Life is Beautiful

All I need to get me out of my little funk was some good friends, a Dutch girl, dinner with Katie80, a play and booze in Queens, drinks in Soho with Josine, running into old friends at said bar and a night in Brooklyn. Off the island TWICE in one night- now that's just blasphemous! All is well, my spirits are back on Cloud 9 and I'm back to my normal self. Oh silly moods can be. And I know I'm going to go home today and there will be tons of little ants, but at least (as Adam points out) they are cockroaches and giant flies attacking my head. Ants are quite manageable in comparison.
Planning on painting the town red tonight with Katie80 until Riley arrives about 1ish or so. And perhaps also Veronica tonight. Subgroup meetings all weekend and although that technically means I'm 'working' this weekend, I'm awkwardly looking forward to it.
Oh, and Brokeback- I sent you a package. Expect it in probably a long time from now, but at least I tried.
I think a nap is in order before I go out again. Definitely.

Thank god for friends

Oh how I love Katie80! She knows just what I need to feel better- booze, food and buying new shoes! Can't wait!

I need a rock, to crawl under

I guess the gods are not happy with me. Maybe it's been all my gloating about how much fun I've had in NYC so far. Last night I came home to find that i had tons of teeny ants. And for once, my room isn't dirty so that can't be the cause. So after vacuuming a bunch up, they came back so I resorted to spraying them with Windex- that seemed to do the trick. And then, while on a conference call, I sat on the edge of my Ikea bed and kerplump. My bed broke. So I ended up sleeping on our couch which didn't work so well.
Is it the weekend yet? I just hope today is more favorable. Or that I get a big hug. Katie, why are you in Queens today?! I miss my other Madison folks.

Down with Greyhound (bus)

So I've had quite a few interesting travel experiences. Total of 6 missed flights last year ( i blame conferences), thrown-out passport in India which resulted in a missed flight, 12 hours of flight problems on a connection in France where we got on and off the plane 6 different times, puking in the Port Authority, etc. You get the point. But last night's trip definitely rubbed me the wrong way.
I don't get agitated easily. Well, at least not very agitated. And I usually look at bizarre travel experiences as an adventure, even preferable sometimes. Travel 'glitches' have frequently ended up in happier endings for me. Well Saturday I took the Peter Pan bus from NYC to Boston to see a friend of mine who was abroad for a year and who leaves in a week for Seattle. So I went down, hungover, but okay. They even had a crappy movie to entertain me, but overall the trip was uneventful.
Well coming back to NYC was a most irritating experience. Wait in line for the bus and the guys running the thing are yelling at everyone- we get on 15 minutes late. Mind you, I had planned the trip so that I could be back in NYC in time for Entourage so time was precious. Get on the bus. Some dude in a Greyhound uniform is SCREAMING into his effing phone about how his bus overheated and blah blah blah- cursing up a storm and just getting on my nerves. Fortunately, a nice looking girl my age sits next to me. Trip starts- driver is screaming at the guy sitting behind for god knows what- but I'm nervous at this point. I know angry drivers.
Then we pull into the Newton stop (don't ask). More people get on. A kid that I didn't like very much from high school gets on- i bury my head in my book, he doesn't see me but sits behind me. Drama ensues in front with the original d-bag in the Greyhound jumpsuit who refused to let anyone sit next to him even though there were no more seats and one more person. He's screaming at this poor woman until the driver intervenes.
Finally we leave. The girl behind me gets on her cell phone and has a very public private conversation in what i considered to be a gratingly obnoxious voice. I now know more about her and her trip, her ex boyfriend that cheated on her, her two kids, her biker business, where she lives, how she prefers the country, how her friend lost everything due to crack and heroin, how she has had cancer and that makes her not PMS, what type of guys she prefers and the next few days of travel plans she has left. I almost shot myself and her. Fortunately the girl next to me was chill and we rolled our eyes at each other a lot.
Stop at McDonalds. I don't like McDonald's but i was starving. Forced to talk to the kid I went to high school with and her about all the money he is making this summer at Morgan Stanley and his girlfriend and next thing I know I'm conned into giving him my number so we could 'grab lunch sometimes.' Eh awkward. Then I finally finish the book that I have been reading for awhile about India in 1975 that was really really good, but it had the MOST depressing and hopeless ending and I was very angry.
Then, with 5 minutes left to the Port Authority, the bus suddenly reaks like rotten eggs. I MEAN GROSS. Everyone is covering their mouths and noses and coughing- but at least it was funny. Pull in, driver apologizes for the bad trip (which we all laughed about) and I got in a cab and finally went home. After a 6-hour trip that should have taken 4.
Am I bitching? Yes of course, but this may be the last time you hear me bitch about travel experiences because i will never take a Greyhound bus again. Oh, and Katie80 rocks my world and is really cool because she finally updated her blog- even if it's to rant against me! : )

