Need a little Christmas...

Brace yourself NYers, a BIG storm is coming, cue the "Winter Storm" logo on all major new stations and interviews with different salt truckers/plowers on their "preparations." Sorry if I seem a little Debbie Downer tonight but for some reason I'm just not feeling very jolly this season. Can't quite put my finger on it--it could be a few different reasons that I won't fully go into here--but I think it's a combination of everything. Missing some old friends, adjusting to my new apt, focusing on some life goals for next year, etc. I haven't done any traditional Christmas things this year whereas last year I was in full NYC cheesy tourist mode. Maybe tomorrow's pending storm is just what I need to catapult my holiday cheer.

I even tried to do some festive holiday shopping tonight but was immediately irritated--not by the crowds for once, but by the overeager sales clerks from The Body Shop. I was asked by no less than 6 employees if I was "finding everything OK" and their awkward hovering while I smelled different products reminded me of having someone read over my shoulder when I'm typing (a pet peeve of mine). One lady even said (in an obnoxious sing songy voice mind you), "what-cha DOin - trying to decide on scent--I know I know they all smell great!" Ugh--shut up lady I'm just trying to sniff some holiday cheer in the form of your "Merry Cranberry" lotion, and yes, I somehow wound up purchasing some Merry Cranberry lip gloss. Then I quickly made my way across the street to Bath & Body Works for a cheaper and better selection of random stocking stuffer products, and oh yeah, I bought some aromatherapy sheet spray which I am enjoying right now--I think it's working I feel slightly less stressed than usual...

Hopefully tomorrows snow will be the pretty fluffy peaceful kind that blankets the city and makes me feel alive and giddy. If so, I'll post some pics!

2010--The List

FF mentioned recently that we should make a list of things we want do/accomplish in 2010. The list will not only consist of the tradional goals, resolutions, etc but also contain little things that for whatever reason we have not done, despite saying we have wanted to a million times. I'm making my own list here and hopefully his will be similar :)

Here goes...

1) Travel Internationally--My passport is ready, I read travel blogs daily and I've got a whole separate list of all my preffered destinations but I will be happy with one "out of North America' trip per year starting in 2010. I WILL DO THIS IN ONE!

2) Go to More Plays--I work walking distance to the theater district and live a subway ride away. There is just no excuse for not culture-ing it up more. Yes, theater tickets are pricey, but I actually just edited the title of this one from "Broadway Shows" to "Plays." Off-Broadway are probably awesome too, and there's deals on Broadway shows if you look for them.

3) Buy Stock--Random, I know but I think it's time to get into the stockmarket game. I mean I follow tech trends, have tons of brands I am passionate about and I live in NYC. Gotta get in the game! Any hot tips for me? :)

4) Cook more--This one actually requires a bigger kitchen and a lot more "supplies" but I would really love to learn how to cook and bake better and think this is something I would really enjoy once I have the right space.

Specific Places I want to go in 2010:

Musuems! (MoMa Tim Burton exhibit, the Met, etc.)

Weekend getaway in the Mountains (snowboarding, lodges, fireplaces--maybe upstate NY, VT, NH, etc)

Beach Vacay (hopefully to be tied in with my Number 1 'International Travel"

I will be back to add to this--this was just my random middle of the day on a Saturday start!

The tale of two New Yorks

This past weekend FF (that's my boyfriend--I figured he needed a code name already!) had some friends in town and I was reminded once again that there are two very different New Yorks. Don't get me wrong, I love them both--but in very different ways.

The first NY is the one I came to as a child--looking up at the buildings, visiting the tree and the statue of liberty, going to see shows and generally having a grand old time. The one that in my mind was this magical place that if I just lived in (see previous posts about wearing Easy Spirit walking shoes on the subway...), I would lead a fabulous, TV show-like life. This NY is for tourists and the wealthy. Some would say that the tourist's NY and the privileged NY are different--but after some thought, I think they are very similar. They both involve a carefree, breezy outlook on life here. Neither the tourist nor the Park Avenue Princess thinks about how much money they are spending, they only think about having a good time and enjoying the bright lights and big city. I myself lived in this NY for a while--while I was young growing up on LI and coming to the city for fun and excitement and I even lived in this NY when I worked part time in the city, commuting from LI and always enjoying my adventures in the city. I have since moved to "the other NY."

The other NY is just as fabulous if not more so than the NY I described above. The other NY is the real NY. The NY that Jay Z and Alicia Keys are really singing about in "Empire State of Mind." The NY that may be a struggle but you do it because you know at the end of the day, you are lucky to be living and working here. You live in the greatest city in the world and have opportunities that no one else has. In honor of this NY I have decided to start writing more about the fun things I do in my NY. The good thing about this city is there is something for everyone. The meatpacking district may not be my scene (and to be honest, even if I had all the money in the world, it probably wouldn't still wouldn't be my scene) but there are a million great things to do here that don't cost a million dollars and are just as amazing, inspiring and fun.

Check back often as I will begin to diligently record all the things I do and all the places I go both in and out of MY NY :)

Trendspotting--Volunteering on T-Day

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is shopping like a champ today! $13 toasters, $200 dollar laptops, $30 cashmere sweaters, what's not too like?? Oh yeah, the insane crowds, long lines, traffic jams, etc. Ehhh count me in anyway, who doesn't love a bargain?? :)

Yesterday I had a nice Thanksgiving with family and am very thankful for my close-knit family, plenty of food to go around, the health and employment of all my family and friends-and also for the opportunity each day brings!

