The US Open

WELCOME TO THE US OPEN!! One of the first things I bought when I got to NYC was tickets to the first session of the US Open night games, and yesterday was the day!



My first time at a professional tennis game, it was thrilling! Made those tennis years in high school and college feel like forever ago. There was lots going on, and Ronnie and I had a great time in the Heineken lounge watching the opening ceremony on the TV's and having a beer, it was such a swanky lounge. Then we went into Arthur Ashe stadium to watch Venus Williams defeat Roberta Vinci. It was so cool to be in such a huge stadium... and it was so quiet. You could hear the ball being smacked around and it was so serene.





After that was Roger Federer playing Dabul. The crowd just loved Federer, and it was great to watch him play. I had wanted to make some rounds on some of the smaller courts, but I just couldn't tear myself away from the matches I was watching. Everything went by so fast, I felt like it was over before it started, but it was a great experience to see.



Inside the stadium



Outside the stadium

The best thing about New York City is that you can count on everything to come through here, except for maybe like, Mardi Gras. When you're in NYC it feels like you're at the center of the world.

Brooklyn Loves Michael Jackson

...and so do I! Thanks to Ronnie, who not only has internet at home, but also friends from home in NYC, I learned about the Michael Jackson Day in Brooklyn yesterday. It was the 2nd annual Michael Jackson party produced and hosted by Spike Lee, held in Brooklyn's Prospect Park and IT. WAS. FABULOUS.


A small taste of the atmosphere

You could hear Michael Jackson's music from far away, and when I got through the trees to the meadow clearing, it was a massive field with a stage, screens, and speakers that hurt my ears even from the edge of the park (no joke). Thousands of people were out and about playing, dancing, eating, taking pictures, watching all the impersonators, and just celebrating his legend.


Me and Ronnie taking a break from our dance moves for the shade


Let's Dance! Let's Shout! Shake ya body on to the ground!

I consider myself a fan. I remember listening to the whole Bad album days at a time, and Neverland Ranch was quite close to where I went to college! But all my recent respect and appreciation for him was due to SD roommate Pam, the true fanatic who reinstilled my love for the Off The Wall album (thank you too, Quincy Jones) and Blood on the Dance Floor. A whole day of Michael Jackson music and dancing unihibitedly was so refreshing! The day was perfect too... clear, hot, and breezy.

Also to our surprise the Revered Al Sharpton came out to address the crowds and lead us in a prayer, and then Snoop Dogg came out at the end to sing a tribute.


Snoop Doggggggg

Why didn't we do this while he was alive?? At least he left a legend, like The Way You Make Me Feel and PYT and Dirty Diana!! Kk Loves Michael Jackson.


...as do all these girls that were a part of our group!

The Perspective of Sickness

This has been the motherload of all sicknesses that I caught, it's a very strong and stubborn one that I can't get rid of. Even with Monday and Tuesday off, by Thursday morning, I was weakly trying to get ready for work when the nausea and dizziness and overall fatigue just hit me I couldn't make it in. I spent the day sleeping, tossing and turning, cuddling my kitties, and watching Seinfeld. I could've used some more raw garlic, and ginger, but was too sickly to go get it.

And in that state, I had a bit of a different view of New York. Even just one day bedridden indoors, I felt so locked up! I thought a lot about all the amazing things New York City had just outdoors and even as close as the park just 1 block away, and how I couldn't go. I felt very lonely and isolated without the internet as well. And i got so sick of watching movies on my laptop on my lap since it got so hot, or on the side of the bed, i really should invest in a TV with a DVD player. I looked at some at Target when Shan and Kat were here, but the ones I could afford weren't much bigger than my laptop so I didn't see the point! New investment will be a TV, and maybe some furniture to put it on.

At any rate, as soon as I'm better I'm ready to go back out exploring new neighborhoods, and maybe go to some museums, and get back with the NYC I missed out on being sick. TGIF today, I have the weekend to recover now. And if Shannon and Kathleen will send some pictures, I can put some up!

