Day 103 - Day 107

December 17 - December 21, 2009

Caitlin's Trip! She is my first friend to visit me in New York City! We had so much fun! I had to work a couple of days, but she did great going around the city by herself!

Caitlin arrives and I'm working. Boo! But it's okay. She is exhausted from finals, so she naps and meets me at my work. Work is crazy as usual and Caitlin shows up early. I feel so bad because I see her and I say, "Is it 8:00 already?" I should have said, "Oh my gosh! I'm so excited to see you!" I was thinking that, but the earlier comment came out first. I introduced her to The Capital Grille's Stoli Doli's. (Sp?) It's a pineapple infused vodka drink. We infuse the vodka for so many days! They are delicious! Then we head out in Hell's Kitchen! It's typically a great place to go, but because of the weather being so cold, people are starting to hybernate!

I take her to Ariba Ariba Mexican Restaurant. I've told you about this in previous blogs. It's so good! Caitlin loves it and we have some great margaritas! We had some great conversation too! It's so nice to catch up with a great friend! Then we head to the bars, where I tell her are always full of good looking men! Instead, we meet some drug dealers from Columbia!

Oh yes! Go figure, right? Only with Caitlin would this happen! Haha! So, I start to make fun of them, but in a way that they wouldn't know it. Caitlin is laughing hysterically and they are just staring at us with blank faces! It looks like they seriously just got off the reservation in Wyoming or something. It's so funny! Check out the pictures! The one with me is the completely cracked out dealer, while the guy with Caitlin is his creepy cousin. It was a Columbia invasion at Zanzibar, so we left!

We go to Mercury Bar next, which has maybe five people in there. We're having a drink, I look over, and who do I see? The reservation chief from Zanzibar who was hitting on Caitlin! Lol! We leave and head home.

We do some serious shopping while she's here! We go all around 5th Ave. I take her to H&M, where they have some great sales! We go into Louis Vuitton, where Caitlin picks out her future Louis, and then we go to Cartier, where I pick out my future engagement ring. Now, I just have to find the lucky sucker to buy it for me! Hehe! Which brings me to my next point! Caitlin got to see Mr. Firefighter! Whew hew! I'm so glad someone saw him to prove that he is really a real person and I'm not just fantasizing! =) Of course, I get so nervous, I just quietly say "hey," as he smiles at me. Caitlin finds it hilarious on how shy I get around men. I don't! I need to fix this problem people! I'm like a third grader trying to ask my crush to sign my yearbook!

I tell her I want to take her to Macy's! It has these great Christmas decorations and it's a staple of this city! So, we go. We get there and we go up the escalators. Let me replay the scenario for you.

Caitlin: "Hey, the escalator is on fire." (Small flames are coming out of the up escalator)
Me: "Oh, yeah it is." (We both just stop and state)
Caitlin: "Maybe we shouldn't be those idiots who just stare."
Me: "True." (We start shopping. Yes, we start shopping.)
(We go up the escalators to the fourth floor and continue to shop)
Me: "Wow, it really smells like smoke up here."
Caitlin: "I know. Do you see the smoke?"
Me: "Yeah, that's crazy!"
Caitlin: "Ok, well I'm going to go try this skirt on."
Me: "Ok!"
(Caitlin comes out of the dressing room)
Macy's Worker: "Everyone evacuate the building, please. Please, evacuate the building!"
(A sudden rush of panic came over me. I'm gonna die in Macy's! We head towards the one exit and we look over to see a fireman axing the ceiling and water comes rushing out of it)
Caitlin: "Oh my God, Ashley, look at that fire fighter!" (laughing!)

I'm pretty sure Caitlin and I were the only ones laughing about the situation. We found it humorous. We're not going to die and every one is freaking out, cussing at people, shoving people, and forgetting about Christmas cheer! =) So...we're leaving and Caitlin wants a picture of the firemen. So, I go to take one and this guy shoves his way through the door people are trying to get out of.

Lady with baby in stroller: "What do you think you're doing? Fuck you. Merry Christmas."
(What? Did my ears just hear what I thought they did? Did she really just tell that guy F-you and Merry Christmas in the same sentence? Ha! After that, you bet I'll have a Merry Christmas!)

