6 Months in the Big Apple

Hello,
I am so sorry that I have been slacking in writing about my fun adventures! This month marks my 6 months here in New York City. I have been thinking about all the fun things that I have been able to do so far. I have been to....
- The Natural History Museum
- Museum of Modern Art
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Whitney (ok I am going to it tonight)
- Statue of Liberty
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Central Park (had a great 4th of July picnic there with the girls)
- Rocksoff concert Cruise
- MTV show taping
- Martha Stewart Show
- TODAY show
- Wall Street where George Washington was inaugurated
- Trinity Church where Alexander Hamilton is buried

I am not sure if that is the full list of not but WOW that is alot of fun stuff packed into my full time student schedule. I was also working 30 hours a week! LOL.

My 26th Birthday is coming up next month and I bought myself Yankees tickets. I am very excited to be going to a game. The girls and I are going to the Plaza for High Tea as well. Plus to cap it all off I am inviting everyone down to my favorite bar to have some fun and cake!

I have been thinking alot about my life. I have done alot of things so far but I still have my list of things I still want to do. Moving to New York and being on my own is the biggest adventure of my life so far, but I want more. I think that it is important to have a list of goals, dreams and adventures. To many people get caught up in just getting by everyday to stop and realize where they are heading or what they are missing. I hope that everyone will take the time to make a list of what they want, even the small things.

Memorial Day Weekend

Wow so to kick off this lovely holiday weekend, I went to see Top Gun. The movie was being shown on the flight deck of the USS Intrepid. I have to say that was one of the coolest things I have done in the city so far, and the best part.... it was free!! With the sunseting and the New York skyline in the back I was all set to watch some Navy ships and fighter piolts! On saturday I went with my friend and her parents. We walked all down town lower Manhattan. We went to the 9/11 museum. It was so sad to see all of the missing flyers that people had put up to search for there loved ones. I did not get to see the towers in person before they came down but the video they show the towers and you can see how it was like its own city within the city. It makes it even sadder. I was impacted when it happened but I was younger and never really thought about how it affected each individual person. I had only thought about how it affected us as a country. Along our walk I also saw trinity church where Alexandar Hamilton is buried and I was able to see were George Washington was inogerated. That evening we went to a great resturant named Coniack. I had the best steak. Ofcourse the weekend would not be complete without a trip to Bull McCabes. I love hanging out there. The next day I just rested and took it easy. On monday to close out the weekend I actually got some work done and turned in some resumes. I met up with a friend and we went to boarders and dinner.

Earlier in the week I was able to see the ships come up the river for fleet week. It actually looked like the game battleship with all the different ships surrounding the main aircraft carrier. It was fantastic to see.There were so many officers in the city for this holiday you could not turn around without triping over one. I hope all of you had a great weekend too!

Straight A's

Well it seems I have not had time to blog since February. During the last two very busy months I was working, finishing up school, and having fun. All the hard work has paid off! I received my final grades for the semester and I made straight A's. That is pretty fantastic. Some of the fun events that I attendant during the last few months include going to an MTV show taping, a Martha Stewart taping, and of course as always hanging out at Bull McCabes.

I had a wonderful vacation. I went back home to Nevada to see my family.I had fun riding mini bikes and helping my brother work on his car. I took my littlest brother to the fire station where the guys showed him all the engines and where they live. It was a great experience. I would like to thank the Carson City Firefighters! While I was home I made the decision to get Lasik surgery on my eyes. It has been fantastic not having to where glasses anymore. My mom and I went to Davis Creek on the way to take me to the airport and it could not have been a better way to end the trip. I was able to see baby ducks, geese and squirrel. One of my favorite things is just sitting in the middle of nature on a sunny day soaking it all in.I was also able to go to California during my vacation and visit my aunt, uncle and cousin. We had a great visit and Bea is getting so big. It is always relaxing to go and spend time near the ocean.

It is always nice to go back to where I grew up. Although I have come to the realization that I now think of New York as my home and where my life is. It was a weird feeling after all these years to have a different place to call home, and not just a place where I am attending school. I am so happy here and I have great friends here. I love having a place that I feel completely like myself all the time. This summer I hope to take advantage of the beautiful scenery here in New York and find some fun free events to attend. I have a whole list of fun things I want to do and I will make a point to write more about them as they occur.

Hope everyone has a great summer!

Lady Liberty

Well I have to say that seeing the Statue of Liberty is very patriotic. I can just imagine how all the people who immigrated here through Ellis Island felt as they passed her to get to America. I have to say that it was much easier to become an American in that time though. Now it is almost impossible. I would like to think that lady liberty was a beacon of their hope to find the American Dream. The American Dream has become this idea we all strive for but rarely are able to attain. I have been lucky in the since that I have gained a college education, and that I am working on a masters degree. That should help me move up in the world. Whether it will or not is going to be interesting. I will probably leave so broke that I will not be moving on up to middle class.

