Finally Got a Piece of the (Big Apple) Pie: I'm Here!!

Hi everyone, welcome to my Blog. I've had some funny things happen to me since I moved here, and I thought what better way to keep everyone apprised of my great adventure than to create a blog. I greatly enjoy reading the blogs of my friends with kids, so why not create a blog for my friends with kids to read....HA! Plus, people get annoyed with frequent Facebook posts....and I don't twit or tweet or whatever it is. So what have I been up to?

I left Dallas on August 31st, but let's go back a little bit before that. Between trying to sell my house and car (that "adventure" is worth it's own blog), getting packed, wrapping up things at work, and just the emotions of leaving....I was a big ole mess for the last month in Dallas. I had several goodbye parties that my wonderful friends attended and helped plan (thanks Mandy and Camie!), and then there were other small get togethers with my friends to say goodbye. I have always known that I have great friends, but having to pack up and leave my hometown of 8 years left me with more than I could handle, and I could NOT have done it without my friends and family, and they continue to help me even when I'm gone. In no particular order: Karen has come to my house multiple times to either bring me boxes, or take belongings off my hands that didn't get packed....so that she could somehow get them back home to Fort Smith for me (thanks to Mrs. Bracken also), Christine helped me pack, brought me meals and an inflatable bed and pillows, and took my modem back for me, Lauren and Josh arranged for and helped me get attic fans installed, Lauren also helped me pack, Mandy let me stay at her house and helped me pack, Stacey helped me pack, Nigel is graciously keeping my car in his spare garage as I try to sell it, Byron and Kevin helped me get my cable boxes sent back, Byron and Karissa made an inconvenient drive to give me a ride when I left my car for good, Gary went to my house to collect money and open the door for the guy that bought my fridge, Meredith sent me with a great care package, and my neighbors Dan and Katie come to my rescue in a variety of ways. And of course there's Mom and Dad who helped pack and came up here to help me get settled....and give me support in a way that only parents can. I'm sure I'm leaving someone or something out. I just wanted to give a shout out to everyone....words truly cannot express how important all of you are to me and how thankful I am to have you in my life. Even your words of encouragement have been so important to me. *as I tear up writing this*

It was pretty much a miracle that both moving trucks came on time and showed up in Fort Smith and New York on time....and nothing was too terribly damaged....just a few scratches here and there. It was EXTREMELY stressful having to have the truck show up on time at my apartment, and trying to get the movers there at the same time (the truck didn't come with movers), all the while there isn't a loading dock or anywhere for the truck to sit while it was being unloaded. In the end it all worked out, the truck showed up 45 minutes early, the movers were right on time, we parked in a bus lane....and only one traffic cop came by and was nice enough to not give us trouble. After getting moved in, I showered and caught a cab up to my favorite restaurant in the universe, Le Bernardin. Somehow I was able to find my cookbook authored by the chef, Eric Ripert (of Top Chef hosting fame---although I knew of his fabulosity far before then), so that maybe he could sign it. I see him most every time we dine there. Anyway, dinner was with my co-worker Craig who was in town, as well as two guys who work for one of our vendors that we've come to know over the years. Dinner was absolutely fantastic....both the food and the company. The waiter took my cookbook and Eric signed it in the back, but I never saw him (surely he was there, right?). After I got home, another co-worker, Tom, came by with one of our clients that I've known for years. They helped to stock my bar, and Tom actually stayed around to help me put my bed together. My new Sleep Number bed was coming the next day....so I have no idea what I would have done without his help. Again, I have great friends!

The next day was my first day "in the office"....yet it wasn't in the office at all. We went to a teambuilding event in New Jersey at an exec's house. We rode a ferry that was a really nice boat with inside seating that felt like a big airplane, along with a concession that sells alcohol and food. What a way to go to and from work everyday. We got settled at the house and then some of us went to the beach on the Atlantic Ocean. Other than being in Maine, I'm not completely sure I've ever been to an Atlantic Ocean beach....which is very odd given my travels. Well, a hurricane was on it's way up the eastern seaboard so the surf was rough with some bad rip tides, so I didn't get in. But I was quite impressed with the beauty of New Jersey. We then went back to the house and had a fabulous lunch, and then we went on the river and boated and several of us wake boarded. I'm happy to report that I got up on my very first try wakeboarding. I've skiied alot in my day, but never wakeboarded. I was soooo sore for several days after. I'm old. : (

