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!!!!!

Money Doesn't Grow On Trees...

My life is truly great 24 times a year. It happens pretty regularly on the 15th and last day of every month. These rare times are when I can really not worry about everything and just do what I want! Some calls these days Pay Day, I call them, "Thank God I Have Money!"

The tenth time this is happening is tomorrow! How will I celebrate? Well, I would love to go see Sunday in the Park with George. I would also like to treat myself and maybe someone else to a nice dinner. Maybe I could put a down payment on a new laptop or keyboard for my apartment. I would like to do these things... But I will most likely do what I always do. Pay bills. *sigh* Well we'll just pretend it's a celebration.

I love living in Manhattan, but man, it is expensive. And not in the normal expensive way. It sneaks up on you. You plan on hitting the town with your friends, and the next thing you know, you're $100 in the hole, easy. All that on a night with no dinner or anything. It's almost as if you step out of your door past 10pm on a weekend night, $100 gets automatically deducted from your bank account. Geez, I need some rich friends.

So I saw Iron Man on Sunday. It was sooo good. I mean, in the comic book world, Iron Man is probably one of my least favorite. Well, that's strong. I'll say he's a hero I'm less interested in than others. But out of all the superhero movies that I have been coming out lately, this is definitely one of the bests. It's a complete package: action that's not too gratuitous, excellent character development, plenty of fan-boy throwbacks to the comics, not to mention superb franchise potential! Go see it!

Well, people. I think I'm done. Not with life or anything. Just this post. Time to go back to that beautiful computer monitor. With all my dinosaurs on top. Lovely, no?

Byeee!!!

Watch Your Stars

Okay, I'm only on a short break, so I'll be brief. Does anyone really get into astrology out there? Such as, zodiac, the stars, compatibility, etc...? I really enjoy learning about the signs, because I find it very interesting and (most of the time) eerily accurate. I mean, I don't live my life by it or anything. I mean, if you came up to me and said that you were a Capricorn, I wouldn't immediately yawn and say, in a drawling voice, "How boooring." But there is something to be said about being aware of other people's signs and how they supposedly relate to your own.

Let me illustrate. I am an Aries. According to popular astrology, Aries, a fire sign, are very free-spirited, social, and outgoing individuals. They go from one thrill to the next with little thought on consequence or possible outcome. They know what they want when they see it, and they want it now. They are very confident and easily win over others with their love of adventure and a good time. Sometimes sensitive and quick to anger, an Aries cools off as quick as they flare up.

So that's pretty much me. Now Aries get along best (alledgedly) with Air and other Fire signs. However, I have been finding quite a few Pisces (a water, and opposite, sign) in my life. Now these people are highly emotional, clingy, jealous, and ready to latch on to the next potential partner they meet. This is contrary to Aries in all ways who prefers not to be tied down at all and thinks emotion should be kept out of most things. However, the quality that always attracts me to Pisces is their creativity. Plus, an Aries likes to have a lot of attention and Pisces are more than willing to give it. But it never ends well, at least for me. I always tell myself that before going into these things, but it's that darn creative spark. I guess it's kind of like what my friend Michael told me when I scolded him about not warning me about jumping into such situations, "I did [tell you]. You seem to become deaf in front of a cute face." Ah well. Such is life.

I guess that wasn't so brief. Anyways, it's Monday and I have less than an hour to go before work is out! You know what that means! Splash, anyone? Musical Monday! Haha...

Talk to you soon!!!

Sunday Love!

I <3 Sunday. It is the day where almost everyone takes a break and just let's the day go by. It's the blank-page day of the week where anything can happen. I try not to have plans on Sunday just so I can sit around and blog about how great it is not to have plans. Then, at the end of the day, I look back and see how much I didn't do and either laugh or cry about it. Ah, Sunday. What a great day.

So today. I am going to see my friend Robert in a cabaret show. I got to see him in an opera yesterday. He's been getting a lot of work lately, which is really amazing. He even got accepted to this opera program this summer in Princeton! I'm so proud of him....

