Updates
Wow, thanks to Twitter, I've been sort of lame updating my blog. Friday night, saw The Pains of Being Pure at Heart at the South Street Seaport. One of the guys in the band went to both my high school and college. They were awesome and I ran into people from every area of my life; long lost high school friends, college buddies, former coworkers, and even a girl from my spinning class. See favorite shots below. Afterward, headed uptown to meet up with a friend for a drink but it was kind of pointless. I was super tired and could only think about how badly I wanted to go to sleep. I'm getting old. I think on our way out, I spotted a guy I went on 1 date with but I'll never know for sure. The bitch never called me back.
Saturday was action packed with adventures. I went to a BBQ of a former coworker who now lives a block and a half away from me. It was really good seeing her and meeting her friends. The mix of her college friends, coworkers and boyfriend's friends sort of reminded me of the people I grew up with. I'm sure I'll be seeing them again. Went to bed early again Saturday night but it felt much later. Maybe the 5 flights of stairs instantly tires me out.
And Sunday, I hung out with my friend all day, roommate and his coworker. We walked around the Bastille Day Street fair on 60th street. Then I went home briefly with the intention of running, but ended up napping, then met up with him and his coworker again to see some special sunset. Of course we missed it by 10 minutes cause we dipped into a bar to get a drink. But yeah, I basically spent the whole day walking, and by the end.. I was spent. I'm starting to get used to the street noise and am really happy with my decision to be uptown. I suppose I'll always love the energy and style of downtown but LOVE LOVE LOVE the peace and quiet of uptown. I can only imagine what it will be like in the fall and how awesome it will be to eventually take advantage of running in the park. I can see myself living on the Upper West Side, even way uptown. I enjoyed my time on St. Marks and saved tons of money but am so glad that I moved when I did..
Can you possibly guess where the picture above was taken?
United Breaks Guitars
Found this via luckthelady and is also on Consumerist of course.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo&color1=0x6699&color2=0x54abd6&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1&w=425&h=344]
New Apartment
I'm totally late on the new apartment update but have still spent the last few days unpacking and then simplifying my possessions so they fit in a smaller space. So yeah, for those of you who don't know, I moved from the crazy East Village, St. Mark's between 2nd and 3rd, to the Upper East Side (or Lennox Hill) in the East 60s on 1st avenue. I went from an insane street with a quiet oasis of an apartment to a quiet oasis of a neighborhood with a loud apartment from cars, buses and trucks on 1st avenue. Such is life. I'm waiting to hear back from my architect friend on what to do to block the noise but am so far, relying on my ear plugs. It's hard not to regret a decision that cost about $500+ in movers along with countless other costs associated with moving when the apartment is so noisy.. I guess neither my roommate or I heard the noise when we visited and we were under some serious time constraints. Such is life.
BUT I love my new roommate. We have tons in common and similar, sunny outlooks on life. I love the neighborhood. Despite flirting with the thought of moving to Brooklyn, I'm happy with my decision to stay in Manhattan. There will be time for BK when I'm knocked up.. or at least coupled up. I'm excited to explore upper Manhattan and feel I'm already familiar with most of downtown from Tribeca to Chinatown. I'm hoping being surrounded by the wealthy and the successful will inspire and motivate me, or at least one might accidentally hit me with their Lexus so I can sue.
Will update more when I have a legitimate internet connection. OH! And you'll be so proud, haven't watched TV (minus today) since last Thursday. New roommate and I are just getting internet and no cable which I'm totally okay with. I may not even watch any TV until I get a newer digital TV (makes no sense to drag my old TV and buy a $50 converter). So more time for blogging/ writing my novel/ coming up with an amazing business plan/ or getting serious about going to grad school.
P.S. There's an awesomely adorable cafe directly across the street from me called Java Girl with coffee and food far better than some old faves that shall not be mentioned. (Nothing beats Abraco so far YET).
