p>*yawn* Wow, what a nap. I had some of the strangest dreams! So what did I miss... Almost 5 months of my life?!?!?

Okay, so maybe I didn't miss out on all that time, but you did! And that's almost just as bad. As a blogger, I can't let that happen. So I sincerely apologize. So as it usually happens when this situation comes up, I simply must update you on my life. Fair is fair, no?

So since the end of July... Well, I got the new job with the Art Institute, which I started August 25th. Phoenix threw me a nice going away party after repeated attempts to get me to stay (counter-offers and all), but I knew it was the right move (and the $11k pay difference wasn't bad either). So I've been working with the Art Institute for the past 4 months now, and it's been fantastic.

In other news, you can see that I am now a blonde again. Although I love to wear different colors on my hairs, I always end up going back to blonde. I think it's just me. Also, the hair is getting longer yet again, also me.

In extracurricular news, my friend Michael James Roy and I are working an a song cycle type musical show. I'm doing the lyrics and he's doing the music. We have several songs in the works, and we're really excited about it. If it goes well, we'll get to stage it and then we'll make millions! ....or at least hundreds... okay, twenties...

It's cold here in New York, so that means that knitting has once again started up. I've already completed a sweater vest, my biggest project to date. I attempted a hat for my sister, but it turned out to be the perfect size for an infant. Whoops! So I'm going to have to go up a few needle sizes to get it right. There are other random projects going on. I'm even working on a turtle neck!

Hmmm.. I know that seems a little weak for a catch-up post, but I'm actually at work, so I have to get going. I'm going to try to get back into the swing of things and post more often!

Happy Chrismukkah Everyone!

Spontaneity At Its Best

So what a week. I've seen a friend come back to town after a month; the subletter moved out of the apartment; my roommate is single after a year; I've been playing manager all week all at work; I got a job interview at the Art Institute; I bought a plane ticket to Mississippi and a train ticket to Syracuse; and learned a new improv game. All this, and it's only Thursday!

This week is so hectic at work because my manager is on vacation, and I'm filling in. So not only do I need to handle my own stuff, but I have to make sure my team is running smoothly. It's a little stressful. However, the thing that is keeping me going is the potential of a new job! I applied for a similar position at the Art Institute in New York and got called in for an interview on Monday! The job will most likely pay as much or more than what I'm getting now. The title sounds better (Associate Director of Admissions). Also, it's in Manhattan! No more Jersey! Wish me luck, y'all!

For all of my Mississippi fans (Alice Claire), I will be coming home Labor Day weekend and staying through Monday! This may be the first time in 3 years that I've been home more than twice in one year. I think a trip down to New Orleans is in order? Who's in?

Speaking of travel, I decided to randomly take a last minute train trip up to Syracuse, NY. My friend Jon is up there and is driving a U-Haul down tomorrow after his summer stint of theater-related jobs. So instead of just helping him unpack when he gets down, why not just go up there? I've never been to Upstate! Too bad it's not the fall or I could be watching the leaves turn on the 5.5 hour train ride... :-X

Well, my horoscope did say that this was a good day to be spontaneous...

Those Summer Nights

Computer? Check.
Bottled water? Check.
Homemade sandwhich? Check.
Starbucks coffee? Check.

It's time to blog.

Granted, it took me a month and half to gather all those materials. What else would possibly have kept me from blogging all that time? Certainly not the "stay in New York" weekend vacation, new podcasting projects, weekly improv rehearsals, holidays, outdoorsy summer activities, and all the only-here-for-the-summer-people to meet! No way that would keep me off my butt and not in front of a computer. No way at all....

Anyhoo! I'm back! The summer is winding down, and I have to admit, I'm a little excited about it. I miss the cold weather and the layers and the lack of tourists (I can't believe I'm becoming one of those New Yorkers). Summer has been fun, almost like a nonstop party. Friends have been coming in to visit. Everyone want to get together and do things during the day. Weekends are full of walking around and just enjoying the sun. *sigh* You've had a good run, Summer. Time to move over.

That being said, this weekend is no different from other summer weekends, and it should not fail to satisfy. Tonight, I am trying to get tickets to see Hair in the Park. Tomorrow, there is a big group of us picnicking/tanning in the Park. We've been planning this all week (or I guess I should say Bradley has been planning it), so it should be a lot of people. Saturday evening will be the usual rabble-rousing (although my horoscope did say to avoid arguments today). Sunday, I have a friend in town for the day that I will entertain. I guess Summer isn't in it's death rattles after all.

That's it for now. Just know that I've been living the NYC summer life to it's fullest. Shout-outs to Ann (happy birthday!), Chelsea (aren't you tired to Tahoe yet?), and Alice Claire (thanks for forcing an entry... miss you!). Byeeee......

Street Games Make You Ill

What a weekend! It was long, exciting, ultimately tiring, and so much fun! The big day was Saturday. My friend from Florida, Zack, was in town, so I wanted to make sure we had a good time.