She takes me to New Moon! Yay! Finally! Can I just tell you how amazing it is? I'm sure everyone already knows because I'm probably the only one who hasn't seen it. I was amazed! The graphics were awesome, Rob Pattinson is gorgeous as always, and they did a great job of capturing all of the details in the book and condensing it in the movie. So, I'm still Team Edward. I think Jacob has a rockin' body, but I don't really think I'm digging his face. I think he's attractive, don't get me wrong, but there's just something about Edward's oddness and peculiarity that gets me every time! Jacob is a sweet character and I'd date him!

Chinatown. Oh my goodness. I love taking people down there who have never been! It's so funny to watch them! Caitlin had me do all of the bargaining, but she got a lot of good stuff! A handbag, a gift for her boyfriend, a necklace, and a scarf! I love bargaining, it's so much fun! I also like asking where they get their stuff from and if it's stolen! It totally gets a rise out of them, they get mad at me, then they give me a deal! Hehe!

Other foods we ate: Pinkberry! Which she loved! Little Italy restaurant and then to the bakery for some tiramisu and cannoli from the Cannoli King! The Bagel Bar was her favorite breakfast place! They have great bagels and quite a good variety of cream cheeses!

So it snowed all day Saturday! Caitlin got some cool pictures of it though from my balcony! We are the two lovely ladies who decide to venture out into the winter blizzard. We head to the Meatpacking district for a little dancing! Instead, we end up at the overly priced bar next door! We were not about to pay $20 to get into a dance club, where there are only 30 people inside! That's just insanity! Instead, Caitlin spends $38 on two drinks next door! Welcome to New York! Maybe after an hour and Caitlin practicing her modeling poses in the downstairs lounge, we trek out into the ten feet of snow to catch a cab home. Luckily, a driver in one of those black cars with the tinted windows asked if we wanted a ride. Caitlin is a little hesitant for legitimacy reasons, which is totally understandable and the responsible thing to do. I, on the other hand, am freezing and just need a warm place to sit! Hop in sister!

I was sad to her go, but will see her soon when I get home! Our trip was so much fun and I hope she had as much fun as I did!

Day 3

September 9, 2009

9-9-09 is the start of my first day in the real world. I started my internship at Joonbug.com today, which proves to be amazing! After getting accustomed to the way they work, I start plugging away at stories. Check out the two that have already been published! http://newyork.joonbug.com/glamdamnit/anticipation-arises-around-gareth-pugh-glam-damn-it-new-york/sH6XchNbAFu and http://newyork.joonbug.com/glamdamnit/the-ouch-factor-glam-damn-it-new-york/wmSSariG3du. Feel free to write comments!

As sad as it sounds, I’m starting to feel the burn in my legs and shins. Who knew I was this out of shape—it’s kind of pathetic, if you really think about it!  After not eating all day, (completely my fault…I didn’t want to leave), I targeted the first eatery and scarfed down another piece of New York pizza. It never tasted so good! Then, come to find out, I got the apartment I wanted! I move in September 22! So excited!

Upon arriving back to my friends' apartment, it is decided we go out and celebrate a plethora of things tonight. We first hit up Highbar--a trendy rooftop bar in the middle of Midtown with a great view of the city and its skyscape. We then hit up another local pub, then off to the Meat Packing District where we strutted our stuff on the dance floor at the Kiss 'n Fly--a place I would like to start frequenting.  I'm pretty sure I have never spent so much on liquor before in my life! I need to remember that pre-gaming is a necessity on the budget I have for this cities nightlife.

I am then taken to my first "street meat" stand where Abraham, the owner gave me and Dee free lamb gyros since I am a first-timer at street meat. I remember his location and will be visiting him frequently when I go to those area bars. After eating this fabulous dish, I finish my blog and head off to bead for a good night's rest before my second day on the job! Good night!

Not to self: Don’t wear a dress on a day the wind decides to blow fairly intensely. It’s not fun when you have to walk 23 blocks, holding your dress down the whole way—only to have your arm fall asleep because the circulation is being cut off by your heavy tote bag.