Tweet Tweet
For those new to Twitter, it becomes instantly obvious that the actual twitter site is somewhat bare bones. I've discovered that one has to do a lot of leg work to figure out how to Re-tweet and other common twitter practices. More research is involved when trying to discover who to follow. Who will inspire you? Who has relevant information? It's amazing how much twitter is being talked about in the media and how it's really changing the face of communication. Over the last few months there's an explosion of services related to twitter like websites that shorten URL's, blogging services that mimic the short, simple twitter platform, etc. Anyway, Chris Anderson from TED neatly outlines some easy to use Twitter tips here along with linking another helpful guide which I'll be checking out here on the how and nitty gritties.
Aight, I will now disconnect myself and enter the happy dreaming world. I'm hoping that tomorrow morning, I won't wake up clutching my eye glasses- having slept through my alarm after battling the adorable but annoying Pheobe Mc. Pheobester.
Life is Good
Have had a lovely weekend so far. Wow, what a difference a day makes. Or a week. Good lesson to keep trekking through the bad because the good is always around the corner. Okay, so sometimes the block is really long.. Overall, I spent my last weekend in the East Village very appropriately.
Friday night, I had a lovely dinner with one of my best friends. I'm excited that I'll be living less than 10 blocks from her in a week! Post dinner, we tried seeing The Proposal but during the trailer, the film actually burned right in front of our eyes. So alas, it wasn't meant to be and we met up with her friend and friend's sister. It was very nice to have a girls' night. Especially since I feel like most of my friends are guys.
Today, I was fairly productive. I dropped off my $3000 + check for my new apartment. Yikes! Then started basically walking back to my apartment from 59th and 3rd. I think subconsciously (or maybe consciously) it was an attempt to avoid doing laundry and going to my intense spinning class. I met up with another best friend and we snacked while sitting on a bench that overlooked the East River in the East 30s. From there, I walked home, through the Union Square farmer's market and Whole Foods. The universe reminded me why I'm moving. It's been a day, and I still have no hot water. I went to the gym and attempted the most pitiful excuse for a workout just so I could shower.
My lovely weekend concluded with seeing The Proposal at the same theater (East Village on 2nd Ave and 12 street)-Check out the old school, beautiful theater if you get a chance. The movie was hysterical. I laughed uncontrollably and am totally in love with Ryan Reynolds. It's obviously predictable but visually somewhat stunning.. makes you want to move to Alaska.. and Sandra Bullock was great. As a tribute to St. Mark's, we got a hot dog at Criff Dog. It was total serendipity. Neither of us could figure out what to eat, and we were on our way to a Mac & Cheese spot when someone near us mentioned hot dogs. At Criff Dog, I ran into this guy I used to have the biggest crush on. He skated at the ice skating rink I used to frequent and we'd race each other around the rink. I'm pretty sure the last time I saw him, I was 12. Now he's married (as of last week) and apparently his wife used to work in my building. Jesus. Small freaking world. On top of that, another guy I know walked in the joint. And this afternoon, spotted a former coworker. And Thursday night, spotted a former college classmate, along with one of my spin teachers, all while walking home from an event. I'm curious as to what cast of characters from my past I'll spot while living on the Upper East. Must remember to always look presentable when exiting my apartment :)
Short story long, if it's not already obvious, I'm really looking forward to moving. There is no question that I need to change my lifestyle and develop more healthy habits. And a move is the fresh start that I obviously need. I can't wait to regularly run in Central Park, cook healthy meals with more than 4 inches of counter space, develop buns of steel from my 5th story walk up, NOT regularly stop at Criff Dog, Ray's Pizza, Pinkberry, Red Mango, etc. on my way home, save money, not stop at Solas... and get serious about applying to a master's program this fall. So yeah, feel free to hold me accountable and I'll happily entertain you with my progress. Maybe even be an inspiration.. but yeah, I may miss Pheobe the cat.
