Since moving into the new apartment, there's been a great calming down. Something about the permanence, or semi-permanence of a lease and knowing that my room is MY ROOM lends to that feeling of refuge.
I got a phone call Friday night. It was from Kidville. I'd interviewed with them a while back (about a month) for a Front Desk Admin position and didn't get the job. But the location where I interviewed passed my resume on to a new location that's opening up on October first. The franchise owner wanted to meet for an interview Saturday morning.
Saturday morning we met at a great coffee place just off of 14th called "Think Coffee." The owner guy bought me coffee and we talked numbers and business. And I got hired. That brings the count up to 2 freelance jobs, 2 regular have-to-show-up jobs. Sooooo... here's what life looks like now...
Mondays
Morning: freelance work & Run.
1:30 - 8:00 Doc
Tuesdays
8:00 - 6:00 KV
Laundry
Wednesdays
Morning: freelance & Run
1:30 - 8:00 Doc
Thursday
Morning: freelance & Run
1:30 - 8:00 Doc
Friday
8:00 - 6:00 KV
Grocery shop
Saturday
8:00 - 6:00 KV/alternating day off.
Sunday
8:00 - 6:00 KV/alternating day off.
I'm going to be TIRED. And it's going to be tough to not have 3 days off a week. But I'm going to do it. And I'm going to pay off all my debts. And I'm going to be able to buy a nice dresser and set of bookshelves... and a box spring/bedframe.
But isn't that the balance we always fight?
Not working enough = play time but no play money.
Working too much = play money, but no play time.
I wore through another pair of shoes this week. Now when I say wore through... I don't mean that they look tired or are uncomfortable or that the innards got all scrunched up by the toes... I mean that if you take the shoe off and look at the hole in the bottom, there's daylight on the other side. Tamara said we should probably take pictures of the shoes and build a photo memorial on the apartment wall "Shoes Nanette Killed." Like the heads of deer people keep... my walking trophies.
Things are calming down. I'm settling in... Getting more comfortable.
For example.. Last month - MTA charged my debit card $104 for an unlimited card and did not give me the card. I cried in the subway station.
This month - MTA charged me $104 twice and only gave me one card and not a tear has been shed. It'll be okay. It'll sort out. I have a reliable income and know that I'm okay. I mean it really pooped on my finances, but I'll get the money back AND have rent paid on time.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
Consistency...
I've had a lot of conversations and facebook stalking epiphanies this week about consistency. I believe I've wanted to move to NYC since I was in 6th grade... as a notion to become a broadway actress, film star, opera singer... and other narcissistic careers. I guess we all have those dreams. That larger than life striving.
I want to become an astronaut!
I want to become a writer!
I want to become a superhero!
I may not be singing, acting or actively creating for money. But I'm living my dream. I made it out here. I said I would and I have. Even if I change my mind later and decide that NYC isn't for me anymore... I can definitely say I'm not a quitter. Never have been. If anything I'm guilty of sticking through for too long. Bullheaded. I want things to be a certain way. They will be a certain way. I will give them a chance to turn out a certain way. When they don't. I have committed 5+ years to that certain thing and it hasn't happened yet... but not out of lack of fortitude. I'll tell you what.
So I'm learning new things about myself. 25 and still learning. I hope to say that when I'm 50, 60, 70 and beyond.
I may not be succeeding, but I'm learning about the need to go with the flow, to let go.
I'm learning that in a fast-paced city, patience is even more important than anywhere I've been before.
I'm learning that stress is a constant. It will be everywhere. There is no escaping, only changing your approach in coping and stress management.
It's been crazy starting my life over. In so many ways, I feel like it's a throw back to freshman year. Knowing it will take time to get on my feet. To land that job that allows me to go on vacations, pay off debts and have a fiscal peace of mind. It takes time to build a steady group of friends and construct history, disagreements and understanding. It is a beautiful thing. It feels odd to go through this sorta late in life though... a second freshman year at 25.
25. How weird... many of my peers have children or spouses or even second or third spouses. Many of my peers are in their career paths or have master's degrees. I wonder if they go through some of these same feelings. Probably, as we all have much more in common than we talk about. Is that where they saw themselves. Are they living their dreams? It's none of my business... I know. But that doesn't keep me from being curious.
Life sure is interesting.
Right now it's settling. Landed in the apartment for the year. Slowly learning to walk my infantile self down the streets of NYC. A regular job. Supplemental income.
I organize and prep myself for that moment when things can come together and I move from walk to RUN.
