Day 137

January 18, 2010

Today is a beautiful day! Yay for warm weather and sunshine! And...it's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!! You know what that means? This whole entire city is basically shut down! No internship for me, so I finally get around to doing some errands! I walk to Barnes & Noble because I got a gift card from there for Christmas. It's great! Reading used to be one of my top three, least favorite things to do in life. Now, it's one of my favorite things to do! I love taking an hour or so at night (usually longer) and sitting down to turn off the television and just read. Getting lost in a book is a great stress reliever!

Then...I have to go to the grocery store! Sometimes I like going, sometimes I don't! Today, I don't. But it's getting to the point where I'm starving myself, so I figure it's probably time to get some supplies! I have a question...is four dollars for non-name brand peanut butter necessary? Yeah, I didn't think so either! I hate money! And I hate grocery store prices! Especially here! A box of saltines are $5! They're crackers! The cheap crackers! Crackers that people eat for dinner when they want to lose weight! Five bucks? Really? It's insane!

I get to work and it's dead. Our guests are typically the business people that work in the area--so, since all have the day off, no one is dining with us! I do have to tell you about this great deal The Capital Grille is having! It's our seasonal menu of, "Gourmet Comfort Food!" It looks so yummy! I mean, Lobster and Shrimp Pot Pie? Get out of town! Delicious! You get an appetizer, salad, choice of four entrees, a side dish, plus a dessert--all for the low price of $49! That's cheap! Where else can you go, get this kind of quality food, and great service for this price?? Nowhere! So, go to The Capital Grille from now until February and try it out! As for the dessert...both options are delicious! You can't go wrong with either!!

I have deemed myself a computer nerd. The last few nights, all I have been doing is working in InDesign and Photoshop, making Maddie's bachelorette gifts! She is going to love them! I can't tell you because she reads my blog and I don't want her to find out! But it's good! When I set my mind on something, I focus on it until I get it accomplished! So, I've been a computer loser, but I'm okay with it! I love it! Some people get lost in books, some people get lost in cleaning. (Those people are weird! ;) ) I get lost being creative on the computer!

Note to self: "Give me the luxuries in life and I will gladly do without the necessities." -Frank Lloyd Wright (quoted in his obituary)
Give me a Gucci bag and I will gladly go without food for a while! You won't die if you don't eat for a couple days. ;) If I could sit on a beach in the French Riviera, I could go without shelter! Who needs it when you're looking out on one of the most beautiful places you've ever seen? You see, necessities is such a broad term. What's really necessary? Oxygen? Of course. Water? Obviously. The love of family and friends? Most definitely. But an Elie Saab couture dress would surpass any need I may have for electricity! I'll light a candle! The next time someone asks you if what you're doing is really necessary, think about it? If it has anything to do with a Burberry bag or Christian Louboutin shoes...it's necessary!

Brett Visit: Day 6

Today we start off by going back to Bryant Park for the “Original Belgian Waffle.” They were so good. They came with all kinds of toppings. We got ours with Nutella and bananas. It is wonderful. The waffles were delicious, they went good with our coffee that we made.

First, we get the Crumbs Cupcakes. I hear a lot about them and they look amazing. We got them instead of pies which was cool because then we got to try more sweets. We set off for Soho. Which is ‘South of Houston Street’ and New Yorkers say house-ton instead of Houston. This place has crazy shopping. It’s the magnificent mile of New York. But before we start a lady stops me and asks me about the cupcakes. She shows us her mini ones that she bought. So we talk cupcakes for a bit and we head to get our own mini cupcakes. The little corner window had like 10 different kinds of cakes. We got cookie dough, red velvet, mint chocolate, s’more, peanut butter and jelly, and cookies and cream.

Soho had a lot of cool stores and they were all places that are only in Soho. It was vintage and had the small town feel because the shops were local only. I liked all of the clothes and the style of all the stores, however, unless you make six figures most of the stores are too expensive. Which made me sad because I found a lot of clothes that I liked but it was out of my price range. Ashley found this jewelry store that was absolutely huge! The walls were bright pink and every square inch was covered in jewelry. Her face lit up when she seen it. It was funny to see her cheapness come out. She would try on all sorts of things and then think out loud about buying it. And then ask me 4 or 5 times if she should get it or not and then talk herself out of it every single time. She cracks me up. I just wanted to see her buy something.

So we head out for some Chinatown cuisine. We find a place and we are the only Americans there. The waiter barley speaks English. We order different chicken meals and get our soup. I almost threw up when I found a sea serpent in my bowl. I just waited for my food. It looked and tasted very good. I only wish I knew what I was eating. I was a little nervous the whole time because you just don’t know. I felt bad for the kid whose setting at home thinking about who stole his pet and to know that I'm eating it. We stop at Eileen’s for the best cheesecake in the world. She was not lying. It was fantastic.

Ashley informs me that it’s a law to go out the night before Thanksgiving. So we meet her friends out at Asian Pub. This was fun. We sat around and had a few drinks and talked about various things. One of the guys that came out is an FDNY firefighter. I thought that was really cool because they are one of the most recognized fire departments in the nation. Then the girls wanted to dance so we went to a dance club. Awesome. I just needed to relieve my emotions through the art of dance. Ha I'm not much of a dancer but it was still pretty fun.

The bar was right out of the 60s. It was a fun place. I felt like a fifth wheel so I wandered off and did my own thing. I just kind of mingled with random people and talked to a few people along the way. When I made my way back, Ashley pointed out this guy looked like Ludacris. It was awesome she got a picture with him and the girl he was with didn’t think it was near as awesome as we did. When Ashley walked away he gave her the what in the hell are you smoking look. It was pretty funny. We took a cab back to her place, thank God I was about sick of walking. We fixed up the rest of the street meat and her lasagna and, my mistake, left her alone in the kitchen. She put the metal tin container in the microwave. I turn around just in time to notice the first blue flash. I run over and open the microwave and fix the food myself. She didn’t know that you cannot put metal in the microwave. And she is surviving in New York? Her microwave has a little scar now it was really funny in the morning.

Brett Visit: Day 2

Ashley likes to get up before God does, so we head out early. We get some breakfast which was delicious. Ashley had banana pancakes and were the best I've tasted. I had a Mexican omelet and it was just ok.