What are your goals? Are there things you keep saying you are going to do but don't? Or better question, how did you manage to develop the good habits?
Roller Coaster
Wow, I've had a whirlwind of a week. I felt like at the beginning of the week, I had no hope in finding an apartment- Was completely frustrated by the process, freaking out, and exhausted. And by Wednesday, my luck changed. I'm signing the lease for a 2 bedroom in the East 60s tomorrow. Craziness. My whole "New York identity" is wrapped up in being an East Village/ downtown girl. Actually, I don't even know what "New York identity" means. I've been literally wondering and pondering all this for months as you probably know. Brooklyn vs. Manhattan, Uptown vs. Downtown. And now it's done. I have absolutely enjoyed my time here but have walked and explored nearly every street there is to explore downtown. I'm looking forward to a healthier, more quiet lifestyle. Maybe regularly running through Central Park. Walking up 5 flights of stairs! Cooking in my new, nice and decent sized kitchen! Not being tempted by the 5 frozen yogurt places, pizza joints, fast food and booze. Knowing that I'll have to take a cab or subway and then 5 flights of stairs to get home, thus curbing my temptation for 1 last drink. Or staying out late. I'm soo excited.
And having sunlight stream through my window.
But yeah, holy fucking, freaking, shitting crap. I can't believe Michael Jackson is dead. This is unbelievable. Even though he's been completely out of the spotlight for nearly 10 years and might as well be dead, this comes as a great shock. Especially since he died in preparation for his comeback. It definitely seems like those who have such an exceptional impact in our lives have all died young- Monroe, Kennedy, MLK, Princess Diana, John Lennon.. And in these cases, I can truly say that it was not their premature death that made them more special, but that they had a significant impact already while alive. And now we will forever remember them for their virtues- before they got old and feeble, made mistakes or faded into old age.
WOW. Let us please all pause and appreciate how precious and fleeting life is. How ironic if MJ's death is one that can unite us all.. His music certainly can.
Great Resources
Found a great new resource for improving my blogging skills and success. Of course I'll have to put this into action once I actually have time and have found a new apartment. Check out Copyblogger found via (the very intelligent and handsome) Saman Rahmanian who followed me on Twitter for god knows what reason. (saman325) And recently launched Tischen.com which looks like a well designed dating site meets Craigslist meets eBay that connects people with local services. Kind of a site we all wished we started first. Looks like the site runs itself but in a much prettier way than Craigslist. Plus I suppose those using this service are "in the know" and it's not overrun by everyone and their mom.
Speaking of mothers, mine just joined Facebook last week. I don't even know where to begin. Comedy gold.
This is pretty depressing. Not surprising that they didn't mention Art Buying!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaoIsPZAgck&hl=en&fs=1&&w=425&h=344]
Apartment Search Continued
I can't say that I really understand the whole apartment search process. Okay. I'm not an idiot. I understand it, just don't think it makes sense. You have hundreds of different brokers and agencies all offering the same types of apartments- just different listings. And us poor saps looking for apartments have to organize and field all these different calls while coordinating times to see the apartments. I guess in the end, you realize that everyone knows the market. You're not going to find a gem for exactly the right price in exactly the right location with the right sized room, etc. because presumably, the owner will know its worth.
So we've been working with Brownstone Listings, Rapid NYC, Brick Brooklyn, Citihabitats, individual building owners, etc. Any advice? I'm starting to realize that brownstones in high demand Brooklyn really just contain rooms that are 10ft by 11ft or maybe that's just our price range. According to my horoscope, August is a better month for me to move but who knows about that stuff. Haven't talked to my current or future roommate about the possibility of things getting pushed back plus I'm feeling the strong need for a change.
Do we dare throw our search back to Manhattan- back to modern, large apartment complexes in the Upper East Side?