I want to become an astronaut!
I want to become a writer!
I want to become a superhero!
I may not be singing, acting or actively creating for money. But I'm living my dream. I made it out here. I said I would and I have. Even if I change my mind later and decide that NYC isn't for me anymore... I can definitely say I'm not a quitter. Never have been. If anything I'm guilty of sticking through for too long. Bullheaded. I want things to be a certain way. They will be a certain way. I will give them a chance to turn out a certain way. When they don't. I have committed 5+ years to that certain thing and it hasn't happened yet... but not out of lack of fortitude. I'll tell you what.
So I'm learning new things about myself. 25 and still learning. I hope to say that when I'm 50, 60, 70 and beyond.
I may not be succeeding, but I'm learning about the need to go with the flow, to let go.
I'm learning that in a fast-paced city, patience is even more important than anywhere I've been before.
I'm learning that stress is a constant. It will be everywhere. There is no escaping, only changing your approach in coping and stress management.
25. How weird... many of my peers have children or spouses or even second or third spouses. Many of my peers are in their career paths or have master's degrees. I wonder if they go through some of these same feelings. Probably, as we all have much more in common than we talk about. Is that where they saw themselves. Are they living their dreams? It's none of my business... I know. But that doesn't keep me from being curious.
Life sure is interesting.
Right now it's settling. Landed in the apartment for the year. Slowly learning to walk my infantile self down the streets of NYC. A regular job. Supplemental income.
I organize and prep myself for that moment when things can come together and I move from walk to RUN.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
List re-evaluated.
- Read 100 books.
- Move to NY
- Graduate (ACTUALLY THIS TIME).- eta May
- Save $3000 by June
- Throw one thing away every day for a month.
- Continue to lose weight... -100 LBS total... that's the goal.
Remember that list? This is what it looks like now...
- Read 100 books.
- Move to NY
- Graduate (ACTUALLY THIS TIME).- eta May
- Save $3000 by June
- Throw one thing away every day for a month.- Continue to lose weight... -100 LBS total... that's the goal.
I'm down 72 lbs. I've only read 24 books. But I got the important things out of the way.
Just signed a lease for an apartment... thus making me a real new yorker! I have a job at a Doc office and I'm looking for another one. My landlord is some awesome guy at ConEdison and they owe him a couple favors... like hiring his tenant to be an executive secretary?! YES! Meh, well... we'll see. But with good work ethic, I can be making 6 figures in the next 5 years or so.
Making new friends, missing my old ones. Exploring a new city, slowly, I've got time. I live here now. :)
Paid off a credit card. Deferred my student loans. Things are good in the debt dept.
Trying, though not hard enough, to lose weight. Things are still going in the right direction, just not as quickly as it has been for the last few months. I'm also not working out nearly as much. My days are ridiculously long. I'm beginning to understand why people complain about commuting places. It KILLS your day. My 8 hour shift is really 10 hours with the hour commute each way. LAME! But the pay is nice out here... and the energy of the city is so high. I love it. I can't wait until it cools down just a little and then I'll want to be outside.
Starting to make a new goal list.
- Move to NY
- Graduate (ACTUALLY THIS TIME).- eta May
- Save $3000 by June
- Throw one thing away every day for a month.
- Continue to lose weight... -100 LBS total... that's the goal.
Remember that list? This is what it looks like now...
- Read 100 books.
- Graduate (ACTUALLY THIS TIME).- eta May
- Save $3000 by June
- Throw one thing away every day for a month.
I'm down 72 lbs. I've only read 24 books. But I got the important things out of the way.
Just signed a lease for an apartment... thus making me a real new yorker! I have a job at a Doc office and I'm looking for another one. My landlord is some awesome guy at ConEdison and they owe him a couple favors... like hiring his tenant to be an executive secretary?! YES! Meh, well... we'll see. But with good work ethic, I can be making 6 figures in the next 5 years or so.
Making new friends, missing my old ones. Exploring a new city, slowly, I've got time. I live here now. :)
Paid off a credit card. Deferred my student loans. Things are good in the debt dept.
Trying, though not hard enough, to lose weight. Things are still going in the right direction, just not as quickly as it has been for the last few months. I'm also not working out nearly as much. My days are ridiculously long. I'm beginning to understand why people complain about commuting places. It KILLS your day. My 8 hour shift is really 10 hours with the hour commute each way. LAME! But the pay is nice out here... and the energy of the city is so high. I love it. I can't wait until it cools down just a little and then I'll want to be outside.
