The good news:  I have moved, everything is so close (no taking 1 hour train rides to find a sit down coffee place), my roommates are great and I like my tiny bedroom.  The bad news:  Starbucks is within walking distance.  

This morning I got up around 9am and one roomie was already gone to work and the other was getting ready for work.  My air mattress has to come up off the floor (practically takes up the rest of the floor not occupied by the desk and chair).  I sort of wish that I had had the previous girl leave her loft bunk bed, but I figure I can use the air mattress anywhere else that I happen to land, without having to go to to much trouble. My room even has a window AC unit that keeps the room very cool; I even turned it off half way through the night.  

I went to the Duane Reade around the corner and discovered it was not the same as the posh DR that is across from my friend's place near Central Park.  Ah, ghetto stores...I feelz home!  I bought laundry detergent in these handy little packets that you just throw in with your clothes...they look like the kind you throw in your dishwasher.  I also bought a bottle of Clorox disinfecting spray...with which I will clean the entire kitchen today...it is getting a scrub down!  Also bought rubber gloves (I hate touching other peoples' dirty dishes and who knows what is in there) and some sponges.  

Later, I will go to the laundromat and wash my clothes, I think and after the kitchen and fridge get a scrub down, I will perhaps buy some food.  

The only thing missing are my cats and my friends!  

Moving Day

I am making a big deal about moving day, but as someone pointed out, aren't I just moving one suitcase?  Yes, but you see, it is a 50+ pound suitcase, half my own weight and it is two hours and two trains away.  Plus I have accumulated another bag.  Then I have to go buy an AeroBed and wait for my sheets and towels to arrive.  Exhausting work!  I am actually just intimidated by getting on the subway with all that.  I may decide to use a taxi or car service, but it won't be cheap.  

But you know what I like best about moving day?  I can drink a beer in the middle of the day if I want to.  I mean, don't all moving days include beer and pizza?  Both of which I had for my lunch a few minutes ago.  What I dislike is that it is just another situation to adjust to, as I have never before had roommates.  And these are 26 year old boy roommates.  I shall call them man-boys, because they have graduate degrees and are working currently.  So, 26 year old man-boys.  

I am leaving behind Sasha Scaredy Cat and my hostess on Coney Island, and I am sure I will be welcomed into the arms of the city, which shall promptly swallow up my savings with such available amenities as dry cleaning, laundromats, bars, restaurants and all other sorts of entertainment and necessities one could ever imagine wanting or needing.  

Before I leave, however, I must pack, take a shower and shave my legs and go find an ATM and some cash.  Oh, and I do have to give a recruiter a call.  My, I am exhausted just thinking about all of that.  I think I will take a nap first, since I did not get much sleep last night.... zzzz...zzzzzzzzzz...zzzzzzzzzzzz

Holy Catfish Batman

Heavens to Mergatroid.  Today has required a heroine-like patience, endurance and determination.  Fortunately, I am Sunshine Super Girl and this was...is...will be...possible.  Let's take a look at my day.

8:57 - Wake up and decide to go to Starbucks for coffee and wi-fi, do some work.

9:05 - Discover that there are only 2 Starbucks on Coney Island.  Also check out where the local Bed Bath and Beyond stores are located; Coney Island store will be an hour and half bus trip away.  Decide to pick up air mattress for new room at the locations 15 minutes by subway away from new place after I check in to the new room Tuesday night.  Consider going mattress-less for a night since I don't have sheets anyways, but decide a 15 minute trip is not that bad.

9:34 - Talk to hostess to let her know that I will be out of her place Tuesday evening and let her know my schedule for the day.  Opt not to take a shower because walking to bus and from bus to Starbucks is going to be sweaty anyways.  Bus ride includes sitting behind a girl who constantly did, undid, redid her hair, over and over and over until I had to shut my eyes because it was giving me a headache.  Cursed myself for not eating before I left. 

9:58 - Discover that Starbucks is a drive-thru only.  Curse.  Curse again.  Curse more, very loudly.  Decide to take the N train to an undetermined stop and find a coffee shop. Start thinking about cost of shipping items from home to NYC versus cost of buying a towel and some sheets.