We head off to the museum, which is a mile away. And everything to Ashley is “Just a few blocks.” But in reality it’s like a mile. And she walks like she’s being chased and my pace is normal and nonchalant, so I had to make an adjustment.  We walk by a flea market and see some cool things. Ashley is suckered into buying a fake Louis Vuitton bag. Ha she asks, “Is it fake?” Yeah Ashley they are going to say “Yep its fake but it looks real huh?” haha so she was lucky enough to return it. Then we walk to the museum. It was absolutely humongous. With a tour guide, it would be a three day event and I'm not over exaggerating. They have everything in there, it was so cool and so interesting. I love museums and I thought this place was amazing. They have everything from sea animals to the evolution of the human race. A must do if you visit New York.

After all the walking I felt we deserved some dessert. We went to Juniors for cheesecake. It was your average cheesecake, nothing special. After we ate, we headed to the Penguin store. My favorite brand of clothes. Lucky for me, everything in the store was 30% off. Having Ashley and the 30% off saved me from spending all of my money there. I walked in and was overwhelmed with all of the clothes. They had tons of button downs, sweaters, GQ honored suits, jeans, everything! I spent well over an hour in there trying on everything and doing multiple laps to make sure I didn’t miss anything. And then it was check out time. I made it rain in the Penguin store.

Then we go to Capital Grille for Ashley’s birthday dinner. It was fantastic. I had a steak in a butter sauce. And they cooked it medium rare like it’s supposed to be.  Where the middle is bright red and looks like it is still raw, it’s tough to find a place that does that. We also had lobster mac and cheese. It was so good. It combined my favorite seafood and my favorite food of all time. Tasty! But before we got our meal, Dan Marino was at the bar so I had to go walk by him. That was cool! I've been a big fan for a long time and it was so cool to see him up close. It was one of the best restaurants I've ever been too.

Now we head out for the birthday bash! Time to get Ashley Sh***y in the City. We head out to this one bar and were the only ones under 55, not kidding. We have a drink and head to the next bar. We hung out there for a while. I bought Ashley a couple birthday shots. The first was an orange or a grape bomb I can’t remember, but the second one was unforgettable. It was a skittles bomb. It tasted like a handful of skittles. We left that bar and went to the last one of the night, Rudy’s. This place was about as vintage as they come. The seats were red duct tape. And after a certain time you get free hot dogs. A friend of Ashley’s, who looks like a Disney character prince, got me a hot dog. It was delicious, he got ketchup instead of mustard but still appetizing. I had an amazing time that night, and I hope Ashley had a fun birthday.

Day 91

December 6, 2009

Happy birthday to Jennifer--my bro's ex-girlfriend! She's still family to us! I cannot believe my brother and his friends are turning 21 years old! I remember when they were twelve years old and irritating as hell! All they were interested in was bothering my friends and I because they thought my friends were hott. Now, they're all really cool and fun to go out with! Too bad my designated drivers are diminishing one by one! Haha, just kidding! I never did that! ;)

So, today. I'm not going to lie. Overall, isn't a great day. Shopping is depressing because I want a Kate Spade handbag, that's on sale, and can't have it. I know what you're thinking...what a spoiled brat! Trust me...I'm thinking the same exact thing! I'm not used to not getting what I want. I am such a spoiled brat, and I throw a tantrum on the phone when I know I can't get it. Again...I know. I just dropped my mouth re-reading this, while shaking my head, realizing how ridiculous I am right now! I'm actually quite embarrassed with myself!

Ugh! I hate weighing my options between a material object and having money for when a friend comes in town. I would much rather have fun with my friend! I know I should be grateful, because having a great friend from home here is way better than a stupid handbag. But considering, I've never had to do this...I don't like it one bit! Welcome to the real world, Ashley! All I keep thinking is...wait until I have kids. Yikes! Then, I really won't get anything I want. Boo to babies, when it comes to that! =)

THEN...I came to the realization that I'm a heffer! Yes, a heffer! Since the summer, I went from a size four, to a size six. Gross! I miss my size four jeans. It's actually really difficult for me to write about this, but whatever. I talk to my mom and grandma, and they tell me my face has gotten, and I quote, "chubby." Ugh! I'm pretty sure my self-confidence went from about an 8 to about a -2. I don't want to be "chubby."  Whatever. I do realize that last year, I was a tad on the thin side, due to some high and unneeded stress in my life, but I was happy with my weight. Not so happy with my life, like I am now, but I liked my size four booty! So...I'm bound and determined to get back to that way!

On a lighter note! I get to see the Rockefeller Christmas tree tonight! It's amazingly beautiful! The lights are so bright, and sparkle so pretty in the night sky! Especially the Swarovski crystal star! They have an up-close version you can look at. Amazing is all I can say! Phil says he used his bedazzler at home to make it! Haha! Impressive. I take Phil on a hunt around the city to find the spectacular lights and windows the city has to offer. He's really excited about it! I can see it in his eyes! Ha! Yea right! He secretly enjoyed it! =)

 

We don't get very far...it's way too cold to wander around a city, where you have no idea where you're going! We travel to Rockefeller Center and on the way, we come across Saks Fifth Avenue. The windows are great, but the best part are the HUGE snowflakes that adorn the whole side of the large building. They flash to the beats and booms to the "Carol of the Bells," Christmas song. Check it out by the Trans Siberian Orchestra! Just click ahead to 40 seconds...that's when it starts getting good! It's a cool light show Saks puts on!

Okay, so I have a funny story, that only some may understand. Mind you...this is the first time Phil and I have been out together just the two of us. A couple from Washington state ask me if I can take their picture in front of the tree. I say sure. So, they hand me their camera and I say, "Okay, one second. Let me just get the tip in a little bit." I'm instantly embarrassed. All I can think of saying is the classic phrase, "That's what she said." Lol! Of course that would come out of my mouth right then, right?

