"Neighbor, HELPPPP!!!!"

So, after my last blog update, I went to dinner to try a place around the corner. I have officially found MY neighborhood restaurant. Fabulous caesar salad and some of the best chicken parmesian I've ever had. I sat outside and read while I ate, but it wasn't the most enjoyable of outdoor dining experiences. For some reason a helicopter kept circling, and then there were just sirens, like, constantly. Yes, I know it's New York, and yes, I know there's sirens and horns honking all the time, and yes, I know I live down the street from NYU Medical Center,....but this was just a bit ridiculous. Also, a storm came blowing in just as I was paying, so we had to run for cover as the umbrellas started blowing off. It was quite a lighting show as well.
I made the quick walk home and went out on my terrace to bring in the cushion from my lounge chair. It's weatherproof, but if I know it's about to rain, I try to bring it in. As I went outside, a big gust of wind came up and my terrace door slammed shut. "No problem", I think to myself...."my door has never fully cooperated since I've moved in...has trouble closing all the way, and it doesn't lock." I pick up my cushion and go to open the door...keyless and phoneless mind you....I pull and tug. Nothing. The door was locked. JUST MY LUCK. Remember the small part about the lighting storm?? And here I am on the 18th floor, surrounded by metal, with no roof over my head. Well, I knew my neighbor was home because his cat was roaming the hall when I came home (he let's it out to hang out....). I immediately start yelling "Neighborrrr!!! Help!!! Neighborrrrr!!!!" and banging on the divider between our terraces. Mind you, we've introduced ourselves and spoken on occassion, so I should know his name. Sadly, I've forgotten it. He comes running out immediately and asks whats wrong. I tell him I'm locked out and to call the doorman. He said "first, let me get you an umbrella"....and ran inside. He turned back and said, do you think you can climb over the divider? Well, the divider angles down toward the front of the wall (I guess for everyone's viewing pleasure), and then angles up and across towards the middle and back. He warned me not to try the front, as I could fall 18 stories and die. I tried the back but it was too tall. OK, that won't work, off he ran again for the umbrella. In the meantime I start trying to open my windows. Well, the windows open to the side, and just barely, so I'm not sure what I thought that would accomplish. I try the door again and again and it came flying open. By that time the doorman was at my front door to help. Literally, this could only happen to me. I feel like my life is one big dramedy the last few months. Alas, I got in my house just in time before the rains came. What a mess.

Thursday I went out to eat with some coworkers and their old coworkers. We went to Wonjo (I think), in K-Town (Korea Town). It was at like....32nd and 6th. It was my first time to eat Korean food and I warned my coworker ordering for us to please not be very crazy with the orders. Thankfully she stuck to vegetables, generic seafood, chicken, pork, and beef. I actually really liked it! Who knew cabbage and radishes could taste so good. I also enjoyed the noodle dish and the fried dumplings.

Friday I had lunch at a Mexican restaurant on Stone Street by work. I have been complaining to anyone that will listen about my craving for mexican. I had a big ole burrito. It wasn't Texas (or even Arkansas) mexican, but I'll take it. Annoyingly, you had to pay for chips and salsa and the burrito didn't come with rice and beans....but at least they were inside the burrito. I walked home again with my coworker who lives in my neighborhood that night. We stopped off at South Street Seaport to scope out places to have a work function. It brought back alot of memories of visiting with my parents when I was growing up. Then we made our way up 3rd Avenue and ended up stopping at another mexican joint called La Palapa. I had seen a La Palapa on the other side of town last week, and had this feeling it may be good. We were on the hunt for a Venezuelan place, but the line was out the door....hence the trip to La Palapa. We had chips and salsa and guac (again, you had to pay for the chips and salsa....and for a second meal in a row the "salsa" was "pico de gallo"). Weirdo yankees. Anyway, we also had queso fondido with chorizo and tortillas. MMMm MMMM GOOD!!! I'll definitely be back to try some "real" food from there as well. Then of course we had to get dessert, so I had my first ever Pinkberry. I must admit, I now see what all the fuss is about. It's good AND low in calories. Another Mmmm Mmmm GOOD!

Of course Saturday was the hog game. I got to the hog bar ENTIRELY too early (1:30 for the 3:30 game). But hey, at least I had a seat. I read for alot of the time until the game started. Sidenote: I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo the last couple weeks, and am now onto the sequel, The Girl Who Played with Fire. I'm not a big reader, but wowie zowie those books are good!!!! I'm hooked! Then I got seated by a girl and her two guy friends that were total queens. I was trying to place myself in such a way that I could meet new people...and those people end up next to me...then other weirdo friends of theirs showed up. A woman from Little Rock who lives up here and her husband ended up sitting at my table. They were alot of fun. The game made me sick. I don't want to talk about it. On my way home I stopped at a pizza place I've been wanting to try called Totino's. Wait, that's the frozen pizza rolls. Let me look at my Fodors. Tottono's. Oops. Haha, anyway...the pizza was really good...the caesar I could have lived without. The service wasn't worth writing home about though.

Today I've finally got my apartment all set up except for one last pile of clothes that I just need to buy hangers for. And to think of all the hangers I left at my house in Plano!!!!

Speaking of my house...it's still on the market. Had two lookers today, but no feedback yet. Car is still for sale also. Therefore, still need prayers. I'm going to have to resort to Ramen noodles if those two things don't sell soon. Ramen noodles probably cost like 2 bucks a pack here as opposed to 20 cents like they do back home. Pfft.

It's supposed to rain a few days this week, which reminds me, I better get off my blog and order some rain boots!!! Here are some pics of my new pad. I still need barstools and a rug in the living room....and to hang a few more pics....but it's getting there! Talk to you soon!!!

xxxooo

Notice the clothes and bags in every nook and cranny possible

don't worry, I also have shoes under my bed, in the closet, and if you'll notice, behind the door

Ghetto door prop



On the top right of this pic is the Empire State Building



In the very back of this pic, you can see my office building....it's to the left of the pointy building in the far back. it's like it haunts me from my apartment. :)