NYC: The Good with the Bad

Another weekend of fruitless apartment hunting. My frustration is accelerating every day I get closer to starting classes again. It's almost as if some higher being is prohibiting me to getting it for some reason unknown and uncontrollable to me. And, if that's true, please let me know.

I was supposed to drive into NYC on Friday after work. But, sadly, the rain down there was so intense that it flooded a lot of the highways and bridges, and they shut down the freeways in, trains and airports. I was stranded in North Andover until the morning. I lamented for an hour at Borders, where I splurged on a hardcover of "Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenom" and a new paperback, "The Pirates!" It's interesting, because now whenever I hit up a bookstore (which has been quite frequently), it's like a crackwhore attacking a crackhouse; I want them all, and I want them all now. Have I no shame?
I also went over to Jesse's house for a shin dig until around midnight. It was a highly entertaining place to be and watch people, and most of the people I hadn't seen in a year, so it was interesting to see them all now.

Saturday morning's drive in was full of occasional traffic, flash rain in Connecticut, and hydroplaning through the Bronx. I finally got into the city, where my father took the car at Herald Square for his own drive home. Interesting how my family works; it's almost like at least one person has to be in NYC at all times. In and out. I hit up my first apartment meeting with Innovative Apartments. As a prelim meeting, I didn't get to see any apartments, but she made me feel hopeful that I'd get someplace when I need it. Allah kareem.
I checked into the hostel, which was very close to Union Square (big plus points). It was a cute little walk up apartment-turned-hostel. It was small, sure, but it did the job. I wanted a bed, I got a bed.
After I inspected the Trader Joe's recently put under the Palladium dorms, Andy and I met up at Washington Square, where we concluded to walk. It started raining, so we took refuge over in the Virgin Cafe (appropriately? che pas...) and talked for a few hours. He kept squealing about my weight loss endeavors, which made me blush quite a bit. After the rain let up, we ran over to the Barnes & Noble across the park, where we both greedily man-handled a plethora of lusciously covered books and novels. We even took photos of books.
We met up with his roommate Natalia and their friends Dan (straight) & Kevin (gay). Finding out that I was with a group of 24-28 year olds, I felt extremely young, and tried my best to not be that awkward little kid with the big kids. I think I did alright. We went to a really nice restaurant, Havana Central. And we ate. Oh boy, did we eat. Appetizer samplers, huge entrees (and quite pricey), drinks (I took a smoothie due to my medical testing this week), and a desert sampler. And the food was amazing. Really, really, amazing. And there was so much food!!! We all overate, a lot. But the conversation was nice, we had a great time, laughed a lot, told good stories...good times. I always have fun with Andy's friends. They're always good kids, and I enjoy them immensely. Does that mean something?....(Andy, I know you read these, so I'm going to ask you: can I be you?)
After shelling out a hefty sum, we rolled out of the restaurant and agreed to meet up in about an hour to go out. It was already 10pm and I was ready to sleep, yes, but that doesn't mean anything when you're in NYC. The night starts whenever you start. And never ends, ever. Ever.
I hobbled back to the hostel to meet my "roommates". And, being more full of food than God is full of love, I was quite the sociallable talker while getting ready to go out. I first talked to 2 nice LA girls who were in for the night to read, which sounded tempting to join them. Then I noticed there was indeed a guy in our room, sleeping on the bottom bunk next to my top bunk. He was Indian-Canadian (which, as you might think, perked up my ears) , 28 years old, called himself Sunny, lives in San Fransisco, and (get this!) works for Google. Wow. Wow. Google? As in, I have a Google account and Google blog, Google? As in, I've done more case studies about Google in school than any other company in the world? Oh yes, ladies and gentlemen. That Google.
We started to talking. Unfortunately, being sociallable AND naturally flirtacious, I flirted. But, surprisingly, and almost too obviously, he flirted back. I always enjoy a good flirt, so it was fun, and I highly enjoyed the conversation. He was planning on going to Alphabet City with some people he met to a party while I planned to go...somewhere. So, we swapped numbers and agreed to text about our whereabouts for the night. Since I was going out with a bunch of 24/27 year olds, anyways, it wasn't like he'd be that guy joining a bunch of young college kids.
I met up with the group down in the Lower East Side and, after about an hour of looking for a place that had no bouncer (because I was the only under-21er in the group, they were trying to be nice and help me out.......even though I wasn't going to drink anything anyways...ironic...), we hit up a little liquor bar called Schiller's. Adorable, really nice atmosphere, I loved it. And I got a smoothie that rivalled a lot of other smoothies I've ever had. We kicked back, talked, laughed some more. Found out that the 27 year-old friend of Andy's that I was flirting with had a girlfriend and became immensely embarassed, good times. Until about 1.30am, where we were all exhausted and opted for an early night. Crashed at the hostel to sleep.

But you'd think the night would end there, right? Oh, no. No, no. About an hour into my tired slumber, 2 new backpackers crashed into the room, talking in full voice, and started unpacking and being "romantic." In fact, they (girl and boy) decided to go get into the shower together. Hostel, people. Paper-thin walls. The giggles started, and LA girl #1 and yelled at them that we were trying to sleep, so knock it off. The 2 newbies came out and started apologizing (I think), and I mumbled, "whatever, just go to bed." End of story, right? Nope. Never.
As soon as those 2 start getting into bed, Sunny comes back into the room. How do I know this? Because for about 5-10 minutes, while I was slipping into a twilight, I felt like someone's watching me. I open my eyes, to see Sunny looking at me. Oh boy. He comes over and puts his arm on my back, and starts asking me how my night was. "Short. What did you end up doing?" He started telling me, and I realize that he's really, really close to me. Really close. Mind you, I was half asleep, but I could still notice how close he was. Close enough to...with retainers in my mouth and everything (color me dorky, but I like keeping my teeth as straight as possible), I finally giggle and say, "and, goodnight." I know, I know...I blow it everytime. But come on! Taaaact! Oh well, next time?

I wake up after not really sleeping, completely wiped, to go to another apartment meeting. Said bye to Sunny, left him a little note in his bag, and checked out.
I get to the agent's place on the Upper East Side. I wait in their lobby for 30 minutes to get bitched out at for another 30 minutes about not being in town for more than the weekend, that I was wasting their time, and that I had the NERVE to go to them LOOKING FOR APARTMENTS! And I was "so unprepared"! Though I was fully prepared... Apparently, the plan was for me to purhase one of their places that day, no buts. Uh huh, right. Basically the guy was a complete jerk (censored, of course), and I will tell all of my friends to NEVER use Homestead Reality in NYC ever! Because they're there only to waste your time and steal your cash. That was in a nutshell.
Discouraged and raging mad, I go downtown again to get some comfort food; Challah bread. I find out then that my favorite Jewish Deli of all time, 2nd Avenue Deli, has been shut down! Closed, gone. I'm devastated.
The next meeting I had I didn't get an address for, so I had to cancel (since I didn't know where to meet them, anyways) on a dying mobile. Screw it, I decided, I'll just go back home now.
Took a Greyhound back to Boston. Was carsick for 2 hours of the trip. Cold for all 4.5 hours. I got to the South Station entrance to get haggled and harassed by a few creepy guys outside. Great day. Went home and slept off the frustration.

People, all I want is a 4 month apartment near school for less than $1500/mo! Is that too much to ask for?! I guess it is...