While searching for Carol of the Bells, I stumble across my all-time favorite Christmas song, that translates into a wedding march! "Christmas Canon," also known as "Canon D." It's so pretty and one day (when I do decide to settle down and get married), this is what I'll be marching down to. Hopefully to a live orchestra (focusing on violins, of course!) Yeah, I already told dad to start saving now! Hehe! I get chills every time I hear it. Listen to it here! So, since I'm feeling sorry for myself today, what better way to make your self-esteem go way up, then listen to this song...single...and home alone. =) Lol! It really is beautiful! It gets me excited to come and spend time with family and friends! Can't wait to see everyone!

Note to self: When you ask someone for advice, be 100 percent prepared for their answer! If you're not ready to hear the truth, please, DON'T ASK! Your family is the most brutally honest people in the world...they're not afraid to hurt your feelings. Nor should they be. So when you ask if they can tell you've gained a bit of weight...expect to know what they're going to say. You already know the answer. Why do you need someone to confirm it? Sure...you probably look healthier than last year, but it still really pisses you off to the point where you want to scream. So, buck up, jump on the treadmill, and trim it off!

Day 82

November 27, 2009

Black Friday! I’m pretty sure it’s one of the best days ever invented. It should also be considered a national holiday. Don’t you agree? Sure, sure everyone complains about the insane amount of people, but c’mon now…when can you ever get a set of knives for $10?? Okay, I didn’t get them either, but if you wanted to, you could! An electric blanket for $50? Please. You don’t have to ask me twice!

Before work, Brett and I go shopping. I wasn’t crazy this year and didn’t go at 5 a.m. I’m shocked with myself! But honestly, with all of the craziness Brett and I had been doing the previous days, I was too exhausted to lift my head at 8 a.m., let alone 4 a.m.! We still got great deals and avoided the majority of the crowds. Until…we hit Macy’s! You have to go to Macy’s on Black Friday—only the one on 34^th Street. The largest one!

Brett gets a great deal on a coat, and get a great deal on some fabulous brown boots with a gold buckle! Whew! They make my legs look so sexy. ;) jk! As we’re getting ready to leave, because I have to go to work, a man approaches me in jeans, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes, saying, “Excuse me, ma’am.” I’m thinking to myself, Are you really going to try and solicit me in the middle of Macy’s make-up department on Black Friday? I was instantly irritated. But my frown quickly turned upside down when the words, “I’m from CNN,” came out of his mouth!

He says to me, “I’m from CNN and I was wondering if you’d be interested in doing a live broadcast. You look like you have a lot of energy.” I look at Brett and he says, “Do it!” So, I do a small shrug and say, “Sure, I can be energetic for CNN!” =) Hehe. So, he walks me over and introduces me to the broadcaster and tells me where I need to stand and says not to answer just yes or no to questions. Okay, that’s easy! I’m quite the talker, so I will have NO problem chatting it up for 15 seconds.

We’re getting ready for air when the broadcaster says, “You’re name’s Shirley?” What? Are you kidding me? Shirley? I think to myself. “It’s Ashley,” I kindly reply. Do I look like a Shirley? I’m 25 years old, born in the 80s! My parents would have had to do some serious pot when I was born to be named Shirley! Just because you know I’m from Iowa, give me some credit here Ms. Broadcaster! Shirley is a great name, so don’t think I’m knocking it. I just thought it was funny that of all the names she could have misunderstood, she chose Shirley!

So, I’m not supposed to answer yes or no to her questions. So, don’t ask me yes or no questions, lady! She says, “Have you found the sales to be helpful?” I’m thinking, Well, yes. Duh! It’s Black Friday. I reply with something like, “The sales have been great. Everything is 30, 40, and 50 percent off. We’ve found some great deals!” Hehe. All the while, I occasionally tilt my head towards the camera and talk at the camera, so America can get a look at my face! =) Haha, I love it! And instead of asking me, “Have you bought anything?” ask me, “What have you bought today?” You saw my bags; you know I bought stuff! You’re the professional, not me and I have better questions than you do! Maybe CNN should hire me! I consider myself pretty relatable to all types of people. I think I’d be pretty darn good at interviewing on live television!

  

Side note: If anyone can find this interview on the Internet, please let me know! I have Googled this to no end and can still not find anything! I want to see it, so please get in touch with me if you find it!

As we’re leaving I ask Brett, “I wonder if anyone saw this.” The whole time, in the back of my mind, I’m thinking, Dyanna (my friend from back home), loves CNN. She always watches it! What do you know? My phone vibrates and it’s her. I already know what she’s going to say before I even pick up the phone! She saw it! Awesome! My uncle Mick and cousin, Tyler saw it too! Hey, that’s good enough for me! Everyone gets 15 minutes of fame, and I still have 4 minutes, 45 seconds left! Whew hew!

I go to work at the restaurant for a little bit and Brett explores around, spending the majority of his day at the Sea, Air, and Space Museum. It’s literally, a block away from my apartment, sitting on the Hudson River. Yes, I live by the water, which is beautiful when it’s nice outside to take a walk or go for a run on a nice day! Check out his pictures below. If you have further interest, visit their website! It looks really cool…I wish I could have gone with him!

 

After work, Brett and I go out for one last dinner before he leaves. =( Ariba, Ariba Mexican Restaurant, here we come! I love Mexican food and so does Brett, so it worked out perfectly. So, I do warn him that when we walk in, there will be an over abundance of males, occupying this restaurant. Males that like other males. He seemed okay with it, until we walked in. He’s not anti-homosexual, but in Iowa, you don’t tend to see many, so he was a little overwhelmed. Totally cool, but not really sure where to look, or what to do! Hehe.

Brett got a banana margarita, which is probably the best margarita I’ve ever tried. I got the raspberry, which was great also, but the banana…whew hew! Delicious! I’m not a fan of margaritas, but Ariba, Ariba’s are fantastic! They make you want to stand up and yell, “Ariba, Ariba,” with your arms flailing in the air, after you stand up from drinking one! The food was great. Brett got some enchilada or something with chocolate sauce. Yeah, I just made a gross face too. He thought the chocolate meant, “dark sauce.” What, Brett? Really? If it were dark sauce, they would say dark sauce. Chocolate means chocolate, you dummy! Hehe! My food was great!

