Just another Tuesday in Bushwick

My normal work schedule has me in Manhattan Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. It's a cush gig. Work 4 days a week to afford my needs and a little extra to pay off whatever my last irresponsible purchase was. On top of that Wednesday - Friday are only half days. It's great. I get a full weekend and a random Tuesday off in the middle of the week.

Today was nothing special. Laundry. Cooking. Cleaning up the house. Prepping a donation bag (AKA: I didn't have enough hangers for the stuff I washed today). 

The boy came out tonight. We watched Freedom Writers (it's part of his juvenile justice course) and made dinner. I'm learning to whip up a mean toasted wrap (goat cheese, grilled chicken, spinach, tomato and guacamole). 

My major accomplishment today was taking the train into the city on my day off - my metro card is unlimited, take advantage of it!  I walked through 6 stores and didn't buy one thing. Not one thing. Nothing more to add to the collection of odds and ends. (please feel free to break into song... "look at this stuff, isn't it neat? wouldn't you say my collection's complete?" *bonus points if sung in a swimming pool*). 

I'm trying to make the transition from the boy's neighborhood back to my own. I understand why I thought he was snooty. It IS different. I mean, my neighborhood doesn't make me uncomfortable at all. But there are a lot more people yelling at each other... some very obvious crack houses...   and his neighborhood is a bunch of tall buildings, immediate stores and shops on the ground level of every block and everyone is walking a dog or a baby. 

I would still consider my neighborhood more friendly. Everyone says "Hello" in passing. If anything they are usually too affectionate. "mmmm... girl! Walk this way." Right. I'm sure that will work one day and then you will fall in love and live happily ever after. 

In this neighborhood, it's important not to keep eye contact for too long or you wind up showing that you're interested which... if like me, you are prone to staring off into space on the subway, instead of closing your eyes or playing on your phone... can lead to awkward and amusing situations. Let me just tell you... I drive the 40+ year old latin men wild. Now, this is a gross generalization, but it seems that in most cases, they just happen to be eye level while sitting on the subway.

I got the stare down by an older latin man just today... With his straw resort style hat, cream colored suit and dark, but-not-so-dark-you-can't-see-him-make-eye-contact-and-raise-his-eyebrows, sunglasses. I spent 16 awkward minutes trying to look anywhere but in his direction. I did the quick visual scan of the train from left to right a couple of times to see if he was still staring...   nnnnngggghhhh...   Being the object of Creep-o-vision has a distinct feel - similar to being backed into a corner... or the uncomfortable mind-odor of knowing that you are sunburning (red heads out there, you feel me?), except this time it's sunburning a hole through you. 

Sex in the city got it wrong. That's not what dating out here is like... at all. Maybe it's a plus-sized thing? Maybe a difference of salaries thing? Maybe it's a Bushwick thing...  But I'm just saying, in my personal experience, there has been little to NO similarity. 

Also, wearing heels while in the city... stupidest idea ever. If you're ever here, just know it's normal to see a business skirt suit paired with sneakers on the street. Don't be ashamed and don't let TV tell you different. 

Love, 

Nanette

Testing Facebook Autoposts...

This is what it looks like when I try to wink. 

This is a morning commute on a bus. 

This is where I sleep... also where I watch movies with the cat. 

This is where I work...

This is one of my favorite nights with one of my favorite people... and that's a needle through her nose, stuck in a cork. 

10 minute free write...

9:25pm... ready... set...   Go!

I started writing something like this at the doctor's office and I quickly realized I don't get 10 uninterrupted minutes... ever.

Today was a good day in the office. I was able to be very frank and communicate clearly about doc's behavior being in conflict with what we discussed in the work meeting. Priorities... Getting new clients in the door and retaining them. I mean... who leaves a patient waiting so they can microwave their coffee. Stop wasting everyone's life. The patient's... because they are just waiting and it's a particularly frail one who needs a good chair and can't stand for a long period of time. Mine because I have to stop being productive in order to nag the crap out of him for being a complete idiot. And his own... really, you're microwaving coffee that you're not even going to drink but rather use as a prop and a time consuming device to make yourself feel important.

It's nice to know that I've retained some of my original Idaho self... the part that can't freaking STAND people wasting my time.

Back to home... Back to my house, my bed. Mom and dad sent me a birthday check. I used a little bit of it to buy some fancy socks. they have lavender in them and buckwheat or something. You're supposed to microwave them and they turn into puddles of black bear coziness. So far... they're working. So... there's that. The rest of it is going to pay my gym membership registration fee. So... you're encouraging me to keep fit for another year. Thanks!

