Growing, Growing, Gone

Where I go!

Got a little hair cut and color yesterday and ran a bunch of errands getting ready for the parents to come to town tomorrow! TOMORROW! And I loved the moment when my stylist said, "Your hair grows so fast! I can't believe how long it's gotten." and I just thought, "yup." So long. And so fast.

It looks great again (I instantly got complimented on it) and feels much more manageable. Again.

Hair! Yay!

The Final Countdown

It's Illusion, Michael.

So, today's the last shift. The. Very. Last. One. And I'm already counting down the hours until I'm officially done.

Looks like almost all the other girls have given their notice too, so at this point (and I know this is really gonna suck for the company, but if this isn't a wake up call to start treating your employees better, I don't know what it), there is only going to be ONE GIRL working there in two weeks. So, yeah. Glad I'm getting out when I am.

Today there's a Rangers game and it's a Thursday, so I'm assuming I'll be at work until 11 or so, but there are two girls coming in at 4pm, so I could get outta there earlier. I am planning on going to a bar and having a beer in FiDi after I get cut to celebrate, but I might end up just heading home and crashing. This is my seventh day of work in a row. So. Yeah.

Fight of the Century

Two tickets to... a boxing match? Who knew I cared...

Well, it's been called the "last great fight" and "the fight of the century" and apparently I care who wins. If nothing else, as a sports fan, it's an event I feel I have to pay attention to. These are the tickets I bought to watch the fight at a bar right by my apartment. We will hopefully watch a good fight, assuming it'll be a draw (since the match is most likely fixed and fought just for the money), but I still am interested in the outcome, so I will watch and enjoy.

Two more shifts. Feeling better about the family coming into town on Friday now that I've chatted with Dad. And closing tomorrow, but beforehand I am yoga-ing, getting a haircut and getting my nails done. Thursday I work all day and Friday I am going to try to get to yoga, do some laundry, and clean the apartment a bit before the parents come meet me in the city and we hunt for free furniture around Park Slope, and other fancy areas.

Rockin' 'n' Rollin'

I think I'm gonna do this!

So... This is a thing. That I'm thinking about really definitely doing. And I started running for the first time on Sunday and it was only 5 miles, but yay! I did it! Yay! Gah! Cannot believe I'm actually thinking of running for 13.2 miles! But I am! And I wanna!

Almost There

Bam Bam, ETIII, stupid empty one, and SHERM!

Guys, I hung these with Maridee's help on Sunday! I am so excited about it too! I JUST WISH I HAD THE FOURTH ONE! Grrrr, arrg! I also hate that I am working so much that even IF I had time to get to to post office, and IF I stood in line to see if my package from the UK (NEVER AGAIN!) was there, and it turned out it WASN'T I would be so upset it wouldn't even be funny...

But he said it might take UP TO 5 weeks which would be next Wed 5/6 (Mom's bday! Happy bday, Mom!), so I guess I shouldn't freak out yet, but I wants it! I wants it!

Ok, now to sleep. Only 3 more shifts until freedom (well freedom from work).

And then the family comes into town. *Gulp* This will be so much fun! I just hope I have enough recovery time...

Muscling Through

I want this as a shirt. But with Harry Potter lettering. 

So, I am a bit stressed right now. And a friend was in town this last weekend (well actually two friends were, but I wasn't able to connect with one of them, so we'll focus on the other one...), so when he suggested we catch up and grab a beer on Sunday before he headed back to Philly and I went to work, I knew I had to say yes. And it was pretty great.

We hit up this little Hawaiian BBQ place in the LES that a coworker suggested (that ended up being a really good Asian fusion restaurant, no so much Hawaiian, but still good) before grabbing a beer at an Irish bar down the block. And then split up to head our separate ways. It was good times.

