Presentation Madness

Eek! I have two in class presentations two days in a row (Mon and Tues), one of which is with a group. I hate group presentations, as there's always someone who does nothing. I see lots of studying and coffee in my future...

There's about a foot of snow on the ground that's turning into slush and a little more snow coming today and tomorrow. Oh, yesterday my classes were cancelled and Jen stayed home from work! we finally made a snowman! Pictures of him coming as soon I have time to get them off Jen's camera.

Picnik

Not too long ago I discovered an iphone app called hipstamatic that applies various vintage effects to regular photos. I don't even have an iphone but liked it so much I convinced my brother to buy it and he thinks it's awesome. I've been looking for something similar for my computer and finally found a program that's similar and free. It's through Google's Picasa and it's called Picnik. I had some fun taking snow pics this morning after my second midterm. Tonight I added some Picnik affects to them. They include pup in the snow, the courtyard at school, and my morning commute.

So Far So Good

I’ve been doing a fine job of balancing clinicals with the rest of life in NYC. I know many who would agree that now’s not the best time to begin volunteering at an animal shelter, but it’s on my list! Thursday night I was scheduled to take my last training session before becoming an official canine companion for AC&C. Who knew you had to do so much to walk dogs to the park and back right? I was on my way there taking the uptown 6 train when the train stopped at a station and just sat there… for a while. In the car behind us two lovely African American females decided to get into a fight while holding the doors. Other passengers only fueled their anger as they asked them to please step out of the train to finish their fight. Typical NYC, crazy! I was late getting in which didn’t matter anyway because when I went to check in the receptionist nonchalantly said, “sorry, cancelled.” I was suddenly way angrier than the ladies who held up the train. So much was rushing through my head that all I wanted to do was tell someone off or write a nasty email. Luckily, though, a new years resolution of mine is to be nicer to people. This is somewhat of an umbrella term that includes, but is not limited to bitter tasting words like understanding and forgiveness. lol. I eventually received an apology email and rescheduled for this Thursday.

Friday night, which I was surprised to have off, Jen and I went to happy hour in the hood and went out for a friend’s laid off party in the city. Because she was free of a job she hated (driving Miss Daisy on Brdwy) and would now be full time at Bourbon St again, we had reason to celebrate and did plenty of that at the Sunburnt Calf on the Upper West Side. Here’s Jen looking quite… warm post two hour open bar. We headed up a few blocks to try the other Bourbon St (yes there’s another one but it’s a dive bar in comparison) but it wasn’t our thing. We all hopped in a few cabs and headed to the REAL Bourbon St. to end the night. On the way home Jen wasn’t feeling well and the driver was afraid she was going to throw up. When we were about two blocks from the apartment she said, “ugh, how much longer,” which I guess means something far more severe in his language. He pulled over and said “out of the car, out of the car!” We had to walk the rest of the way… it’s funny now looking back, but not so much fun in 15 degrees.

I’ve wanted to explore Williamsburg, Brooklyn for a while but the weather has made walking about neighborhoods a little hard. Today, though, we went to lunch at Pies ‘N Thighs! They make really bad for you, but oh so yummy soul food like chicken and biscuits, chicken and waffles, and homemade doughnuts. Needless to say, we went to the gym tonight. The friends we went with have cars which makes it more adventurous off the bat and we had a great time.  I’m beginning to understand why New Yorkers get so excited about spring. We’re planning to go back to take a closer look at Williamsburg when the weather is better.

How I Met Your Mother

Because all season long we are busy throwing holiday parties for everyone else, we postpone our restaurant party until January. Monday night our managers/ the owners threw a holiday party for all Bourbon St employees at McGees Irish Pub in midtown. It turns out that McGees was the inspiration for the writers of How I Met Your Mother and much like the bar in the show! That night, while everyone was sober, we exchanged gifts for secret santa. I drew Rachel's name who REALLY loved her gifts (Disney princess coloring books and liquor) but had a little too much fun and forgot it all at the restaurant. Oops. I should mention that we had a three hour open bar and that hospitality industry "professionals" know how to take full advantage. I attempted leaving around 1AM but because it was snowing pretty heavily I had to help more than a few drunk coworkers find and get into a cab. I, unfortunately, don't have any pictures to show yet because I didn't take any and think those who did are still trying to find their cameras... cell phones... jackets. It was a fun night for all but probably not so much fun the morning after.

In other tv show news, filming for The Good Wife on CBS was in LIC Tuesday and Wednesday just a few blocks down Vernon Blvd from our apartment. They took over Testaccio, a very nice Italian restaurant for most of Wednesday (pic). It was fun to watch for a bit, although I couldn't see anyone famous because the front of the building was blacked out for a "night" scene.
Maybe six inches of snow tonight! I actually have a day off from everything tomorrow but have lots of homework that I don't want to spend all weekend doing. I'll be in Communitea or Cranky's studying until my head explodes if you need me.

Tom's Restaurant

Picking up where I left off… Thursday night we went to dinner at the Good’s place just a few blocks away here in LIC. It was said to most likely be the coldest night this winter (about 15 degrees) so we had to really bundle up to get there and back. Although Pup and their dog Dunkin tolerate each other, we left her behind in our warm apartment. I finally got to play the game Apples to Apples! I’m not really a game player (“I don’t play games”) but I’d say it was ok. I’m definitely a predictable and literal player.

Friday and Saturday night I was at the restaurant doing the usual, paying the bills. I’m getting guests ask me more and more if I act or model and then tell me I should when I say I don’t. I know I should take it as a compliment but it’s a little frustrating for some reason. I think it’s because a: I have no real desire and b: because even if I did I wouldn’t have time for at least another year, post-clinicals. I know it’s not the worst problem to have. Saturday night I was questioned by a few casting company employees at a table so I figured what the heck, and asked what I would need to do to get started. They said I needed an agent first, put together a portfolio, and then get booked by a company like them. They said I had a “great look for commercials,” whatever that means. I’m feeling pretty torn these days because school just started and of course more attractive, fun things are going to present themselves now. Darn you NYC!

