9 pm when the weather was starting to get bad. There were tornado and flood warnings all around us. We were very lucky, we did not lose power or have anything remotely disastrous. We just sat around and hung out with Stevo. I loved that I got to see his apartment and spend time with him before he gets all crazy with teaching and math.

The next day we set out to assess the damage of the town. There were a couple of trees down in the area and a lot of limbs and debris but other than that not too bad. We had a nice time checking out the cute little town and playing old school Super Nintendo games!!

It was hard to get information on when the bridges were opening but we got confirmation that they would definitely be opening for Monday so mom and I packed up our stuff and got back on the road.

I drove in NY for the first time and it wasn't that bad. I wouldn't want to do everyday but not the nightmare I anticipated.

So now my mom is up here until next week, helping me get my apartment organized and it is really coming together. Feeling much more like a home than it did a week ago. Well, I will have to save the adventures of my mom in the city for next time.

Trying to Form a Semblance of a Routine...

So I am currently living in my lovely, cozy Upper East Side with only the most modest of living utensils. I will be going home (for less than 24 hours) and packing up the remainder of my belongings in a rented small SUV to bring up here. (Hallelujah!!) I have almost no furniture to speak of and definitely no kitchen utensils. Yes, this means no plates, silverware, pots, pans, or even a wine opener. I really am living with the bare minimum. By the way, has anyone tried to cook a quesadilla using a broiler or a stove burner without the aid of any of these kitchen utensils? Well, I have.
First, you need a constant fear of burning yourself and the entire building down. Because of course, you don't have a fire extinguisher either. Then you turn on the broiler and realize there is no grate or grill. You can't just put the quesadilla directly on the bottom, so I used a paper plate. Yes I realized it "could" have burnt but desperate times and all that. So I put it in there and waited. Checking every two seconds just to make sure the plate wasn't burnt. In the end, it did not burn but did get very warm. Did I mention I don't have any pot holders?
When the cheese finally melted, I decided that the tortilla shell wasn't as crispy as I would like it so I used a trick an old boyfriend showed me but slightly modified. He would put the (plain) tortilla shell directly on a burner with a low flame. Well why wouldn't this work with the whole quesadilla? And of course, I don't have tongs to grab the quesadilla when it bursts into flames so thank goodness it did not. A little part of the tortilla did flake off and catch fire but it went out quickly. And I ate it. I am not sure if it was worth all the stress and anxiety. I will have to have a second go at it.
And also, I am not a super domestic girl. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE food. But I think of eating as a social activity. I hate the idea of whipping out the pots and pans and making a mess to create a meal for one. I just want super easy things to fix for myself.
I have also found out that I am incapable of sitting in night after night by myself. I have to be out and about.
I have also gotten back into running and I am currently running in Central Park! How cool is that? I love it. The park is so cool and big, you almost don't realize you are in NYC. Of course, there is plenty of people watching too. Anyone see the episode of friends where Phoebe and Rachel are going to start running together but the way Phoebe runs embarrasses Rachel? Well I definitely saw a girl running exactly like Phoebe. Almost peed my pants. Hilarious. I mean people had to swerve to miss her flailing arms.

I have yet to see my neighbor across the hall but I hear constant running water from the apartment. I don't know if it is the kitchen or the shower but I kid you not, every time I am either coming or going from the apartment, there is running water. I guess it is good thing water is paid for. Like I go for a run in the morning am gone for about 45 minutes and it is still running. Then I go in take my own shower and leave the apartment and it is still running. Now I am super curious!!
Well I am going for my first after work happy hour with a friend of mine, Kate's friend from grad school. I am very excited!! Plus, tomorrow I get to see my family that I have missed!!
-S

