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!