Today I'm in more or less an awful mood. It doesn't have much to do with me being in New York at all, so I don't know why I'm writing about this, but I do feel like a storm cloud.
I wanted to go to yoga this morning, but my 5:30 alarm woke me up in what must have been the middle of a REM cycle because I felt so sluggishly tired and dead, I couldn't bring myself to get up. I was having the weirdest, most disconcerting dreams, and then was late getting ready and out the door. I just have this annoyed, irritated feeling all about me and it's so hard to shake off! Also, I didn't have anything to eat so I'm hungry and that's not helping anything either!
At least when I walked out today the air was cool and not a blast of heat, which I've been getting, even when I walk out the door at 7:15a!
I also started packing up my room last night as I'm starting the trek over to my new place! What a process.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Look What I Have!!
Literally thousands of dollars, a scarily depleted bank account and an arm and a leg later, I have the keys to my own studio in Manhattan!!
A front door key, a door key and a mailbox key.
Not moving in quite yet... but I did take this upcoming Thursday off to be able to move and get stuff done. On the agenda...
-Transfer electricity to my name
-Buy a mattress and have it delivered ASAP!
I need just about everything, but I can't wait to have it decorated, furnished and set up, it'll be a process, but that's a fun one at least.
A front door key, a door key and a mailbox key.
Not moving in quite yet... but I did take this upcoming Thursday off to be able to move and get stuff done. On the agenda...
-Transfer electricity to my name
-Buy a mattress and have it delivered ASAP!
I need just about everything, but I can't wait to have it decorated, furnished and set up, it'll be a process, but that's a fun one at least.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
First Guest
My first "guest" since I've been out here is my dad, who came into town this weekend for work, even though the event got cancelled. What a weekend! We were out and about the whole time walking, taking the hot and sweaty metro, getting ice cream and going to dinner, the movies, getting drinks and watching World Cup games... it was so fun! I was SO exhausted when he left though. I took him to Penn Station and after saying bye I felt like I would just fall dead asleep and not make it to the subway... we stayed up until about 3am on Saturday night!
Didn't take many pictures, but here's what I have:
Made it to an Irish bar on the Upper West Side to watch USA v Ghana. It was packed! The atmosphere was great, but we stood for the entire second half of the game!
After the loss, the crowds flooded outside, and we saw this little number. I know we all like to dress up our pets, but this dog just LOVED it. He did not care one bit that those sunglasses were on his face, he was just chilling out there, it was cute!
On Sunday we went down to South Street Seaport Village to walk around and have brunch. Nice little area
We were here while the Mexico v Argentina game was on and it was an area where Puma had set up a "Puma City" with huge screens broadcasting the game, bracket maps, stores, and even a small soccer arena for pick up games
We walked to the other side by the pier and enjoyed the view of both the city...
...and the great Brooklyn Bridge
It was fun having a guest since I am as much a tourist as they are. Had a great time with my dad and I look forward to more and more visits from family and friends!
Didn't take many pictures, but here's what I have:
Made it to an Irish bar on the Upper West Side to watch USA v Ghana. It was packed! The atmosphere was great, but we stood for the entire second half of the game!
After the loss, the crowds flooded outside, and we saw this little number. I know we all like to dress up our pets, but this dog just LOVED it. He did not care one bit that those sunglasses were on his face, he was just chilling out there, it was cute!
On Sunday we went down to South Street Seaport Village to walk around and have brunch. Nice little area
We were here while the Mexico v Argentina game was on and it was an area where Puma had set up a "Puma City" with huge screens broadcasting the game, bracket maps, stores, and even a small soccer arena for pick up games
We walked to the other side by the pier and enjoyed the view of both the city...
...and the great Brooklyn Bridge
It was fun having a guest since I am as much a tourist as they are. Had a great time with my dad and I look forward to more and more visits from family and friends!
Friday, June 25, 2010
New York's "Chivalry"
When I argue against chivalry being dead, I think it's that I'm just naively hopefully that by doing so, it will be sustained or reinvent itself. I see forms of chivalry often, especially in the working world. Men in suits frequently hold the doors for women dressed for work entering the building, allow them on and off of the elevators first... etc. (By "etc" I mean, that's pretty much it).
But... chivalry comes to a screeching halt as soon as your get to the subway.
When it comes to getting in, or getting a seat, it's every man for himself, and all social practices are abandoned. I mean really. The same polite men in ties cut you off, run in front of you even though you're walking right in, jump on the seat you were about to sit in, it's an absolute paradox. I mean, pushing and crowding around the doors when the subway gets to the platform is one thing... but the overt theft of place and disregard for personal space is atrocious.
Social darwinism at it's best.
But... chivalry comes to a screeching halt as soon as your get to the subway.
When it comes to getting in, or getting a seat, it's every man for himself, and all social practices are abandoned. I mean really. The same polite men in ties cut you off, run in front of you even though you're walking right in, jump on the seat you were about to sit in, it's an absolute paradox. I mean, pushing and crowding around the doors when the subway gets to the platform is one thing... but the overt theft of place and disregard for personal space is atrocious.
