Spring my ass

So today is the first day of Spring, and what did I wake up to see outside my window? Snow!! WTF?! Seriously this is ridiculous. Snow is pretty and all, but I'm more than ready for some warm sunshine. Thank god I'm going to New Orleans and Florida next week where it will be in the upper 70s and 80s. This whole cold nonsense better be gone by the time I get back. Seriously, New York, get your act together.

Full speed ahead

Things have been super busy - they don't call New York the City that Never Sleeps for no reason.

Dad came to visit last weekend. He's been to Newark on business a lot, but never to the big city. It's always really cool to show someone New York for the first time. I've only lived here for about four months, but it's nice to see the city through fresh eyes to remind me how special it is.

Right away we went to Times Square. We took a bunch of pictures and saw a pretty good street band. 

Then we walked up to Central Park at Columbus Circle. It was a perfect day to be outside; cool but not too cold. We ate lunch at a sports bar by the park and then took a nice stroll. It was actually really cool for me too because we went a way I hadn't been before. Central Park is so beautiful, I can't wait till the spring when everything starts blooming. Then that night we went to Del Friscos with Rich and had an amazing dinner.

Sunday we started the day exploring Fort Tryon park by my apartment. This was another thing that I haven't done yet, which I'm a little embarrassed about. But I blame it on the cold and vow to explore it more often now. It's crazy to think that this amazing park is literally in my back yard. It has a great view of the Hudson and has an amazing museum called the Cloisters, which is actually part of the Met. Then we had brunch at the cute restaurant in the park. After brunch, we actually went to the Met because we got free admission when going to the Cloisters. To get there, we had to cross Central Park, so it was cool to see yet another part of it. 

After getting back from the Met it was time for dad to go. It was a short trip, but it was good to see him. I only wish my mom and brother could've come too. However, I am so excited to go home to Orlando next week! I'll be home Friday-Sunday for my brother's 18th birthday. I can't wait to see everyone and soak up some Florida sun. And before that, I'm going to New Orleans! I've never been there so I'm super excited to see it.

As I get more acclimated to life here, I seem to have less to write about. It makes me a little sad, but it also makes me excited to think that this isn't a vacation and is becoming real life. But the last thing I want is to get complacent here and take for granted all the things around me, so I'll make much more of an effort to blog more often and see how special this city is.

Spring has sprung!

Today was the first day that I didn't have to bundle up before going outside. No jacket, no scarf, no gloves, no stockings ... I was wearing a light sweater and I really could've done without that too.

It's 67 degrees right now, and I never thought I'd be so excited. It's interesting to see the different outfits outside. A lot of people didn't realize the warmth before heading out and are now carrying their jackets. Long sleeved shirts are rolled up. Some people are in flip flops. Every second person is walking a dog. A lot of people are shopping too - maybe the answer to our economic problems will be the weather, haha.

I can't wait to see the city really come alive with spring. It'll be a lot easier to explore new places too. This better not be a tease!

Kat's visit, et cetera

Hello faithful readers, I'm sorry for the delay in post. Things have been a little hectic, in a good way.

Kat's visit was so much fun. We went to so many fun places and did fun things. To get a full synopsis, read her blog here. I hope it gave her a better idea of what living here will actually be like.

Things are good on the job front. The project is running steadily and doesn't seem like it'll end in the immediate future. Which is bad for ICE, but good for me. After that, I've learned that there's a position I could fill in customer service. It isn't necessarily what I want to be doing, but it's steady money and I'd get benefits, which isn't a bad plan B. 

Also - I'm coming home! The last weekend in March (27-29) I'll be in Orlando. So if you're there, call me! It'll be so great to see everyone and be in the Florida sun. And before that I'm going to New Orleans for a few days! Hooray! 

So all in all things are great!

First celebrity sighting

That's right people, that's ELIJAH WOOD! We were at Revival for Kat's birthday, probably the last place you would expect to see a celebrity (which is probably why he went there), and in he came! I saw him first and started freaking out as quietly as possible so he wouldn't hear me, and then Leighanne walked over to him thanks to some liquid courage. We snapped this picture and then left him alone, but didn't stop looking at him. AH! ELIJAH FREAKING WOOD!

Getting back up

Well it's been an interesting week, to say the least.

I started my new job at ICE and really like it. The people I work with are all fun and I'm learning a lot about food. But I can't help thinking about what I'll do when the project is over in a few weeks. I keep hearing there may be another position that might be available, but that's not for sure.

This week has mainly been full of questions. I know not all magazines will treat me the way Harris did, but I'm a little disenfranchised with the industry right now. The fact that I'm getting paid almost double to copy and paste just shows how horrible the pay scale is in journalism. I'm beginning to look at marketing, advertising and PR (I know, gasp) for possible career changes. They all pay much better with better benefits and still allow me to write and be somewhat creative. Not that money is the most important factor in a job, but it is important.

We'll see. I'm in the best city for a career change and have made some good contacts so far. Stay tuned.

In better news - Kat is coming to stay with me for a week tomorrow! My new job allows me a little more flexibility with my schedule, so I'll get to see her a little more. If there's anything I need right now, it's a good friend around. I'm sure she can take my mind off things. =)

You just never know

I was laid off today.

I was called in to the office of the managing editor today at 10:30 and she told me that they didn't have enough for me to do, so I was laid off, effective immediately.

I've never been given a warning. I've never done anything wrong. I did all my assignments to the best of my ability. I was laid off.

Thankfully, I have a plan B. I finally got a second job doing data entry for the Institute of Culinary Education. My boss and I have become friends, and I told him my situation. He has brought me on full time, effective tomorrow. It's only a temporary gig, but I'm getting paid twice as much and there's opportunity for something more permanent. Either way, I have about a month of steady money and in the mean time I'll look for any kind of an opening.

I refuse to let this defeat me. I live in New York and I'll make it work. They won't win. I'm confident this will lead to something better with a better company.

In the words of Fashion Week, "Chic will go on."

I will go on. Everything happens for a reason. It's for the best.