New Kid On The Block

Puffy eyed, sleep deprived, and greasy I got to the airport at 5 am this morning. I was planning on walking swiftly through security, boarding my flight, and sleeping the whole way back to New York. When I got in the line for security I remembered that it was the worst travel day of the year and was starting to dread everything, until...

I approached the line, and this very attractive guy files in behind me and gives me one of those smooth, sexy grins (you know? the kind without teeth, that are a little suggestive and may cause a dimple or two). I begin to day dream until I hear him behind me talking on his phone. He's stressing, loudly, about the possibility of losing his luggage on his way to the Philippines. After he hangs up, I turned around and offered him some comfort by telling him my bags made it to and from Australia, when I was flying standby.

I must have sparked an interest with him, because the rest of our time in line was spent chatting. Turns out he lives in NYC and we get talking about what we do and where we live. When I got to security I was held up. As I watched him walk down the terminal I thought 'well, there goes that.' Once I was permitted to leave, I walked to my gate, sat down, and waited for my flight to take off.

Within a few minutes he reappeared coming towards me with an apple in hand. He sat down next to me, and we resumed our conversation about the big city. He was flying to Los Angeles, on his way to Hong Kong, and then the Philippines. His gate happened to be right next to mine. When the gate agent started calling for people to board I hopped up, thanked him for the conversation, and headed towards the plane. When I got to the line, I realized they didn't call my row, and he was still sitting over where I left him. So, I grabbed (what I think was my business card) and ran over to him. I handed him the card and said, 'if you decide you want to show a new kid around.' I turned around quickly and boarded my plane. we'll see if he calls...

New Thanks

I am currently not in New York, but I still wanted a chance to write a small reflection on giving thanks.

With regards to New York I would like to acknowledge all of the people who live there with circumstances, more difficult than my own, and who manage to get by. I am referring to the blind, handicap, and elderly, mostly. These people live in a city that is geared towards the young and healthy, and they are often neglected in such a fast passed community. I continue to give up my seat to these people on the bus or hold a door open for them, but not everyone in the world is willing to spare a few extra moments. I would like to give personal thanks today for being so healthy and very much alive.

With regards to my thanks I would also like to acknowledge that I think New Years and Thanksgiving should be combined. I am (lucky) enough to have my birthday on Thanksgiving again this year. I do not enjoy the copious amounts of travel and family on my birthday, which can easily be overlooked, but it is an optimum time for reflection.

In my new year, I am given an opportunity to reflect on what I am both thankful for and what I would like to give, change, or receive in the upcoming year. I have already decided on my resolution for the upcoming year (tba). It is within the last few hours of a very topsy turvy year that I can admit, I am ready to move on. I have undergone many changes, some that will take more than a year to fix, but I am thankful for my friends, family, and perseverance that have gotten me through it. I can only hope that being alive another year will be an equal or lesser struggle and more of a success.

Cheers to your day of thanks, and may your belt be loosened, elastic stretched, and all the pie be eaten!

What Wood You Do?!

So, I didn't get to see John Mayer Monday or Jack White Tuesday...but I did get to go to the MTV Woodie Awards Wednesday.

On Monday I ran straight from work to Brooklyn, but all of the wristbands were given away. I ended up meeting a friend at the Beer Hall for a litre of beer! Around the start of the show, we went back to the venue, but still couldn't get in. Rejected again we went and had more beer and cheesepuffs....what a well balanced dinner?!

Tuesday night's show was sold out, but I wasn't upset since I was going to see the Dead Weather on Wednesday night!

For the awards ceremony we waited over an hour outside (in the cold, single-file line, and 3 inch heels). Once inside we realized it was standing room only, except for the VIP area and a long bench in the back of the venue. We managed to find a spot on the bench, where when I leaned to the left I could see the main stage! When my friend leaned to his right he could see the presenters' stage, so we took turns seeing everything!

Matt & Kim opened the show with a little strip tease from their dancers! Some of the presenters were Zooey des Channel, Alexa Chung, and Cyndi Lauper (to name a few). The bands that performed were Matt & Kim, Deathcab for Cutie, Passion Pit, and the Dead Weather! To be honest, all of the bands were ok, but the Dead Weather was beyond incredible! Waiting nearly 4 hours to see them was absolutely worth it! Jack White and his band gave an orgasmic performance that makes me want to see them again ASAP!

The end of the night was capped off with invites to the after party, which I was unable to attend, because my friend got rejected at the door. It will not be the last invite to an after party, and I will hopefully have another awards ceremony to attend sometime in the near future!...Besides, my boss offered me her red, Bill Blass couture, cocktail dress for my next affair, and that's an opportunity I can NOT pass up!

Below are some pictures (my camera started to die and couldn't focus well) from the event!

Roseland Ballroom

Matt & Kim dancers

Passion Pit

Deathcab For Cutie

Zooey des Channel

The Dead Weather

Stop! Rock!...and Roll!

Friday the 13th wasn't so bad, considering my superstitions. That morning I rode the bus with one of the fit models who lives in my neighborhood (actually being friends with a model is kind of bizarre). I also got my first job perk...about 1/2 a yard of fuschia cashmere. Looks like I'll be making a mini skirt over the vacation! I also had lunch with my sister, who was in town for work.