First New York Dating Experience

So I had my first date here in New York. I think that is a good sign that I am not even here 2 whole weeks and I already was asked out on a date. Although, once the idea of a date sunk in, I realized the idea of dating someone right now could give me an anxiety attack. So here is how it went down... (names have been changed to protect the unsuspecting)
While I was out last Thursday night, one of my new friends, Bart, asked me out. He said lots of flattering things and all of his friends at the restaurant opening were saying really nice things about him. All of the people there were warm and inviting. It was hard not to say yes considering, I am new in this city and I was facing the idea of another Friday night alone.
I was very excited as I walked home. But in the cold harsh reality of the next day, I was like what have you done? This poor guy is already super into you and all you are looking for is a friend. The idea of dating someone right now, when you have completely turned your life upside down, is fear-inducing to say the least.
Now I am a really independent person to begin with. I like to say I am perpetually single. I have had boyfriends and serious relationships but I do not bounce from guy to guy. I have no problem most of the time being single. Most of the time, my own company is vastly superior than what is out there. At least, that was true in Kansas City, once of the worst cities to be single. And, as selfish as it sounds, I am for the first time out of Missouri and I want to see what is out there. I want to date. If I can get a date this early, than surely I can get more, right????
Not that is why I moved here at all. I would like to stand on my own two feet and not depend on anyone to help me survive out here. That was the whole point of me being here. I love my family and they are great but for some reason I knew I would never feel like a complete adult if I couldn't make it without them.
So anyway, the date.
We met at the first bar we met at which is a great neighborhood place. We had a couple of drinks and then he took me to a local Mexican place that was great. We sat at the bar first and had a couple of margaritas and the bar put out chips and dip. The dip consisted of three different types of salsas. All were delicious and super fresh. Then we sat down to eat. The whole night consisted of great conversation and a lot of him giving me the greatest complements but it was becoming obvious to me that he was waaaay more invested in this date than the casual encounter I was hoping it was. We ordered food. I got the fish tacos and they were really great. The next plan was to go back to the restaurant that had just opened the night before where some neighborhood people were. I went to the bathroom and realized I have to say something NOW!
I came back from the bathroom and told him. He did not take it well to say the least. He put the ticket they gave us for my umbrella on the table and told me I could just go. I was surprised by his immediate shortness. I told him I am not trying to bail on you but I need to be honest before this goes any further. I told him I wanted to remain friends but my life is crazy right now being that I just moved here 2 weeks ago. He just sat there was like, "What do you want me to say?"
He seriously went from the friendliest and most easy going person to a hard, cold person in a second. I told him that it wouldn't have been fair and he just kept looking at me.
Then he was like, "I am going to have to face the humiliation of telling EVERYONE about this."
Of course in my head I am like, why does everyone know?
Then he was like, "So you are giving me the 'it's you, not me' speech? I can't believe this. This is why I am single."
I am sitting there not knowing what to say. His anger that he is definitely directing at me right now is not all about me.

I told him, "This really has nothing to do with you. This is me being honest about what I can handle right now."
Then he was like, "I was very clear that this was a date last night."
I said, "You are right you were, but while I was ok with the idea last night, once I thought about it, I was not."
I could not believe how awful the whole thing made me feel. Actually, how badly he made me feel. He would not drop it or act like an adult about it. I mean he is definitely older than me. I have never seen someone handle something like that on a first date so badly. Not even in high school. At first I felt bad but now I am like, what the fuck? I do not deserve that. I was just trying to be honest and do the right thing. That is how a child acts when they don't get their way. We had just met Tuesday and the date was on a Friday!!! Are you kidding me? I can understand being excited and then being disappointed but if you projected some whole relationship in the matter of 3 days than that is not me.

-S

Side note: Being forced to spend a significant time in Starbucks lately, let's talk about public electronics etiquette. If you are going to use a program, game, or application that uses a lot of obnoxious sounds, PLEASE put it on silent or use headphones. Thanks.

Making friends and getting to know the neighborhood...

Moving to a new place where you know next to no one can be sort of lonely. Yes, I have kept busy with all the fun getting a new apartment and getting settled has been. But after all of that, what is left? Am I doomed for dinner for one forever? So I decided to get out and mingle. I looked up happy hours in my neighborhood and just randomly selected Mollie's Pitcher. They had cosmos for $5 and that sounded absolutely refreshing. I sit down, order a drink. I notice that the lady and gentlemen next to me at the bar are asking the bartender about this week's True Blood. Since I had just watched it the night before, I chimed in. And therefore, I end up meeting Ronia (SP?), the very friendly and generous with the pours, Irish bartender and a couple who just happening to be opening a restaurant this week in the neighborhood. We are all talking and having a good time and then more of their friends show up. I met three more guys who all live in the neighborhood. It was a great time. One of the guys, Stephen, asks for my email to give me information about upcoming events such as a concert on a boat touring around Manhattan and a 5K in the area that has free beer afterward. How cool?? And the couple invited me to the restaurant's family and friends opening night which was last night. :)
It was awesome. 1/2 off drinks and free samplings of the food which was amazing. They had miniature shrimp po'boys, fries roasted in rosemary with a roumelaud sauce, and fried oysters in the same sauce. Very good. I met even more people from the neighborhood. I even met this lady named Rose who is sort of a landmark of the Upper East Side. She is in her 80's but pretty much the cutest thing I have ever seen or talked to. Very sassy and full of personality and life. She was putting back the beers and swearing with everyone else. I absolutely loved her. I met this couple that lives on Roosevelt Island. How cool? Everyone was so nice and friendly. I had a great time. I was stumbling home around 10 thinking, "I think I am going to be okay here." :)
I have dinner plans tonight after work with Stephen and I am really excited. I have a lot of work to get done before then though.

Home Sweet Home

So the quest for finding a permanent place to live has finally come to an end. I am settled on the Upper East Side and very happy with my new neighborhood. So far my new apartment only has a bed in it but I will be driving the rest of my stuff up here in a couple of weeks with my mom. And then her and I will get to figuring the furniture situation out. Today, I am waiting at the apartment for a package my mom sent that has bedding in it. I don't have air conditioning yet because you can't just order an air conditioner and have someone handy install it. You have to have a professional install it and give a certificate to the landlord.