Post-Vacation Work Day

As soon as the weekend hit, I somehow got sick. Still, I indulged the Kelley's and we went out and about gallavanting around the city both night and day, and crashing, sleeping, and terrorizing the cats by night, who in turn terrorized us in our sleep with their incessant chasing, running, clawing, jumping, etc.

With a good week in NYC, Shannon and Kathleen left with still plenty un-done on the to-do list. Still, we got to do way more than we didn't (you following?). But I took them to the airport yesterday and came home alone to a quiet apartment (and full fridge, thank you Kathleen for the 24 pack of Coke, and the 5 gallon tub of Cheese Balls!!!) and couldn't sleep because of how awful I felt. I thought that the calm would give me time to revitalize, but instead it gave the disease time to multiply and take over. I feel just awful.

And today... it's pouring rain, I'm sick as a dog, and catching up on all the work I missed. It's just as sad as it sounds right about now.

The Kelley's Hath Landed!

Family's in town, met them last night, yahoo! Only I'm stuck at work for the day, looking forward to a week of fun in NYC :)

Chris & Kris Do NYC

After heading up to Boston for 4th of July to spend it on Cape Cod with Chrishon, it was her turn to come down and visit me here in NYC!

We had a GREAT weekend! Chrishon was also my first (overnight) guest in my studio, so it was my first time playing hostess. I met her at Grand Central on Friday night, we brought her stuff to my place, and then walked down Broadway and got drinks at a live jazz club.

That night I put the cat toys away since the cats get really rowdy at night and can be loud with their running, chasing, ball playing, etc. Turns out that worked out against us because in the morning Chris told me that they spent the night jumping onto her air mattress from the windowsill, then back up to the windowsill, and jump to the air mattress.

The next day was fabulous! Got up lazily, and made our way down to Washington Square Park. The day was perfect. That's the Empire State Building peeking out the back



There was also this live creole (?) band playing. Sounded like something you would hear on Splash Mountain. Still, they were so good!! And it was cute that it was two old men and two younger guys. People bond over music



We then ran across and street fair and had the best time buying a bunch of junk. I meann, it wasn't junk, but we loaded up on jewelry, shirts and especially hats!! We got coffee cake and coffee from a cafe, and then did the Staten Island Ferry!! The ferry is part of public transportation so it's free. It's a great view too of both Manhattan...



and Lady Lib...



And this must have been what we looked like on the way over



And here's me and Chris on the inside :)



And me trying to get back the tan I got in Cape Cod...



Afterwards, we went to Ground Zero to see the site, which to be honest isn't much since it's undergoing construction and there's fences set up around it, but we went to the Memorial Preview Site that has some mementoes, information, and shows what they plan to put in the wake of the disaster. This is a Statue of Liberty covered in love and support



Afterwards we went up to Gray's Papaya for hot dogs which though delicious, are a little small! Then back to my place for showers and getting ready for...



Cafe Wha? ! A live house band club that encourages participation and dancing located in Greenwich Village. It was so fun! (At work I asked my coworkers if they had heard of it and they were like uhhhh duh! Joni Mitchell usesd to hang there etc etc) oops.

This was me at our fancy schmancy dinner meal beforehand



Sunday morning we only really had time to grab coffee and breakfast near Grand Central Station before Chrishon had to leave. We were right near the beloved Chrysler building



And in this one if you look really hard, you can see me with my Starbucks and newfound I <3 NY shirt :)



My turn to go to Boston now!

Welcoming Refugee Kitty #2

My next little kitten bonded with Wolfie immediately upon arrival. They just love each other endlessly.

This is them eating and bonding on the first night



And this is them now. They're always cuddling each other and even wrapping their tails around each other.



It's so endearing! All our cats in California were so independent, they never seemed to take to each other for too long. I guess since they only have each other, they really appreciate each other.