Social darwinism at it's best.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Welcome Ronnie!!
I am finally "so" happy to announce my that Ronnie B. Choi has just moved to New York City and I will have a friend after all!
Ronnie was one of the very first people I met / friend I made in college. We both lived on the same floor of the San Nicolas dorm at UCSB. On move in day after all the parents had dispersed we had a hall meeting and then somehow Ronnie and I got into a conversation about Audrey Hepburn, and our lives have never been the same!
Here are some of my favorite memories with Ronnie:
-When I made the mistake of once calling him "Ronald" he said "That is NOT my name, and if you insist on calling me something other than Ronnie, you may call me Reginald". It stuck
-One night freshman year Ronnie, me, and our hallmate Emma were heading back to the dorms from a night out in IV. We were passing by one of the small parks in IV and it was quiet and dark and suddenly from the bushes next to us we heard a creepy whistling, Ronnie screamed and ran full force ahead and left me and Emma in the dust!
-My last night in the dorms freshman year I spent in Ronnie's room with him and his roommate Stan and we watched this awful reality show about stage parents... but nothing beats the lifetime made-for-TV movie called Odd Girl Out that we watched and still incessantly quote... "You have nothing that I want!"
-Sophomore year I lived towards the edge of IV, near the cliffs that lead to some beaches on the west end of Goleta. One night Ronnie got it into his head that we should go down there, in pitch black. I even went so far as to head out there, but got so scared by the complete darkness on the cliffs (Ronnie tried to comfort me by some ridiculous battery-less flashlight that operated from manual winding energy). He gave me a really hard time about it but we still laugh about "the trail" to this day.
-Ronnie was so upset that I decided to study abroad in France for an entire year that he started referring to Europe as "Whore-up" in an attempt to deter me from going!
-Once in a conversation about Angelina Jolie's newest foreign adoption Ronnie comments: "Can someone please tell her that it's okay to come back with just a T-shirt when you visit another country??"
-Ronnie came to visit me in San Diego this spring and he insisted that we go find a Chinese buffet for breakfast, and then we rented 3 movies of his choice: all incredibly bitchy, cliquey movies, that did prove for some laughs. Ronnie and I were sitting outside of an Asian market together when we both learned that Brittany Murphy had died.
* * *
Senior year of Halloween, me and Ronnie at a friend's house before going to a party
* * *
This was mine and Ronnie's attempt a few minutes later to "capture" our friendship
* * *
My 22nd birthday party, Ronnie and I were fake fighting
* * *
At a dorm-reunion shindig, myself, Ronnie and my freshman year roommate Neva
* * *
A rare picture of Ronnie and I being nice and smiling! This was when we went around IV with some friends taking pictures at our usual haunts.
* * *
An endlessly quotable friend, Ronnie is also a very loyal, helpful, and dependable person. He got me a birthday present for all my years in college, nevermind that they were basically children toys from the UCSB bookstore... it's the thought that counts! Ronnie spotted me endless meals throughout college (including making me his own Korean noodles and raw egg combo), always tried to help when I was upset or frustrated, even if his advice was only for a good laugh. For instance, once, when I was really frustrated with my school schedule, Ronnie was going over classes with me and said "Ooooh, what about this one? 'Modern Short Story' from the English department. That sounds easy! MODERN, and SHORT!!"
Reginald and I have known each other for a full 6 years, went through all of college together and I'm so excited to have him here in NYC with me... what a new chapter we're writing
Ronnie was one of the very first people I met / friend I made in college. We both lived on the same floor of the San Nicolas dorm at UCSB. On move in day after all the parents had dispersed we had a hall meeting and then somehow Ronnie and I got into a conversation about Audrey Hepburn, and our lives have never been the same!
Here are some of my favorite memories with Ronnie:
-When I made the mistake of once calling him "Ronald" he said "That is NOT my name, and if you insist on calling me something other than Ronnie, you may call me Reginald". It stuck
-One night freshman year Ronnie, me, and our hallmate Emma were heading back to the dorms from a night out in IV. We were passing by one of the small parks in IV and it was quiet and dark and suddenly from the bushes next to us we heard a creepy whistling, Ronnie screamed and ran full force ahead and left me and Emma in the dust!
-My last night in the dorms freshman year I spent in Ronnie's room with him and his roommate Stan and we watched this awful reality show about stage parents... but nothing beats the lifetime made-for-TV movie called Odd Girl Out that we watched and still incessantly quote... "You have nothing that I want!"
-Sophomore year I lived towards the edge of IV, near the cliffs that lead to some beaches on the west end of Goleta. One night Ronnie got it into his head that we should go down there, in pitch black. I even went so far as to head out there, but got so scared by the complete darkness on the cliffs (Ronnie tried to comfort me by some ridiculous battery-less flashlight that operated from manual winding energy). He gave me a really hard time about it but we still laugh about "the trail" to this day.
