Link to AWNY Presentation
As promised, here's a link to Regina Angeles fantastic AWNY presentation on How to Use Social Media to Enrich Your Job Search and Enhance Your Professional Reputation.
Sex and The City Trailer
I'm not going to lie. I literally held my breath and had to stop myself from squeeling a little bit. I've also had at least two dreams recently where I hung out with Sarah Jessica Parker and we discussed our Teaneck, NJ background.
Enjoy! Wow. I can use an all girls, escapism vacation.
FML
Remember how yesterday I seemed all positive and happy? I returned from my final photography class inspired and happy that I met some cool people. Went to the Shake Shack beforehand. Ran into someone entirely random that made me think the universe was trying to tell me something once again.. had a talk with someone else that made me think things will go in the right direction soon in another area..
And then. 11:07 PM happened. I was just about to put my New York Magazine crossword puzzle away and hit the sack when I heard water pouring out but not in the shower/ faucet / toilet kind of way. Okay, maybe toilet. Apologies for the graphic details during lunchtime.. but urine saturated water came seeping through the light fixture in the bathroom, covering our tiled bathroom floor with a 1/4 inch film of a severe health hazard. Fortunately, both my roommate and I were around to deal with the issue. We went to the apartment above us (crazy older man) and loudly knocked on his door but got no response. Calling the super didn't lead to any further resolve so we called the police. Okay, perhaps I watch way too many crime shows but I figured, hey, he could have died while on the can and I'm doing him a favor. The good looking firemen that showed up (what is it with men in uniform!?) weren't able to help us either but turned off the power in the bathroom so we wouldn't have electrical issues. And we all agreed that sometimes Manhattan really sucks and you have to pay an arm and a leg just to be in a building where a landlord addresses your issues. An hour and a half later, I went to bed wondering what I must have done in a past life to deserve all this apartment strife. Perhaps I was a landlord.
And after leaving another message, we still haven't heard back from the management company or our super. So if you ever come across DMB Properties on 86th street, seriously, keep walking.. and if someone tries to show you an apartment on 66th and 1st avenue, say no thanks and move on.
Anyone have any advice for how to deal with this situation? Any lawyers familiar with our situation? We sent off the rent check yesterday afternoon so withholding is a no go and are most likely not going to renew our lease in July.
eeeek. okay. Fortunately, I'm in a better place that I was Monday and the last two weeks.. so I think I can try to see the humor in this right? happy thoughts.. happy thoughts.. happy thoughts..
Terrific Tuesday
Okay, so I'm feeling much better than I was yesterday. I have renewed hope in two areas of my life that haven't been going that well. We'll see where it takes me this week. And Oscar didn't attack my leg as much this morning. I think he's learning.
So for all you iPad fans out there via Agencyspy:
http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/57408845001?isVid=1&publisherID=1408993889
Ping Pong Madness
Hello! Happy Friday! Or errr.. Good Friday!
Last night after meeting up with a few of my boyz (not in the hood) for dinner, I went to a ping pong tournament fundraiser at Spin. It was super awesome and I sort of kicked ass. I should seriously consider joining a ping pong club for realz. This was going to be a cat free post, but I will say I put myself in the mindset of Oscar. I was fierce. I didn't take my eye off the tiny orange ball.
Anyway, met some cool peeps and had a few "oh it's a small world" experiences. One being.. and now tell me how you feel abot this.. that I met a cool girl who went from photography to account strategy which is the area of advertising that I'd like to ultimately transition to. It was interesting to hear how she managed to leave the visually creative world and if she thought her job was equally as fulfilling. Then we exchanged info. Her last name is the same last name as my ex bf's plus an "s." Holy cow. What are the chances? Weirdness. Yes, I've known this for years. The universe has a sense of humor. Maybe it's telling me to lighten up.
that's all!
Oscar's Surprised Kitten Video
I would post about other things besides Oscar like how the New York Times declared professional assignment photography dead, but for obvious reasons this is way more fun.
Oscar Meets Thomas
Quick Kitten Update
The vet visit went okay yesterday. Oscar doesn't have worms but I have to give him some medicine everyday for 9 days. He also needs another cat to show him how to be a cat! So I'm going to foster a 1 year old named Thomas. They already met and seem to get along. I'll take pictures. It should be funny to see such a small cat next to a big one. Hopefully I can afford another cat and they won't take over our apartment but at least this one is fixed. So Oscar is getting better at things. It's pretty funny watching him prepare himself for the litter box. Weird how they know this stuff instinctively. Like a few days ago, he didn't know to cover up his poop, but now he started doing it. And he's figured out how to jump on and off my bed but not easily. He sleeps in my arms except when he wakes up at 5am and wants to play. So yeah, he needs a buddy. Stat!
