Monday, August 6, 2007

start spreading the news

when i first arrived here a few days ago, i was sure that i was still in murfreesboro. it wasn't until i went into the city the next day that i realized i had really moved. after all, i moved in with brett on the cutest street in the world. and even more so, when we first got here, we threw everything in my apt. and ran to walmart and ikea. then we came home assembled all of the furniture. it took forever. i put together everything except my desk from ikea (that would be the futon, tv cart, cabinet thing and bookcase), while my mom washed dishes and my dad fiddled with my fourth "wall," which is really just a curtain. when we settled down to sleep, it was approximately 107 degrees, and i felt bad. my parents slept in my "room" without the curtain up and no sheets. it was hot.

the next day i woke up at approximately 6am, which i had been doing for the entire week before that. when i get nervous, i don't eat and i definitely don't sleep. it's how i stay in shape, really. but we woke up, showered, and ran to bed bath and beyond and home depot, narrowly avoiding walmart again, considering it was about 30 minutes away. we got home and i continued to construct my furniture while my parents tried to put up my curtain. after a lot of screaming, fighting, and hugs, my parents and i set off to explore astoria. it's pretty much adorable. there are bars and cute cafes everywhere, not to mention donuts and organic food stores. we got back around 8pm, and my parents left.

i then headed to manhattan to meet someone that i kinda knew from the boro. i arrived at this fancy restaurant/bar somewhere on 70th near central park at around 9, and immediately ordered a jack and coke. $11 later, i decided that's all i would be drinking for the nite. it was super fun, and i met a ton of people, but the entire time all i thought was "how am i going to get home?" at about 2am, we set out on the street to find an atm so i could hail a cab and go home. problem was, no one would go to astoria. so we went down to the subway, and i said my slightly nervous goodbyes to the dudes that were nice enough to help me out. i then ventured downstairs, and just as i expected, there was one person. and he was a dude. he didn't look at me, so i thought i had it pretty good. then i realized why he wasn't looking at me. he was staring at boobies. in a porn mag. "sweet," i thought as i backed up slowly. "i'm going to be raped and thrown on the track." but then something wonderful happened - the train came.

the ride to astoria was a slightly confusing one. the train i normally get on wasn't running then, so i was definitely trying my luck on this one. luckily, i'm not afraid to ask questions, because after i had sat down, a girl who speaks broken english politely explained to me that we were headed to brooklyn. unluckily, that is the exact opposite way to my apt. i hopped off the train, ran upstairs, and ran over to the other one. i did my best remembering and got off at 30th ave, and walked the 17 short blocks home. no really, they're short blocks. i then realized that 30th ave is the coolest place in astoria. there were gobs of people outside (need i remind you it was 2:45 in the morning), all drunk and dancing. there was cafes on the street, which is something i've always wanted to see/be a part of. i made it home sans scrapes and bruises, but i did see a dude on my street passed out on the steps in front of his door.

the next day brett and i went to best buy and michael's, which is apparently not too far from my apt. then he went into the city, and i got ready to meet him at 6pm. we ate barbeque in midtown manhattan, and i was so happy. we explored h & m and then walked over to the ucb. we got into the first show for free, but i paid for the other 2. they were great. "mother" and "reuben williams" performed, along with brett's friend katey. comedy is something i'm not used to, so when we went to mcmannus afterwards (a bar), i tried my best to keep up with all the names of the groups and people and performances. i felt like everyone was constantly performing, and i had nothing to say but a few puns. i did get a high five for one though, so it made me feel better. i chatted up some cute gay dudes (dammit), and brett's friends were nice. then brett, hal and i split a taxi home.

yesterday i got up late and met those dudes from the boro in midtown at blockheads, known for its burritos and $3 margaritas. i was slightly uncomfortable, but the tequila helped that quite a bit. i then realized there was no need to be uncomfortable - the dudes are awesome. i got a little drunk (off 2 tasty margaritas - pretty sure i'll always be a lightweight), and we went over to a virgin megastore and this other store that sells sheet music. we jumped on the subway and ended up where i was wanting to go all day - the quad theater. paris je t'aime was playing, and even though i had already seen it, i loved it so much i wanted to again. the movie ended and the dudes agreed that it was an absolutely amazing flick (thank god, cause that was definitely my first impression on them). austin went home to practice (he's auditioning for saved! the musical some time today), and ben, chris, and i went to trailer park, an amazing bar. honestly, i loved it there. i took pictures, which are actually the first i've taken since i moved here, but i don't have internet on my computer, and i don't want to put a bunch of shit on brett's. i'll post them later.

okay, so job prospects? i have an interview sometime this week with brett's boss, as her personal assistant, and an interview at a museum in astoria as a sales assistant. i really want the job with brett's boss, but who knows if i will get it at all.

now i have to go back to working on dishmag stuff. i'm still freelancing for them, and i have some work to do. i'm not sure i'm going to manhattan today. i think i'm going to make bean burritos for brett and me instead.

xoxo
jennifer

1 comment:

Chris Freeman said...

Sounds like a great first few days in New York! I miss cities. I'll visit soon.