Ponderings
I don't mean to be all complainy complainy but I've sort of, kind of been in a bad place lately. I'm fairly sure 90% is the fact that I'm stressed about moving. Granted this was my decision and who likes moving. But yeah. Moving and trying to find reasonably priced two bedrooms in Manhattan/ Brooklyn is not an easy task. I'm excited that I've at least found someone to look with who is super sweet and I've known for a while. On top of that, I've been very lazy with my exercise routine which I think only exacerbates any negative energy that I may have but once you fall out of the habit, it's easy to skip without feeling guilty.
Anyway, after coming home from a nice dinner with a friend (I actually skipped my spinning class!), I got momentarily bored and felt the sub conscious/ semi-conscious need to torture myself. So I looked up this kid on Facebook who I went on 4 dates with last winter but ended up being a douche bag. To my delight (okay delight is a strong word), I noticed a thread on his wall of him with a black eye. I couldn't figure out how he got it (there's only so much "research" I can do) but I will say it made me feel a little better. Given how he ended things and his complete douche bag choice of words, I have a feeling he vastly offended someone to the point where they felt a strong need to be violent against him. Hmmm. I could understand that.
In other news, I have recently become obsessed with Iron & Wine despite having them on my iTunes for 5 years. Both songs I really like are from The Shepherd's Dog - House By The Sea and Boy with a Coin. Aight, I'm going to try and get back into my happy place and focus on what's going right in my life.
Reflections on Advertising
I just sent this link to my dad. It's an hysterical, but mildly depressing YouTube video about what really goes on in advertising. This has no reflections about where I work but it seems to be the overall sentiment about advertising so I'm guessing there's some truth to it... Which got me thinking- Advertising is one of those jobs that are completely glamorized. All of the job functions within an agency can be interesting, collaborative, exciting and challenging - but in the real world, This all depends on what company you work for and which clients you have. Of course given this economy, you must complete these functions with the thought that you can get laid off at any minute. That beautiful process can be destroyed by various egos and agendas. I guess ideally you want to be around people who are still excited and happy to be in the business but old enough to have experience.
I'd almost go so far as to say that out of many different industries- it's probably one of the few that holds such a diverse group of people and thinking within its walls. From the right brained creatives, to type A account people, academic strategists, multi-tasking producers caught up in both worlds, IT people, accountants etc. etc. All doing their delicately (hopefully) choreographed tasks to please the client and make money for their holding company while working on a plethora of products. I wonder how this effects the environment and what it would be like to work in a more homogeneous environment. Would it be easier or harder? And of course, whether or not this is the exact reason I have always been drawn to advertising.
10 Ways to Increase Creativity
Re-posted from a new blog discovery- Dumblittleman
I'm excited that I'm headed in the right direction. I definitely talk to anyone and everyone, read about all types of subjects, try new things, etc. Now if only I can stick to my creative projects.
- Read Widely and Deeply
Whatever field you’re in, reading can only help. Go to the library and check out some good books – and don’t make all of them ones in your area of expertise. Why not get a novel you’d never normally read, or a book about a topic you have no knowledge on? This can jump-start your brain into working more creatively as you try to assimilate the new information based on what you already know from your own field. - Try New Activities
Another way to get your brain in gear is to try something totally new. Whether it’s salsa dancing, pottery or a medieval reenactment, taking up a new hobby can help shake things up and encourage you to think laterally. For example, you might be inspired to write an article using your new interest as a metaphor for something in your main field of work. - Talk To Strangers
Children are warned about “stranger danger”, but as adults, we shouldn’t be too afraid of talking to new people. We naturally associate with people who are like ourselves – the same income bracket, the same dress sense, the same career or industry – and this can stifle our creativity by making us feel that “everyone’s just the same”. Branch out. Chat to someone you don’t know in the cafeteria. Say “hi” to the person next to you in line at the coffee shop. - Reject Your First Ten Ideas
One great way to generate ideas, if you’re stuck for inspiration, is to sit down with a blank piece of paper (or a blank document on your computer) and list at least twenty ideas. Reject the first ten: they’ll almost always be too “normal” and bland. You have to get through these easy ideas in order to be really creative. If you’re writing a short story for a competition on “murder” for instance, the first ten ideas you have will be the ones that judges see time and time again. - Experiment: Don’t Be Afraid to Fail
We’re often wary of trying new ways of working or new activities because we’re afraid we’ll fail. But there’s no shame in failure – after all, as a baby, you failed countless times at walking, talking and potty training… but you’re an expert in all of those areas now! The path to success often requires trying out a lot of ways which don’t work.