Next stop…Max Brenner’s! Completely on the opposite side of town, but well worth the trip! They have absolutely, hands down, the best desserts you will ever eat in your life. But only if you are a die-hard chocolate lover like Brett and myself. Check out our desserts and you have to check out their website! All we kept saying is, “So good. This is so good.” I could eat there everyday!

Next stop…The Snug! It sounds so cute, huh? It’s a fun little place in Hell’s Kitchen I like to go to. Happy Hour is from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.! That’s fantastic! We meet some of my friends and hang out for a bit. Brett and I are practically falling asleep at the table because we are so full and so tired from the week. It’s about 2 a.m. or so, so we decide to call it an early night.

Note to self: Laughter is the best medicine! Truly! When your brother makes you laugh until your stomach hurts, it makes you feel good and makes useless distractions go away! In my opinion, being witty is much more comical than straight up humor. My brother and I are more witty than comical, which makes things we say often funny. Always make sure to laugh—whether it’s at a joke, at yourself, or the lady who biffs it on her face in the middle of the street. It’s great to laugh at yourself! I do it on a daily basis! What a better way to understand yourself than through humor? If you can’t laugh at yourself, and make fun of the stupid decisions you make, or the ridiculous things you say, than there’s something wrong with you! Have enough confidence and self-esteem to release your inner dork, embrace your quirkiness, and let loose! When people say, don’t take yourself too seriously…listen to them! Why waste your time? It’s no fun to be serious all the time!

Day 89

December 4, 2009

I would like to thank everyone for their concern with my dad. I want to let everyone know he is doing better now. He will be going to the heart doctor, right dad? And continue to do tests, until they find something that can explain everything he went through. Right, dad? That's what I thought. Again, thanks for the concern! It's great to know what great friends we have!

I love working mid-shifts at the restaurant. Best part: I get to sleep in! It's so nice waking up in the morning, having the time to drink a couple great cups of coffee, watching the morning news shows, and taking your time getting ready. Ahh...only if everyday could be like this! With two jobs, it's just not possible. But...that's okay! I love both jobs; I just take advantage of days like this, when I can! ;)

I do a quick errand this morning before work, and along my way, I pass BCBG where I see a sign that says, up to 70% off! Are you kidding? I'm there! Disappointingly, the sale sucks! Even on sale, everything was over $100! Unless I can get a shirt for $50, count me out!

The weather here has been absolutely beautiful! In the 60s and mid-50s! It's December! This is what I'm talking about! However, snow is in the forecast tomorrow. I was talking to someone tonight at work and I said that "snow" is the worst four letter word every invented! =) Snow on Christmas is great, but after that, it needs to go away! I'm kind of getting the itch to make a snowman in Central Park, though! How much fun would that be?? Too much, in my opinion! ;) I'm adding this to my to-do list!

So, what are your thoughts on the Tiger Woods scandal? Want to know my opinion? I think it's AWESOME his wife beat the crap out of him! You can't sit there and say he didn't deserve it. If you do, God bless you! I would beat him, move out, and in two years, divorce his stupid ass and take the $50 million with me! And like my mom said, all the while, making his life a living hell! Hehe! So evil, but I love it! Now, everyone is probably thinking, Oh good luck to her husband! =) Hey, all I'm saying is, don't cheat. Then you won't have to worry about it.

I just wonder how many women are now going to follow in her footsteps! Because ladies, you know those crazy women who would totally do it, if they could! Well,  I suppose this gal opened up the doors. He deserves it. Cheating is the most disgusting thing someone could do to another person. I wish I would have thought about this a year ago! I even had golf clubs available to me, like Tiger's wife did. Dang! This could have been my other 14 minutes and 45 seconds of fame. (Read the following blog about my CNN live interview and 15 minutes of fame!) Headline: Crazy girlfriend clubs boyfriend: Throws him down stairs. Lol. Okay, I would never really do it, but I can't lie about not thinking about it! ;)

Tonight's a pretty relaxing night. I have a big birthday party to go to tomorrow evening, so I'm keeping it low key.

Note to self: Make sure your work shoes fit you comfortably. It's not okay when you constantly trip over yourself and run into walls throughout the restaurant. You look like a freak and people might start thinking you're on something. Especially, when your eyes always like to be glazed over and red for no reason! I suppose there's a reason--I believe my eyes are infected from my contacts and make-up.

NOW YOU ARE ALL CAUGHT UP! THE DAYS WILL CONTINUE TO COUNT IN ORDER! THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENT AND I HOPE YOU ENJOYED BRETT AND MINE'S TRIP! STAY TUNED, AS I PUT BRETT AS AN ADMIN, SO YOU CAN READ ABOUT HIS ADVENTURES AROUND NYC!

Day 80

November 25, 2009

Today…we are on a mission. We have serious Soho shopping to do, Crumbs cupcakes to buy, and hunt down the best Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. We start the morning by going to a pop-up waffle stand in Bryant Park’s holiday shopping area. Look at the pictures below. They are delicious! We top our waffles with Nutella and bananas. Nutella is amazing. If you’ve never tried it, I highly recommend it. It’s also really good on crepes with strawberries. It’s chocolate, people! I would just like to thank my high school French teacher, Mrs. Larson, for introducing me to the fantastic spread…not to mention Toblerone chocolate bars and Lindt chocolate balls.  

 

First stop of the day, is of course, Crumbs cupcakes. They look amazing! We got these instead of a traditional holiday pie. We got Red Velvet, Pumpkin, Apple Pie, Butterfinger, White Hot Chocolate, and a marble of some kind with Cookie Dough topping. Yum, right?? Check out their listing of cakes, here! By looking at the picture below, you can quickly tell our sweets buying did not stop at 9 a.m. Oh no! In Soho, when a lady stops us and asks about our Crumbs, then she shows us her “mini,” "Baked by Melissa Stuffed cupcakes," of course we have to get some to try! Really tasty, by the way! Then, when we pass NYC’s best cheesecake ever, Eileen's…we can’t pass this up either! Let me tell you.  Eileen knows her cheesecakes! I will say, they were probably the best I’ve ever tasted! So amazing! And how cute are they that they come round instead of your typical slice?

