Day 151

February 1, 2010

Whew! 150 days! Some days it feels like 150 days, some days it feels like a week. Regardless, the good, the great, the bad, and the ugly have all been a fantastic whirlwind! So, you know the movie, Elf. If you don't, then stop reading this right now. I think the movie is hilarious! I was walking through the intersection today and wanted to hop scotch my way across like he does in the movie. You know, when he almost gets hit by a car! Too funny! I'm going to do it someday. Someday, when I'm not by myself and pictures can be taken! ;)

Then, I get to thinking. You know how in the movie, he walks into this rinky-dink coffee shop and says, "You did it! Congratulations!" on the world's best cup of coffee. How often do you think tourists come into this city, stop by one of a million pizza places that dubs themselves, "Best Pizza in New York," and actually believe it's the best thing they've ever tasted? Or the "Best Cheesecake" in Times Square. Nope. The best cheesecake is Eileen's in SoHo! ;)

Today would have been my little dog's birthday! Sassafrass would have turned 18 today! Happy Birthday baby girl! An adult! Sadly, we had to put her down in May. One of the worst days of my life. If you've ever had to put a dog to sleep, you understand! It's terrible! It's like losing a sibling or child! She was a little maltese! I want another one! Check it out! It's a maltipoo! When I see them romping around the city, like they're the divas of the city, it makes me miss her so bad! And they wear little outfits like Sassy did! I love it! ;) We had her cremated and she is sitting on our mantle at our house. My dad basically made a shrine in her honor! It's pretty funny! My dad may or may not have loved the dog more than my brother, my mom, and myself! ;) I'm just kidding.

 

So, I decided to Google my family's names today. I know, it sounds weird, but I was curious as to what I would find. 

Brett's name: Of course everything baseball! But I did find this one thing! It's on Rock in Prevention. Read it! It says, and I quote, "Sophomore Brett Toncar remembers Rock in Prevention from his elementary days, and says he now enjoys being a role model." Hahahahaha! Brett would say that. 

Mom, dad, and Tammy's name: Nothing much. Sorry, guys. All I could find was your registration for Race for the Cure back in 2005. ;) Dad's name popped up for FedEx, but says he lives in Memphis, TN. Unless there's two of you, dad, where do you really go to work during the day?! ;) Just kidding! 

Roxana Augustine is apparently some uber-popular German name or something, I don't know about. And my cousin Tyler is not only a pretty kick ass basketball player in New Mexico, but an adult movie star as well! Haha! Not really, but I think it's funny how the two most random occupations have people with the same name.

My name: Well, stuff pops up about my blog, my Google profile, blah, blah, blah. And apparently, my Pandora radio stations are public for all to see. Problem is...some of the radio stations, I don't even know what they are. I have the country stations, but all of the other lovey, dovey song stations? Nope. They left out the best ones! My hip hop stations, the dance music stations! I did come across something really funny from high school. I always tell people, I was never that ditzy high school girl. Well...click on this story and go to page six. It's the story titled, "Tanners Ignore Risks." The minute I see this title, I know this is the quote Google search is looking for. They asked me why I tanned and I reply with, "I tanned because of Winter Formal and I didn't want to look albino." Really, Ashley? Albino? Come on, now. 

I was also looking online at Burberry. Oh, how I love their stuff! Guys...take note! They have their Burberry Heart Collection, just in time for Valentine's Day! Your woman would most definitely LOVE something from here! I would take anything on the list, except the Sling Bag or Nova Heart Purse. Too chotchy for my liking, but whatever. I like how I'm giving men advice on what to buy their loved one on Valentine's Day. Because I'm pretty sure, I will not be getting anything like this on February 14th. Hell, I'm not picky. I'd love a homemade card cut from construction paper! Oh well. There's always next year. ;) 

The restaurant is good tonight! Pretty busy, which is great! Makes the time go by faster! We have the crazy guy, who yells, and points, and is obnoxious about finances in our restaurant. I can't think of his name, nor can I really disclose it, but I can tell you it rhymes with "Bad Honey." ;) He's actually pretty nice, but is so intense about life! It's crazy, but quite amusing! 