The next day I took off, and enjoyed the 4 day weekend over Labor Day. Well, I'm not so sure how much I enjoyed it, as I unpacked all day every day. I must say, the smartest thing I packed was my digital cable receiver, so that I could at least get some free channels until my cable could get installed the next Wednesday (ended up being 3 days after that...stupid Time Warner). The US Open entertained me while unpacking (and during breaks). I ate at a few places in my neighborhood, and I also made my first trip to the grocery store. The grocery store I used is half avenue and 2 blocks away. I also have a CVS literally 30 steps from my front door....don't think I haven't been there....oh....no less than 8 times already. Anywho, I was absolutely astounded at the prices at the grocery store. A pound of ground beef was 9 bucks, and a package of Oscar Meyer bacon was 8. And I'm not rounding, folks. Unfortunately I only used the bacon once and learned a lesson about being wasteful. Things just cost too much here to not eat what you buy. Therefore, I'm eating alot of leftovers also. I know there will come a time where I stop looking at the pricetags....but until I get a handle on just how expensive this city will be to live in....I am going to need to be a little chinchy. Or how about "cognizant". On Labor Day, my friend and co-worker Hali came by and I cooked some bratwursts out on the terrace and we scanned the newest gossip magazines. It was a beautiful day....as have 95% of the days been since I've been here. It's really nice to escape the heat of Texas.

My first day at work then was Tuesday after Labor Day. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have to travel to Hawthorne, NY, which is about an hour train ride north of the city. As a point of reference, I can tell you the Clinton's home is in Chappaqua, which is two train stops further than the Hawthorne stop. It takes me about 12 minutes to walk to Grand Central from my apartment. It's 8 blocks and about two avenues. The ride is then around 50 minutes....at which point a coworker picks us up and takes us to the office. We can dress casually there, and Friday's in the office in the city are casual, so it's nice to only have to dress up twice a week right now....especially since Dallas was casual and therefore my "business" wardrobe is lacking.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, my commute to work is a 2.5 avenue and one block walk to the subway (6 minutes or so), where I ride the local train 3 stops, then switch at Union Square to the express (when I'm lucky, the express train is there at the same time so I don't have to wait...if not it's only a couple minutes until the next one). Then I get off at Bowling Green, which is down near Battery Park. It's then a 5 minute walk to the office. All in all, it normally takes 30 minutes on the dot to get there. Sounds long, but I'm always in motion....unlike sitting on the Dallas North Tollway at a standstill. My apartment building serves muffins, bagels, tea, and coffee on the weekday mornings, so I normally throw a half a muffin in my purse, and take some tea....and that's my FREE breakfast (yay!).

So that's my daily routine for now.....then Mom and Dad came on the 10th to help me get settled. We had a couple nice meals, but for the most part, stayed in my neighborhood and ran errands. Trips to NYC will definitely be cheaper for them since we can either eat here or explore less expensive neighborhood places. Since Dad's stoke, he doesn't have much stamina, so Mom bought him a scooter. That was delivered on the 11th. We had a couple user error experiences with it, but all in all I think it will end up being great for him not only when they visit here, but so they can travel other places as well. They have their passports and are wanting to travel....so now hopefully they can.

Speaking of the 11th....that morning we watched the 9-11 tribute...it was on all of the local channels. They have people read every single persons name that died that day, and put up their picture and hometown. Some of the people were family members of someone that died, and they make a personal statement. It was so difficult to watch. It also puts the mosque controversy into perspective. I'm not here to make political statements (at least right now ; )), but I can tell you that it's one thing to say the mosque shouldn't be there because that's the place of the greatest attack on America. It's quite another thing when you hear the family members talk about how that is the burial ground for those that died. So many people were never found after the attacks. They cannot bury their loved ones. They are buried there, at that site, for forever. Yes, those people that are for the mosque have a constitutional right to build there.....but I've certainly gained another perspective while being here. We got to see the spotlight tribute that they do every year. Right from my terrace they were right in front of us, shooting up into the heavens. I got alot of great pictures. I can't help but to think, most every time I'm on my terrace, what a view it must have been when the twin towers were still there. I digress.....