But before that I went on my first run of the season! Yay! It was great. Not too long, about 5.5 miles and 45 minutes, but it was really nice to get back into the swing of things. Plus, it was the perfect weather for a run. And I came back and swept the apt, hung up my Hawks art (well 3/4 of it... blearg on ordering things from the UK. NEVER. AGAIN.), and took out the trash before showering and heading to meet Mark.

Plus, work wasn't too heinous. I mean it was so incredibly boring and stupid and I made no money, but at least I go to watch the Sounders game. Focusing on the positive here... Well, trying. Three more shifts. *Sigh*

Cats + Boxes

Isabela in the empty recycling box...

So, I'm working seven days in a row (4 down, 3 to go) and am crazy stressed out. And am trying to clean the apartment and get it ready for the family to see. And run all my errands (post office, grocery store, laundry) with no time to do it. And get my hair done (it's very long). And get my nails done (they're very long). And research tattoo parlors (for possibly Seestor tattoo part deux). And figure out what the plan is for this weekend. And figure out if I can see a friend who's in town. And figure out if I can see the fight on Saturday. And sleep. And eat. And work.

So... when I have a lovely, wonderful moment to enjoy a cat in a (recently emptied) recycling box, I took it. She is so effing cute. And I am so effing stressed. Tomorrow should have been my last day. Or today. I cannot believe I am scheduled to work seven days IN A ROW for my last week. AND that I had to ClOpen (closed last night, opened today. BOTH BY MYSELF). I am so tired and I feel so disrespected and taken advantage of. I just wish I had a day to recover before I jump into stressful family time. For eight days. In a row.

Breathe. Trying to breathe.

Didn't make it to yoga tonight. I HAVE TO GO TOMORROW.

Or I might go nuts.

Here We Go (AGAIN)

Ha! I wish.

Yeah, I wish. More like, Serving Sunday, Maitre'd Monday, Taking Care of it Tuesday, Waitress Wednesday, Tough-it-out Thursday, Fuck it Friday, Steward Saturday.

But yeah, so, I was thinking it was gonna happen, but I was hoping it wasn't gonna be true... My last week is literally seven days of work in a row. IN A ROW. NOOOOOOO. So, family, be prepared, I'm gonna be effing exhausted. The. Worst.

Sorry, guys...

Thunderstruck!

Lighting over the Williamsburg Bridge

So, yesterday my walk to yoga was beautiful, if a little windy, but still mid-60's and sunny and gorgeous, but an hour later I started hearing thunder. Consistent thunder. And by the time I left yoga there was a severe weather alert on my phone about the thunderstorms, so yeah, that was fun.

Needless to say, I took the subway home instead of walking... which I hate.

But yoga was good. And so was today's class. I realized that if I go all the times I possibly could this week, which I probably will, I'll end up going to yoga five times this week, for the third week in a row. Yup. I might be obsessed.

Plus, I'm thinking of starting to train for a half marathon in October. The inaugural Rock n Roll Half is happening in BK 10/10 and I think it might be fun! I am also super nervous. The farthest I've run is 11 miles, so those extra 2.2 will be... I dunno... Once I finish walking on cobblestones everyday I will start the training regime...

So Much to Do, So Little Time

My view leaving for yoga yesterday. Kitteh on bed.

She's so cute! A little stinker, too, but super cute. Yesterday she was chasing her tail around and then when she caught it, batting it about, and biting it until she realized it was attached to her. It was hilarious. And really adorable. Then she was trying to be ON me at all times last night when I was watching TV before bed and I kept throwing her off of me because it was so annoying. And today, as we got her dry food last night, she is now trying to figure out how to open our lower cabinets in the kitchen so that she can get at the food... She's so doglike. It's very strange. And also hilarious.

Is is Football Season, Yet?

CANNOT WAIT TO THE HAWKS TO START PLAYING AGAIN!!!!

Those of you following my blog and hoping there would be less Hawks-related propaganda now that the season is over, well too bad, because the countdown to next season officially started as soon as the schedule was released! No NY teams... le boo. But maybe a trip to Baltimore to see the Hawks @ Ravens in December?

