Insert Appropriate Carol Title Here

For the first time in a number of years I'm feeling VERY excited about the Holidays. Tonight after my shift at the portrait studio I met Laura, Kris and Kim at the Christmas Market in Columbus Circle. It was SNOWING to beat all. I had left my hat and gloves at the apartment because it was NOT snowing when I left the house, so while I waited for the girls to get to where I was I bought a woolly hand knit ear-flap hat. It was fleece-lined and may be one of the best things I ever bought. It was snowing huge wet flakes. I had my umbrella but I was getting as soaked as if it was pouring rain.

Lights on the trees in Columbus Circle

Once we were all together we walked through the wonderful market for a while and shopped the vendors. Laura and I got hot apple cider and I got a giant ginger cookie. When we'd had about as much as we could take we decided to walk over to Rockefeller Plaza to see the tree and lights. It was a little bit too much walking for the weather. We each stepped in some puddle until we all had wet shoes and socks and toes. Yuck! All the same we were very cheery, walking along in the beautiful snow. There were horse-carriages with tops and millions of people walking.

Laura, Me and Kris at the Christmas market Cider Stand

When we got to Rockefeller it was worth it. The decorations were beautiful to see. We tried to get picture by the tree but the crowds were so thick we had to coordinate umbrellas and crowd control to actually get each other AND the tree and lights in a picture at the same time. The people were so thick that they had to have police at the cross-walks, not just directing traffic but actually holding the street crossers BACK from traffic. We walked over to Saks because Laura had seen a light display there that coordinated with Carol of the Bells. It was so cool I almost cried.

The beautiful tree in the snow

Saks Fifth Ave snowflake lights that blinked in time to Carol of the Bells

Finally we had to get going as we were all freezing and soaked to the bone. We went down in the subway and were treated to a show by a really funny busker who wore a wig and sang a song called 'Baby Mama' that got stuck in all our heads. We finally made it home and I had to hang up everything, including my pocketbook which was drenched on the inside. We all put on sweats and got chinese delivery and have been sitting in our cozy warm living room listening to Christmas music this evening. The only thing missing is a crackling fire and some hot toddies. I love visitors!

Today at work we had a child's birthday party. It was definitely my favorite things I've gotten to do at work yet. Helping kid with crafts I can totally manage. It sure is hard being the new girl. I haven't been in that position in a while. I know how everyone else feels though, I've been on that end of it plenty.

Oh look, we've gotten out the karaoke machine. Gotta go.

I'm Sorry: Today is My First Day....

Yesterday was my first full day at the store and a rough one at that. I got left alone in the front part of the store and couldn't answer a single question or help anyone on my own. It was a lot of, I'm sorry, its my first day, out of me. It was embarrassing at times but most people are really understanding. I can now confidently ring up your purchase or book an appointment. That is all. Anything else is beyond me. Most people calling on the phone do not want me to ring up a sale and few want to book appointments. All in all, I don't think I messed up TOO badly. Everybody has to start somewhere right?

Last night Kris and Kim came up on the Bolt Bus and out to Brooklyn for a visit. We took them to Picket Fence and 773 as they said they wanted to do whatever it was we did in Brooklyn on the weekend. Ok ladies, if we must.

Today I am working until 5 and then we're meeting up in the city for some Christmas stuff.

First Day

I don't have a lot of time to write this morning as I am getting ready to head off to W-O-R-K at my J-O-B!!! Yes I got a job. A real one. A great one! I'm working in a portrait studio/scrapbooking boutique on the Upper West Side. I'll be doing store clerky things and photography. I can't believe I got a job in photography. Its really a dream come true. There are some drawbacks. Its part time so I'll need to do other things to make money in between and it doesn't pay a lot but I don't mind.

Yesterday evening was my first shift and I didn't have much to do. The studio was hosting a little girls birthday party so all the staff was too busy to train me but I got to look around a bit and everyone was really nice. The atmosphere is funky and casual and the owners both work there. Its a father and daughter named Bob and Kim. Bob doesn't look like, but sounds absolutely just like Christopher Walken. Kim has a 3 year old daughter who is cute as a button. I did ring up my first sale. It was embarrassing as hell not knowing much at all about the register system. The woman I was waiting on was patient as she could be but I wanted to run and hide.