Saturday was spent staying out of the rain, and Sunday I made the most of what was left of the weekend. I had lunch with former NYU dorm room mates and did a little thrift store shopping!

The most exciting part of my weekend is what I am anticipating for this week...

There is a FREE...I repeat...FREE John Mayer show tomorrow night! I am trying my hardest to get a wristband, but it will only be luck if my friend waiting in line in the morning can get one for me, too!

Tuesday night is another concert, The Dead Weather, which I would love to attend. The Dead Weather is Jack White's new group and the show is sold out. But, based on past experiences I'm going to keep trying to find tickets!

And, to top it off the MTV Woodie Awards are Wednesday night, and I've won tickets!! The Dead Weather, Passion Pit, Matt & Kim, AND Deathcab are ALL playing!!!...You can expect to see me on TV December 4th!

So, I could potentially see John Mayer Monday, Jack White Tuesday, and several other amazing bands Wednesday!!! If none of it works out, then no loss, because I wasn't planning on any of this to begin with....But, if any, one, or more do work out...Well, then just figure I can die happy on Thursday!

Kickin It!

After a jam-packed weekend, this week has been going full throttle, too...

Monday night was a calm night in preparation for the week ahead...minus a surprise phone call from a friend who got engaged! A big congrats goes out to her and her future hubby:)

Tuesday I got to work only to find out my boss wasn't coming in, because she was too ill. A sudden version of 'Joy to the World' began ringing in my ears. It was cut short once she informed me I was going to come to her apartment to get a list of tasks for the day. I went to her 5th Avenue apartment, laptop in arms, fabric, and more to find a list of tasks and high hopes for getting off early....which I did!

Tuesday night was the dinner accompaniment to Saturday's skipped party. Showered and home-made card in hand, I jumped on the L train to Brooklyn. At dinner I was the only one there, minus his elder sister, who didn't know the 15 other best friends. I apologized to the host, but until I get a paid job or win the lottery, home-made cards and showing up are all I can afford. I sat beside a few other alumni at the very long table and proceeded to have awkward dinner conversation. One particular alum of several years was very intriguing, but when the big question came:

'Where do you work?'...followed by 'Do you know_____(my boss)?'

The conversation with me ended, but the story doesn't.

Dinner couldn't end soon enough. Feeling just as alone as before, I left for a thirty minute trek home.

First thing the next day, this was my dialogue between my boss (also a friend of the birthday boy, but too 'sick' to attend the party.):

B: I heard you met ____(birthday boy's friend).

M: Um, yes. I did.

B: Yea, he texted me last night.

M: Oh.

B: You know he and I used to date, right?!

M: Uh, no. I didn't.

This interlude left me with two big questions. How could such a nice (seeming) guy date her?! And, how can I possibly have the same taste in guys as her?!!

Putting my men-troubles aside I went to see the Radio City Rockettes last night! I have a dance friend from high school who is one, so another dancer-friend and I went to see her dress rehearsel. It was fantastic! I hadn't seen the Rockettes since I was 12 (when my hopes of becoming one were dependent upon how many inches I would grow during puberty...obviously not enough). The sparkle and magic were just as good as the first time, and I'm starting to get excited about NYC at Christmas. Well, I better get back to relaxing, because this week is not over yet!

Sari for Partying!

Yesterday started out with a yoga class geared towards surfing. When we did a low, 360 degree spin on our mats, I missed my mat surfing along the hard wood floor instead of the imaginary wave. I've fallen so many times in public (airports, fashion events, subway platforms, etc...) my ego is the only thing bruised. I have to pray, though, that this is not a sign of how bad I will be at surfing, when the day finally comes that I get to learn how.

The rest of the daylight hours were spent helping my friend furnish his apartment. He's been living out of suitcases for almost a month, so we went to Ikea for some swedish meatballs and some furniture. I met him in Australia, when we spent a day trip together in the Blue Mountains. After a Great Barrier Reef style ferry ride to Red Hook we began our search for everything he needs. There was an awkward moment during that time, when I was thinking this must be what wedding directory shopping or starting a home with someone feels like. The only difference here was that price was entirely up to him, and I knew the feminine throw pillows and persian rugs were not something even worth mentioning to him. In the end, I successfully talked him out of a really awful dresser and was there with him, when we realized he is going to have to come back.

My Aussie-omeness did not end there for the day, as I attended a party with a friend of mine last night. The hostess, her Australian friend, was having a Bollywood Themed birthday party, and the majority of the people there were Aussies. It was at one of the most posh and amazing apartments I have ever seen....and she lives there for free!!!! I was sad not to be in costume, when we got there and most of the girls were, however, the very hospitable hostess had bindis ready and waiting for us! After several bottles of champagne and some grey goose a dance party began in front of the Indian-themed slideshow on the wall. Just as my friend and I were getting fairly groovy we decided to ditch this party, but where to next?

I was supposed to attend a birthday party in Bushwick (sketchy Brooklyn), but a 45 minute train ride and lost buzz were not sounding good at midnight. So, we did the next best thing...got something to eat (despite the curry-filled spread at her friends) and continued going out on this side of the river.