We'll see...

Celebratory Drinks!

Seen in the bathroom at my fav local dive bar!

On Tuesday night after work, since I was cut too late to make it to 830pm yoga, I headed to my favorite local bar, Franklin Park, and grabbed a beer to celebrate my roomie turning in her thesis paper! YAY!

I took a pic of this sticker in the bathroom because it reminded me of this insane Adult Swim montage and this CNN knockoff, but also because I really heart this bar that's in an old garage and has an area of picnic tables/tables and chairs out front with a great little burger joint in the back. It's also right by my yoga studio, so a nice little 20 minute walk up St Johns Pl from my apartment. Yup, the best.

Hawks in Hawaii

Sherman running

Sherman v. Wilson

This has been making me happy the last few days. And when you want more pictures, here you go!

Doctor Who is Better with Friends

So, there's a Doctor Who themed bar in BK. 

I wandered into this Doctor Who themed bar after hanging out with Ashley on Monday and first of all, the bathroom door is a TARDIS and then the bathroom is painted with Doctor Who themed EVERYTHING! It was pretty rad. Plus, they were watching History of the World, pt 1. I just passed by it after saying goodbye to Ashley and had to stop in, but everyone was super hipster and pretty exclusive... It was no bueno. So, I just had the one drink and left.

Next time, maybe head there with a friend. Probs better that way.

Cherry-Flavored Blooms

This is just gonna be a whole bunch of pictures from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. It was beautiful and because of Aislinn's membership card Jess and I were able to skip the CRAZY LONG line and just head right in. Spending all our time wandering around, catching up, and looking at pretty flowers in the gorgeous, sunny weather! YAY!

Field of daisies!

Entire area of magnolia trees!

More magnolias!

Even MORE magnolias!

Entrance to Magnolia-ville!

The one blooming cherry tree. Encouraging the others...

Maurice Sendak! On the Brooklyn Pathway!

AND there's a Shakespeare Garden! YAY!

Some things a blooooooming! (Or at least they're starting to...)

These lil tiny white flowers were so cool!

LOOK AT ALL THE TURTLES! TUUUURRRRTTTTTLLLLEEEEESSSS!

Japanese Garden!

Love this tree. 

Japanese Garden pond.

Gah! So pretty!

Tree blooming in park across the street from the garden.

The line to get into the Garden. We got to skip it. w00t!

Botanic Garden(-ing)

The cherry trees are blooming! AAAAAY! SPRINGTIME!

Guys! GUYS!!!! The cherry trees are blooming. Some other flowers are blooming, too! It's like it's really Springtime! And it's supposed to be 75 degrees today!

Jessica and I are going to go to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and I'm gonna head to meet her there in about ten minutes. Expect more gorgeous NY flower pictures to be on the way. YES.

Guys, 75 degrees! 75!!!!!!!!!

Change is Coming

OK, it's more like 15 days, but still...

So, I gave my two weeks notice at work yesterday, saying that April 30th will be my last day there. It's kinda bittersweet. I've known that I need to look for something else for a while because it was really keeping me from auditioning and feeling like I could do what I needed to do here in this city. And honestly, the reason why I moved here in the first place.

I'm going to look for something less corporate, smaller and a bit more flexible in terms of hours improving my availability to go to auditions and potentially do shows if I were to get cast in anything.

I was also looking at potentially doing a summer yoga teacher training intensive. Something I love to do with flexible days/hours that would not only help me get some teaching experience, but also keep me limber and more relaxed.

We'll see. At this point I'm leaving all my options open.

Framed

Bam Bam, Sherm and ET III.

