Monday, September 17, 2007

To The Point

I love Marion. And Thomas, too.
Marion and Thomas from Sciences Po came into NYC to visit for the weekend.
Well, Thomas went to NJ for the weekend, but I saw him at the beginning and end of it all.
Marion and I walked A LOT. And we talked a lot. I did the tourist things all over again, but it was fine because we had fun. And I spoke in a lot of French.
We got to walk through the San Gennaro festival in Little Italy and get called at by Italian guys on the overly crowded streets. And we made a lot of friends on the street while we sang and dance all over the place. We were such goofballs!
It was Guacamole Day in Times Square and we got free guac on the street! And it was good.
We met a very kind old British guy on the Staten Island Ferry, who told me that my accent was very interesting because it was not entirely American, but just American enough that he couldn't place it.

Chambers had auditions. I'm Vice President now (be excited....), which means more responsibility, but mostly just being as influential as I've been the entire time. We had a lot of fun during the auditions, since we're all friends. We made a lot of awkward comments during auditions, and got sidetracked a lot. I think, though, that our joking around made it a lot easier for us to tell who would actually work out well with the dynamics of the group. One guy was good enough, but he did not bounce off well with us, so we aren't going to take him. Easy cuts, easy finds. And (what a miracle!) we got 3 more men! I don't think we've ever had that many men try out for us!

Otherwise, school is school. Lots of work to be done, lots of work has been done. Enjoying some of it, not enjoying some of it whatsoever.

Friday, September 14, 2007

Welcome To Seniority

I have 7 classes. All of which have a lot of homework and reading.
Some which have constant 100 pages a week.....

And I have a part-time job.

And I am in a singing group, VP type officer.
Auditions were yesterday. Some people were great. Others....not so much. It's sad that thick accents even hinder the ability to be blend-able in a group.

And I work out.
And I want to dance.
And I want to do yoga.
And I have to sleep.
And I have to eat.
And I have a social life.
Too much to talk about. Just say I've seen a lot of people lately, lots of tea talks, lots of dinners, lots of parties, lots of plans....

And I have to make a career change for my job hunt where instead of doing business things as a business major, I'm trying to look at being a diplomat or a nonprofit runner, which has absolutely nothing to do with my major and school, so I have to start thinking about how to approach this so I won't end up screwed in May!

......Life is busy. I'm alright. I just can't talk about it right now. I have to go to the gym.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Word of the Day

Lugubrious (adj) looking or sounding sad and dismal.

Not because of the meaning, but just the word itself. It sounds squishy. I think it needs to be incorporated into everyday life.

I don't like the word moist very much.

Monday, September 03, 2007

Happy Labor Day

So, tomorrow my vacation ends and I officially begin my Senior Year at NYU....also known as slavery. Before I become overwhelmed with work and work and work, I have concluded to give an overview of what has been going on this week.

I got back from Boston Wednesday night, and I went straight home. That was that.

Thursday, I met up with Neil, at last! We went out for a walk and for lunch. Good old rapper Chaz joined up with us to go to VP2's (which is one of our key favorite food joints on campus). It was a great few hours getting back in touch with them all and talking about old times.
The funny thing was that it really hit strongly just how much different we were from 3 years ago. I met Chaz and Neil on Goddard 4th floor our Freshman Year, and we still are good friends. Which is nice, because to me that shows that my first year in school wasn't a complete wasted. But, I mean, we're not the young ones on campus anymore; in fact, we're the oldest undergrads now! And how old do I feel hearing that. The kids coming in now are SO YOUNG, and COMPLETELY CLUELESS AND INEXPERIENCED! It was shocking to watch them all lump together in awkward, insecure, showing-off crowds and find out how lost they all were. And here Neil, Chaz, and I are, walking around, an odd group of old friends (white rapper from MN Chaz, AsianAmerican jiu jitsu folk artist Neil, and me), walking around quickly, talking while looking straight ahead, blowing off street marketers, and making it across the street before getting hit. It was kind of a movie moment for me, realizing how much we've grown and how different we are from each other but are still able to enjoy our company.
For dinner, Andy and I agreed to meet and eat at a nearby Moroccan café. Never tasted it before, but it was absolutely amazing! I loved the meal, and we overate (as always) while discussing his new boyfriend and his first year at Med School and his moving out of Manhattan. After splitting dessert, I had to be rolled out of the café.
Craig picked me up after that, and we went for a walk and chit chatted a bit. The walk helped me get over my full stomach. I noticed, though, that I sure miss a lot while I'm in Europe, huh?