“If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not
discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.” –Thomas Edison - Make Connections: Link Two Projects
Do you have a stack of half-finished sketches or half-written short stories languishing in a drawer? One very effective way to reignite your enthusiasm is to combine two different projects. Take a character from one of your short stories and insert him into the plot of a different one. Mix that fantasy dreamscape sketch with the steampunk idea. Take an idea from that zany game you were designing and put it with the brainteaser series that you had planned. - Take An Unusual Perspective
If you’re working on a long-term creative piece, like a blog or a novel, it’s easy to get stale. Try adopting an unusual perspective. You might write a scene in your novel from the point of view of an inanimate object, or through the eyes of a character whose state of mind has been altered by alcohol or drugs. You could try writing a post on your blog from someone else’s perspective. For me, one of the most memorable posts on Darren Rowse’s ProBlogger is “5 Things You Should Know About My Dad the ProBlogger”, purportedly from the viewpoint of his (at the time) one-year-old son:
“You see my Dad reads more than he writes. I think he does this because his writing gets better after reading what others say and because it means he’s
learning more about his topics.” - Do Your Chores
This might sound like odd advice – after all, chores aren’t exactly creative. But physical activities like vacuuming, washing the dishes or scrubbing the floors leave your mind free to wander – and it’s surprising how many ideas can occur to you when you’re not sitting staring at your desk. - Use A Different Medium
If you’re a writer, try drawing for a change. It doesn’t matter if you can’t draw – use stick figures – but this can help jolt you out of your comfort zone, allowing you to approach a problem in a new way. If you’re a painter, try making up a tune and words for a song. If you’re a graphic designer, use modeling clay or create a collage. Don’t limit your creativity to just one medium. - Daydream: Keep Asking “What If…?”
The final, and most important tip for enhancing your creativity, is to daydream. Stare into space. Let your thoughts drift. Think about your project when you’re going to sleep at night – unusual thoughts often crop up in that half-awake, half-asleep state. Don’t try to force or rush creativity; give yourself time to let your ideas simmer away in the back of your mind.
Justin Timberlake has a new website equipped with a blog. Hmm. Talk about web 2.0.. are we at web 3.0 yet? The idea that you can get original content from celebrities. Jeeze, I wouldn't want to be a celeb PR right now. And that I know that at 11pm tonight, JT or someone who works for him is blogging away. Not at some fabulous party, but in front of a fabulous, souped up laptop.
Crunch Fort Greene
I ventured to Brooklyn for Carl's spin class since I missed last night's. Actually, I've been meaning to check out the gym for while now since it's sort of part of my move decision. As brave as I am when it comes to being thrown into new situations, it takes a big push for me to check out other Crunch gyms- i.e. a familiar face. The first thing I noticed was how predominantly black it was compared to the Manhattan Crunch's I usually go to. Or maybe it was 50-50 and the Manhattan gyms are mostly white. As much as people just assume that all of New York is one big melting pot, there are tons of neighborhoods that are less diverse than my home town. Like the East Village- most people thing it's the eclectic mix of people- and it is.. but it's really mainly middle class to upper middle class white, maybe Indian, maybe Asian.. Upper East Side? Upper West Side? Forget about it. I'd feel nearly out of place in my standby purple skinny Uniqlo pants and gray Converse. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I feel like I've gone backwards in my "surrounded by diversity" department since I've graduated high school.
