My First "Big Break"

Hey kids.  Wow a LOT has gone down since my last post.  Lots and lots... I hope you're ready!

I changed up my layout a bit here, hope you're enjoying it.  I was hoping to make it a bit more simple.  Also, go check out my website and make sure to go "Like" my fan page!

So let's start in November...

First of all, I helped Jordan and Dylan move into their new apartment!!!!  Congratulations guys!  I'm so happy for them, they are one of my all time favorite couples and hands down my bestest friends in New York City.
It was so exciting to official have "our" own place.  And I say our because I have a little bag of stuff over there so I can sleep over whenever.  And because I spent the entire weekend with them moving, unpacking, organizing, and having a damn drink after all that work.

Guess if this happens or not

Nope.

A few of you know that I had been having some problems with work and trying to go home for Christmas.  Due to the nature of the job the staff had been told we "weren't allowed" to go out of town for the holidays.  I had been aware of this since the beginning of November and was trying to figure out a way that I could see my family, considering I am very close to them and have always been home on Christmas day... and with the holidays coming up it is hard not to get a little homesick.
After another day of hearing that I wasn't allowed to see my family I attempted to attend book club with the Chi Omegas and I just couldn't do it.  I was sick of not knowing when I'd be going home, sick of New York City, and sick of people telling me what I could and couldn't do.  I actually ended up getting very upset because my family was pressuring me for answers that I couldn't give them because my bosses weren't answering me.  I thought going to see my sisters would help, but all I wanted to do was crawl in my bed and go to sleep.
So I decided to leave book club early, explaining to our amazing host what was happening with tears in my eyes.  The next day she called me and offered to let me spend the holidays with her and her husband.  This is the millionth reason I am grateful that I joined such an amazing sisterhood!  The support system I have here in the city is so huge, including my fellow alumni sisters and my awesome Big.
I went to a work meeting the next day and was told I could take off the first week in January if no one else did, so I put in my vacation request right away and settled with the fact that I'd be able to see the family even if it wasn't right when I wanted.

That weekend I received some terrible news.  One of my great friends had passed away suddenly at the age of 22.  Vince was a bright, energetic, outgoing, amazing man and I am going to miss him a lot.  But instead of crying I'm going to play Rihanna's "S&M" on repeat because I know he'd rather have me dancing to one of his favorite songs than being sad!  RIP love.  So on top of the emotions I was already dealing with, I was now more homesick than ever.  All I wanted to do was be with my family and friends and celebrate the amazing life that Vince had.  Ugh.

<3

That weekend was also the last weekend my roommate was going to be in town so he had a HUGE party.  I had tried to find something to do, but it seemed like everyone was busy, as is the case in NYC sometimes.  So I figured if you can't beat 'em join 'em.  I went out to the living room where our entire table was covered in booze and had a few drinks.  Just me and ten Mexican men in the living room.  Eventually, my work buddy Michael came over and by then the party really escalated.  I ended up going to bed around five.  When I got up at 10am my roommate was still awake and our apartment looked like this:

And this is just the kitchen

 I just left it because it was NOT my mess and I was definitely not responsible for cleaning it up.  The apartment smelled awful though.

To get out I met up with Neil and went shopping with him for some new clothes, then I took him to lunch at a 1970's style diner which had some great burgers.  It was such an amazing afternoon and just what I needed after the stress I was dealing with the previous week.  I just have such a great time when I'm around him, even though I don't see him nearly as much as I want too.

The next week the bad news just kept coming... just a few days after our great afternoon Neil broke up with me.  Although when we were together we had an amazing time, there were some bigger issues such as him being a bit older than me and having children.  We were at completely different places in our lives.  When I found out I went it was over I ran to my haven, Jordan and Dylan's.  Like the amazing best friend that she is, Jordan stuck me in her shower, gave me a spray tan, did my hair and make-up, gave me a drink and took me out on the town.

I can always count on this amazing woman

Friend time!

I ended up spending the entire weekend there.  I got to their place on Tuesday and didn't leave until Sunday.

Wednesday morning, Jordan had chocolate chip pancakes delivered to me while she was at work because she is THE BEST.  Seriously, nothing better than waking up to breakfast at the door.

And THEN I found out that my vacation request had been denied.