Yesterday I had the well-intentioned idea of wanting to volunteer at a soup kitchen in NYC before going home to LI for a feast with the fam. I had a rough year myself and am very thankful for all my blessings and I really wanted to do something with my time to give a little back. Well let me tell you the good news first--our homeless were well fed yesterday--just not by me!

I started researching places to volunteer about 3 maybe even 4 weeks prior to Thanksgiving Day. At that time, several of the "most popular" soup kitchens, including the Bowery Mission and some others were already "booked." Some even offered to put me on a "waiting list" if someone cancelled. No, I am not kidding. Only in NYC can someone be "wait-listed" to VOLUNTEER on Thanksgiving. One church shelter right near my apartment told me they had all the volunteers they needed through the end of the year, but could probably squeeze me in one Sunday in January. Another place told me that I could bring some homemade pies by, but they didn't need anymore volunteers (umm try making a pie in MY apartment, sorry...). Now I know that some people only think about volunteering on Thanksgiving day or Christmas day and it has even become sort of a "cool" thing to do. Many celebrities and athletes can be found photo-oping it up at shelters all over the city on these holidays and that's very nice and all but I was pretty shocked to actually be turned away from being able to help people. I have no problem helping out any other time of the year and am going to make a committed effort to do more volunteer work in general (and Yes, I will be taking that random Sunday in January for starters!) but I thought starting it off on THANKSgiving would be very appropriate.

I guess much like getting a table at Butter or The Waverly Inn, it's all about who you know and calling well in advance. I will be booking next year's Turkey Day volunteer opp. this week--who wants in?? :)

My first Manhattan Address

Well it's official--I have finally have my NYC mailing address! Email me if you want to send housewarming gifts :) I'm writing this post from my new bedroom with the NYC white noise buzzing in the background. What has this experience taught me so far?

1)NYC is the most expensive place to live in the world

2) NYC has the most expensive grocery stores in the world

3) NYC is where anything is possible and no dream is too big

4) If I'm going to achieve my dreams, I need to start putting myself outside my comfort zone, taking chances and making moves

5) I need to do something everyday that I never did before

Things I will be doing in the near future that are outside my comfort zone:

1) Joining a gym (and actually going)

2) Volunteering because it will make me feel good, and hopefully others too

3) Making new friends

4) Making my own way

5) Submitting my work for more freelance writing opportunities

Live from the Bolt Bus...

it's the quintessential grey day in New England day as I ride the Bolt Bus up to Boston for a weekend with old friends. I, of course, am pensive as a listen to my ipod and think about my future, my career, my life choices, etc. (you know, the usual).

In a few weeks I will have my first official Manhattan address (after 6 months or so with an "unofficial" one...) in a great little starter apartment. I'm calling it a starter apartment because it is exactly how I imagined my first NYC apartment. Nothing fancy, but charming in it's own way and right in the center of all the beautiful chaos the NYC (in particular the east village) has to offer. I went the widely accepted "Craig's List" route and I'm looking forward to this new chapter for me.

Apartment hunting in NYC is quite a comical if not a harrowing experience, especially if you don't have $4,000 a month for a luxury studio (which in all reality is probably still the size of a non city dweller's bathroom or kitchen). Things that are acceptable in NYC as living conditions would NEVER fly in the suburbs. I was appalled to find out that the rumored "bitchen" (combo kitchen/bath) actually did exist...AND it still costed an absurd amount! Other frightening conditions include the "loft" style living which more times than not means that you sleep in an attic-like alcove the only fits your bed and that would induce a head injury if you actually stood up when getting out of bed. No thanks!

When I told my mother that I had finally found a place, she innocently asked, "does it have a doorman?" Haha, I just laughed. She had remembered that when I first ambitiously started looking for apartments in NYC, I listed doorman, roof deck, and pass-through kitchen as some of my must-haves. My new apartment has none of these. These can only be attained by wealth, living in an un-cool, inconvenient neighborhood (hello FiDi) or extreme luck. These things are still on my list of eventual necessities for my future digs, but for now, I'm happy with a place that isn't a 5th floor walkup, has windows in the bedroom, and has a separate space for showering and cooking. Hey, it's the little things...

Quick post

Just wanted to write my first post from my new lovely and sleek Mac Book Pro. Problem 1 of why I wasn't writing often enough is now solved so I must think of a new excuse :)

My apartment hunting saga is also drawing to a close so I have to get that post in order as well. Tonight I had a weird, scene from a movie/epiphany moment walking back from the subway through Midtown. This random Mary J Blige song came on my iPod (I think it was called Baggage?) and all the sudden the words and the beat and the lights of the Empire State Building just aligned and I found myself smiling, holding my head up a little higher than normal and swaying to the music while I tried not to shiver from the cold (yes west coast readers-fall has arrived here in NY...). Anyway I felt like I should be the opening scene to some movie where the main character moves to NY with just a suitcase and a dream and by the end she overcomes hardship to find love, success and money. So who would play me? I'd be happy with a Natalie Portman/Keira Knightley type I think :)