Not a Thinker

Note to self: Going to bed at 6:30 when I have to get up at 8:45 for an 8-hour work day is not the best idea. Seems like a fabulous idea at the time, but it's really not.
This morning hurt, especially on the subway. Not from being particularly hungover, just a severe lack of sleep. Me, Suzanne and Josine saw The Break-up which was awesome- hilarious, yet a tear jerker, romantic yet realistic. Then onto Habibi Lounge, again. I felt like i was cheating on Katie since she wasn't there especially when they played Shakira Shakira, but her fault for being lame. Shisha, gin and tonics, Kamikaze shots and baklava were consumed. Then a cab ride way up town with the cabbie from Guinea with Suzanne and him jibbering in French (yes I understand it, but am nervous to speak it). Then to The Lion's Head Something for Miller Lite. Next thing I know, it's getting light out and I haven't gone to bed yet. Oh well, least it was a good time had by all.
So the idea of going out tonite is not so hot, but there are already office plans to leave early and go to a place with 'awesome margaritas' for Jen's bday. Lordy, it never ends. I may go with and then home for a nap. Going to Boston tomorrow for the night to see a friend I haven't seen in over a year. Long trip for a short time, but it's important!
On a final note- I have to admit that I miss Brokeback (Adam). Yes, he'll gloat about this, but oh well. We were talking on Gmail Chat (crazy to be instantly talking with someone in Uganda) and he's already having girl problems. Ah, the days of Adam and his girl problems. I have to send him a care package- we'll just have to see what he gets!

Good for Something

So after drinking semi-heavily and eating well with the parents last nite (awesome Italian place on corner of 9th ave and 55th st), I took a cab uptown to mi casa and in my bored and tipsy stupor, began a convo with the cab driver. Turns out he was from Brazil. Taking cue, I struck up a discussion about 'football.' Well, thank goodness for the AIESEC office because I was able to surprisingly hold my own by spewing out various things I've heard around the office about different teams. Yeah, I felt cool.
But I will say, my favorite game in NYC is looking at the names posted in cabs, guessing to myself where the name comes from and then talking with the cabbies. I'm usually wrong so I should work on that. The game doesn't beat Apples to Apples, but if Katie80 would possibly bring it, maybe that would be the best NYC game. Yell at her for me.
Seeing the Break-Up tonight and getting dinner and shisha with Suzanne and my new Dutch friend Josine. I need to introduce her to more people because she's awesome (and attractive!). Call me tonite if you want to come to Habibi Lounge. Where else would we go?>!

Calling All Los Angeles Alumni!!

So I'm working with a girl at UCLA about getting a start-up chapter there and I was hoping to find some AIESEC alumni in the area that might be able to give her some support, share some stories or just keep her motivated to get it going! Especially if said alumni works at an LA university! If anyone could put me in touch with anyone in the area, I'd really appreciate it!!

Alright, Fine.

I feel compelled to say something about the World Cup. Fact is, I've never cared about it before. I mean, it's not a popular American sport, the only American soccer player I know is Mia Hamm. My best friend growing up was a really good soccer player, so I'd go watch her games and I even played freshman year of highschool because I wanted to make friends after I moved. I also watched the Sweden vs. someone game the other day because the Swedish team was really hot, but that's all I really know.
But, being in the AIESEC office this summer has been interesting for that reason. We have Jenn who keeps yelling and screaming from the next office about Australia. Farid just walks around with his arms up in triumph and Christhebrit just nods in silent agreement. Oh, and Jillo in my office is cheering on Ghana. And I guess I was 'cheering' on Cote d'Ivoire because I think it's cool that there was some domestic peace there in the name of soccer. But really, it's more fun for me to watch the other people who actually care watch the games. It's like me and the Red Sox- or close at least!
On another note, Wendy and Richard Gilman are here! Yeah for them! Free food and booze! Yeah! They're seeing the office and apartment tomorrow which'll be nice. Too bad I have to work during the day!