10:34 - Depart on N train and decide on Canal Street after waiting 15 minutes for it to leave the station.  Feeling sticky, sweaty and putrid not to mention exhausted.

11:37 - Get off subway, look for Starbucks on the highly distracting Canal Street.  Figure out the beta walking directions on Google Maps for iPhone are always wrong.  Roll eyes and try to suck it up.  Heroine-like patience instituted immediately.  Walk back the way I came from.

11:48 - Discover that I walked by Starbucks less than 100 yards away from subway exit.  Curse.  Patience nearly completely evaporated.  Must re-fuel with caffeinated, iced beverage before all sanity is lost. 

12:02 - Imbibe caffeine filled, sugary coffee on ice.  Feel very sweaty and decide a shower this evening is a must.  Smell myself and groan.  

12:06 - Discover one must pay for wi-fi in Starbucks, wonder how I did not know this before.  Use iPhone to look for nearest library which is .6 miles away in Chinatown. Decide to talk to oldest sister and niece for a while.  Suddenly want to burst into tears because I miss my cats so much.  Yes, Cat Lady, I am.

12:45 - Leave Sbux and walk through the very crowded streets of Chinatown and find library.  Faint smell of fish everywhere makes me want to gag.  Still have not eaten today.  

12:57 - Arrive at library and find it overrun with children.  Very loud children.  Inquire about restroom and told it is out of order (bladder gets extreme workout here).  "Quiet" work area is crowded, and I only find it after going upstairs, run into roped off area, go downstairs, find elevator only for disabled people, finally find stairs to crowded basement area.  I am the only non-Asian.  I can't find a seat near an outlet.

1:08 - Finally get logged onto blog, extremely slow internet.  Look around and see an Asian man watching half naked white women twist themselves into all sorts of contortions via YouTube.  Think I have landed in the Twilight Zone.  Wish my friend EB and I could have a drink this evening and laugh about the craziness.

1:12 - Consider going straight back to Coney Island, still haven't accomplished anything for the day, but decided writing a blog post is way better.  Feeling shaky after only having caeffeine for the day so far.

1:28 - Get a call from Atlanta stating the potential contract position turned into a full time position, but I am still wanted.  Brain, emotions go into overload.  A job.  A real, live, full time, benefits included, relo included job with someone I have always loved working with, not in NYC, job.  

1:38 - Happy on one level, must reposition thinking, need to use a restroom, am hungry, must make major decisions, miss cats. 

1:43 - Decide to leave crazy library to find working restroom and just think. 

List of Lists

Gross Things People Do on the Subway

1. Pick their nose
2. Trim their nails
3. Chew with their mouth open
4. Clean out their ears

Things I Wish I Had With Me

1. Portia and Fiona
2. My coffee maker
3. Sheets and towels
4. Work out clothes
5. Nail polish remover and nail clippers
6. Portia and Fiona

What I Bought on My First Grocery Store Trip

1. Bread
2. Peanut Butter
3. Garden Vegetable Pasta
4. Sundried Tomato Alfredo Sauce
5. Chicken Nuggets

Total cost: $13.98

What I Have Treated Myself to So Far

1. Starbucks (twice, but is it a splurge or a necessity?)
2. Pretzel
3. Butter Pecan Ice Cream
4. Peroni (just 1, I was watching the US v. Ghana game)

Total cost (approx.): $20

Conclusion: Clearly I need to stop treating myself.

What I Will Be Doing This Week

1. Praying that my condo gets rented
2. Moving into my new room
3. Phone Interview (because the hiring manager is located in Boston)
4. Buying/finding an air mattress for my new room.
5. Probably buying/finding sheets and towels too.
6. Doing laundry
7. Trying to figure out how to hang dry said laundry
8. Missing Portia and Fiona
9. Job Search Stuff
10. Go to the Met

I'm not sure if I miss my former city yet, but I definitely miss having all the amenities of my own place and of course, my babies, Portia and Fiona.  I miss them terribly, and while I try not to think about it, I do notice that at the end of a long day, I am looking around for little P-cat to look up at me with her big yellow eyes and want to sit on my lap.  Just the familiarity and comfortability of my two closest companions would be so, so nice.  