I cried to Jordan and Dylan and when they left to go back to Maryland that day I stayed cooped up in the apartment grieving the loss of my friends, man and the fact that I was all alone on Thanksgiving while my family and friends were together in Michigan.  At this point I didn't think I was going to get to see them at all anytime near the holidays.  It was definitely a pity party.  New York City is NOT an easy place to live and everything had been dragging me down, so by the time I found out about Vince and Neil and I wasn't going home I was having some real trouble.  As many New Yorkers will tell you, this was another time that I was honestly considering packing up and going home.  Being away from everyone was getting to be too much.  I got pep talked from many people.. Amber, Marcus, Amy and my parents and I just didn't care.  I wanted to whine and I wanted a hug and I wanted to cry and just be super depressed.

I went to my work Thanksgiving party Thursday night and tried to be cheerful, but I had signed up with a plus one and felt blatantly aware of the fact that I was totally alone.  I even went out for a drink afterward but all I wanted to do was mope.

At the "Motor City" Bar in the Lower East Side... Not quite home

Spending a few hours with real people took all my energy so I spent the whole weekend just licking my wounds and eventually on Sunday I got up and cleaned up and came back to my now roommateless apartment.  By that time I was all depressed out and thought maybe it was time to stop being so emo.  I was also super excited that SOMETHING good was going to happen during all the crap I was dealing with.

He left me a mini skateboard

He  left me Bieber!

He left me... this thing!

He left me BOOZE!

At this point I was starting to feel a little better, but I have to be honest when I say that not being able to go home was causing me a LOT of anxiety.  I couldn't imagine being stuck in the city, alone.  Or trying to go to friends apartments and pretend that that was were I wanted to be.  And I felt that I wasn't getting any straight answers or cooperation from my managers at work.  I was just counting down the days until December 1st because Ashley was moving in and I was hoping that having her around would cheer me up, but I was also looking for jobs in Michigan, or the south, or anywhere.  I was OVER New York and over my job and over the struggle.

On Wednesday I got up and went outside and cleared me head and got ready for work.  I was tired of being sad and I figured I should just put a smile on my face and tough through everything.  Luckily, everything was figured out when I went in for my shift and was informed that I was no longer needed at work.  To put it bluntly, I was fired.

I happily grabbed my belongings and went outside, totally free!  I don't think I've felt relief like that in a long time.  What a weight lifted off my shoulders.  I called my Dad and the first thing I said was "Daddy, I'm coming home for Christmas."  The vacation drama wasn't the only thing that caused me to be let go, it was clear that I wasn't experienced enough for the environment I was in.  And I'll be damned if  you see me working another restaurant job again.  I KNOW it is good money but I really hate it.  Haha.

So I walked up to Union Square and spent my evening in the Christmas Village looking for presents for my friends and family.  I was so relieved that I didn't have to deal with work anymore, especially since I have a nice fat chunk of savings and already had my rent ready for December and January.

I went home and paid $100 to change my ticket, I'm going home for THREE WHOLE WEEKS!  Yay!  I can't wait.  And let me say this... if I could go back I would do exactly the same thing.

From Daddy

Since I didn't work the next day I volunteered at Sunnyside Senior Center.  It is close enough that I can walk, and helped in a meditation class.  I spent the rest of the day cleaning the apartment getting ready for Ashley to move in!

Working hard

She came that Saturday.  Her brother and his friend came first so we actually ended up moving all her stuff in without her while she was loading out her show in Pennsylvania... nice planning on that Ashley haha.

THIS COUCH IS SUPER STINKY AND GROSS

We spent the weekend in the apartment unpacking and hanging out.  Ashley's boyfriend James came over so we had a full house!  It was so nice to have an apartment full of friends!

Clearly an Adrian College, Mu Zeta, Chi Omega apartment

  

Work in progress!

So we've been spending this time getting the apartment together, and watching VHS videos on Ashley's tiny TV and playing Super Nintendo.  Last Thursday our other roommate Doug texted me saying that he had an extra ticket to "The Heiress" on Broadway.  It was a GREAT show with wonderful acting.  It was super fun to see a show on Broadway especially since the first one I went to was really boring.