In Soho, we quickly realize how much money we don’t have to spend. It’s pretty expensive to shop around there—unless you want to go to Express or Forever 21. You can go to those stores in Iowa! We want vintage and local designers. Yeah…again, I’m too cheap to pay $80 for a dress! It was insanely cute, but I couldn’t justify it! Brett got some great things. He’s not afraid to spend money! He got really irritated about the fact that I’m so cheap. It got to the point, that if I picked something up, he would say, “Buy it. Just buy it.” Hehe. I never did! =) I get my bargain shopping from my Aunt Tammy. She’s even worse than me, if you can imagine! That’s okay, Tammy. At least we always get more for our money! Check out some of the pictures on our shopping extravaganza.

  

So, it’s lunch and we’re starving. Brett has to go to Chinatown for some authentic Chinese food. We settle at a restaurant, where we are the only two white. We figure this has to be authentic, considering no one spoke English and no white Americans were present. We order chicken. You can’t go wrong with chicken. However! Who the hell knows what’s on our plate! Considering it’s authentic, I forgot they think dog is a delicacy. Hmm…so, our lunch could very well be a small poodle, or maybe a Siamese cat; possibly a rat out of the subway, or pigeon off the street. Whatever it was, it was delicious! And our check was in Chinese!

 

I was slightly nauseated eating it, for fear I had no idea what was going into my body. To go box? I don’t think so. Check out the pictures, it tastes as good as it looks! Minus Brett’s loch ness monster in his soup. When I saw that, I calmly placed my bowl of egg drop soup to the side, gagged a little in my mouth, and focused on the white rice and broccoli. You know this stuff is real! You can’t fake a dog in nature’s mini trees!

It’s the night before Thanksgiving, so of course, we have to go out! It’s pretty much written in the law books that going out the night before Thanksgiving is a must. Honestly, think about it. What better hangover food could you ask for? I can’t think of anything either. Thanksgiving is a day where laziness, taking naps, and eating way too much food is actually okay and highly desired! My advice: take advantage! Good thing I typically listen to my advice! =)

We meet my friend from work, her boyfriend, and his brother. We go to Asian Pub on the Lower East Side to start the night. It’s a fun, chill bar where the drinks are cheap and really good. We were all pretty happy by the time we left. So…where do we go? Dancing, of course! Duh! What else would I do?

The dance club was a nostalgic, old school, kind of place. Bricks walls cover the inside from top to bottom, while 1960s vintage décor makes it feel like you are in an underground club from the post-hippy phase. The music was great and we had a blast! Check out the pictures! There was a guy who looked like Ludacris. The picture doesn’t do it justice. I’m pretty sure he thought I was nuts. Why does he think that, you ask? Brett said when I walked away, he gave me one of those looks you typically don’t throw out unless you do it behind someone’s back, knowing you won’t get caught! Haha!

   

Then I hear another lame pick-up line. Shocking! I know. Jon is his name. He walks up to my friend and I and says, “Excuse me. Can you take my picture and e-mail it to me?” Of course, being from Iowa, I believe him at first. “Sure,” I reply. Then, the creepy grin he gave me, made me quickly realize he isn’t being friendly. He’s being a creeper! Look at him! He can totally be classified as a creeper! His crazy eyes did way too much wandering for my liking. Needless to say, I get his e-mail address because I feel bad, but I don’t e-mail him. I’m not that naive!

Brett and I stroll in my apartment at, oh, I don’t know…4:30 a.m.! Eek! This is post Brett “falling asleep” in the cab. So funny, especially when he started snoring! Classic! We chow, and I mean literally chow, on leftover lasagna and street meat. Let me just say, both taste so much better tonight!

Note to self: Don’t put aluminum foil containers in the microwave. When your brother starts yelling at you because your microwave is lighting up blue, maybe you should realize that cooking at 4:30 in the morning could skew your way of thinking, just a tad. Who would have thought? You always hear of this idea being a really bad one, but you have to try it out for yourself, I suppose. That’s my logic behind it. Plus, I have a really pretty black mark on the back of my microwave. I like to consider it a memory, from Brett’s trip, that will most definitely never go away.

Day 79

November 24, 2009

What a great day! It’s a jam-packed day of shopping, food, and sports! We start our morning like every other…with a nice cup of homemade coffee.  Let me just tell you, thank God for mom sending me a coffee maker and coffee. Brett and I use it daily to get us going in the morning!

Today, we wait around for our Thanksgiving boxes because they have frozen food in them. They don’t come for a while, and of course, I get inpatient. So, we leave. We stay around Midtown because guess what? The talent coordinator from Sports New York e-mailed me and set Brett and I up for a tour and the chance to sit in on a live broadcast at 5:00! Brett is way pumped and I am too! The broadcaster is beautiful! ;)

But onto serious business—shopping. I take Brett to stores we don’t have in Iowa. What’s the point of shopping at stores you have at home? Let’s make his money worthwhile! I am the cheapest person alive, and Brett’s not. Needless to say, he got quite irritated with me because I wouldn’t spend $30 on a shirt. I told him, “You just wait until you have to pay your own bills and it’s either $30 for a shirt, or a weeks worth of groceries!” I’ve become quite practical since hitting the real world. I want to go back to where money was no object! Ya’ know, when I was about seven! =)

Anyways, we get some great stuff! Now it’s time to head to Sports New York! We get there and she shows us the control room, which is insane! It seems so confusing and intense. I have some friends at Drake that are studying broadcast journalism, so all I could think of was them when we were standing in the room with thousands of buttons, head sets, and flat screen tv’s all along one wall! We meet the broadcasters and we head into the newsroom.

It’s a broadcast of the “round table.” A group of four guys sit around, talking about the Jets, Knicks, and the Mets. They also make general statements about other teams and about the sports in general. The whole time, out of the corner of my eye, I see Brett nodding or shaking his head whenever the broadcasters make a comment. He is totally in his element and loving it! We also get to meet Damien Woody—a linebacker for the Jets. He is huge! All I could think of was, Well hell, if this beast of a man was running at me, I’d throw the ball away too and run like hell! Now I know why quarterbacks are always sliding under the tackle. They’re not wimps, they’re smart! Why do men feel the need to put themselves in a position where another can crush your bones with one swift swipe? No way! I think I’ll stick to cheerleading! ;)

After SNY, we head to Little Italy. We make a pit stop at Bryant Park where there is a holiday pop-up shopping area, if you will. Stores from around the city make a pop-up store in the middle of the park, where they sell everything from bath and beauty products, to jewelry, to candles, to vases blown from liquor and beer bottles. Check out their website! We get some pretty nice Christmas gifts! Check us out on the carousel. I had a rabbit, Brett had a frog! Hehe!