So, I have to tell you this really funny story. Maybe it's only funny to me, but whatever. I met this guy and he says to me, "I usually stay away from girls from the Midwest, but you seem alright." Just alright? And I'm suppose to be flattered by this? Oh please, sir, take me out! My response is this: "Oh yeah? Why's that? Do you think we're boring? Well, I usually don't the arrogant, ignorant type, but I guess you seem "alright" as well." Jacko!  Any takers on how long this will last? ;) 

Note to self: When you get an e-mail, telling you about free coffee for the month of February, mark your calendar! Free coffee! What a great day/month in paradise! Check out the site! Different areas of town have their own specific week. My week is February 8th through the 12th! Whew hew! Take advantage of anything free! Especially when there are no catches! However, where I work my internship, the free coffee is going on this week! I'm going to start tomorrow! 41 Bistro Marketplace...here I come! ;) 

Day 126

January, 7 2010

I wake up this morning, still not feeling well. But I think to myself, I need to have the fresh attitude and outlook on the city, as if I just moved here all over again. I feel like I've started taking the cities little quirks for granted. Things I once found funny, are just now normal. It's not normal a lady pulls out her rather large, professional-looking camera and takes two pictures of me, while I'm walking to work today. Yes...this really did happen. I didn't know whether or not to be like Madonna and "Vogue," or keep walking. Considering I am quite stunned at the fact she would do this and the flash blinded me ever-so-slightly, I continue walking. Why does she want my picture?? I do have a rather cute outfit on today...I bet this is why! ;)

But in all seriousness...I tell myself this morning, no cell phone usage and no iPod usage on the way to work this morning. You are going to pay attention to your surroundings and actually take in all that is going on around you. One problem: there is NOTHING going on around me. Normal people walking to work. I guess all of the weirdos hide out on Thursday mornings. I'm tired of seeing men in suits (okay...maybe not) ;), and women in suits, and people walking their dogs. Whan! Whan! Give me something exciting to jump start my morning!

I only last a block and a half, then I whip out the phone. I don't really have a lot to say or converse about, but it fills my time and I get to catch up with my poor mother who is house-ridden, due to the God-awful snow and weather in Iowa. I get bored so easily with nothing to listen to! I always get irritated with myself about my impatience, but it's something I just can't help. I love talking! I love music! And I love being around people! I have been blessed with the gift of gab! And those of you who know me are probably shaking your heads up and down right now! ;)

So, the last few days I've had a really nervous stomach. I don't know why. But I will tell you, every time in my past, no matter if it was second grade, high school, or college...whenever I get a nervous stomach, something always happens a short time later. I have nothing to be nervous about. Maybe I'm just being paranoid...but we'll see! It could be all of the coffee I've been drinking. My name is Ashley and I'm an addict. =)

I have three cups of coffee today. It's getting bad. Caffeine is like alcohol to me. I get the urge to dance, I think everything is comical, and I get really friendly! It's great! No hangover! Problem is, when I'm sitting in my cube, all by myself, the only thing I can laugh at is me. So, as I'm perusing on the computer for beauty products, random ideas and thoughts pop in my head, and I start laughing out loud to myself. Probably to things that are not in the least bit funny. For example...I'm looking up makeup websites. Literally, after two hours of researching, a site pops up on Google...www.makeup.com. I say out loud, "Hmm...makeup.com. (I shrug ever so slightly) Who would have thought?" Then, I start laughing at the fact of how I can be so dumb that this is not the first thing I thought of. AND, it takes me two hours to discover it! Dummy!

I'm walking home and I always walk down 42nd St. until I reach 8th Avenue. You know the Conde Nast building that was on the news for having a white van sitting in front of it...potentially a bomb? Yeah...I walk by there everyday. Comforting, right? =) I know no one else finds this funny but me. But anyways...right down the street is the heart of Times Square. To the left, there is a large train station. It is CLEAR that's what it is. Look at this picture, here. So, I'm walking and I hear this girl say, "Oh my God! Like, I totally thought that was a Subway restaurant. I mean, who wouldn't think that? With like, all of the eating places around here." Ha! You big dummy! What part of this picture makes you think of footlong sandwiches? Maybe it's just me. ;)

I'm almost done with Eclipse. It's the third book in the Twilight series. It doesn't help I'm a hopeless romantic. Jacob is so great and Edward is even better! They both love the same girl and both are fighting their hardest to get/keep her! Must be nice! To know a guy will do everything in his power to never let you go. Ahhh...that's the life! ;)

My friend, Shelby, calls me tonight. We're talking about relationships and how our friends have been getting married and are getting ready to be married. I say, "One day, a man is going to walk through the doors and be the man of my dreams!" She replies with, "Yes, he's going to be the heir to the Hostess Cupcake throne!" LOL! What?! That's so funny! Of all thrones, I get the HoHo God! Too funny! We then start talking about a college reunion in the next 3-5 years. I find this place today on Vogue.com. Check it out, here! It's in Jackson Hole, Wyoming--in the Grand Teton Mountains. It sounds a little odd, but it looks so beautiful! They have cabins overlooking the mountains, hiking, float trips, etc. What a perfect way to spend with great friends!! Nice and relaxing, but full of crazy potential!

