Quick Update

So I haven't blogged in awhile and I'm headed to DC tomorrow to watch Gretchen run the Marine Corps Marathon (Go Gretch!) and participate in Friend Thanksgiving (pictures to follow) so I won't have time this weekend. Here are a few things that have happened lately:

#1
I've known for a long time that I could see the Chrysler building from my office, when getting coffee, there it is. However, I leaned a little closer to the coffee machine and, "What's that tall building?" oh, right, the Empire State Building.

#2
Soooo, I finally painted my room. Well, one wall. It's a beautiful color called Santorini Blue and it looks absolutely stunning. I meant to take pictures and post them but I've been kind of lagging on the posting of pictures. Sorry! I promise after this weekend there will be a ton of new pics.

#3
Found a bar that has beer pong every day. Three tables, with waiting lines. I have a feeling that I'll be back to this bar, preferably not on a school night.

#4
NEWEST OBSESSION! I have downloaded approximately 20 podcasts to my iPod in the last few days. They're free which is very beneficial and they're automatically downloaded when a new one comes out. I have downloaded all 21 episodes of Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips to Better Writing and am MOST excited about getting the weekly podcast of This American Life. If you haven't listened to This American Life on NPR you should start. I've never been able to listen to the show on a regular basis but always listen to the streaming past episodes. The fact that I can listen to them on my way to work...so excited.

On Credit

This morning in line for my bagel, the woman in front of me ordered her morning donut, then said, "Can I give you money on Monday?". Surprisingly, the cart guy agreed. I got the impression that she goes there every morning from their banter but was a little surprised. This happened last week as well, when the guy who runs the snack shop in our office lobby gave someone cigarettes which she promised to pay him the next day.

I didn't know this happened anymore. Especially in New York full of it's conspiracy theorists. I can't really think of ever seeing this happen before outside of SD.

Dove Campaigns

I know there was a lot of talk about the new Dove campaign when it first came out but I really like them.

Here's a commercial for Dove floating around YouTube.com and EVERY other blog I've seen so far today. Just in case you missed it.

Transit Check Hoopla

My company issues transit checks as an added benefit to those who work in our NYC office so every 6 weeks we're given $60 in transit checks that can be used in the Metro system. I was just sitting at my desk and "I have transit checks available" pops up in the preview window in Outlook. I turned around and everyone is SPRINTING toward our office managers office. I think if a child was in their way they would have pushed them down. I have never seen people in an office running so fast. People were reaching out to touch walls to make sure they wouldn't run into anything while still sprinting full force.

Luckily I quickly figured out what was happening and joined the race and proudly must say that I was 5th in line. Look at all that athleticism. It doesn't hurt that I'm on the same floor and somewhat near the office manager. Looking forward to the next transit check day!

I'm Safe

In case anyone is concerned and check my blog before calling I am nowhere near E 72nd St. Apparently a small plane crashed into a high rise and it's on fire. All is well and I'm in Soho. I'll keep you posted with first hand accounts if I run across any. I have a friend at home on 82nd St right now so maybe she'll have some perspective.

What I Did at Work Today

REMOVED PICTURE - HAVE TO MAKE SOME EDITS :(

This is my friend Shoshona's desk. We happened to have a plethora of toilet paper around the office and we decided to enclose her desk in a toilet paper fort. That's what she gets for going to LA for TWO DAYS! I can't wait for her reaction tomorrow. Notice the symmetry - hot.

IllegalArt.com

Here is a very cool thing my friend Viv and I saw wandering the streets in Soho. The first image is what the window looked like from across the street. The letters and the design are actually created with yellow and pink Post-It Notes.


People had written what they had, "To Do" on the notes which was very cool. Some were pretty entertaining like, "Buy New Bras" but I decided to make mine super cheesy.


Hey! It was my 2nd week in NYC. Give me a break!

Must be an East Coast Thing

Very few things disgust me on the street. I can handle garbage, I'm even getting better at seeing dog dropping remnants and not freaking out. However, something that absolutely grosses me out is seeing chicken bones on the street, or, any type of bone for that matter. Evidenced below:


Well, I thought maybe the chicken bone litter was a DC thing but it turns out it must be an East Coast thing. There have been 2 chicken bone spottings in recent weeks. If you are a chicken bone litterer, I beg you, please stop. Seeing animal carcass on the street is gross, even if it was edible at some point.

Star Spotting #1

Well, technically it wasn't a star "spotting" since I saw him in his place of business but I'm counting it anyway.

Apparently Nick Arrojo's salon Arrojo Studio is near my office. I decided to take a walk since it was a beautiful day, glanced in the window and there he was, cutting someone's hair. In case you don't know him, he is the hair expert on "What Not to Wear" on TLC.

So excited! "What Not to Wear" frequently sends their makeovers shopping in Soho so I'll have to start watching a little more closely. Maybe I'll get to run into Clinton and Stacey too!

Flickr

I've added a link to Flickr on the right. I've got some pics from my friend Gregg's going away party, a trip to Ocean/Atlantic Cities and some random pics from my first few weeks in NYC.

I know that some of the pictures may not be facing the right direction. I've been uploading for 2 hours now and I just don't care anymore :(.

In the coming weeks I'm planning on going to the Brooklyn Bridge and checking out the fall colors in Central Park. It's funny, in one of the NYC pictures I'm wearing a t-shirt, skirt and flip flops. It's hard to believe I've been here long enough to notice a change in weather.

NOTE: Any comments regarding the fact that my bed takes up 75% of my bedroom will be taken as hostile. Yes, the apartment is small BUT cozy, and remember any negativity put toward it now will result in bad feelings between you and the apartment when you visit.

Drinking more H2O

I hate drinking water but according to everything I read, drinking water is the solution to, not overeating, having nice skin, staying energized, etc. So, I read in SHAPE that if you want to drink more water, use a straw. I've been drinking water out of my giant Nalgene bottle with a straw for 2 days now and let me say that I drink a lot more water. "Any" would be more than I had been drinking so I think this is a step in the right direction. So far today I've had Approximately 40 oz of water which is well on my way to the suggested 64 oz per day.

However, like my favorite greeting card brand (Fresh Ink) says "If you drink the suggested eight, 8 oz glasses of water daily...your new hobby will be peeing."

My View

I just realized I can see the East River from my apartment!

It's kind of like when in movies people moving to a new city are told there is a view of a something, like, the Eiffel Tower, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, etc. from their apartment and they go to see it and indeed there is a view. However, you have to go out on your fire escape, stand on your tip toes and have a mirror.

I can only see a little bit of it between two buildings and a tree is obstructing my view, but I should be able to see it more clearly in the winter when the tree loses its leaves. Mom! I can see water from my apartment!

Cute Things that Made Me Smile this Weekend

#1

Teenage girl saying to older gentleman (70ish) standing on the bus, "Would you like to sit?", offering her seat. He said, "No, my wife and I are about to get off, but regardless, beauty before age." Awwww.

#2

Walking back from the subway yesterday afternoon in my cowboy hat I walked by two old men sitting on a stoop. One of the said to me, "You forgot your guns! Bang, bang!" and made actions like he was shooting into the air.

Who knows what today will bring. It's a beautiful Fall day in NYC!