Now…we are on our way to a part of town where Brett is going to be in heaven—Little Italy! The one eating area he had to go to while visiting! Little Italy has shrunk in size over the years, so you only have about a six block stretch of Italian restaurants, bakeries, cheese shops, cigar shops, and souvenir stores. Now, six blocks sounds like a ways, but in Little Italy and the Village areas in general, the blocks are the same size as they are in Iowa. They get smaller the farther downtown you go. Yay! That’s good news!

So, we make our walk up and down the streets, perusing menus and being hassled by Italian, mafia men in their polyester suits and slicked back hair. Yes, they really do like the people in the movies! We land on Giovanna’s Restaurant. They offer us a free glass of wine! How can you pass that up? Okay, all I can say about the food—YUM-O! So amazing! Brett got his traditional manicotti and I had lasagna. Check out the pictures below! It was fun! It’s a small, quaint restaurant, with a live singer. She was singing love songs, so every time she walked past our table, we both put our head down because we didn’t want her coming over and singing to us like we were dating. Awkward.

 

Dessert was just as good! Again, check out the pictures! I had a homemade cannoli and Brett had Spumoni. He got it because of some movie quote him and his buddies always say. It was pretty good, but my cannoli was better!

 

It was such a good day! Brett had most of his “must dos” accomplished in today’s series of events! It was great! Tomorrow is a big day, so we go back and get some rest. We still didn’t get home until late, but it was all worth it!

Note to self: Watch more movies to learn movie quotes. When your brother only has conversations with you, where his vocabulary consists of movie quotes only, you need to be able to follow. When you spend more time saying, “I don’t know where that’s from,” you know you have a lot of catching up to do. Or simply, your brother needs a life! =)

Day 63

November 8, 2009

The weather today is beautiful! I'm going to get out and enjoy it! I do need to get some tops for The Capital Grille. You can only wear the same black sweater so many times. Considering we have "regulars" that come into the restaurant, we cannot have them seeing me in the same clothes over and over. Everyone knows that! However, I walk into H&M, Forever 21, Ann Taylor LOFT, Banana Republic, and Express. Do you think I like any of the clothes I can afford? Absolutely not! That would be too easy.

Why is it that whenever I walk into a store, I always seem to find the most expensive item...the item that I want. When I went shopping with my friend last year for her wedding dress, guess who picked out the only TWO couture dresses in the whole store? Yup. You're reading about her! Maybe it's a sign that one day, I am meant to be a millionaire! ;) Or maybe in a past life I was wealthy. Where is this life today? I want that now! Who cares about the past? I have champagne taste on a Natty Light budget.

I have been quite the chef lately. I have been cooking some really healthy dinners, and I have become a HUGE fan of steamed broccoli! I've always become quite the baker. I made some peanut butter and jelly cookies--yes, they sound odd, but they are quite delicious! Before you know it, I will have my own tv show. "Broke and Hungry," is what I will want to call it. Minimal products that don't cost a lot, and it only takes 20 minutes to make! We can consider it the gourmet form of Kraft Mac 'n Cheese!

Note to self: When you walk past a man handing out Obama and Palin condoms, you contemplate if you take one or not. When it isn't until later that you realize what he's handing out, you wonder if it's too late to turn around and make the obvious approach to take the hot ticket item on the street. Are people going to look at me funny if I obviously turn around to take one? Who cares, you sissy?! You should have taken one! You wonder if it could hurt or benefit your sex life, but then you realize...hey! I don't have a sex life. So, it definitely can't hurt. But when it comes to the President of the United States helping you out, you realize your life has definitely taken a turn for the worst!

Day 53

October 29, 2009

I finish the book today! And I must say, I am much anticipating "New Moon." I can't wait to see if he really turns Bella into a vampire! If I was her, I would do anything for that boy! Or should I say, man? ;) My friend also leant me the movie, so that's on my agenda for tomorrow. I know it's going to be Friday night, but considering my much anticipated Halloween, I think staying in is a good idea! I also told myself Rob Pattinson isn't as "dreamy" as everyone says, but after reading the book, I guess we'll see.

I truly believe everything happens for a reason. Don't you wish you could know why at the very moment something happens? Well, today, I go looking for special shoes I have to buy for my new hostess job. I cannot find them anywhere. I go to Payless, where I am directed to go, and when I ask the lady, she just stares at me. "You know, the shoes with stick-resistant at the bottom?" I say. Nothing. Just a blank stare. "Okay then, can you point me to size 8 section?" I say. Blank stare. Hmm...okay, then. Guess I will find it myself. They don't have any. I go up to her and ask if she can call another store so I don't walk all the way there and them not have any. Again, blank stare. Really? Are you a retard? (Insert "The Hangover" version of this word)

I go to the next store. Guess what the lady does when I ask her the same questions? Blank stares. I do realize the complexity of the question, Where are your slick resistant shoes?, but I'm not asking for brain surgery. I don't think anyways. Then, I get a call from the other employer who I am hoping to get a hostess job there. I got it! This must be the reason as to why the deaf/mutes as Payless can't find what I'm looking for!

I decide to do a little retail therapy! And I get a lot, for a little! I love these shopping days! As much as I hate going into Forever 21 and H&M, I reluctantly do so, but come out with bags and pleasantly surprised. Through all of the clutter, you can find some really great stuff! I buy my first pair of leggings. I'm becoming more of a New Yorker day by day. I'm hoping it does double duty--stylish and figure flattering. I don't want my booty jiggling while I walk the streets!