Simply Ridiculous

This past week, few days, I don't even know time anymore have simply been ridiculousness. I probably should split up this post so it's not too overwhelming, but i'll try to be brief. Ha. So work started a week and a half ago and it's been really nice to have a schedule again that includes working out, making money and drinking. Absolutely fabulous. And, I've been really excited at work because I'm working with a girl from Brandeis and a girl from Northeastern to get chapters started in Boston- FINALLY! My goal for this year might be accomplished.
Other crazy things: ran into one of the former MC members from the Netherlands who I was at IC with- that was just quite a surprise to see him on the streets of NYC. Granted he was going to the AIESEC alumni event I was, but still- i didn't know that! Plus, at the event, i met a woman who had been an AIESEC Tufts member- who knew we ever had a Tufts chapter!?
Also, went to my friend from middle school's 21st bday party in NJ- was really awkwardly nervous before, but it turned out to be a blast. A wasted blast. Saturday, the Montclair crew came into NYC and I ended up with 7 MKA kids on my bed, couch and floors after stopping at the Seinfeld diner on my corner to get food at 5:00 am. It was a late night.
But, we went to this bar that i'm obsessed with- Down the Hatch. There's a swing in there and cheap beer (NYC standards) AND a beirut table! Plus awesome music and three of the hottest bartenders ever. P.S. Katie and I realized that we are THAT obnoxious married couple. We have multiple 'our' songs, predict each other's thoughts, etc. Oh, and we're getting a dog next year. Named Spaten Lager- a bulldog or a pug. Get excited. Okay, Shakira Shakira.

Go Sox!

So, tonight's game might have been a little rough, but you know. It'll be all good. Watching the Red Sox/Yankees game tomorrow at a 'Sox friendly bar' with my roomy who's from Boston too. Anyone want to join? OR, Betsy and I were planning on getting tix to Thursdays game- who wants to come?~! Let me know if you're interested.
BTW, apparently Kitty Spears Federline (my former roomies' cat which used to torture me) is preggers! Don't know how she did it, but it seems that she did! Sneaky little whore. We need to buy her a chastity belt methinks.
Other side note- it's the whole 6-06-06 shit in an hour. Hope to see everyone in the morning! Maybe I should have a beer before bed in case it's the last chance... (jk)

The Nomad is Home

Alright alright. Me not blogging= angry emails from Adam. I get it- i suck. However, I am thinking that things will be better now that I am finally settled in the Big Apple. It was debatable if that would ever happen.
So the past few weeks in a nutshell:
1. Drove 18 hours straight with Katie80 to get to Boston and we almost didn't make it due to extreme rain, exhaustion, food deprivation and immigrants (ask Katie)
2. Stayed in Jersey with our age old family friends and cried for the first time in forever at our old church
3. I have slept in 6 different beds/futons/couches in the span of 1.5 weeks (none of them sexually unfortunately unless you count spooning with Katie80 or Molly) because both Katie and i couldn't move into our places until June 1st. Carrying heavy suitcases across town and on the subway is NOT fun
4. Walked Jim's adorable dog Max a few times
5. Got lost a lot of times, but have come a LONG way on figuring out the city and the subways
6. Spent WAY too much money on food and drinks- not looking forward to the next credit card bill
7. Have spent a lot of awesome quality time with one of my best friends from high school- so good having great convos over great wine

That was essentially my life for a week and a half that I wasn't blogging. BUT, I'M NOT HOMELESS ANYMORE! Katie and I can now finally spend more than an hour apart- jk! I moved in yesterday to my amazing place on 112th btw Amsterdam and Broadway (Rickesh says you need a passport to get here, but it's a great neighborhood). I have a very large room that needs to be filled up, a large kitchen, a gorgeous bathroom, a cute living room and a roommate that could have been picked for me on match.com. Needless to say, I'm ecstatic.
And, yesterday my roomy Sarah, Katie80, myself and Sarah's friend Ryan spent about 6 hours putting together my Ikea bed and dresser- HILARIOUS! Not to mention the 30+ beers we consumed in the process. But such a task could not have been more fun.
Also, started work on Thursday and although it's only been 2 days, I think I'm going to enjoy myself. There really is nothing better than getting paid to do AIESEC stuff all day.. well... But i'm excited to be working on some interesting community stuff this summer and to be working more with fellow students who I haven't seen in ages. Call me anytime!
Finally, the Habibi Lounge. It's been 2 weeks and Katie80 and I already have 'our' bar. After going one night and falling in love, we later realized that it is only ONE block away from Katie's new place- umm, hello! So, it's a fun little bar with awesome shisha, amazing baklava, I get free shots and they let me pick the music- which included playing the 'Shakira Shakira' song every other song for 45 minutes the other night. Katie and I jumped and screamed and danced each time like we were hearing it for the first time. That's what those free shots will do to you!
Alright, enough is enough. This was massive because I have sucked. I will be better I promise. But oh, COME VISIT ME!!!! My roommate is totally cool with people staying here and we have tons of room and I can guarantee a great time. If anyone is NYC, let me know and we can meet up for some drinks- @ style!
Miss everyone in Madtown VERY much and miss those abroad even more. Hope everyone is having incredible experiences and keep impacting those around you. Lordy I love my friends!