Night at the theatre

Seeing a show and having Ashley here is such a great motivator.  After losing my job I decided that was a great time to pick up my acting again.  People don't really realize how much work it is to be in this business.  So much of it is self motivated.  Until you get an agent and manager (and even then) it is all self promotion.  You are the only one who can get you a job.  And it is easy to spend five + hours just applying for auditions.

So I got back into the routine of applying for auditions and somehow stumbled onto a Craigslist ad looking for people with mascot experience.  I thought I might as well apply because I was the Pizza Pizza man in high school and why the hell not?  The next day I got an email from the producer saying he had submitted me to the ad agency for the role and that it was for a national AT&T commercial.  I was excited and nervous considering I hadn't been in a mascot in years but I wasn't about to say that.  After a few hours he told me I had the role and sent over information for me.

Trying to break the news to my Mom

I got call sheets and more information about the commercial so I started doing my homework and researching my directors, one of which was Jorma Taccone, who is kind of a big deal.  He is one of the three members of The Lonely Island along with Andy Samberg and wrote and acted in a bunch of well known SNL digital shorts.  At this point I started to get really excited and really nervous.

My call time on set was 9am downtown so I packed up everything I needed and headed out from my apartment around 7:45am.  I had some butterflies in my stomach that were totally smashed when I saw Neil waiting for the train.  Seeing him jarred me so much that I wasn't nearly as nervous.

I got into the studio and was led into the dressing room where they were steaming a bunch of mascot costumes, including a mouse that I recognized but I didn't know how.  Then they told us that it was the same costume Bruno Mars had worn a month earlier in the "Sad Mouse" skit on SNL!  So cool.  I met my fellow mascot, Alex, and we chatted for a bit.  He is a musical theater actor and used to do mascot work in children's show.  This is his second national commercial and when he told me how much he made in residuals for his first I was... amazed.  So pray that they play ours all over so I can get a new laptop!  Ha.

The studio was amazing.  We had a full green screen and a huge crew.  There was a catered breakfast with an omelet station, they would cook you an omelet made to order.  And one of the employees was super cute, nothing like some flirting and a yogurt parfait for breakfast.

By this time my nerves were pretty much gone.  Usually the anticipation is the worst part and once I get on set I'm fine.  We tried on our costumes and they wrapped us in bubble wrap so our outfits would have nice, round bellies.

      

After we were dressed we went out and shot footage of just the two of us.  We danced around to a song about sharing.  We hugged, we jammed out, we played with balls of yarn and bones, we had pin wheels and bouncy balls and airplanes.  Jorma and Oz were great directors and we had a lot of fun.  It was sweaty and awkward in the costumes but it was still a ton of fun.  They were very open to whatever we wanted to try, at one point Alex was doing cartwheels and we were doing the running man.

The set

 Soon the kids were ready and we continued to dance around with them.  It wasn't too hard to work with the kids, although they were SUPER energetic.  And they kept asking me to meow when the director was trying to tell us what to do.  They were super cute though.

Me on set!

Director

Me with director Oz Rodriguez

Hugs from the kids

We wrapped around 4:30.  I went around and thanked our crew members and made sure to hand out a ton of business cards.  (It's all about who you know!!!)  Then I came home, took a shower, and passed out by 6pm because I was totally exhausted.

The best part of this story is if I was never let go I wouldn't have been online looking for auditions and wouldn't have gotten cast.  Everything happens for a reason and the universe pushes you toward where you should go!!!

The next day I went to book club and our annual cookie exchange!  It was so great to see everyone and update them on my work situation.  I came home and spent the night with Ashley working, watching TV, and chatting with a cute boy :)

So that's it!  So much has happened!  And hopefully a lot more good is coming my way.

ONE WEEK TIL I GET TO GO HOME YAY!

Here's some extra pictures for you.  Thanks for reading!

Present from Amy

Present from James

My beautiful Christmas tree!  Merry Christmas!!!

Surviving a Hurricane and More...

Taken in the East Village

This post is dedicated to Amy, because I'm going to write EVERYTHING in as much detail as I can handle because I know she'll read it.

And for you too Daddy!  Love you guys!

Out with my best friends!

September 15-22

Six Flags!