I found a room to rent, but I had to commit to 2 months.  I figure I will be here about that long anyways.  I will spend my 30th birthday here.  I will have to leave my kittens and be away from them for that long.  I will have to hope against hope that my condo will be rented, then I will have to deal with how to get it all packed up and stored.  And, at the end of August, unless the Senate and Congress pass an extension, I will be done with my benefits and probably will have to come home.  I can't fathom being without my cats for that long.  And, if nothing works out here in NYC, I still do have the possibility of the Atlanta contract possibly working out soon as well.  Something just has to give soon, and I believe it will.   

On today's menu, leftover vegetable pasta with sundried tomato alfredo sauce, chicken nuggets and popcorn.  I would love, love, love some ice cream to top off the 5 food groups, but you know...by the time I walked back from the store with it, it would have melted.  Tomorrow, I have promised myself ice cream or maybe a gelato pop.  Since I will be on the Upper West Side somewhere anyways, might as well try a gelato pop.

So, this whole housing thing... an adventure in craigslist tomfoolery.  Today I responded to an ad with a nice living room available; it was near Union Square and large enough to have a queen size bed in one corner.  It looked cute, but I needed to know more about the occupant; something didn't quite vibe with me.  Turns out he is a 62 year old man who...wait, here you go:

I'm honestly looking for a committment of at least 2 months, because this process of finding someone is rather tedious...On the other hand if you are willing to pay me $1500.00 for the month of July I can overlook the 2 month issue...I'm 62..have been doing this to help pay my rent for the last 14 months...Times are tough...My last 4 roomies have all been females between the ages of 22 & 35...I have a small dog that lives with me in the apt...Its a great location...

Umm...yeah, no thanks.  Pass.  I went to look at an apartment yesterday in Park Slope (did I mention this already?).  4 guys lived there and the stench emanating from the place, particularly in the basement where the room was located, was unbearable.  It was beat up, some of the cupboards were falling off hinges and in general, it was a hot mess...if I may introduce southern terminology to New York City.  Pass.

Let's see...oh yes, the "we'll mail you the keys" scam which my kind hostess warned me about.  Super cheap place in (insert desirable area here) because the family had to leave urgently for (insert random country here), and they are looking for someone who would care for the place as their own, so that is why it is reduced rent.  

Tomorrow I go to see a place where two 26 year old guys dwell and have just lost their roomie, Amy, to a job in Jersey.  The room won't be furnished, but Amy wants to sell her bed, desk and desk chair.  Well, I am sorry, but I do not want to buy Amy's bed, desk or desk chair.  Still, it could be a place to crash for a month, even if I don't have a bed.  

I am also expecting to hear from a girl on Monday to check out her room in an apartment she shares with 2 other girls.  This is my best option (I think) but she is away this weekend and invited me to come see the place on Monday.  

It seems like a lot of work, constantly checking craigslist, juggling the addresses, viewings, determining what is a scam and what isn't, and posting my own ads, looking for a place.  I even posted something on CouchSurfing, to see if anyone might have any solutions for me. 

Do I worry?  Yes and no.  Worry is just a little gremlin that goes by the name Limiting Belief that just needs to be squished.  Then he hangs his head in defeat and sulks away.  I am sure something will come up and I won't be completely homeless, right?

As for the weekend and what I'll be doing: it will probably involve good food and perhaps a glass of vino.  I'm certain I will be flying solo, but that's alright.  I guess I am going to have to learn how to do that in this big city where I am starting to understand why it's so hard to get to know people.

And now...I am so sleepy, I think I shall find something else to do.  Like sleep.

Cat Whisperer

Today I went into the city for a 15 minute meeting.  Yes, a 2 hour trip, arrived 3 hours early, and for only a 15 minute face to face meeting with a recruiter.  His office was across from Macy's, so of course I had plenty to do to kill an extra three hours.  $8, a coffee, water and snack later...I was able to merely cross the street and change my shoes and go to my meeting.