This New York experience is something I would never have passed up. It has been everything I had always imagined and seen on TV. I still can not get over the architecture and the history. I love being able to go to a park and forget that you are in a city of 8 million people. I love sitting on a park bench and watching all the people go by. People playing fetch with their dogs (yes people still have those here), pushing there children in a stroller, eating the street vendor food, all while listening to a person play a saxophone somewhere in the park.

You can get any type of food you want almost any time you want it. Each part of the city is unique and I do have to admit I have become a bit of a home body and stay in my neighborhood more then I explore other parts of the city.

Next week I plan on walking the Brooklyn Bridge if the weather is nice. Until then farewell and best wishes from New York!

Who I am

Wow you know there is nothing like being completely on your own to make you realize who you really are. Of course I have been on my own before, when I went to Missouri, Las Vegas, and when I had my own apartment. None of those times were me really being on my own though. I lived in dorms and then even with my own apartment I had my family there. Here I am truely on my own. I have realized that some of my views were not always expressed or I didn't realize I believed them until now. For some people back home I am not called the Party Pod, because I have been snatched by aliens and turned into a pod person. I love my family very much but I think that this time is for me to learn some life lessons and to understand what my true oppions are.

So far I have learned that I am a very strong independent women. I am adventerous and I love being in a city where you can go somewhere new everyday. I have learned that I am still not the social butterfly I wish I could be. Making new friends has always been hard for me. I also am so bad about connecting with people. Tons of guys have been asking for my phone number but I rarely give it out. I think that is good common sense but also I am blocking myself in. I actually like having a beer and I love playing darts.

All of moral values are still the same. I am responsible, giving and happy. I have found that I smile a bit more everyday. Sometimes it is hard being compeltly on your own, especially in a city this size. You can be surrounded by people on the sidewalk, in a building or on the subway and still feel completly alone. The things that I wanted in life and the things I knew about life have completly changed. All I want is to enjoy my life and see what comes next.

The Beauty of a Bar

Well since I have been here I have notice that there are an abundance of restaurants, cafes and most of all Bars. I am not a big drinker but I found myself walking past a Bar named Bull McCabes, which is an Irish pub. I was instantly drawn to it and went in for the first time one night last week. I felt right at home and the bartenders were all very nice and chatted with me. Well of course I did get very drunk that night,a combination of hot Irish bartenders, good atmosphere and the need to be around adults.

I have discovered though that even though you should not consider bartenders your friends since you are paying them for a service, these bartenders have actually gone out of there way to make sure that my classes are going well and that New York is treating me well. I am so pleased to have some where to go where I feel comfortable and right at home.

Today I have found a new use for my favorite bar, this idea courtesy of my dear brother who apparently has all the brilliant ideas, I can study there! The cafes are always so crowded and you have to buy something anyway. So I might as well spend my four dollars at the bar I love and buy just a soda or energy drink. What I love most about New York is that at that bar they do not serve food so you can just bring in your own. The beauty to studying at the bar is that it is not busy during the day, and so far does not have the distracting hot Irish bartenders there at that time.

So all in all I may just end up living at the bar, but no body needs to freak out. I am on a budget and I know better then to become an alcoholic! I just want to have some fun!

Museum of Modern Art

WOW is all I have to say. I just love art so much. Getting to actually see Vincent Van Goghs Starry Night was just amazing. To see the actual brush strokes and the thickness of the paint, unbelievable! The replications do absolutely nothing for it. I was also able to see a Pablo Picasso, a Salvador Dali and a Tim Burton exhibit. It was so much fun. I also was able to go with my friend who has been there before and loves art. It was terrific.

Then I was able to ride around in my friends convertible and I took pictures out of the top. It was so much fun to look up at the city and see all the beautiful buildings and sky scrapers.

I fall more in love with this city everyday.

History and Diversity

I spent my afternoon walking through the west village and went all the way to the Hudson River. I absolutely love being able to walk through history. Most of the old buildings are actually engraved with the name of what it was originally, for example school or garage. Then you can also find many plaques that state why the building is significant. Also just looking at the different architecture you can see the history and the age of the city.

I am still so excited to continue to explore all that the city has to offer. I got my first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty today. I was standing out on the pier on the Hudson and I could see all of the fairies crossing back and forth, and lady liberty standing tall. I also went to Central park and Time Square this week. Central Park is just amazing, I loved the old stairway to the angel fountain. It looked like it was taken straight from Italy and planted in the middle of Central Park. Time Square was so amazing. I cannot believe that millions of people fit in that area. It is actually pretty small.