But first, I had to of course attend Mississippi Day in Central Park. Basically, vendor and other cheerful Mississippi people come up to the Big Apple to celebrate with those of us have been transplanted up here. It was so much fun. There was a live blues band, fried catfish, art, McAllister's tea, and Ole Miss, MSU, and Southern Miss reps! I got to enjoy a little bit of the South for a little while.

However, I think that the Mississippi folk must have brought the Southern heat up with them. The next thing we did was to participate in a street games festival called Come Out and Play that my friend Chris arranged for us. It was sooo hot! NYC temps soared to the 90s, almost breaking a record that was set sometime in the 1930s. And here we were literally running around New York from about 2pm till midnight. Crazy.

It was a lot of fun, but the next day, I paid for it. I woke up with a slight fever and a sore throat. I immediately took some Aleve and felt fine... That is until 12-hours when I was sitting in the Sex and the City movie. I started to feel hot again, sore throat was back, and my skin got really sensitive to the AC. Uh oh...

When I got home that evening/early morning, I immediately took some more medicine and did the same waking up this morning. Now here I am at work, flighting off some sort of exhaustion illness, eating dry grilled chicken, and blogging. Is this my life?

Weekend Vacations

So living in New York has many advantages. Everything can be delivered to your door. Hot dogs are always an arms-length away. Public transportation saves you money (and it's eco-friendly!). All the latest fashion and music trends start here. There's a great night life. There is never a shortage of fun and interesting people. Little Chinese women do your laundry for $1/pound.

But I think one of my favorite things about New York is that you get to enjoy all the things tourists do, but full-time. Granted, when you live in the city, you have to work hard to stay there, but when you're not working, you can basically consider yourself on vacation. One can always visit museums, see a Broadway show, show up and yell at the Today Show, accost B-List celebrities on the street, or just take a walk through Central Park.

This is especially true now that summer is upon us. While Midwest housewives dream of the 5 days they will get to spend in the Big Apple this summer, New Yorkers are dreaming of the weekends. These are times when New Yorkers get to be on vacation. From the other places I've lived, the weekend was just a time where you didn't have to work or maybe even planned a short road trip elsewhere. But if you in New York, where else would you want to go? You have everything you could want right here. What a great thing!

However, I recently found out that there are other places to go. I did a little weekend tripping of my own. I got the chance to go to a beach island that New Yorkers frequent during the summer. It was kind of strange vacationing with other people from New York. It was sort of like never leaving the city. But it was still so much fun. There were no cars on the island, and everyone was so friendly. The weather on Sunday was perfect. And I got to spend it with some of my best friends (Jack, Emerson, Bradley, Drexel and Brendan). That's Jack for letting us stay this weekend!

Anyways, it's back to the real world now. *sigh*

Roomies 4 Life

So, I don't have much more to say from yesterday, but I just wanted to share this video of my fantastic roommate and company drunkenly singing the end of my friend Dylan's show.

Cast:
Glenn Grieves (my roomie) - Introducer and Random Hand Waver
Michelle Dowdy - Singer 1
Coleen Cherry - Singer 2
Dylan Glatthorn - Composer and Singer 4
Jordan Stovall - Singer 3



I <3 you roomie! Get back to New York soon!

A Memorable Memorial Day

So happy belated Memorial Day, y'all! What did you do? Have a good time? That's what I thought! Personally, I went down to the Mississippi homeland on my semiannual exodus. Traditionally, the first trip of the year happens in May, and this was no different. It was a good time because I had that Monday off, and my sister was going to California for the summer. So, we had a sort of early birthday/send-off party for her. I spent most of my time down in Belzoni, but I did get to spend a night out in Jackson with college friends. It was pretty good as far as Mississippi trips go.

Mississippi is sooo different from New York (well, obviously). People stay in one place there. Families are usually nearby. The everyday pace is obviously slower. In most cases, boys become their fathers (same house, same job) and girls their mothers (mothers themselves). It definitely has it's perks, and for some people, it's the ideal life. But I knew from an early age that it wasn't for me. I needed more stimulation and needed to know more than just the easygoing farmer's life. I don't think I ever thought that I would end up in New York (aka, the exact opposite), but here I am!

What else is new...? Gosh, not much... My roommate Glenn went home for the summer and his friend John is staying with us. He's pretty cool. He cooks a lot though. It always seems like he's in the kitchen. I need to make him cook for me sometime. I mean, he always offers some of what he's cooking for himself. But, you know, it's his food. I don't want to take it. When I offer someone some of my dinner, I don't really intend for them to take some. I mean, I'm just being nice. Don't eat my darn food. I'm hungry!

Geez, can you tell I'm skipping lunch today? Haha... I have to. I'm going to the beach this weekend, so I can't have my belly all protruding everywhere. I have more respect for my fellow beach-goers than that. It should be a fun weekend, though. A group of friends are going out to one of the summer island getaways to hang for the weekend. The water will probably be too cold to swim, but I can at least get some sun. It wasn't till I was down South that I realized that I have the perfect New York winter tan. I look like Caspar, the disgruntled ghost. I'll work on it this weekend, though.

Well avid AustinCountrymen, I must be off. Hope to see come fun comments when I get back! Later!!!!!