While I was in Macy's, I found enough things to covet to spend my first year of paychecks.  I see how easy it is to become materialistic here, and want, and or need, to have the latest fashions.  In the midwest, I could only dream of such timely fashions, so many choices and so many things in my size!!  Except shoes.  

I am also apparently the cat whisperer.  My friend who I am staying with has a shy little kitty named Sasha.  Sasha only comes out at night when things are perfectly still and quiet and then she runs around.  I saw her once when she was in the closet, hiding in her little cat tree and she purred and purred when I petted her.  Yesterday she was hiding behind the couch and I petted her some more and she purred so happily.  Tonight she was hiding behind the bookcase and a little while after my friend left to do laundry, little miss kitty came out to play!  She wanted me to pet her and of course, I did.  She even got a little meowy when I walked away to wash a dish, then she went and hid again.

But now...she is laying on the couch with me, belly up (this shows trust when cats do this) and she is just squeaking at me and pawing at the air, just rolling around as happy as can be.  It's so cute!  I'm glad she finally feels comfortable in her new home to be out and about.  I'm not sure what it is about me, but I can usually make animals feel comfortable around me.  It's just a thing.  Cat Lady thing, probably.

My 4pm meeting for today was rescheduled for tomorrow, so now I feel like I can take the time to write some musings about New York City.  

I was not so amused last night when I pulled off my heels.  They were a comfortable, well worn in, old heels which were lovingly reheeled and polished just for the occasion of interviews and such.  But my toes were (and even after overnight rest, still are) little fat sausages (mini ones).  I didn't take my flats yesterday so since I invariably turn in the wrong direction when I get off the subway and end up walking away from my destination and have to double back (once it took me at least 7 or 8 blocks (blocks are no joke here, they can be quite long) and I stood and walked around for hours at a conference exhibit hall, by the time I got on the subway, someone was going to have to fight me for a seat if it came down to it.  Fortunately, it did not.  Note to self: wear flats until you arrive at final destination.

There are tons of people in the city.  Of course.  But did you know there are more short people than I have ever seen anywhere else?  And more people with curly hair too?  I find myself ogling short people and people with curly hair.  I have yet to notice a short, curly haired person though.  People like ME!  It's so fun.  Normally, back in the Midwest, short people kind of flock together if there happen to be 2 or more at any gathering.  Here, we don't even acknowledge each other.  There is just no brother/sisterhood of the shortness.  And the curly haired people, I am just fascinated with how they do (or don't do) their hair.  Frizziness, perfect waves, tight little curls, long hairstyles...it just makes me feel more acceptable for having curly hair.  I was even so bold this morning as to decide against straightening my hair for the meeting that was rescheduled.  Well, the fact that it is supposed to be hot and humid (outrageously) today, I figured the curls would stand up better in those conditions.  

I observe, observe and learn from my observes.  I watch what people wear, eat, how they walk, stand on the train, swipe their cards, facial expressions (mostly a lack thereof), shoes, talk on the phone....everything.  This is the best way to figure out how to blend in.  I still am, however, the girl that makes a comment to the other person in line, compliments her fellow bus passenger on her dress and cheerfully says "Thank you" to the (quite surprised) bus driver.  I insert a little bit of me where I can.  You just never know who you're going to be chatting with.  

A day into my foray into The City, I made my first celebrity siting: David Blane on his motorcycle.  Of course, my friend had to point him out to me and honestly, I am just not impressed or wowed by most celebrities, but particularly unimpressed by him.  

What else.... I feel hot and sticky by the time I get home every day.  The train that leaves from Coney Island is pretty nice and new and has a nice electronic thing that shows you what stop is next, etc.  Very easy to read and follow.  The rest of the trains don't really have this though.  I see kids who I think cannot be old enough to walk around the city by themselves doing just that.  

Since my meeting today was rescheduled, I think I will work on finding a place to sublet for the next month...yes, I am staying for another month.