Tomorrow I am venturing on another subway ride up to the Museum of Modern Art. I have been told that they have a wonderful Tim Burton exhibit going on. The subway is still a bit confusing but man I love the way the stops name is tiled on to the wall and how nice that makes the subway area look. I could not believe how fast the trains go and all the different people that you see. The lights reflecting in the windows as you pass is just such a sight.

I am seriously loving every minute here in the city.

Take Care,

Walking Shoes

Ok well I was at first very excited about all of this walking. It is good for your body and the enviroment. Now I am just plain tired!!! Well tired of looking for the perfect walking shoes. I do not normally wear typical walking/ running shoes. This is all very new to me. I really need help finding a comfortable shoe. I do not want my feet to suffer, which will cause my body to suffer. I want to be comfortable and ready to get to class or any where I want to go.

In New York City I have seen many people who wear many different things. The most common item though is their walking shoes, they may be all differnt colors and brands but for the most part that is what everyone is wearing. Some people are out in there boots, or designer shoes but plain old walking shoes are most common.

I will need to do some more research in this area before making a firm buy. It is a pricey item and shoes are not returnable once you wear them.

Walking the City

Well yesterday I spent two hours just walking around the city. I completely lost track of time. I went over to Washington Square park and found the NYU buildings. The bookstore, the Library, and the Kimmel center. I have to say that the park is beautiful but all the grassy parts are roped off so you can look at the lovely lawns but you cannot go on them. LOL The fountain in the middle of the park is a great spot I have been told in the summer. People actually play in it.

My room is starting to look close to home now. I bought a beautiful hanging chandelier light from Urban Outfitters. The ceilings are so tall that it makes a perfect fit. I am glad that I have already been to the store and bought most of the large items I need since it is now snowing outside!

Another lesson learned yesterday, skate shoes are not walking shoes I will have to get some nice cross trainers so my feet will be a bit more comfortable. It also looks like I may need some better snow boots here soon too.


My best to you all!

City Life

Well I have to say that I absolutely love the city. I find it hard to keep up with the people walking down the street they seem to be hurrying everywhere. Traffic lights do not mean a thing to the pedestrians of NYC. They will walk across the road whenever it is semi clear and the taxi's will not be stopping for anyone, so I have also seen a number of people run out of the way and stand in the middle of the road. I guess if you waited for every crosswalk to turn green it might take you longer to get where you are going but for me I value my safety!!!

I am still getting use to all the noise as well, traffic horns, sirens, and people in general. The apartment is very very old and squeaky and has the steam pipes that run through it. The four flights of stairs are going to take a bit getting use to and they make me a bit dizzy.

I took a walk around the neighborhood this evening and I feel pretty safe. There were lots of people out all over the place. I want to look around a bit more before I go out later around 9:30 which will be when my classes get out.

Tomorrow is my first day watching the twins for a few hours and then I think I might brave the subway and go to home depot. Kmart was so expensive!!!

Love always,

City Lights

Alright well I made it safe and sound to my hotel. I was glad to fly in at night because the city lights are so beautiful and well the airport is right on the water and it kinda looked like we were going to land in it. I am glad that the night hid that part of the trip.

So far I have done pretty well on my own. I have to say though that the typical taxi rides that you see on TV we were going 40 and I was hanging on the that hand strap!!

Today is the Day!!!

Ok well it has been a crazy past few days trying to fit my life into two suitcases, which turned out to be three. It is really hard to pick what you want with you and decide what things are most important to you. My poor family has been stuck with the few boxes of things that I want to keep as well as anything that they wanted to keep from my apartment. Trust me when I tell you they all have some rearranging to do!

The count down has begun and I leave on the plane at 12:00 today. I shall arrive in NYC late tonight. I have everything arranged for a hotel and then I will travel to the city tomorrow. I have a lovely car service that will pick me up and take me to Diane's house which is where I will be living. She has two new born twins and a three year old so I should feel right at home.

Coming up next time will be my first impressions of the city.

Lots of Love,

Getting Ready for NYC

I am 25 years old and was recently accepted to NYU. I will be working on my masters degree. I have never been to New York and was born and raised on the west coast. I am certain that this will be a grand adventure and a total culture shock. I am creating this blog to keep in touch with my family and friends as well as let everyone experience my adventures and struggles right along with me. I leave for NYC on Tuesday. I still need to finish packing and tie up all the loose ends here at home.

I am very excited and hope everyone will experience NYC right along with me. Farewell for now.