I was thinking on my way home that I have bought all the fun things a girl could need. Makeup, nail polish, shoes, perfumes, hair stuff... And when you have too much it's not fun anymore. Just another thing to keep and store. So I guess I'm all about using everything up and getting rid of things. I'm actually taking my first trip to donate stuff. I have gone from no mattress to 3 tubes of the same damn lip crayon that makes me look too pale (thank you subscription boxes).

So this is 27. I love to make a list of things that I want to accomplish in the year... using my birthday as my own personal new years. I have it somewhere. I should post that.

As any of you who were directed here from my facebook know, I'm taking a little hiatus. Facebook is so full of anger and hate and boredom. It's frustrating to watch and be a part of. I like sharing my thoughts and photos... and can't stand those stupid posts about what facebook should be... 12 worst types of selfies, or top 10 worst kinds of posts... etc. etc. etc. So I'm withdrawing. People can use social networking how they will. I'm just going to bow out. But I don't want to lose this time in my life... Facebook is such a good documentation. Daily snippets, photos, notes from loved ones. it's a sentimentalist's dream.

But for now, I will enjoy these cozy socks and the warm glow of the laptop screen and bid you all good night. My 10 minutes are now....   three... two... one..... Over.

365 days...

As of June 2nd, 2013... I have lived in NYC for a full year.

One of the hardest years of my life? You bet. One of the most emotional years of my life? Yes. One of the most truly independent years of my life? Absolutely.

I am proud of myself. And I'm going to take a little opportunity to brag...

Over the course of 365 days I have...

• Gone from being unemployed to having 5 jobs. 
• Worked my way up from $12.50 an hour to $20 an hour. 
• Acquired insurance. 
• Started "Project Identity" where I replace all my lost identity documents. 
• Become proficient at using both buses and trains... no more panic late night on a Sunday. 
• Become a smart phone user. 
• Touched the ocean - that's going to be happening more this summer. 
• Begun donating a monthly amount to a charity. 
• Purchased permanent items... like a bed, larger furniture, more enjoy-life kind of stuff. 
• Enough in savings to survive a month without employment 
• Paid for a trip to visit Idaho. 
• Learned how to use groupon to afford nice things and fun events. 
• Paid off 2 credit cards 100%, closed the accounts and cut up the cards. 
• Enrolled at a gym that I attend at least 2 times a week... (for over 3 months now, that makes it a habit, right?)
• Got a Pedicure. 
• Visited 5 eastern seaboard states. 
• Ridden 2 boats. (ferrys really). 
• Learned how to dress for all 4 NYC seasons. 
• Become rather smitten with that nice boy I mentioned in the last blog... 
• Established quality friendships with great people like Cat, Laura, Will, Tamara... that whole crew over at Kidville (they are the best co-workers I've EVER had). 
• Taken a month of piano lessons. 
• Begun learning spanish (check out the fun website I'm using HERE).

I have also melted down completely a couple of times. There's been tears, snot and throat infections... poorly assigned medications and a bad match on birth control. There has been tons of paperwork... arguments with bosses, arguments with roommates... ninety tons of laundry done and too much self criticism. 

But that's LIFE! Good times. Bad times... but I'm so happy to be growing and learning still. I'm sure that my next year here will teach me so much more. I'd like to discover my curiosities and learn some new skills. Maybe even buy a piano keyboard and get back to speaking terms with music. 

I'm super blessed to have my friends back home that have kept me together this last year. Trent has listened to tirade after tirade... Sarah has reminded me that I am a rational human being (and an interesting one at that). Julie is always there with a friendly Facebook "Hey girl!"... Taylor has actually picked up his phone a few times! Ha! Just to name a few. I love you all and can't wait to see you guys again. So I don't know if anyone is going to read this, but there needs to be a big ol' THANK YOU! out there for all those folks who have kept me company when I was lonely or entertained when I couldn't afford a real show or shared your lives with me. THANK YOU! 

Year-in-summation-ly Love, 

Nanette

On a Boat! 

My subway stop smells like freshly cut grass in the green seasons. 

Beautiful sunset, worth posting twice. 

Laura drinks coffee and means business. 

Cat is adventurous. 

Toni... well... she worries sometimes. HA! 

Extreme sports at kidville... Climbing without a helmet. 

I went to the zoo!!! They have butterflies there? 

Take THAT Goal List!

23. Furnish my apartment.
My mattress is no longer on the floor. I've graduated *ding! ding! ding!* to a grown up room! My roommates, power drill inclined neighbor and I assembled a bed frame, a desk (with a drawer - very tricky) and a book shelf! 

18. Practice being more fancy.
Every day I'm being a little more fancy. I found a great skin care brand that doesn't make my eyes water/itch whenever I use their foundations, moisturizers, etc. I have mascara that doesn't hurt now! (If only I made more of a point to wear it).