Friday, I worked until 6pm at work. There are a lot of us girls working at this place, and we had some nice talks. But most of the time I was too busy to stop moving or writing. It was nice that my boss bought us all lunch, but I have to stop this pizza-eating habit.
Marion then called me and we talked about how she was doing in Boston so far. In French, of course. People in WSP kept giving me funny looks.
Afterwards, I realized just how little people I had to hang out with, so I went to campus to bother Deej at the Freshmen's Welcome Week Beach Ball. Basically, I sat around with Deej and directed all of the freshmen to where the party actually was. We also had to direct them in how to use their cards to enter the building. A lot of them tried putting up a fight about how unfair it was that they couldn't get in without a card, but we kept telling them "get used to it, that card is your life here". Which is true. I also went upstairs and made a B-line to the food table to grab some treats for us older kids working the dance. You could tell I was older because I walked in straight through the crowds, got the food, and left. I noticed people oggling at my determination and ease with my mission. Yup, I'm a bit seasoned.
At the end, us older kids decided to dance a little bit. Another distinction between us and the freshmen: they didn't carry drinks. Being more used to the city's dance and club system of constantly carrying around a drink and dancing with it on the floor naturally, we held our Pepsi's and punches and danced away. The freshmen seemed to be still stuck in Prom mode, and tried to awkwardly manage dancing with other people and not looking too awkward. They were too caught up in the cool-ness to be thirsty, I suppose. They'll learn.

Saturday, I woke up a bit early to meet up with Lauren so we could grab breakfast at this adorable place on her street, Cloister Café. It was great! The outdoor patio was simply wonderful, with grape vines as the canopy and a beautiful brick floor. And the brunch was super! My challah french toast really hit the spot! And we talked about boys. I also got to see her apartment (which is massive! especially for the price she's paying for it! a bit more than half of the rent for my place! boo) and help her with some decor decisions. This was quickly followed with a mission to help her buy essential room objects nearby.
During this, Danielle called me and met up with us at Union Square. Soon after, my dear Dante (!) met up with us and Lauren abandoned the group with her heavy load. Us 3 went for a great and picturesque walk on the East River down to my apartment. On the way there, we stopped in Alphabet City at a (quite sad looking) Latin concert. There, we saw an old plump lady dressed in bright pink spandex and leotard (with a waist belt), bright pink velvet mules, and a pink hat gyrating her hips to the music. It was by far the best thing I've seen yet in NYC.
I thought my night was over, and I was ready to settle in, when Nate called me to tell me he was at a pub nearby. So I walked over to join him 15 blocks up. He didn't know anyone at one of his friend's parties, so he wanted me to go to keep him company (story of my life, right?). We ended up talking to one of the girls all night, and having a really great time joking about life and everything in between. We had a few drinks and I managed to meet most of the party and told them all a completely made up story about myself. Now, people think my name's Teresa, I'm a classical composition music major in Gallatin who plays the harp?!!? Nate was impressed, and amazed at the huge hole I dug for myself.
Afterwards, he walked me home and we grabbed a pizza slice nearby. Which Chaz bought for me, since he was unexpectedly there. It was a fun night!

Sunday started off slowly. Very, slowly. I woke up, put on my gym clothes, went to the Container Store to buy some cubes for my wall to put things on, went to the gym around 3pm, came back around 5pm, put up the cubes, and then showered.
Somewhere in the middle of this, my BFG, AARON! came to visit. He literally had just gotten into the city, and I was flattered. He's such a great kid, and I don't feel the need to always make conversation with him. We ate dinner at Cafe Brama nearby (cheap, easy, delicious health food) and then went for a walk. The walk was actually to the movie theater, but we ended up not seeing a movie and I went to see his place instead for 10 minutes.