Anyway tonight Kris and Kim are coming to visit so after I work I have to come home and clean up my room for them, at the very least. I still haven't unpacked properly from Thanksgiving and everything I own seems to be on the floor between my door and the my bed.

Shopping and Schmoozing

Yesterday was a fun and busy day of unemployment! (See that positive attitude?) Laura and I got up bright and early to try and find some inexpensive clothing in Manhattan. We took the train to the Lower East Side and shopped from Chinatown up to Noho. We stopped at a really cool store called Yellow Rat Bastard which was like a really big, cooler version of Hot Topic. They had cool t shirts, bags, Chucks and really cool books about New York. Next we found Top Shop, Laura favorite store from England that only recently opened a store in the US. I fell in love with, but didn't buy, a pretty coral-colored wool jacket there. Next we went to H&M and tried on some winter dresses. Laura picked out a couple for herself as finding some winter dresses was her goal for the day. She tried on a really beautiful gold one though and since it was only fifteen dollars I had to buy it. Its a vintage style gold party dress and I can't wait for an occasion to wear it.

Next we decided to go find a the shop for a brand called Bond No 9 NYC. They are a perfume company based out of Noho that make fancy scents inspired by different neighborhoods in New York City. We knew we wouldn't be able to afford to buy for a long time but we wanted to smell them so we'd know which one we liked in case someone ever asked. I had seen the bottle for the Brooklyn scent and also was hoping that Coney Island would be my favorite. They all smelled beautiful. A young man spoke with us for a long time, telling us all about the scents and letting us sniff tons of different ones. He really knew his stuff and took plenty of time to show us all about the products. We found out that even though the perfume in the signature bottle is expensive you can buy the perfume by the ounce and put it in a pretty atomizer bottle for not too much. When we left we each had some 'Scent of Peace' on our wrists and a sample of Bleeker Street wrapped like a candy in our pockets. The last place we stopped was the LeSportSac flagship store which was a bit disappointing.

After that we had to come home and get ready because Laura had gotten us invited to the Roanoke College NYC Alumni reception! My back was hurting so I was hesitant to go but I'm so glad I did. The reception was at the New York Athletic Club, which sounds like a gym but is in fact a fancy fancy club. Like the wood-paneled, leather furniture kind. We were on the tenth floor in a reception room where there were two open bars and waiters walking around with fancy oers devours. I was surprised at how many Roanoke College alumni were there. We saw a girl from my orientation group and a couple people from our RC era. There were also tons of older alums and a few younger. Laura and I spoke with Ness, a girl we had gone camping with at college who is now married to Sandy whose dad had been a trustee of the college and whose mom still is. It was a lot of fun catching up and gossiping with her. Then the president of the college spoke and so did a trustee. It was a lot of fun, I'm glad we went.

After the reception Laura and decided to finish our night at 773. We came home late and made ourselves midnight snacks before going to bed. Today Laura's having a hair cut and then her friend Michele is coming up on the bus for a visit! I need to get this apartment cleaned up before we have company and I still haven't unpacked from Thanksgiving!

Its a Brand New Day

I am back in Brooklyn after my Thanksgiving break. The week before I left was pretty hard for me emotionally so I wasn't able to blog. I had a rejuvenating few days at home. Mom and Jake were very supportive and encouraging and although I may have begged and cried they got me back on the bus to NY. Now that I'm back I'm feeling good and ready to start again with a good attitude about finding a job and having my New York adventure.

Last week besides feeling sorry for myself I had a two-day temp assignment for Clinique. The offices were amazing. They were on the 37th floor in the same building as CBS and FAO Swartz, right across from The Plaza. My job was to read press releases that come in any time the company name is published. I think that means my blog will be on the desk of some other temp in about a year. It was entertaining and I got to see CBS taping the Early Show each morning outside.