Sooooo, I woke my tired-ass up early this morning for 830am yoga, and killed it! I thoroughly enjoy rise and shine-ing with yoga. Then I stopped by the (really awesome) bagel place near my yoga studio and got a whole wheat everything bagel with jalapeño schmear and fresh lox (yeah, suck it "avoiding gluten". I just did an hour of yoga) before grabbing a earl grey at Starbucks and wandering to Target to buy frames for my NEW AMAZING HAWKS ART!

I am still waiting for my Russell Wilson poster to arrive in the mail. But since the artist is shipping from England I have absolutely no idea when it will arrive. Turns out Royal Air Mail doesn't do tracking, so... Anytime in the next few weeks it could come.

Plan is to hang these up in a big square on one of my walls and then hang up the new floating shelf I also grabbed at Target on an adjoining wall for the three newspaper buddies I built on Saturday and my lil Sherm action figure. Then I will have the SAME FOUR HAWKS PLAYERS ON TWO SEPARATE WALLS. #winning #accidentallyawesome

I'm meeting up with a good friend who is visiting from Seattle in a bit and we are gonna do something outdoors since it's so gorgeous out. Hopefully getting some foodz and drinkz and just enjoying my beautiful city with a lovely on a sunny day!

Sleepy Girl

Noon. Not midnight. 

So, after last night's (stupid, awful, crazy-boring) closing shift (where I made no monies...), I managed to miss my 225 train and had the pleasure of standing on the platform for 30 minutes waiting for the next train to arrive. Awesome.

Needless to say, I didn't get home until 330, didn't get to bed until 345, and let myself sleep until noon today. Set my alarm early to get to 9am yoga, just in case, and full on shut it off and let myself go back to sleep. BUT when I got up I went to 1PM yoga! Yay! Never gonna complain about doing yoga first thing in the morning. Even if the "first thing" is at 1PM.

I head to close again today and expect another slow-ass night, but at least we close at midnight tonight! And I only have a 6 hour shift! w00t. I will take it.

On My Face

I own these. 

I am currently wearing them. They are awesome. I am so happy. He's my fav! YAY!

Better Late Than Never... I Guess...

Hey, it may have taken me a few months, but I put them together.

Hey, morning yoga and then forgetting that I was gonna run errands after meant that I had a whole lotta time to kill today before work. So, I put these guys together! They've been taped on my bedroom window since I received them (thanks, Pam!), but I finally decided that I wanted to a) take the time to construct them and b) it's been nice enough outside for me to want more natural light in my dark(-ish) bedroom.

They're gonna look really nice next to my Richard Sherman action figure and the four AMAZING art prints (three of which arrived the other day) that I am going to frame and put on my wall. My room is kinda gonna look like that of an uber fan (not that I'm not). So, I guess I'll have these four awesome gentlemen immortalized in both 2-D AND 3-D in my room. Yeah, I might be an uber fan.

#sorrynotsorry

And speaking of, my Richard Sherman Sorry Not Sorry earrings just arrived from the post office.

So, yeah. I guess I'll wear those today.

Christmas (Trees) in April?

A Christmas tree graveyard.

Found this on my way to work yesterday outside of a church. Looks like a Xmas tree graveyard. They are so incredibly dead. It's kinda hilarious. And a little bit sad. Poor dead unwanted Xmas trees, nobody wants you four months after your holiday.

Happiness!

Two good friends who just got married! Congrats! So happy!

First of all, I am finally better. It just took me four days of complete bed rest (but only one day calling in sick to work), and I finally got there. The cough still lingers a bit and I am constantly blowing my nose, but at least I can breathe through it and taste and smell and have a conversation without hacking up a lung.

Second of all, the two lovely and amazingly talented men pictured above (that have both done TWO SHOWS with me! And they met during Spelling Bee!) got married yesterday in Seattle and I am currently missing their reception. I love them so much and am so incredibly happy for them!

This is the first big event (bigger than a show) that I've had to turn down because I live far away and it's kinda hard for me to say no and to realize that this is going to be the first of many invitations that I am going to have to decline. It makes this distance more difficult and makes me realize how many truly good friends I have back in Seattle.