Auntie Chrishon who visited from Boston last weekend bought a housewarming present for all of us... a scratching post! They were tearing up the carpet and not taking to the scratching pad i had hanging from the door handle. They both love it but Wolfie only really gets adventurous at night



And here is a straight on picture with the favorite toy. I still don't have a name for the cat but really, like in this picture, you can see a striking resemblance to Bjork, I think.

Cat:


Bjork:


Aaaaaand lastly, I found Crazy Cat Lady #3. Usually there's just a picture with a cat, but this is just one step too far



Now if only I could get Wolfie to love me!

Like A Rolling Stone

Some people ask, and everyone else probably wonders, why I do the things I do. Why I hustle and move and leave friends and family behind to do all these things, which I ultimately do alone.

Complex question, complex answer. But I will say that on the subway this morning good ol' Bob Dylan came on and mentioned what sounded like a concise answer

You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you

In the context of the song it's different, but just here in this one liner, that's a fair piece of what I feel like.

The Elevator Man!

I picked up my second cat last weekend, and Crazy Cat Lady #1 asked if I wouldn't mind coming over to her apartment so I could pick out the kitty myself from the litter, she said that she wanted me to have first pick.

She was located on the East Side, so I had to take a cab, and her address was even on Park Avenue. She told me there was no doorman, but an elevator man. I had no idea what that meant... but I soon found out.

I walked in the lobby and the strapping elevator man approached me. I had no idea what to do and I wasn't sure which was worse... pretend I knew what I was doing and possibly screw it up, or just admit defeat and ask him?? So I just told him who I was here to see and asked which floor it was as I just kept walking into the elevator. He followed me. And you know what that elevator man did? He had to actually close the gate and crank us up to the 11th floor!! Unbelievable!

The apartment was of course, unbelievably gorgeous and HUGE and just wonderful. Each floor was a little foyer with two doors off of it for two apartments on either end. And then when we wanted to leave, we had to ring a buzzer and the man had to crank it up to us to take it down. It's weird because I tend to shun technology, but this just seemed so primitive!



I was certainly humbled coming back to my studio after my stint on Park Avenue with... THE ELEVATOR MAN (dun dun dun)

AMEN!!

I always thought the first video I would share would be something from The Colbert Report because I LOVES Stephen Colbert and he's hilarious (and films in NYC and I swear one of these days I'm going to make it to a taping!!) but my coworker just sent us all this clip which I thought was just as profound as it was funny. It's from Conan O'Brien and anyone who has seen the evolution of phones, internet and the world in general will appreciate it!

I will spare you all my personal thoughts of the world today, but I love this clip... "Everything's Amazing but Nobody's Happy"



Enjoy

INCEPTION!!

I saw Inception this morning and I am still just reeling from it!!



It was A-MAY-ZING! Thrilling, edge of my seat, and emotional (I must have cried 3 or 4 times during it). And hello? Leo & J-man... eye candy! It was also my first IMAX experience, unbelievable! Can I use enough exclamation points?!! (Later that day going home, saw Joe Gordon-Levitt's movie filming in my neighborhood again... can't wait for that to come out, just so I can see my 'hood on the big screen).



I owe it all to my friend Victoria that I met playing volleyball, and whose dogs I walked last weekend. She suggested the whole outing, which turned out to be a fun-filled Saturday: met at 10:45 for coffee and apple turnovers at the Farmer's Market on Lincoln Square, caught the IMAX matinee of Inception (this movie is still driving me crazy!), got brunch on the Upper West Side and then did a little shopping. We basically went to all the sale racks at Gap, Banana Republic, Loft, Zara, etc. In the end I got a pretty sweet skirt I can make manipulate for both work and going out from Banana Republic for only $21! Yahoo. It was a great day.

Sad news: I used to be able to get internet at my place from some connection nearby that wasn't password protected, so I was really excited to save on a bill! Unfortunately, that connection got a password today so all after work hours internet comes from me sitting here in Starbucks. C'est la vie!