Starting to make a new goal list.
- Get a full-time Job.
- Pay Tamara back for fronting the deposit money for the apt.
- Pay off Discover.
- Buy a queen size bed.
- Cook at home more than I eat out.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Only Kinda...
I hate new years resolutions.
A - Shouldn't they happen on your birthday since that's when your new year ACTUALLY starts?
B - We've weakened the word "resolution" by applying it to goals that only last 30 days, if that.
But I do love a good excuse to make lists. So here's the deal folks. This is the list of goals I've been working on... and will continue to work on. GOALS. None of that break-a-promise-to-yourself "resolution" garbage.
- Read 100 books.
- Move to NY
- Graduate (ACTUALLY THIS TIME).- eta May
- Save $3000 by June
- Throw one thing away every day for a month.
- Continue to lose weight... -100 LBS total... that's the goal.
Life is so good right now. I'm half dating a NICE boy. I'm working! I'm working out (with a trainer, even)! I need to practice. But I actually WANT to. Tax return is on the way. So many of those goals are close enough to taste. I have a routine... but it's flexible and includes such things as: going to the library once a week, exercising my body, writing blogs, working and doing an hour of creativity a day. This is the life.
A - Shouldn't they happen on your birthday since that's when your new year ACTUALLY starts?
B - We've weakened the word "resolution" by applying it to goals that only last 30 days, if that.
But I do love a good excuse to make lists. So here's the deal folks. This is the list of goals I've been working on... and will continue to work on. GOALS. None of that break-a-promise-to-yourself "resolution" garbage.
- Read 100 books.
- Move to NY
- Graduate (ACTUALLY THIS TIME).- eta May
- Save $3000 by June
- Throw one thing away every day for a month.
- Continue to lose weight... -100 LBS total... that's the goal.
Life is so good right now. I'm half dating a NICE boy. I'm working! I'm working out (with a trainer, even)! I need to practice. But I actually WANT to. Tax return is on the way. So many of those goals are close enough to taste. I have a routine... but it's flexible and includes such things as: going to the library once a week, exercising my body, writing blogs, working and doing an hour of creativity a day. This is the life.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Know what's really awesome!?
I don't have to go to school this semester.
I just need to finish my piano proficiency test.
Then I have a degree (useless? not sure yet).
I don't have to buy books, or give motivational speeches to get myself to attend.
Also, I get to keep my two campus jobs.
And Probably get a third.
I'm considered an Alumnus.
So I get to keep my gym membership at a discount rate.
My body weighs 43 pounds less than it did at this time last year.
I've learned a whole book of new recipes.
Stuff is slowly disappearing from my apartment - in a good way.
Life and Scheduling should be simple.
Dr. A's grant fell through.
He can't offer me the discount.
I don't have to take choir.
I don't have to deal with "environment vs cost, is it worth it?" anymore.
I have a back up plan for NYC.
Just in case my savings doesn't cover enough.
Time to polish up several versions of my resume.
Time to money diet, food diet and resource diet like a champ!
Big Fat Uncharacteristically Positive Love
Nanette
I just need to finish my piano proficiency test.
Then I have a degree (useless? not sure yet).
I don't have to buy books, or give motivational speeches to get myself to attend.
Also, I get to keep my two campus jobs.
And Probably get a third.
I'm considered an Alumnus.
So I get to keep my gym membership at a discount rate.
My body weighs 43 pounds less than it did at this time last year.
I've learned a whole book of new recipes.
Stuff is slowly disappearing from my apartment - in a good way.
Life and Scheduling should be simple.
Dr. A's grant fell through.
He can't offer me the discount.
I don't have to take choir.
I don't have to deal with "environment vs cost, is it worth it?" anymore.
I have a back up plan for NYC.
Just in case my savings doesn't cover enough.
Time to polish up several versions of my resume.
Time to money diet, food diet and resource diet like a champ!
Big Fat Uncharacteristically Positive Love
Nanette
Monday, December 12, 2011
That creative thing...
I'm having urges to start visual journaling again. I haven't done it for a couple of months and my fingers twitch with the excitement of paint and stamps and paper and ribbons and all the things to just PLAY with!
Plus, it is encouraging to that part of me that wants to finish everything in my house. I have so many things that need using! I'm hoping I can use most of my paints before moving. They don't travel well on planes.
I'm a broken record... So much so that even I am getting sick of it. NYC, music, graduation, impatience. BLEH!