All that mattered this weekend was our trip to Six Flags.  I got up nice and early and cooked Amy and myself breakfast (set the table even) and it was a great start to the day.  We got dressed in our amusement park couture and headed out the door.  I wish I could perfectly describe the excitement that we had at 7am skipping through the streets of Brooklyn to get to the train, but nothing can capture that feeling.  We made it on the bus (the first time Amy has ridden in the front seat since her BUS CRASH) and were amazed when the ride only took an hour, because it was supposed to take two.  After waiting an hour for the first ride we caved and bought the line reservation pass to skip waits and felt like royalty getting onto every other ride.  Needless to say, it was an amazing day.  We just went from coaster to coaster, met sexy guys (picture above), I got an airbrushed unicorn hat, and we ate terrible, disgusting, delicious food.  Our half off freezer "El Toro" mugs will forever be the best souvenir I've ever purchased.  100% worth the money and going with Amy was the best decision I've ever made because we basically think exactly the same.

Later that week I headed out with Jordan and Dylan and their Living Social work team.  The group of young people at Living Social is always doing cool stuff and I'm one of the outside friends that always tags along with them.  They have happy hour a few times a month and this night we went to Brooklyn Whiskey and had some whiskey (yurck) and played shuffleboard (way fun).  We wandered into Manhattan and ended up drinking with the entire Oakland A's team, who were wearing wrestling singlets.  I don't know why, it was weird, but they did it.  And the next morning I had to work at 4pm so I slept the whole day in Dylan's apartment (ugh hangovers).  Thank goodness he lives a few blocks from my work!

And on Saturday I volunteered again with the Granny Squares group where we knit and crochet scarves and blankets to donate, while also keeping the residents of the center company.  Then later that night I met up with my Chi Omega NYC alum Big, Jenna.  We went to a great bar that had a ton of different beers and had fun trying some and just chatting about life.  We got hit on by an extremely drunk man who kept repeating the same phrases over and over, but eventually bought us some pumpkin ale.  Chi Omega is such a great resource and I'm so happy that I joined such an amazing sisterhood because it is still such a big part of my life even after college!

September 23-30

Daddy mailed me some birthday cake... better late and squished than never!

This week was simultaneously the saddest and most amazing one I've had in New York City, for two specific reasons.

First, Amy moved back home.  It was the worst moment of my young life, when she left me here to fend in the city by myself without my other half.  I am still crying in the shower and writing sad poetry because of it.  I still believe she will come back. PLEASE COME BACK.  Until then I have to satisfy myself with texting/emailing/facebooking her constantly.

But luckily I had the most amazing thing happen to me... LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!  Seriously, on Tuesday I was on the train and looked over and there he was, standing there, smiling at me.  We got off the train together and we have been going strong ever since.  He took me out two days later for our first date and kissed me before we even got dessert.  It was the best first date I've ever been on.  It is safe to say I'm totally gaga and that he was sent to me to replace the hole left by Amy.  (But seriously, he's the best guy ever and I'm so excited that I met him.)

His name is Neil, he's a psychologist, and he lives one block down the street from me.  Our first date I walked up to meet him and our outfits matched (black shirt, dark jeans).  We went to a Croatian place here in Queens and had a great meal.  We ate outside on a cute patio under the stars and were serenaded all night by the live music they have on Thursdays, three old men in zoot suits, one playing the guitar, one on the drums and one singing classic love songs.  It was incredibly romantic.  He walked me home and kissed me goodnight and I went upstairs swooning.

And then on the 28th New York City and I celebrated our one year anniversary.  What a crazy amount of ups and downs I have had here... and yet here I am still, onto the next year, may this one be bigger and better!

That weekend I also started my new job at Times Scare a year round haunted house here in the city.

Scary!

View from the dressing room, overlooking Times Square 8th Avenue

I do my own makeup!

I'm getting paid to act!

And on Sunday Neil took me to brunch before I had to work.  We went to the park and walked down along the river, enjoying the last bit of indian summer...

October 1-7

This week started out with another night with Neil (three dates in less than a week!) because that man is crazy about me :) and also my new schedule working two jobs.

On Wednesday we had our annual Chi Omega meeting, just like the ones we had in college (which you do miss ladies!) and it was really fun.  There was wine, food, and tons of Chi Omega love.

Chi Omega!