We managed to catch a free ride to B Bar. It's a great place when the weather is nice, but even the heat lamps weren't cutting it for me. I was enjoying conversation with some very attractive gentlemen and a free drink from, yet another one of her friends, when another guy from our hometown in the south showed up.

After several minutes I was told we were leaving. I hopped in a cab with the other southerner and his friend, waiting for my friend to join us. She stayed behind and I headed further south to what I think was the Lower East Side. I was pretty drunk at this point, but we walked into a bar that I am nearly positive I have been to before, although I remembered it being on the Upper East Side. It's a tiny bar with pin-up girls flanking the walls. It was so crowded in there I could hardly breathe and the two boys were busy gathering attention from their unique dance moves. I could tell I was starting to fade, so I left for the night. Later when confronted from my friend in Bushwick about why I wasn't there, my only response: 'Sari for Partying!'

A Dime A Dozen....Or, One In A MIllion?

The last few days I have been plagued with sleepless nights (i.e. my unconscious dealing with stress.....not sex(I wish)) and tiresome days. It relates to two main issues in my life, 1) being alone and 2) my job.

Is everyone out there a dime a dozen or one in a million?

After breaking up with someone over half a year ago, which I still can not believe how long and short that is; I have continued to think about him. I put much more into that relationship than I was apparently bargaining for, and he seemed to have an easy enough time cutting me out of his life entirely. I made attempts at keeping in contact and have since given up. I hadn't really been overly concerned with his well-being until the wonders of facebook got involved. Had his friend not emailed me and begun commenting on wall posts, as well as, pictures of him and his (guessing) current girlfriend appeared all over my damn newsfeed; I may not be the least bit bothered.

However, it was the pictures from Halloween that put me over the edge. A guy who once told me he hated taking pictures, so was hardly ever hassled, could qualify for beauty shot deluxe! And, to top it off he stole a costume concept I have always dreamed of doing. I mentioned, prior to our split, that for a couples themed party I had always wanted to dress like Jack and Meg White, which neither of us was able to attend. For the record, the White Stripes were (until recently) my favorite band of all time, and I have always had an obsession with Jack White. He decided to be an unoriginal jerk and steal. I'm a very passionate person when it comes to dressing up, and for some jerk that claims to 'hate dressing up' to steal my ideas....you better believe I am pissed off. Who knows how long it will be before I can even listen to the White Stripes again?! And it WAS my favorite band!!!!!

Was I just a dime a dozen girlfriend? Or was I an homage-worthy one in a million?

As for my job, well I think I am starting to stress a little, because of the interview. I haven't heard from the woman, and the few sketches I had time for were not my most creative, best efforts. But, how can you accomplish creativity from 7-9 pm, when you can barely keep your eyes open and your hands from shaking? Also, more odd comments about how nice it would be for me to stay at my 'job' continue to be made, and not just by my boss. It is encouraging that I have made an impact, but do I want to stay there? I'm still not sure.

Was I another dime a dozen intern? Or have I been one in a million?

Also, it is reaching November, and that means I am running out of time. With the holidays coming up, it will be January before I know it. My sublet ends the last week in January and without a job I can not stay here. Do I want to stay here? I'm not sure about that either. But, what I do know is moving 3 times in one year was enough, and I'm not sure I'm ready to go back home.

I guess my best bet for solutions here are never getting on facebook again (not gonna happen), finding a boyfriend (also incredibly unlikely), and finding any way possible (even if it means selling my soul) to stay in New York. I don't really like the way any of those sound, so I'm just going to pray that time stops until I can work it all out.

Weekend Update...(minus Tina Fey)

Last week almost gave me the balls to quit my job. After a fabulous Monday the rest of the week was so awful I couldn't imagine working there a day longer. The intern who was hired (I thought) to help me was instead doing my jobs in the office, and I was in turn out running around (mostly in the rain to find whatever it is she couldn't). When I finally decided to ask my boss if I had any authority on this 'princess with an attitude,' my boss nearly blew a fuse telling me that 'NO! You are supposed to be working TOGETHER!' Little does she know this girl doesn't do or want to do anything that requires more effort than matching her shoes to her outfit.

So, on the verge of quitting and hating the 'tough' life in the big apple I decided to make some changes. I've researched a variety of clubs and organizations, and I have chosen a writing club to join. It will basically be an excuse to write one of these posts, hopefully within the next few weeks. I spent hours looking for jobs and finally found a few worth applying for. Turns out I wasn't off my rocker, because I actually got an interview with a Children's wear, high-end, design firm today. Not sure if I'm going to get the job, but she did ask me to send some more sketches, so that's positive. I also managed to run into/ found out a few other friends of mine, mostly x-ballerinas (like me) have moved to the city! Maybe these are all signs life is going to turn around?....

As for Halloween...I dressed up as Holly Golightly from 'Breakfast at Tiffany's.' It was a very successful costume and a fun night...rainy, but fun. Tonight I'm watching the Saints game with a friend from home, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a Saints v. Colts Superbowl! Up is the way to go....and if that means I need to get high, well that might just happen soon too...