Kitten's First Videos
Kitten!!!
It's 10:40am on a Sunday and I haven't made coffee, haven't left my room or made breakfast mainly because this little one month old bugger gets separation anxiety.. So the story is, I got a KITTEN yesterday!!! A friend from high school posted these absolutely adorable photos exactly at the moment that I was starting to randomly feel slightly down. It was amazing. Her coworker's boyfriend's cat had kittens and brought this one into her work even though the kitten is obviously way too young. They said they got one of their cats at 1 month old and they haven't had any problems so I figured.. hey, why not. She (or he) will have a loving home! And here she is. Although I think it's probably a male kitten cause the orange ones usually are. I'm leaning towards Oscar (of course) if it's a male and Pippi if it's a female. Thoughts?
Happy Friday!
I'm happy happy happy! That's all!
I was speaking to a few friends last night about life, work, the economy. I have a super really good feeling about this Spring. I think everything's going to turn around. Whether it's because of the healthcare plan getting passed.. the iPad coming out and hopefully igniting the publishing industry, or the economy picking up. I have a really good feeling it's all going to pick up. Don't you?
Mini City Guide: How to Get Over A Breakup
I just came back from my absolute favorite spinning class at Crunch/ Lafayette. My spin teacher dedicated about 5 songs to my "situation." I didn't even tell him about the break up until he instantly noticed I was looking "tired" so started making fun of me. Before he had me breaking down into tears, I told him briefly my story and he proceeded to dedicate nearly every song to me - in front of the whole class. A song about not loving someone anymore, Mariah's "Shake It Off," the new Beyonce/ Lady Gaga song.. etc. And by the end of the class, I basically sweat out the pain. It was amazing. And a gift. He had the whole class working for me and holy crap did we work. Towards the end, I felt my body going cold and nearly passed out.
Anyway, I LOVE CARL HALL. He is a beautiful human being and the best spin teacher ever. I feel like, ironically, the love is coming back to me but from my friends, readers, colleagues, and spinning buddies. On to the next chapter!
love,
Molly
Blah
Trying to get through today so I can go to my spinning class. Today is now officially one of the worst days ever. Just found out I owe $400 on my taxes because of some glitch with state taxes.. when I really was counting on that money. So yeah.. I can imagine that things can only get better from here cause this is certaintly the bottom.. Or at least I hope it is. Feel free to click on my ads although that never seems to get me anywhere. And please send positive vibes my way which is something I normally don't ask for but can really use.
The Mona Lisa Curse
My photography teacher told us about a great series of videos by Robert Hughes that discuss what the art world has become. It's become all about the money instead of the love of art. It's an incredibly interesting eye openner. I have often toyed with the idea of taking a year long certificate program at Chrissy's or Sotheby's only to conclude that it would only be about money and may not put me into the art world that I'm interested in becoming a part of. I have never really understood the gravity of pop artists such as Warhol, taking every day objects and painting them, etc. And Robert Hughes seems to agree. The series shows how the entire art world has skewed what's important based on its market value, led by investors rather than art lovers, and culminating with artists like Damien Hurst. I thought that the parts 11 & 12 were particularly enlightening where he interviews a buyer who can't fully articulate why the art work he's paid so much money for is brilliant. I saw this at the Armory show two weeks ago and even at the AIPAD event, well dressed couples, clearly wealthy who are looking for art simply as an investment.
And finally, Robert Hughes believes that "Art should make us feel more clearly and more intelligently. It should give us coherent sensations which otherwise we would not have had." "If art can't tell us about the world we live in, then I don't believe there's much point in having it."