Speaking of art-related work, I got asked to audition for a showcase of new work! The director of the show is a friend of one of the guys in my improv group and saw me in my last show. He got in touch with me and asked me to come to his final callbacks. The part is for an athletic, fit, confident man in his early-20s. I guess I should be flattered. However, I haven't auditioned in AT LEAST a year and a half, so I'm pretty nervous. It'll be on May 21st, so I'll keep you updated!

Okay, so it's time to go down to the West Village to see Robert's show. Have a great week!

A Place Where Nobody Dared to Go...

What a weekend! My friend William was in town, and we just went nonstop all weekend long. Here are the highlights: Kentucky derby, Ole Miss Rebels in the city, Baby Mama and baby drama, big hats, ex's, Therapy and therapy, petting zoos, blustering winds, and hot messes at Hot Mess. That pretty much sums it up, I think.

So I'm really excited because I'm going to see Xanadu with Bradley, Jack, and Emerson. Even though I've seen it three times already, I'm particularly excited because this is a special night where we get to have a Q&A with the cast. Jack knows a guy in the production, so after the show, we get a backstage tour. And after THAT, the entire cast is going to mingle with us at a lounge around the corner! How fun! Xanadu's my fave show on Broadway right now.... I just realized how lame that sounded. Anyhoo...

It's Monday. How fun. Not really. But I have 90 more minutes in my day. That's what I'm focusing on. It's hard to come from an amazing whirlwind weekend and back into the office. It's so professional and people want you to do stuff. Can't I just get paid without doing anything? Is that possible? I mean, I already feel like two different people. One is the skinny-jeans wearing socialite and the other is the tie-sporting counselor. These are the games I play.

Okay, so I'm typing on break right now, so I should get back. I'll try to think of something to say that's more intuitive, insightful, imaginative, ingenious, important, irrational, and any other interesting "i" word you can think of. By the way, I love assonance and alliteration.

Peace out!!!!

Time to Get My Weekend On...

FRIDAY!!!!

I love the feeling that is associated with the coming of the weekend. It's kind of relief and excitement and... confusion? Relief because the workweek is over. Excitement because there's so much you could do. And confusion because you never know what you're going to do! Sometimes, you think of a million things to do, but it's so overwhelming that you never make a decision and don't do anything. But then again, sometimes doing nothing is all you need to do.

But this weekend will be particularly fun. My friend William Waller is coming up from Louisiana. I don't think we've seen each other in 5 to 6 years. When I was a Freshman at MC, he was a senior (and student body president!) and we were in the same fraternity. So tonight, we're going to take over Manhattan. I love it when friends visit, because it's I get to experience New York as a visitor again! It's a chance to recharge your New York batteries and get excited about the city all over again!

So, as you can see from the pic above, I cut all my hairs off. Once again another impulsive decision. Immediately after the "trim" I went home, curled up in bed, and started screaming about how much I hated my hair and missed the old locks. I got over it, though. It was just a brief moment of postpartum. When I got up this morning, I got to style it myself and now I like it. I'm just going to have to be more edgy with my wardrobe. The things I do...

Well, time to finish up work for the day so I can get my weekend on!

The Battle of the Bulge

So I never thought I'd be one of those people who diet. I mean, I've done some form of dieting in the past as a health choice. Now, it's no longer a choice. I have to watch what I eat. I now constantly trying to lost this little belly I have goin' on. I'm flight the Battle of the Bulge (and not the good kind).