In conclusion- Carl's class was insanely hard. The class had a good vibe and I can get used to Brooklyn. Maybe I'll even start reading more like a normal person cause I'll have subway time.
Weekend Update
Believe it or not, I spent the majority of the weekend watching True Blood. Despite moving in about a month, I sadly just discovered that I have HBO On Demand. I know. There are no words.. I guess I thought that it only went into my roommate's room. So yeah, I'm kind of depressed that vampires don't exist. Not that they bring any real benefit to our lives but it gets easy to fall into the world of magic and mystery. I know that the world is a beautiful and mysterious place and there's so much we have yet to discover, yada yada, but it can be depressing that in many ways, things are just as they seem. Or are they? Perhaps this is why I don't read fiction very often. If I find a fictional world that I like, I won't be able to get out of that world. I'll read or watch the series until my eyes are closing. And slip into a slightly cranky, mild depression once I have finished the series.
Yeah, I'm in one of those funks again. Lots of changes going on. Well- maybe just one but it's a big one. I haven't figured out exactly how I'm going to move, and of course, where. I'm not sure if I'll regret moving out of my neighborhood. Will I miss the people I see everyday? Do I need to say goodbye to my neighbor I see once a month? My grocer? Will I get annoyed traveling home on the subway from the gym? Resent paying for cabs? Miss being able to walk to Washington Square Park on the weekend?
And the the old questions and desires are coming back. Should I go to grad school? Apply in the fall? Move to Paris? Florence? Will I ever pay off my debt? These are the thoughts that bang around inside my head on a daily basis, giving me a headache. I don't know what it will take to push me forward and complete one of my goals.
On a more positive note, here are some of the favorite shots I took this weekend of my sister and her friend, Ben.
It looks like Ben is trying to control my sister with his eyes. I suppose I should retouch a light beam coming from his eyes.
Another favorite. I handed them the books as a random suggestion when I was trying to figure out what they should do. Afterwards, I realized how perfect it was because the two of them literally grew up with Harry Potter. I believe their ages corresponded exactly with Harry's. Not to mention there's that whole play on innocence vs. adolescence, reading in bed as a child vs the cliche image of two adults reading in bed. Anyway, check out the set and let me know what you think. I need to edit it down.
Apartment Search and then Some
I'm taking the Upper East Side off the table again. I hung out there yesterday and although it's close to the park and people I hang out with, I just feel like it's too generic. Not sure how I feel about the general population that lives there. I love how each neighborhood in New York has a distinct character even from one block to another. Plus having to wait for the 456 probably takes just as long as having to wait for any train in Brooklyn.
In other news, I went to the doctor again- follow appointment. This is nothing new, but apparently I have to give up all refined carbs if I want to lose weight. My doctor put it in terms that I could understand- it's like being an alcoholic.. all or nothing. I have to give it all up because apparently I can't handle moderation. Yeah, that's pretty accurate. Although ironically, he didn't try to deter me from having a glass of red wine every once in while. In fact, he seemed to encourage it. It's definitely harder to plan meals given this information. Seems like refined carbs are easier to grab on the go but yeah, I already know this. Anyway, I'm making an announcement in the hopes that it will keep more motivated. Besides, there ain't no AA for reformed refined carbaholics. Okay, maybe there is- it's called Overeaters Anonymous but I'm not ready to go there. Anyway, you can put off a lot of things, but you can't put off weightloss.
So um, here's to the first day of the rest of my life. That would be tomorrow I mean. No more refined carbs. No more pizza, no more bagels (actually gave that up months ago), no more bread basket, or pasta, or pastries, or muffins. BUT here's to cheese!, nuts, peanut butter, butter, delicious vegetables, fruit, and anything creamy and fatty.
I suppose I'll keep you posted on my progress. The goal is to lose 20 pounds by November. I'm hoping that by telling my readers that, I'll be more likely to achieve it.