Renting in NYC is completely different. I had to deal with 3 different entities in order to get this place. Believe me when I say, I really hope I don't have to move or find a place again in this city any time soon.

I walked 28 blocks to bed, bath and beyond last night which was a nice walk. Then bought two full bags of things and walked the 28 blocks back. That was a mistake. But I made it. I am slowly moving the stuff from my hotel room. I don't have to be out of the hotel until 12 tomorrow.

I also had to have a deadbolt installed yesterday. Kind of an interesting/weird situation. I had to pay $200 for a deadbolt. Clearly, one had been there prior and it had a phone number. These guys show up and installed it. I just hope I didn't open a new can of worms, like these guys are now capable of breaking into my apartment or something.

I have caught up on my tv so far. I really hope the post office delivers my package soon. I was hoping to go running in central park today.

Above are pics of my new apartment without furniture. Will post pics soon of the neighborhood.

New York Officially Kicked My Butt Today

So first day on the new job is bound to be stressful. Add being in a new city and not having a place to live and all kinds of other stressers and you still won't be where I am at right now. So I make it to work on time. Everything seems great. Great view from my desk, lots of free snacks and good coffee in the kitchen, find out jeans are OK everyday, two terraces and friendly people.
That is where the fun ends. I get a computer but no log on. No one is in the office for me to meet and I finally found out the dream apartment I saw on Saturday already had an application on it. Was this mentioned on Saturday? NO! Was I told that the apartment was mine if I was approved? YES!! So angry.
Not only do I not have the peace of mind of a place to live, but I wasted two whole days. At least I get the deposit back from her. I finally found another apartment to look at (with a different property group) but that lady couldn't meet me until later in the afternoon. So I have the whole day to sit at my desk, doing nothing. Can't get on the internet or anything. I went and looked at the apartment and it is a better deal than the other one. A one bedroom and on the 1st floor. I am going to meet her over at her office after I get the money for the deposit.
Getting the deposit: Capital One didn't tell me I could only get out $400 a day. Well that throws a kink in the plans majorly. So I have enough to get the deposit for this apartment. I talked to the office manager there and he assures me that there isn't an application on the apartment. I pretty much had to give them everything last 3 years tax returns, last 3 month bank statements, etc. He said I would know by today or tomorrow if I was approved for the apartment. And now the first lady is texting me constantly to meet her. I am blowing her off until tomorrow at lunch in the hopes that I will have found out about the other apartment in the meantime. Let's hope it is positive this time.
Not to mention this morning, I didn't have enough fare left on my card for the subway so I had to wait in a long line to reload my card and of course the machine wasn't working. Naturally.
Also, when I left work to meet the lady to look at the apartment, I couldn't find the subway station according to hop stop's directions so I had to pay for a cab. Lovely. Because I have tons of it. At least I will hopefully get paid soon.
Please everything work out for me!! Not to mention I have been sweaty and gross two or three times already today. Tomorrow I am wearing something much cooler. Oh yeah and I have the first set of blisters from the city of New York.
I want to pound my head against the desk. Wine will be necessary tonight.

First Weekend

So I have safely arrived in NYC. Leaving my family at the airport was very hard. It was scary, and exciting. I am very close to my immediate family so it will be difficult to live so far away from them. Anytime I wanted to see them, I could. But I have known I needed this big change for a long time and it is finally happening!

My friend, Brandy, lives here too and she had made dinner reservations for her fiance and their friends who were in town. It is restaurant week which is awesome and that means you get to try all the great places for much cheaper. So we went to this great steakhouse and then to a rooftop bar called 230 Fifth. It had the most incredible views and it luckily was a gorgeous night. Then we went to a bar called Reunion. I had been there before but it is always a fun place to go. Plus they have alcoholic snow cones!! :)

I came up here without a definite place to live but had scheduled appointments to see apartments first thing Saturday morning. The first and only apartment I looked at yesterday, I fell in love with. It is on the upper ease side which is where I wanted to be. A very cute, tree-lined street. With my 4 or 5 block walk to the subway station for work, the area has everything I need. A cute little coffee shop, cleaners, a tailor, AT&T store, H&M, and more! I find out tomorrow for sure if I get the apt. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I start my new job tomorrow. I took the last year off to slow down and try to figure stuff out. I have had a lot of awesome experiences over the last year and learned a lot. I am going back to doing what I had done back home for over 5 years. I am hoping I still know what I am doing. I am scared and excited. I hope everyone likes me and I hope it works out. Because I will have a very expensive apt to pay for.

So far, I haven't felt homesick. I am sure it will happen eventually. But my mom will be coming out soon to help me get settled and unpack. Can't wait for that!! I also can't wait to have my own place and the internet. Until next time... S