-Ronnie was so upset that I decided to study abroad in France for an entire year that he started referring to Europe as "Whore-up" in an attempt to deter me from going!
-Once in a conversation about Angelina Jolie's newest foreign adoption Ronnie comments: "Can someone please tell her that it's okay to come back with just a T-shirt when you visit another country??"
-Ronnie came to visit me in San Diego this spring and he insisted that we go find a Chinese buffet for breakfast, and then we rented 3 movies of his choice: all incredibly bitchy, cliquey movies, that did prove for some laughs. Ronnie and I were sitting outside of an Asian market together when we both learned that Brittany Murphy had died.
* * *
Senior year of Halloween, me and Ronnie at a friend's house before going to a party
* * *
This was mine and Ronnie's attempt a few minutes later to "capture" our friendship
* * *
My 22nd birthday party, Ronnie and I were fake fighting
* * *
At a dorm-reunion shindig, myself, Ronnie and my freshman year roommate Neva
* * *
A rare picture of Ronnie and I being nice and smiling! This was when we went around IV with some friends taking pictures at our usual haunts.
* * *
An endlessly quotable friend, Ronnie is also a very loyal, helpful, and dependable person. He got me a birthday present for all my years in college, nevermind that they were basically children toys from the UCSB bookstore... it's the thought that counts! Ronnie spotted me endless meals throughout college (including making me his own Korean noodles and raw egg combo), always tried to help when I was upset or frustrated, even if his advice was only for a good laugh. For instance, once, when I was really frustrated with my school schedule, Ronnie was going over classes with me and said "Ooooh, what about this one? 'Modern Short Story' from the English department. That sounds easy! MODERN, and SHORT!!"
Reginald and I have known each other for a full 6 years, went through all of college together and I'm so excited to have him here in NYC with me... what a new chapter we're writing
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Philharmonic
I joined a volleyball league here in NYC. When I was leaving work after changing into some athletic gear, my boss asked me about it and then asked "who organizes it" and I thought that was a funny question, so with a straight face I said "Mayor Bloomberg". So there's an ongoing joke around here that I play volleyball with the mayor of New York City.
At any rate, it's on Tuesdays and it was my second time. It's so fun! I forgot how much I love volleyball (I got into it the Olympic summer of 2004 when my friends and I used to watch all the Athens games and then play into all hours of the night since my friend had keys to a court, and I took classes and played intramurals in college) and it's fun to be out in Central Park playing! They have both sand and hard courts there, and I'm actually semi making friends!
After the game I noticed a big hullaballoo not far from the courts so I wandered over there to find the New York Philharmonic giving a free concert! It was so beautiful! I was sad not to have my camera. Beautiful music playing in the park at dusk, people all around, fireflies glowing over the grass, the only thing that ruined it was the rain!
It came out of nowhere and started a full down pour with what Forrest Gump calls "big ol' fat rain" and soaked me through. We looked like ants whose anthill had water poured on it as we all walked, ran, and flooded out of Central Park alone, in pairs, with yoga mats and purses over our heads. I had to give up. By the time I got to the subway it looked like I had jumped in a pool with all my clothes on.
But the highlight of it all was the Philharmonic of course
At any rate, it's on Tuesdays and it was my second time. It's so fun! I forgot how much I love volleyball (I got into it the Olympic summer of 2004 when my friends and I used to watch all the Athens games and then play into all hours of the night since my friend had keys to a court, and I took classes and played intramurals in college) and it's fun to be out in Central Park playing! They have both sand and hard courts there, and I'm actually semi making friends!
After the game I noticed a big hullaballoo not far from the courts so I wandered over there to find the New York Philharmonic giving a free concert! It was so beautiful! I was sad not to have my camera. Beautiful music playing in the park at dusk, people all around, fireflies glowing over the grass, the only thing that ruined it was the rain!
It came out of nowhere and started a full down pour with what Forrest Gump calls "big ol' fat rain" and soaked me through. We looked like ants whose anthill had water poured on it as we all walked, ran, and flooded out of Central Park alone, in pairs, with yoga mats and purses over our heads. I had to give up. By the time I got to the subway it looked like I had jumped in a pool with all my clothes on.
But the highlight of it all was the Philharmonic of course
Certified Checks
I have to get certified checks for the security deposit and first month's rent, and my bank charges me $8 for each one. Fees, fees, fees... where does it end??
Wells Fargo is nowhere in NYC, but they have a partnership with Wachovia so I can go there. It's been a hassle. I'm thinking that I'm going to switch banks, but I'm scared! I've been with Wells since 2004 when I got a checking account, checks, a credit card, etc, and I've really been building up that loyalty!
Wells Fargo is nowhere in NYC, but they have a partnership with Wachovia so I can go there. It's been a hassle. I'm thinking that I'm going to switch banks, but I'm scared! I've been with Wells since 2004 when I got a checking account, checks, a credit card, etc, and I've really been building up that loyalty!
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