Note to self: Go home, don't turn on the television, and just read in quiet. Reading is such a great way to get your mind off of everything. You never have to really think while reading. You consume yourself with the fictional story so much, that the real world no longer exists for the two or so hours you spend hovered in your bed. It's nice to be in complete silence and not be bored. Weird, right? Considering a few short hours ago I was bouncing home, talking a hundred miles a minute on the phone, with my arms flailing all over the place!

Day 87 and 88

December 2nd and 3rd, 2009

So, the last couple of days has been dedicated to working at the restaurant and catching up on my life. Work is crazy busy, which is great! I just come home the last couple of days and do nothing but relax. Hey, it's nice to finally have a couple nights to yourself to dedicate to blogging, working on a best friend's wedding, and catching up with friends via phone calls.

So, first and foremost. My stupid occurrences that happened on my date, surprisingly, did not scare Brett NY away. I actually talked to him. I'm shocked because if he pulled that stuff, I would have said see ya' later by ten o'clock! =) Kudos to him. But I still can't help but get excited/nervous every time I walk passed the fire department. I get anxious, hoping I get to see my manly fighter of fires. I'm bound and determined to spark a conversation with him. I just have to think of a good way to do it. No worries. I'm working on it.

Anyways, I thought I was getting pink eye last night. I called my mom. No answer. I called my dad. No answer. Brother. No answer. Now I'm convinced they are just ignoring me, so I get irritated. All I want to know is how to get in contact with my insurance company to see what doctor's I can go to tomorrow morning. I don't want to talk about my day or my life. Just a couple quick questions. So, yes, I'm 25 years old and throw a bit of a tantrum because no one is paying attention to me. I know, I'm pathetic! I'm giving myself the, are you serious? What the hell? Grow up! look right now.

I finally get a hold of my mom and she says she'll call me right back. Liar! Thirty minutes go by, so I call back. I say, "Thanks for calling me back!" in my sarcastic tone I frequently carry in my voice. Okay, little do I know that my dad went to the hospital last night because he had tight chest pains! I was bitching about going blind (when in all actually, wasn't going to happen), and being so overdramatic it's sickening, while my dad is hooked up to EKG machines, getting blood work done, and probably having to pee in every possible cup available. It wasn't until today, when I spoke to my mom and she told me everything, did I realize what a spoiled brat I am!

I can truly admit that and have come to the realization it's true. Sad, but true. I don't like to blame myself. I blame my mother. Sorry mom, but you are the one who made my bed until I graduated college, and did my laundry, cooked my dinner, and bathed me until 24. Haha, jk about the last one! Might as well have. I'm not complaining! I had the life! All I'm saying is the constant attention that is fading is a bit of a smack in the face. I'm learning to suck it up and understanding that Brett truly is their love child and I only matter when they have time for me. When Brett's not busy. ;)

I get really excited today when I Google my name. Yes, I Google my name. Everyone has done it, so don't laugh at me! You know you've done, or I guarantee you, you're going to do it after reading this. You should! It's interesting to see what pops up. I didn't realize that Florida Magazine posted my resume for all to see in cyber space. I don't know how I feel about that, but whatever. It's not accurate either, but oh well. Anyways...my blog is now on the front page! Yay!!!! When I first started, it was on like page 10 or 15, or something outrageous like that. So, I want to thank every single person who reads this! I really appreciate it and I really hope you enjoy it! I try to make it entertaining, but it's pretty easy considering drama and craziness follow me every time I turn my head! It's great, so keep reading!

Note to self: Or this time, should I say, Note to men. When a girl doesn't respond to three text messages, two phone calls, and one voicemail, please get the hint that she isn't interested. Most guys understand this concept, but apparently some 35 year olds don't. Yes, 35 years old. At this point in your life, one would think this concept would be clear to you. I spoke with you once on the phone. I don't like to not respond to you because I do feel bad ignoring you. But what do you say to someone you don't even know, whom you're not dating, and only talked to twice? I don't really know if that counts as justifying an explanation. Please quit the randomness because you're making me feel worse about my ignoring you. What are you suppose to say? I'm sorry, but I'm not interested due to the fact you act like you're my dad, you do the girly "kissy face" poses in your pictures, and your goodnight to me on the phone is you telling me you're going to go say the rosary and then head to bed. I don't know. Maybe I'm a jerk. But someone who likes to look "prettier" and more feminine than me in pictures is not okay in my book!

PLEASE NOTE THE NEXT THREE BLOGS ARE THREE MORE FROM BRETT'S VACATION HERE! PLEASE READ TO SHARE MORE EXPERIENCES OF HIS VACATION! THE LAST THREE WILL BE COMING TOMORROW! ENJOY!