The Mona Lisa Curse
My photography teacher told us about a great series of videos by Robert Hughes that discuss what the art world has become. It's become all about the money instead of the love of art. It's an incredibly interesting eye openner. I have often toyed with the idea of taking a year long certificate program at Chrissy's or Sotheby's only to conclude that it would only be about money and may not put me into the art world that I'm interested in becoming a part of. I have never really understood the gravity of pop artists such as Warhol, taking every day objects and painting them, etc. And Robert Hughes seems to agree. The series shows how the entire art world has skewed what's important based on its market value, led by investors rather than art lovers, and culminating with artists like Damien Hurst. I thought that the parts 11 & 12 were particularly enlightening where he interviews a buyer who can't fully articulate why the art work he's paid so much money for is brilliant. I saw this at the Armory show two weeks ago and even at the AIPAD event, well dressed couples, clearly wealthy who are looking for art simply as an investment.
And finally, Robert Hughes believes that "Art should make us feel more clearly and more intelligently. It should give us coherent sensations which otherwise we would not have had." "If art can't tell us about the world we live in, then I don't believe there's much point in having it."
Last Night's Flying Adventures
After walking around Union Square taking pictures and up to Madison Square Park, I decided to try out a class at Crunch I've been meaning to try since I moved uptown, Antigravity Yoga Wings. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it. I can imagine it would be what yoga would feel like if you were on LSD. It's cool but sort of terrifying. My boyfriend asked "Why would you want to do something like that?" But I could tell he was somewhat impressed. Anyway, it's extremely challenging and hard to believe the fabric hammocks can hold up to 1,000 pounds. Would have been good to know that last night. It involves following detailed instructions, having some serious arm strength, trusting yourself, letting go of your fears and stretching. I wouldn't recommend it to beginner exercisers and you should probably have a few months of yoga under your belt. Anyway, I'll give it a second chance, but we'll see.
My evening ended with a walk home where I stopped to get, gasp!, a bagel. While in the shop, some crazy drunk guy dipped into the store and screamed, giving me a near heart attack and making me realize that perhaps I wouldn't fair that well in a hold up.
It's Not You..
I'm going to propose a particular insight/observation/scenario.. Say you're a young woman, have just entered your first major relationship, or at least first relationship in a long time. You weren't on on any birth control so you take whatever your friend has recommended. You've heard the rumors - it can lead to weight gain, some serious side effects, etc. but naturally, you figure, you won't get these. Or if you do, you'll notice immediately, will take charge of your health and promptly switch to another brand. About six months go by and you notice you're starting to turn into an emotional wreck. You rarely cry but suddenly you find yourself holding back tears during work. You wonder if the same type of stress you've been dealing with for years is finally starting to catch up on you. Or if there's something amiss in your relationship. You start becoming anxious, slightly neurotic, clingy, insecure and full of doubt, shirking your normal eating and exercise routines for less healthy activities. Suddenly, your emotions come to a head and start pouring out. This creates complete instability and you start examining your past mood swings over the last few months, realizing they were not, in fact, typical. You find pages and pages of complaints about the emotional side effects of the current brand of birth control you're using and are astonished, instantly making an appointment with your gyno to switch brands.
And then you start to wonder.. holy crap, you could have just broken up with your boyfriend, influenced by a drug that's supposed to enhance your sex life! And then you start thinking about it further.. if nearly every form of birth control by the nature of it being a hormone causes some sort of emotional change, then that's a whole crew of women who are feeling slightly off but not knowing why. The doctors and commercials discuss the weight gain but rarely discuss these other side effects. And then.. you start thinking on a broader scale - how many relationships have ended because of this little discussed side effect? How many women have been considered high maintenance? On top of that, what if they gained weight? That would certainly have an emotional effect. Anyway, thoughts? Do you think I'm on to something? My insights are on base? I just don't think that people recognize that taking something as mundane as birth control can have a serious effect on your well being.
The Joneses
My friend worked on this film about 2 years ago and we've both been really excited for it to come out. So if you're interested in advertising, marketing, social media, trust in marketing.. etc. this is the perfect film to see. Oh and added bonus, it has David Duchovny and Demi Moore! According to my friend, Demi Moore was incredibly nice and professional.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=achUBX71Fj0&hl=en_US&fs=1&&w=640&h=385]
Chat Roulette
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32vpgNiAH60&hl=en_US&fs=1&&w=640&h=385]
The Joneses
My friend worked on this film about 2 years ago and we've both been really excited for it to come out. So if you're interested in advertising, marketing, social media, trust in marketing.. etc. this is the perfect film to see. Oh and added bonus, it has David Duchovny and Demi Moore! According to my friend, Demi Moore was incredibly nice and professional.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=achUBX71Fj0&hl=en_US&fs=1&&w=640&h=385]