View from the window at Clinique

Also early last week I decided to look up the options for scrapbooking and crafting clubs and stores in the area as I always feel better when I'm being creative. I ended up finding a portrait studio/scrapbooking store in Manhattan. Thinking that that sounded like a business hand made for me I sent them an e mail saying I was an avid scrapbooker and photographer specializing in children and would love to send them a resume or small portfolio of my work. I send these e mails to businesses often and never get any response except a few regrets e mails now and then, so I didn't expect much. The e mailed me back and wanted to schedule an interview for Tuesday!! I couldn't believe it. I don't even HAVE an actual portfolio or any professional photo experience. Laura and I sat Monday night picking out the best of the pictures I had taken at my last job and while I was working Tuesday she picked up a pack of 8x10s at Target and a black folder. I went to the interview not even knowing what to expect. I think it went really well. They introduced me to the owners and gave me the run down on what my job would be like and even gave me a tour. They said they'd be excited to have some more people on staff that were interested in scrapbooking AND photography as a lot of the photographers they had weren't as excited about crafts. They said they'd get in touch with me this week. I can't believe it and don't want to get to excited until I hear for sure but what a fantastic opportunity this could be. I'd be a professional photographer in NYC!!

In case that doesn't pan out I have a week + assignment lined up through one of the agencies for next week. So for now I'll try to just relax and enjoy myself. Contrary to how I sounded at home yesterday I am feeling good about being in Brooklyn.

Fine 'N Dandy

I know my blog posts are coming farther apart these days but so are jobs and adventures. I'll try to get back on the ball. Its been a little rough being unemployed this week. I'm really looking forward to coming home for Thanksgiving!

A couple of days ago Laura and found a new bar to go to in our neighborhood. Its called the 773 Lounge and it was a lot of fun. They have a lot of regulars and an active Darts league. Everybody there was happy to have us and friendly. They gave us free food and one man took my card to see about a job workign for his friend who distributes toy trains. Another man gave us two-dollar bills and a third offered us Circle Line cruises whenever Laura's children are visiting. It was really fun and we'll be going back.

Yesterady I got one of my rare temp assignments. This one was by far the best. An advertising agency was doing a big pitch to land an account with Sweet n' Low and because their staff was relatively small almost everyone in the office would be in the pitch meeting that day. They hired a handful of temps to sit at desks around the office and look busy so when any of the Sweet n' Low people walked around the office it would look like there were plenty of busy employees working away. So we were being paid to pretend to work there and all we really had to do was sit at desks with computers. We got some busy work tasks but mostly we just hung out and had free use of the pantry and chatted. I loved it. We even got name plates to match the special pitch-day nameplates everyone else in the office had.

Welcome Visitors

Sorry it has been so long since I updated. I didn't do a THING all week last week. No work and no responses from any of my applications or resume submissions. I was feeling kind of crummy. Its so frustrating to not be doing more. My friend Sarah came by on Wednesday and we walked all the way around Prospect Park and that felt good. Thursday and Friday the weather was too spiteful to do that.

Friday night I went to Target to get a new mop and then cleaned my apartment from top to bottom because my mom, sister and nephew were coming to visit this weekend. Laura bought me The Perfect Brownie Pan for my Birthday so I also made fresh brownies. Going to bed Friday night felt like trying to go to sleep on Christmas Eve.

Saturday I met my family on 34th street where they got off their bus. We had steaks and then waited around a bit for Gage's friend who was looking at colleges in the area. We got caught in some rain and then finally got a taxi back to Brooklyn. When we got here we ordered from Picket Fence and then played Catchphrase until the food came. Then we ate a delicious dinner and then watched Almost Famous and went to bed.

Yesterday my sister and the kids went thrift store shopping and mom and I were on our own. First mom took me to the grocery store and I got to stock up on some stuff. Then I took mom on the subway and we got off around Rockefeller Center. She got to see the NBC studios and we went into the NBC store. We also go to see the skaters on the ice rink and the big Rockefeller Center tree with scaffolding all around it. We kept seeing bags from the American Girl store and so we thought we'd go have a look. After that we sat by St Patrick's cathedral and then took a taxi to Herald Square where we looked at the newly decorated windows at Macy's until it was time to catch the bus. We had a really pleasant day looking around and it was very hard to say goodbye when everyone got on the bus. I miss my mom so much.

The Rockefeller Center Tree in progress

Only two weeks until Thanksgiving. That is what I am looking forward to now.