Today was Labor Day, of course. Deej and I started it off with a long gym workout. Then I fell asleep for an hour before heading off to Brooklyn for a BBQ hosted by Shana. Once we got to the BBQ, we found out that Shana had forgotten to get the BBQ things, so we ordered some pizzas and watched some shows. And yet, we always manage to enjoy ourselves. The pizza were especially delicious. But I really musn't eat them anymore! THE CHEESE!!!
One funny thing, the one day I decide to wear a dress out in public is the one day a dog decides to sit on me and go to the bathroom. Awesome, made me feel special. Maybe that's a sign?
I had to leave early to meet Nate up in his area of Brooklyn for another Bourne night. I got there and he noticed my uncomfortable self in my dress, so he handed over some of his PJs to wear while I was over so I could be more comfortable. Green tea, male pajamas, and Jason Bourne; what a miraculous trio! I enjoyed Matt Damon, as always, and we cracked some jokes, and I finally came home to write this very long blog.

Tomorrow, the beginning of the end commences.

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Franglais

I went to Boston this weekend (until Wed) to help out Marion (from Sciences Po) get settled into Boston College.
She was so excited about being in the US, but she was having quite a bit of culture shock, and she wasn't understanding English very well. So I was talking with her in French, and everyone else in English. I had to translate everything back and forth all weekend. It became a struggle for me to manage between the two languages, and I started messing up with my English-speaking family and friends. For example, on a car ride, I was trying to tell something to Marion in French while directing my mom in English. I started giving my mom directions in French, where she had to remind me that she spoke English, not French. Oops.
Marion's friend and classmate from SciPo, Thomas, was with us a lot of the time, too. His English was really good, so he didn't need me to help him very much. But we spoke in French because we were with Marion. Let me tell you, that guy was adorable. And cute! Too bad I didn't know him in Paris. Hopefully we'll hang out next time I'm up there, or if he ever visits. Sweet guy.
They really didn't like the weather, though.
When we picked them up at the airport, we offered to bring Thomas to his temporary stay in Cambridge. It took us 2 hours (and lots of turning around) to find this little itty bitty dead end street in the middle of nowhere, Cambridge. I had to finally stop at a store and ask for directions, upon which we were forced to Googlemap it. That was exhausting.

We met up with Eugene (one of the exchange students with me in Sciences Po last spring) in Boston, and we gave the French kids a little tour around Boston. We made Marion eat chowder, and gave a grand tour from the Aquarium to Copley Square. I think they liked Brookstone the most. Eugene and I had a lot of fun because we were laughing about American customs and things that the French kids didn't understand. It was like having an inside joke, but not being able to explain it because, "You had to be there...." Sad, but they understood.
We also hauled ourselves to the BC campus. It's a really nice (and small) campus. Very beautiful. But campuses still freak me out, so I still do not regret having a campus to live and breathe on constantly. The French kids LOVED it, though. They went completely ga ga about it all. Even though we got lost quite a bit.

Saw some friends in town. Went shopping, got a haircut, ate too much food. Went to the gym and ran outside. I had one day booked back to back with doctor's appointments, where I finally came home with a bruised arm from an inoculation, sore gums from a cleaning, and a numb nasal cavity & vocal chord for 2 hours (where I couldn't swallow well for that time period).

Before I went to Boston, I saw the Shakespeare in Central Park. Midsummer Night's Dream. It was really great. And free! They made the faeries little children in slightly Gothic Victorian outfits, singing and dancing; kinda freaky, but well appreciated. A pretty good cast, and a completely coherent attempt at Shakespeare. Even if I hadn't seen or read the play a million times, I would have been able to understand it.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Useless things I didn't know how to save...



Which Action Hero Are You?

You are Daniel Craig. Bond, James Bond. Keep up your suave style but don't forget to remain a bad ass. Money and romance is more your style, so don't get your hands too dirty.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com



Which Sex and the City Character Are You?

You are Carrie. You know what you want out of a relationship and you're not afraid to keep moving until you get it. Wit and charm are your biggest turn-ons, and you like guys who appreciate you for your mind as much as your body. You have fun playing the dating game, but secretly you just can't wait to find the guy who sweeps you off your feet and carries you into the sunset.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com




Which College Major Should You Be?

Your major should be Art. You are sensitive, creative, and you don't follow established rules. Unfortunately, you'll have to follow some rules if you ever want that promotion at Starbucks.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com




Which Disney Villain Are You?

You are Jafar. "How many times do I have to kill you boy?" You just want to be big and powerful... Is that so much to ask? I mean, you deserve it.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com




Which Friends Character Are You?