I have jumped on the smart phone wagon. So I'm not getting lost nearly as often.

I'm down to ONE job!!! Full time. Decent enough pay that I can just work ONE.

(I consider all of these things VERY fancy).

20. Wear out 5 pairs of shoes.
Okay... So I haven't worn out 5, but I'm up to 3! The walking out here is in abundance. Worn through a pair of trail running shoes. Black ballet flats. And I'd say that my most recent pair of tennis shoes is JUST about to bite the dust. 

An average day of walking in NYC is anywhere between 2 avenues to 4 miles depending on your activity. If you do something special... you can wind up doing between 5-7. Not to mention all the flights of stairs you climb for subway service... especially if you use the wrong exit and have to double back to find the set of stairs that connects you to your next train. I still do that every once in a while. 

22. Travel home to Idaho. 
I've officially budgeted for (thank you, Tax Return), requested time off, purchased a plane ticket and put a plan to visit home in motion! August 29 - Sept 4. It will be a whirlwind of seeing people. But time goes slower out there, right? 


The next goals up to bat... 

Pay off Discover (approximately 2 months away from this). 
Get a Pedicure.
Visit the Ocean. 
Run 100 times. (Okay... let's be realistic, maybe 20 times by the time I blog next). 
_________________________________________________________________________________

Life is getting easier. I say that every time. But really... I'm getting the swing of things finally. Fitness is becoming part of my routine again. Calorie tracking, gym dates with friends. I'm back in motion. Regretfully, I've gained about 10-15lbs back from the 72 that I lost. It makes me fret.

However, guess who can fret about weight loss instead of how to pay the next round of bills! This lady!  

Seeing a nice guy.  Live in a nice apartment. Have a nice job. 

Recent adventures: assembling furniture, visiting Google offices (again), Karson - from high school- coming to visit, new restaurants, new neighborhood exploration, new location at work and not catching things on fire while cooking. I MIGHT be getting the hang of this. 

Nanette 

The Evening Of Awesome

Okay...   John And Hank Green's Evening of Awesome... as per Teaira's Request.

First of all, if you happen to lock yourself out of your house because you grabbed the bag with books that you wanted signed and forgot the other bag that had your keys and your tickets...   You can call the box office and have them reprinted if you have the original card you charged them to and a photo ID. Having both your ID and your debit card and a cellphone to call them on, while forgetting your purse is what we call a FORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE. 

Next... if you find that you're running late because you were panicking about losing the tickets to the show and had to call the box office and then the cute guy you were spending the day with decides to get lost on the way to the post office, where he was going to drop off a package prior to driving you directly to the city...   If that happens, and he drops you off 6 avenues away from your destination because it's rush hour. Don't take the bus. Don't take the subway either, there'll inevitably be something like a shooting, or someone falling onto the tracks, or some sort of police related thing that will block off the entrance you need. Walk. Because you can beat the bus there by a full avenue. 

Now since you're running a little late, and you're an inherently super early person... you'll still be able to get in line for the will call tickets and pick them up before the show starts. Don't forget that you bought nosebleed tickets. So you'll be climbing 4-5 flights of stairs in your wool outside coat and scarf because you wouldn't have thought to take it of while you were standing in line for your ticket. Just think of the 6 avenue speed walk as a warm up. 

Once you get to your seat... you will be so grateful that you got the tickets on the aisle at the front of the balcony. No one obstructs your view. You can't see anyone's cell phone (there were SOOOO many cellphones). You will be able to observe all the Green related fashion statements. Giraffe Love, Pizza John, DFTBA... all the nerdfighter attire available if you click the links in the doobly-doo on the youtube videos is displayed on LIVE NERDY MANNEQUINS. Absolutely everyone is buzzing with a general goodwill. You hear "DFTBA" exchanged through the audience like that whole "peace be unto you" bit that they do during masses. 

The lights dim...  Silence hums...   The stage door opens and you scream and stand, clapping. But it's not weird... Because everyone else is LOSING it. You may be the only one crying tears of complete joy though it's highly unlikely. 

Hank begins with an interactive crowd warmer... A ditty that ends in "...At Carnegie Hall (stomp, stomp)." He interrupts John every time he tries to speak and get the evening started. Nerds stomp the floor in time. Your mind will REEL with all the operatic, classical and historical performances you know happen here (like Marilyn Horne doing a masterclass in the adjacent hall) and the irreverence of stomping both tickles you pink and feels like sacrilege. 