Right now, I am trying to eat right rather than really diet. I usually start the day off with egg whites, turkey bacon, and cheese on a toasted whole wheat bagel. Good, right? Typically, I'll have a salad with chicken for a late lunch. If I eat dinner, I try to keep it very small (I even bought Lean Cuisines). But it seems like the less I eat, the more I am bulge-prone. Maybe it's because my metabolism is out of whack because I don't eat enough. I mean, I am at that age where you don't have that killer super-metabolism of your high school/early-20s years. So I guess you have to stimulate the lifeless thing. *sigh*

Of course, I know that I am just avoiding the bigger issue of working out. I don't do it. I don't have the time or the money to do it. In the rare moments of free time I have, I can think of a million other things that I want to do, which is usually go out and hang with friends.... Well, I guess if I didn't go out so much, I suppose I would have the time AND money to work out. Oh the things I have to decide! Why is always one or the other? Can't I eat whatever I want, do whatever I want, and drink whatever I want and still have a killer body? Such an unfair world!

So anyways... last night was fun. Bradley invited me to this new lounge that opened on the very southwest corner of Hell's Kitchen. It was pretty much empty, but Robert came downtown with me and Pedro and Ali showed up later. I hope it catches on because I like the space.

Oh! So, I'm thinking about cutting all my hair off. It's just long and out of control and it's time for a clean summer look. The original plan was to do a Justin Timberlake sort of buzz cut. I mass-text the gang and got a general consensus. The naysayers won out by a few votes. The more crazy of us were all for it, but it was usually accompanied with the comment "if it doesn't look good, it'll grow." No thanks. So now I just want to cut it nice and short. Maybe faux-hawk-esque, or maybe even something more edgy like a REAL mohawk. But we'll see. Thoughts anyone?

Well, my lunch break is almost over. I simply must be getting back to my desk. Later!

A Series of Impulse Decisions: A Tweenage Looks Back at the Last 25 Years

It finally happened. I had a birthday. It's been at least a year since the last one, and I have had probably around 25 of them my whole life. Despite the seeming frequency of this particular event, they never fail to bring about feelings of dread and nostalgia with a spoonful of inadequacy and a dash of intrigue. Back at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Every March 22nd, I am face with my own mortality as I contemplate where the previous year took me and the people I met, along with the things I accomplished, the things I failed to do, and the things I have yet to take on. Fortunately, this past year has been quite the eventful one, full of firsts. I moved to New York. I signed my very first apartment lease. I lived for the first time without family nearby. I held (and currently holding) my first full-time job (in Corporate America, no less). I learned to knit! And I even performed on my very first New York stage!

So I guess age 24 was a productive time. It may have been the most eventful year of my life (besides the first, but that's a given). I mean, I am currently standing on a subway typing out this journal entry on my corporate-esque Palm Pilot on my way to the West Village to sing with the patrons of a piano bar that theatre elite and hopefuls frequent. This is just a small example of how I am always on the go with a million things to do. And efficient multi-tasking is only one of the valuable skills I learned during this very full year.

I feel like I've come so far. I never in my wildest dreams back in East Jesus Nowhere, MS thought I'd be living in New York City when I "grew up." I guess I knew that I wouldn't be staying in the rural state. Although I attended Southern Baptist college in the great state of Mississippi, I left as soon as I graduated to start the journey of finding out who Austin is. Even though, 3 years later, I'm still only at the beginning of this incredible time, I feel like I've never known myself better. I feel like I can see where my priorities should lie. They aren't always aligned that way, but I think recognizing the problem is the beginning of fixing it.

One of the main thing in my life that I need to make more of a priority of is my friends up here in the city. Having no family up here has really made me appreciate the friends I have made. Most of us are all in our 20s just trying to carve out a place for ourselves in this city of 8 million people. In the absence of parents and siblings, we have become each other's family in different ways. When you make a connection in the city, you really have to hold on to it. True friends are really hard to come by, and I take mine for granted too often. The usual distractions (work, dating, personal projects, etc...) should never take the place of your friends/family. I love you guys!

So raise your glasses, everyone. Here's to (almost) 1 year in New York City with hopefully another to come. Despite the uncertainty and callousness of the first year, I feel this city has taught me more than I ever thought it would. I know that the second year will be even better.

Here, here!