On my way home, I stop by the local fruit stand to purchase some more produce. Like normal shoppers, I check out each carton of strawberries to assure the quality; then I hear as I'm pushed out of the way, "Honey, they're all the same." I politely ignore this crackly, old woman. She says it again. This time, waving her hand in front of me. Lady! Does it look like I'm pestering you while you are shopping, smoking your cigarette? Hell to the no! I would not go near your wrinkly body with a ten foot pole! I don't need advice on how to produce shop. I believe I look old enough to do my own shopping.

I come home to a box awaiting my arrival. Every time I get a package from home, it's like Christmas! My parents always pack it full of goodies! I get food, things for my coffee, and a set of purple hardware. That's right. My hammer, screwdriver, some plier things, and other things that I have no idea what their purpose is, are adorned with purple! I love it! I can now be stylish while I pretend to be handy!

Note to self: Surprisingly, I don't recall any "Note to self" today. Due to high stress, my brain has lately, never really settled enough on one topic to really stop and think about. I have thought about "A day in the mind of Ashley." Writing down every thought that crosses through my mind. Because even when I'm just standing around, I often think to myself, Where did that come from? What ever made you think of that? I can't believe you're thinking about this. My mind often wanders to a different subject, I would say, eh, every 30 seconds or so. So, maybe...it would be funny to read! ;)

Day 40

October 16, 2009

Forty days?! Holy cow, I can't believe it! It's a good fortieth day here in New York City! The morning air is brisk and the clouds are hovering over the sun. But it's a great walk to work--it wakes me up and gets me energized for my long day. I meet two other people from Iowa while working for David Yurman. One is from Cedar Rapids, the other from Victor. Small world, huh?

Even smaller, a Yurman shopper that knows the one and only, best department store in the world! She says to her husband, "I saw this necklace at Von Maur."
Me: "I'm sorry. Where did you say you found this?"
Lady: "Von Maur. It's a store in the Midwest."
Me: "That's what I thought you said! I know Von Maur! I'm from Iowa! Is it not the best place ever?! There is no place here like it! It's my all-time favorite!"
Lady: "Oh I know! I love it! 'I love this girl!' (she says to her husband). I know she'll find me something good. I know where she shops and she knows where I shop!"
And the rumors are true, everyone...they do sell Louis Vuitton! So jealous! Although I'm not a huge LV fan, the more I'm around them, the more I am craving one! Not the traditional monogram one--everyone has those! I love to be different! If you're going to spend $2,000+ on a handbag, why do you want the same one as thousands of other people in the world? Check the ones out I would love to have! Petit Noe, Le Majestueux,and Le Radieux. Classic, but detailed.

Besides Mrs. Von Maur, there is another lady who is so much fun! She tells me, "My boyfriend thinks I'm shopping for yogurt." I reply, "Well, this sure is some expensive yogurt!" I work with her for an hour and a half! She is willing to try on everything, so I go wild with it! She tells me my parents should be proud because I'm a great salesperson. Funny thing is, I hate sales! I am one of those people who brush off salespeople in the stores because I do not like to be bothered, nor do I like to be annoyed with stupid questions and unnecessary things. (Such as someone trying to sell another VISA cards. ;) Ha!) I have become what I don't like. Funny how life works out, huh? =)

When she goes to check out, guess how much her bill is? Just think of a number...any number. She has $33,400 worth of jewelry! I think to myself, Holy God! I can't believe I got this lady to buy this much jewelry! But...she was NOT about ready to pay for all that. She cut herself down to only $3,000 worth of jewelry. I did help her with the cut backs. I mean after-all, she did offer me a job! That's right! I talked enough to where we got on the subject of school and work--when I tell her what I'm doing out here, she offers a job and says, I know I'll pay you a hell of a lot more than what you're probably making here. Okay! Sign me up!

So, I pretend to be Dr. Phil tonight when I'm talking to a bestie back home in Iowa. She is having boy problems, so I give her, what I find to be, an excellent analogy. I tell her, men are on a one-way road and if you're not in a straight-shot sight, forget about it. Men don't have peripheral vision, so if you're not about ready to be ran over in his car on this straight-shot road, don't expect him to remember, or take you into consideration on certain issues. It might sound dumb, but I like it! ;) And it's true!

Note to self: Learn patience from those around you. Take lessons from the daughter buying jewelry for her mother. As you listen to her talk to her mom on the phone, take note that although the mom is clinically insane and can't make up her mind, the daughter's voice never once raises, nor does she get an irritated attitude like someone you know. When she says, "Mom, don't get heart palpitations over this; it's only a necklace," just laugh along with her. Realize that even though the daughter wants to reach through the phone and strangle her mom that you're now getting annoyed with, she remains calm and the issue is resolved--it only takes 45 minutes! I don't know about you, but yes, patience is a virtue; however, after 45 minutes, patience starts to become more of a vice. I apologize to the folks ahead of time...I'm learning patience, but things take time! ;)

Day 31

October 7, 2009

I am up early today to get ready for a much-anticipated open call for a serving position. Serendipity, the historic restaurant for Frozen Hot Chocolate, is hiring and my friend tells me I should go. Long story short—the owner was a bitch. She was like the lady on the Maxine greeting cards, looks and all—hates life, so wants everyone else to be miserable. I do not get the job because “I need full commitment.” Apparently going home to see my family for Christmas is unacceptable. She hands me my resume and I leave. Old, haggard, B!

As I am walking, I venture down 5^th Avenue—the most fabulous shopping Mecca in Manhattan; at least in my opinion. I aspire to one day, walk into Cavalli, Gucci, Escada, wherever, and buy anything I want. The glamorous, workingwoman is what I like to call her. I’m walking down 5^th Ave. carrying my $50 Canal Street Chanel tote, thinking I’m hot stuff. After I slap myself across the face and wake up to the reality that everyone on this street knows my bag is a major fake, I start to laugh to myself. Just an FYI, there are four major staples everyone New York woman has: an LV (Louis Vuitton), a shirtdress, costume rings, and tall, flat boots. Can we say, “Daddy I need to borrow your MasterCard.” =) Just kidding.