My Big and Me

The rest of the week consisted of a staff meeting and working, and little time with Neil.

October 8-14

This week consisted of a few double shifts.  I also went to Chi Omega book club where we discussed The Great Gatsby and had yummy nibbly food.  Book club is a great event because it makes me read a (hopefully great) book and discuss.  I actually hadn't read The Great Gatsby in high school so I was excited to dive into a 'classic.'

Chi Omega book club October 2012

That weekend I worked a TON and was supposed to go to Comic Con but I felt terrible so I stayed at home instead.  Neil knew I didn't feel well and came over with homemade minestrone and then looked in my freezer and found lamp chops which he grilled for us and cooked some potatoes as well.  Needless to say, I was more smitten than ever.  We watched the game (go Tigers!) and enjoyed a relaxing Sunday afternoon together.

Homemade yumz.

The Rest of October...

As you can see I have been working a LOT.  I'm getting my finances back on track and I'm proud to say that I've been saving AND that I have paid off one of my student loans and should have another paid off by the end of December.  I haven't been able to spend any money on anything other than the essentials but I just tell myself that in a few years when I'm totally out of debt I'm taking myself on a long, totally paid for, vacation.

The Chi Omega social group came to Times Scare after happy hour and I got to go through with some of my sisters.  It was a ton of fun to go through the haunted house from the other side even though I know most of the scares!  I was jumping right along with the rest of the girls and having a great time.

Going into Times Scare!

Terrifying!

That weekend everyone celebrated Halloween.  The haunted house was packed, and after I left the streets were full of people dressed up.  I wore my skeleton makeup and met up with Jordan and Dylan for karaoke and drinks.

We also met some drunk turtles.

Luckily, I celebrated when I did because the next day the weather really messed us up!

October 28-November 4 aka HURRICANE SANDY

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who checked up on me before, during, and after the storm.  On Sunday I had the day off and I spent most of it sleeping in.  I watched the news and got a little prepared for the storm with some candles and a jug of water, but I must confess I didn't go too crazy.  Until 8am on Monday I was being told that we were still expected to be at work!  When I found out that work was cancelled I spent the rest of the morning sleeping and basically Monday I did NOTHING.  It was actually much needed for me, I have been working 50-60 hour weeks and being able to just sit around felt great.  I was very lucky and wasn't affected very much by the storm so instead of being sad that I was holed up in my apartment I took the time to have some fun.

Dinosaur Pancakes

I made a lot of food, watched a lot of TV, and cleaned my apartment.  Neil had to go to work during the whole storm (because he's a doctor!) but luckily he was safe and got to come back home and we had a great evening listening and watching the storm and talking.  It was actually incredibly romantic, so thanks for that Sandy.

By Tuesday the storm had passed mostly and my neighborhood was fairly fine.  There were some trees and branches down but we still had power and no flooding.  As you know, many people weren't that lucky, including a lot of my friends who live in downtown Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Jersey.  The restaurant lost power so I didn't have to work the whole week.  Luckily, I had been saving and budgeting so I could enjoy the time off instead of worrying how I am going to pay my bills.  The haunted house opened up again Tuesday night and on Tuesday and Wednesday they paid for us to go to and from work in cabs.  The ride was still an hour to an hour and a half trying to get into the city.

A walk sign about 20 blocks from me.

On Friday we had a meeting at the restaurant in the dark at work and talked about the direction the owner wants to go in.  It took me an hour and 45 minutes to get down by train and bus.  As I was leaving the power came back on after five days and people were cheering in the streets.  My life has gone back to normal mostly, other than taking more time to get to work, but there are still signs all over the city of what happened.

Army trucks full of bottled water, East Village, Sunday November 4

But New York will bounce back!  It is amazing to see all the help offered by the amazing people I work with and all the residents of the Tri-State area.  I am very blessed to have survived my first hurricane with no damage to myself, other than a pileup of dirty laundry.  I wanna say thanks again to everyone for their concern!

The next few weeks are going to be exciting, I'm going out with Neil, the election is happening, and my roommate is moving out on Thanksgiving and one of my close friends and collegiate sorority sisters is moving in.  I can't wait!  Hopefully I will have some time to sit down and tell you all about it.

Thanks for reading!