It also makes me excited about all the potential good friends I am going to make here in New York. In my new adventure. Yay!

Sleeping Kitten on My Lap

Collage of her sleeping on my lap.

She likes to lie ON me. I don't really like that. But she was pretty adores curled up on my lap. So, I took some cute kitten pics. Kitteh!

Kitten in the House

She's two-year-old Siamese. And she's ours!

I am currently writing this with a sleeping, purring kitten on my chest. But she really likes to be on my computer. We don't have a name for her yet, but we're leaning toward Luna (as in Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter), Maebe or Poe. She's pretty precious. Definitely a love bug.

Plus, now we have a kitty body to keep us warm at night. Although all she did last night was run around on the beds bothering me and then passing out under Maridee's bed to sleep. Needless to say, I'm not surprised she's sleeping now.

It's a Crockpot Jackpot

My chicken soup! With Emergen-C and water! 

My recipe for getting better: homemade chicken soup. lots of fluids, lots of rest. Pretty much all I've been doing. And thank god I'm finally feeling a bit better today. It's been a while since I've been able to breathe through my nose, smell or really taste food! Today's a good day!

The Spring Plague

But not in the good way. In the sick-as-a-dog way. Blech.

I've spent the last few days in bed. In bed suuuuuper sick. This cough is nasty and lingering. My nose is constantly running. And I'm exhausted. I didn't do much the last few days. But I did make veggie broth on Sunday and make chicken soup yesterday. I call those wins.

Actually feeling slightly better today, but still not good enough to go to yoga. Supposed to close tomorrow, but we'll see how I feel. I think I could probably work, but I'm not sure if I being up until 3am would be very good for me getting better...

Totally Taxed

Taxes E-Filed!

w00t! Got outta work crazy early because no one was there... le boo... but I guess that's what I asked for. It just sucks not making any money and still working long hours. All at less than 100%. Yup, that's right, I'm still feeling like crap. In fact, I feel worse yesterday and today than I did on Wednesday (thanks closing shift...).

Good news was that I was able to get my taxes filed since I got outta there so early tonight (getting money back! Yay)! Did you all know that there is a NY State tax? Because I sure didn't. But since I was only here for 3 months, I am getting 90% of that money back. So, a good return will help at least.  But still, stupid state tax...

I work tomorrow, but am cut 2, so I am REALLY hoping to get outta there at a decent hour. All based entirely on how busy we get for the Final Four games tomorrow night.

*Cough Cough*

Stupid cough. Won't go away. 

So... although I'm feeling super better all of a sudden I have this cough that won't go away. GRRRR...

Two days ago it started with a tickle and then last night during my close it became a full-fledged hacking cough. No fun at all.

Send me all the good getting better vibes.

Yesterday was a good night. Weird, but good. We were busy in little pockets up until 7 or 730 when we finally filled up. So, a really late hit. Plus, it was a strange crowd (and almost all my tables were separate checks)... And then there was a fight. Yup. A drunk finance guy lost his credit card and when his friend came back with him to look for it and still couldn't find it, he punched his friend in the face! I mean come on! Ridic.

Fab Five

Get it? The Fab Five? That won the gymnastics all around? Yup!

Today was my fifth day of yoga in a row! Super proud of myself. Have to take tomorrow and Friday off from yoga (ya know, work), but I'll head back Saturday before work and Sunday on my day off. It's been good. And, obvi, I'm loving it (since I'm going so often).

I close tonight, work a mid-shift double tomorrow, open/cut 1 on Friday and noon/cut 2 on Saturday. So, hopefully we're busy and I make monies tonight, since I have to be there all night anyway. But I'm sorta hoping for early nights the rest of the week... I'm tired.

And I have developed this stupid cough that won't go away. I hate this. Spring cold's suck.

At least it's been sunny the last few days! I hate the cold, but I'll take the sunshine!