Speaking of fun, we went to Tom’s Restaurant for dinner. It’s the diner that’s shown in like every Seinfeld episode (pic). It was at the request of Colonel Dan for his birthday so off about ten of us went from LIC to the Upper West Side. The food was aiight but it was fun and something that I can now check off my so called “NYC bucket list.” For dessert we went back to Dan’s to have some of Leanne’s homemade chocolate cake and check out his sweet bachelor pad. His place is in an elevator, doorman building on a corner with views down Jackson Ave to the Citibank building and of the Manhattan skyline. We “walk-up” common folk were drooling over the space. :)

3rd Snowfall

After it had snowed all night, I had no choice but to leave my bike at home and walk to school. I could have taken the 7 train but it was supposedly running really slow. It took me about twice as long but gave me a chance to take some pics to share. Today there wasn't a parking lot of stranded cars up and down Vernon Blvd so plowing and cleanup were obviously better this time! Good job Bloomberg.

Eataly

 Our snow shower the other day was nice while it lasted but pretty light overall. It did not leave enough of the good stuff for snow-man making which Jen's been wanting to do for a while.

I look so tall! geez.

Saturday night Jen and I went to check out an indoor "winter" park in Nolita which sounded pretty cool but was lame(lots of astroturf, fake trees, and smelly) and closing for the night. We made up for it, though, accross the street at Viva La Crepe. Later we met some friends at Eataly. Wow! Eataly is a crazy nice 50,000 sf Italian-food emporium where you can nibble and sip your way through the vegetable department, the cheese station, the panini bar, the pasta and pizza places, the fish counter, the raw-beef “sushi” bar, the gelato stand, or the rooftop brewery. We all loved it and will definately be back soon. Before having dinner at the pizza/pasta restaraunt (one of five inside) we spotted owner Mario Batali with Emeril Lagasse and their entourage on a VIP tour! As most of my celebrity pics are, here's an unfortunate, very low quality side pic of Emeril walking by us.

Today I was good and came straight home after church where I sat and studied until tonight. Jen went out to lunch at Cranky's but was home just in time to edit my paper. Lucky her. :)

2nd Snow Fall

School is no doubt going to keep me busy, but I’m not too overwhelmed yet. This semester (6 weeks long) I’m in intro into the program and ethics classes. They’re basically making sure we know our place in the clinic and understand enough medical terminology to be able to keep up with and learn from PT’s. Next semester (12 weeks) I’ll be assigned to a nearby clinic that fits my interest (also figuring those out this semester) while continuing my education in labs at the school. Bla bla bla. I love my new bike! I get to school in about 15 minutes and will never be late because of the 7 train like other students.

I worked Mon and Tues night, went to my dog handling class for AC&C Wed night, and then got to have dinner with friend, Colonel Dan at Tuk Tuk. It was good to catch up with and get to know him better. Thanks for the invitation! Out on a poo walk with Pup last night after dinner I took this pic of the skyline. The Empire State Building was lit up in green to represent the %100 green energy they use… or something like that. :)

This pic is of our street this morning as a few inches of snow are supposed to fall today! I’m really enjoying it this time now that I don’t have to worry about driving a two wheel drive rental car around. It’s pretty and makes for great studying weather which is what I’ve been doing all day. I work tonight then brunch tomorrow and hope that business isn’t slowed by the weather. : /

Holy Bananas!

Jen and I have been spending more time together in the morning this week because I'm up earlier now for class. I'll let you know how they are once I get a week under my belt. We've also been crazy busy so we ordered our groceries online and had them delivered through Fresh Direct. We received the order this morning and had a good laugh when we unpacked these bananas and struggled to make room for them in the fruit bowl. They're not enhanced in any unnatural way because they're organic so the size of 'em was quite the surprise. I'll leave it at that...

I work tonight but then Wednesday night I'll take my last training class before I officially start working with dogs at Animal Care and Control in Manhattan! I'll learn more about dog handling, behavior, and training and hope to be able to control those dogs like the dog whisperer, Cesar Millan.

Year of the Rabbit

Happy New Year! With this being the first post of the New Year I was reminded to look back to see how many times I had written in 2010. I wrote 114 times and hope to surpass that number this year. Between balancing school and work, friends, hopefully volunteering with Animal Care and Control, and all the other excitement in the city, I’m sure there’ll be no shortage of material.


New Year’s Eve went surprisingly well. As you may know, thousands of people stand in a Times Square for hours until midnight, in the cold, with no place to pee, just to see the ball drop. For this reason much of midtown is inaccessible and clubs and pubs are said to charge outrageous cover-charges. We actually spent the first half of the night with the Taylors (our neighbors and friends) then headed into the city. We thought it would take forever to get there and Jen expected mayhem in the streets but we got there in a jiff and had little trouble bar hopping around Hell’s Kitchen, meeting up with friends along the way. It was a good time and we were home by 3am!

Saturday I put my new eye pillow to good use and slept in (it’s very bright in our bedroom in the morning, even in winter) and chilled at home with my Boo. I headed to work that night.

Today was a challenge as I was pretty tired from working late then getting up early to set up, tear down, and usher at church (only once a month now though). The day got better when this afternoon we took a trip into the city to pick up my new bike which I LOVE! It rides well and, more importantly, is so stylish. I rode it home from Manhattan today to get a good feel. I got it just in time for school which starts tomorrow morning. Wish me luck and pray that my bike doesn’t get stolen. Yes Mother, I have a good bike lock…