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