Work is interesting tonight. A grandma wants to take a picture of me by myself. Okay. Single grandson? Let’s hope so! She is a sweetie! Think back to when you are asked to fill out paperwork. You usually fill out what’s requested, right? I mean, they wouldn’t waste ink if it weren’t necessary. So, when they ask for your social security number and yearly income, don’t look at me funny. Don’t inevitably ask, “Do we really need to fill this out?” No, it’s on their for fun—in hopes to make you laugh. It’s a simple fill-in-the-blanks game. You chose to play, so follow the damn rules!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE European men! Oh my goodness! There is something about their accent and jeans they wear. The jeans, let me tell you, are the most fabulous fitting, dark-washed denim I have ever seen! When they come up and talk to me, I’m in heaven. You know when they say you can be in a crowded room and not know what anyone else is saying because you are so drawn to one person? That’s what it’s like with me on a daily basis! I probably always look like I’m in la-la land. But I can’t help it. Those dark eyes, tan skin, free flowing hair, and charming personality get me every time!

A guy comes up to me tonight and says, “That’s some John Travolta statue over there. Ya’ know I worked with John Travolta? He’s a great guy…” Then, all I hear is blah, blah, blah…I also know Leo DiCaprio…blah, blah, blah…I also knew Heath Ledger…blah, blah, blah. If you supposedly work with these high-profile celebrities, why are you wearing cinched sweatpants? He tells me he has connections in journalism and asks for my number. I ask who the person is. “Just someone in the industry,” he says. “I’m sorry, but I’m a little hesitant on giving you my number. What if you’re a psycho? I don’t know.” I say to him. Then he goes off on how I need to have faith in humanity and whan, whan, whan! So, I’m supposed to give my number to a man who “knows” all these people—well, sir, that John Travolta statue you were bragging about is actually Arnold Schwarzenegger from the movie Terminator. Why am I going to believe a man who doesn’t know classic movies? You supposedly work with these people!

To make it better, a friend from work recognizes him from the train. This profusely sweaty man approaches him, telling him he should be a model and wants his contact information. My friend, drunk, gives him his card—he gets an e-mail: male foot fetishes. Hmm…can we say weirdo?! To avoid confrontation, I ask for his e-mail. He not only “doesn’t know” his e-mail address, he “only gives it to celebrities.” He says, “How am I suppose to know when I get an e-mail from an Ashley that it’s not Ashley Judd. I’m going to type my e-mail being like, ‘Hey Ash Judd, how’s it goin? And it’s really you.’” Really? Get away from me you over-stuffed Michelin paparazzi man!

Note to self: When the General Manager of your company catches you on your cell phone, make him listen as to why. Don’t let him arrogantly walk away from you and “tattle” on you to your supervisor. YOU’RE THE GENERAL MANAGER! Have the balls to tell your hourly employees yourself! Who the hell do you think you are? Obviously not a good GM—if I had a dollar for every time someone came in asked me where other restaurants are in Times Square, you wouldn’t have to pay me you English prick! Be a man, get over your shit-tastic self, and confront ME with your problem and don’t threaten my job to someone else. And p.s., I was on my phone, Googling an address for one of our guests! British bastard!

Day 14

September 20, 2009

Another beautiful day in the city--fall is kicking in and the weather is delightful. Before work, I decide to go shopping in Herald's Square. I have officially deemed it my go-to shopping source. They have all of the trendy, inexpensive clothing stores--H&M, Forever 21, Zara, The GAP, Ann Taylor Loft, Macy's, etc. The outside sitting area is very quaint, and gives you a sense of relaxation in the big city.

I get a black pencil skirt for work from Forever 21. You can definately tell how stores customize their clothing to fit each location. It's less plain Jane and more eclectically mixed with glamour, rocker, and relaxed chic. I guess you'd have to see it for yourself--I just sound snobby trying to explain it.

As I walk to work, the streets of Times Square seem unusually packed for a Sunday afternoon in September. Why you ask? Because it was "Prayer in Times Square" day today, what else? A day for hundreds of people to shout out, "Thank you Lord, Jesus" as arms flail all around the air--standing in the middle of the street. I have a feeling a lot of people were "saved" today. Or at least pretended so they can get on TV. I will say though, the choir of a hundred or so, who are leading the event, are very talented. They overpower the music our restaurant is blaring into the streets. Don't mess with people and Jesus.

Maybe the man painted in red, wearing a devil mask and tail, carrying a Bible held together with an oversized key, should recognize that. I am shocked he did not get his butt whooped by somebody. I mean, I know we're talking about Jesus and being kind to everyone, but I tell ya' what. Some of those holy rollers, you do NOT want to mess it. It takes guts...lots of guts!

Even better...the naked cowgirl. Oh yes, ladies and gentlemen, she exists. Her "There's Something About Mary" wrinkled, 65-year-old body, dressed in tiny underwear and bra, with fishnets will make anyone stop and stare. Her long, curly locks compliment her blue eye shadow and lipstick that's smeared across half her face. Not to mention, the glitter on her breasts. Sexy. She keeps asking people to take her picture. Sorry grandma, cellulite and sequence just do not mix.

Who says you can't get anything free in NYC? How about FREE HUGS? Just go up to the middle-aged man, wearing black tighty whities and sporting an oddly-grown beard for a photo op. I must say, the cowboy hat is what's making me say, Oh yes! I want a free hug! But if it's free, why does he have dollar bills hanging from his elastic waistband? Those must be some excellent hugs! I might have to see for myself one of these days.

I scared someone tonight. Yup, and all I did, is stand there. By his jump and look of death on his face, you would think I was the Exorcist! He says, Oh my gosh, I didn't see you there. Yeah, okay buddy. Even if you didn't, am I that scary looking, you felt the need to jump ten feet? I'm just going to chalk it up to the fact that he is from England, and so thrown off by my beauty, he can't help but jump for joy! ;)

Speaking of beauty, now that I have managed to eat a third of a box of Cheese Nips, I'm going to bed. Tomorrow is another day! Good night!

Note to self: When you want to and I quote, "protect your personal space and protect yourself from infectious and contagious diseases, such as swine flu," order a "Personal Space Saver." No more having to push your way through crowds--they move around you. This four-inch diameter, metal tutu will make sure everyone steers clear from you. A lady from Russia began this idea, however, the wonder if it would cause more problems than fix, is still there. What happens at the grocery store? Is a game of limbo necessary to get around her, so shopping can continue? Could be fun! Let's think about it!