Also, I know this sounds crazy, but I'm getting another cat. (Aah!) A kitten actually (Aw!) The thing is, Crazy Cat Lady #1 (I consider myself to be #2) called me to say she had a kitten that needed to be fostered and asked what I thought. I said with my studio I thought 1 was probably enough. However, she got me in touch with another girl who fosters that said that having 2 was actually easier than 1 since they would keep themselves entertained and happy. So I conceded. Tomorrow night the kitten is being brought over to me!

Inception rules all!

Phase Two Of Our Relationship

Since I've kicked the cat out of the bathroom, he has since been forced to be in closer territory to me since there is nothing for him to hide in, under, or around.

When I came home I didn't see him anywhere at first glance which is weird, but his food dish was empty so I opened up a can (and cats are always so in tuned to that sound!) and I saw this rustling at the foot of the bed and then Wolfie poked his little head out and watched me put the food in his dishbowl.



How cute is he!! He's afraid to cross paths with me still so he wouldn't get up until I left the kitchen so he stayed there long enough for me to take the picture isnt it precious??

Case of the Mondays!

Is it considered a case of the Mondays even if I was in a great mood to start with?

I came to work only to be greeted with a slough of problems. The Italian group says they don't have their breakfast vouchers, girls who checked in to the residence want to share a room even though they didn't request it, and a residence turning away a girl who weeks earlier they confirmed a reservation for.

Then I get the leader of another Italian group waving his hands and yelling in my face because we require proof of health insurance that shows a name and birthdate (he was just handing us a brochure of a health company) and when someone else from our staff tried to help he pointed at me accusingly "SHE-ah doesn't-ah get it!" and I snapped back "EXCUSE ME, I get it. YOU aren't listening to the solution". Sometimes I think customer service isn't my strong suit.

After that a student storms into our office (with a clearly posted, red STAFF ONLY sign) saying that he cannot sign our terms & conditions because he cannot clearly understand it. Yes they have to sign the English version, but to be fair, our contracts with our agencies state that they present this to the students in their native language before they even sign up for our school). He spoke French so I had him sit at my desk and we went through the entire document together, I clarified anything that he asked for help with. Since he had been so upset, I tried to complement him with a formality and told him in French that his English was better than my French... and his response? In English I think it translate to "Duh. I could've told you that". I wanted to slap him for being so petulant. Instead, I'll just play volleyball tomorrow.

For lunch, myself and my 3 other coworkers all went out together at the Ginger House just below our office. It was the first time we all went out and it was such a relief and put me in a better mood for the second half of the day.

Hello, August

Summer is halfway over yet I finally feel like it's starting.

I had another pleasant day today... I woke up and went to church, afterwards got breakfast at Starbucks and stayed there for awhile reading and working on my next great American novel, and then went shopping for my place. I'm trying to so hard to patient in the sense of getting things together, but it's hard! I just want to be set up, but it's fun seeing it come together one small thing at a time.

Today I got 2 trashcans (why am I so excited to get trashcans??), trashbags, a can opener, some plastic hooks, Windex, a broom and dustpan, and a bath mat! Slowly but surely

On the way back from the housewares place in my neighborhood, I walked right through a filming set! They are filming an action movie starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt (from 10 Things I Hate About You, 500 Days of Summer, and Inception) and this is supposedly called "Premier Rush" or something like that. I watched as the car he was in drove by with the cameras attached to the front of the car to film. Maybe I'll end up in the background holding my huge trashcan with the long broom handle sticking awkwardly out of it like some modern day Cinderella

Below is some film crew on the sidelines



I did a yoga class this evening and now have to gear up for another busy week. The cat and I are doing much better since I forced him out of the bathroom and keep the door closed. I still haven't been able to pet him or anything, but he's much less scared of me and comes in closer proximity. I want him to love me already!!