Mom and Dad left Wednesday after helping me hang pictures, organize, hang curtains, put together a dresser,...etc. Thursday early evening I was on a train coming into Grand Central when the terrible storms and tornadoes hit. I came back early to go to the Cake concert in Central Park with my co-worker (so happy to have found a couple coworkers that love concerts as much as I!!!). It drizzled for most off the show. The show was great....they sounded fabulous. I would love to see other shows there. Unfortunately they didn't play "Short Skirt, Long Jacket". Lame. I guess I can just listen to it on the overplayed Apple Ipod Nano commercials these days. Anyway, good times. Friday we walked clear from the office at the tip of the island, to my apartment on 34th. It's well over 34 blocks, as 1st doesn't start until after Houston. I do know it's about 3 miles. It was a very interesting walk indeed. You go right through the heart of Chinatown. Now, we're not talking the "will you take $40 for that fake Louis Vuitton purse that you're selling" Chinatown. This is REAL Chinatown. No tourists here. Even the street signs had chinese lettering. Way cool. Very neat part of town. Don't get me wrong though, I won't be moving there anytime soon. From there we went through the East Village, and then made our way thru Gramercy and up to my neighborhood, Murray Hill. I fail to see how people don't lose a few pounds here with all the walking....but I'm told you don't. We'll see. For instance, I walked 14 blocks round trip to the Hog bar and 10 blocks round trip to pick up dinner yesterday. For you math geniuses like myself, that's 24 blocks. What did I walk in Dallas....a couple blocks total a day?

So here I am today, finishing up this blog. Ahead of me I'm going to take all of my clothes out of the drawers and storage they are in, and completely put them all up again. At first my goal was to get everything out of boxes. Now I can't find anything! Therefore I need to re-organize. I feel like I keep saying this, but hopefully after this weekend I will feel completely free to start exploring with no chores in the back of my mind here at the apartment.

Here are some things I've learned along the way:

1. There really are asian ladies that say "andddddd" in between item orders when you order your food. Just like on Mad TV and "Dude, Where's My Car?". For real.
2. You can order your sandwich "pressed" here. You go to any deli and read the sandwich menu and it can either come as is, or pressed (like a Panini). Who knew? there's also something called a wedge that's just a big sandwich on a hoagie. I haven't been able to decipher what makes something a wedge or not.
3. Most places have minimum's to use a credit card....usually $10 or $15. There goes trying to use my Citi Aadvantage card for everything so I can get mucho airline points.
4. Amazing, but I am failing to find mexican restaurants anywhere near my apartment. NOT HAPPY about this!!!!
5. If an old man comes up to you on the street cursing at you, all up in your grill.....just keep walking.
6. I think there may be a link between homeless people and the pee smell. Yep, they must pee on themselves.
7. Philly Cheesesteaks with Cheez Whiz are the BEST. Forget provalone!
8. Plumbing in apartment buildings suck.
9. People that like listening to loud music and/or TV follow me from each apartment building I live in. ARGH.
10. There are ALOT of hog fans in this city!!
11. I evidentally have a "noticeable twang". Who knew??
12. Yes, this is the best city in the world for pizza....but at some point, you just want some good ole Dominoes/Pizza Hut/Papa Johns.
13. 99% of restaurants deliver. Alot of people get food delivered from restaurants that are literally half a block a way. See the comment about me being chinchy. I don't see myself being so lazy that I get delivery all the time and have to pay a couple bucks extra to tip. I reserve the right to chance this point of view when it's 2 degrees outside.
14. You always hear it's colder near the water. I once heard a guy from my office building (before I knew I'd ever work in that building...much less live in this city), say that down by our building, the cold and wind will cut right through you in the winter. Ya right, I thought. Even in the summer, there's an appreciable difference in the temperature between midtown and down by the water. I'm afraid he may be right. I'll let you know soon enough.
15. Pulled pork pizza isn't as good as it may seem on the surface.
16. You can't find a cab when it's raining. period.
17. If you happen to be at the wrong place a the wrong time, you may or may not have a lady come up to you and ask if toilet bowl cleaner will unclog her kitchen drain.
18. Don't wear khaki capris, a bright pink shirt, and Brighton flip flops to the East Village....unless you want to stick out like a sore thumb.
19. I might never get used to everything starting at 8pm on TV....and no news until 11pm. Terrible. Just terrible.
20. I knew this but alot of people don't. You are either a Jets/Mets fan, or a Yankees/Giants fan. You rarely find a mixture of the two.
21. When you buy milk, there are two expiration dates. One date, and then another if bought in the city, which is a closer date. Kinda makes you go hmmmmmm. Like, what are they doing to the poor quart of milk to get it into the store in the city? Letting it sit out for a day? Gross.

That's all I have for now....my future blogs won't be near as long....but there was alot to catch up on!!! Please say some prayers that I can get my house and car sold very soon. I've never had such financial stress....and it's not fun. Also, happy birthday yesterday to my sweet niece, Caroline!

I love and miss you all!
xoxoxoxo