So here's the new tidbit. I'm going to be in chamber choir again. I'm enrolling for next semester so I can get loans and go to Italy. I'm going to Italy. It's been a tough decision. I don't particularly enjoy chamber choir, or, I haven't in the past. Here's to trying something new this time.
A) I refuse to jump in on gossip, positive or negative.
B) I refuse to refrain from speaking my mind and building up contention.
C) I refuse to get frustrated with learning as a process. I will respect that it happens in small changes.
D) I refuse to think of myself as an individual in the choir, this group needs some serious unity happening.
Ultimately, I've seen/heard a lot of disrespectful things about peers and teachers. I own that I'm part of that. But I'm willing to be part of the solution as well. Just because I don't agree with someone doesn't mean that I can't respect their opinions or at the very least remember that they are that, someone's opinion. I am capable of compromise and communication. I am capable of learning my music on my own, but that's not enough in a large group. I will create a quartet in order to help the entire group, myself included. A crappy group represents all the singers in it... I'm tired of crappy, sub-par feelings when it comes to music. And frankly, we're going on tour, so it's important that the collective get their poop in a group, stop making excuses and GET IT DONE WELL.
Let's see how long this song lasts,
Nanette
Plus, it is encouraging to that part of me that wants to finish everything in my house. I have so many things that need using! I'm hoping I can use most of my paints before moving. They don't travel well on planes.
I'm a broken record... So much so that even I am getting sick of it. NYC, music, graduation, impatience. BLEH!
So here's the new tidbit. I'm going to be in chamber choir again. I'm enrolling for next semester so I can get loans and go to Italy. I'm going to Italy. It's been a tough decision. I don't particularly enjoy chamber choir, or, I haven't in the past. Here's to trying something new this time.
A) I refuse to jump in on gossip, positive or negative.
B) I refuse to refrain from speaking my mind and building up contention.
C) I refuse to get frustrated with learning as a process. I will respect that it happens in small changes.
D) I refuse to think of myself as an individual in the choir, this group needs some serious unity happening.
Ultimately, I've seen/heard a lot of disrespectful things about peers and teachers. I own that I'm part of that. But I'm willing to be part of the solution as well. Just because I don't agree with someone doesn't mean that I can't respect their opinions or at the very least remember that they are that, someone's opinion. I am capable of compromise and communication. I am capable of learning my music on my own, but that's not enough in a large group. I will create a quartet in order to help the entire group, myself included. A crappy group represents all the singers in it... I'm tired of crappy, sub-par feelings when it comes to music. And frankly, we're going on tour, so it's important that the collective get their poop in a group, stop making excuses and GET IT DONE WELL.
Let's see how long this song lasts,
Nanette
Monday, December 5, 2011
Wrap it up...
One semester closer... almost.
I just taught my last lesson... almost.
I just finished my last diction assignment... almost.
I've completed my English Portfolio... almost.
I've completed my last Form assignment... almost.
Everything is sort of drawing to a close. But I'm stuck waiting. Waiting for my drafts to be returned to make the last edits for the english portfolio.
Waiting for the performance in Ped to be over so I can start studying for my ONLY final.
Waiting for Ms. Lane and Dr. Adam's to hand out their take home finals.
It's such a week full of almost and it makes me ALMOST want to cry. I am one credit away from a complete music break.
This girl wants a vacation. This girl wants a fresh start. This girl wants to slowly cleanse her life of all the crap that surrounds it. check. check. check. Slowly ticking things off the list. Every week I'm throwing away something I don't want to. Stuff I can't sell. Stuff I can't give away. Stuff I'll never use again. De clutter. Simplify. Garbage. Let go... and lose some friggin weight.
Nanette
I just taught my last lesson... almost.
I just finished my last diction assignment... almost.
I've completed my English Portfolio... almost.
I've completed my last Form assignment... almost.
Everything is sort of drawing to a close. But I'm stuck waiting. Waiting for my drafts to be returned to make the last edits for the english portfolio.
Waiting for the performance in Ped to be over so I can start studying for my ONLY final.
Waiting for Ms. Lane and Dr. Adam's to hand out their take home finals.
It's such a week full of almost and it makes me ALMOST want to cry. I am one credit away from a complete music break.
This girl wants a vacation. This girl wants a fresh start. This girl wants to slowly cleanse her life of all the crap that surrounds it. check. check. check. Slowly ticking things off the list. Every week I'm throwing away something I don't want to. Stuff I can't sell. Stuff I can't give away. Stuff I'll never use again. De clutter. Simplify. Garbage. Let go... and lose some friggin weight.
Nanette
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