You are Ross. You're intelligent and adored by your parents. However, your lack of social skills causes you to talk too much and try too hard. While your friends pick on you for your nerdiness, they better watch our for your rage.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Coagulate

Deej is right. I have been doing things.
Like writing this sentence in my blog.
That's about it.

Really, my life is not productive right now.

Gyming...eating....cleaning...being boring....sleeping.....getting lost and stuck on Roosevelt Island until odd hours of the night and then having to go into Queens to find a Manhattan-bound train home.
That. Is. It.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

This 'n That


Some quickies before I crash and burn on this here bed:

1) Went out karaoke with some friends on Friday. It was really fun, but kind of crazy. I sang "Sweet Home Alabama" with a Dannish woman. Hung out with friends. Let's just say...lots of things happened and most of it I will keep inside my brain somewhere.

2) Felix's brother, Tobi, came to visit me for a few days. We had a great time! He's basically JSUT LIKE Felix, only a bit taller, completely Aryan (blond hair, my god!), a lot calmer and relaxed, and younger. But their little quirks and expressions and characteristics are just the same. I kept forgetting who I was with.
I basically wore him down by walking him all over, but he tired me out too by doing all of the tourist things all over again. Regardless, fun times. His accent made me giggle sometimes (Felix doesn't have as much of one, it's true). And he can sure pack in the food! It was like we were quasi-dating, and I thought that made it all very entertaining. This woman at the Seaport told us that we looked like siblings because our eye colors were the same, and his response was, "But I'm from Germany..."

3) I saw Bourne Ultimatum with Nate and Tobi. AMAZING!!! I love that trilogy so much! In love with it, really. I only wish I could do those things...

4) Peter called me in a bit of a drunken stupor (and other substance influences) before the movie. It was 2 hours of him calling, me listening and hanging up, him calling back. He was crazy. Telling me existential stuff, stuff about me, stuff about him....him asking for help from me while he's in Scotland and I'm in NYC...That was highly intriguing, yet worrisome at the same time. I hope he's OK now...

5) Gym men...need to start letting me work out. Today I went to the gym, doing my own thing, when this strange trainer guy comes over in the middle of my situps to talk to me about "Why haven't I seen you around here?" 30 minutes of me trying to get back to my workout, while he tries to talk nicely and sweetly to me and offer his help and trying to get to know me better. By the end, he offers to take me upstairs on his free time and help me out, and I had to say, "Maybe next time, when I'm NOT in the middle of my workout already." Seriously, people? I go to the gym to workout, not to mingle and flirt. Please, let me do my thing.

Right now, my job is on a break because my boss is out of state for a few weeks. This means I have nothing to do now.

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Moishe's Bakery


Why I love small mom & pop shops, run by Jewish people:
Deej and I were walking around in the sweltering heat after a great lunch at Pangea, when we decided that we wanted some challah bread (the good little Jews that we are). We go into Moishe's around the corner from our place, and order our challah. This boisterous yarmulke-donned older guy with the beard and curls bursts out of the kitchen with a steaming plate, yelling, "Fresh cinnamon sticks!...You two look too thin, and hungry! Here!" And he breaks a large, steaming cinnamon stick and gives them to both of us. Our eyes wide, like two children given a Wonka bar in a 1950s candy shop, take the AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS sticks from this kind man, and slowly (and in awe) savor our new favorite bakery in all of Manhattan's free treat.

On two separate notes:
I've been wooed! By a gym!!!! Long story short, Lauren and I went to try out the NY Health & Racquet Club for free. The guy there wooed us with free smoothies, and an irresistible semester-long plan. I now am a member. Oh lord, save me from my ways!!!! But it's an amazing place...
AND
I have never sweat pools for yoga before in my life, until today. Yoga to the People! It's suggested donation-based, and by the end of the hour, not only was I feeling tired and not keeping up, but my mat was wet and I looked like I had taken a shower while in down facing dog. It was actually funny looking. The guy walked around and tried to get me to stop gripping onto the edge of my yoga mat, while I had to tell him, "It's too wet, I'll slip if I don't." My outfit is still dripping on my door right now.

Anything else happening? Hmmm work, reading, and........some drama here or there. Meetings, mingling....not much really to discuss. I enjoy the smaller stories in life right now more than the overall hour-by-hour.

Monday, August 06, 2007

Sorry For The Lack Of Writing

I swear I'm just not doing much with myself.

Also, I haven't felt like blogging lately.