It goes by in a blur...  Readings from The Fault In Our Stars by the youtube actors who the Lizzie Bennet diaries (an homage to Pride and Prejudice). A meaningful speech from John. Songs from Hank. The Mountain Goats. My Drunk Kitchen girl shows up, along with NEIL GAIMAN!!! and they do a competitive Question Tuesday. Loser gets electrocuted. Some more youtube stars show up and they read from Looking For Alaska...  John Green has selected a scene that forces Neil Gaiman to say "I can imagine myself sucking donkey balls." Which of course... is hilarious. Kimya Dawson shows up (think Juno soundtrack, singer for the Moldy Peaches) and does a short set that you will go home and buy on iTunes.

The audience is nothing but responsive and supportive. They clap after nearly every sentence that John utters. Especially anything that mentions a book. You get tired of that. Let the man speak! Sheeesh. 

The evening comes to an end with Hank playing a couple songs. The Quarks one in particular. They get ovation-ed back on stage. You start to sneak out... because let's be real here... Hanks songs are #2 to the insight of John and you want to get to the front of any sort of book signing line. You slip out and ask the ushers where the signing is. They don't know about any signing and if there's an after party it's going to be backstage on the "Dress Circle" seating level. (*note*for the future). 

On the way home, you sit there and think about that time that Michelle Williams came into Kidville and you didn't recognize her. You even entered her credit card into the system and thought to yourself "Michelle Williams, that sounds like someone famous." You compare it to the authors on stage tonight. Both of which haven't appeared in any huge movies. No one would know them apart from Adam on the street.... let alone scream and cry with joy when they walk onto the stage. You realize how much more impact books and ideas have on your life than TV and movies. 

You have a new found meaning to the essence of the phrase "Words have power." And a few good ideas of what you'd like to take from the evening. And a sense of there being a lot of good, but probably too shy to always be blatantly awesome, people in the world. 

John gave a great analogy...  Something like...   I was walking along... to get pizza. The earth opened up and I fell into a giant chasm. When you walk by instead of running for help, you jump into the chasm. 

"What?!? You're stupid for doing that!" 

"Well now I'm highly motivated to get us out and until then, you've got good company." 

Books are the companions in the abyss. They aren't saviors from it. They are the friend that jumps down with you. To save oneself from abyss takes collaboration. You won't find that inside yourself. You find that in joining with others. 

He used the word collaboration to mean anything from conversing with friends about the kind of person we want to be and the kind of world we want, to actively creating something together (see brotherhood 2.0). For you music folk, you know the term collaborative artist...   your accompanist, an instrumentalist. But your collaborative artists are also the ones you surround yourself with when you're not creating music... When you're not actively creating something like music, art, literature, blah blah blah, you're creating yourself.

Evening of Awesome Indeed. 

Nanette 

Easing Into Routine

I feel like all these posts are the same. Maybe just a shared theme of "adjusting." Because Idaho to NYC is a whole lot of that. Adjustment. Like a new bra. Exciting, a little uncomfortable and then eventually becomes the comfortable support you need.

Still working lots. Negotiated a better wage at Kidville. Working a little less at the Doc's office. Getting a better balance of what I enjoy vs. Obligated to do in order to survive.

But I'm branching out. I have a couple friends that I spend evenings with on a more consistent basis. I've learned to spend money on things like... new clothes and necessities like good walking shoes, hats and scarves.

I'm doing New York-y things! Walks through Central Park, going out on the town with girlfriends, Christmas Parties, Brunch (it's a big thing here), GOING TO CARNEGIE HALL TOMORROW!!!   I'm going to hear John Green (favorite author) talk with his brother, Hank. I can't wait.

Got the student loans sorted. I can start paying them down. I'm paying everything down this year. It's my goal by October to only have student loans as my mark on the global debt. I'm getting pretty close.

Dating has been hectic. I'm seeing one guy on a pretty regular basis. I have my reservations about jumping in head first though... I'm obsessed with having a plan and things happening a certain way. I'm definitely finding a lot of opportunity to let go, exercise patience and going with the flow instead of a prescribed plan.

And freedom from laundry... Ugh! you see that in the corner? 

The grand scheme of life is still a little blurry. The music thing is kinda done... I mean, I still sing every once in a while out of sheer enjoyment, and that's refreshing. I've been doing a little art here and there. I need to get into a better habit of blogging or documenting the adventure of getting used to NYC. Alas,  I find in my life to document is to be the observer instead of the participant.

I guess right now, the plan is to make enough money to pay bills, save a little, buy some stuff. Then have enough time and means to do things I'd like to on my off time. So I can have a netflix night, or a night at carnegie hall, or a massage, or sit down with a book and just enjoy life.

I look to maintain Simplicity. Independence. Health. Freedom from Debt.

Love,
Nanette N.